This review first appeared in issue 360 of PC Pro.
Monitors can have the fanciest features in the world, but ultimately there are four things that matter: image quality, resolution, connectivity and price. So while I’ll tell you up front that the AOC Q27B3CF2’s onscreen display is hard to navigate and its features are stripped back to a bare minimum, the key is that its 27in IPS panel delivers strong colors with accuracy, packs 2,560 x 1,440 pixels and includes a USB-C connector – all for £200.
I say strong colors, but I don’t say a wide color gamut: by modern standards 82% of the DCI-P3 color space isn’t wide. However, I’d be very happy to use this as my everyday monitor because photos and videos still look great, and its color accuracy is exceptional, with an average Delta E of 0.25. You can switch to sRGB if you want purer whites, although you will curse the aforementioned OSD while doing so.
Other monitors also go brighter than the 370cd/m2 I measured, but that’s far beyond what most people need: stick to 200cd/m2 (around 70% in the monitor’s settings) and you’ll also reduce your power demands from the maximum 27W to a more sensible 17W. A contrast ratio of around 1,600:1 adds extra punch, but what separates this monitor from £200 rivals is that 1440p resolution - which is the perfect match for a 27in diagonal.
Features are barer than a politician’s lies, but you get what matters: HDMI and USB-C ports (the latter delivers up to 65W of power), an adjustable height stand and a 100Hz refresh rate. It also supports adaptive sync and a sub-1ms response time, so gamers should find much to enjoy here. There’s even a pair of tinny speakers, but the two USB-A ports are more welcome.
The ports are tucked away at the rear, and with no swivel or pivot you won’t find them easy to access. Also, a warning to those considering buying two or three Q27B3CF2s for a multi-monitor setup, especially if they see the phrase “ultra narrow” borders on AOC’s website. They are narrow-ish, at 10mm, but that means a 20mm gap between screens if you place them side by side.
Despite this, I would be tempted to buy two or even three of these monitors at this price. For £200, the AOC Q27B3CF2 is one of 2024’s true bargains.
