This 27-inch, 280Hz gaming monitor won't break the bank, and it offers plenty of features to make it worthwhile

As a tech enthusiast and long-time gamer who’s been through their fair share of monitors, I must say that the Lenovo Legion R27fc-30 has truly impressed me! This budget-friendly gaming monitor offers an exceptional balance between cost and performance, boasting impressive specs like 240Hz refresh rate, 0.5ms response time, and AMD FreeSync.

When it comes to selecting a gaming monitor, there are numerous choices available. However, finding one that delivers top-notch features without breaking the bank can be challenging. The Lenovo Legion R27fc-30 Curved Gaming Monitor is a notable exception in this regard, as it offers an exceptional value for money compared to its competitors.

For the past fortnight, I’ve been relying on the Lenovo Legion R27fc-30 as my primary screen, catering to both my work and gaming needs. I’ve put it through several trials to assess its functionality, and here are my findings.

Lenovo Legion R27fc-30: Price and specs

This 27-inch, 280Hz gaming monitor won't break the bank, and it offers plenty of features to make it worthwhile

Pricing & specifications highlights

Lenovo is one of the top PC manufacturers on the market today, producing reliable products with plenty of conveniences.
The R27fc-30 makes for a great 27-inch curved gaming monitor with its 240Hz, 0.5ms, and AMD FreeSync support.
This monitor is very well priced given its specs, making this a great value purchase.
You can buy it from Amazon or the Lenovo website.
Value rating: 5/5

Lenovo ranks among the leading PC manufacturers currently available, supplying both business environments and homes with their products. Within this company, there’s a dedicated gaming division known as Legion, which concentrates on creating gaming laptops, desktops, monitors, and even a handheld gaming device called the Legion Go. From my personal encounters, I can attest that it’s a trusted brand that consistently delivers high-quality products with lasting durability.

The Legion R27fc-30 gaming monitor delivers mid-tier gaming capabilities at a cost that won’t break the bank. Unlike other 27-inch curved gaming monitors with swift response times and rapid refresh rates, which can set you back $300 or more, the R27fc-30 stands out for its budget-friendly price of $229.99. In fact, I’ve noticed it being discounted to an even lower price of $175.49 on Lenovo.com.

This specific monitor has an impressive capability to reach 240Hz speed, but if you prefer, it can be pushed to an overclocked speed of 280Hz. It boasts an incredibly swift response time of only 0.5ms, ensuring it keeps pace with your gaming activities. If your computer houses a compatible AMD graphics card, you can take advantage of AMD FreeSync technology to further enhance the smoothness of your game on the VA display.

You can purchase the Legion R27fc-30 curved gaming monitor from Amazon or the Lenovo website.

Lenovo Legion R27fc-30 — What’s in the box?

Upon opening the package, I discovered the Lenovo Legion R27fc-30 monitor, a tri-shaped base, an adjustable stand, a power cord, a DisplayPort connector, four fasteners, a Lenovo Warranty handbook, and a visual setup guide.

Lenovo Legion R27fc-30 : Setup and design

Setup and design highlights

Assembly and set up is a breeze, with no tools needed.
The triangular base is extremely sturdy and prevents the display from wobbling, but it takes up a lot of room.
An adjustable stand and monitor make it easy to get the best viewing angle.
The ports, the OSD controls, and the power button are all easy to reach.
Design rating: 5/5

Like many gaming monitors available nowadays, it doesn’t strictly need any tools for assembly. However, it includes a clear, illustrated guidebook that walks you through the setup process quickly and easily.

In the stand, there’s a pre-installed screw that helps attach the base and stand. But when attaching the stand to the monitor’s back, I had to insert four additional screws. These screws have broad sides with grooves, making them simple to tighten by hand, but using a screwdriver might provide extra security.

After setting up the monitor, I fed both the provided DisplayPort cable and power cable into the cable management slot on the stand, then connected everything. While this isn’t the sleekest arrangement, it simplifies cable organization without needing extra tools or devices.

As an enthusiast, I must admit that while the Legion R27fc-30 gaming monitor may not be the most streamlined option out there, its black, robust base and stand exude a sense of solidity that instantly puts my mind at ease – no more worries about unwanted wobbles. However, the triangular base does demand a fair amount of space, which can pose challenges when trying to accommodate other devices like my ROG Ally docking station. In fact, I found myself nudging it towards the left to ensure it didn’t encroach upon the base’s territory.

