The best gaming monitors are defined by speed, peak brightness, max resolution, and pixel density, among other features. By dialing up the display’s refresh rate, gaming monitors can deliver smooth visuals that give players an edge thanks to enhanced motion clarity. The AOC C27G2Z is the latest addition to the far end of the spectrum of affordable esports monitors, delivering a blazing 240Hz refresh rate, four times the speed you’ll find from most budget monitors and TVs.
The AOC C27G2Z is a 27-inch curved FHD VA panel with 240Hz, adaptive sync, and wide gamut color designed for gaming and entertainment. While curved monitors deliver an immersive experience during gaming or watching movies, as they help reduce eye strain and create a wrap-around effect, they’re less ideal for graphic design or photo editing purposes.
If you’re in the market for a fairly affordable gaming monitor and don’t need an ultra-wide 32-inch screen, this 27-inch gaming monitor makes a lot of financial sense. It looks beautiful and works as expected, and the price is very reasonable. Let’s find out how it stacks against the competition.
About the AOC C27G2Z
- Display size: 27-inch
- Native resolution: 1920×1080
- Panel type: VA
- Refresh rate: Up to 240Hz
- Ports: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.2
- VESA mount: Yes, 100x100mm
- Weight: ‎9.02 pounds
- Dimensions: ‎ ‎8.96 x 24.1 x 20.81 inches
Design & Features
The AOC C27G2Z has a 1500R curvature and a three-sided borderless design that looks exquisite on your desk, especially the thin bezels. It’s smaller than the but offers more real estate than a typical 24-inch monitor that is starting to feel rather tiny for gaming and even productivity.
It is supported by a triangular stand that raises the display by 130mm and provides -4° to 21.5° of tilt and 34° of swivel adjustments. It also provides for VESA mounting on a stand or wall, as it comes with 100 x 100mm VESA mounting holes.
On looks, the case is black and red, with a familiar aggressive gamer aesthetic – something most gamers will appreciate as they are buying something for play, and it needs to have the looks.
The OSD control buttons can be accessed via the lower-right edge, whereby you can adjust the panel’s response time, select the color profile, and enable AOC’s Bright Frame Feature, through which you can manually adjust the brightness and contrast ratio, among other settings.
Connectivity comes via a DisplayPort 1.2 and two HDMI 1.4 ports. It lacks a USB hub and speakers, but if you want to have your audio via the monitor, you can do it via your headphones into its 3.5mm jack.
Image Quality
The monitor uses a curved Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) VA panel with an exciting 3,148:1 contrast ratio and 0.05ms refresh rate. The AOC C27G2Z achieves near-perfect accuracy in sRGB mode, with a 95.8% sRGB gamut coverage, which is quite impressive.
On this, the AOC matches the Samsung CFG70 that achieves 99.6% sRGB color gamut coverage. However, both panels look washed out when compared with class-leading IPS panels like the Acer XF270HUA, but for the price, it’s still a good deal. There exist a few differences between the AOC and Samsung monitor: while the C24G1 gets a perfect contrast ratio, the CFG70 gets around 2,501:1, still a good value compared to IPS panels that struggle to achieve half that figure.
Gaming Performance
The AOC C27G2Z features a 27-inch (1920 x 1080) display with a 16:9 aspect ratio and variable refresh rate (VRR) support. These specs, along with the 240Hz refresh rate, deliver a crisp picture that’s buttery smooth. At 250 nits, the display isn’t exactly bright, but it gets the job done for a budget gaming monitor.
Offering a speedy 144Hz refresh rate and a 0.5ms response time, the AOC C27G2Z makes a sensation out of most modern AAA titles, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and the Red Dead Redemption 2. The 1080p monitor’s two shooter presets both serve a unique purpose when playing a title like Siege, where FPS1 mode offers duller colors to prevent eyestrain, while RTS makes it especially easy to attack enemies.
The AOC C27G2Z does an excellent job displaying the lush scenery: Flowing rivers and the colorful fantasy characters of Dota 2 give you ample time to keep up with the action. The monitor’s RTS and FPS modes make the images excessively sharp – though they don’t look especially pretty, these modes create visible outlines around every character that could potentially help pro gamers spot allies and enemies.
With VRR sync, you can use the monitor with either an AMD or Nvidia graphics card, and gameplay will remain buttery smooth. Few genres are as dependent on low input as fighting games are, and we’re happy that games like Street Fighter V will play smoothly on the AOC C27G2Z. You’ll have no problems pulling off combos that require frame-perfect timing.
Should you buy the AOC C27G2Z?
Midrange gaming monitors walk a fine line in balancing image quality with video processing. Both of those are easier to get premium and mid-priced screens, but the challenge is greater when you move into the value category. The gaming experience is pegged on speed and responsiveness most, but you won’t enjoy your games if the image is flat and plain.
The AOC C27G2Z certainly delivers on image quality and speed. It’s one of the few value monitors I’ve reviewed with accurate color out of the box. Since the gaming experience is most affected by speed and response, a high refresh rate and adaptive sync become imperative. Even players of average skill will benefit when a game runs consistently at 240fps.
To achieve this without investing in a very expensive video card in your PC, FHD resolution is the smart choice, and up to 27 inches offers enough pixel density to render a detailed image. And the refresh rate of at least 240Hz ensures smooth motion and low input lag. That’s where the AOC C27G2Z outshines most peers that offer 144Hz or 165hz refresh rates in the same screen size.
If you’re on a budget but want something bigger than a 22 or 24-inch screen, the AOC C27G2Z is good value. It prioritizes speed over other factors and delivers a solid gaming experience for the price. Value-oriented gamers should keep this monitor on their shortlist.
Recommended Configuration
AOC C27G2Z 27" Curved Frameless Ultra-Fast Gaming Monitor, FHD 1080p, 0.5ms 240Hz, FreeSync, 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x Display Port, Height Adjustable, Xbox PS5 Switch Ready, 3-Year Zero-Bright-Dot
5 used from $132.65
The Review
AOC C27G2Z
The AOC C27G2Z is a solid value, delivering incredible gaming performance with its 27-inch, curved 240Hz VA FHD screen that promises a high frame rate, high contrast, and saturated colors at a very reasonable price.
PROS
- High refresh rate for gaming
- Easy to connect and set up
- Low input lag
CONS
- VA panel is not very bright
- No swivel adjustment
Review Breakdown
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ARS SCORE
