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.

Go to page:

2. Brightness and Contrast

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

We’ll be comparing the PX277P’s performance to a group of 27-inch panels. We have the ViewSonic Elite XG270QC, Gigabyte G27QC and Aorus FI27Q. We're also bringing in the Cooler Master GM27-CF and MSI Optix MAG273R.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Pixio claims 350 nits for the PX277P, but our sample only hit 322.2 -- not too far off the mark but not quite there. There are brighter monitors available, but anything over 300 nits is plenty of light for any indoor setting.

Our review focus' black levels are middling among the other IPS panels here with resulting contrast just over 1,088:1, which is average performance for an IPS monitor.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Our calibration to 200 nits (see our recommended settings on page 1) had no visible effect on contrast. We got a slight benefit from lowering the black equalizer control one click. You can go further if you wish, but anything below 49 will clip shadow detail.

ANSI contrast suffered a bit from hotspots in the upper left and lower right areas of the screen. 885.7 is a slightly below average score. Real world content looked satisfying, but there are monitors with visibly better image depth in the group.

Current page: 2. Brightness and Contrast

Prev Page Features and Specifications Next Page Grayscale, Gamma and Color

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.