The KTC H27E6 is a fantastic piece of kit that’s affordable, but very competitive against premium offerings in the current market. It sports a fast, 300Hz IPS panel, so it’s suitable for future-proofing an E-Sports setup. Let’s take a closer look to know how this gem performs to know if it’s the new budget king for 2025.
KTC H27E6 Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 WQHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (Fast IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 300Hz
- Response Time: 1ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
- Brightness: 450 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 2 Watts)
- 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 2.1 x 2, USB 2.0 x 1, 3.5mm x 1
- Dimensions With Stand(WxHxD): 24.25″ x 21.10″ x 8.38″
- Weight: 13.12 lbs
Design and Features
We were pleasantly surprised with the KTC H27E6 when we unboxed it because of how good and improved it looked compared to its predecessors. The new and improved aesthetic and materials used reminded me of an Alienware monitor. The screen has a bezel-free design as well, but you still get inner borders.
This isn’t saying that the older KTC monitors looked or felt bad, but we’re simply pointing out that KTC upped their game with this one. Aesthetics look on point, and we’re a fan of the clean look as opposed to the more aggressive ones out there. KTC definitely gives you more for your money with this model.
The unboxing experience for the KTC H27E6 needs extra care since stuff can fall out when you slide out the foam that houses the monitor. The accessories are simply tucked into the recessions of said foam, but it’s not a big deal. We do love that assembly is now tool-free, unlike older budget models, which needed at least a screwdriver to get going.
The package only includes cables for DisplayPort and power since it’s a budget model. It’s interesting to note that this monitor uses a barrel-type plug for power, and it has a modest external power brick with it. It’s not a big hassle, but most monitors nowadays keep everything internal for neatness.
27-inch monitors like these, especially when their mechanical design isn’t overdone, are not a lot to handle. The flat base on this model also helps since you can use it as a pedestal for smaller gadgets or slip it under a gaming soundbar. The device is also lightweight for its class at a little over thirteen pounds, so it should be easy to carry around.
We mentioned that KTC showed massive improvement in the quality of this monitor due to its new design and feel, but that also includes its build quality. The materials used are clearly better than what the predecessors had, and it’s more refined, so there were no signs of cosmetic defects. The stand is quite stable, so the screen won’t wobble or sag on you while you are in the heat of battle.
We like the oversized knob for the OSD joystick with the 27E6. It’s easy to reach and very responsive, plus it offers shortcut gestures to common settings like brightness or switching between the inputs. Other budget models have buttons, so this is a big plus for us in calculating the value the monitor offers.
It’s worth noting that the KTC H27E6 has RGB lights at the back for added flair. The downside is that it only has a few modes, so many will opt to just turn it off. You can do a breathing rainbow of colors or solid red, green, and blue glow settings.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. It’s completely removable to,o without the help of tools, so you can use a VESA mount instead. However, there is very little reason to do that now since the default package is already excellent for us.
The KTC H27E6’s I/O is very basic despite the merits it has, as described above. It has DisplayPort 1.4 as the primary, two HDMI 2.1 slots, and a 3.5mm jack for headphones. There are no USB ports, but it’s nice that all of the video inputs are capable of the 1440p 300Hz output it offers.
There are no built-in speakers, but we’re okay with that considering you can’t expect decent audio from most of them anyway. Headphones will be better in the long run since they help you focus by drowning out external sounds. Getting a decent pair also gives you pinpoint directional sound, which you can’t get from stereo speakers.
Display and Performance
The KTC H27E6 sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 300Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response time. The backlight has a 450 cd/m2 output while the contrast is listed at 1000:1. This model is HDR400 compliant, but we all know how limited that is in a market saturated with OLEDs and special LED panels with higher certification.
1440p models are getting crazy refresh rates now since they are becoming the standard for fast-paced gaming. Prices are down, so it makes sense, and the technology’s rapid growth in the past years, since the pandemic, has given way to a broader set of options. We still consider 1440p as an upgrade, especially if it’s fast like this model.
The KTC H27E6 powered on, including its RGB lights at the back, without any issue. Its refresh rate naturally had to be set to 300Hz, and both its HDMI and DisplayPort slots achieved that without a hiccup.
The KTC H27E6 covered 100% sRGB, 94% of Adobe RGB, and 91% of DCI-P3 for good color in games or professional use. Its default accuracy could be better since the deltaE average was quite high at 3.13. It didn’t look too bad, but you will notice the difference if you are used to a calibrated alternative.
Using our Calibrite Display Plus reduced the dE average to 0.4, putting it in line with prosumer displays. The downside is that you will need to get a colorimeter that’s typically expensive, so we can only recommend it for prosumer purposes. Gamers will be okay with the default setup or the monitor’s included presets.
The panel’s backlight reached 462 cd/m2 at 100%, so it can fight off a decent amount of glare. Its contrast peaked at 1066:1, so it’s still incapable of deep blacks like VA and OLED panels. That’s expected from an IPS panel whose strength lies in clarity and better color consistency.
The sample unit’s panel uniformity had massive deviations on the left side due to backlight leaks. They become very noticeable in dark scenes, but are subdued by lighter backgrounds. Note that this can vary with every monitor made due to tolerances, so there are better units out there.
The KTC H27E6 is excellent when it comes to pixel response time. We didn’t even use its overdrive modes since it was already blur-free at 300Hz, so it’s great for E-Sports and other fast-paced categories. The key here is to keep your framerates stable, so be prepared to tweak each game’s graphics settings to help your GPU keep up.
The KTC H27E6 is compatible with G-Sync and FreeSync for stutter-free gaming. Most GPUs can now handle 1440p, but not all can be stable, so VRR is still necessary. Its input lag sits at 3ms at 300Hz, making it one of the fastest gaming monitors in the budget segment.
Thoughts on the KTC H27E6
The KTC H27E6 is a fantastic gaming monitor that offers great performance and quality at a fraction of the price. You get a 300Hz panel built into a robust and attractive chassis that’s comparable with premium alternatives. You don’t get a lot of extras, but KTC executed with excellent focus on what matters most for gamers.
It’s far from perfect, simply because there are omissions such as factory calibration or even USB ports. The panel also has some limitations, but only high-end alternatives can truly mitigate issues like contrast or even uniformity. Overall, it’s a fantastic buy, and we highly recommend it for both budget and high-end builds.
Pros:
- Excellent Speed and Color Coverage
- Attractive and High-Quality Build
- Very Affordable
- Fantastic Calibration Potential
Cons:
- Limited Contrast
About the Author: Paolo is 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 and he believes that it’s 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.</span
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