KTC H24T09P review: A surprisingly good gaming monitor for just $150

Price When Reviewed

$249.99

Best Prices Today: KTC H24T09P

Inexpensive screens have come a great distance, and KTC’s H24T09P is proof. Despite its uninspired title, this humble 24-inch gaming monitor offers vibrant colour, easy movement, and quite a few show inputs at a discount worth of simply $150.

Further studying: See our roundup of the best monitors to find out about competing merchandise.

What are the KTC H24T09P’s specs and options?

The H24T09P’s specs are typical for a 24-inch finances monitor. It sticks to 1080p decision and makes use of an In-Plane Switching (IPS) show panel with a easy edge-lit LED backlight. Video connectivity is broad, however USB connectivity is lacking, and the monitor lacks audio system.

• Display measurement: 24-inch widescreen
• Native decision: 1920×1080
• Panel kind: In-Plane Switching (IPS) with edge-lit LED backlight
• Refresh charge: 165Hz
• Adaptive sync: AMD FreeSync, Nvidia G-Sync Compatible
• HDR: HDR Ready
• Ports: 2x HDMI 2.0, 2x DisplayPort 1.4, 3.5mm audio passthrough
• VESA mount: 100x100mm
• Speakers: None
• Price: $249.99 MSRP

Still, the monitor’s refresh charge and adaptive sync assist stand out. All kinds of opponents ship a 165Hz refresh charge across the identical worth, however the KTC H24T09P is actually among the many least costly choices. It additionally claims assist for each AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync, which proved true in my testing.

How is the KTC H24T09P’s design?

Matt Smith

I’d wager that you simply’ve by no means heard of KTC earlier than, and the H24T09P actually received’t change that. It’s a easy matte black plastic slab distinguished solely by a small silver-gray KTC badge on the underside bezel.

Function is extra vital than type at this worth, however the H24T09P suffers a number of sensible shortcomings. The tripod-style stand solely adjusts for tilt and its default top is just too low for all however the shortest homeowners. And whereas the stand is connected with just one screw, it’s not a thumbscrew and as an alternative requires use of a offered screwdriver (or any Philips-head you have got helpful). Many price-competitive screens have comparable points, however it will nonetheless be good to see KTC enhance right here sooner or later.

The H24T09P features a 100x100mm VESA mount, a minimum of, so it’s potential to connect a third-party monitor arm or stand with a greater vary of motion. It’s a particularly mild, small monitor, so even the least succesful arms and stands ought to maintain it.

How is the KTC H24T09P’s connectivity and menu?

Matt Smith

Turn the KTC H24T09P round and also you’ll discover two HDMI 2.0 ports alongside two DisplayPort 1.4 ports for a complete of 4 video inputs. Most screens on this worth bracket supply simply three ports (normally two HDMI and one DisplayPort), so a second DisplayPort is sweet to see.

USB connectivity is fully absent, nevertheless. This is true of most screens within the $150 worth bracket however price remembering. The monitor can’t be used as a USB hub for a wired gaming keyboard or mouse. A 3.5mm audio jack rounds out the choices and offers audio pass-through for a headset or audio system. You’ll want them, because the monitor lacks audio system.

Matt Smith

I had deja-vu after I opened the H24T09P’s on-screen menu, and shortly found why: Aside from a change of colour, it’s practically similar to the RCA Evolution Premium.

That’s factor. I praised the RCA monitor for its picture high quality choices, most of which additionally seem on the KTC show. This contains gamma, colour temperature, and colour calibration modes, plus gaming choices like an on-screen crosshair and a “black equalizer” that reinforces the brightness of darkish areas of the show to disclose foes.

The menu is simple to navigate, too. It’s accessed by a responsive joystick management centered on the underside bezel that shortly flips by the precisely labeled menu choices. A wide range of well-labeled shortcut choices are included and accessed by transferring the joystick in a selected route as an alternative of tapping it.

How is the KTC H24T09P’s SDR picture high quality?

Now it’s time to get into the meat of the assessment: picture high quality. Inexpensive screens have improved dramatically in high quality over the previous decade, however there’s nonetheless room for giant variations between fashions. The KTC H24T09P actually beat my expectations and delivered robust picture high quality for a sub-$200 monitor.

Matt Smith

I’ll begin with brightness, the place the KTC H24T09P offers a most SDR brightness of 296 nits. That’s not going to set information however it’s aggressive with different screens on this worth vary. And, extra importantly, it’s greater than sufficient to ship a brilliant picture in most conditions. The monitor may look a bit dim in a room lit by giant sunlit home windows however ought to in any other case look wonderful, and I personally used the monitor at only a quarter of its most brightness.

Matt Smith

Next up is the distinction ratio the place, as soon as once more, the H24T09P does effectively for its class. The monitor’s most measured distinction ratio of 1060:1 is modest however barely higher than different finances screens with an IPS show panel.

The H24T09P’s distinction offers sense of depth and immersion when the monitor is utilized in {a partially} or brightly lit room. Those who sport in a darkish room, although, will discover “IPS glow,” a problem that casts a hazy grey sheen over video games and films that ought to look foreboding. However, most price-competitive screens share this downside.

