The Sceptre C248B-144R is a gaming monitor that sports a pronounced curve and other gamer-centric features that most 24-inch competitors, but does so for much less. Highlights here include a chock-full of features including adaptive video inputs, multiple gaming modes (FPS and RTS) and a speedy 144Hz refresh rate.
As with curved monitors, its viewing angles are slightly narrow as compared to an ultra-wide monitor but it compensates with AMD’s FreeSync anti-tearing technology to deliver smooth gaming performance. If you’re on a tight budget or looking to replace an aging monitor, you should seriously start here.
Design
Sceptre’s 24-inch curved gaming monitor looks premium, with a black-and-silver finish, and a metallic chrome trim on the lower panel that perfects the aesthetic. It is a Vertical Alignment (VA) panel, just like its 32-inch stablemate the Sceptre C328B-144kn and has a 1,800R curvature that is not as pronounced as the 34-inch Samsung CF791’s 1,500R curvature, but awesomely curvier than the Acer Predator X34 bmiphz.
To understand the dynamics, a screen’s curvature is measured in R figures, and for a fixed screen, the larger R number corresponds to less curvature. It has a 1,920-by-1,080 resolution, a 3,000:1 contrast ratio, a 16:9 aspect ratio, a 250 cd/m2 peak brightness, and a 3-millisecond (gray-to-gray) pixel response.
There are no function buttons visible on the cabinet to break the smooth aesthetics; instead, there are touch-spots on the right bottom panel that are used to navigate the on-screen menus and settings values. A pair of speakers is built into the bottom back of the display – loud enough to fill a midsize room.
Inputs and Presets
Connectivity is excellent, the only thing spoiling the show is lack of a USB port. All I/O ports are located on a recessed lower back, and they include video outputs that support 144Hz signals: one HDMI, one DisplayPort, one DVI and two 3.5mm (Audio-in/out) jacks.
The cabinet is supported by a V-shaped stand that provides 15 degrees backwards and 5 degrees forward, alongside the detachable neck and base. It lacks pivot, swivel and height adjustments, though. It comes with multiple color modes for different occasions: Preset Picture Mode (Standard, User, Movie, ECO); Preset Game Mode – RTS (Real Time Strategy), FPS (First Person Shooter and Eye Saver Mode which is aligned to Blue light shift to prevent eye strain, alongside adjustable gamma settings.
Performance
When it comes to gaming, having a monitor that can render the signal from your PC source is ever crucial and one with a 144Hz refresh rate like the Sceptre C248B-144R offers better prospects. When tested on Battlefield 1 (PC Version), the monitor puts a strong showing without any visible screen tearing, or ghosting that you’d experience with low-end screen. All this is made possible by a fast refresh rate, short gray-to-gray response time, and more importantly AMD’s FreeSync technology that enhances playability and delivers crisp pixels across the board.
The panel’s 11.9 milliseconds input lag isn’t far off the competition, and you won’t even notice it during gameplay. So far, the BenQ SW2700PT is the fastest monitor we’ve had with an input lag of 9.5 milliseconds. The ability to display very deep blacks helps enhance the colors, although color accuracy is slightly skewed. Ideally, for budget monitors, skewed colors aren’t uncommon, including here, since the monitors aren’t designed for color-critical tasks.
Sceptre C248B-144R Review | Verdict
Rarely do you find a gaming monitor with a host of gamer-centric features priced in the same category as daily-use monitors. The Sceptre C248B-144R is reasonably priced, but delivers excellent gaming performance backed by AMD’s FreeSync technology that promises an immersive gaming experience. For gamers in the market for a mid-size curved monitor that offers robust gaming features that you’d find on traditional flat-screen monitors, this one should be at the top of your shopping list.
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