The Sceptre C248W-1920RN can be considered as a barebones gaming monitor due to its limitations, but it’s a stunningly affordable option. This sub-$80 display features a curved 1080p VA panel that’s perfect for casual gamers who want a cheap fix. Let’s take a closer look at what it offers to know if it’s a great buy or a must-skip.
Sceptre C248W-1920RN Specifications
- Screen Size: 24 Inches
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080p FHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: Vertical Alignment (VA)
- Refresh Rate: 75Hz
- Response Time: 8ms
- Contrast Ratio: 3000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 250 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 2W)
- Stand: Height – No
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (75 x 75)
- Connectivity: HDMI x 1, VGA x 1, 3.5mm Audio Jack
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 21.32” x 15.94” x 7.95”
- Weight: 6.1 lbs
Design and Features
The Sceptre C248W-1920RN is an ultra-budget model, so its aesthetics are not too fancy. The monitor has a matte black finish, so it looks clean and could easily be mistaken for an office display. Its thin bezel design makes it look modern despite its modest specifications.
Its compact by today’s standards, although the circular base might get in the way of some peripherals. However, it only needs 7.95 inches of depth, plus the base is flat so you can use it as a pedestal for smaller accessories. The whole thing is very light at 6.1 pounds, meaning its quite portable yet may feel cheap compared to other strongly built models.
Its build quality isn’t the best, but it is decent compared to some of the cheapest models out there. The plastic panels are thick enough to prevent cracking, but there is some flexing if you squeeze hard enough. The stand can hold the screen upright, but it has some wobbling, especially if you nudge it accidentally.
The Sceptre C248W-1920RN has OSD buttons at the back near the right side of the panel. It’s a bit more painstaking to use compared to a joystick, but its excusable since its so affordable. Gamers who tweak their display settings often will benefit from having a joystick, but for most, its not entirely a necessity.
The included stand only offers tilt, so it is quite limiting when it comes to adjusting for comfort. The monitor may also seem like it rides low or short, so taller users might need to prop it up on a monitor stand or a few thick books. You can use a VESA mount for this model, but that brings your cost up to the point where you can get something better by default.
The Sceptre C248W-1920RN’s connectivity layout only includes one slot each for HDMI 1.4 and VGA. DisplayPort has been essential for gaming models, but 75Hz 1080p doesn’t necessitate it. You also get a 3.5mm jack for headphones, but that’s about it for peripherals.
The monitor also has speakers, but they are limited to 2 watts of power per channel. Its great that they included They don’t sound like they’re gaming grade, but its always nice to have a backup that you can use for other tasks.
Display and Performance
The Sceptre C248W-1920RN sports a 24-inch curved VA panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, a 75Hz refresh rate, and an 8ms response time. The backlight has a 250 cd/m2 output, while the contrast is listed at 3000:1. This model doesn’t have HDR features, but that’s expected since it is an ultra-budget model.
1080p is still the standard for most monitors simply because it’s easy on the eyes and your PC. Even a PC with just an APU can run this monitor decently, so it’s the perfect match for a very affordable PC setup. It’s easy to read and type on it, and games or movies won’t look too sharp.
The Sceptre C248W-1920RN covers 93% of sRGB and 70% DCI-P3, so its not the most vibrant VA monitor out there. Its default accuracy is a bit out of tune with a deltaE average of 2.96. Gamers won’t know the difference, but its going to be noticeable for creators and colorists.
Calibrating the monitor improved its dE average to 1.87, which is a bit more decent and balanced. However, it’s not a fantastic result by prosumer standards, and the color coverage is quite limited. It is not worth getting a colorimeter for this monitor, especially since the gadget costs three times as much as the display itself.
The monitor’s backlight reached 247 cd/m2 at 100%, so its not as bright as most of the other gaming models in the market. Its contrast peaked at 2488:1 at 40% brightness, so it cant produce deeper blacks than most IPS and TN alternatives. Only OLEDs and mini-LED variants are better at this point, but those are exponentially more expensive.
Panel uniformity for the test sample wasn’t the best since its had some backlight leaks on the top and bottom edge. This is extremely common on curved displays, although it can also happen with flat panels. Note that this varies with every monitor made due to tolerances, so there are better units out there.
The Sceptre C248W-1920RN’s weakest link is its slower pixel response time which the company doesn’t hide. Sceptre claims an 8ms response time, unlike other brands who always use 1ms. Fast paced and contrasting transitions will reveal trails and persistence, making the monitor less suited for E-Sports titles.
Thte Sceptre C248W-1920RN doesn’t have FreeSync or G-Sync compatibility since its not physically equipped for it. There are some models that are VRR capable even if they have HDMI, but its not entirely necessary for 1080p 75Hz. Its input lag sits at 9ms at 75Hz, so its till snappy enough for most gaming genres.
Thoughts on the Sceptre C248W-1920RN
The Sceptre C248W-1920RN is a decent choice if you want to spend as little as possible on a stop-gap display. It only has modest specs, but you won’t feel bad about it since it is priced to be one of the cheapest ones out there. It has decent overall performance, so it should be a suitable option for ultra-budget gaming rigs.
However, there are a lot of limitations that will help deter gamers despite the fact that its so cheap. Its only 75Hz, but it also lacks a lot of creature comforts that are expected to be included with a great gaming display. It’s a practical buy, but we think investing a bit more into the purchase will give you a better overall experience.
Pros:
- Very Low Price
- Curved VA
- High Contrast
Cons:
- Limited Gamut
- No DisplayPort
- Prone to Blurring
About the Author: 
Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that 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.
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