“240Hz budget monitor is a testament to Amazon brands.”

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I’m really glad I decided to take a look at the KOORUI GN02 as it has effectively expanded my horizons in the field of budget gaming monitors. Not only does it hit the scene with a 27-inch 1080p 240Hz panel, but it also manages to beat out the competition without sacrificing reliability. This is a big deal when it comes to screens like these, and it’s safe to say I’ll be keeping an eye on it during the season’s sales.

If you choose RRP, the KOORUI GN02 will cost $179.99/£149.99. Will it ever return to that price? Well no, in fact this screen will usually cost you $159.99, with various additional discounts offered throughout the year. This not only helps the screen compete for the title best gaming monitor in terms of value, but it’s also poised to hit ridiculously low prices during Black Friday and Prime Day.

There are absolute downsides to using a budget 240Hz display, most of which relate to features beyond the panel itself. The KOORUI GN02 is absolutely to blame for this, but it’s a justifiable sin to ensure access to a cheaper, competitive level refresh rate. Are we talking about the perfect panel? Hell no, and I think that’s okay.

Design

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The GN02 is definitely a no-thrills monitor, but to be honest, it’s reminiscent of most VA and IPS screens out there right now. It has virtually no bezel and the typical thick lip at the bottom, not to mention the stand even follows the same hexagonal shape as the model. Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 And LG UltraGear 32GS95UE-B. Of course, this all happens at a distance, as getting up close and personal with the commission reveals several budgetary truths.

It doesn’t really surprise me, but the KOORUI GN02 is extremely lightweight. It’s made entirely of plastic, so I didn’t expect any real weight from this screen, and I don’t subscribe to the idea that weight equals quality. However, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t give me a slight feeling of fragility as I lifted it onto myself. gaming tablealthough in fact it is assembled soundly, without any inconsistencies with the body.

The screen stand creates a similar atmosphere without adding any extra weight to the entire package once secured. Again, there’s not much going on with the pedestal other than some tilt, with no height adjustment. However, all is not lost in terms of positioning as it features VESA mounting ports for a monitor arm or arm.

In its marketing message, KOORUI states that the rear of the GN02 is meant to resemble the wings of an eagle, while the engravings help add a bit of subtle flair. To be honest, I’m glad the company has kept it low-key in terms of design, as it’s all too easy to end up on the edge of harshness with budget products. The screen will likely face the wall anyway, but if you do drag this budget display to an LAN event, at least attendees won’t have to look at low-quality RGB lighting or weirdly colored plastic. I really wish they didn’t add the red stripe in the center as it sticks out too much as something useless.

As is tradition, I’m going to rant about how yet another monitor decided to use a joystick to control the OSD. I really didn’t expect the GN02 to be anything revolutionary, and luckily for KOORUI, it’s not the worst piece I’ve ever used. It lacks a bit of grip compared to some models, and my thumb started to slip when navigating the screen settings. But it worked without a lot of false clicks or misdirections, so I’ll give it that.

Functions

I won’t lie to you, the GN02 doesn’t really have a lot of tricks up its sleeve. You won’t find a USB hub or KVM switch in this budget warrior, and all of its advanced features are software-based to one degree or another. I’m a little upset that I can’t connect Steam OLED panel up to this 1080p display with a single USB-C cable, but if we’re being honest, even some premium panels miss this gaming laptop perk

In the monitor’s OSD you’ll find the usual array of display settings, as well as preset scenes and a FreeSync Premium switch. I honestly can’t imagine dealing with screen tearing on some PC builds without some kind of adaptive sync, so I’m glad to see it sits nicely in the menu. If you’re into shooters, you might also appreciate the presence of a crosshair. I’ll be honest with you – I don’t use them, but since this budget screen is inherently aimed at first-person shooter fans, their inclusion seems right.

Performance

While the GN02 may lack in style and physical functionality, it makes up for it in pure budget visual quality. I’ve been using the latest OLED monitors a lot this year, and that usually means the VA panels look especially dull when they end up on my desk between them. I fully expected the KOORUI’s 1080p 240Hz screen to look particularly disappointing since it’s a budget panel, but I was actually more impressed than that Lenovo Legion R45w-30 I tested previously a few months ago.

