INNOCN 25G2S Gaming Monitor Review: A 240Hz QHD 2K Gaming Monitor on a Budget

Founded in 2014 in Shenzhen, China, INNOCN manufactures a wide range of monitor types, including curved, portable, desktop, 4K, OLED, gaming, and ultrawide monitors. In this review, we test the INNOCN 25G2S, a 24.5-inch, 240Hz QHD 2k gaming monitor.

Design

The INNOCN 25G2S features a modern and fairly typical aesthetic, with the monitor and base finished in matte black and accented with a simulated carbon fiber design. The screen has a minimal bezel with a few controls in the lower right corner. These controls include the menu select button as well as buttons for up, down, exit, and power. The back of the monitor has diagonal slitted venting and features a 100x100mm VESA mounting point.

The top edge of the monitor has a row of vents. A similar row of vents is found on the edges of the backmost face of the monitor, where the bevels join from the monitor’s extents. The carbon fiber finish is found on these bevels as well as on the base. There are triangular details at the corners of the back of the monitor and on the base that are finished in a contrasting gloss finish. These elements look as though they might be LED lighting, but this model does not have RGB LED lighting.

The 25G2S includes a built-in speaker, but as with many modern monitors, it is not particularly high quality and is just there as an initial default. It is expected that any gaming setup will include a set of external speakers.

Setup

Unboxing and setup of the INNOCN 25G2S is quick and simple and requires no tools. The stand snaps into the base and slides into the clip on the back of the monitor. The wire management clip snaps into the stand. The monitor can be wall-mounted using the VESA mount on the back of the unit.

What’s in the Box

• 25G2S Monitor
• Stand
• Base
• Power Supply
• DisplayPort 1.2 Cable (x1)
• Quick Install Guide
• Cable Clip

Build Quality

The first thing that you notice about the INNOCN 25G2S is how lightweight it is at only 7.03 pounds without the stand. At 24.5”, this is not a large screen by today’s standards. The 25G2S measures 21.9″ wide by 16.67″ high by 7.6″ deep, so it is indeed compact; still, I didn’t expect the shipping box to be so small.

Due to its lightweight design, the monitor rocks back and forth while you type, a feature that you eventually get used to, but it remains somewhat annoying nonetheless. The base does not adjust vertically at all, nor does the screen rotate; however, it does provide some tilt adjustment, specifically 5 degrees forward and 15 degrees backward. This lack of adjustability seems a bit limiting and a strange place to cut costs.

Inputs

All of the 25G2S’s inputs are down-facing and include the DC power input, two display port 1.4 interfaces and two HDMI 2.1 inputs as well as a 3.5mm audio out. There is a wire management clip that snaps on to the vertical support of the base. The monitor’s modern interfaces support desktop PCs, gaming laptops, and consoles such as the Switch, XBOX and PlayStation.

Performance

It is evident from the outset that the designers of the INNOCN 25G2S prioritized spending their budget on image quality and refresh rate. The monitor has a very pleasant color space right out of the box, and regardless of the use, this monitor has no issues keeping up with the demands of the game or application.

The 240Hz refresh rate is indeed impressive, as is the 1ms response time. The 1440p IPS visuals are both clear and natural. Whether you are using this to play PC or console games, the look of the graphics is very good.

That said, my sample has already developed two dead pixels. That is always an annoyance, but it is really unacceptable when it happens this quickly.

PC Gaming

The INNOCN 25G2S is squarely aimed at the PC gaming market, with all its specs reflecting the needs of modern first-person shooter and real-time strategy games, especially those with limited budgets.

At 24.5 inches, the 25G2S isn’t the largest monitor around, but it packs a punch with a QHD 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms super-fast response time, and G-SYNC compatibility for a tear-free experience with low latency. This 1440p 240Hz (via DP1.4) PC gaming monitor is compatible with most graphics cards and games. 120 Hz/144Hz/165Hz/180Hz support. It is important to note that these impressive specifications can only be achieved using the proper cables, such as the included DisplayPort cable.

Console Gaming

The INNOCN 25G2S is just as capable when used with gaming consoles, but at 24.5”, it is a bit small for many console installations that are often farther away from the users than are PC setups.

This monitor features a new generation of IPS (see below) screen and delivers a 2560 x 1440p resolution with a 99% sRGB color gamut, offering a wider color gamut than most conventional monitors. This results in deeper colors and sharper details, creating a more vivid gaming picture. The monitor also features HDR10, the open high-dynamic-range video (HDR) standard supported by gaming consoles such as the Microsoft Xbox and Sony PlayStation.

IPS (in-plane switching) is a screen technology for liquid-crystal displays (LCDs). In IPS, a layer of liquid crystals is sandwiched between two glass surfaces. The liquid crystal molecules are aligned parallel to those surfaces in predetermined directions (in-plane). The molecules are reoriented by an applied electric field, while remaining essentially parallel to the surfaces to produce an image. It was designed to solve the strong viewing angle dependence and low-quality color reproduction of the twisted nematic field effect (TN) matrix LCDs prevalent in the late 1980s. – Wikipedia

Office Use

Several of the INNOCN 25G2S’s extended features make it an excellent choice for office work as well. It offers both Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture modes. The screen features a blue light cut and is flicker-free, thereby reducing eye strain during long sessions.

The same specifications that make the 25G2S a solid gaming monitor shine when used for office-oriented work. Namely, 16.7 million colors with 100% sRGB and a color gamut of 93% DCI-P3, providing a wider range than standard sRGB coverage, giving you more vibrant and realistic color reproduction. This is especially important when performing tasks that demand true color accuracy, such as photo and video editing.

The INNOCN 25G2S is an affordable, 24.5” gaming monitor that features a high-performance screen with low latency and excellent picture quality. The lightweight design and lack of adjustability are noticeable in everyday use. However, if you are looking for a 240Hz refresh rate in a 2K monitor with a 1ms response time for under $200, the 25G2S may be the monitor for you.

The INNOCN 25G2S is available directly from the manufacturer for $175.49 and is available from retailers, including Amazon (where it is currently available for $191.49).

Source: Manufacturer-supplied review sample

What I Like: Natural color rendition; 240Hz refresh rate; 1ms response

What Needs Improvement: Lightweight design shakes during use; No vertical or rotational adjustment