The stand for my monitor works wonderfully, allowing me to adjust its angle according to my preferences. It can be elevated six inches off the desk or lowered close to the base legs, providing flexibility in positioning. Moreover, the monitor can be tilted backward and forward, swiveled sideways, and even pivoted. However, due to the width of the monitor, it cannot rotate completely into portrait mode when connected to this specific stand.

The display itself isn’t super thin, but that’s to be expected given this is a 1500R curved monitor. I’ll dive into display quality more in a later section, but suffice it to say that the 27-inch panel is large enough for very easy multitasking between two browser windows or programs. It’s also easy to reach the OSD buttons and power button on the backside.

From a connectivity perspective, the R27fc-30 boasts two HDMI 2.1 slots, a DisplayPort 1.4, and an audio input. However, when it comes to USB-A or USB-C ports for my accessories, I’ll have to depend on my PC. If you find yourself in need of additional connection solutions, I suggest checking out our top picks for Thunderbolt hubs and docking stations.

Lenovo Legion R27fc-30: Picture quality

Picture quality highlights

The Lenovo Legion R27fc-30 produced 100% of sRGB, 82% of AdobeRGB, 88% of P3 in a color gamut test.
This monitor offers great contrast and gets very close to offering true black.
It doesn’t get very bright, so it’s best not to use it in an overly bright room.
A high 240Hz refresh rate with 0.5ms response time and AMD FreeSync allow for excellent motion clarity.
Text doesn’t always look super crisp despite the 1920×1080 resolution.
Display rating: 4/5

This monitor holds a decent reputation, yet falls short when it comes to picture quality compared to some top-tier models. Upon conducting color gamut tests on its seven default settings, the results typically showed 100% of sRGB, 82% of AdobeRGB, and 88% of P3, with occasional drops down to 87% for P3. These numbers aren’t record-breaking in the gaming monitor category, but it’s worth noting that this is typical for a VA panel. If you’re seeking more vivid colors, an IPS panel would provide better results, and if you want the best color accuracy, an HDR OLED display would be your best bet.

I conducted a brightness and contrast test on the monitor, and it turned out that it fell slightly short of Lenovo’s claimed 350nits. It maxed out at 321nits, making it somewhat dimmer. Given this, the monitor might not be perfect for rooms with excessive light. Nevertheless, the monitor performed quite well in terms of contrast, coming very close to true black. This high contrast enhances the appearance of details within an image as it creates a greater distinction between different objects.

To test this screen, I played STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl and Cyberpunk 2077 for a couple of hours each. I didn’t see any screen tearing and imagery came through very smoothly during my play sessions. As with most gaming monitors, in order to change to 240Hz, I had to right-click on the desktop background, select Display Settings, click on Advanced Display, and then use the drop-down menu near the bottom of the window to change my refresh rate to 239.65Hz. The monitor can also be overclocked to hit 280Hz (using the OSD menu), but I don’t suggest leaving it on that setting as this can wear the monitor out faster.

One bad thing I have noticed is that this 1920×1080 resolution panel is not as crisp as I’d like it to be. When reading online articles are typing up posts, it’s not uncommon for me to find areas on the screen where the text is a little blurred compared to other areas. One spot had me blinking for a couple of seconds until I realized that it was the display and not my eyes. It’s not the worst thing ever, but notable when the text lines up in certain places.

Lenovo Legion R27fc-30: OSD and controls

OSD and controls highlights

The buttons on the back of the monitor are easy to reach and control.
An intuitive OSD layout makes it easy to change settings and find the options you’re looking for.
You can also download Lenovo Artery to help you control monitor settings via a program rather than the OSD.
OSD rating: 5/5

On the reverse side of the R27fc-30 device, there’s a sizable, multi-directional blue button that functions as the controls for its on-screen display (OSD). By tapping it up or down, I can swiftly adjust the brightness level. Tapping left or right lets me alter the volume. Pressing the central part of the button reveals the complete OSD menu.

Typically, you’ll find that I can modify various monitor settings such as switching modes, activating/deactivating AMD FreeSync, adjusting color saturation, and customizing port options within the OSD (On-Screen Display) itself. The user-friendly design of the OSD makes it a breeze to work with, making me feel at ease in just a few minutes.

