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The AOC 27G15 continues the brand’s tradition of offering competitive performance at a gaming-changing price point. The original 27G1 was at least a hundred bucks cheaper, making us curious how the company was able to drop its cost this low. Let’s check it out to know what we can expect from that price cut.
AOC 27G15 Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution:1920 x 1080 FHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: Vertical Alignment (VA)
- Refresh Rate: 180Hz
- Response Time: 1ms MPRT
- Contrast Ratio: 3000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 300 cd/m²
- Speakers: None
- Stand: Height -Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 1, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 24.1” x 20 .5” x 8.3”
- Weight: 9.1 lbs
Design and Features
The AOC 27G15 sports a simpler yet more elegant aesthetic that resembles its business models more than the red-streaked gaming ones. The monitor has a matte black chassis that matches its slimmer profile quite well. The screen has a bezel-free design, but it still has inner borders like most modern monitors.
Its dimensions are almost more modest since it uses a minimalist-designed base instead of what the older models have. The square base, together with the rest of the monitor, only needs 8.3 inches of depth, so it should fit even if your desk is smaller. The whole device only weighs 9.1 pounds, so it’s still rather portable, even if it’s larger than the usual monitor, which has a 24-inch diagonal.
The monitor’s build quality hasn’t changed, even if it’s mostly made out of plastic. Each piece or panel is rugged and reliable so that it won’t crack or flex with a reasonable amount of force. The stand has a bit of wobble, but it’s firm and stable thanks to its well-planted base.
The AOC 27G15 went backward when it came to OSD control since it uses buttons instead of a more convenient joystick. The five keys are located under the bottom bezel, so they are easy to reach, but it often takes more pressure to get to something in the menus. This is a minor flaw, but it is annoying for people who tweak their monitors quite often.
We love that the AOC 27G15 includes a full-adjustable stand despite its extra low price point. You can tilt, swivel, pivot, and adjust the height, so getting a comfortable view is always possible. You can still use VESA mounts, but that’s usually unnecessary for most setups.
Another thing that took a hit on this monitor to lower its price is the connectivity layout. You only get a slot each for DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0, and 3.5mm analog audio. You don’t get speakers on it as well, but that’s forgivable since most will use headsets anyway.
Display and Performance
The AOC 27G15 sports a 27-inch VA panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, a 180Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms boosted response time. Its backlight has a 300 cd/m2 max while the contrast is listed at 3000:1. This model doesn’t have HDR certification, but that’s okay since true HDR performance won’t be available at this price point any time soon.
27-inch 1080p monitors are less desirable according to many individuals because of the looser pixel density. However, they are great for competitive gaming since visibility and legibility will be easy on your eyes. They work great for office work as well and are very easy to run with simpler gaming builds, so you can save even more money if you’re building from the ground up.
The AOC 27G15 covers 99% sRGB and 89% DCI-P3 for decent color quality in any application. However, its default accuracy needed improvement since the 3.87 dE average is simply too high. It is not an issue for gaming, but those who know anything about color fidelity will notice the difference.
Calibrating the monitor reduced the dE average to a more palatable 1.89. It looks more balanced or natural this way, but the downside is that you will need a colorimeter to achieve similar results. That gadget alone is worth two 27G15s, so its not practical for most users.
The AOC 27G15’s backlight reached 299 cd/m2 at 100% brightness so that you will have some room for adjustment against glare. Its contrast peaked at 4288:1 at 40% brightness, so it is capable of fantastic black luminance. However, it doesn’t have true HDR capabilities, so don’t buy this monitor if that is a priority.
Panel uniformity for the test sample had some minor issues caused by backlight leaks at the top edge of the screen. They showed up as clouding in select scenes, although lighter backgrounds are not as affected. Note that this can vary with every monitor made due tolerances, there are worse units out there.
The AOC 27G15 is, unfortunately, not immune to blurring like so many modern options out there. However, its blurring is worse than what we’ve seen on other budget models, provided that you keep your framerates between 170Hz to 180Hz. That’s easy enough for most cards, but it also means that you have to fine-tune graphics settings for every title.
The AOC 27G15 is also compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync for tear- and stutter-free gaming. 1080p is rather easy for most GPUs, but it’s still nice to have some protection from visual issues while using either GPU brand. Its input lag sits at 4ms at 180Hz, so it’s just as fast as the best E-Sports monitors out there.
Thoughts on the AOC 27G15
The AOC 27G15 is a compelling choice due to its fantastic price despite its limitations. Its high-contrast panel has better motion clarity than most VA panels, so it is more suitable for fast-paced games. Its redesign makes it more appealing in our eyes, and we’re glad build quality was not sacrificed this time.
However, the usual limitations can be expected here, such as its lack of creature comforts like USB ports. It’s also the least accurate AOC monitor we’ve seen, so there is still some room for improvement. It’s an excellent pick for new gamers, although we know enthusiasts will be willing to spend more to get what it’s missing.
Pros:
- Fantastic Below $150 Price
- Deep Contrast
- Faster and More Responsive than Other VAs
Cons:
- Limited Features
- Needs Calibration
About the Author: 
Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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