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If you happen to’ve been attempting to find a price range HDR gaming monitor, there is a good likelihood you’ve got come throughout the AOC Q27G3XMN. We have been recommending it for the previous 18 months for punching above its weight within the crowded 1440p monitor area. Now, AOC is again with a follow-up: the Q27G40XMN, a brand new mannequin that goals to raise the unique system with out straying too removed from its price range roots.
At first look, not a lot has modified. The G40 retains the identical 27-inch VA panel, 1440p decision, and 180Hz refresh price. However underneath the hood, key upgrades push it right into a extra critical HDR contender. The variety of full-array native dimming zones has jumped from 336 to 1,152 – a significant enchancment that guarantees tighter management over distinction and fewer distracting bloom results.
There’s additionally a shift to quantum dot backlighting, increasing the colour gamut nicely past what the G3 might provide. All of that is achieved whereas sustaining acquainted gaming options like adaptive sync.
Though the Q27G40XMN is a successor to the Q27G3XMN, we count on each fashions to coexist available in the market for a while, with the newer G40 mannequin positioned as a barely extra premium providing. It’s priced at $300 at Finest Purchase, whereas the G3 has sometimes bought for round $260 to $280 over the previous 12 months. Is it value a $20 to $40 premium for extra dimming zones? We’re going to discover out immediately. We additionally anticipate broader availability for the G40, particularly since, in contrast to its predecessor, it’s obtainable from day one in Australia.
Design and Options
As traditional, we’re beginning with the design, which has truly been downgraded in comparison with the G3 mannequin. The Q27G3XMN got here with a good height-adjustable stand that supplied commonplace ergonomics. Nonetheless, the Q27G40XMN omits this in favor of a fixed-height stand with solely tilt adjustment. Which means that if you wish to use the show at a top apart from the very low default, you will want to purchase a separate VESA mount or stack books beneath.
We imagine solely ultra-budget screens ought to include fastened stands, and at a $300 worth level, some degree of top adjustability needs to be anticipated. This can be a large disappointment.
The general construct high quality of the monitor is suitable, although the outside is usually composed of primary black plastic that leans towards the decrease finish of the standard spectrum. It doesn’t have a premium look. The rear is easy, that includes geometric sculpting and a pink ring spotlight.
The entrance has standard-sized bezels and a big chin alongside the underside edge. The stand pillar is extraordinarily primary, and the bottom is a small, flat, plastic-coated hexagonal form. Making issues worse, the fastened stand is sort of wobbly, which turns into irritating when navigating the OSD.
The port choice has additionally been downgraded in comparison with the earlier mannequin. We now get only one HDMI 2.0 port and one DisplayPort 1.2 port, with no USB ports. This implies one HDMI port has been eliminated, and the DisplayPort has been downgraded from DP 1.4 to DP 1.2. Regardless of this, AOC’s web site advertises it as DisplayPort 1.4. So far as we are able to inform, it truly makes use of HBR2 bandwidth, not the HBR3 used with true DP 1.4.
We requested AOC about this, and so they defined that in response to the VESA standard, if a monitor helps HDR and HBR2, it may be labeled as DisplayPort 1.4. To obtain a DP 1.4 certification, a monitor solely must help one characteristic of the usual, resembling HDR metadata transport or DSC. Supporting the newer HBR3 bandwidth is just not required.
Subsequently, a monitor that makes use of DP 1.2 class HBR2 could be marketed as DP 1.4 if it helps different qualifying options. This can be a very technical compliance-based clarification that finally seems like a loophole. In our view, this labeling is deceptive to customers, and VESA shouldn’t allow it. Even when they do, producers like AOC ought to label the port as DisplayPort 1.2 to extra precisely mirror its capabilities.
The downgrade to DisplayPort 1.2 does have an effect on efficiency. The utmost supported output is now 8-bit 180Hz, as a substitute of 10-bit on the earlier mannequin. Even the 8-bit help seems to depend on particular timings. Because the panel itself is 8-bit, the omission of 10-bit enter is just not a significant visible loss, however it’s nonetheless lower than excellent on condition that the predecessor supported it. Moreover, the HDMI 2.0 port stays restricted to 144Hz, whereas HDMI 2.1 can be required to help the total 180Hz.
