AOC Q27G40XMN 27-inch Mini LED 180 Hz gaming monitor overview: Super colour quantity and brightness

With all of the optimistic vibes coming from the OLED monitor camp, you would possibly assume that it solves each drawback and renders all different know-how irrelevant. This is especially true in areas similar to distinction and video processing. But one factor OLEDs will not be is tremendous vivid. If you need excessive output, I’m speaking 1,000 nits or extra, the answer is Mini LED. These panels have lots of, and in some circumstances hundreds, of particular person LEDs organized behind the TFT layer.

Better nonetheless, this know-how can be inexpensive than what’s present in the most effective OLED gaming displays. When coupled with native dimming, the place display zones may be modulated independently, the distinction ratio is considerably increased than that of LCD displays with edge array backlights.

I’m taking a look at AOC’s latest instance right here, the Q27G40XMN. This panel combines a QHD 2560×1440 decision with VA know-how and a full array native dimming (FALD) backlight that includes 1,152 zones, HDR1000, a large gamut Quantum Dot movie, 180 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, and a value level beneath $300. Let’s have a look.

AOC Q27G40XMN Specs

Mini LED was a premium know-how till lately, when costs took a big downturn. The Q27G40XMN is at present promoting for $270, which is a good deal contemplating a monitor like this might have simply value $500 two years in the past.

For that sum, you get a 27-inch QHD 2560×1440 decision panel with VA tech. The mixture of VA and zone dimming ends in extraordinarily excessive distinction. Natively, the panel delivers a distinction ratio of round 4,800:1, which provides it greater than 4 instances the dynamic vary of an IPS monitor. Engaging the 1,152-zone native dimming characteristic ups the vary to nearly 34,000:1, and you’ll go all the way in which to infinite on the most aggressive setting. At that time, black ranges change into too low to measure as a result of the backlight is turned off.

Also current here’s a Quantum Dot movie for further colour protection. The Q27G40XMN fills the DCI-P3 gamut to over 104%, making the picture very colourful for each SDR and HDR content material. HDR is additional enhanced by great gentle output. The certification is DisplayHDR1000, however I measured 1,357 nits peak in my assessments.

Although the Q27G40XMN doesn’t have the proper movement decision of a premium OLED panel, AOC has included an excellent overdrive that maximizes the 180 Hz most refresh charge and Adaptive-Sync. I noticed very easy processing in each check patterns and real-world gameplay, which may nearly idiot one into pondering the body charge is even sooner. I additionally famous that the enter lag is low sufficient to be competition-worthy.

For those that want slightly assist with aim-and-shoot, there are reticles, together with a dynamic choice, three sniper scopes, and shadow management, to assist convey out particulars in darkish locations. Image tweakers will discover a number of image modes, adjustable gamma, colour temperature presets, and a super-accurate sRGB mode fitted to inventive purposes. HDR comes with 4 modes of its personal.

Physically, the Q27G40XMN saves on value with a fundamental stand, no LEDs, inside audio system, or USB ports. But like all good value-oriented show, it has every part you want and nothing you don’t. And it’s lower than $300 out the door.

Assembly and Accessories

AOC has made the change to recyclable packaging with the Q27G40XMN securely packed in molded pulp. The three element items assemble with out instruments right into a stable bundle. The energy provide is inside, so that you get an IEC twine together with DisplayPort and HDMI cables.

Product 360

The stand is a minimalist affair that attaches on the backside of the panel. This strategy permits for five/23 levels tilt solely. There isn’t any peak or swivel adjustment. The stand’s low fulcrum means the panel’s high strikes away from you when tilting, so positioning takes a bit extra effort. The image is sweet and sharp, with vivid colours and no seen grain from the anti-glare layer, which does its job successfully.

The bezel is simply 8mm across the high and sides, with a flush mount that disappears when the image is off. The backside trim has a screened-on AOC emblem and a tiny energy LED. In the picture, you possibly can simply see 5 management keys protruding from the underside proper. There’s no joystick right here, sadly, however the buttons get the job achieved.

In the again are two nods to the Q27G40XMN’s goal: a emblem that claims, “AOC Gaming,” and a purple ring. There are not any LEDs, however the ring hides a secret. You may be trying on the image and questioning the place the 100mm VESA mount is. At the underside of the ring is a tiny slot that, when pried open with a fingernail, releases a spherical panel, revealing the mount together with 4 fasteners. The the rest of the again facet is completed in angled bits with delicate corners, no sharp edges right here. That form continues onto the stand with a slick offset cable gap that sits so that you don’t see via it from the entrance.

The enter panel has simply three ports, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There are not any inside audio system or USB ports.

