Monitors - Organizer

I played games with Alienware’s new 27-inch 4K OLED monitor and now I don’t want to see another LCD panel

4:14 pm | March 13, 2025

Alienware 27 AW2725Q QD-OLED: Two-minute review

Alienware 27 AW2725Q monitor resting on a desk playing C2077 — (Image credit: Future)

The basic notion of a 4K gaming monitor based on Samsung's QD-OLED panel tech isn't new. But for 2025, it's been shrunk down from 32 inches to 27 inches. We give you the new Alienware 27 AW2725Q QD-OLED.

The new 27-inch version of Samsung's QD-OLED panel delivers the latest five-layer tandem OLED structure. However, apart from high pixel density, the rest of the specs look very familiar, including the 250-nit full-screen brightness, 0.03ms response and 240Hz refresh rate.

This monitor also debuts Alienware's new design language. Dubbed "AW30" and supposedly inspired by extraterrestrial phenomena and the Aurora Borealis, the reality is a lot of dark blue plastic, soft, curved shapes, plus the signature RGB-lit alien head logo.

However, if this isn't physically the most exciting looking monitor known to mankind, the new high-DPI OLED panel promises to be spectacular. Time to find out what it's actually like and where it ranks among the best gaming monitors in 2025.

Alienware 27 AW2725Q QD-OLED: Price & Availability

Alienware 27 AW2725Q powered off on a desk — (Image credit: Future)

How much does it cost? $899 / £TBC / AU$TBC
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US with UK and Australia following in April

At $899, the Alienware 27 AW2725Q is currently $200 cheaper than Alienware's own 32-inch 4K OLED, the AW3225QF. That means there's some savings to be had from the smaller form factor.

However, that's only true within the Alienware ecosystem, as there are 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitors using exactly the same panel as the 32-inch AW3225QF for pretty much exactly the same price as this 27-inch model.

Moreover, this remains an extremely expensive display for a mere 27-inch monitor. If pixel density is an absolute top priority, then it might just make sense. Otherwise, a 32-inch QD-OLED for similar money is surely more appealing. And if you really don't care about pixel density, 34-inch and even 49-inch ultrawides can again be had for a similar sticker price.

Alienware 27 AW2725Q QD-OLED: Design

Alienware 27 AW2725Q turned to the side — (Image credit: Future)

Aside from debuting Samsung's 27-inch 4K QD-OLED tech, the Alienware 27 AW2725Q is also rolling out Alienware's new AW30 design language. Alienware says it is "crafted to evoke a sense of mystery and transcendence." Frankly, that's a tiny bit hyperbolic.

Not that the Alienware 27 AW2725Q is a bad looking display. But the new AW30 design language isn't a comprehensive success. In this iteration, AW30 translates into mostly dark blue plastic that's infused with just a hint of metallic fleck. The shapes and design flourishes are soft and organic with a slightly dated 90s vibe.

Alienware 27 AW2725Q turned to the back to show Alienware monitor — (Image credit: Future)

Indeed, the signature RGB-lit alien head logo on the rear is the only obvious carry over from the previous Alienware aesthetic which, in all candour, we prefer. Overall, the look and feel isn't especially impactful or premium.

That said, it is well enough built and the AW2725Q boasts a fully adjustable stand and good ergonomics. What's more, for the most part those design considerations only apply to the rear of this monitor, which you generally aren't looking at. Up front, the slim bezels on three sides of the QD-OLED panel and glossy panel coating ensure it looks bang up to date.

Alienware 27 AW2725Q QD-OLED: Features

Back of Alienware 27 AW2725Q monitor, powered off — (Image credit: Future)

The star of the show is the new 27-inch 4K Samsung QD-OLED panel. It boasts Samsung's latest five-layer tandem OLED structure. In larger panel formats, it helps to increase brightness, but the very small pixels of this high-density display mean that brightness is essentially the same as previous QD-OLEDs.

Specs like the 240Hz refresh and 0.03ms response are likewise dead ringers for existing 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitors. So, the main attraction here on paper is the 166DPI pixel density, which is far higher than the 109DPI of, say, a 27-inch 1440p monitor.

Ports underneath the Alienware 27 AW2725Q display — (Image credit: Future)

Elsewhere, this isn't the most highly specified monitor when it comes to connectivity. You do get both two HDMI 2.1 ports, plus DisplayPort 1.4, all of which will do the full 240Hz refresh rate. But there's no USB-C input and thus no facility for docking a laptop with this monitor and keeping it charged.

Still, there is a USB hub which you can hook up to your PC, which offers three USB-A and one USB-C downstream ports. For the record, the Alienware 27 AW2725Q is also covered by Dell's Three-year Advanced Exchange Service warranty which includes cover for OLED burn-in.

Rounding things out as you'd expect from this class of gaming display, there's support for Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, plus Alienware Command Center, which is a Windows app that allows you to control some functionality from within Windows.

Alienware 27 AW2725Q QD-OLED: Performance

Alienware 27 AW2725Q monitor base — (Image credit: Future)

When this new class of 27-inch K QD-OLED was announced, it was pretty exciting, what with it using Samsung's latest five-layer tandem OLED tech. In practice, that aspect arguably underwhelms.

Not that the OLEDness here is anything less that you'd expect. Rather, it looks just like what you'd expect in terms of full screen brightness and peak HDR sizzle. This screen isn't a step on in that regard.

So, full screen brightness is adequate rather than excellent. That said, HDR performance in darker game scenes is just fantastic. There's a nighttime scene in Cyberpunk 2077 located on a gantry by a rocket that is the perfect illustration.