We have now seen some studies suggesting that as a result of the Q27G40XMN makes use of DisplayPort 1.2 and simply barely helps 8-bit 180Hz at 1440p, some customers have skilled points enabling 180Hz on Nvidia GeForce GPUs with out additionally enabling 4:2:2 chroma subsampling. Rtings talked about this of their assessment, stating that they needed to decrease the refresh price to 170Hz to take care of full RGB colour. Nonetheless, we didn’t encounter this difficulty throughout our testing. On each Nvidia and AMD GPUs, we had been in a position to make use of the monitor at 8-bit 180Hz with full RGB colour. We’ll discover potential causes for this discrepancy later within the assessment.
Sadly, the OSD is just not managed with a directional toggle. As an alternative, AOC continues to make use of bodily buttons alongside the underside proper edge, which makes navigation cumbersome – particularly given the monitor’s wobbly stand. The OSD consists of typical options resembling colour controls and preset modes, together with some gaming-specific choices like crosshairs, shadow enhance, an FPS counter, and a sniper mode. Firmware updates will not be supported, because the monitor lacks USB ports.
The show options a typical matte display coating, which is frequent for gaming LCDs. The coating has a light-weight grain that’s barely noticeable on uniform backgrounds. Reflection dealing with is typical, diffusing direct reflections to make them much less outlined, although this will introduce a slight hazy impact.
Response Time Efficiency
The Q27G40XMN makes use of a VA LCD panel, and response time efficiency has by no means been a robust swimsuit of VA LCDs. So let’s examine the way it performs throughout the 4 included overdrive settings. The Regular mode is the bottom and default setting, which seems to point out overdrive off, exposing reasonably gradual native panel efficiency. With low refresh compliance, this isn’t the optimum configuration.
Quick improves efficiency to a 9.45ms common response, and cumulative deviation is okay now. However after we transfer to the Quicker setting, that is the place we see optimum efficiency. A mean response time of seven.32ms permits for refresh price compliance of 60%, which is okay and appropriate for a 180Hz refresh price. Cumulative deviation of round 500 can be fairly good given the LCD know-how getting used right here. Nonetheless, you will notice fairly gradual transitions within the darker vary, notably something that begins from full black, which confirms that there’s some degree of darkish smearing occurring right here. That is nonetheless current even within the Quickest mode, which pushes the panel too far and results in apparent inverse ghosting.
The Quicker mode is fairly good throughout the refresh price vary. Efficiency solely turns into barely slower as we transfer down the vary, and at 120Hz outcomes are nonetheless respectable. At even decrease refresh charges, efficiency continues to get slower, however overshoot by no means turns into overly problematic, so gaming at 60Hz on this mode holds up nicely. Dropping to a decrease mode like Quick simply makes the monitor slower and is not one thing we’d suggest. Based mostly on this, we’d say the Q27G40XMN has a single overdrive mode expertise.
Response Time Comparisons
In comparison with different screens at their most refresh price, the Q27G40XMN is neither quick nor gradual, sitting someplace in the course of that vary for LCDs. One of the best of immediately’s 1440p IPS panels round this refresh price produce a median gray-to-gray response time of 4.5 to five.0ms, such because the LG 27GP850 and Asus XG27ACS. This new AOC mannequin achieves simply 7.32ms at the same degree of overshoot, so clearly fairly a bit slower. On the similar time, it isn’t that completely different to a Dell G2724D that makes use of an IPS LCD panel. In comparison with the earlier G3 mannequin, the brand new G40 is slower at 180Hz, but in addition produces much less overshoot, so it isn’t as aggressively tuned.
On common throughout the refresh price vary, the G40 sits nearer to the underside of the group, nevertheless, it barely outperforms the G3 in our testing, with a greater stability throughout all transitions, whereas the G3 has a bunch of actually gradual transitions and a bunch of actually quick transitions. Once more, it isn’t that completely different to what we’re seeing from the Dell G2724D and even the Gigabyte M27Q P that use IPS LCD panels, nevertheless it’s no match for an Asus XG27ACS or one thing just like the Xiaomi G Pro 27i, which can be a mini LED LCD however with IPS know-how.
Darkish degree efficiency has improved with the G40 mannequin relative to the G3, which extra firmly embeds the show amongst IPS LCDs on this chart. This does not imply the G40 is totally freed from darkish smearing, however throughout the refresh price vary there are fewer transitions affected by smearing in comparison with the G3, which reduces how seen this difficulty is whereas gaming. In order that’s a optimistic step for this VA LCD panel.
