The Pixio PX275C is a flexible IPS monitor with a very low price and specs that would be enticing to the mixed-use crowd. What’s peculiar about it is its 100Hz refresh rate, but we know that the lower specification was intentional so it can give way to other important features like USB-C connectivity. Let’s see if the Pixio PX275C’s performance makes it a worthy option for budget builds.
Pixio PX275C Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 100Hz
- Response Time: 4ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 350 cd/m²
- Speakers: Yes(2 x 3 Watts)
- Stand: Height -Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: HDMI 1.4 x 1, DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, USB-C PD65W x 1, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 24.17” x 20.68” x 7.28”
- Weight: 14 lbs
Design and Features
There is beauty in simplicity with the Pixio PX275C since it looks like a regular office monitor that will not clash with themed setups. The device has a matte black chassis that looks discrete and is easy to maintain against blemishes and dust. The display has thin bezels so you can enjoy every inch of the screen while gaming.
This model is bigger than your average school or office monitor, but it doesn’t take up a lot of space compared to similarly designed models. The device only needs 7.28 inches of depth so it won’t push off your full-sized keyboards or other peripherals. It’s also lightweight for a 27-inch monitor at 14 pounds so you won’t need assistance in setting it up.
Its build quality is beyond its budget-oriented nature, so you are getting a well-designed and durable gaming monitor. The plastics used are thick enough to resist cracking and flexing, plus there were cosmetic defects when it was unboxed. The included stand is stable and reliable so the screen won’t sag or shake on you while you are enjoying your games.
The Pixio PX275C has an OSD joystick at the back for convenient access to the monitor’s features and settings. It’s accessible on the right-hand side if you are facing the monitor so it is still easy to reach without leaning in. placing it under the bottom bezel is easier, but that’s a minor issue most won’t have during regular use.
The stand included with the monitor is fully adjustable. Unlike other budget models in every category. You can tilt, swivel, pivot, and adjust the height of the screen so it should be easy to get a comfortable viewing angle all the time. You can also use VESA mounts, but they are only necessary if space is limited or if you have multiple displays.
Its connectivity layout includes a slot each for DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4, but what makes it stand out is its 65-watt USB-C port with DP Alt Mode. The PX275C doesn’t have extras, but that USB-C port is a significant addition since it enables the monitor to become a dock for productivity laptops. It doubles the monitor’s value since you can also use it for work or business aside from its primary purpose.
The Pixio PX275C also includes 3-watt speakers and a 3.5mm jack for headphones or desktop speakers. The built-in set has decent volume levels, but it’s incapable of bass and power that’s necessary for games and movies. However, it’s always nice to have extra equipment for other tasks such as conference calls, especially in a budget model.
Display and Performance
The Pixio PX275C sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 100Hz refresh rate, and a 4ms response time. The backlight has a 350 cd/m2 maximum output while the contrast ratio is listed at 1000:1 like most IPS panels. This model advertises HDR compatibility, although it is not certified and equipped for that.
27-inch 1440p monitors are considered as the sweet spot if you want sharpness without sacrificing legibility and visibility. You get more screen space with it, and games will look crisper and more detailed versus a 1080p alternative. It is not as demanding as a 4K screen, but you will still notice a considerable drop in FPS.
The Pixio PX275C renders more than 100% sRGB and around 78% DCI-P3 so it is pretty decent when it comes to color richness. Its default accuracy only has a deltaE average of 2.46 so most users won’t need to calibrate it. It is not the best we’ve seen in this category, but these are very good results for a budget model.
Calibrating the monitor lowered its dE average to 1.47 which balanced the screen, making it a better candidate for content creation. Premium models showed sub-1.0 deltaE average after colorimeter treatment, but most users will not easily notice the difference. Note that colorimeters are also quite expensive, so it might not be worth the extra cost if you are only gaming.
Its backlight only managed 321 cd/m2 at 100% and its contrast was unimpressive at 967:1. It can still fight off glare in rooms with plenty of natural light, but it cannot produce deep blacks and convincing nighttime scenes. This is a documented limitation of IPS panels, so you have to go with VA or the more expensive OLED and FALD-equipped models if you want something better in this regard.
The Pixio PX275C’s panel uniformity had some issues due to backlight leaks on the top edges of the screen. they show up as clouding on the upper area of the screen and they are most noticeable when viewing dark scenes. Thankfully, this isn’t permanent on every PX275C since there are tolerances so you can get a better unit.
The Pixio PX275C isn’t one of the faster 1440p monitors we’ve written about when it comes to pixel response time. The issue isn’t comparable to what VA monitors have, plus you have to consider this model’s lower refresh rate. You need to use the monitor’s overdrive to help with this, but we don’t recommend maxing it out since overshoot will start to appear.
The Pixio PX275C is compatible with both FreeSync and G-Sync so you don’t have to lose VRR support. This is handy to have now since GPUs are expensive and hard to find, so might end up with one brand or the other if you upgrade. Input lag is slightly higher at 6ms at 100Hz, but that’s understandable and negligible, even if you play competitive games.
Thoughts on the Pixio PX275C
The Pixio PX275C is a decent choice if you want a 1440p monitor that’s inexpensive and flexible. It’s a good gaming monitor, but it’s also designed to handle being a productivity monitor thanks to its good color performance and USB-C connectivity. We also like that it retained creature comforts such as the ergonomic stand despite seeing considerable price cuts.
However, that 100Hz is probably its biggest disadvantage even if the price is lower than a lot of models in the market. Better performers like the Asus VG27AQ can be had for ten to twenty bucks more at the time of this review. We can recommend the Pixio PX275C if you are looking for a display that’s ideal for work and play, but there are better options if you only need the monitor for gaming.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Decent Colors and Accuracy
- FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible
- 65-Watt USB-C Port
Cons:
- Limited to 100Hz
- Prone to Blurring
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.
Nick says
Hello, What is the recommended Calibration setting for the Pixio PX275C Prime to be the most accurate possible?