The AOC Q27G3XMN was designed to combat the growth of ultra-affordable 27-inch 1440p monitors like the Koorui 27E1QA. It is still not the cheapest, but it has a trick up its sleeve since it includes a mini-LED backlight with 336 zones and HDR1000 certification. Let’s check it out to see if it is going to be 2024’s first-value gaming monitor king.
AOC Q27G3XMN Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: Vertical Alignment (VA)
- Refresh Rate: 144Hz
- Response Time: 1ms (MPRT)
- Contrast Ratio: 4000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 450 cd/m² (1000 cd/m² Peak)
- 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 2, DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 24.19” x 15.88” x 11.91”
- Weight: 15.56 lbs
Design and Features
The AOC Q27G3XMN doesn’t sport the modern minimalist aesthetic found on the AGON variants. The monitor has a matte black finish with some red accents, so it may look tacky to some users. It has a bezel-free design, but you still get that thicker bottom strip and natural inner borders on the panel itself.
It is not a large monitor, but AOC oversized the base for its G-series gaming monitors. It needs almost a foot of depth from your desk, but at least the feet are thin, so there is a lot of room in between them. The device is heavier than some similar models at 15.56 pounds, but it is still rather portable by our standards.
It may be a budget model, but it is still very durable and reliable, like all the AOC monitors we’ve encountered. The plastic chassis feels well-reinforced, plus there were no cosmetic defects on any parts. The included stand is firm and stable, but it can still wobble a bit if you nudge the screen accidentally.
AOC went backward with the control layout for this model since it uses cutout buttons instead of a joystick. The layout is labeled and within reach under the bottom bezel, but it takes more keypresses to get to a specific item on the menu. However, this is a minor complaint in our eyes because of the amazing pricing.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments for your convenience. This is great because most $250 1440p gaming monitors are often packaged with less flexible options. You can also use VESA mounts, but it is only needed when you have multiple screens or if space is limited.
Another aspect where AOC had to cut corners is the connectivity layout. It only includes DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 slots, and a 3.5mm jack for headphones. Other monitors may include extras, but not having them doesn’t impede the product’s primary purpose.
This model doesn’t have speakers this time around, and we’re okay with that. Most built-ins sound tinny and weak anyway, so gamers won’t usually use them for the primary purpose. A monitor like this is better served by immersive headsets, but its always nice to have extra features to make the value per dollar more lively.
Display and Performance
The AOC Q27G3XMN sports a 27-inch VA panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 180Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms MPRT response time. The backlight has a 450 cd/m2 typical output and a 1000 cd/m2 peak, while the contrast is listed at 4000:1. This mode is surprisingly HDR 1000 certified since it has a 336-zone mini-LED backlight.
The 27-inch 1440p monitor category is the perfect test bed for a budget HDR 1000 monitor since it’s considered to be the universal middle ground for monitors. It’s the perfect upgrade for many gamers since it will not demand a top-end GPU for smooth framerates, and it is easy on the eyes. Most would still consider this a high-end model if it had a 4K panel because of those factors.
The AOC Q27G3XMN covered 99% of sRGB and 90% of the DCI-P3 color space. It is not the most vibrant, but the colors are still punchy and alive compared to older IPS models. It has a deltaE average of 1.47, making it accurate and balanced out of the box. Most users won’t need to do anything to it during the first-time setup since AOC already took care of it from the factory.
Calibrating it reduced the dE average to 0.65, putting it next to prosumer models in this regard. The downside is that you have to buy a colorimeter to achieve comparable results. The gadget is quite expensive if bought for gaming, so we don’t recommend getting it unless you do color-critical work as well.
The AOC Q27G3XMN’s backlight only reached 391 cd/m2 in SDR, but it peaked at 1021 cd/m2 when its HDR mode kicked in. Its contrast reached 4488:1 at 30% brightness, but the local dimming more than doubled that to around 10000:1. The monitor can display deep blacks with minimal bloom when the backlight is working its magic.
Panel uniformity for the test sample was great since there were no major backlight leaks. However, we don’t recommend the local dimming feature’s Strong setting since it will add clouding and light blooms in HDR scenes. The Medium setting should be used, although it is still possible to get a unit with different characteristics.
Another benefit the special backlight brings to the table is substantially better pixel response time for a VA panel. Setting local dimming and the monitor’s overdrive to their medium levels gave the best performance overall without any smudges or persistence that are strong enough to disturb your eyes. It is great for fast-paced games, although something with a 360Hz or even 500Hz+ refresh will be better in that regard.
The AOC Q27G3XMN is compatible with both FreeSync and G-Sync for tearing and stutter-free gaming. This is essential for saving money since having compatibility for both means that you can keep the monitor and VRR even if you switch to the other GPU brand. Its input lag is under 4ms, so it’s faster than your average 144Hz display on the market.
Thoughts on the AOC Q27G3XMN
The AOC Q27G3XMN is a fantastic new monitor that sets a new tone for the monitor market. It’s well under $300 at the time of review, but it includes a mini-LED backlight and strong imaging performance. It is not a premium model based on its design, but it’s built to be reliable and durable.
We don’t have significant complaints about this model since its price basically justifies all that’s missing. Performance is always the priority, and the AOC Q27G3XMN scores perfectly in that regard. OLED models are more desirable now, but we’re glad that there’s an affordable option out there for substantially improved HDR performance at a low price.
Pros:
- Fantastic Image Quality and HDR for the Price
- Great Build Quality
- Excellent Price
- Fast and Responsive
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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