Lenovo G25-10: Two-minute review
The Lenovo G25-10 gaming monitor has a lot to offer. Budget gaming monitors that balance solid performance at a reasonable price aren’t that hard to find these days, and the Lenovo G25-10 certainly delivers, but it’s not without flaws.
On the plus side, the G25-10 has a 24.5-inch full HD display with fast refresh and snappy pixel response, while remaining impervious to GPU video output, so both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync are supported.
Lenovo G25-10 Key Specifications
Panel Size: 24.5 inches
Panel type: TN
Solution: 1920×1080
Brightness: 400 nits
Contrast: 1000:1
Pixel response: 1ms
Refresh rate: 144Hz
entrances: 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x DP 1.2, 1 x Audio Out (3.5mm)
For long gaming sessions, the anti-glare G25-10 features eye care technology and the TN panel type ensures that games look as good as they perform, regardless of the viewing angle.
There are some visual drawbacks though, including the lack of true HDR, and while general non-gaming use on the G25-10 is fine, the lack of integrated speakers can be an issue. There’s also the lack of USB ports on the monitor, something competing gaming monitors can have for the same price.
For buyers looking for a little more features like better HDR implementation, USB ports and built-in speakers, look to other similarly priced monitors or save a little more to get something higher up the product stack.
The Lenovo G25-10 is available in the US for $249 on the Lenovo site and is available for just $189 at other major retailers such as Best Buy. That works out to around £195 or AU$350, but at the moment the monitor is only available in the US, with the closest model in the UK being the slightly smaller Lenovo G24-10 for €149.
Meanwhile, Australia unfortunately has some pretty slim choices for Lenovo gaming monitors. The only model currently available on the company’s site is the Lenovo G27c-10 FHD WLED Curved Gaming Monitor which is available for AU$449.
When it comes to the functions of the monitor, there are a number of things going on.
For long gaming sessions, the anti-glare G25-10 features eye care technology, which should definitely help prevent eye strain. The TN panel type ensures that games look as good as they perform, regardless of the viewing angle. Keep in mind that there are some visual drawbacks, including the lack of true HDR.
General non-gaming use on the G25-10 is a nice experience, but the lack of external speakers can be seen as a problem. There’s also a lack of USB ports on the monitor, which could be an issue compared to the gaming monitors around the same price.
This includes gaming monitors with similar prices like the Acer Nitro VG271, and we noticed the inclusion of integrated speakers in our BenQ EX2510 test (although the bass could have been better) and it also features HDR and a 144Hz refresh rate. More of a no-frills package, the G25-10, on the other hand, doesn’t have as many features, but makes up for what it lacks with respectable visuals and performance.
Setting up the G25-10 is a simple matter with a base that connects to the stand via an included screw. A screwdriver is not necessary, as the screw has a handle that is easy to tighten. The stand also connects to the monitor via a locking mechanism, so all you need to do is click it into place.
The simplicity in the design translates into the number of ports available, including a single display and HDMI port in addition to a 3.5mm jack for audio. For the record, there is a clip on the bottom of the stand to aid in good cable management. Users can move the monitor by adjusting the height of the screen and tilting it back and forth.
The overall design of the G25-10 is thoughtful, with an all-black design, ergonomic approach and it never feels intrusive. At around 11 pounds, it’s also not hard to lug around when needed.
At the bottom right of the screen itself are five control buttons for controlling various options on the screen, such as color saturation, brightness, and more than the standard power button. However, the controls are not very intuitive and can lead to misplaced prompts, especially in the dark.
While creatives and possibly general desktop users can get some mileage out of the G25-10, it was clearly suited to PC gamers on a budget. By default, the visual quality is more than adequate for its price and can handle high refresh rates without flickering.
During Halo Infinite matches, it was easy to keep up with everything that was happening on the screen because the colors looked vibrant enough for clarity. Other more graphically intensive titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, Foriza Horizon 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 generally looked good.
The color contrast is well implemented thanks to a 1000:1 ratio. Meanwhile, the color accuracy is also solid, which makes using Adobe Creative Clouds apps a pleasant experience.
Keep in mind to stay away from HDR on the G25-10. While it supports HDR, it has some serious issues. The biggest is that you can’t use HDR and adaptive sync at the same time. This shouldn’t matter much anyway, as the G25-10 doesn’t have local dimming or dynamic contrast, but it’s something to know.
Using HDR won’t improve the video quality much, so it’s best to just ignore it during gaming sessions. Buyers who don’t like fast refresh rates or don’t worry about flickering when editing in Photoshop or watching YouTube videos won’t have a problem with that.
Therefore, do not expect a night/day difference in image quality with HDR on. Simply put, there are better gaming monitors for the price with a much better HDR implementation.
Ultimately, at under $250, the Lenovo G25-10 is a solid display that any gamer in need of a budget monitor can appreciate, go for it knowing what you’re getting.
Should you buy a Lenovo G25-10?
The Lenovo G25-10 has a number of advantages, although it is not perfect and certainly not for everyone. It may be affordable, but it doesn’t matter much if it doesn’t do what you want.