Minifire MFG24C1 24 Inch 180Hz Gaming Monitor Review: The Budget Speed Demon’s Double-Edged Sword

There’s a moment every competitive gamer knows well. You’ve rounded a corner, your crosshair perfectly placed, and you’ve got the drop on an opponent. You click, but you’re already staring at a respawn screen. You were out-manoeuvred not by skill, but by technology. Your old 60Hz monitor, a trusty companion for years of browsing and office work, simply couldn’t display the frames fast enough for you to react. It’s a frustrating, gut-wrenching feeling that marks the end of an era. The search for a high-refresh-rate gaming monitor begins, but it’s a journey fraught with peril. The market is flooded with options, and premium price tags often guard the gates to smooth, tear-free gameplay. The challenge isn’t just finding speed; it’s finding speed that doesn’t liquidate your savings. This is the exact predicament that leads players to discover monitors like the Minifire MFG24C1 24 Inch 180Hz Gaming Monitor, a display that promises blistering performance at a price that seems almost too good to be true.

What to Consider Before Buying a Gaming Monitor

A gaming monitor is more than just a screen; it’s your window into digital worlds. It’s a key solution for translating your PC’s raw power into a tangible, visual advantage. A great monitor can reduce input lag, eliminate distracting screen tearing, and provide the fluid motion necessary to track fast-moving targets in an FPS or appreciate the cinematic sweep of a vast open world. The main benefits are clear: improved reaction times, a more immersive experience, and reduced eye strain during long sessions thanks to technologies like flicker-free backlights and blue light filters. It bridges the gap between your hardware’s potential and your actual in-game performance.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who prioritizes gameplay fluidity and responsiveness above all else. This includes competitive esports players on a budget, enthusiasts upgrading from a standard 60Hz display for the first time, and gamers who want a high-performance second monitor. It’s for those who understand that a high refresh rate and low response time are critical for games like Valorant, CS:GO, or Apex Legends. Conversely, it might not be the best fit for digital artists, photographers, or video editors who demand perfect colour accuracy and 4K resolution. For them, a monitor like the BenQ PD2705U, with its focus on colour fidelity over speed, would be a more suitable, albeit more expensive, alternative. Similarly, those with high-end GPUs might want a 1440p or 4K screen to match their hardware’s capabilities.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Panel Type & Size: The Minifire uses a VA (Vertical Alignment) panel, known for excellent contrast ratios (deep blacks) and good viewing angles, but sometimes susceptible to slower pixel response times than TN panels. A 24-inch screen is the sweet spot for 1080p resolution, providing a sharp image without requiring an ultra-powerful graphics card. Ensure this size fits your desk space and viewing distance.
• Performance Metrics: The headline features are Refresh Rate (Hz) and Response Time (ms). 180Hz means the screen can display 180 frames per second, creating exceptionally smooth motion. A 1ms response time (often a GtG or MPRT measurement) reduces motion blur and ghosting. Also, consider adaptive sync technology—the Minifire’s FreeSync synchronizes the monitor’s refresh rate with your AMD GPU’s frame output to prevent screen tearing.
• Build Quality & Ergonomics: A monitor’s stand is its foundation. Look for adjustability (tilt, swivel, height) to ensure proper ergonomics. The MFG24C1’s included stand offers basic tilt, but its stability has been questioned. VESA compatibility is a huge plus, allowing you to use a more robust third-party monitor arm for better positioning and stability.
• Connectivity & Features: Ensure the monitor has the ports you need. The Minifire MFG24C1 provides one HDMI and one DisplayPort, which is standard. To achieve the full 180Hz, you will almost certainly need to use the DisplayPort connection. Bonus features like built-in speakers, HDR support, and gaming overlays (like a crosshair) can add value, but their quality can vary wildly in budget models.

Keeping these factors in mind, the Minifire MFG24C1 24 Inch 180Hz Gaming Monitor stands out in several areas, particularly its on-paper performance for the price. You can explore its detailed specifications here.

