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We've recently released Test Bench 2.0 for Monitors! Read our new VRR Flicker R&D Article and Pursuit Photo R&D Article to learn more.

AOC Q27G3XMN Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v2.0
Review updated Mar 29, 2024 at 09:51 am
Latest change: Writing modified Jun 26, 2024 at 10:01 am
AOC Q27G3XMN Picture
8.2
PC Gaming
7.4
Console Gaming
7.7
Office
7.9
Editing
8.3
Brightness
8.5
Response Time
8.0
HDR Picture
8.2
SDR Picture
8.8
Color Accuracy

The AOC Q27G3XMN is a 27-inch budget gaming monitor. Competing with the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx, it's rather unique for a low-cost monitor as it features Mini LED backlighting with 336 dimming zones, which is mainly something more expensive monitors have. It also has VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification to ensure a high brightness and contrast ratio. Besides that, it's focused on gaming as it has a VA panel with a 1440p resolution and a 180Hz max refresh rate. It also has variable refresh rate (VRR) support. It comes with an ergonomic stand, one DisplayPort 1.4 input, and two HDMI 2.0 ports, but other than that, it's barebones in extra features.

Our Verdict

8.2 PC Gaming

The AOC Q27G3XMN is impressive for PC gaming. It has a max refresh rate of 180Hz with an excellent response time, resulting in minimal motion blur, but there's still a bit of smearing with fast-moving objects. Luckily, it has a low input lag at any refresh rate for a responsive feel. It also supports FreeSync VRR and G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing. On top of this, it's even amazing for dark room gaming as it displays deep blacks thanks to its high native contrast ratio and good local dimming feature. Unfortunately, it has distracting VRR flicker with changing frame rates, which is disappointing if your PC can't maintain a consistent frame rate.

Pros
  • 180Hz refresh rate and VRR support.
  • Maintains a fast response time at any refresh rate.
  • Low input lag.
  • Good Mini LED local dimming.
Cons
  • Some black smearing.
  • Distracting VRR flicker with changing frame rates.
7.4 Console Gaming

The AOC Q27G3XMN is decent for console gaming. Although it can't take full advantage of the Xbox Series X|S or the PS5 due to its 1440p resolution and lack of HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, it still provides a great gaming experience. It has a fast response time and low input lag at 120Hz and 60Hz, providing a smooth feel. It also offers good picture quality whether you're gaming in HDR or SDR, thanks to its high contrast for deep blacks, and it gets bright enough to fight glare in well-lit rooms.

Pros
  • Maintains a fast response time at any refresh rate.
  • Low input lag.
  • Good Mini LED local dimming.
Cons
  • Can't take full advantage of gaming consoles.
  • Some black smearing.
7.7 Office

The AOC Q27G3XMN is good for the office. It has a 27-inch screen with a 1440p resolution, and it has good text clarity. It's also good to use in a well-lit workspace as it gets bright enough to fight glare and has good reflection handling. While its fantastic ergonomics make it easy to adjust, it has narrow viewing angles, so the image looks washed out from the sides. It also doesn't have many extra productivity features, like a USB hub, so you can't connect your devices directly to it.

Pros
  • Bright enough to fight glare.
  • Good text clarity.
  • Fantastic ergonomics.
Cons
  • Narrow viewing angles.
  • No extra office features.
7.9 Editing

The AOC Q27G3XMN is very good for content creation. It has fantastic accuracy before calibration in the sRGB mode, but some other picture modes have a warm color temperature, resulting in a red tint. Its 27-inch screen is big enough for multitasking, and it has fantastic ergonomics that make it easy to share the screen with someone else, but it has narrow viewing angles that make the image look washed out from the sides. On the plus side, it's great if you need to edit content in bright or dark rooms, as it gets bright and displays deep blacks with minimal blooming.

Pros
  • Bright enough to fight glare.
  • Good text clarity.
  • Fantastic ergonomics.
  • Fantastic accuracy in sRGB mode.
Cons
  • Narrow viewing angles.
  • No extra office features.
  • Noticeable red tint with some picture settings.
8.3 Brightness

The AOC Q27G3XMN has great brightness. It gets bright in SDR, enough to fight glare in well-lit rooms, and it gets even brighter in HDR, so highlights pop against the rest of the image.

