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Conclusion

With so many choices available in the 27-inch QHD gaming monitor category, it’s hard to pick the best display. Performance metrics are very close among 144 and 165 Hz screens and nearly all offer adaptive sync and extended color. Many also have HDR but we’re finding that’s not necessarily a reason to buy. With edge-array backlights, it takes a good dynamic contrast feature to make the most of HDR and very few screens include that.

The best examples in this category are VA panels like the AOC CQ27G2. For less than $300, you get plenty of speed for gaming, accurate extended color and terrific contrast. What more could one need?

AOC has left out a couple of things that honestly, we did not miss. The CQ27G2 does not support HDR signals. It has an HDR emulation feature which might satisfy some users, but it didn’t add to our gaming experience. It also leaves out a lighting effect, USB ports and internal speakers. None of these features will enhance or detract from game play.

What it does include is some of the best contrast we’ve seen. Only a few other VA monitors have higher contrast ratios than the CQ27G2. It has extended color that covers nearly 83% of the DCI-P3 gamut. Some displays cover more but are less accurate than the AOC. It can be enjoyed without calibration. And if you want an accurate sRGB mode, it has one of the best with spot-on color and grayscale.

And the CQ27G2 is fast. It won’t quite break the sound barrier like the 360 Hz Asus monitor we just reviewed. But it makes the most of its 144 Hz, easily keeping up with several 165 Hz panels. FreeSync and G-Sync work without issue so both AMD and Nvidia users can enjoy it.

For value and performance, it’s hard to beat the AOC CQ27G2. If you narrow your search for a 27-inch QHD monitor down to VA panels, it should be on your short list. Definitely check it out.

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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.

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