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27-inch 4K OLED monitors like the X27 X1 are scarce in my test database, so I had to include two 32-inch screens in the comparison, Asus’ PG32UCDM3 and XG32UCWMG. The remaining displays are Alienware’s AW2725Q, Asus’ PG27UCDM, and BenQ’s EX271UZ.
Pixel Response and Input Lag
Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.
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I’m still new to the Nvidia LDAT analysis tool, so my response results are only from the four OLEDs I’ve tested so far. The trend is that refresh rate and panel response don’t go hand-in-hand. The X27 X1 runs at 240 Hz but draws a one-inch white square in 0.12ms, faster than the Gigabyte at 280 Hz and the Asus at 360 Hz. Interesting.
The LDAT’s lag test compares to what I used to do with a 1,000fps video camera. The X27 X1 is one of the quicker 4K monitors in my stable, with a 15ms score averaged over 25 mouse clicks. This is excellent performance.
Test Takeaway: The X27 X1 is the quickest OLED I’ve yet tested for panel response. That translates to perfect motion resolution at frame rates over 144fps. Input lag is low among 4K screens, but there are some 27-inch QHD monitors that are in the 10-12ms range. Either speed is well below the quickest human reaction time, so you can be assured that the X27 X1 will deliver a competition-worthy gameplay experience.
Viewing Angles
Most QD-OLEDs show a slight green tint in the 45-degree horizontal photo, but the X27 X1 avoids this artifact. Whether viewed from the side or head-on, it is identical in color, brightness, and gamma. The top photo shows a red tint with a slight reduction in brightness and gamma. Overall, this is excellent performance.
Screen Uniformity
To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.
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A result of 10% or less equates to visually perfect uniformity, so the X27 X1 is right on the edge in this test. The meter noted a slightly darker number for the center zone in a 10% field pattern. This could not be seen in content. I have noted that the uniformity value changes after pixel refresh routines are run, so it is possible for this result to go up or down. My sample had not gone through a refresh cycle.
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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.