What caught me most off guard was its brightness: although it’s nowhere near OLED-like, the GN02 has decent colors. Not once did the words “rinsed” come to mind, and I didn’t even feel the need to tinker too much with the settings out of the box. This is exactly what I want to see on a screen that could very well be the first gaming display for many gamers.

For testing purposes, I’ll be using the same shooters that I usually use for monitor reviews – Cyberpunk 2077, Overwatch 2 and Halo Infinite. I almost felt sorry for the GN02 when I connected it to Alienware Aurora R16 since the last screen I used with the install was mighty Philips Evnia 42M2N8900. The two panels aren’t even remotely comparable, but I’m actively thinking about how cheap displays like this compare to models that are ten times more expensive.

Let’s start with a visit to Night City and I’m excited to play Cyberpunk 2077 on this display. The GN02 certainly doesn’t deliver the level of virtual sightseeing I’m used to with premium models or even some mid-range models, and the 1080p resolution looks a little soft on the 27-inch screen when it comes to edges and text. But the panel delivers fast results at high frame rates, with every mouse movement feeling nice and smooth.

As you’d expect, the 240Hz screen refresh rate also came in handy during Overwatch 2 sessions. I think it’s important to reiterate that we’re talking about a monitor that will cost you $150 at most in most cases, so the fact that it can deliver response times 1 ms and ahead of more expensive branded models is a victory. Focusing on speed, zipping around as Farrah was just as enjoyable as it was on the LG UltraGear 32GS95UE-B. No, I’m not saying this screen can replace a $1,400 4K OLED screen with dual-resolution capability, just that it can deliver similar responsiveness at 1080p.

If you go from 60Hz to this panel, the difference in Blizzard’s heroic shooter will be huge. You’ll potentially feel the difference with a mid-range refresh rate as well, but since you were probably paying more for something like a proprietary 165Hz screen a few years ago, there are other downsides to consider. These are the lack of features and disadvantages inherent in the VA panel. Other than that, this display would have amazed me when I was a young PC gamer, and my parents would most likely have been able to afford it.

Halo Infinite also runs great on this panel at 240Hz and 1080p, which is the perfect way to build a PC that’s “better than the Xbox Series S.” It will also work great with Microsoft’s cheaper console, but my point is that if you decide to build a Game Pass-only rig, the extra refresh rate headroom on that panel will feel fantastic. I used to regularly engage in multiplayer sessions on a 60Hz display, and I can assure you that shooting down enemy Spartans on 240Hz is a slap in the face.

With the PlayStation 5 Pro on the way and the best PS5 monitors on my mind, it only seemed right to pair the Sony OG system with the GN02. Look, I understand that most gamers won’t want to play at 1080p on a next-gen console, but if you have a PC on your desk, this screen is a cheap solution that will satisfy both parties. . Platform shooters will be able to push the frame rate up to 120Hz, and your rig will be able to push it up to 240Hz. Naturally, there are many screens that will display UHD images that will be more impressive, but this is a good all-around option for those who want to spend very little.

Lastly, I want to touch on brightness. You don’t get the ridiculous amount of light you can get from a mini-LED screen, but it can certainly keep up with the OLED panels I tested recently, with 300 nits of brightness. More importantly, since we’re talking about a cheaper display here, I didn’t encounter any instances of light leakage or streaking when everything is turned on and the lighting is evenly distributed across the display.

Is it worth buying KOORUI GN02?

If you’re aiming for a 240Hz monitor but want to keep costs to a minimum, the KOORUI GN02 should be on your watchlist. Whether it becomes the best screen for the price depends on what happens during sales periods, but even at the usual asking price of $150, it’s much cheaper than other brands. Ideally, it would be nice to add a few extra features to its raw panel specs, but I’m not going to argue with a 1080p panel at this price and refresh rate.

Overall, the KOORUI GN02 is a budget 240Hz monitor that is a testament to Amazon’s brands and I will be keeping an eye on the company’s screens from now on.

How I tested KOORUI GN02

I used the KOORUI GN02 at my desk for two weeks playing shooters on my PC. During this time, I participated in multiplayer sessions in Halo Infinite and Overwatch 2, and also spent some time playing Cyberpunk 2077 using an Alienware Aurora R16 computer. During testing, I assessed screen responsiveness, brightness and color accuracy, and also examined sharpness at 1080p resolution.

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