HKC’s new 24.5-inch QD gaming monitor combines QHD resolution with a 360Hz refresh rate

HKC Shield 25Q360B 24.5-inch 1440p 360Hz gaming monitor with QD Mini-LED backlight

HKC has unveiled a new 24.5-inch gaming monitor that combines a 2560 × 1440 Fast IPS panel with a 360Hz refresh rate and QD Mini-LED backlighting. The Shield 25Q360B also features 1,152 local dimming zones, up to 1,400 nits HDR brightness, claimed 1ms response time, DisplayHDR 1400 certification and 90W USB-C power delivery, positioning it as a high-end compact display for competitive gaming and demanding PC setups.

Newton Gitonga, Published 09/08/2026

The monitor carries a regular price of around $383 in China, while its pre-sale offer brings the price down to approximately $295.

Having launched an 800Hz Quantum Dot gaming monitor last year, HKC now targets competitive gamers with its new 360Hz monitor with a claimed 1ms response time. At 2560 x 1440, also known as Quad HD, QHD, 2.5K and occasionally 2K, the panel provides considerably more detail than a conventional 1080p esports monitor while maintaining a refresh rate suited to high-frame-rate gaming.

The Quantum Dot Mini-LED backlight is one of the monitor's main features. HKC uses 1,152 independently controlled backlight zones, allowing different areas of the display to adjust their brightness separately. This local-dimming system helps improve contrast between bright highlights and darker parts of an image, although the lack or presence of blooming depends on the content, and on how good HKC's dimming algorithms are.

HDR performance is another major focus. The Shield 25Q360B is said to reach a peak brightness of 1,400 nits, and carries DisplayHDR 1400 certification. HKC also lists 550 nits brightness for typical SDR content. The quantum-dot display provides 98.5% DCI-P3 coverage and 100% sRGB coverage, while the 10-bit color implementation uses native 8 bits plus frame rate control (FRC). Factory calibration applies, targeting a Delta E value of 2 or lower.

For fast-moving content, HKC includes its DIC 2.0 dynamic blur-reduction technology. The system offers three adjustment levels and works alongside the company's LCD light-and-shadow tracking technology. HKC says this approach synchronizes Mini-LED backlight changes with panel content to reduce motion artifacts and halos during high-speed scenes.

Connectivity also makes the monitor suitable for more than a dedicated gaming PC. It provides two HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 2.1 connection and a full-featured USB-C port with up to 90W power delivery. The USB-C connection can handle compatible laptop connectivity and charging through a single cable. A built-in USB hub with two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports and KVM support also allows users to share peripherals between two systems.

The Shield 25Q360B uses a three-sided narrow-bezel design and includes rear RGB lighting. Its ergonomic stand supports height adjustment, tilt, swivel and pivot movement, while a 100 x 100mm VESA mount provides an option for monitor arms and wall mounting.

The monitor currently has no dedicated product page on HKC's official site, unfortunately.