In cumulative deviation on common, the Q27G40XMN is barely higher than the Q27G3XMN. We’re speaking a couple of 12 % enchancment. On this metric, the AOC mannequin is not that completely different to the G Professional 27i, which tells us the overall movement expertise from these two panels is sort of related. With that stated, the highest IPS LCDs on this class have a median deviation of 500, which in one of the best circumstances is round 20% higher than what this AOC mannequin offers. So far as VA LCDs go, although, that is undoubtedly one of many higher tuned fashions, providing a 20% enchancment over the Acer XV275U P3 and an enormous 62% enchancment over the poorly tuned GP2711.
The G40XMN is okay for gaming at a 120Hz refresh price. Once more, it isn’t one of the best LCD obtainable on this worth vary, however adequate for medium refresh price gaming. 60Hz efficiency – once more, you guessed it – very a lot in that center to decrease a part of the vary, which is okay sufficient from a movement standpoint.
Blur Busters UFO Take a look at outcomes give us a greater visible understanding of those numbers. Right here, you may clearly see the G40 has much less darkish smearing than the G3, although there’s nonetheless some smearing and a few delicate inverse ghosting artifacts on the brand new mannequin. In comparison with the IPS LCD Xiaomi G Professional 27i, the brand new AOC mannequin would not look that completely different. The AOC has just a few extra artifacts trailing the UFO, however throughout the UFO we’d say the AOC mannequin is clearer than the Xiaomi. That is truthfully a fantastic signal from a VA LCD panel, and the outcomes are significantly better than we have seen from some VAs beforehand.
Enter latency is sort of just like the earlier mannequin, with round 1ms of processing delay within the SDR mode with native dimming disabled. Response time figures for the G40 push out the overall end result in comparison with the G3. This kind of mixture of response occasions and refresh price would not make the G40 as responsive as increased refresh price fashions, however for typical gaming it is completely effective.
Enter latency within the HDR mode is a little bit of a unique story although. LCDs must run backlight zone algorithms, which improve lag in comparison with OLEDs and LCDs with out correct native dimming. This pushes up the Q27G40XMN’s processing lag to just about 10ms, although this is not that completely different to different LCDs. In a optimistic signal for the brand new mannequin, HDR processing lag is definitely quite a bit decrease than the Q27G3XMN, suggesting some optimization has been accomplished there.
Energy consumption is one other space that has improved shifting from the G3 to the G40. This new panel is extra environment friendly, consuming simply 26 watts displaying a full white 200 nit picture. That is 10 watts decrease than its predecessor and permits this monitor to take a seat alongside most different IPS LCDs. In real-world gaming eventualities, the G40 sometimes makes use of barely much less energy than OLEDs.
Colour Efficiency
AOC Q27G40XMN – D65-P3
The Q27G40XMN is a really broad colour gamut monitor because of the improve to a quantum dot mini LED backlight. This panel achieves 97% protection of DCI-P3 and 97% protection of Adobe RGB, each of that are increased than the Q27G3XMN, together with an enormous 84.4% protection of Rec. 2020. This places the monitor close to the highest of the chart, alongside different quantum dot enhanced LCDs and barely above most QD-OLEDs. Crucially, it has a a lot wider gamut than the older G3 mannequin, which hits 75.2% protection, rising the colours that may be proven in HDR.
Default Colour Efficiency
Out of the field, this monitor has common calibration. Our unit shipped with respectable 2.2 gamma and a slight blue tint, resulting in a deltaE ITP common of seven.5. With such a large colour gamut, it is no shock to see oversaturation within the colour exams by default, with sRGB SDR colours expanded to fill the gamut. That is particularly noticeable in pores and skin tones, that are shifted pink and might look a bit sunburned.
In comparison with different shows, it is a mid-table monitor in manufacturing facility calibration. Sadly, it isn’t as nicely calibrated as the unique AOC mannequin out of the field, as a result of a mixture of extra important oversaturation and worse grayscale efficiency.
