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The Sceptre E225W-FW144 is a compact 22-inch Full HD monitor aimed at users who want a higher refresh rate without spending heavily on a daily-use. While Sceptre brands it as gaming monitor, beyond paper and specs, the E225W is a basic monitor with a 1920 × 1080 resolution, up to 144Hz refresh rate and fairly fast response time, giving it a clear advantage over the typical 60Hz office monitor. The monitor is particularly suited to entry-level gaming, everyday computing and dual-monitor setups.
The biggest question, however, is how much sense the E225W-FW144 makes when 24/27-inch 1080p gaming monitors are now widely available with 144Hz or 165Hz refresh rates. Models such as the AOC Q27G3XMN offer a larger 27-inch IPS panel, 180Hz refresh rate and a considerably more versatile stand, while the ASUS VG248QG offers a 24-inch 165Hz TN panel and extensive gaming features.
That puts the Sceptre in a very specific position. It isn’t trying to beat those monitors on specifications or ergonomics. Instead, its appeal is its combination of compact size, 1080p resolution and high refresh rate at an extremely budget-oriented price. For someone upgrading from a basic 60Hz office monitor, that can still make it a surprisingly compelling choice.
Sceptre E225W-FW144 Specs
- Screen size: 22 inches
- Resolution: 1920 × 1080
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Refresh rate: Up to 144Hz
- Response time: Up to 1ms
- Panel: LED
- Connectivity: HDMI, DisplayPort
- Speakers: Built-in
- Adaptive sync: Supported
Design & Build Quality
The E225W-FW144 has a simple, lightweight construction that reflects its budget positioning. The minimal-bezel design gives it a relatively clean appearance, and the compact 22-inch footprint is useful if you have limited disk space. It can also work well as part of a dual-monitor arrangement because the relatively thin borders don’t create as much visual separation between displays.
The stand is considerably more basic than what you get from better-equipped 24-inch gaming monitors. This is an important difference when comparing it with something like the Dell S2725DS, whose stand offers better ergonomic adjustments. The Sceptre is much more dependent on simple positioning or an external monitor arm if you want proper ergonomic adjustment.
That said, VESA compatibility gives the E225W-FW144 some flexibility. Mounting it on an arm can effectively eliminate one of the biggest compromises in its physical design. The overall construction therefore feels more functional than premium, but that is understandable given the monitor’s budget focus.
Features
The 144Hz refresh rate is the feature that transforms the E225W-FW144 from an ordinary budget display into a gaming monitor. Compared with a conventional 60Hz screen, 144Hz allows the display to update more than twice as often, making cursor movement, scrolling and games feel noticeably smoother. This is particularly useful in fast-paced shooters and racing games.
Adaptive synchronization is another useful addition. It allows the monitor to better match its refresh behavior with the frame rate coming from the graphics card, helping reduce tearing and uneven motion. This gives the Sceptre the essential ingredients for an entry-level high-refresh gaming setup without loading the monitor with expensive extras.
The built-in speakers are convenient for basic Windows sounds, videos and casual use, while Blue-Light Shift is useful for people who spend long periods in front of the display. Neither feature is a reason to buy the monitor on its own, but together they make the E225W-FW144 more versatile as an everyday display.
Performance
The E225W-FW144’s biggest strength is motion. At 144Hz, games feel substantially smoother than they do on a standard 60Hz monitor, particularly when frame rates are high enough to take advantage of the refresh rate. For competitive games such as Valorant, Counter-Strike or Fortnite, the higher refresh rate can make fast camera movements and target tracking feel considerably more responsive.
The 1080p resolution is also a sensible match for the screen size. A 22-inch Full HD display has a relatively high pixel density, so text and game elements can look crisp while the resolution remains easy for budget graphics cards to drive at high frame rates. This is one area where the Sceptre can actually have an advantage over larger 27-inch 1080p monitors, which tend to look less sharp at the same resolution.
Compared, the ASUS VG248QG stands out as a better alternative. It uses a 24-inch TN panel rather than IPS, but offers 165Hz, up to 350-nit brightness, a 1ms-class response specification, Adaptive-Sync and dedicated gaming features such as GameVisual, GamePlus and Extreme Low Motion Blur. It also includes 2W stereo speakers. For competitive gaming, the ASUS has a stronger feature set, although its TN panel doesn’t offer the viewing-angle and color advantages of the Sceptre’s IPS display.
Overall, the Sceptre makes the most sense when price and compact dimensions matter more than having the best panel technology. It delivers the core high-refresh experience, but once you move up toward the price range of established 24-inch gaming monitors, alternatives such as the AOC 24G2SP become harder to ignore.
Sceptre E225W-FW144 Review: Verdict
The Sceptre E225W-FW144 is a monitor built around one simple idea: make high-refresh-rate gaming as inexpensive and accessible as possible. Its 144Hz refresh rate, 1080p resolution, adaptive synchronization, built-in speakers and compact design give it everything necessary for an entry-level gaming setup.
Its main weakness is that the monitor market has moved forward. A 144Hz refresh rate is no longer enough on its own to make a monitor stand out. The AOC 24G2SP, for example, adds 165Hz, an IPS panel, wider viewing angles and a fully adjustable stand, while the ASUS VG248QG provides 165Hz and a more extensive collection of gaming features.
That doesn’t make the Sceptre a bad choice. Quite the opposite: if it is significantly cheaper than those alternatives, the E225W-FW144 remains an excellent entry point into high-refresh gaming. Its 22-inch size is also useful for smaller desks and secondary displays, while 1080p is easy enough for modest gaming hardware to drive at high frame rates.
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