AOC CQ27G2 27-inch Monitor Review: Top-flight Performance and Value

Curves, contrast with two flavors of Adaptive-Sync

AOC CQ27G2
(Image: © AOC)

Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Viewing Angles

AOC CQ27G2

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The CQ27G2 is definitely not a shareable screen. At 45° to the sides, there is a distinct red tint and a 50% reduction in brightness. Detail remains visible but picture quality suffers. From the top, we can see a similar effect with washed out detail. Stick to on-center viewing and all will be well.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, please click here.

AOC CQ27G2

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Our CQ27G2 sample had reasonable screen uniformity when observed in a dark room. A slight hotspot in the upper left spoils the score a bit but we didn’t see any bleed or glow around the edges. Measurements taken of brighter field patterns showed a lower percentage of deviation from the center zone.

Pixel Response & Input Lag

Please click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

It’s interesting to note that the CQ27G2 has the lowest refresh rate here but is not the slowest monitor. 165 Hz doesn’t guarantee a quicker response or less input lag. No one will be able to discern the difference between 6 and 7 ms. Skilled players will benefit from a 21 or 22 ms lag but 25 or 26 ms is plenty fast for nearly everyone.

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.

  • Spoiler000001
    "FreeSync & G-Sync"

    "G-SYNC" and "G-SYNC Compatible" are two different things, this monitor does not have G-SYNC.
    Reply
  • Mattaeus
    I have this monitor and it has both USB ports and speakers...
    Reply