Default ACM Colour Efficiency
There are a few methods to enhance efficiency within the SDR mode. Home windows Auto Colour Administration permits OS-level gamut emulation, and this considerably reduces oversaturation so colours now look fairly good. AOC accurately studies colour primaries for essentially the most half, which permits for a good, largely correct expertise. Nonetheless, this mode doesn’t repair grayscale efficiency.
sRGB Mode Colour Efficiency
The sRGB mode can be an possibility, though it closely restricts settings so you can’t modify white stability, whereas utilizing ACM nonetheless permits for some setting changes. The sRGB mode, for some purpose, switches the colour temperature from being too blue to being too pink, which is disappointing. Colour outcomes are higher than the default mode however not that completely different from utilizing Home windows ACM.
sRGB mode comparisons present the G40 mannequin is once more a downgrade from the G3 mannequin and sits towards the decrease a part of the chart in grayscale. It does, nevertheless, outperform opponents just like the G Professional 27i. ColorChecker efficiency is common and doesn’t change the story in comparison with what we noticed in grayscale; the older mannequin was higher calibrated in SDR mode.
Calibrated Colour Efficiency
As an LCD, this panel is sort of simple to calibrate, and doing so results in superb outcomes. We used Calman for this, and with such a large colour gamut, it is seemingly it is possible for you to to make use of the G40 for a spread of labor and play.
Brightness, Distinction, Uniformity
SDR brightness is sweet, attaining 471 nits peak with native dimming disabled. That is about 10% decrease than the G3 mannequin, which isn’t important. Peak brightness could be elevated within the SDR mode by enabling native dimming, although we’d not advise doing this, as native dimming could be distracting in functions with uniform colours. Minimal brightness is sweet at 39 nits.
The native distinction ratio of this VA LCD panel is powerful at 4,572:1, placing it alongside different VAs we now have examined lately. This provides it respectable, deep black ranges for an LCD. The distinction ratio is far increased than IPS LCDs, one of the best of that are within the 1,500:1 vary. This VA is 3 times increased, which has advantages in each the SDR and HDR modes.
The Q27G40XMN’s viewing angles are poor by trendy requirements, although largely unchanged in comparison with the Q27G3XMN. VA LCDs merely don’t have superb viewing angles, resulting in the picture rapidly washing out when considered at off-normal horizontal and vertical angles. It isn’t as dangerous as a TN panel, however you undoubtedly must view this show straight on for one of the best expertise. You additionally want to make sure the panel is within the correct ergonomic place to get essentially the most out of it. That is the place, once more, the dearth of a top adjustable stand turns into an issue. If you happen to want a panel with higher viewing angles, an IPS LCD will probably be rather more appropriate.
Uniformity is sweet, other than some fall-off alongside the left fringe of our unit, in addition to a slight vignette across the edges of the display usually. The principle central a part of the monitor is sort of uniform, and this results in a great gaming expertise.
HDR {Hardware} Efficiency
Mini LED LCD with full array native dimming is an effective know-how for HDR, because it has the capability to boost distinction and brightness past what a typical SDR LCD is able to. It isn’t as instantly nicely fitted to HDR as OLED, since zoned LCDs require extra in depth tuning, but when the {hardware} capabilities and firmware tuning come collectively properly, these mini LED panels can produce excellent HDR.
The extent of distinction and management {that a} mini LED panel can obtain is immediately linked to its native distinction ratio and the quantity of dimming zones. Within the case of the Q27G40XMN, we’re a 1,152-zone backlight, which means every zone is accountable for about 3,200 pixels – a good variety of zones. That is additional enhanced by a excessive native distinction ratio of practically 4,600:1, which helps cut back blooming inside every zone. Usually, VA LCDs don’t want as many zones as IPS LCDs to get the same HDR expertise, and when a VA and IPS have the identical variety of zones, the VA is able to tighter management and higher dimming. The mixture of distinction and zones this AOC monitor offers is superb.
In most conditions, the G40 is able to excellent management, using its backlight zones to point out vivid highlights and darkish shadows on display on the similar time. The zones are sufficiently small that tight management is on the market round most parts, so blooming is just not typically a priority. In truth, we not often noticed blooming artifacts on this panel in any respect. You additionally won’t see giant sections of the picture destroyed by an elevated backlight and raised blacks, such as you get with edge-lit panels. Most HDR content material on this display appears to be like nice.
