I play plenty of games, but I refrain from calling myself a gamer. But what I am certain of is being a display geek. And I never pass on the opportunity of testing new screens or somehow accommodating them into my setup.
I spent about a month with the Lenovo Legion 27Q-10, a 27-inch, 240Hz, QHD monitor meant to lure gamers on a budget. For ₹19,999 (~$220), the 27Q-10 is unquestionably a compelling buy.
But does that make it a perfect choice for the money you spend? Here's what I have to say.
The good bits
Sharp, slaying looks
The first thing that strikes you about the Lenovo Legion 27Q-10 is how clean and well-sculpted it feels. The bezels on three of its four edges feel nonexistent, and you wouldn't notice any unsightly gaps.
The same sharp looks continue on the sides, back, and the stand. Adding to the cuboidal pillar that keeps it upright, the base of the stand is shaped like a skewed hexagon.
In addition to its sharp looks, the 27Q-10 is utterly simple to prop up. Four screws attach the screen to the pillar, while a single one bolts the pillar to the base. A biggish rectangular cutout through the pillar allows cords to travel easily to the back rather than actively taking up space in your vision.
The surfaces throughout are black and don't demand much attention, though a little love with a microfiber cloth doesn't hurt.
The stand also allows 270 degrees of rotation, which is pretty useful if you want the 27Q-10 to render its services as a
240Hz, the bigger reason
The high refresh rate is one big reason, and perhaps the biggest, to choose this monitor. The higher refresh rate not only makes a significant upgrade in gaming but also substantially enhances the perception of smoothness.
While anything less than 120Hz is an eye-sore on small screens, I had, until using this Legion monitor, made my peace with 60Hz on bigger displays. My main 27" LG 4K monitor runs 60Hz, while my 14-inch MacBook Pro with a 120Hz screen serves as a secondary screen. That should inform you about my priorities.
However, I observed two changes when I switched to using the Legion. First, and the more glaring observation was that games appear super smooth, especially thanks to NVIDIA's G-Sync support.
Remarkable colours
Another aspect that the 27Q-10 nails is good colours. On paper, you'll see support for 99% sRGB and 90% DCI-P3 coverage. While I did not have access to a colorimeter, the colours actually looked vibrant and spectacular.
That especially enhanced visibility while I was playing competitive battle royale, such as Enlisted (Steam).
The could-be-better ones
While I was impressed by the high responsiveness and the saturated colors, a couple of traits left me yearning for more.
Brightness
The first area where the Legion Q27-10 fell short of my expectations was the brightness. The monitor only offers 300 nits of brightness. In my testing, though, the maximum brightness I measured on a white background with a lux meter was only about 170 nits.
This is probably less pressing, especially during late-night gaming sessions. However, as someone who prefers keeping his work—and play—station well lit, this does feel a little underwhelming.
White balance
The other aspect where I spent more energy trying to master relentlessly was the white balance. Out of the box, the monitor has a warmer tint than I would like, and this, again, appears to be a move catering to gamers.
I tweaked the inbuilt R, G, and B settings endlessly, but couldn't master the whites on the monitor. Again, that could be beneficial for gaming in dim-lit rooms or when the monitor is used for reading, which I did while using it as a secondary monitor, but not while used for Photoshop or similar tasks that require colour accuracy.
Lenovo Legion 27Q-10: Dependable high-refresh rate monitor for steadfast gamers
The Lenovo Legion 27Q-10 delivers what it promises. At ₹19,999, you're getting a ravishingly smooth 240Hz experience with vibrant colors and a design that punches above its price point.
The limited brightness and warmer white balance won't suit everyone, especially those working in bright spaces or needing color accuracy. But for gamers who want buttery-smooth gameplay without flagship-level spending, this monitor absolutely delivers.
It's a focused, well-executed gaming display that doesn't pretend to be more than it is, and that's exactly why it works.