AOC C27G1 27in Curved 144Hz Gaming Monitor Review

Rating: 8.0.

Not long ago, curved screens were the exception. But now we're seeing a solid flow of releases. The AOC C27G1 combines curvature with gamer-friendly features like 144Hz refresh and AMD FreeSync. It's not as keenly priced as Acer's ED273, but has a bit more to offer making it a contender for affordable gaming.

The C27G1, like the ED273, only offers Full HD resolution rather than the 2,560 x 1,440 that we might have expected at this screen size. However, beyond this aspect the specification looks very promising. Also like the ED273, the C27G1's panel uses VA technology and has a 1800R curvature. However, AOC quotes a 1ms response time, although this is MPRT rather than grey-to-grey, which is a different way of measuring response.

The most notable difference to the ED273 is the C27G1's 144Hz refresh where the Acer only offers 60Hz. So whilst both screens support AMD FreeSync, the AOC's support is more useful thanks to the higher frequency. Contrast is the usual high 3,000:1 we normally see with VA panels, but brightness isn't rated so highly at 250cd/m2.

AOC provides a reasonable selection of inputs, with DisplayPort,  a couple of HDMI, and VGA for legacy connections. However, there's no USB hub and only analog audio output for headphones, not speakers or an analog input to go with the VGA video input. But with swivel, tilt, and height adjustment the ergonomic aspects are all in order. So on paper, this is a very promising monitor for under £250. Let's find out if the reality matches the promise.

Specification:

• Screen size: 27-inch, 16:9 aspect
• Native resolution: 1,920 x 1,080
• Refresh rate: 144Hz
• Panel type: VA
• Contrast ratio: 3,000:1 (typical)
• Brightness: 250cd/m2
• Response time: 1ms MPRT
• Display inputs: 2 x HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.2, VGA
• USB hub: No
• Tilt: 4 degrees forward, 21.5 degrees backward
• Raise: 130mm
• Swivel: 34 degrees left and right
• Other: Audio output

Retail Price: £248.40 (inc. VAT)

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