Pros
  • Bright enough to fight glare.
  • Gets very bright in HDR.
Cons
8.5 Response Time

The AOC Q27G3XMN has an excellent response time. It maintains a fast response time across its VRR range, so even motion at low refresh rates looks good. While it doesn't have too much noticeable blur or inverse ghosting, it does have visible black smearing, which is disappointing. Another thing to note is that it has terrible VRR flicker with changing frame rates, but this isn't an issue if your PC can maintain a consistent frame rate.

Pros
  • Maintains a fast response time at any refresh rate.
  • Excellent refresh rate compliance.
Cons
  • Some black smearing.
  • Distracting VRR flicker with changing frame rates.
8.0 HDR Picture

The AOC Q27G3XMN has impressive picture quality in HDR. It uses Mini LED backlighting to produce a good local dimming feature, so it displays deep blacks next to bright highlights. It also displays bright and dark colors well, but it has limited coverage in the Rec. 2020 color space, so some content doesn't look as realistic as it should.

Pros
  • Good Mini LED local dimming.
  • Gets very bright in HDR.
  • Displays wide range of colors.
Cons
  • Some tone mapping issues.
8.2 SDR Picture

The AOC Q27G3XMN has great picture quality in SDR. It has a high native contrast ratio to display deep blacks, but there's some black clouding without local dimming enabled. On the plus side, it displays a wide range of colors in the common sRGB and the wider Adobe RGB color spaces.

Pros
  • High native contrast ratio.
  • Displays wide range of colors.
Cons
8.8 Color Accuracy

The AOC Q27G3XMN has excellent color accuracy. It has an extremely accurate sRGB mode, so you won't need to calibrate it for the most accurate colors, but there are issues with a red tint, depending on the settings you use. It also has decent gray uniformity that keeps the image consistent across the screen, but the edges are darker than the rest.

Pros
  • Fantastic accuracy in sRGB mode.
  • Displays wide range of colors.
Cons
  • Noticeable red tint with some picture settings.
  • 8.2 PC Gaming
  • 7.4 Console Gaming
  • 7.7 Office
  • 7.9 Editing

Performance Usages

  • 8.3 Brightness
  • 8.5 Response Time
  • 8.0 HDR Picture
  • 8.2 SDR Picture
  • 8.8 Color Accuracy
  1. Updated Jun 26, 2024: Added in the Intro that this monitor competes with the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx.
  2. Updated Apr 17, 2024: Updated the text throughout the review according to Test Bench 2.0, mainly in the Verdict and Motion sections.
  3. Updated Apr 17, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.0. This includes new tests for VRR Motion Performance, Refresh Rate Compliance, Cumulative Absolute Deviation (CAD), and VRR Flicker. You can read the full changelog here.
  4. Updated Jan 29, 2024: Clarified that the Q27G3XMN/BK model code is a regional variant in Europe and the UK.
  5. Updated Dec 18, 2023: Clarified that the type of Flicker it uses is DC dimming and not PWM dimming.
  6. Updated Dec 14, 2023: Review published.
  7. Updated Dec 07, 2023: Early access published.
  8. Updated Nov 29, 2023: Our testers have started testing this product.
  9. Updated Nov 27, 2023: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  10. Updated Nov 13, 2023: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 27-inch AOC Q27G3XMN, which is the only size available for this monitor. The full model code may vary between regions and retailers, as it's also available as the Q27G3XMN/BK in Europe and the UK, but it performs the same.

Model Size Resolution Panel Type Native Refresh Rate Max Refresh Rate
Q27G3XMN 27" 1440p VA 165Hz 180Hz

Our unit was manufactured in July 2023; you can see the label here. It was tested with firmware version 1.4.