Matt Smith

Color gamut is presumably the H24T09P’s greatest consequence. The monitor can obtain 100 % of sRGB, 92 % of DCI-P3, and 84 % of AdobeRGB. These are nice outcomes for a $150 monitor.

A wider colour gamut means a monitor can show a greater variety of colours, and it straight contributes to a extra vibrant, vivid picture. I instantly observed the profit in World of Warcraft, as the sport’s colourful presentation felt extra alive than on different finances screens I’ve examined. The KTC’s stable colour efficiency stays noticeable when shopping the net, viewing images, or watching Netflix.

Matt Smith

The H24T09P’s colour accuracy is mid-pack, however that’s not a nasty factor: all of those screens do effectively in colour accuracy, and solely the Monoprice CrystalPro 4K Model 44522 notably outperforms. I wouldn’t suggest the H24T09P for color-critical skilled photograph and video modifying, however it is a $150 finances monitor. Its efficiency is stable for the value.

While the H24T09P’s total picture high quality efficiency is sweet, I did discover a pair of flubs in gamma and colour temperature. The show reached a default gamma curve of two.5 and colour temperature of 7200Ok. These figures considerably miss my goal gamma of two.2 and colour temperature of 6500Ok. In real-world viewing, this implies the H24T09P’s picture skews darker and extra sterile than what I favor. Details in darkish scenes might be crushed, whereas brilliant scenes can have a medical blue-white hue.

As talked about earlier, although, the monitor has a number of gamma and colour temperature settings that may be adjusted to repair these points. Changing the on-screen menu’s gamma setting to 2.0 resulted in a measured gamma of two.3, whereas switching the colour temperature to Warm led to a measured colour temperature of 6600Ok. These outcomes are acceptable for a finances monitor.

The monitor’s native decision of 1920×1080 leads to a pixel density of 92 pixels per inch (ppi) throughout the 24-inch show. That’s pretty low in 2023—a 27-inch 4K monitor, against this, packs 163 ppi—however commonplace for this class, as practically all 24-inch screens persist with 1080p decision.

I’m happy by the KTC H24T09P’s picture high quality. It delivers good distinction, a large colour gamut, and stable colour accuracy for a finances monitor and does so with out struggling any main issues. The monitor’s picture high quality is gratifying and well-suited to colourful video games like World of Warcraft or League of Legends, which profit from the monitor’s colour efficiency.

How is the KTC H24T09P’s HDR picture high quality?

KTC advertises the H24T09P as HDR succesful, and that’s technically true. The monitor is able to displaying an HDR sign. But, like all finances screens, you received’t wish to use it.

The monitor’s restricted brightness and modest distinction go away it incapable of displaying the added element HDR is supposed to convey. Movies and video games don’t look higher with HDR turned on. They simply look a bit totally different. Those on the lookout for HDR monitor might want to spend drastically extra on a show just like the Innocn 27M2V or Alienware AW3423DWF.

How is the KTC H24T09P’s movement efficiency?

Matt Smith

The KTC H24T09P has a most refresh charge of 165Hz. This solely just lately grew to become potential within the sub-$200 enviornment, and whereas KTC faces opponents, it’s actually among the many least costly 24-inch, 165Hz screens obtainable as we speak.

An enhanced refresh charge results in improved movement readability, and the H24T09P is not any exception. A scrolling take a look at from League of Legends confirmed terrain and character silhouettes had been legible whereas transferring the digital camera quickly throughout the map. Character names and hitpoint bars had been laborious to learn, however some particulars might be made out. This is typical efficiency for a 144Hz or 165Hz monitor and far improved over a 60Hz show.

The monitor additionally has a Moving Picture Response Time mode. It strobes the backlight at a really excessive frequency, which additional improves movement readability. It’s a genuinely helpful function that delivers robust outcomes. MPRT additionally cuts brightness in half, although, so the show can appear dim when MRPT is turned on.

There’s additionally 4 response-time modes (together with off). These are supposed to enhance pixel response instances for higher movement readability, however I didn’t discover a major distinction when utilizing them. That’s each excellent news and dangerous information. The picture didn’t look a lot sharper, however it additionally lacked the distracting “overshoot” picture artifacts that may trigger issues on different finances gaming screens.

KTC lists adaptive sync assist by AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible. Both AMD and Nvidia GPUs (from the RX 7000 and RTX 40-series, respectively) labored effectively in my testing. Frame pacing was easy and movement regarded fluid. These options aren’t obtainable when MRPT is turned on, nevertheless, which can also be true of most comparable screens with this function.

Is the KTC H24T09P price it?

The KTC H24T09P is a superb finances gaming monitor that ought to enchantment not simply to players however anybody who desires a excessive refresh charge and good colour efficiency. It delivers a broad colour gamut and powerful movement readability whereas avoiding any pitfalls taht may distract from these perks. The monitor’s fundamental, tilt-only stand and lacking USB ports are annoying, however these downsides are typical at this worth. Ultimately, the H24T09P is a sexy 24-inch 1080p monitor that may deal with all kinds of duties, together with gaming, at simply $150.