The Lenovo G25-10 is easily one of the most affordable 144Hz monitors around at more or less $130 which is the cheapest we’ve seen so far. It has a less desirable TN panel, but you have to remember that the panel tech is preferred for fast games because of its properties. The Lenovo G25-10 is an attractive option for those who want to save as much cash as possible, but let’s check out if it’s worth getting.
Lenovo G25-10 Specifications
- Screen Size: 25 Inches
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080p FHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: Twisted Nematic (TN)
- Refresh Rate: 144Hz
- Response Time: 1ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 320 cd/m² (400 cd/m² Peak)
- Built-in Speakers: No
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes 100 x 100
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 1.4 x 1, 3.5mm Audio Jack x 1
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 21.94” x 18.8” x 9.24”
- Weight: 11.2 lbs
Design and Features
The Lenovo G25-10 looks just like any other monitor with its simplified aesthetic that works better for the majority than the gamer-centric designs. The monitor is finished in matte black with minimalist vibes, so it will not sorely stick out of your setup. The display is bezel-free on three sides so the screen looks larger than it actually is even if there are inner borders on the panel.
24-inch monitors like the Lenovo G25-10 don’t take up a lot of space, so they are viable options for those who live in apartments or dorms. It also doesn’t weigh a lot at 11 pounds, so it can be lugged around for LAN parties if you and your mates are still into that thing. We think that the stand is oversized for the monitor itself but at least it gives it a lot of footing to avoid toppling over.
The Lenovo G25-10 has decent build quality even if it uses mostly plastic on the chassis and the stand. We didn’t notice any flexing on the panels and we didn’t see any cosmetic defects on every square inch of surface on the device. The included stand is stable and durable, so there is little need to spend money and replace it with an aftermarket option.
The Lenovo G25-10’s OSD uses a simplified layout, but you still have to contend with OSD buttons in accessing or manipulating it. The keys are responsive, but it’s easy to press the wrong button unintentionally. We prefer joysticks instead, but it is hard to argue with this model due to its very low price.
The included stand for the Lenovo G25-10 offers tilt and height adjustments which are decent for daily use. It is also VESA compatible, so you can opt for aftermarket mounts if you plan to build a multi-monitor array or if you simply want to save space. Although you should keep in mind that the cost of a VESA arm and this product might cost as much as a better-equipped 144Hz monitor like the AOC 24G2.
The Lenovo G25-10 is a budget monitor, so it only includes the essentials in its I/O layout. You only get a slot each for DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4, and a 3.5mm jack for headphones. That isn’t bad since you can connect a PC and a gaming console on the side, but there is some room for improvement in this regard.
The Lenovo G25-10 doesn’t have speakers, however, we think that these omissions are forgivable since the monitor is so cheap. You still get to enjoy smooth gaming even if the extras aren’t there, plus you only spend an amount which usually only pays for a regular office display.
Display and Performance
The Lenovo G25-10 sports a 24-inch TN panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response time. The contrast ratio is listed at 1000:1 while the backlight has typical 320 cd/m2 brightness and a 400 cd/m2 peak. What’s surprising about this monitor is it is HDR-capable but in a limited fashion.
24-inch screens with a 1080p resolution are always perfect and well-balanced for everyday use. Gamers will love it since it’s easy to get high framerates with most GPUs and you won’t struggle with productivity since most of us are used to 1920 x 1080 screens. It doesn’t provide a lot of space or crispness, but it’s still the universal standard in every type of computing use.
The Lenovo G25-10 is capable of 99% sRGB and around 78% DCI-P3 gamut coverage which is decent for a TN panel. Accuracy out of the box is great since the deltaE average sits at 1.03, and that’s fantastic for a sub-$150 gaming monitor. The only issue with the monitor is its gamma which biases towards 2.3, resulting in scenes becoming darker than they should be.
Calibrating the monitor can improve the accuracy average to 0.75, but it isn’t necessary for the monitor’s intended purpose. The price of a colorimeter is also prohibitive since it’s more expensive than the monitor itself. Most users will be happy with a few tweaks such as lowering the brightness to a more comfortable setting.
The backlight on the Lenovo G25-10 reached a peak of 395 cd/m2 when it is fed an HDR signal and around 350 cd/m2 in SDR mode. That’s again, impressive for a budget monitor that tries to squeeze as much performance as possible into an affordable package. However, the screen’s contrast ratio is where it drops the ball since it is limited to 800:1 at 50% brightness.
Panel uniformity for the Lenovo G25-10 is near perfect since there are no hotspots on the screen’s quadrants. There is some clouding when an all-black image is shown, but it isn’t noticeable when a game or any media is on the screen. this could vary between every unit, but TN monitors are generally safe from issues like backlight bleeding, unlike IPS and sometimes, VA displays.
Blurring isn’t an issue on the Lenovo G25-10 since it uses a TN panel which generally has faster pixel response times than IPS and VA. Some minor persistence can still happen, but the monitor’s overdrive at its normal setting already takes care of that. The Extreme Level isn’t usable since it adds a noticeable halo to objects or some overshoot in fast-paced scenes.
The Lenovo G25-10 is a FreeSync monitor, but it also works flawlessly with Nvidia’s G-Sync Compatible mode. This duality is great if you want to extend the value of your money since you don’t have to ditch the monitor if you switch to the other GPU brand in the future. Input lag sits at 5ms at 144Hz, so there is no need to worry about de-synced instances or delays while gaming.
Thoughts on the Lenovo G25-10
The Lenovo G25-10 is one of the surprising monitor picks this year due to its low price and great performance. The monitor should have a disadvantage because it uses a TN panel, but its vibrancy and accuracy are superb. You get a fast and responsive monitor for the price of an office variant, It also works with FreeSync and G-Sync compatible without any fuss unlike some of the more expensive offerings in the market.
There are a few shortcomings on the Lenovo G25-10, but we think that’s forgivable this time. The money you pay is focused on the screen and its performance, and that matters more for gamers and enthusiasts. The Lenovo G25-10 is a fantastic buy if you want a smooth and blur-free screen for E-Sports games that don’t cost an arm and a leg.
Pros:
- Very Affordable 144Hz Gaming Monitor
- Excellent Image Quality for a TN Panel
- Fast Pixel Response Time and Low Input Lag
- FreeSync/G-Sync Compatible
Cons:
- Stand Only Offers Tilt and Height Adjustment
- No Speakers
- OSD Buttons
About the Author:
Paolo is a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since his junior high years. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations and he believes that it’s every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
Balder Dyekjær says
Hello ! I was wondering if you had any recommendations for the lighting/color settings when playing games on this monitor. The gaming section offers some presets and I was wondering if I should use these, or just keep the standard settings. And should I enable sRGB? Thank you.
Paolo Reva says
Hi, Balder! The presets won’t be the most accurate when measured with a colorimeter. They are designed to highlight some key imaging aspects, so use them as needed for the games you play. We usually recommend the standard settings for the best possible balance, while sRGB modes are often useful for editing purposes. we’ll leave it up to your preference, since the monitor’s appearance to you and how good it looks is what matters more over deltaE averages. Cheers!