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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



The XG27ACDNG‘s peak brightness depends on a couple of things. If you turn on Uniform Brightness, the peak level stays the same regardless of screen content and tops out around 260 nits. If you turn CB off, the peak reaches 427 nits when measuring a 25% window pattern. Smaller windows are even brighter, up to 1,000 nits from a 3% pattern. You’ll need different brightness settings to equalize normal content but the XG27ACDNG retains those values which is convenient. The black levels can’t be measured so contrast is theoretically infinite.
After Calibration to 200 nits



On page one, you’ll find the brightness values for 200 nits with Uniform Brightness on or off. Adjusting the light level does not affect contrast; it’s still unmeasurable. The ANSI checkerboard used to measure intra-image contrast is also not affected. The black squares can’t be measured because the pixels are turned off. This is typical OLED performance, which is always excellent.
Test Takeaway: The XG27ACDNG delivers brightness and contrast typical of the 27-inch Quantum Dot OLED monitors I’ve tested. Uniform Brightness can be used to tailor the monitor to different environments and uses. Gaming benefits from it being off so you get punchier highlights. But productivity is less tiring when it’s turned on. This is a feature shared by most OLEDs but the XG27ACDNG stands out in its ability to retain different brightness values when switching back and forth.
MORE: Best Gaming Monitors
MORE: How We Test PC Monitors
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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.