KOORUI G2421V 24 Inch 180Hz QHD Gaming Monitor Review: The Budget QHD King We’ve Been Waiting For?

For years, gamers on a budget have been forced to make a difficult choice. Do you prioritise a high refresh rate for silky-smooth gameplay, or do you opt for a higher resolution for crisp, detailed visuals? Getting both in one package often meant venturing into a price bracket that was simply out of reach for many. I’ve been there myself, scrolling through endless product pages, comparing spec sheets, and feeling that familiar pang of disappointment when the monitor that ticks all the boxes costs more than my graphics card. The compromise was always resolution. We settled for 1080p because 144Hz was non-negotiable for competitive titles. But what if that compromise was no longer necessary? What if a monitor existed that offered not just a high refresh rate, but a sharp Quad HD resolution, all without demanding a king’s ransom? This is the very problem the KOORUI G2421V 24 Inch 180Hz QHD Gaming Monitor claims to solve, and we were incredibly keen to put that claim to the test.

What to Consider Before Buying a Gaming Monitor

A gaming monitor is more than just a screen; it’s your window into digital worlds and the critical link between you and your in-game performance. It’s a key solution for translating your computer’s power into a tangible, fluid visual experience. The right monitor can give you a competitive edge by displaying frames faster, reducing motion blur, and making enemies easier to spot. Conversely, a subpar monitor can bottleneck even the most powerful gaming rig, resulting in screen tearing, lag, and a frustratingly blurry image that holds you back when every millisecond counts.

The ideal customer for a high-performance, budget-oriented monitor like this is a PC or console gamer who wants to step up their competitive game without emptying their wallet. This includes players of fast-paced FPS titles like Valorant or Apex Legends, as well as those who enjoy immersive single-player adventures and want to appreciate them in greater-than-HD detail. However, it might not be the best fit for professional graphic designers or video editors who require absolute colour precision and wider gamuts like Adobe RGB or DCI-P3. For them, a professional-grade colour-accurate display, albeit with a lower refresh rate, would be a more suitable, albeit more expensive, alternative.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Resolution & Screen Size: The combination of resolution (the number of pixels) and screen size determines pixel density, or how sharp the image appears. The sweet spot for many gamers is QHD (2560 x 1440) on a 27-inch screen. The KOORUI’s unique proposition is packing that same QHD resolution into a more compact 24-inch panel, resulting in an exceptionally high pixel density for razor-sharp clarity.
• Refresh Rate & Response Time: Refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), is how many times per second the screen updates the image. A higher number, like 180Hz, means smoother motion. Response time, measured in milliseconds (ms), is how quickly pixels can change colour. A low 1ms response time is crucial for minimising ghosting and motion blur in fast-action scenes.
• Panel Technology: The three main types are TN, VA, and IPS. TN panels are the fastest but have poor colours and viewing angles. VA panels offer great contrast but can suffer from slower response times. IPS panels, especially “Fast IPS” like the one used here, provide the best of both worlds: excellent colour reproduction, wide viewing angles, and response times fast enough for competitive gaming.
• Sync Technology & Connectivity: Adaptive Sync (which includes FreeSync and G-SYNC compatibility) synchronises the monitor’s refresh rate with your GPU’s frame output to eliminate screen tearing. Also, ensure the monitor has the right ports for your hardware. DisplayPort is typically required to achieve the highest refresh rates on PC, while HDMI 2.0 is essential for consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

Keeping these factors in mind, the KOORUI G2421V 24 Inch 180Hz QHD Gaming Monitor stands out in several areas. You can explore its detailed specifications and current pricing here.

While the KOORUI G2421V 24 Inch 180Hz QHD Gaming Monitor is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

Unboxing and First Impressions: Lean, Mean, Gaming Machine

Pulling the KOORUI G2421V 24 Inch 180Hz QHD Gaming Monitor from its box, the first thing we noticed was its straightforward, no-frills design. The packaging is secure and practical, containing the panel, a two-part stand, a power brick, and crucially, a DisplayPort cable – something not all budget monitors include. Assembly is a tool-less, five-minute affair: the base screws into the neck by hand, and the neck clips firmly into the back of the monitor. The build is predominantly plastic, which is expected at this price point, but it feels solid enough. The stand offers a decent tilt adjustment from -5° to 20° but lacks height or swivel functionality. Thankfully, its VESA 75x75mm compatibility means you can easily upgrade to a more ergonomic monitor arm. Once assembled, the monitor has a modern aesthetic with impressively thin bezels on three sides, making it a great candidate for a dual-monitor setup. Powering it on for the first time, we were immediately struck by the sharpness and brightness of the display, a promising start for a monitor with such a bold spec sheet.