Compared To Other Monitors

The AOC Q27G3XMN is an impressive budget PC gaming monitor with better picture quality than most other low-cost models thanks to its Mini LED backlighting, making it a great choice whether you game in a bright or dark room. While it doesn't have HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take advantage of gaming consoles, it's still an excellent choice for PC gaming, thanks to its fast response time. It doesn't have as much smearing as on other monitors with VA panels, but it's still there, and it has distracting VRR flicker with changing frame rates. That said, this monitor's availability varies, so if you find it at a low price, it's best to get it while you can. Otherwise, you'll have to get a budget option with worse picture quality, like the Dell G2724D.

See our recommendations for the best 1440p gaming monitors, the best budget and cheap gaming monitors, and the best gaming monitors under $300.

Dell G2724D

The Dell G2724D and the AOC Q27G3XMN are both budget gaming monitors with a few differences. The AOC delivers better picture quality thanks to its Mini LED backlighting, which lets it get brighter in HDR and display deeper blacks. On the other hand, the Dell has a different panel type with wider viewing angles, making it better for co-op gaming. The AOC has a slightly faster 180Hz max refresh rate, but the Dell has an advantage with motion handling, as there's less black smearing.

Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx

The AOC Q27G3XMN and the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx are competing entry-level monitors with many of the same features. While they each have Mini LED local dimming, the AOC is just a bit better as it has less blooming. However, the Acer is the better choice if you need something for a well-lit room as it gets brighter. On the other hand, the AOC has an advantage for gaming thanks to its faster response time.

ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS

The AOC Q27G3XMN and the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS are both budget-friendly 1440p gaming monitors with a 180Hz refresh rate. The biggest difference between the two is the fact that the AOC has Mini LED backlighting with a good local dimming feature. This means the AOC is the better choice if you want something for HDR gaming. On the other hand, the ASUS is the better choice if you need to often share your screen with someone else thanks to its wide viewing angles.

Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx

The Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx and the AOC Q27G3XMN are 27-inch gaming monitors meant for different types of gamers. The AOC has an advantage for console gamers because it has much better motion handling across its VRR range, but it has more black smearing than the Acer. That said, the AOC also has lower input lag and a better local dimming feature for improved picture quality in dark scenes. On the other hand, the Acer is better for console gaming as it has a higher 4k resolution and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Acer also has less VRR flicker with changing frame rates, which is good if your PC can't maintain consistent frame rates.

Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75 and the AOC Q27G3XMN are both great gaming monitors with a few differences. They each have Mini LED backlighting, and while the Samsung has many more dimming zones, the feature on the AOC does a better job at improving the contrast without too much black crush. The AOC also gets brighter in HDR, making highlights pop more. Additionally, the AOC is the better choice for PC gaming as it has a faster response time with most refresh rates, but the Samsung is better for console gaming thanks to its 4k resolution and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.

MSI MAG 274UPF

The AOC Q27G3XMN and the MSI MAG 274UPF are 27-inch gaming monitors. The AOC is a better choice if gaming performance is most important to you, as it has better motion handling, gets much brighter in HDR, and has far better contrast. However, if crisp text and productivity features like a KVM switch matter more to you than gaming performance, then the MSI is a better option.

LG 27GR95QE-B

The LG 27GR95QE-B and the AOC Q27G3XMN are both 1440p gaming monitors, but they're different in a few ways. The LG has a higher 240Hz refresh rate and supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, so it can take full advantage of gaming consoles and modern graphics cards. The LG also has an OLED panel that displays perfect blacks, while the AOC uses Mini LED backlighting and gets much brighter. In terms of their actual gaming performance, they each have a fast response time, but the LG has less black smearing behind fast-moving objects, and the AOC has less inverse ghosting.

AOC 24G15N

The AOC Q27G3XMN and the AOC 24G15N are both lower-cost gaming monitors, though the 24G15N is much less expensive. However, the Q27G3XMN is an enormous step up and allows you to experience all the features of a modern gaming monitor. It displays vivid colors in HDR, has a sharper display, highlights that are bright enough to pop, and crisp motion handling. If you care about gaming and can afford it, it's a much better option.

BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X

The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X and the AOC Q27G3XMN are very different gaming monitors. The AOC is the better monitor for nearly all gamers, as it has more vibrant colors, displays a more detailed image, and has highlights that pop next to a dark background. The BenQ is better for esports gamers who only care about motion handling, as fast-moving objects look slightly crisper than on the AOC.

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Video

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved
No
Curve Radius
Not Curved

The AOC Q27G3XMN has a simple design with matte black plastic throughout and some red accents, particularly on the vents. It isn't heavy on the gamer aesthetic, so it fits into any environment.

7.5
Design
Build Quality

The build quality is good. The plastic materials are well-made, as there's minimal flexing and no noticeable issues. Even the stand feels good, and using the ergonomic adjustments feels nice. There's a bit of wobble, but it quickly stabilizes itself when it does wobble.

9.2
Design
Ergonomics
Min Height To Top Of Panel
15.4" (39.2 cm)
Height Adjustment
5.1" (12.9 cm)
Tilt Range
-20Ā° to 5Ā°
Rotate Portrait/Landscape
Yes, Both Ways
Swivel Range
-30Ā° to 30Ā°
Wall Mount
VESA 100x100

The ergonomics are fantastic as you can easily adjust it in many different ways. There's also a cutout in the stand for cable management.

Design
Stand
Base Width
19.1" (48.5 cm)
Base Depth
12.2" (31.0 cm)
Thickness (With Display)
9.2" (23.4 cm)
Weight (With Display)
15.8 lbs (7.2 kg)

This monitor comes with a stand whose front legs are much longer than the back legs. They take up space on your desk, but there's still space between them to put your peripherals.

Design
Display
Size
27"
Housing Width
24.2" (61.4 cm)
Housing Height
14.3" (36.4 cm)
Thickness (Without Stand)
2.8" (7.2 cm)
Weight (Without Stand)
12.2 lbs (5.6 kg)
Borders Size (Bezels)
0.3" (0.8 cm)
Design
Controls

The AOC Q27G3XMN has a power button and four control buttons to navigate the on-screen menu.

Design
In The Box
Power Supply
Internal

  • DisplayPort cable
  • HDMI cable
  • Power cable
  • User documentation

Picture Quality
8.8
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
4,508 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
9,613 : 1

The AOC Q27G3XMN has an excellent contrast ratio. Its VA panel delivers an already-high native contrast ratio, and it gets better thanks to its full-array local dimming feature. This means it displays deep blacks next to bright highlights in dark rooms.

7.5
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
Yes
Backlight
Full-Array

The local dimming feature performs well and has 336 small Mini LED dimming zones. The recommended Local Dimming setting is 'Medium' because the highest setting, 'Strong,' is too aggressive with more blooming and black crush. The 'Medium' setting still has black crush, but it's minimal, and only certain content loses some details, like in a starfield. There's also blooming that's most noticeable when browsing the web, particularly while using a dark mode, but it isn't as bad when watching content. Even subtitles look great, with almost no blooming. However, blooming is more visible when viewing from the sides, but that's the case with most monitors anyway.

The local dimming algorithm keeps up with fast-moving objects well, but sometimes they're slow to turn off after a bright object disappears from the screen, like with subtitles. That said, this is a good overall implementation of local dimming, and it helps improve the picture quality in dark scenes.

7.8
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene
327 cd/mĀ²
Peak 2% Window
270 cd/mĀ²
Peak 10% Window
332 cd/mĀ²
Peak 25% Window
359 cd/mĀ²
Peak 50% Window
373 cd/mĀ²
Peak 100% Window
382 cd/mĀ²
Sustained 2% Window
270 cd/mĀ²
Sustained 10% Window
332 cd/mĀ²
Sustained 25% Window
357 cd/mĀ²
Sustained 50% Window
371 cd/mĀ²
Sustained 100% Window
380 cd/mĀ²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.021
Minimum Brightness
34 cd/mĀ²

The SDR brightness is good. It gets bright enough to fight glare, but content with small highlights is dimmer than the rest. These results are from after calibration with Game Mode off, Eco Mode on 'Standard,' Color Temp. on 'User,' Brightness at its max, and Local Dimming on 'Medium.' It actually gets brighter with most content with Local Dimming disabled, which is useful if you're just browsing the web and need high peak brightness, and you can see the results for it below.

