The 5 Best 27-Inch Monitors - Black Friday 2024

The best 27-inch monitor we've tested is the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx. It's versatile as it has features for both gaming and productivity. Its high 4k resolution produces high pixel density, so you get crisp and detailed images no matter what you use the monitor for. It has a USB-C port that makes it easy to connect a laptop thanks to its DisplayPort Alt Mode and 90W of power delivery. In terms of gaming features, it has full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth so that you can take advantage of gaming consoles and modern graphics cards, and it has a fast response time that makes motion look crisp.

On top of that, it has good picture quality with excellent peak brightness and good reflection handling, so it's a great choice if you want to use it in a well-lit room. It also has decent HDR picture quality, as it uses Mini LED backlighting, making it a good choice for watching the latest movies or TV shows. If you want even better picture quality, the Dell Alienware AW2725DF is a better choice thanks to its QD-OLED panel with perfect blacks. However, OLEDs like that risk burn-in with constant exposure to the same static elements over time, so the Acer is better for everyday use.

If you don't need something versatile but still want premium productivity features, check out the Dell U2723QE, which often costs less than the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx. The Dell has fewer gaming features than the Acer, such as the lack of HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and VRR support. That said, if you aren't a gamer, this doesn't make much of a difference, and it has the same high resolution as the Acer for sharp text clarity.

The main advantage of getting the Dell over the Acer is that it's packed with extra productivity features, like a KVM switch, which makes it ideal for multitasking. It has a massive USB hub with five USB-A ports and three USB-C ports, meaning it's very easy to connect multiple devices. Each USB-C port serves different purposes, with one supporting DisplayPort Alt Mode and 90W of power delivery, so you can connect power-hungry laptops and charge them while you're working. Besides the USB ports, it has a dedicated sRGB mode that results in excellent accuracy before calibration, which is ideal if you're a photo editor and need accurate colors.

If you don't need high-end features from either the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx or the Dell U2723QE but still want something versatile for everyday use, then look into the Gigabyte M27U. It's a 4k monitor that's different from the Dell because it has more gaming features like a higher refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, so it's a good choice for console gaming or if you have a modern graphics card. However, it has worse picture quality than the Acer as it doesn't have Mini LED backlighting or any local dimming, but that's the trade-off for getting something cheaper.

It also has a smaller USB hub than the Dell but still offers three USB-A ports and a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode, so you can quickly connect your laptop, but it's limited to 15W of power delivery. It also gets bright enough to fight glare and has decent reflection handling, so it's a good choice for a well-lit room, whether you're gaming or working.

If you're on a tighter budget, then check out the AOC Q27G3XMN. It's a step down from the Gigabyte M27U in terms of features because it doesn't have any USB ports, so you can't connect devices directly to the monitor, and it also has a lower 1440p resolution, so images aren't as sharp and detailed. However, that's what you have to expect from a budget monitor, and it has similar gaming features, like a 180Hz max refresh rate, so it's a good choice if you're a casual gamer.

What makes it better than most other 27-inch budget monitors is that it has Mini LED backlighting, similar to the higher-end Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx. Its local dimming feature is good as it helps it display deep blacks, and it also gets very bright. This means highlights pop, and it easily fights glare, which is useful if you want a monitor for office work or watching your favorite content. One thing to know is that this monitor sometimes goes out of stock, so if you can't find it, the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx is a similar alternative that also has Mini LED backlighting, but it has worse motion handling.

Should you need a simple and cheap monitor, the Dell G2724D is a good option that you can get for a low cost directly from Dell's website. It has a 1440p resolution like the AOC Q27G3XMN, but it has worse picture quality as it doesn't use Mini LED backlighting, so blacks look gray in dark rooms, and highlights don't pop either, but this is normal for an entry-level monitor. It doesn't have many extra features either, but it's still fine if you want to use it for gaming or everyday productivity.

It gets bright enough to fight glare if you want to use it in a well-lit room, and the good reflection handling makes the screen easy to see. It also has good motion handling, so fast-moving objects are sharp, and it has a max refresh rate of 165Hz, which is good enough for most casual gamers.