You get great detail in the shadows right next to the fluorescent light fittings that pop out with such intensity and precision. The glossy screen coating only enhances that sense of epic contrast. No LCD-based display comes even close, not even those with full-array local dimming.

Alienware 27 AW2725Q monitor powered on to display a scene from Cyberpunk 2077 — (Image credit: Future)

Outdoor game scenes are less impressive, albeit still pretty good. Then there's the lightning fast pixel response. In fact, response is essentially a solved problem with these OLED monitors. The 240Hz refresh rate makes for very fluid visuals, too, plus excellent input latency. Of course, you'll need one heck of a graphics card to drive modern games at 4K, even with upscaling. But if you've got one, you'll love this monitor.

But what of the other key benefit, that high pixel density? On the Windows desktop, fonts look super crisp and sharp, despite the OLED panel's non-standard triangular pixel substructure. But in game? Honestly, there's not much subjective benefit compared to a 32-inch 4K OLED. And of course this screen is smaller and less immersive. If space is at a premium, then this 27-inch form factor is a clear benefit over a 32-inch option. Otherwise, we'd go 32-inch for the larger, more cinematic experience.

On a pair of final related notes, another area where this new-gen QD-OLED panel is essentially the same as previous generations is the purplish tinge to the panel itself in really bright ambient light. It slightly detracts from the sense of contrast and, again only slightly, undermines black levels. It's not a deal breaker, but is worth being aware of.

The other related issue is the color balance marginally tilted towards warmth. Again, it's not a major issue and for most people you'd barely notice it first and then quickly adjust to it if you have. But those who knowingly and clearly prefer a monitor with a truly neutral color temperature, it might be problematic.

Alienware 27 AW2725Q QD-OLED: Specs

Should I buy the Alienware 27 AW2725Q QD-OLED?

Buy it if...

You want a high-DPI OLED experience

At last, OLED panel tech is available with really good pixel density thanks to this new class of 27-inch 4K QD-OLED monitors.View Deal

You love HDR sizzle

When it comes to HDR visuals, no LCD monitor comes close to the high-contrast experience on offer from an OLED monitor with a glossy panel coating.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You want stellar value

$899 for a 27-inch monitor is masses, even for one this good. That's especially true when a 32-inch 4K OLED can be had for the same price.View Deal

You like large, cinematic visuals

Here in 2025, a 27-inch monitor isn't exactly massive. For a really immersive experience, a 32-inch 4K model would be better, as would 34-inch or 49-inch Ultrawides.View Deal

Also Consider

Alienware AW3225QF

This 32-inch 4K QD-OLED is a little more expensive. But then it's larger and more immersive. Uniquely among the 4K 32-inch OLEDs on the market, this monitor is curved.

Read our full Alienware AW3225QF reviewView Deal

MSI MPG 491CQP

Hard to believe, but this massive 49-inch QD-OLED monitor isn't all that much more expensive. The pixel density is much lower, but the immersion levels are off the map.

Read our full MSI MPG 491CQP review View Deal

How I tested the Alienware 27 AW2725Q QD-OLED

I ran the Alienware 27 AW2725Q QD-OLED as my primary display for a week. I used it for absolutely everything including getting stuff done for work, watching YouTube and movies and, of course, games.

I've reviewed just about every OLED gaming monitor out there, and certainly every panel type, so this new class of 27-inch 4K QD-OLED is particularly interesting. Assessing things like full screen brightness is critical, as is getting to grips with the high-DPI experience.

I was also keen to double check that this new OLED was up to scratch for metrics like pixel response and latency while delivering that signature OLED HDR experience. Checking out Alienware's new design language was intriguing, too.

First reviewed March 2025

I swapped my everyday display to the BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor for a month, here’s my verdict

8:53 am | February 28, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Monitors Peripherals & Accessories | Comments: Off

BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor: Two-minute review

The BenQ GW2486TC is a great monitor for those that just need more screen real estate. It helps that there are some included features to make hours of use a bit more palatable, such as the ones focused on minimizing eye strain. After all, not everyone needs an ultra widescreen 8K monitor with HDR and a super fast refresh rate. Most of us just want more space while working. This monitor does that.

It also helps that it is very affordable for an external monitor. Sure, this is just a 24-inch model with quite a few limitations, like a 1080p resolution with a somewhat limited color coverage – you shouldn’t be using this for most types of color correction and editing. And there’s no KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switching on hand, either. But, it’s got great ergonomics to help you get the most comfortable view of your work.

So, if you’re okay with those compromises, meaning you’re not also a gamer or creative, and can skip out on the unfortunate lack of cable management, this might be one of the best business monitors for you.

BenQ GW2486TC: Price and availability

BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor HERO — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

How much does it cost? $189.99 / £149.99 / AU$289.00
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK and Australia

The best monitors come in at all sorts of price points, and you usually have to pay a bit more than the BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor. The going price of this monitor, $189.99 / £149.99 / AU$289, is about as reasonable as it gets.

While you can find some other great deals such as the 27-inch gaming-oriented Arzopa M1RC with its £239 / $269 MRSP out there, they’re few and far between. Of course, the Arzopa does have QHD (2560 x 1440p) resolution and a 180Hz refresh rate. But it’s missing speakers and the eye-care oriented features of the BenQ reviewed here.

If you need more features, you’re most likely going to have to spend a bit more. The 4K BenQ PD2705UA has about every feature one could imagine as well as the kind of color coverage and accuracy for editing work, unlike the GW2486TC. You can even split the screen between two different sources as well as use KVM. It’s also more than double the price at $549.99 / £549.99 / AU$739.