  • Real Scene 387 cd/mĀ²
  • Peak 2% Window 377 cd/mĀ²
  • Peak 10% Window 376 cd/mĀ²
  • Peak 25% Window 375 cd/mĀ²
  • Peak 50% Window 374 cd/mĀ²
  • Peak 100% Window 373 cd/mĀ²
  • Sustained 2% Window 376 cd/mĀ²
  • Sustained 10% Window 375 cd/mĀ²
  • Sustained 25% Window 374 cd/mĀ²
  • Sustained 50% Window 373 cd/mĀ²
  • Sustained 100% Window 372 cd/mĀ²
  • Minimum Brightness 42 cd/mĀ²

8.7
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
VESA DisplayHDR Certification
DisplayHDR 1000
Real Scene
810 cd/mĀ²
Peak 2% Window
796 cd/mĀ²
Peak 10% Window
976 cd/mĀ²
Peak 25% Window
1,034 cd/mĀ²
Peak 50% Window
1,011 cd/mĀ²
Peak 100% Window
966 cd/mĀ²
Sustained 2% Window
790 cd/mĀ²
Sustained 10% Window
970 cd/mĀ²
Sustained 25% Window
1,018 cd/mĀ²
Sustained 50% Window
991 cd/mĀ²
Sustained 100% Window
949 cd/mĀ²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.013

The AOC Q27G3XMN has excellent HDR peak brightness. It easily gets bright enough to make highlights stand out, but small highlights are dimmed a bit. The EOTF struggles to track the PQ EOTF curve well, as all scenes are darker than intended, but because there's a sharp cut-off at the peak brightness, the monitor lets highlights get the brightest they can.

These results are in the 'DisplayHDR' HDR Mode, which you can only select when sending an HDR signal to the monitor. Local Dimming was also set to 'Medium,' as 'Strong' has worse picture quality, and disabling local dimming results in a worse EOTF, as you can see here. We measured the Real Scene brightness differently than our regular methodology with a Blu-ray player, as the brightness was much lower with it. Instead, we used an HDFury Vertex Linker to force an HDR signal over HDMI from a PC, which resulted in a higher Real Scene brightness.

Using HDR on this monitor locks all gaming and picture settings, except for Overdrive, Adaptive Sync, and Overlay, which means you can still use HDR and VRR simultaneously.

5.2
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
27Ā°
Color Washout From Right
25Ā°
Color Shift From Left
26Ā°
Color Shift From Right
26Ā°
Brightness Loss From Left
30Ā°
Brightness Loss From Right
28Ā°
Black Level Raise From Left
15Ā°
Black Level Raise From Right
15Ā°
Gamma Shift From Left
14Ā°
Gamma Shift From Right
16Ā°

The horizontal viewing angle is disappointing. The image quickly washes out from the sides, which means it isn't ideal if you want to share your screen with someone else.

4.8
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
27Ā°
Color Washout From Above
27Ā°
Color Shift From Below
21Ā°
Color Shift From Above
20Ā°
Brightness Loss From Below
29Ā°
Brightness Loss From Above
29Ā°
Black Level Raise From Below
10Ā°
Black Level Raise From Above
9Ā°
Gamma Shift From Below
12Ā°
Gamma Shift From Above
10Ā°

The AOC Q27G3XMN has a poor vertical viewing angle. The image looks inconsistent at the top and bottom edges if you sit too close or you're standing up and looking down at the monitor.

7.2
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
2.627%
50% DSE
0.198%

The gray uniformity is decent. It does have noticeable issues, particularly along the edges and in the center with a dirty screen effect, but it isn't overly distracting either.

7.3
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
1.426%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
0.292%

The black uniformity with local dimming is incredible. Blacks are deep and inky, and there's minimal blooming around bright objects. As expected, the uniformity is worse with local dimming disabled, with backlight bleed along the edges.

