Review: AOC Gaming Monitor Q27G4X – Plunge into Worlds of Wonder and Dominions of Dreams!

Without getting embroiled in a discussion on metaphysics, theology, The Matrix and Total Recall movies, one thing that all gamers have in common is the willingness to submit themselves to be virtually transported away from reality.

Whether you’re an occasional gamer or a hardcore enthusiast, the level of immersion we experience in a game depends on the storyline, software and hardware we use.

AOC have been manufacturing monitors for decades and today, we shall be looking at the Q27G4X from their expansive gaming division.

In the Box

As readers of my earlier reviews will know, unpacking tech gadgets is an almost ceremonial process for me. The monitor is securely encased in rigid cardboard packaging with an adjustable stand, power cables, HDMI and Display Port (DP) cables, a multi-language Health & Safety booklet and a Quick Start leaflet.

Setting Up

Setting up is intuitive if you have previous experience with other monitors. For the benefit of new users, allow me to explain briefly…

Being a 27” monitor and clad in a plastic shell, it is fairly light to carry, so you won’t need to trouble anyone else with setting it up. Firstly, the arm of the stand has to be attached to the base by slotting it into the aperture in the hexagonal base piece. It is then secured using the supplied screwing bolt and washer. Secondly, you will notice two metal pegs protruding upwards at the top of the circular arm attachment. The back of the monitor has a circular indentation with corresponding holes into which these pegs slide. A spring clip clicks the monitor securely to the arm and that’s it. To remove the monitor, you simply press the spring release button, gently pull the bottom of the monitor towards you and lift it off the pegs.

Once the monitor is attached, you can adjust the tilt, height, swivel and rotation to suit your gaming environment.

Now comes the fiddly bit – Attaching the cables! The Q27G4X has a three-pin Power port on the reverse as well as two HDMI ports, a Display port and a Headphone out (3.5mm) port. While aesthetically, these ports are concealed on the underside of the overhanging plastic case on the rear of the monitor, they are a bit fiddly to get to unless you lay the monitor down on its front on a horizontal surface.

The openings in the design of the stand are presumably there to help keep the cables tidy, which they do, but they are still visible. This isn’t a major deal breaker for me but I know some gamers are, let’s say, “Overly Pedantic” about such issues.

Up & Running

Having connected my MacBook to the monitor with an HDMI to USB-C adaptor, I was keen to begin my review…

When a new product is switched on and it lights up for the first time, my face invariably beams with excitement and anticipation. As a Mac user, the symphonic chime that I hear when my laptop fires up is a comforting sound indicating that all is well. With the AOC Q27G4X, I wasn’t expecting any audio greeting but was hoping to be greeted by a colourful, welcoming graphic on the screen, perhaps displaying what the monitor is capable of i.e. vivid colours, sharp detail and fluid motion. However, instead, I saw a dimly lit representation of my MacBook screen. I must confess that my heart sank a little. The picture I saw appeared very muted when compared with my laptop. I figured that it may have been a factory default/ energy-saving feature. I wondered if there were any settings I could fiddle with to tweak the brightness. The manual gave me no help. There was a QR code printed in the manual from which I could access further help but my phone struggled to scan the code, and I was eventually sent around several web pages in the search of a solution. Feeling somewhat dismayed, I eventually searched elsewhere for a solution. It seems there are buttons on the underside of the bottom edge of the monitor towards the right. There are tiny icons indented on the front face of the monitor fascia but these are not immediately noticeable and they don’t align with the physical buttons. I played around with these buttons and was able to adjust the brightness to closely match that of my laptop. Pheww!

Features

The AOC Q27G4X is a good-looking monitor. With a finely textured surface, it appears matt black and sleek. There are no extraneous angles, grooves or colourful touches that unnecessarily “Pimp-up” the aesthetics. With the QHD screen spanning the top and side edges of the display, the monitor doesn’t suffer from a wide bezel which ensures maximum enjoyment of your movies and games.

Boasting resolutions of up to 2560×1440 and a refresh rate of 180 Hz, your eyes will be rewarded with superb detail and ultra-smooth motion in every game-playing scenario. The added features of 0.5ms Moving Picture Response Time, HDR 10 and Low Input Lag collectively enhance the gaming experience by producing the sharpest detail from every pixel. Fast-paced action sequences appear smooth and crystal clear – vital when battling against your arch-enemy and when the planet’s future is at stake!

Sum Up

The AOC Q27G4X is a budget-friendly 27” monitor. I feel it is particularly suitable for newcomers to the gaming world. The size is perfect for enjoying epic games that feature detailed graphics and fluid motion. Non-gamers wishing to capitalise on the extra space a second screen can provide to their existing set-up will also find this monitor appealing.

To learn more

A full specification of the AOC Q27G4X can be found at https://aoc.com/uk/gaming/products/monitors/q27g4x

The monitor is available to purchase through links from the official website and from all good retailers.