KTC M27T6S 27-inch QHD Mini LED gaming monitor review: Affordable, colorful, and bright

KTC delivers high brightness and saturated color from the M27T6S.

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KTC M27T6S
(Image credit: © Tom's Hardware)

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Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

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KTC M27T6S
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Can you tell which of these screens is Mini LED? SDR tests don’t always reveal the answer since they often save their extra output for HDR content. But the M27T6S lets you crank the light up to 540 nits if you wish. And that’s a full field measurement. Turn on local dimming and measure a 25% window, and it shoots up to over 1,300 nits. You can use the dimming for SDR content and see 41,545:1 contrast if you like. When it’s off, it’s a more IPS-typical 921.2:1

After Calibration to 200 nits

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KTC M27T6S
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Calibration doesn’t change the contrast level much; it’s still just under 1,000:1. You can see the advantage of VA here. The top two screens have almost 5,000:1 natively. I recommend using local dimming for SDR to achieve better black levels and higher contrast.

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In the ANSI test, the M27T6S scores very well with over 973:1, higher than the static score. This shows good component selection and quality control on KTC’s part.

Test Takeaway: The M27T6S has similar contrast to other IPS panels but can get very bright if you wish, well over 500 nits. Local dimming bumps that up to over 1,300 nits for small highlights and takes contrast over 41,000:1. This is a very flexible display that works in any environment, from dark rooms to bright outdoor venues.

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Christian Eberle
Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

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.