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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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KTC H27E6 — (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The H27E6 doesn’t have a zone dimming feature, so its brightness is the same whether you measure window or full field patterns. There is more than enough output here for any usage or environment, with over 474 nits coming from my sample. It’s also enough to beat the others save the Q27G4ZMN, which has a Mini LED backlight. It also bests the other IPS panels in the black level test for a superb contrast ratio of 1,505.3:1. That makes it an IPS class leader.

After Calibration to 200 nits

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The H27E6 holds onto its IPS black level dominance after calibration with a solid 0.1414 nit and a final contrast ratio of 1,429.1:1. The ANSI result is extremely consistent at 1,413.6:1, which shows the high quality of its grid polarizer and of KTC’s quality control. Only a VA or an OLED monitor can do better than this.

Test Takeaway: The H27E6 is a standout IPS panel with plenty of brightness, excellent black levels and an honest 1,500:1 contrast ratio with consistent results in both static and intra-image tests. It takes good components and manufacturing control to achieve this and KTC obviously has both. This seriously ups its price/performance ratio.

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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.