Deep Dive: Deconstructing the KOORUI G2421V’s Performance

On paper, the specs are almost too good to be true for the price. A 24-inch Fast IPS panel pushing a 2560×1440 resolution at 180Hz is a combination that, until recently, belonged to a much higher tier of monitors. We spent weeks testing this monitor across a spectrum of activities, from competitive shooters and sprawling RPGs to daily productivity tasks, to see if the real-world experience lives up to the promise.

QHD Resolution at 24 Inches: A Pixel Density Powerhouse

The standout feature of the KOORUI G2421V 24 Inch 180Hz QHD Gaming Monitor is undoubtedly its resolution-to-size ratio. By packing 1440p into a 24-inch frame, it achieves a pixel density of approximately 123 pixels per inch (PPI). This is significantly higher than a 27-inch 1440p monitor (~109 PPI) and a massive leap from a standard 24-inch 1080p monitor (~92 PPI). In practical terms, this translates to an incredibly sharp, crisp image. Text is razor-sharp, making it excellent for reading documents or browsing the web. In games, the level of detail is phenomenal. We could easily spot distant enemies in games like Battlefield 2042 that would have been a blurry smudge on a 1080p display. This sentiment is echoed by users, with one noting the picture is “very bright and clear.” In visually rich games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Baldur’s Gate 3, textures on armour, environmental details, and character models pop with a clarity that genuinely enhances the immersion. It feels like upgrading from a standard definition TV to high definition all over again. Some might argue 24 inches is too small for QHD, but we found it to be a perfect match, eliminating the need for scaling in Windows and providing a clean, pixel-perfect image right out of the box.

180Hz and 1ms Response: The Competitive Edge is Real

For competitive gamers, this is where the monitor truly shines. The jump from a standard 60Hz monitor to 180Hz is transformative. We fired up Valorant and CS2, and the difference was night and day. Aiming feels incredibly responsive and fluid; tracking fast-moving targets becomes intuitive rather than reactive. The on-screen action is buttery smooth, with none of the stuttering or judder associated with lower refresh rates. This experience is confirmed by multiple users, with one stating, “The 180hz looks super smooth,” and another calling it a “perfect cheap option for competitive gaming.” The 1ms response time of the Fast IPS panel does an excellent job of keeping motion blur and ghosting to a minimum. During our testing, we observed clean and clear motion even in the most chaotic firefights, with very little of the smearing that can plague slower VA panels. Furthermore, the Adaptive Sync technology worked flawlessly with our NVIDIA graphics card (it’s G-SYNC Compatible), eliminating any screen tearing and ensuring a smooth experience even when frame rates fluctuated. For console players, the monitor is equally impressive, as it capably handles 1440p at 120Hz on both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, providing a significant upgrade over standard 60Hz displays. To get this level of motion clarity and smoothness at this price is frankly astounding. It’s a feature set that can directly improve your performance, making the KOORUI G2421V an incredible value proposition for any aspiring esports athlete.

Fast IPS Panel: More Than Just Speed

While speed is the main attraction, the underlying Fast IPS panel technology ensures that the visual quality isn’t sacrificed. We were immediately impressed by the colour reproduction. With 99% sRGB coverage, the colours are vibrant and punchy without being oversaturated. This was confirmed by one user who praised the “great quality monitors with vibrant colors.” Games looked lively and accurate, and it’s even suitable for hobbyist-level photo editing or content creation where sRGB accuracy is sufficient. The viewing angles are another major strength, typical of IPS technology. The image remains consistent in colour and contrast even when viewed from extreme off-angles, which is a huge advantage over older TN panels. Brightness is rated at 400 nits and supports HDR 400. While this is an entry-level form of HDR and won’t compete with high-end OLED or FALD displays, it does provide a noticeable boost in dynamic range, making highlights brighter and shadows deeper in supported games and media. We did note one user’s feedback that “color is slightly dimmer than my other monitor” and another who found colours “very weird on anything that isn’t an actual video game.” In our testing, we found the default colour profile was slightly cool, but a few quick adjustments in the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu brought it to a more neutral and pleasing balance. The OSD itself is controlled by a single joystick on the back, which is intuitive and far superior to the multi-button setups on many other budget monitors.