OSD Features

The Q27G40XMN’s OSD will attraction to Star Trek followers; it jogs my memory of the management panels on the bridge of the Enterprise D. Rather than scanning for all times varieties, it presents the settings in 5 logically organized sub-menus. It seems if you press the second key from the best.

The OSD begins with Game Setting and the seven image modes. The just one you’ll want is Standard, and conveniently, it’s the default. The remainder of the menu options gaming aids, together with Shadow Control to brighten darkish areas, Dial Point, which presents each static and dynamic aiming factors, Sniper Scope with three magnifications, and an excellent four-level overdrive. Faster is the most effective setting to get rid of nearly all movement blur with no ghosting artifacts. The aiming level may also be set to stay in distinction with the background by altering colour robotically.

In the Picture menu, you’ll discover 5 gamma presets and 4 colour temps. The User slot options RGB sliders that enabled me to attain a really correct level with grayscale. However, I encountered gamma points that required some compromise; extra on that later. The three HDR modes pictured can be utilized as emulations for SDR content material, offering a refined change that some customers will respect. When precise HDR alerts are current, a fourth slot seems, labeled “Display.” I discovered some luminance monitoring issues there that despatched me again to HDR Game because the go-to alternative for all HDR content material.

Local Dimming is available in three ranges and considerably will increase distinction by reducing black ranges. The Strong setting turns the backlight off fully, leading to an unmeasurable dynamic vary. It can be utilized for each SDR and HDR content material. Also on this menu are colour area choices that embody sRGB and DCI-P3. The former alternative is spot-on and well-suited for inventive purposes.

AOC Q27G40XMN Calibration Settings

Initial measurements of the Q27G40XMN confirmed a necessity for calibration, however I encountered a number of head-scratchers alongside the way in which. Grayscale tends to run a bit blue, so that you’ll need to alter that. However, switching to the User colour temperature skews the gamma. In both case, the colour gamut is huge with bonus saturation in all six colours. After evaluating modes, I settled on the calibration with skewed gamma because the best-looking picture. Try my settings beneath to see what your desire is. If you want sRGB, that mode is correct on the reference with no tweaking required. For HDR, I like to recommend the default HDR Game mode. It’s essentially the most correct with the very best gentle output.

Gaming and Hands-on

Full disclosure: I’m spoiled by OLED gaming displays. But evaluating the $270 Q27G40XMN to a type of merely wouldn’t be honest. But I’ll anyway.

If value isn’t any object, OLED is the simple alternative. But when you’re on a finances, you received’t be unhappy to play video games on the Q27G40XMN. Booting up Doom Eternal, you’ll see a bunch of intro screens, that are the primary clue that it’s actually good at HDR. Color is daring and saturated, and the highlights leap from the display. The left-right pan you see whereas Horde Mode is loading reveals the Space Marine in a vivid inexperienced hue that you just received’t see on non-Quantum Dot displays. Even although the decision is QHD, excessive distinction makes the image sharper.

Getting into the maps, the motion is easy and quick. At 180fps, the GeForce RTX 4090 poses no drawback, so I set the overdrive to Fastest and fragged away. Input lag was no increased than any premium gaming display, so I had equal adeptness with fast turns and circle strafe maneuvers. Motion was freed from artifacts, however I may see simply the tiniest trace of blur. This is the place my spoiled-by-OLED sensibilities kick in. Make no mistake, the Q27G40XMN seems and video games amazingly properly.

In day by day use, the Q27G40XMN is a really competent show for issues like Word and Excel. Web searching and fundamental graphics work are a pleasure, however slight colour inaccuracies have been noticeable throughout crucial duties in Photoshop. It’s not that it might probably’t do this stuff properly, it’s that I’m used to paint that’s completely on spec. The Q27G40XMN isn’t fairly there, however its colour could be very pleasing, and there’s loads of it. If you gravitate in the direction of essentially the most colourful screens, you’ll be interested in it for certain.

Physical interplay left me wishing for a better stand. I didn’t miss the swivel adjustment, however I do favor the display to be vertical with my eyepoint centered. A low fulcrum stand like this doesn’t enable that, so I needed to tilt the display up. This is forgivable contemplating the Q27G40XMN’s value level. I additionally famous the dearth of USB ports and audio system, however this can be a frequent omission for the phase.

Takeaway: The Q27G40XMN is a superb gaming monitor with exact overdrive for subsequent to no movement blur and low enter lag. It’s one of many least costly displays I’ve seen that qualifies for competitors. It additionally delivers very saturated colour and extremely excessive distinction. That native dimming is obtainable for SDR and HDR is a bonus. And it really works properly for on a regular basis duties and informal leisure.

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