Value: 5 / 5

BenQ GW2486TC: Specs

BenQ GW2486TC: Design

Fantastic ergonomics for personalized viewing angles
Good port selection including USB-C with power delivery
No cable management

The BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor might be cheap, but it is an attractive looking monitor. In all-white, it’s neither drab or boring. In fact, the worst thing about this 24-inch monitor is probably its display panel, which is a basic IPS 1080p one with a typical 178-degree viewing angle.

But when it comes to this monitor’s design, there’s plenty to like, particularly the ergonomics. Thanks to its tall stand, there’s 130mm of height adjustment. Once you have at eye level (or wherever you prefer to have the monitor seated), there’s a 45 degree swivel either left or right, a five degree downward tilt and a 20 degree upward one, not to mention a 90 degree pivot in either direction if you need the display in portrait for some reason (like coding).

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BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor rightside ports — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

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BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor cable management — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

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BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor OSD buttons — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

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BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor portrait mode — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

The only real issue I have with the BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor’s design is the fact that there’s no real cable management. There is a hole at the top of the stand that, to me at least, looks like it’s to pick up the monitor that could be conceivably used for cable management. However, the ports all face downward so that is fairly inconvenient.

As far as ports go, there’s a decent array including one DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 1.4, USB-C with 65W power delivery (enough for an Ultrabook but not a gaming laptop), and two USB-A downstream ports for charging up accessories. However, those USB ports are not for KVM and don’t do any passthrough to the source computer. On the bright side, this monitor can be daisy chained with another for more screen real estate.

Design: 4 / 5

BenQ GW2486TC: Features

OSD Menu is easy to navigate
A number of eye-care modes help with long sessions in front of the screen
Plenty of additional modes for various work purposes

BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor OSD Menu — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

The OSD menu is pretty straightforward to use on the BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor. Instead of a single joystick for control, there are a number of buttons along the bottom right corner of the monitor. Whenever you press any of the buttons, the OSD menu pops up with an overlay on your screen showing icons for categories. Once you select a category, the OSD opens up deeper menu options while providing icons for what each button does. Overall, it’s very straightforward to navigate, whether you’re changing modes, messing with specific settings like color temperature or adjusting audio settings.

Where this monitor shines best is in its various modes, particularly the eye-care oriented ones, meant to minimize eye strain from sitting in front of a screen too long. Not only are there modes that limit the amount of blue light, as well as one to adjust for color weakness, but it has its brightness intelligence gen 2 tech, which automatically adjusts screen brightness according to ambient light for what’s most ideal. And, I found it to work fairly quickly. There are also modes for coding, ePaper, sRGB, and MBook that are helpful to have on hand, even if these aren’t necessarily all that unique.

Features: 4.5 / 5

BenQ GW2486TC: Performance

Screen is good, but nothing special, except for a faster refresh rate
Audio quality is passable
Comes with built-in mic with noise cancellation

BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor angled — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

When it comes to performance, it’s critical to take the BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor for what it is – a budget-oriented office monitor. You’re not getting a wow factor here, nor should you. The IPS panel is a basic 1920 by 1080 resolution with a solid color coverage of 99% sRGB. Its 250 nits is good enough for office use, but can be a bit dark when using it for certain types of media. While I did use this for some gaming and had no issues with it, this is certainly not where it excels, especially with a 1300:1 contrast. It’s fine for that purpose, helped along by a 100Hz refresh rate (despite having a 5ms response time).

The audio quality on monitors is usually nothing special. The BenQ GW2486TC is no exception. The two 2-watt drivers offer enough volume for anyone sitting at their desk who doesn't want to purchase or fiddle with external speakers, though they’re worth it in my humble opinion. There’s not much in terms of low-end from the downward-facing speakers – no surprise there – and, overall, are fairly boxy sounding. The best thing one can say about the audio is that it’s there and it’s not terrible. For an office monitor, that’s generally good enough.

It’s worth noting that there’s also a built-in microphone with adjustable noise cancellation for use with zoom calls.

Performance: 3.5 / 5

Should I buy the BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor?

Buy it if…

You want a productivity monitor on a budget

If you have limited funds but you want a monitor for productivity, the BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor is an ideal one thanks to the eye-care features, USB-C port, and flexible ergonomics.

You need great ergonomics

This monitor can go into a portrait orientation in either direction, has a broad height adjustment range, and can swivel and tilt enough so that it can properly face you no matter your setup.

You need USB-C

Even now, not all monitors come with a USB-C port. If you need one to connect your MacBook Air, for example, you can not only do that, but you can charge it in the process.

Don’t buy it if…

You need cable management or KVM

This is a budget monitor so there are some things missing that one would find on pricier models, such as cable management or KVM. If you’re a neat freak or want to connect more than one computer, you should invest in a monitor with one, or preferably both, features.

You want a higher resolution

The panel on this monitor is fairly basic so you’re limited to 1080p. If you want a sharper resolution for any reason, it’s worth spending the extra cash for it.

Also Consider

Arzopa M1RC

The Arzopa M1RC might be missing some of the productivity-oriented features and appointments of the BenQ, but you get a sharper QHD resolution and an even faster 180Hz refresh rate for not much more money.

Read our full Arzopa M1RC review

BenQ PD2705UA

If you want a little more out of a productivity-oriented monitor, consider the BenQ PD2705UA. It’s more than double the price but has a much sharper image, KVM, and side-by-side picture as well as picture-in-picture for those with two computers, not to mention HDR and cable management.

Read our full BenQ PD2705UA review

How I tested the BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor

I used the BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor regularly for a month. I tested it with various games and media, used it for work, and tested out its various eye-care modes. I spent some time listening to the speakers. And played around with the ergonomics.

The BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor has shown itself to be a capable monitor for productivity, particularly for those on a budget who don’t need things like KVM and don’t care about cable management.

