The AOC 27G4 continues the tradition of its predecessors by offering the best possible value for your money. The monitor sits below the $150 price point at the time of this review, putting it at half the price of what the 27G2 released for. Let’s look deeper to know if it’s an improvement, a side-grade, or a downgrade to its best-selling older sibling.
AOC 27G4 Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution:1920 x 1080 FHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 144Hz
- Response Time: 4ms (1ms MPRT)
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 300cd/m²
- Speakers: None
- Stand: Height -Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: HDMI 2.0 x 1, DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, 3.5mm Jack x 2
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 24.17” x 15.22” x 14.16”
- Weight: 10.98 lbs
Design and Features
The AOC 27G4 has seen some aesthetic changes, but the general concept we saw on older monitors is still there. The monitor has a matte black finish, but it has red and gunmetal accents to denote its gaming-oriented nature. The screen has a bezel-free design, but it still has inner borders like most modern displays.
It is not a large monitor, but it eats up a lot of depth from your desk. It may offset some large peripherals like speakers if your desk is small, so checking that aspect out before pulling the trigger is ideal. The whole unit weighs slightly less than twelve pounds, so it should be fairly easy to move around.
It’s an ultra-budget model, but its build quality is still fantastic compared to other options in the same bracket. The plastics used are thick and sturdy, plus there were no cosmetic defects on any of its parts. The stand is firm and stable, but it can still wobble if you nudge the screen at the corners.
One downgrade we saw is the AOC 27G4’s use of OSD buttons instead of a joystick. It’s more complicated and time-consuming to press multiple buttons, but it’s not a major issue for most. You can get by with it, but we prefer the more convenient option, even if it adds a bit more to the price.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. You can use VESA mounts for more flexibility and save space, but it’s mostly unnecessary for the general populace. Note that a 27G4XE variant is also available, but that one only has a tilt stand instead of an ergonomic one.
The AOC 27G4’s connectivity layout includes DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0, and a 3.5mm jack for headphones. One variant of the older model has USB ports, but it was omitted for the newer versions, presumably to help with pricing. It would be nice to have extras, but we’re okay with the omission if the price is lower.
You also don’t get speakers with this model, unlike the other budget models in AOC’s lineup. That’s fine in our eyes simply because gaming monitors work better when used with a headset for better focus and immersion. Desktop speakers also work well, although the issue with them most of the time is their size.
Display and Performance
The AOC 27G4 sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, an upgraded 180hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response time. The backlight also got bumped up to 300 cd/m2, while its contrast is still limited to 1000:1 like most IPS panels. It’s not HDR-certified, but that’s okay since it’s not equipped for appreciable performance anyway.
Larger 1080p monitors are somewhat disliked because of their lower pixel density. They appear less crisp and sometimes pixelated compared to their smaller siblings, so most typically go with the smaller variants. However, it is perfect for visibility in FPS games since objects appear bigger and are usually easier to identify.
The AOC 27G4 covers more than 100% of sRGB and 97% of DCI-P3 for stunning color in games and movies. Its default accuracy had a deltaE average of 1.89, making it more accurate than most budget monitors in the market. Most users won’t need to do anything with it except maybe adjust its brightness since it’s too high out of the box.
Calibrating the monitor reduced the dE average to 0.65, making it comparable with prosumer monitors in the market. It is usable for editing work, but there is a catch to achieving the same results. The colorimeter used to optimize it is twice as expensive, so it may not be practical for most applications.
The AOC 27G4’s backlight reached 310 cd/m2 at 100%, enabling it to fight a decent amount of glare. Its contrast reached 1244:1 at 60% brightness, enabling it to produce better black luminance than some of its competitors. it is not comparable with VA or OLEDs, so it still gives you that slight grayish appearance in dark scenes.
Panel uniformity for the test sample had some minor issues due to backlight leaks on the top edge of the screen. This results in some light blooming on the affected quadrants, so some night scenes might be disrupted. Note that this can vary with every monitor made due to tolerances, so there are better units out there.
The AOC 27G4 has an excellent pixel response time, so it’s perfect for E-Sports use. It has a strobing mode, but it’s unnecessary, especially since it lowers the brightness too much and locks out VRR. You are better off using the middle level of its overdrive to get the best possible performance in fast-paced scenes.
Its dual compatibility with FreeSync and G-Sync also extends its value per dollar spent further. It’s a must-have feature if you want to save money in the long run since you can keep VRR functionality with the same monitor when you switch to the other GPU brand. Its input lag sits at 4ms at 180Hz, making it suitable for competitive play.
Thoughts on the AOC 27G4
The AOC 27G4 is an excellent budget monitor for gamers who want a fast and vibrant screen. It’s not ridden with features, but it’s built well compared to other budget models. It also has a few upgrades, like the higher response time and brightness outputs, so you get more out of every dollar spent.
It’s far from perfect, but most of our complaints, like the OSD buttons instead of a joystick, are minor. 180Hz 1080p might not be as desirable now as it used to be, but low-end models like this are still important since they make E-Sports performance accessible to the masses. It’s a fantastic buy overall, but it will lack the modern goodies that modern gamers often require.
Pros:
- Fantastic Pricing
- Excellent Color Performance
- Adjustable Stand
- Fast and Responsive – Great for Gaming
Cons:
- Limited Features
- OSD Buttons
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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