While the Minifire MFG24C1 24 Inch 180Hz Gaming Monitor is an excellent choice for its category, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, especially if you’re considering a leap to higher resolutions, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

Unboxing the Minifire MFG24C1: First Impressions and Features

The Minifire MFG24C1 24 Inch 180Hz Gaming Monitor arrived in a relatively compact box, securely packed with foam inserts protecting the panel. Pulling it out, the first thing we noticed was its weight—or lack thereof. At just 2.45kg, it’s incredibly light, which made assembly a breeze but also planted the first seed of doubt about its build quality. Assembly itself was tool-free and straightforward; the two-pronged stand clicks into a central column, which then slots into the back of the monitor. The entire process took less than five minutes.

Powering it on, the “frameless” design is aesthetically pleasing, with thin bezels on three sides that make it a good candidate for a multi-monitor setup. The 1500R curve is subtle but noticeable, gently wrapping the image around your field of view. The initial picture quality was vibrant, thanks to the advertised 130% sRGB colour gamut, and navigating the on-screen display (OSD) with the rear-mounted buttons was functional, if a little clunky. Included in the box were an HDMI cable, a power cord, and the user manual—everything needed to get started, though we immediately swapped to our own DisplayPort cable to ensure we could hit that 180Hz ceiling.

Deep Dive: Deconstructing the Minifire MFG24C1’s Performance

A spec sheet can only tell you so much. To truly understand a monitor, you have to put it through its paces—from the pixel-perfect demands of competitive shooters to the mundane reality of daily desktop use. We spent weeks with the Minifire MFG24C1 24 Inch 180Hz Gaming Monitor, testing its claims and uncovering the nuances that define its real-world performance.

The Main Event: 180Hz Fluidity and Response

Let’s be clear: the single biggest reason to consider this monitor is its refresh rate. Moving from 60Hz to 180Hz is a transformative experience, and in this regard, the Minifire MFG24C1 delivers. After connecting via DisplayPort and enabling the 180Hz mode in Windows display settings, the difference was immediate. Even just moving the cursor across the desktop felt incredibly slick and responsive. In-game is where it truly shines. Playing fast-paced titles like Overwatch 2 and Apex Legends, the gameplay was buttery smooth. Tracking moving targets became significantly easier, and quick 180-degree turns felt seamless, without the judder or screen tearing that plagues lower-refresh-rate displays. We enabled AMD FreeSync, which worked flawlessly with our test rig’s Radeon GPU, completely eliminating any tearing during intense firefights where frame rates fluctuated.

The advertised 1ms response time, likely an MPRT (Moving Picture Response Time) figure, helps keep motion blur to a minimum. While hardcore pixel-peepers might notice some minor ghosting inherent to VA panels, for the vast majority of players, the image remained sharp and clear during fast action. This experience aligns with feedback from users who praised its gaming-centric features, with one noting it has “different settings like fps and racing and has crosshairs,” which we found in the slightly cumbersome OSD. These presets adjust gamma and sharpness for specific genres, and the crosshair overlay is a classic feature for those who enjoy it. However, it’s worth noting the negative reports. A few users claimed the monitor “won’t play most of my games” or that the company “lied about the 180HZ.” In our testing, the monitor performed exactly as advertised, suggesting these issues could stem from using the wrong cable (HDMI 1.4 is limited), incorrect settings, or, unfortunately, a defective unit—a recurring theme we’ll touch on later.

Visual Fidelity: A Curved Canvas of Colour and Contrast

While speed is king, a gaming monitor still needs to produce a compelling image. The MFG24C1’s VA panel is its greatest strength and weakness. The 3000:1 static contrast ratio is a clear advantage over budget IPS and TN panels, producing deep, inky blacks that add depth and atmosphere to darker games like Diablo IV or cinematic titles. The 1500R curvature enhances this, pulling you into the game world and creating a more immersive experience, especially when sitting at a typical desk distance. We found it to be a comfortable curve that didn’t distort straight lines in desktop applications.

