Various Perspectives on the Acer KG241Q low-cost but yet having sufficient clarity and contrast

acer kg241q

The Acer KG241Q is inexpensive yet provides adequate contrast and resolution for commonplace tasks like using a web browser or Office software. The low cost, however, comes with a number of downsides.

The Acer is one of the cheapest 24-inch monitors available from a major manufacturer, costing about INR 9,000 – 10,000, i.e., approximately £113 in the United Kingdom and $125 in the United States.

At that price, the Acer is an enticing alternative if you need a good screen but don’t want to spend lots of money. However, cheaper goods typically lack features and are of worse quality, so let’s test the KG241Q to see whether it can defy the trend.

Build and Design

  • A sleek, understated black plastic design
  • Lightweight, minimal, and straightforward construction
  • Have few knobs to turn

The Acer display has the appearance and feel of a budget item. It uses bulky bezels and old, glossy plastic instead of the narrow bezels and elegant metal of more expensive screens. The stand is unremarkable, and it has a dull plastic back. The 4.42-kilogram weight is manageable, and the 567-by-61-millimeter screen doesn’t take up much desk space.

It’s also simple to initiate. The little stand clips in without the need for any tools and the base is attached with only one screw. There isn’t much in the way of customization here; you can tilt the screen 20 degrees in either direction and attach it using a 100mm VESA (configuration of the four mounting holes on the back of a flat panel TV or computer monitor) pattern, but you can’t change the height, and it won’t work in portrait mode.

The screen may be toggled using the buttons along the bottom bezel. They’re not perfect, but they’ll do, and they’re probably easier to use than a joystick around the back of the screen. Even if the on-screen menu is sluggish and simple, it provides access to all the most common adjustments, such as color adjustments and mode selection.

Details and Technical Specifications

  • The display is a 1080p TN screen with a basic 75Hz refresh rate
  • The color depth of just 8 bits, which is insufficient for artistic endeavors
  • There are two HDMI inputs and one VGA input, but neither a DisplayPort nor a USB port

The Acer has a straightforward layout and basic features. TN technology, used for the underlying display, is currently the most cost-effective method of making flatscreen displays. However, compared to VA and IPS displays, TN panels fall short in colour accuracy and viewing angles.

The Full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 is enough for regular tasks, but it will become a bottleneck when you need to see more than two windows or apps simultaneously. The Acer only has the capability for 8-bit colors, not the more advanced 10-bit colors, making it unsuitable for color-critical work.

AMD FreeSync provides smooth movement in everyday apps and casual games on the Acer, but it isn’t fast enough for esports titles and doesn’t have the quality for the best single-player experiences.

The KG241Q lacks DisplayPort and USB connectors, however, it does contain two HDMI inputs and a VGA port for usage with older devices. You can’t listen to music or make phone calls because there are no speakers or earbud jack.

Performance

  • Adequately deep and varied contrast
  • Lackluster and restricted color accuracy
  • Poor homogeneity and limited field of vision

The quality of the base-level TN panel is barely sufficient for regular use. The Acer’s default settings offered a brightness and a black point of 0.2cd/m2, for a contrast ratio of 1,185:1. Those are good numbers, and they indicate that your screen can display web pages, Office programs, and YouTube videos with a respectable level of brightness, depth, and vibrancy.

That was the case even with the panel dimmed in half, and the KG241Q’s maximum brightness of 313 nits is more than adequate for usage inside. Due to the poor color reproduction of TN screens, Acer’s display makes everything seem icy and drab. Even the other screen modes don’t do a good job compared to the factory defaults, which play about with things like brightness and color.

As expected, the display degrades rapidly in quality when seen from an angle. Moreover, the panel’s backlight strength was reduced by as much as 16% around the panel’s edges, which was particularly disappointing given the tiny size of the display.

Although Acer’s TN panel provides passable contrast, its colors, uniformity, and viewing angles all exceed expectations. Overall, it offers sufficient quality to support web surfing, online video streaming, and office program use, but that’s about it; the Acer lacks the precision, fidelity, and nuance to perform color-critical tasks.

Retail Cost and Availability

As the cheapest monitor in Acer’s KG1 series, the KG241Q can be purchased for INR 9,000 – 10,000, i.e., approximately £113 in the United Kingdom and $125 in the United States. 

Two more versions are also available in this price bracket. The KG241QBM can be purchased for £114 with the component number UM.UX1EE.001 and is also an option. Similar to the display we just reviewed, but with built-in 2W stereo speakers for your listening pleasure.

Acer also offers bigger 25in, 27in, and 28in screens in the KG1 series in addition to smaller 22in and 24in options. While most employ TN technology, a few provide higher-resolution options (such as 2560 x 1440 or 3840 x 2160), and one 27-inch screen uses IPS panels.

Conclusion

The cheapest 24 monitors currently available while providing adequate contrast and quality for most users’ needs. You won’t have trouble accessing your favorite media sites, online browsers, or Office programs here.

Because of its cheap price, the Acer isn’t up to the task of handling color-critical tasks or making even commonplace images seem their best. It’s not very convenient, and it’s not very adjustable or stylish, either.

However, the Acer will suffice if you don’t require a huge, fashionable, or very accurate screen for regular use.