I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

First reviewed January 2025

I love the 27-inch Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM 4K monitor, but I find its design flaws baffling

8:02 am | February 14, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Monitors Peripherals & Accessories | Tags: HDR, LG, ROG | Comments: Off

Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM: ONE-MINUTE REVIEW

OLED monitors are becoming widespread, and Asus is among the first manufacturers to release a gaming monitor with the panel technology on a 27-inch 4K display. The result is essentially a smaller, slightly less powerful screen than the company’s larger ROG screens, shedding the ultrawide and curved properties that many gamers (myself included) consider unnecessary – but it’s ROG, so it can’t be that simple, can it?

What we’ve got here is an exceptional piece of technology with a bunch of old gimmicks bolted to the sides.

On the tech side, the panel is gorgeous, pulling off 4K resolution paired with a 240Hz refresh rate and offering a max brightness of 450 nits (1,000 HDR). Its selection of ports on the back is quite generous, including several USB-A ports to keep your cabling situation a bit tidier. The integrated monitor interface is also quite easy to use and provides an amazing level of depth to tailor screen performance to your needs.

On the extras side, like many of Asus’ top-end Swift monitors, you’ll find a downward-facing projector that shoots the Republic of Gamers logo onto your desk in red. This resides in the monitor stand with the lens protruding between the screen’s three feet. The feet extend out quite far from the monitor and are both huge and very over the top. It’s a signature of the ROG Swift range of monitors and it exists to be distinct.

Complementing the projector is a programmable RGB logo on the front of the screen and a larger one on the rear left of the monitor, along with some lighting around the projector housing. These lighting details I’m fine with, I have no axe to grind with RGB provided it’s not over the top, but the accumulation of all of these aesthetic extras has left me with a feeling of ‘why are we doing this?’

And this criticism manifests best when we get to pricing. Despite offering a combination of features that are new and in-demand on the market, slightly older monitors with more impressive specs (like larger screen size) can be picked up for less.

With these things in mind, while I’ll applaud Asus for offering a display with a technology arrangement previously unseen, and likely in demand from at least a subset of PC users, I’m content with the opinion that a 4K, OLED, high refresh rate monitor better appeals to a graphics and visual quality lover – and that such a user likely wouldn’t mind going a size up to 32 inches and pocketing the potential savings.

Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM: PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

The ROG Swift 4K OLED 27-INCH monitor on display on a glass desk. — (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

How much does it cost? $1,099 / £1,098 / AU$2,099
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Technology retailers in the US, UK and Australia

The ROG Swift 27-inch OLED breaks new ground by offering the gorgeous, darkness-enhancing panel technology at a high refresh rate at a 4K resolution on a screen of this size. This explains the high cost, but the price is driven higher by a combination of things.

Asus’ inclusion of RGB lighting, a unique stand and its iconic (if unnecessary) downward-facing projector add to its appeal, but its great user interface and array of ports are more deserving of praise.

Similar monitors are available from LG, Gigabyte and Alienware, often sporting larger displays at the same price, or the same size at a lower cost. This monitor’s closest competitor is the MSI MPG 272URX, starting at $799.99 / £999.99 / AU$1,799.

Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM: DESIGN

The ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM on a desk, with a keyboard and mouse in front of it — (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Asus is awesome, not just because it always does top-quality stuff, but also because it’s always doing something interesting. In the display category, the brand has been strapping downward-facing projectors to its premium ‘Swift’ range for a long time, while incorporating a tripod-style stand with three feet extending out from the base of the stand.

This is iconically ROG and… well, getting old. The company has strapped this projector to its top-end screens for some time, all while other gaming peripheral aesthetics have matured. Competitors like Alienware and MSI now look more grown up across their entire product line-ups. Even much of the ROG range looks more charming and less gamer-y.

Even if the projector didn’t leave a poor taste in my mouth, I’d still be disappointed in the stand. It spans a far greater space across my desk than it has any right to, and its footprint limits my ability to push the display further from me without it falling off the back of the desk. Though this wouldn’t be a problem for users mounting the display elsewhere, as it’s VESA wall-mount compatible. On the default stand, it also allows a 90º pivot (allowing for a uniform portrait orientation) and 110mm height adjustment, along with 30º of swivel.

A programmable RGB light on the rear left side gives a nice illumination against the wall, and lights on the monitor stand itself look quite good when viewing the screen from the back, but many users likely won’t engage with these. The ROG logo on the front, the stand lights and the projector light can’t be changed from red, which might be disappointing to folks fond of a particular color.

In terms of interaction, hidden behind the ROG logo on the front of the monitor is a handy set of buttons: two on the left and right, and a joystick nub in the middle that's perfect for adjusting display settings.

Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM: FEATURES

The rear of the ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM, showing its RGB backlighting — (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

The ROG Swift 27-inch monitor is one of the few screens of such a size operating a 4K resolution on an OLED panel – a feature in itself worthy of praise and certainly appealing to some users. It offers this combination of features with a tiny 0.03ms response time and a whopping 240Hz refresh rate, combined with a maximum brightness of 450 nits (1,000 nits HDR).

Dolby Vision HDR is also available, but I elected to disable this and switched to standard HDR, as it kept turning my display off and on again when entering different programs.

ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM Key Specs

Screen size: 27-inch
Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160
Brightness: 250 nits full screen, 1,000 nits max HDR
Color coverage: 99%
Response time: 0.03ms
Refresh rate: 240Hz
HDR: DisplayHDR True Black400, HDR10, DolbyVision
Features: FreeSync Premium Pro, NVIDIA G-Sync, KVM Switch, 2 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x DisplayPort 2.1, 1 x Headphone out, 1 x USB-B upstream, 3 x USB-A downstream, 1 x USB-C (90W Power Delivery)

The screen itself is slightly glossy and the in-built monitor software gives the user quite a lot of control over its performance. A single nub behind the ROG logo on the front of the screen allows you to adjust quick settings, including superfluous things like enabling an FPS counter, a persistent crosshair or even a stopwatch or timer. This software is generally more useful for selecting your preferred HDR calibration, adjusting brightness, and tailoring the screen’s performance to your needs.

Obviously because it’s an OLED panel, there is worry of burn-in occurring, and Asus’ solution is quaint. Simply by pressing the button on the left (beside the nub) you can activate the company’s OLED Care program, which refreshes the pixels to avoid damage. The program runs for about six minutes and it’s recommended that you perform this action often to increase the longevity of your device. The monitor will remind you every eight hours or so by default to run the program, but you can disable this pop-up in the on-device settings.

The ports on offer with this display are also very accommodating. A USB-B port running to and from the monitor and your computer allows the three integrated USB-A 3.2 ports to communicate with your PC, cutting down on cable clutter. There’s also a USB-C port with 90W power delivery (great for charging a phone or even a laptop), a DisplayPort 2.1 and two HDMI 2.1 ports.

Finally, bringing the panel's main range of features back into range (4K, 240Hz), it’s worth considering this as a monitor for an already particularly dedicated enthusiast. Operating a 4K monitor at a high frame rate in most new games is going to require a fairly competent (and expensive) gaming rig, though most competitive games (think League of Legends and Valorant) that run smoothly on a broad range of computers will typically complement this monitor well – so perhaps it’s more a screen for gamers looking to compete online.

Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM: PERFORMANCE

The ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM displaying a colourful background — (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

The ROG Swift OLED 27-inch is perfect for making gorgeous games look amazing. An upgrade to an OLED screen continues to be the best way to upgrade your gaming visual experience in a single purchase – you can upgrade your computer’s internal components, sure, but the output monitor’s better handling of darkness and contrast will always be more noticeable than slightly higher graphics fidelity.

A 27-inch sized screen is fairly common among gaming PC setups, though a 4K resolution can be difficult to cater for as games become more demanding as quality scales up – though this will certainly appeal to gamers craving beautiful visuals. The panel performed exceptionally well in every game that I played, and the deep blacks were particularly welcome in games like The Headliners, Helldivers 2 and Ghost of Tsushima, where darkness is a big part of the gameplay.

TV shows look awesome too. Invincible, Severance and For All Mankind in particular looked great, with the color clarity up to scratch, but the experience would have been made better by integrated speakers. Built-in sound isn’t a top feature request for monitor shoppers but it’s nice to have when it’s there, for convenience at least.

And it’s not all about gaming – the monitor is also a more-than-capable productivity monitor, and I didn’t notice any text fringing when using Google Docs or Google Keep. Its dealing with apps in dark mode is splendid, and I liked the inclusion of a KVM switch, allowing you to quickly switch between your connected computers. The USB-A ports aren’t difficult to access in the back of the monitor, so you won’t be spending much time pulling cables and dongles out of your actual PC if you don’t want to.

Maximum brightness of 450 nits – or 1,000 nits with HDR enabled – was also notable as it’s easy to find similar monitors with slightly higher HDR brightness. Nevertheless, it’s serviceable and hardly an issue.

Should I buy the Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM?

ROG Swift 4K OLED 27-INCH: Report Card

Buy it if...

You want a high-end, 27-inch OLED monitor

A 4K resolution with a 240Hz refresh rate on an OLED panel isn’t particularly common – yet.

You like ROG aesthetics

It doesn’t get much more gamer-y than ROG, and the downward-facing projector is certainly a… choice.

DON’T BUY IT IF…

You’re looking to save money

This monitor is surrounded by alternatives that are either larger (for the same cost) or cheaper for the same size.

You can’t stand over-the-top aesthetics

The gamer projector is not for everyone, nor is all the lighting or the huge stand.

Also consider

LG 32GS95UE-B

Though it originally launched at a higher price, the LG 32GS95UE-B can be picked up for a much lower cost than the ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM – with 4K, a 240Hz refresh rate and a low response time to boot, along with a 32-inch panel.

Read our full LG 32GS95UE-B review

MSI MPG 271QRX

Cheaper, though only offering a 2K resolution rather than 4K, MSI's MPG 271QRX is a much more affordable OLED solution.

Read our full MSI MPG 271QRX review

MSI MPG 272URX

Offering similar specs at a significantly lower price, this MSI monitor is a much more accessible OLED gaming solution than Asus’ offering.

HOW I TESTED THE ROG Swift 4K OLED 27-INCH

From the moment I received the ROG Swift 4K OLED 27-inch for testing, I got to work setting it up and optimizing it for gameplay and productivity tasks. I quickly assembled it and replaced my monitor with it at home, using it over a three-week period. I used it every day that I was home over this time, whether it was for watching YouTube videos, Twitch streams, TV shows or playing videogames.

Most of my time with the monitor was spent playing videogames. Marvel Rivals, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, The Headliners, Helldivers 2, Ghost of Tsushima, Car Manufacture and FlyKnight were among the games I tested the monitor with. I used the monitor with a variety of settings enabled and disabled, and used a DisplayPort connection.

AOC Agon Pro AG276FK: Two-minute review

AOC Agon Pro AG276FK gaming monitor's base and logo

(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)

If you're serious about competitive gaming, you want the highest refresh rate possible. It's pretty much that simple. Which is where the new AOC Agon Pro AG276FK comes in. Running at 520Hz, it's up there among the very fastest gaming monitors you can currently buy.

