I Bought a $70 Gaming Monitor and It’s Great

Quick Overview

The $70 LG 24U411A-B monitor proves to be a surprisingly excellent budget gaming display, offering a 120Hz refresh rate, decent color accuracy (Avg dE2000 of 3.54), and extremely low latency (4.5 ms at 120Hz), making it a strong recommendation for budget-conscious gamers who can overlook the mediocre HDR performance.

Key Points: The LG 24U411A-B monitor, priced at $69.99 during a Black Friday deal, is recommended for budget gamers, despite having only 1080p resolution on a 24-inch IPS panel. The monitor features a 120Hz refresh rate, which significantly reduces input latency to 4.5ms compared to 8.9ms at 60Hz, providing a noticeably smoother gaming experience. Color accuracy is decent for the price, achieving an average Delta E 2000 score of 3.54, which is acceptable for gaming but not ideal for professional creators. HDR performance is poor, with a maximum luminance reading of 350.38 cd/m² and a high average dE ITP of 26.03 in HDR testing, meaning the HDR feature is essentially unusable. The IPS panel provides good viewing angles and solid motion clarity, avoiding the black smearing issues often seen on VA panels. The presenter acknowledges that while higher-end options like QD-OLED exist, this budget monitor delivers excellent core performance for its price point.

Context: The video reviews the LG 24U411A-B, a 24-inch, 1080p, IPS gaming monitor, which the host acquired to see if a very low-cost display could still meet the needs of a budget-conscious gamer. The review focuses heavily on motion performance, latency, and color accuracy, comparing the monitor's capabilities against the demanding standards set by more expensive, high-end displays like QD-OLEDs.

Detailed Analysis

The video evaluates the LG 24U411A-B 24-inch 1080p IPS monitor, which the host purchased for $69.99 during a sale, concluding it is a great budget option. The primary must-have feature identified is a high refresh rate; the host recommends at least 120Hz, noting that 60Hz or 75Hz is too low, and this LG model delivers 120Hz. This higher refresh rate results in extremely low latency, measuring 4.5ms at 120Hz (only 0.3ms over theoretical perfect) and 8.9ms at 60Hz (0.5ms over theoretical perfect), which feels great for fast-paced games like CS:GO. Color accuracy testing showed an average Delta E 2000 of 3.54, which is acceptable for general use and gaming, though not professional-grade. However, the monitor's HDR performance is poor, with an average Delta E ITP of 26.03, indicating significant inaccuracies. The presenter notes that the IPS panel maintains solid motion clarity and viewing angles, avoiding the black smearing common in VA panels. Ultimately, the host suggests that while it is not the absolute best monitor available, it provides excellent value for its low price, especially for gamers on a strict budget who prioritize low latency and smooth motion over perfect color or HDR.