Colour reproduction is surprisingly strong for this price point. The claim of 130% sRGB gamut coverage translates to rich, saturated colours that pop off the screen. While they may not be perfectly accurate for professional photo editing, they make games look vibrant and exciting. We found the picture quality to be an “8/10,” as one user put it, which is a fair assessment. However, out of the box, the brightness was indeed quite high, as another user noted, sometimes making the screen “to bright.” A few minutes in the OSD to lower the brightness and tweak the colour temperature resulted in a much more balanced and comfortable image. The HDR support is rudimentary at best. With a peak brightness of 300 cd/m², it doesn’t meet any of the VESA DisplayHDR standards and acts more like a dynamic contrast mode. Enabling it can sometimes crush details in bright or dark scenes, but in some games, it added a little extra punch. It’s a feature that’s nice to have on the box, but not a primary reason to buy this monitor.

Build, Design, and The Achilles’ Heel

Here is where the budget nature of the Minifire MFG24C1 24 Inch 180Hz Gaming Monitor becomes most apparent. The design is modern and sleek with its thin bezels, but the materials are lightweight plastic. The primary issue, echoed loud and clear in user feedback, is the stand. One reviewer summed it up perfectly: “the stand isn’t the best. Kinda wobbly.” We can confirm this wholeheartedly. Any significant bump to the desk sends the monitor into a noticeable wobble. It holds the screen up, but it instills very little confidence. Furthermore, it offers no height or swivel adjustment, only a limited range of tilt, making ergonomics a challenge without stacking books underneath it.

Thankfully, Minifire included VESA 75x75mm mounting holes, which we consider an essential feature for this model. Transferring the monitor to a basic VESA desk arm was a night-and-day improvement, providing stability and full ergonomic control. However, another user pointed out a valid design flaw: “The vesa mount is all the way at the bottom of the display.” This low placement means that if you use a larger VESA plate (e.g., one that supports 100x100mm as well), the plate can stick out below the monitor’s chassis, which is an aesthetic annoyance. We also noted the issue of cable management, as another user described: “The rear connections are located quite low so you can see the plugs and cables under the screen.” It’s a minor detail, but it detracts from the otherwise clean look.

The Peripheral Experience: Sound, Connectivity, and Quality Control

We need to address the built-in speakers, and there’s no way to sugarcoat it: they are atrocious. One user stated, “my phones speaker is 100000x better,” and this is not an exaggeration. The sound is tinny, hollow, lacks any bass, and has extremely low maximum volume. They are functional for hearing a Windows notification and nothing more. We strongly advise anyone purchasing this monitor to have a dedicated set of speakers or a headset ready; relying on the built-in audio is simply not a viable option.

Connectivity is adequate, with one HDMI 1.4 port and one DisplayPort 1.2 port. As mentioned, DisplayPort is required for the full 180Hz experience. The lack of USB-C or additional ports is understandable at this price. However, the most significant variable with the Minifire MFG24C1 appears to be quality control. While our review unit was flawless with no dead pixels or screen defects, numerous user reports paint a different picture. We saw complaints of “red lines and dots all over screen,” “white spots appeared all over the screen,” and screens arriving damaged or DOA. There was even a user who measured the display and found it to be 22 inches instead of 24. While these represent a worst-case scenario, it suggests that manufacturing consistency may not be on par with more established brands. On a positive note, one user who received a faulty unit praised the customer service, who “reached out to me and made things right. New monitor sent out,” which is a reassuring sign for post-purchase support.

What Other Users Are Saying

Synthesizing the user feedback provides a balanced, if polarized, view of the Minifire MFG24C1 24 Inch 180Hz Gaming Monitor. On the positive side, many users are thrilled with the value proposition. One happy customer stated it’s an “Amazing product” and “great” if you’re looking for a gaming monitor around the £100 price point. Another felt it was so good for gaming that it “should be worth like 500.” This sentiment is common among those who receive a fully functional unit and are primarily focused on the high refresh rate.

