The AOC Q27P3CW is an affordable solution for users who want a multi-purpose business monitor that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. It’s designed for conferencing and remote work, so you won’t have to buy multiple peripherals to build an effective home office setup. Let’s take a closer look to see if it’s a good investment and how it compares to previous budget models.
AOC Q27P3CW Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 WQHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 75Hz
- Response Time: 4ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 350 cd/m2
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 5 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot– Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, DP Out 1.2 x 1, HDMI 1.4 x 2, USB-C PD65W x 1, USB 3.2 x 4, 3.5mm Audio Jack x 1, 5MP Webcam with Mic
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 24.16″ x 16.25″ x 7.88″
- Weight: 15.23 lbs
Design and Features
The AOC Q27P3CW looks simple yet elegant compared to other budget business monitors in the market. The monitor has a matte black finish with a brushed-metal-like texture, so it doesn’t look too drab or boring. The screen has a bezel-free design, but it still has inner borders like most modern IPS monitors.
It’s larger than your average display at work, but it’s not gigantic by today’s standards. The monitor only needs two feet of width and 7.88 inches of depth, so it won’t overtake too much of your desk space. It is not too heavy at 15.23 pounds, so it should be fairly easy to move around in case you want to rearrange your setup.
It may be an affordable option, but build quality was not compromised to help lower the price point. The included stand is pretty stable, so the screen won’t sag or shake while you are busy with your tasks. We didn’t see any signs of cosmetic defects or weaknesses like unwanted flexing on the plastic, so it should last you quite a while.
One minor downside with it is it has buttons for the OSD instead of a user-friendly joystick. The keys are located at the front towards the right side of the screen, so they are easy to access, but it still takes multiple presses to get to a setting. This doesn’t affect the functionality of the monitor at all, but it can get a bit annoying if you want to tweak your monitor often.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. Full adjustability is handy for a productivity setup since it won’t be a struggle to get a comfortable view. You can also use VESA mounts, but it’s completely unnecessary unless you have multiple displays and limited desk space.
One of the special features of the AOC Q27P3CW is its connectivity layout that has an impressive array of options for the price. You get DisplayPort 1.2 inputs and outputs, two HDMI 1.4 slots, and a 65-watt USB-C port with DP Alt Mode. It also has four USB 3.2 slots and a 3.5mm jack for peripherals, enabling you to route almost every cable needed for a fully functional setup.
You get more after that since it also has a 5MP webcam and microphones to complete its suitability for conferencing and remote work. The cam isn’t crystal clear under poor lighting, and the mic isn’t as crisp for the other side, but it’s nice to have all that you need in one package.
It also has a pair of 5-watt speakers, which is a bit better than the 24-inch variant. Voice comms sound crisp and clear, but bass response is rather limited. Headphones would still sound better, but adding one sort of defeats the purpose of an all-one display.
Display and Performance
The AOC Q27P3CW sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 75Hz refresh rate, and a 4ms response time. The backlight has a 350 cd/m2 maximum while the contrast is listed at 1000:1. This model doesn’t advertise HDR features and certification, but that’s understandable since it wasn’t designed for entertainment or gaming.
27-inch 1440p monitors are the perfect upgrade for productivity without alienating your eyes. It’s sharper and has more room than a typical 1080p office display, but it isn’t too sharp to require scaling just to read text. It doesn’t need the latest hardware or the most powerful GPU to run most games, so it’s also a decent pick for a casual gaming rig.
The AOC Q27P3CW covered 99% of sRGB and 87% of DCI-P3 for decent colors in any type of usage. Its default accuracy had a deltaE average of 1.98, so it’s already balanced out of the box. Most users won’t need to calibrate it apart from adjusting the brightness, so it is ready for use right away.
Calibrating it reduced the dE average to 0.96, making it usable for editing work and content creation. The downside is that you will need a colorimeter to achieve comparable results. Those can be more expensive than the monitor itself, so it is only worth it if your work demands absolute accuracy.
The AOC Q27P3CW’s backlight reached 361 cd/m2 at 100%, so it has plenty to fight off glare. Its contrast peaked at 1044:1 at 40% brightness, so it’s not capable of deep blacks like VA types or even the IPS Black variants. Note that this is a known limitation of the panel tech, so it isn’t treated as a deal-breaker.
Panel uniformity for the test sample had some issues on the upper corners of the display. Backlight bleeding caused some clouding, but it is mostly noticeable in dark scenes. Note that this can vary with every monitor made due to tolerances, so there are better units out there.
The AOC Q27P3CW’s pixel response time is decent, but it is in no way comparable to what a Fast-IPS variant is capable of. Some ghosting can still happen in contrasting transitions, but that’s normal for a 75Hz display. Setting the overdrive to a modest level helps, but it is not as effective as it would be on a gaming alternative.
The AOC Q27P3CW has Adaptive Sync compatibility for buttery smooth and tearing-free visuals. It’s not entirely necessary, but it’s still nice to have it for those who want to play graphics-heavy games after work. Its input lag sits at 9ms at 75Hz, so it’s still responsive enough for gaming.
Thoughts on the AOC Q27P3CW
The AOC Q27P3CW is an excellent choice for remote work or conferencing setups. It has more than enough to be a functional solution for it and does quite well gaming. It’s made to be extra affordable, but overall quality was not sacrificed to help with cost cutting.
It is not perfect, but there is very little to complain about if you buy it for the right purpose. Expectable limitations like a lower contrast and lack of true gaming features are present, but they are not considered deal-breakers. It’s a fantastic buy overall, allowing the masses to build a sophisticated home office without spending a small fortune.
Pros:
- Excellent Features and Build Quality
- Adaptive Sync
- USB-C Connectivity and Webcam Included
- Low Price
Cons:
- Limited Contrast
- Middling Default Accuracy
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 has the 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 and create reviews that accentuate the seldom-explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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