If there's a catch, it's that the native resolution is just 1080p. Purely for playing online shooters, that actually makes sense in terms of minimizing GPU load and maximizing frame rates. However, for other types of gaming and especially for all-rounding computing, the low pixel density of 1080p on a fairly large 27-inch monitor like this isn't ideal.

Needless to say, that lofty refresh rate makes for a very pricey panel for a mere 1080p model, too. So, the question the AOC Agon Pro AG276FK poses is just how dedicated to the cause of esports you really are. This monitor is never going to be a great all-rounder.

But if high refresh rates and low latency are your absolute priorities, this monitor looks like a strong package on paper. It sports an IPS panel with 0.5ms GTG response, HDR400 certification and dual DisplayPort inputs, plus a whole host of gaming-centric additional features.

AOC Agon Pro AG276FK: Price and availability

How much does it cost? $550 (estimated) / £499 / AU$999 (estimated)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the UK with other markets to follow

At £499 in the UK and a likely $550 in the US, the AOC Agon Pro AG276FK lines up right next to the likes of the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG27FFX2A. That monitor actually has superior HDMI 2.1 connectivity, but is otherwise very similar on paper.

Of course, this is a heck of a lot of money for a mere 1080p 27-inch monitor. But then the 520Hz refresh rate is an extreme specification and comes at a cost. For most gamers, we'd recommend a high-refresh 27-inch 1440p panel as better not just for all-round computing but also for a broad range of gaming.

However, if you're into esports and you want the very lowest latency thanks to super high refresh rates, well, the 520Hz offered here really delivers.

AOC Agon Pro AG276FK: Specs

AOC Agon Pro AG276FK: Design and features

AOC Agon Pro AG276FK gaming monitor tilted slightly to the side, showing the Windows desktop screen — (Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)

As 1080p 27-inch monitors go, the AOC Agon Pro AG276FK is not exactly cheap. Mostly, that's thanks to the eye-watering 520Hz refresh rate. But it does have other attractions.

The 27-inch panel is an IPS item with claimed 0.5ms GTG and 0.3ms MPRT pixel response. In the context of LCD as opposed to OLED monitors, those are very impressive numbers. You also get HDR400 certification, which won't guarantee true HDR capability, but does mean this monitor will hit a punchy 400 nits.

The relatively elevated pricing also translates into a high quality stand with a full range of adjustment including height, tilt, pivot and swivel. It's well built, the materials feel high quality and the design includes some quirky asymmetric features that make this monitor stand out ever so slightly from the crowd. The slim bezels on three sides of the 27-inch IPS panel also ensure it looks current and up-to-date.

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Back of the AOC Agon Pro AG276FK gaming monitor, showing RGB lighting and adjustable stand — (Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)

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Side profile of the AOC Agon Pro AG276FK gaming monitor

(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)

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Connection options on the bottom of the AOC Agon Pro AG276FK gaming monitor — (Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)

As for connectivity, you get two DisplayPort 1.4 connections capable of the full 520Hz. The two HDMI 2.0 sockets only go to 240Hz, but then they're aimed at console connectivity, and that really only requires 120Hz at most. The ports are all located on the bottom of the chassis, while a slide-out headphone hanger is situated on the right-hand bezel.

Beyond all that, there's a smattering of RGB lighting, plus various gamer-centric options in the comprehensive OSD menu including overdrive controls, low latency modes, and adaptive sync, plus AOC's GMENU app that enables access to much of the functionality within Windows.

AOC Agon Pro AG276FK: Performance

AOC Agon Pro AG276FK gaming monitor showing Cyberpunk 2077 on screen while resting on a desk — (Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)

If speed is what the AOC Agon Pro AG276FK is all about, it definitely delivers. Undoubtedly the highlight is that 520Hz refresh. Many games have performance bottlenecks on the CPU, GPU or somewhere else in the system preventing them from hitting those kinds of frame rates.

The exception, of course, tends to be online shooters, which are optimized for maximum frames rates and are indeed the main target for this monitor. Up around 500fps, then, this monitor absolutely flies. Obviously the gains are marginal as you increase refresh rates. But you can certainly feel the reduction in latency and see the increase in motion clarity compared to, say, a 144Hz panel.

Put it next to a 360Hz monitor, and the gains will inevitably be more marginal. Ultimately, the extent to which you notice and benefit from 520Hz will always be subjective. But if ultra-low latency is something you think you're particularly sensitive to, well, this AOC gets the job done and then some.

It's also very fast for an LCD panel when it comes to pixel response. You can choose between the four levels of pixel overdrive in the OSD menu. A touch of overshoot can be detected in the fastest mode when jiggling an app window around on the Windows desktop. But actually in-game, there's little evidence of the kind of color shift that can be so distracting when monitors suffer from really bad overshoot.

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On-screen display of the AOC Agon Pro AG276FK gaming monitor — (Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)

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Anyway, this monitor is about as LCD tech currently gets when it comes to pixel response. You'll need to make the jump to an OLED panel to get something clearly faster.

Another strong point, relatively speaking, is the calibration. It's all really nicely set up in SDR mode, with punchy and accurate colors. In HDR mode, it's nicely executed, too, and that includes accurate SDR colors in HDR. That's handy because it means you can just leave this panel in HDR mode all the time and get great colors and accuracy for all content types.

Of course, this isn't a true HDR monitor. It has HDR400 calibration, but there's no local dimming. So, it's a case of correctly rendering HDR color mapping as opposed to really being capable of high dynamic range images. But that's par for the course for this class of display.