However, the negative feedback highlights a significant risk of quality control issues. Reports of screens being “absolutely shocking” with “red lines and dots” or developing “white spots after very little use” are serious concerns. The most scathing review called it “absolutely garbage,” citing a cloudy screen and non-functional performance. The abysmal speaker quality is a near-universal complaint, and the wobbly stand is the most frequently cited design flaw even in positive reviews. These conflicting experiences suggest that buying this monitor can be a bit of a lottery: you might get a fantastic budget gaming panel, or you might have to deal with a return or a warranty claim.

How the Minifire MFG24C1 Compares to the Alternatives

No product exists in a vacuum. To truly gauge the value of the Minifire MFG24C1 24 Inch 180Hz Gaming Monitor, we need to see how it stacks up against other options in and around its market segment.

1. CHiQ 22F650 22 Inch FHD 100Hz Monitor

The CHiQ 22F650 is a direct competitor in the ultra-budget space but targets a slightly different user. It’s smaller at 22 inches and has a lower refresh rate of 100Hz. While 100Hz is still a noticeable improvement over 60Hz, it can’t match the extreme fluidity of the Minifire’s 180Hz. The CHiQ is also a flat panel, which may be preferable for productivity tasks but is less immersive for gaming. It also includes a legacy VGA port alongside HDMI, making it a viable option for older systems. You might prefer the CHiQ if your budget is exceptionally tight and you’re looking for a compact, general-purpose monitor that can handle some light gaming on the side.

2. BenQ PD2705U 27″ 4K UHD Designer Monitor

The BenQ PD2705U exists in a completely different universe. This is a professional-grade tool for content creators. Its strengths are the Minifire’s weaknesses: a larger 27-inch 4K UHD resolution for incredible detail, a factory-calibrated IPS panel for superb colour accuracy, and extensive connectivity including USB-C with power delivery. However, it’s typically limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, making it a poor choice for competitive gaming. A creative professional, programmer, or someone who consumes a lot of 4K media would choose the BenQ without a second thought, whereas a competitive gamer would find its slow refresh rate unacceptable. It highlights the trade-off between speed and resolution/accuracy.

3. Gawfolk 27″ 2K 120Hz Gaming Monitor

The Gawfolk monitor represents a logical step up from the Minifire. It offers a larger 27-inch screen and a higher 1440p (QHD/2K) resolution, providing a much sharper and more detailed image. This makes it better for immersive single-player games and general productivity. The trade-off is a lower refresh rate of 120Hz. While not as fast as the Minifire’s 180Hz, 120Hz is still very smooth and considered a sweet spot for many gamers. This is the monitor for a player with a more powerful GPU who wants to balance visual fidelity with high-refresh-rate performance and is willing to spend a bit more to get that sharper QHD picture.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Minifire MFG24C1?

The Minifire MFG24C1 24 Inch 180Hz Gaming Monitor is a product of exhilarating highs and concerning lows. When you get a good unit, it’s an almost unbeatable value proposition. The 180Hz refresh rate delivers the hyper-smooth gameplay that competitive players crave, the VA panel provides surprisingly punchy colours and deep blacks, and the 1500R curve adds a tangible layer of immersion. For a gamer on a strict budget, upgrading from a standard 60Hz screen to this monitor will be a revelation.

However, this value comes with significant caveats. The wobbly stand is a near-mandatory replacement for anyone who values stability, the built-in speakers are unusable for anything beyond system alerts, and the reports of quality control issues are too frequent to ignore. This monitor is for the budget-conscious gamer who is willing to roll the dice on quality control and understands the compromises being made, primarily in build quality and peripheral features. If raw panel speed is your one and only priority and you’re prepared to mount it on a VESA arm, the Minifire MFG24C1 offers a taste of high-end gaming performance for a rock-bottom price.

If you’ve decided the Minifire MFG24C1 24 Inch 180Hz Gaming Monitor is the right fit for your setup, you can check its current price and purchase it here.