9.0
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Pre-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Off (sRGB)
sRGB Gamut Area xy
102.3%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
2.02
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,487 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.31
Color dE (Avg.)
1.50
Contrast Setting
N/A
RGB Settings
Default
Gamma Setting
Default
Brightness Setting
70
Measured Brightness
217 cd/mĀ²
Brightness Locked
No

The AOC Q27G3XMN has fantastic accuracy in the sRGB mode before calibration. Setting Color Gamut to 'sRGB' limits colors very well to the sRGB color space, and it also results in minimal white balance and color inaccuracies. Even the color temperature is almost spot-on with the 6500K target, but gamma is too high, meaning most content is darker than intended.

Depending on which combination of settings you use, some settings are locked out. For example, when using the 'FPS,' 'RTS,' and 'Racing' Game Modes, all picture settings are locked out except HDR Mode. Switching to Gamer 1, Gamer 2, or Gamer 3 unlocks some picture settings like Brightness and Gamma, but Color Temp. and Color Gamut are still locked. So to use those settings, you need to disable Game Mode and select any Eco Mode setting, except for 'Grayscale,' which results in a black and white image and locks other settings. Using the sRGB mode does lock a few settings, but not the brightness, and outside of the sRGB mode, colors are oversaturated.

There are reports of a red tint with this monitor. This happens when setting Color Temp. to 'User' with its default value of 50-50-50. You either need to select another Color Temp. setting or aggressively adjust the RGB values to reduce this red tint.

9.6
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Post-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Off
sRGB Gamut Area xy
98.0%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.56
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,504 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.19
Color dE (Avg.)
0.54
Contrast Setting
50
RGB Settings
29-45-42
Gamma Setting
Gamma 1
Brightness Setting
24
Measured Brightness
101 cd/mĀ²
ICC Profile
Download

The accuracy after calibration is fantastic. It improves gamma, but the main advantage of calibrating it is to get access to all picture settings and also remove the red tint, as explained in Pre-Calibration. The RGB settings are calibrated aggressively because of this red tint issue.

9.4
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB Coverage xy
98.1%
sRGB Picture Mode
Off
Adobe RGB Coverage xy
90.4%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Off

The SDR color gamut is fantastic. It has near-perfect coverage of the common sRGB space, and while it displays a wide range of colors in the Adobe RGB color space, it undersaturates greens and cyans and oversaturates reds and blues.

8.3
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI-P3 Coverage xy
91.7%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
Display HDR
Rec. 2020 Coverage xy
69.6%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
Display HDR

The HDR color gamut is great. It displays a wide range of colors in the DCI-P3 and Rec. 2020 color spaces, but tone mapping is off with each, as most colors are inaccurate, which means some content doesn't look as realistic as it should.

8.3
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
1,000 cd/mĀ² DCI-P3 Coverage ICtCp
80.1%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
Display HDR
10,000 cd/mĀ² Rec. 2020 Coverage ICtCp
38.6%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
Display HDR

The AOC Q27G3XMN has an impressive HDR color volume. It displays bright and dark colors well, but it's limited by its incomplete color gamut.

7.5
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
VA
Subpixel Layout
RGB

The text clarity is good. Enabling Windows ClearType (top photo) helps improve the text clarity with bolder lines. These photos are in Windows 10, and you can also see them in Windows 11 with ClearType on and with ClearType off.

7.5
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
5.6%
Indirect Reflections
3.6%
Calculated Direct Reflections
2.0%

The reflection handling is good. Its matte screen coating struggles to reduce glare from bright light sources, but visibility isn't an issue in most well-lit rooms because it still gets bright.

9.7
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit

The gradient handling is exceptional, and you won't notice any issues with banding in scenes with shades of similar colors, like a sunset.

Motion
7.7
Motion
Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
165 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
180 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP
180 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP @ 10-bit
180 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI @ 10-Bit
60 Hz

Due to bandwidth limitations over HDMI, you can only achieve the max refresh rate with a DisplayPort connection. It comes overclocked to 180Hz, but the manual states to set it back to 165Hz if there are any issues with the overclock.

