ASUS VA249QG 24" Silver

The ASUS VA249QG's 120Hz refresh rate is its killer feature, landing it in the 74th percentile for performance, which is impressive for a monitor often found under $110. The IPS panel covers 99% sRGB for solid color, but the 1080p resolution and barebones feature set hold it back. Grab it on sale for a smooth, budget-friendly upgrade, but skip it if you see the price climb above $130.

The 120Hz refresh rate is the star of the show here. Paired with Adaptive-Sync, it eliminates screen tearing and makes fast motion look clean, which is a real step up from the 60Hz panels most people are still using. The 1ms MPRT helps keep ghosting to a minimum, though it's worth noting this is a moving picture response time, not a true gray-to-gray measurement. In practice, games like Valorant or Rocket League feel responsive and fluid. Our performance score of 74th percentile puts it ahead of most basic office monitors but well behind dedicated high-refresh gaming displays.

Color performance is a mixed bag. The 99% sRGB coverage is great for an IPS panel at this price, and the 178-degree viewing angles mean colors don't shift much when you're not sitting dead center. However, the 300-nit peak brightness and 8-bit panel (likely 6-bit + FRC) mean it can't handle HDR content in any meaningful way. The color score sits at the 62nd percentile, which is about average. For photo editing, it's fine for web work, but you'll want a calibrated, higher-end display for print. The backlight uniformity can be a bit of a lottery, with some users reporting slight delays in backlight response on certain transitions.

Stacked against the competition, the ASUS VA249QG is a budget brawler that punches above its weight class in motion clarity but gets outclassed in resolution and features. The Dell S2725QC and Gigabyte M27UP SA are in a different league with 4K resolution and USB-C connectivity, but they also cost significantly more. The Acer Nitro XV272U W2 offers a higher 1440p resolution and faster 180Hz refresh rate for not much more money when on sale, making it a direct threat if you can stretch your budget. The HP OMEN 27qs G2 also jumps to 1440p and a higher refresh rate. Where the ASUS wins is pure value at its lowest price point. If you have a hard $110 budget and need an IPS panel that's smooth for gaming, nothing else comes close. But if you can spend $50 to $100 more, you'll get a massive jump in pixel density and speed.

Pricing on this monitor is all over the place, with a wild spread from $110 to $2586 across different vendors. Let's be real, anything over $150 is a bad deal for this panel. At its low point around $110, the price-to-performance ratio is excellent. You're getting a 120Hz IPS panel with good sRGB coverage for less than many 75Hz office monitors. The sweet spot is finding it on sale at Amazon or Best Buy for that sub-$130 price. If you see it creeping toward $200, just walk away and look at newer 144Hz or 165Hz options that often go on sale in that range.

The ASUS VA249QG lands in the 74th percentile for performance in our database, which is solid for a budget-friendly 24-inch panel. You're getting a 120Hz refresh rate and a 1ms MPRT response time, a combo that makes everyday desktop use and casual gaming feel noticeably smoother than a standard 60Hz office monitor. The IPS panel covers 99% of the sRGB color space, so colors look accurate out of the box, and the 300-nit brightness is enough for most indoor setups. But the display category score sits in the 22nd percentile, dragged down by its basic 1080p resolution and lack of HDR support. This is a straightforward screen that prioritizes motion clarity over pixel density or premium features.

At around 3kg, it's not particularly light, and the portable score is a rough 24.6 out of 100, so don't plan on lugging this to LAN parties every weekend. The stand only offers tilt adjustment, which is pretty standard for this price bracket, but the VESA mount support gives you an easy path to a cleaner desk setup. The built-in speakers are there if you need them, but they're tinny, as you'd expect. For a monitor that can often be found under $110, the value proposition is strong if you know exactly what you're getting into: a no-frills, fast IPS panel for work and light play.

Anyone who needs a high-resolution display for detailed creative work or wants a true HDR experience should look elsewhere. The 1080p resolution on a 24-inch screen is fine for general use, but the display score sits in the 22nd percentile, meaning it lacks the sharpness and brightness for professional photo or video editing. If you're a competitive gamer chasing every last frame, a 144Hz or 240Hz panel with a faster true response time will serve you better. And if portability matters, the 24.6 out of 100 score in that category tells you everything you need to know, this monitor is meant to stay on a desk.

The ASUS VA249QG is a smart buy if you catch it on a deep discount and your expectations are grounded in reality. It's a 1080p workhorse with a genuinely useful 120Hz refresh rate that makes everything from scrolling to gaming feel better. The color accuracy is a nice bonus for an IPS panel in this price range. Just don't expect it to be bright enough for a sun-drenched room, and definitely don't pay more than $130 for it. For a secondary monitor or a first gaming display on a tight budget, it's a data-backed winner.