The elevated zone depend in comparison with the Q27G3XMN is noticeable and takes this show from being an entry-level HDR expertise to one thing higher – on the very least mid-range, if not increased. The improve from 336 zones to 1,152 zones, greater than 3 times the zone depend, permits for noticeably tighter dimming. In tough conditions the place a little bit of blooming was seen on the G3, it’s a lot much less prone to happen on the G40. The upper zone depend additionally reduces zone flicker in gaming, a phenomenon that happens when a vivid object rapidly strikes throughout the display, visibly activating and deactivating the backlight zones because it strikes. With smaller zones and easily extra of them, these zone transitions in movement are smoother and fewer distracting.
Nonetheless, there are the standard ache factors for zoned LCDs relative to OLED, notably with small vivid parts. Zoned LCDs often deal with this in one among two methods: both the small aspect is proven at full brightness, with blooming round it, or the small aspect is dimmed to attenuate blooming. The Q27G40XMN tries to take a balanced method, so you may see each points at completely different occasions, nevertheless it sometimes errs on the facet of dimming to attenuate blooming. OLEDs have a lot higher management and might present these darkish, high-contrast scenes extra precisely with out compromises.
The profit to getting an LCD, although, is brightness in brighter scenes. In comparison with an OLED, most mini LED LCDs are considerably brighter, particularly for increased APL (brighter) scenes. Panel dimming and computerized brightness limiters are a lot much less aggressive on an LCD, so the distinction between full display brightness and small window brightness is smaller. If you need the punch of maximum brightness and like this side of HDR as a substitute of good distinction management, then LCDs are simply the higher selection.
HDR Configurations and Accuracy
AOC presents a spread of various HDR configurations by way of each the HDR mode and Native Dimming settings. Nonetheless, there is just one configuration that’s truly value utilizing: HDR mode set to DisplayHDR and Native Dimming set to Robust. This configuration has fairly good EOTF accuracy, whereas each different setting is much too dim within the mid a part of the EOTF curve. This consists of protecting the HDR mode on DisplayHDR and turning Native Dimming to Medium or Low.
Having only one viable HDR configuration is just not too problematic although, as a result of the DisplayHDR mode with Robust native dimming is incredible. Throughout all of our traditional exams, we get wonderful EOTF monitoring accuracy, and this is applicable in each darker, decrease APL exams and brighter, increased APL exams. A small quantity of over-brightening happens in some vivid scenes, however typically outcomes are good, and even darkish degree monitoring is nice – a typical difficulty with LCDs. What all of this implies is that in most scenes, the G40 is able to producing the proper degree of brightness the content material requests.
Colour efficiency in HDR mode can be fairly good, although white stability does differ a bit, with increased ranges of brightness output typically having a pink tint. It isn’t a large pink tint, and midtones are typically fairly correct. This configuration is extra correct than the HDR mode on the Q27G3XMN and rather more correct than one of the best config on the Xiaomi G Professional 27i.
HDR Brightness and Distinction
HDR brightness is superb, reaching 1,387 nits full display white, 1,245 nits at a ten% window, and 953 nits at a 2% window. The two% outcomes are nothing superb in comparison with OLEDs however nonetheless on the higher finish of the LCD scale, whereas the bigger window outcomes are incredible, outperforming OLEDs by an enormous margin. Usually, the AOC is among the brightest LCDs you will get.
brightness versus window measurement, the 2 AOC fashions produce primarily similar habits. There’s a small distinction for small window sizes, however virtually no distinction for bigger home windows. This continues to take care of AOC’s brightness lead over the favored G Professional 27i, which makes use of IPS LCD tech.
In actual scene brightness, the Q27G40XMN is superb. Panel dimming is decreased in comparison with the G3 mannequin and different LCDs, and brightness in most scenes is increased as nicely. On common, this meant the G40 mannequin was 18% brighter than the G3 mannequin in our testing, although the development ranges wherever from no actual uplift to greater than 40% increased brightness. The AOC can be comprehensively brighter than different LCD fashions from Xiaomi and Cooler Grasp, and defeats OLEDs within the majority of eventualities, exterior of very small vivid parts.
