Is 240Hz enough?

240Hz is fast enough for most competitive gaming. It refreshes every 4.17 milliseconds, which is 2.77ms sooner than a 144Hz screen's 6.94ms interval. The LG UltraGear OLED 27GX704A adds OLED contrast and a 0.03ms quoted response time; the Lenovo Legion 27Q-10 offers QHD IPS at 240Hz. At Amazon UK on 27 October 2026, the LG listing was £389 and the Lenovo was £139.99. See our gaming monitor buying guide for other priorities.

Manufacturer specifications: LG lists the UltraGear OLED at QHD 240Hz, and Lenovo PSREF lists the Legion 27Q-10 at 240Hz.

How much difference does 240Hz make over 144Hz?

The refresh interval is the time between opportunities to show an image. Divide 1,000 milliseconds by refresh rate: 1,000 / 144 = 6.94ms, while 1,000 / 240 = 4.17ms. So a 240Hz monitor can start a new refresh every 2.77ms sooner. That is a useful improvement for fast camera movement, tracking and mouse input in responsive games, but it is not equivalent to an automatic 40% improvement in aim or reaction time.

Panel response and overdrive tuning also affect motion. IPS panels can show some transition blur or overshoot depending on the selected response mode. OLED pixels switch quickly and generally avoid the slow dark transitions that can produce smearing, but OLED has other trade-offs for static desktop use. Independent reviews that measure response times across transitions are a better guide than a single “1ms” or “0.03ms” marketing number. For a panel overview, see IPS vs VA vs OLED.

Do you need 240 frames per second?

No, but a high frame rate helps a 240Hz monitor show its full advantage. If a PC outputs 120 fps, the monitor cannot show 240 distinct game frames each second. Variable refresh rate can synchronise panel timing to the output, avoiding some tearing and unevenness. A 240Hz display remains compatible with lower frame rates, but its maximum capability is unused until the PC supplies more frames.

Frame stability is more important than a headline average. Consider two hypothetical systems: one averages 240 fps but dips to 120 during fights, while the other stays near 200 fps with fewer large drops. The second may feel more consistent because frame delivery varies less. 1% low figures help expose those dips, although they do not replace frame-time charts or latency measurement. Check benchmarks for the games you play at your target resolution and settings.

At 1440p, a PC renders 3,686,400 pixels per frame. That is 78% more pixels than 1080p's 2,073,600, before effects and geometry are counted. The added GPU load can make a 240Hz target harder in demanding games. Esports titles often scale well to competitive settings, but a player should choose those settings because they prefer them, not because the monitor demands a low-detail image. The LG and Lenovo examples here are QHD, making them sharper than typical 1080p esports panels while retaining more attainable frame rates than 4K.

There is also a CPU ceiling. At low graphics settings, a processor may limit how many frames a game can prepare, so a more powerful graphics card might not raise the average. If the system is consistently below 180 fps, prioritise a stable 165Hz or 240Hz setup over buying 360Hz. If the game stays above 240 fps and the user is highly competitive, a 360Hz screen becomes a rational option. For an overview of those tiers, see what refresh rate you need for gaming.

Should you choose 240Hz OLED or IPS?

Choose OLED for deep blacks, high contrast and very fast pixel transitions. The LG UltraGear OLED 27GX704A is a 27-inch QHD WOLED rated at 240Hz, with 0.03ms response and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification in its product specification. At £389 on Amazon UK at the time of writing in October 2026, it costs £249.01 more than the Lenovo Legion 27Q-10 at £139.99. That premium buys OLED contrast and faster transitions, not a higher refresh rate.

There is no universal “better” panel. OLED contrast improves dark scenes and HDR impact, while IPS is a straightforward choice for bright rooms and varied productivity. OLED brightness varies by image size and mode; a quoted peak is not the same as full-screen sustained brightness. Check independent measured brightness and text clarity at your chosen scaling. Warranty wording can also differ by model and region, so verify whether the maker covers burn-in for the UK product code.

For gaming, adaptive sync support matters as much as panel technology. It matches refresh timing to frame output within a supported range, helping avoid tearing when frame rate varies. Confirm whether the monitor supports the adaptive-sync technology used by your graphics card and whether it works over the chosen port. The Lenovo listing records G-Sync compatibility and FreeSync; the LG model lists G-Sync compatibility and FreeSync Premium Pro. Check the official product specification before purchase.

Which 240Hz monitor should you buy?

The LG UltraGear OLED 27GX704A is the pick for players who value black levels, HDR contrast and OLED response as much as 240Hz gaming. The Lenovo Legion 27Q-10 is the value choice at £139.99 on Amazon UK, October 2026, for buyers who mainly want QHD and 240Hz. The Samsung Odyssey G6 500Hz is a specialist step up at £632.47 only if the game sustains more than 240 fps and the player wants to compete at the highest refresh tier. ASUS TUF VG27AQL5A was £169.00.

See also our best PC gaming monitor picks and OLED burn-in guidance.