AOC C27G2ZU 27in 240Hz Curved Gaming Monitor Review

Rating: 9.0.

Monitor refresh rates are increasing all the time, and it wasn't long ago that you'd have to pay in excess of £500 for 240Hz, and it wouldn't even be possible to combine this with a curved screen. Now, however, AOC is delivering 240Hz refresh with a 27in curved screen, and you can buy it for under £310. There are two variants of this screen – with and without the USB hub. Our sample was the one with USB, the AOC C27G2ZU.

Although this is a 27in screen, the resolution is just Full HD – 1,920 x 1,080 – although many gamers still prefer this over a higher resolution as maximised frame rates are more important than detail, particularly if you're a FPS player. Another plus for this type of game is the 0.5ms pixel response, although this is MPRT, because the panel used by the C27G2ZU is VA, so the underlying grey-to-grey response will be higher.

The other typical characteristics of a VA panel are in evidence as well. The peak brightness is a mediocre 300cd/m2, but contrast is rated at a high 3,000:1, as we expect from this technology. AOC claims 120 per cent sRGB gamut. The curvature is a reasonably accentuated 1500R. The 240Hz refresh is complemented by AMD FreeSync Premium adaptive synchronisation, which specifies low framerate compensation and a minimum of 120Hz at Full HD resolution, but doesn't include HDR, although this monitor does support HDR.

There's a decent set of connections, including two HDMI 2.0 and a single DisplayPort 1.2. The four-port USB hub built into this variant of the monitor supports USB 3.2 Gen1, which is essentially still USB 3.0. You also get an integrated pair of 2W speakers and an analog headphone output. Adjustments include tilt, swivel, and height raising, but no portrait mode.

The specification sounds very promising, and with that sub-£310 price, all the boxes are checked for a serious gaming contender. Only G-sync hardware is missing, but that always pushes the price up and AOC does state that this monitor is G-sync Compatible. So there's lots of potential here; let's find out if it's fulfilled.

Specification:

• Screen size: 27-inch, 16:9 aspect
• Native resolution: 1,920 x 1,080
• Curvature: 1500R
• Refresh rate: 240Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium
• Panel type: VA
• Contrast ratio: 3,000:1 (typical)
• Brightness: 300cd/m2
• Response time: 0.5ms MPRT
• Display inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2
• USB hub: Yes, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen1
• Tilt: 5 degrees forward, 23 degrees backward
• Raise: 130mm
• Swivel: 32 degrees left and right
• Portrait: No
• Other: Audio output, 2W stereo speakers

Retail Price: £308.99 (inc. VAT)

Become a Patron!