The 4 Best 24-25 Inch Monitors - Spring 2021 Reviews

The best 25 inch monitor with native FreeSync support that we've tested is the ASUS TUF Gaming VG259QM. It's one of the best gaming monitors we've tested, with an incredible 240Hz refresh rate that you can overclock to 280Hz. It has native FreeSync support, and it's G-SYNC compatible with newer NVIDIA graphics cards, which reduces screen tearing.

It has an incredible response time at its max refresh rate of 280Hz, resulting in minimal motion blur. The input lag at its native resolution is really low, but sadly, it dramatically increases at 60Hz, so it's not suggested for competitive console gamers. The picture quality is good. It gets bright enough to combat glare, has good reflection handling, and the screen is very uniform when displaying a large area of a solid color, though uniformity may vary between units. It also has outstanding ergonomics, allowing you to place the screen how you like.

Unfortunately, it has a low contrast ratio, so blacks appear closer to gray when viewed in the dark. Fortunately, that means it has wide viewing angles, ideal for co-op gaming. It supports HDR10, but it doesn't display a wide color gamut, so HDR content doesn't look all that different from SDR content. Its 1080p resolution may be too low for multitasking, but that means it doesn't put too much stress on your graphics card when gaming. All in all, this is the best 25 inch monitor for gaming that we've tested.

The best 24 inch gaming monitor with native G-SYNC support that we've tested is the Dell Alienware AW2521H. It's an excellent 1080p gaming model that delivers an incredibly responsive gaming experience thanks to its whopping 360Hz refresh rate. It has an IPS panel with wide viewing angles, and it gets bright enough to fight glare easily, so you shouldn't have any visibility issues in well-lit rooms. The stand allows for a good amount of ergonomic adjustments, allowing you to place the screen at your ideal viewing position.

As mentioned, it has a 360Hz refresh rate and, combined with its exceptionally low input lag, every action feels nearly instantaneous. It has a superb response time that results in clear images in fast-moving scenes and a Black Frame Insertion feature that can further improve motion clarity. It supports G-SYNC to reduce screen tearing, but sadly, it isn't compatible with FreeSync. Also, even though it supports HDR, it can't display a wide color gamut and doesn't get bright enough for HDR content.

There are four USB 3.0 ports that you can use for charging, and you add a timer or frame rate counter on the screen. There's a feature that measures the input lag and helps to reduce it, and there's even some RGB lighting on the back that you can customize. The backlight is entirely flicker-free, which is great for reducing eye strain on those long gaming sessions. Overall, it's an excellent monitor that should please casual and serious gamers alike.

The Dell UltraSharp U2520D is the best 25 inch monitor we've tested for office use. Its 25 inch screen gives you enough space to multitask, and its 1440p resolution ensures you get a sharp image. It also has impressive ergonomics, with a ton of adjustment options to set it exactly how you like, and it has a flicker-free backlight to reduce eye strain. Overall, it feels well-built and has a simple, clean design that looks professional, whether you're working from home or in the office.

In terms of performance, it gets bright enough to overcome glare, and its matte anti-reflective coating does an okay job of diffusing light. If you do a lot of color-critical work, it has a fantastic SDR color gamut, with great coverage of the Adobe RGB color space used in photo editing. For those who like to game on the side, it also has a fast response time and low input lag, but it lacks variable refresh rate (VRR) support. It's also limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, but that should be fine for most casual gamers.

Unfortunately, it has a mediocre contrast ratio. While that's expected of an IPS panel, it means that blacks look more like gray when viewed in the dark. On the upside, it comes with two USB-C ports, one that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode and the other just for charging, as well as three USB 3.0 ports to connect and charge more devices. All in all, this is the best 25 inch monitor we've tested for the office.

The Acer Nitro XF243Y is the best 24 inch monitor for gaming that we've tested in the budget category. It's a versatile 1080p monitor that delivers an amazingly smooth gaming experience. It has wide viewing angles and excellent ergonomics, making it easier to place the screen for optimal viewing and share content with others. It handles reflections well and gets pretty bright, enough to overcome glare in most lighting conditions.

It has a 165Hz refresh rate and exceptional response times, resulting in clear images with almost no blur trail behind fast-moving objects. It has native FreeSync support and G-SYNC compatibility. There's a Black Frame Insertion feature that can further reduce motion blur, but it isn't usable while VRR is active, and it only works above 119Hz. Unfortunately, even though it supports HDR, it can't display a wide color gamut and doesn't get bright enough for a true HDR experience, which is expected for a budget monitor.

There's a pair of speakers built-in, and you can add a virtual crosshair or frame rate counter to the screen. There's software that lets you control the monitor's settings with your mouse and keyboard, and you also get a blue light filter to help reduce eye strain. Overall, it's an excellent and wallet-friendly gaming monitor that should please most people.