Motion
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
FreeSync
Yes
G-SYNC
Compatible (Tested)
VRR Maximum
180 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors
DisplayPort, HDMI

NVIDIAVRR MinVRR Max
DisplayPort<20Hz180Hz
HDMIN/AN/A

AMDVRR MinVRR Max
DisplayPort<20Hz180Hz
HDMI<20Hz144Hz

8.8
Motion
VRR Motion Performance
Recommended VRR OD Setting
Medium
Variable Overdrive Advertised
No
Avg. CAD
109
Best CAD
106
Worst CAD
117

Refresh RateCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
179HeatmapChartPhoto
165HeatmapChartPhoto
144HeatmapChartPhoto
120HeatmapChartPhoto
100HeatmapChartPhoto
80HeatmapChartPhoto
60HeatmapChartPhoto

The AOC Q27G3XMN has excellent motion handling across its entire refresh rate range with VRR enabled. The 'Medium' Overdrive setting performs consistently well and remains very low across the entire refresh rate range. Motion still looks sharp, and there isn't any inverse ghosting, but it has noticeable smearing, which is typical of VA panels, and this can get distracting in dark scenes.

8.5
Motion
Refresh Rate Compliance
Compliance @ Max Hz
65%
Compliance @ 120 FPS
75%
Compliance @ 60 FPS
86%

The refresh rate compliance is excellent. The 'Medium' Overdrive setting has the consistently highest refresh rate compliance. Although its response time can't take full advantage of its max refresh rate, it improves at 120 fps and 60 fps, which is even better than most other LCD monitors. The data has a lot of noise due to the monitor's backlight flicker, but you can see the compliance with charts that smooth out the flicker below.

8.4
Motion
CAD @ Max Refresh Rate
OD Transition Max Refresh Rate
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Medium
Avg. CAD
107
Best 10% CAD
29
Worst 10% CAD
219

Overdrive ModeCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
OffHeatmapChartPhoto
WeakHeatmapChartPhoto
MediumHeatmapChartPhoto
StrongHeatmapChartPhoto

The CAD at the max refresh rate is impressive. The recommended Overdrive setting of 'Medium' has less blur than 'Off' and 'Weak' and less inverse ghosting than 'Strong,' but all settings have noticeable smearing, which is distracting, especially if you play games with a lot of dark scenes.

Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Medium
First Response Time
4.2 ms
Total Response Time
4.5 ms
RGB Overshoot
1 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
10.3 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
10.3 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
8 RGB

Overdrive ModeFirst Response HeatmapTotal Response HeatmapRGB Overshoot Heatmap
OffHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
WeakHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
MediumHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
StrongHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap

8.5
Motion
CAD @ 120Hz
OD Transition 120Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Medium
Avg. CAD
106
Best 10% CAD
31
Worst 10% CAD
203

Overdrive ModeCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
OffHeatmapChartPhoto
WeakHeatmapChartPhoto
MediumHeatmapChartPhoto
StrongHeatmapChartPhoto

The CAD at 120Hz is excellent. It's similar to its max refresh rate as all the Overdrive settings have smearing that's noticeable with dark colors, but 'Medium' has the lowest CAD and the least amount of motion blur.

Motion
Response Time @ 120Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Medium
First Response Time
3.8 ms
Total Response Time
4.4 ms
RGB Overshoot
1 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
9.4 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
9.9 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
11 RGB

Overdrive ModeFirst Response HeatmapTotal Response HeatmapRGB Overshoot Heatmap
OffHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
WeakHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
MediumHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
StrongHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap

8.2
Motion
CAD @ 60Hz
OD Transition 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Medium
Avg. CAD
116
Best 10% CAD
29
Worst 10% CAD
276

Overdrive ModeCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
OffHeatmapChartPhoto
WeakHeatmapChartPhoto
MediumHeatmapChartPhoto
StrongHeatmapChartPhoto

The AOC Q27G3XMN has a great CAD at 60Hz. The 'Medium' Overdrive setting has lower CAD than both 'Off' and 'Weak,' resulting in better motion, and the 'Strong' is almost unusable due to the amount of inverse ghosting.

Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Medium
First Response Time
3.7 ms
Total Response Time
5.3 ms
RGB Overshoot
2 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
9.2 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
17.3 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
16 RGB

Overdrive ModeFirst Response HeatmapTotal Response HeatmapRGB Overshoot Heatmap
OffHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
WeakHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
MediumHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
StrongHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap

Motion
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
No BFI
Maximum Frequency
N/A
Minimum Frequency
N/A
Longest Pulse Width Brightness
N/A
Shortest Pulse Width Brightness
N/A
Pulse Width Control
No BFI
Pulse Phase Control
No BFI
Pulse Amplitude Control
No BFI
VRR At The Same Time
No BFI

The AOC Q27G3XMN doesn't have an optional backlight strobing feature to reduce persistence blur.

2.0
Motion
VRR Flicker
Dark Gray Flicker
6.7 RGB
Middle Gray Flicker
5.4 RGB
Light Gray Flicker
5.8 RGB

The AOC Q27G3XMN has terrible VRR flicker. There's distracting flicker in most content with changing frame rate, and it's even noticeable in brighter scenes, which is disappointing.

10
Motion
Image Flicker
Flicker-Free
Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
>1000 Hz

This monitor dims its backlight at all brightness levels, but it's at such a high frequency that you won't notice it.

Inputs
9.0
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution @ Max Hz
3.5 ms
Native Resolution @ 120Hz
5.1 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
9.3 ms
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
N/A

The AOC Q27G3XMN 27 has low input lag for a responsive feel while gaming, and it doesn't increase at low refresh rates.

7.5
Inputs
Resolution
Native Resolution
2560 x 1440
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Megapixels
3.7 MP
Pixel Density
109 PPI
4.9
Inputs
PS5 Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes

This monitor works as expected with PS5, but because it doesn't support HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, it can't take full advantage of the console. It downscales a 4k signal, which results in a more detailed image than native 1440p.

7.1
Inputs
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes

Besides not supporting 4k @ 120Hz, there aren't any compatibility issues with the Xbox Series X|S. It even downscales a 4k signal, which results in a more detailed image than native 1440p. Keep in mind that Xbox doesn't support HDR with 1080p and 1440p signals, so this isn't an issue with the monitor.

Inputs
Inputs Photos
Inputs
Video And Audio Ports
DisplayPort
1 (DP 1.4)
Mini DisplayPort
No
HDMI
2 (HDMI 2.0)
HDMI 2.1 Rated Speed
No HDMI 2.1
DVI
No
VGA
No
Daisy Chaining
No
3.5mm Audio Out
1
3.5mm Audio In
No
HDR10
Yes
3.5mm Microphone In
No
Inputs
USB
USB-A Ports
0
USB-A Rated Speed
No USB-A Ports
USB-B Upstream Port
No
USB-C Ports
0
USB-C Upstream
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Rated Speed
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Power Delivery
No USB-C Ports
USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode
No USB-C Ports
Thunderbolt
No
Inputs
macOS Compatibility

The AOC Q27G3XMN works well with macOS when using a DisplayPort to USB-C cable. It reaches its max refresh rate, and both VRR and HDR work without issues. However, over HDMI, VRR doesn't work at all, and it has a max refresh rate of 144Hz. With either DisplayPort or HDMI, if you're using a MacBook and close the lid, the monitor turns off, but windows return to their original position when reopening it.

Features
Features
Additional Features
Speakers
No
RGB Illumination
No
Multiple Input Display
No
KVM Switch
No

The AOC Q27G3XMN has a few extra settings, including:

  • Dial Point: This is the setting for the virtual crosshair, which is accessible with the buttons.
  • Frame Counter: Displays the current frame rate, but it only works with AMD graphics cards.
  • LowBlue Mode: Reduces blue light to help reduce eye strain.
  • Picture Boost: Lets you adjust the brightness and contrast of a certain section of the display.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)