Sceptre E275B-FPT165 27" Gunmetal Black 2021

The Sceptre E275B-FPT165 is a 27-inch 1080p IPS gaming monitor with a 165Hz refresh rate and FreeSync Premium for around 90 USD. It's one of the best budget gaming displays we've seen, with solid performance scores and surprisingly good connectivity. The stand is flimsy and the speakers are bad, but those are easy to work around. If you want high refresh rate gaming without spending much, this is the one to beat.

The 165Hz refresh rate is the headline feature, and it delivers. In our database, this monitor's performance score lands in the 77th percentile, which puts it well above average for its class. That 165Hz ceiling is only reachable over DisplayPort though. Over HDMI you're capped at 144Hz, which is still smooth but worth knowing if you're planning to hook up a console or a laptop without a DisplayPort output. The 1ms MPRT response time helps keep motion blur down in fast-paced shooters, though MPRT numbers are always a bit optimistic compared to real-world gray-to-gray measurements.

For a 1080p panel at 27 inches, pixel density is about 81 PPI. That's fine for gaming at a normal desk distance, but if you're coming from a 1440p display or you sit close to the screen, you'll notice text isn't as crisp. The 300 nits brightness (Sceptre's marketing says 320, but the spec sheet says 300) is adequate for indoor use. It won't fight off direct sunlight, but in a typical room it's plenty. The color score sits at the 55th percentile, which is about average. The 99% sRGB coverage means colors look accurate enough for casual photo editing, but this isn't a monitor for serious color-critical work.

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG34VQL1B is a completely different beast. It's a 34-inch ultrawide with a higher resolution and a much better stand, but it costs several times more. If you want immersion and have the desk space, the ASUS is the better pick. But if you're on a tight budget and just want high refresh rate 1080p gaming, the Sceptre does the job for a fraction of the price.

The Acer Nitro XV272U W2bmiiprx is probably the closest philosophical competitor. It's a 27-inch 1440p panel, so you're trading refresh rate headroom for pixel density. The Acer costs more but gives you a sharper image and better ergonomics. The KOORUI 34E6UC and Gigabyte G34WQC2 are both ultrawides that compete on immersion rather than raw speed. None of them touch the Sceptre on price, but they all offer something the Sceptre doesn't: a stand that doesn't feel like it came from a cereal box.

At 90 USD in the US, this monitor is hard to argue with. You're getting a 165Hz IPS panel with FreeSync Premium for less than the cost of a decent mechanical keyboard. The Canadian price of 180 CAD and UK price of 111 GBP are also reasonable, though the value proposition gets a bit less dramatic once you factor in regional pricing differences. The Mexican listing at 2,385 MXN follows the same pattern.

Compare this to the HP OMEN 27qs G2 or the ASUS TUF Gaming VG34VQL1B, and you're looking at spending significantly more for features like higher resolutions, better stands, or ultrawide panels. The Sceptre wins on pure price-to-performance for 1080p gaming. The catch is that you're paying for the panel and the refresh rate, not much else. The stand is cheap, the speakers are bad, and the feature set is bare bones. But if you're mounting it on a VESA arm and using your own audio setup, those weaknesses don't matter much.

The Sceptre E275B-FPT165 is one of those monitors that makes you wonder why you'd ever spend more on a 1080p gaming display. It's a 27-inch IPS panel running at 165Hz with a 1ms MPRT response time, and it's priced low enough that you could almost buy two for what some big-name brands charge for one. Sceptre has built a reputation on undercutting the competition, and this 2022 model is a solid example of that strategy.

Who's this for? Budget-conscious gamers who want high refresh rates without selling a kidney. It's also a surprisingly decent option for remote work setups, since the IPS panel gives you good viewing angles and the 99% sRGB coverage means colors won't look washed out when you're staring at spreadsheets all day. Just don't expect it to be a portable monitor. Our database puts its portability score at a frankly hilarious 13.2 out of 100, which makes sense for a 27-inch display that weighs over 3.2 kilograms.

The interesting thing here is the mismatch between specs and price. You're getting 165Hz, FreeSync Premium, and an IPS panel for around 90 USD in the US. That's aggressive. The trade-off is that Sceptre cuts corners in places like the stand and speakers, which we'll get into. But if you're mounting this thing on an arm and using headphones, those compromises basically disappear.

If you're doing color-critical creative work, skip this. The 55th percentile color score and 1080p resolution at 27 inches won't cut it for professional photo or video editing. Look at something like the Acer Nitro XV272U W2bmiiprx instead, which gives you 1440p resolution and better color performance for a bit more money.

If you care about desk ergonomics and don't want to buy a separate monitor arm, this isn't for you. The stand is one of the weakest we've seen, with no height adjustment and a wobbly plastic build. The HP OMEN 27qs G2 or the ASUS TUF Gaming VG34VQL1B both come with much sturdier, more adjustable stands. And if you're a console gamer who wants to max out a PS5 or Xbox Series X, you'll want something with HDMI 2.1 and 4K support, which this monitor doesn't offer.

For pure 1080p gaming on a budget, the Sceptre E275B-FPT165 is an easy recommendation. The 165Hz refresh rate over DisplayPort is the real deal, and the IPS panel means you're not sacrificing color quality the way you would with a cheap VA or TN panel. If you're building a budget gaming rig or need a second monitor for your desk, this is a no-brainer at the US price point.

For office work, it's a mixed bag. The IPS panel and 99% sRGB coverage make it perfectly fine for documents, email, and video calls. But the non-adjustable stand means you'll probably want to prop it up on books or invest in a monitor arm. And if you're doing any kind of color-critical creative work, the 55th percentile color score and 1080p resolution at 27 inches will hold you back. This is a gaming monitor first, a productivity tool second.