Distinction outcomes are additionally wonderful. In one of the best circumstances, this panel can produce distinction in extra of 1,000,000:1 when vivid and pitch black areas are far aside. In harder eventualities the place vivid and darkish objects are shut collectively, native distinction reaches 18,000:1 – greater than twice as excessive because the G3 mannequin and consistent with the Odyssey Neo G7, which has a 1,196-zone backlight. This chart additionally reveals the advantage of pairing a 1,152-zone backlight with VA LCD tech. The identical zone depend in an IPS LCD, the G Professional 27i, reached simply 4,780:1. The AOC’s VA LCD has 3.2x the native distinction and three.7x the native distinction on this check.
Checkerboard brightness outcomes are additionally very spectacular. The Q27G40XMN is one of the best LCD we now have examined on this space, outperforming the Neo G7 and the opposite 1440p shows. There is no such thing as a doubt this mix of panel and backlight is able to wonderful efficiency.
HDR calibration can be superb. This show completely destroys the G Professional 27i and can be significantly better calibrated than its predecessor in each HDR grayscale and ColorMatch. Tighter EOTF monitoring and higher colour temperature assist out considerably in these outcomes. Colour quantity is bigger as nicely because of a wider colour gamut, 7% increased than the G3 mannequin and consistent with QD-OLEDs.
Potential A number of Variations
Now there’s one thing we have to speak about on this assessment, which is the existence of a number of variations of the Q27G40XMN out within the wild. As we had been finishing this assessment, we needed to double-check a few outcomes with Rtings, who additionally do high-quality testing.
We seen that their review talked about a number of bugs and points. There was the Nvidia GPU 8-bit 180Hz difficulty we talked about earlier, along with issues with the sturdy native dimming setting. They reported – and confirmed video of – the sturdy mode inflicting over-brightening and desaturation that persevered when switching again to SDR mode, in addition to just a few different issues.
This was unusual as a result of we didn’t see any of those issues with our G40XMN unit. 8-bit 180Hz works effective for us – despite the fact that the monitor continues to be DisplayPort 1.2 – and we couldn’t replicate any of the sturdy native dimming bugs they confirmed. We adopted their video step-by-step and noticed no desaturation issues carrying into SDR mode; the sturdy native dimming setting appears to be like regular on our unit.
We reached out to Rtings to check notes, and we got here to the conclusion that there’s seemingly an actual distinction between our fashions in how they function. The product labels on the again of our models look completely different, and of most curiosity, our unit had a producing date of March 2025, whereas the Rtings unit was made in February 2025.
There are a few attainable explanations for the discrepancies in efficiency and why our unit performs higher with fewer bugs. One is that there are completely different regional fashions – our unit being from the Asia area, and Rtings’ unit being a North American mannequin. One other clarification is that our unit was manufactured at a later date and consists of newer firmware.
Given different outcomes, we don’t assume the bodily {hardware} is completely different – panel efficiency appears to be like principally the identical – so in both case, we’re most likely a firmware discrepancy. Both completely different firmware is utilized in completely different areas, or firmware has been up to date in newer manufacturing runs. For what it’s value, the OSD format appears to be like the identical on each models.
The Q27G40XMN doesn’t help firmware updates, and there’s no firmware model listed within the OSD, so it’s tough to substantiate whether or not there’s truly a firmware distinction – and if that’s the case, replace the fashions to re-compare. That is one thing that can require additional investigation to determine what is definitely occurring. We hope it’s one thing so simple as extra lately manufactured fashions getting bug fixes utilized within the firmware. That will imply most patrons over time will obtain the newer and higher model, however once more, we can’t say for certain.
What’s irritating is that it looks as if: a) AOC has shipped not less than some models with buggy firmware and b) you can’t replace the firmware as a result of the show lacks the aptitude. This implies there’s a likelihood that should you purchase a Q27G40XMN, you’re going to get a unit that performs extra just like the one Rtings reviewed – with bugs.
This might have simply been averted had firmware updates been supported, and it’s why we strongly suggest all screens enable user-side firmware upgrades. If you happen to do obtain a buggy mannequin, we suggest reaching out to AOC help and returning the show. It is best to solely settle for a mannequin that performs just like the one we’re displaying on this assessment.
HUB Necessities Guidelines
AOC is a bit overzealous with a few of the claims within the spec sheet. For instance, they get the DisplayPort spec mistaken – it’s DP 1.2 as a substitute of DP 1.4. P3 gamut protection is overstated, and as traditional, response occasions will not be correct.
