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Gaming monitors come in many shapes and sizes and speeds, and the price gaps from low to high are wide. But an inexpensive display doesn’t have to cut corners. It can deliver excellent gaming performance, high contrast, saturated color, and good build quality without major sacrifices. AOC has proved that with its 27G15.
(Image credit: AOC)
I’ve called 144 Hz a starting point for gaming screens so the 27G15’s 180 Hz beats that. AOC has made the most of it with a superb overdrive. It’s equal to what I’ve found in many premium displays with high motion resolution, smooth response and low input lag. The backlight strobe is also usable, which is something I rarely experience.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
A VA panel delivers over 4,300:1 contrast natively. That means no image manipulation to increase dynamic range; it’s an honest figure. And that results in a superb image with deep blacks and bright highlights that look sharper than you’d expect from FHD resolution. I had to calibrate to get the most from the 27G15, but that isn’t unusual for any monitor at any price.
What’s left out? USB ports, speakers and LED lighting. But you’re getting 180 Hz, premium video processing, decent HDR and wide gamut color for $140. The stand sports full ergonomics and build quality is solid enough for long-term use.
With the latest gaming consoles priced around $500, it’s hard to justify spending another $500 for a speedy monitor. The AOC 27G15 is $140 at this writing. I can’t imagine a display that delivers more for the money. If you’re on a budget but want a great gaming monitor, this is one to keep on your radar.
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.
