Xiaomi G Pro 27i QHD 180 Hz review: Value-priced Mini LED

The Xiaomi G Pro 27i is a 27-inch QHD IPS Mini LED gaming monitor with 180 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR1000, Quantum Dots and wide gamut color.

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Xiaomi G Pro 27i
Editor's Choice
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

Mini LED is the next best thing to OLED when it comes to HDR. The G Pro 27i delivers on this with its 1,152 dimming zones and peak output well over 1,000 nits. It switches to HDR automatically when HDR10 content is detected and all picture controls except local dimming are grayed out.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

For full-array local dimming monitors like the G Pro 27i, I measure a 25% window pattern. This gave me over 1,200 nits peak which is excellent performance. It easily exceeds the VESA DisplayHDR 1000 rating. Any setting of the local dimming turns off the backlight when a full black field is displayed. This means I could not measure black levels or contrast. It’s easy to see in the above contrast chart that the top four screens are Mini LED. They all have the same behavior. The Asus and ASRock monitors are edge dimming displays, so they have a little more contrast for HDR than SDR, but nowhere near what’s possible from the rest.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The G Pro 27i could use some color adjustments in HDR mode because the grayscale tracking is decidedly red in tone. The errors are visible from 40% and higher brightness. The good part is that the picture still pops. If you’re going to have an error, red is the least offensive. Green and blue issues are more obvious to the naked eye. I measured all three local dimming settings and found the best EOTF from the High option. It’s a tad dark until 50% where it meets the reference, then becomes slightly light up to the 75% tone map transition point. This is decent performance with some room for improvement.

The G Pro 27i takes full advantage of its Quantum Dot film to fill more than 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and a goodly portion of Rec.2020. Tracking is a bit over-saturated in the usual manner of wide gamut monitors. This makes the picture vivid and bright but not overblown. I have no complaints here.

Test Takeaway: The G Pro 27i delivers a superb HDR image with bright vivid color and deep contrast. Black levels are true and shadow detail is well rendered. Highlights pop with more than 1,200 nits of available light. Among HDR monitors selling for less than $400, it has no serious competition.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

MORE: How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor

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.

14 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Lucky_SLS
    Does the Monitor support HDMI pass through? Is it eARC?
    Reply
  • UnforcedERROR
    Lucky_SLS said:
    Does the Monitor support HDMI pass through? Is it eARC?
    It's a monitor, so eARC is likely not a thing. That's 100% a TV-to-reciever/sound bar feature.
    Reply
  • Lucky_SLS
    UnforcedERROR said:
    It's a monitor, so eARC is likely not a thing. That's 100% a TV-to-reciever/sound bar feature.

    Hmm, here i was thinking it was an HDMI feature.
    Reply
  • UnforcedERROR
    Lucky_SLS said:
    Hmm, here i was thinking it was an HDMI feature.
    HDMI was built for that reason, yes, but eARC specifically is complicated and requires a bunch of handshakes to work. It's really intended to simplify HT setups. HDMI does still pass audio on PC, but to my knowledge most monitors don't do eARC because they're not sending audio signals to other devices, unlike Smart TVs.
    Reply
  • Xajel
    Now bring a 32" 4k version of this monitor and it will be awesome.
    Reply
  • das_stig
    CON : No USB ports or internal speakers

    Not for all, some people don't like to have cables cluttering up their monitor. I myself do like using a monitor for KBD & MSE with a single pass back to the computer, but don't miss internal speakers which are normally poor quality.
    Reply
  • markusveralius1980
    Xiaomi's own FAQ states the monitor does not support VRR, but VRR seems to be working fine according to this review. Can someone clarify?
    Reply
  • ammper
    markusveralius1980 said:
    Xiaomi's own FAQ states the monitor does not support VRR, but VRR seems to be working fine according to this review. Can someone clarify?
    On main page Xiomi - xiaomi-mini-led-gaming-monitor-g-pro-27i:
    "FreeSync anti-tearing technology

    The computer graphics card and monitor frame rate maintain real-time synchronisation to reduce tearing and lag in dynamic environments.
    This ensures smoothness and stability during critical in-game moments."
    Reply
  • pepa3rd
    Hello, I can't find anywhere if the monitor is Flicker-Free (doesn't use PWM to control brightness).
    Reply
  • MrSayear
    between these monitors may I ask what u would choose for video editing and media consumption and sometimes gaming because they are on a same price range in my country



    Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70



    Cooler Master GP27Q



    Xiaomi g pro 27i

    Xiaomi Monitor is actually 60 dollars less than the other monitors and thats a lots of money in my country



    If u could answer it would be a huge help
    Reply