Component prices are difficult to stomach right now, but you thankfully don’t need shedloads of cash to pick up a new gaming monitor, even one with the latest tech. As a case in point, the AOC Q27G3XMN/BK is an absolute steal of a screen right now, with this Mini LED display returning to its lowest ever price.
Amazon US currently has the AOC Q27G3XMN/BK on offer with a 23% discount, bringing its price down to a cool $229.99. As mentioned, that’s the lowest price this monitor has ever had from this storefront, making now an ideal time to purchase one for your setup. Meanwhile, UK shoppers can join in on the savings with a 7% price cut.
AOC Q27G3XMN/BK
“Boasting a Fast VA panel and cutting-edge Mini LED technology with 336 zones, it brings you top-tier display quality without breaking the bank.” – AOC
Rocking a 27in Fast VA panel, with a native QHD (2560×1440) resolution and 180Hz refresh rate, the AOC Q27G3XMN/BK offers a great balance of size, sharpness and speed. What’s more, thanks to the monitor’s 336-zone Mini LED backlight. This tech shrinks the diodes on the backlight to allow room for local dimming zones, which help improve contrast and reduce blooming artefacts.
The 336 zones on the Q27G3XMN/BK are a relatively small amount, but that’s par for the course with budget-leaning monitors. Even so, you can expect blindingly-bright highlights from the panel, with AOC listing peak brightness at 1,000cd/m², giving you a solid entry point into HDR gaming.
Digging deeper into these specifications, a 27in panel combined with QHD resolution nets a pleasingly sharp 109 pixels per inch (PPI). Relative to an FHD (1920×1080) display, this gives you an immediately noticeable bump in sharpness, as the pixel density (PPI) rises by 33% at 27in, and a cool 18% from 24in, with the added immersive benefits of a larger screen.
Hitting 180fps to maximise the 180Hz refresh rate of this display won’t be possible in every game, but isn’t a tall ask for mid-range hardware in esports titles, even at QHD. That said, hitting high frame rates in more-demanding games is all the easier with upscaling and frame generation in tow. Regardless, once you experience the motion clarity that 180Hz can offer relative to 60/75Hz, it’s nigh-on impossible to go back.
For more recommendations on the latest screens, check out our guide to buying the best gaming monitor for your needs.
