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Brightness and Contrast

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

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AOC Q27G4ZMN — (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The Q27G4ZMN is a super-bright monitor. I noted that it maintained its peak luminance when measured with either a full-field or a 25% window pattern. The local dimming affects black levels only to increase contrast. 617 nits is incredibly bright, as in you can barely look at it without discomfort. There is more than enough light here for use in any indoor or outdoor environment. Black levels are very low, though the CQ27G4ZH is a tad darker. That gives it a contrast edge, but the main takeaway is how much broader the VA panel’s dynamic range is when compared to four excellent IPS screens. It’s no contest.

After Calibration to 200 nits

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Calibration doesn’t change the running order much. The two AOCs are still out in front by a wide margin. Though the Q27G4ZMN is just under 5,000:1 versus the CQ27G4ZH’s 5,482:1 score, the visual difference there is small. Only an OLED will look significantly different from these excellent VA monitors.

The Q27G4ZMN stays consistent in the ANSI test with a 4,386.5:1 value that’s among the best I’ve recorded from an LCD monitor. OLED aside, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Test Takeaway: The Q27G4ZMN is extremely bright and has higher contrast than nearly every LCD I’ve tested. It keeps local dimming available for SDR content too if you want even deeper black levels. Its peak of 617 nits is enough for indoor and outdoor environments. This is a very versatile screen.

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Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.