What Other Users Are Saying

Looking through feedback from fellow users, the overwhelmingly positive sentiment centres on one key theme: unbelievable value. One user perfectly captured this, calling the KOORUI G2421V 24 Inch 180Hz QHD Gaming Monitor an “absolute beast for the price,” adding that the quality is “genuinely scary considering it was only £120.” Another was simply “in absolute love” and urged others not to hesitate. This aligns perfectly with our findings; the performance you get for your money is the monitor’s defining characteristic.

However, no product is perfect, especially in the budget category. The negative feedback we encountered primarily revolved around quality control, which can be a risk with value-focused brands. One user reported their unit “Came to me broken,” while another experienced glitching after a few months of use where the screen would “just go black” during graphically intense moments. While these reports appear to be outliers compared to the wave of positive reviews, they are important to acknowledge. It highlights the trade-off that sometimes comes with such a competitive price point, though the included 3-year warranty should provide some peace of mind.

How Does the KOORUI G2421V Compare to the Alternatives?

The KOORUI G2421V 24 Inch 180Hz QHD Gaming Monitor carves out a unique niche, but it’s important to see how it stacks up against other options you might be considering.

1. Philips 24E1N1100A 24 Inch 100Hz IPS Monitor

The Philips 24E1N1100A is geared more towards general productivity and light gaming rather than high-performance competition. Its primary advantages are the inclusion of built-in speakers and a slightly lower price point. However, it makes significant compromises in performance, offering only a 1080p resolution and a 100Hz refresh rate. For anyone serious about gaming, the KOORUI’s leap to 1440p resolution and a much faster 180Hz refresh rate provides a vastly superior experience that is well worth the small additional investment. The Philips is a solid choice for a budget home office monitor, but the KOORUI is in a different league for gaming.

2. KOORUI 32-inch Curved 1440p 170Hz Gaming Monitor

If you crave a more immersive experience, this 32-inch curved monitor from KOORUI is a compelling alternative. It maintains the same sharp 1440p resolution and a similarly high 170Hz refresh rate, but on a much larger, curved screen. The trade-off is the panel technology; it uses a VA panel, which delivers deeper blacks and higher contrast, great for cinematic games in a dark room. However, VA panels can sometimes exhibit more motion blur or “black smearing” than the Fast IPS panel in the G2421V. Choose this 32-inch model if screen size and immersion are your top priorities; stick with the 24-inch G2421V for the sharpest possible image and the cleanest motion response for competitive play.

3. AOC 24G15N 24 Inch 180Hz Gaming Monitor

The AOC Gaming 24G15N is perhaps the most direct competitor in terms of gaming feel. It matches the KOORUI’s 24-inch size and 180Hz refresh rate, offering a similarly fluid and responsive experience for fast-paced games. The crucial difference, however, is the resolution. The AOC is a Full HD (1920×1080) monitor. While this makes it easier for lower-end graphics cards to achieve high frame rates, the visual clarity is a significant step down from the KOORUI’s QHD (2560×1440) panel. If your budget absolutely cannot stretch and you only play competitive titles where frames are everything, the AOC is a viable option. But for a superior all-around experience that excels in both speed and detail, the KOORUI’s QHD display is the clear winner.

Our Final Verdict: A New Champion in Budget Gaming

After extensive testing, we can confidently say that the KOORUI G2421V 24 Inch 180Hz QHD Gaming Monitor is a game-changer in the budget monitor market. It delivers a combination of features—QHD resolution, a 180Hz refresh rate, and a fast, colourful IPS panel—that was previously unattainable at this price point. The sharpness of the image is simply outstanding, and the fluidity in motion provides a tangible competitive advantage. While it makes sensible cuts to reach its price, such as a basic stand and no built-in speakers, these are easily addressed with a VESA mount and headphones.

We recommend this monitor without hesitation to any PC or console gamer looking for the best possible performance without breaking the bank. It redefines what we should expect from a budget gaming display, offering a premium experience for a fraction of the cost. It’s a rare product that doesn’t just meet expectations but completely shatters them.

If you’ve decided the KOORUI G2421V 24 Inch 180Hz QHD Gaming Monitor is the right fit, you can check its current price and purchase it here.