If all that sounds good, the major downside involves pixel density. 1080p stretched across a 27-inch panel like this makes for a lowly density of just 82DPI. That translates into blocky image quality and rough looking fonts on the desktop. For general computing, web browsing or content creation, this is not a great display. But that is not its remit.

Arguably the bigger problem is the slight lack of image detail in-game versus, say, a 270-inch 1440p panel. For gaming across a wide range of genres, a 240Hz 1440p panel can actually be had for less money and would be a better fit. But as a pure esports panel, this AOC delivers, you just have to be sure that's exactly what you're after.

Should I buy the AOC Agon Pro AG276FK?

Buy it if...

You want ultra low latency

The 520Hz refresh makes for seriously low latency while the IPS panel also delivers excellent response times for an LCD panel. Only an OLED monitor will be quicker.

You like good color calibration

The AOC Agon Pro AG276FK isn't just fast. It's also very nicely calibrated with good color balance in both SDR and HDR modes

Don't buy it if...

You're an all-round gamer

If you like playing all kinds of games, not just online shooter, you'd be better off with a 1440p panel or maybe a 34-inch ultrawide, both of which can be had for the same money or less.

You want true HDR capability

The AOC Agon Pro AG276FK offers HD400 certification. But it doesn't have local dimming and it's not truly capable of high dynamic range rendering.

Also consider

Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P

If you want to join the high-refresh OLED revolution, give the Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P a try. It's a 4K 240Hz model, so not quite as high refresh. But the pixel response is ultra low and the 4K OLED image quality is to die for.

Read our full Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P review

Samsung Odyssey G7

If you fancy 1440p gaming, consider the Samsung Odyssey G7. It's the same 27-inch size, but offers 1440p at 240Hz for a reasonable price, albeit more than the AOC Gaming C27G4ZXE.

Read our full Samsung Odyssey G7 review

How I tested the AOC Agon Pro AG276FK

I used the AOC Agon Pro AG276FK for literally everything for around a week. For sure, it's a monitor aimed squarely at esports as opposed to getting work stuff done or browsing the web. But full immersion tends to provide fuller insights.

The core task was to assess the impact of that lofty 520Hz frame rates in a slew of online shooters, including my favorite Counter-Strike 2. Would the huge Hz number translate into noticeably lower latency?

Comparing the pixel response to the best IPS panels and also the latest OLED screens is also intriguing. Beyond that, checking out the overall color performance and HDR calibration, along with connectivity, ergonomics and build are all in the mix.

First reviewed February 2025

MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED review: gorgeous gaming display for a great price

7:00 pm | October 25, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Monitors Peripherals & Accessories | Comments: Off

MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED: Three-minute review

The MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED is easily one of the best gaming monitors I've ever used, although it's going to struggle against the best ultrawide monitors for just about all other tasks other than gaming and watching video content.

A clue as to why it's so good for the latter is in the name: OLED. The Samsung QD-OLED panel on this monitor is spectacular to look at, offering a snappy 0.03ms response time and 144Hz refresh at a 5120 x 1440p for ultrafast high-end gaming. The 1800R curve of the panel is also the perfect match for the 32:9 aspect ratio, so you don't lose detail in your peripheral vision.

What's more, at just $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,699, you're going to feel like you're getting a much more premium product for your money than its visuals might suggest.

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 ultrawide, for example, offers slightly better specs, but comes with a price tag that's nearly 50% more, making the MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED appear something of a bargain.

However, look under the hood, though, and you'll spot where some compromises have been made.

An MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED on a desk — (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

For one, OLED panels are notorious for suffering burn-in, so if you didn't register and activate that copy of Windows you've been using, this monitor will have you found out, even if you eventually do give Microsoft the money it's due.

What's more, in order to prevent burn-in, you'll need to let the monitor run its OLED Care routine after about six hours or so. While you might be able to opt out when the monitor first notifies you that it's time to run the routine, you'll only be delaying the inevitable – and, when you least expect it, the monitor will go ahead and run the routine and you can't stop it (nor should you).

While this will extend the useful life of your monitor, this unpredictability will be a nightmare for, say, Final Fantasy XIV fans who are in the middle of a boss raid. That's because once the routine starts, the monitor effectively shuts off, and you have to wait anywhere from five to thirty minutes for the routine to complete.

Of course, this could also be a benefit, since it does force you to get up and maybe pet your cat or run to the store and get in some exercise; but it will be incredibly frustrating when it happens in the middle of something you'd rather not interrupt.

This isn't an MSI-exclusive problem, of course. All OLED monitors have to deal with such issues, but considering the investment here, it's best that you know what you're in for.

An MSI 491CQP QD-OLED on a desk — (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

In terms of features, you do get a good number of ports, with the USB-C capable of 90W power delivery. There's also a USB hub built-in with a KVM feature, which is handy – although the USB-A ports are limited to USB 2.0.

Note that you don't get any speakers with this monitor, so you'll have to settle for discrete PC speakers or a PC gaming headset, which might be a nuisance for those without either.

With regards to the screen itself, the nature of the pixels in the Samsung QD-OLED panel the MSI MPG 491CQP uses also tend to make text and Windows UI elements a bit wonky around the edges. If you're planning to do a lot of non-gaming work on this monitor, then, your experience might not match the price you're paying.

However, let's be clear, this is a gaming monitor through and through – and it's here that the MSI MPG 491CQP really shines. Rated for 0.03ms pixel response and 144Hz max refresh, this monitor will look and feel incredibly fast compared to even the best LCD monitors, and because it's an OLED panel, you'll get fantastic HDR with pure black color and no perceptible screen glow to ruin a scene.

Its color gamut coverage is excellent, too, rated for 98% AdobeRGB, 99% DCI-P3, and 146% sRGB. So, whether you're working or gaming, you'll be on the receiving end of incredibly vibrant colors.