If you find comfort in using a mouse for modifying your monitor settings, consider downloading Lenovo Artery from their official site. Although primarily designed for creative Lenovo monitors, it functions smoothly on gaming ones as well. After installation, I discovered that adjusting contrast and brightness was effortless with the help of sliders. This software also simplifies the process of switching inputs by just tapping an icon.

Lenovo Legion R27fc-30: Speakers

Speakers highlights

The Legion R27fc-30 features two built-in 3W speakers.
Speaker quality really isn’t very good, so you’ll want to use a headset or external speakers for better quality.
Speakers rating: 3/5

Most gaming monitors lack integrated speakers, and those that have them often don’t provide superior sound quality. Regrettably, the Legion R27fc-30 shares this shortcoming.

The speakers for the 3W sound system are positioned at the top back of the screen. Whenever I played games or listened to music, the audio coming from this location seemed far away and muffled. It was such an unsatisfactory listening experience that I quickly paused Spotify right after hearing the speakers for the first time, and started looking around my home for better alternatives.

To enhance your audio experience, consider connecting this monitor to external computer speakers for a richer sound, or alternatively, opt for one of the top-tier gaming headsets available.

Lenovo Legion R27fc-30: Competition

If a straight gaming monitor suits your preferences better, you might find my Titan Army P2510S review interesting. Although it’s more budget-friendly compared to the Legion R27fc-30 and its stand may not be as robust, it shares similar features like a 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, AMD FreeSync, and HDR10. You can grab it for $299.99 on Amazon.

In my Monoprice Dark Matter 27″ QHD review, I discuss a budget gaming monitor that doesn’t have a curved design. Although it may not be the most high-end monitor available, it provides excellent value with a 165Hz refresh rate and 2ms response time. It also works with both AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync technologies. The primary issues are its unstable stand and limited screen brightness. You can purchase this monitor for $329.99 on Amazon.

If you’re open to investing a bit extra for a top-tier gaming monitor, I encourage you to check out my review of the ASUS ROG Strix OLED. This screen boasts a 27-inch WOLED display that supports 1440p resolution, a blazing fast 240Hz refresh rate, and an ultra-quick 0.03ms response time. It’s also equipped with NVIDIA G-Sync technology to ensure smooth motion clarity. You can find it priced at $699.99 on Walmart’s website.

If you’re prepared to invest in a premium monitor, I recommend checking out my review of the Alienware AW2527DF. This monitor left me utterly impressed with its remarkable motion clarity, thanks to an impressive 360Hz refresh rate, swift 0.03ms response time, and AMD FreeSync technology. It’s available for $734.99 at Dell.

Lenovo Legion R27fc-30: Scorecard

Lenovo Legion R27fc-30: Should you buy it?

✅ You should buy this if…

You’re looking for a budget monitor with great motion clarity: Games can play very smoothly on this monitor since it can reach a peak of 240Hz (280Hz when overclocked), has 0.5ms response time, and supports AMD FreeSync. Despite that, it’s still under $300.
You’d like to get a monitor with a really adjustable stand: Being able to adjust the stand up and down or pivot the monitor every which way makes it easy to put this display at the perfect viewing angle.

❌ You should not buy this if…

You specifically want a gaming monitor that supports G-Sync: If your gaming PC or gaming laptop has an NVIDIA GPU, then you’ll be better served with a gaming monitor that supports NVIDIA G-Sync.
You prefer using an OLED panel: There’s no denying that OLED monitors offer superior color range and picture quality to IPS and VA panels. So, if you’re willing to pay more, you should consider an OLED display.

In terms of value for your money, the Lenovo Legion R27fc-30 stands out as an exceptional gaming monitor. While some alternatives may boast superior specifications (240Hz refresh rate, 0.5ms response time, AMD FreeSync), this model is surprisingly budget-friendly. Moreover, its versatile stand allows for numerous adjustments, making it simple to customize and position the monitor for optimal viewing comfort.

Although it has a robust foundation, its sizeable, triangular shape consumes quite a bit of space, which could be challenging for those with space constraints. Additionally, while it’s not uncommon for gaming monitors to have muffled and distant-sounding built-in speakers.

Ultimately, if you’ve got room for the R27fc-30, it’s an excellent investment offering solid performance for your gaming requirements.

2024-11-24 14:39

This 27-inch, 280Hz gaming monitor won’t break the bank, and it offers plenty of features to make it worthwhile