Within the characteristic help matrix, you may see the extra primary nature of this show. No top adjustable stand, no directional toggle, no USB hub, no KVM swap, no USB-C, no backlight strobing, and so forth. Nonetheless, in excellent news, the Q27G40XMN does carry out higher in our pixel inversion check than the earlier G3XMN mannequin.
Beforehand, we noticed faint scanlines – on the newer mannequin, these are now not seen, so it’s a cross. Flickering additionally appears improved in comparison with the earlier mannequin, however can nonetheless happen throughout excessive body price fluctuations. We have now marked “no different firmware points” as a borderline end result because of the existence of different models with reported bugs.
On a extra optimistic be aware, this show succeeds in areas the place different mini LED LCDs have failed, resembling easy SDR/HDR switching, permitting all options for use concurrently, and delivering respectable HDR EOTF monitoring. Darkish smearing can be minimal in comparison with different VA panels.
What We Realized
General, we’re proud of the AOC Q27G40XMN and the upgrades it brings over the Q27G3XMN. Not the whole lot is a step ahead with this show, however in key areas of efficiency, the brand new G40XMN mannequin is healthier. For avid gamers after a extra reasonably priced true HDR gaming monitor, that is actually one of many higher merchandise we now have used.
The most important improve is the inclusion of a 1,152-zone mini LED backlight paired with a VA LCD panel. This new backlight doesn’t considerably change brightness output, nevertheless it does enable for tighter dimming with much less blooming, main to higher picture high quality in HDR scenes.
Zone flicker and transitions throughout gaming are a lot much less noticeable because of the elevated zone depend, and the ensuing real-world distinction is as excessive as we now have examined from any LCD. On high of this, AOC has improved HDR accuracy and decreased HDR enter lag with native dimming enabled.
Movement efficiency has additionally been tweaked barely, enhancing darkish smearing and giving it a small velocity enhance in comparison with its predecessor. We’re nonetheless not speaking a couple of notably quick monitor, and the 180Hz refresh price stays unchanged, however response time velocity is now aggressive with entry-level IPS LCDs. We’re nicely previous the times of maximum smear trails in darkish scenes. As it is a monitor you’ll primarily purchase for single-player HDR gaming, we predict the movement expertise it presents is completely effective.
With decreased flickering and pixel inversion now seemingly solved, the panel used right here is mostly increased high quality than what we bought earlier than. Not each side of efficiency is improved – the distinction ratio may be very related, viewing angles are nonetheless poor, and SDR accuracy is just not fairly pretty much as good on the brand new mannequin – however the total package deal is superior.
There are some disappointing regressions although. To hit a sure worth level, AOC seems to have stripped away each non-essential characteristic. The stand is the most important loss: top adjustment is gone, and the brand new fastened stand is poor. The port choice can be leaner, and for some purpose, DisplayPort ports are downgraded to DP 1.2.
One other concern is the attainable variance in Q27G40XMN models. Rtings’ assessment mentioned a number of bugs that our unit, manufactured later, doesn’t have. With no capacity to replace this monitor’s firmware, this creates a possible lottery for patrons. Are you going to get a mannequin that works nicely? We hope so, however sadly we can’t assure that what we’re displaying on this assessment applies to all fashions.
Based mostly on all of this, would we suggest the Q27G40XMN? It’s a tentative sure. Till we get a clearer understanding of the unit variance difficulty. As we examined it, it is a nice monitor with wonderful efficiency in a market the place a number of different lower-cost mini LED LCDs have did not impress. But when patrons must preserve returning fashions simply to get one with the precise firmware, that’s not a really perfect expertise – and as soon as once more, it might have been solved with firmware replace help.
At $300, the brand new G40XMN mannequin is a little more than the G3XMN we beforehand advisable. You’re looking at spending 5 to fifteen % extra on the brand new mannequin. We predict that’s value it for a monitor that’s typically higher.
Throughout the mainstream monitor market, we predict $300 is a superb worth. Naturally, it’s dearer than immediately’s primary 1440p shows with out true HDR help, and we predict that ~$100 distinction is truthful.
We have now but to come back throughout a product that performs as nicely at this worth from one other model. The Xiaomi G Pro 27i, for instance, has been a well-liked selection in some areas. Within the US, it prices $370 and in our opinion, it’s a worse product than the Q27G40XMN. We’d completely select the AOC mannequin on the lower cost. So, we predict AOC is onto a winner right here.