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This review first appeared in issue 360 ofPC Pro.
Monitorscan 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 becausephotosandvideosstill 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/m2I 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 tinnyspeakers, 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.
We also ranked the best business monitors.
Tim Danton is editor-in-chief of PC Pro, the UK’s biggest selling IT monthly magazine. He specialises in reviews of laptops, desktop PCs and monitors, and is also author of a book called The Computers That Made Britain.
You can contact Tim directly at editor@pcpro.co.uk.
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