Of course, it's also important to recognize that a monitor such as this will require the best graphics card to really push frame rates high enough to take advantage of what the MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED has to offer.

Anything less than the Nvidia RTX 4070 Super or AMD RX 7900 GRE won't be able to keep up with the texture sizes required for its native resolution, and even entry-level 4K graphics cards such as the RTX 4070 Ti Super or AMD RX 7900 XT won't be able to push frame rates into the hundreds without seriously scaling back the graphics quality. If you want to get the most out of this monitor at 5120 x 1440p, you'll need an RTX 4080 or RX 7900 XTX to get there.

If you're covered on that front then the MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED monitor is a fantastic buy for gamers, so long as you can handle the quirks of using an OLED display. If not, there are plenty of IPS and mini-LED displays out there that will work for you, but you'll be hard-pressed to find any that look this good.

MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED: Price & Availability

The MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED is available now in the US, UK, and Australia, with a retail price of $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,699, respectively.

This is substantially cheaper than the competing Samsung Odyssey OLED G9, which at $1,599.99 in the US is roughly 45% more expensive.

However, since both monitors have been on the market for several months now, it should be possible to find the models at lower cost – which makes a direct price comparison a bit of a moving target right now, especially during major sales events like Black Friday.

MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED: Specs

Should you buy the MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED?

Buy the MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED if...

The MSI MPG 491CQP looks stunning with sharp contrast, speedy performance, and vivid colors.

While this monitor isn't cheap, for what you get, it's a bargain that offers premium performance at a more affordable price.

Don't buy it if...

If you're used to playing PC games on your day off for several hours or more, be prepared to have the fun interrupted by the very necessary OLED Care feature.

This monitor is a great value for its class, but this is still a premium item.

MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED: also consider

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 is the premier super-ultrawide OLED monitor, sporting a faster refresh and extra features, but for a more premium price.

Read the full Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 review

How I tested the MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED

I used the MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED for a few months, playing games, working on photo and video content, as well as productivity work.

Since this is a gaming monitor first and foremost, I made sure to play a variety of games, from competitive shooters such as Call of Duty: Warzone as well as more laid-back titles such as Satisfactory. I have a very high-end PC, so I was able to consistently push the monitor's full resolution at 144fps to really challenge the display's performance.

I've been reviewing computer hardware for nearly five years now with TechRadar, including dozens of monitors, so I know what makes for a great gaming display and what will likely disappoint most gamers. I do my best to leverage that knowledge to deliver the best assessment of any products I review.

First reviewed October 2024

Lenovo Legion R25F-30 review: a solid 1080p gaming monitor with some compromises

8:04 pm | October 11, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Monitors Peripherals & Accessories | Tags: Forza Motorsport | Comments: Off

Lenovo Legion R25f-30: Two-minute review

There are many reasons why PC gamers may prefer a 1080p gaming monitor like the $179 Lenovo Legion R25f-30 over displays with higher resolutions. Beyond serving individuals who may be on a tighter budget, performance gains through higher frame rates in the modern gaming era can help more competitive-minded gamers.

With a 24.5-inch VA panel, 1080p native resolution and 280Hz refresh rate, the Legion R25f-30 does a great job where it counts. The image quality is wonderful thanks to covering 99% of the sRGB and 90% of the DCI-P3 color space while supporting HDR. On the other hand, AMD FreeSync alongside a 0.5ms response time helps on the performance side of things.

To further improve gameplay performance, the Legion R25f-30 comes equipped with AMD FreeSync Premium technology and ClearMR 7000 certification, eliminating stutters and screen tearing for an ultra-smooth gaming experience. Gamers will enjoy stunning visual fidelity, as the monitor covers 99% of the sRGB and 90% of the DCI-P3 color space, delivering vibrant, true-to-life colors. This is great for entry-to-mid-level content creators or beginning colorists in terms of color accuracy for the Adobe crowd. The Legion R25f-30 works fine enough when browsing the web or using management software with clarity and crisp fonts.

With support for HDR, lighting and shadows appear more realistic, adding depth and detail to every scene. If that’s all PC gamers on the cheaper side are looking for, then that sub-$200 gaming monitor could be worth it. Gamers playing titles like Black Myth: Wukong, Cyberpunk 2077 and Alan Wake II will get some of the best image quality they can get at this price point. The same goes for more esports titles like League of Legends, Fortnite, and Call of Duty where input latency and high frame rates are vital for victory.

The Lenovo Legion R25f-30 has a few drawbacks, starting with its rather plain design that lacks visual flair. While the monitor provides adjustable comfort with lift, tilt, pivot, and swivel options, its two built-in 3W stereo speakers are underwhelming and not ideal for serious use. Additionally, it lacks USB ports and in-display overlays, with crosshair overlays and color settings only accessible through the separate Lenovo Artery software. Compared to other budget gaming monitors, it falls short at times.

Lenovo Legion R25f-30: Price and availability

A Lenovo Legion R25f-30 on a desk — (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

When is it available? Now
How much does it cost? $179.99/£139.00/AU $299.00
Where can you get it? US, UK, and Australia

The Lenovo Legion R25f-30 is available now in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia territories. Priced at $179.99 (£139.00, AU $299.00), the gaming monitor can be purchased from Lenovo’s online store or various online stores like Newegg in the U.S., Currys Business in the UK, and Centrecom in Australia. If image quality and performance matter more to you, the sub-$200 price tag could be worth it.

You won't find any USB ports or powerful speakers in way of features, just the Lenovo Artery software compatibility and onboard speakers. If you want more bang-for-your-buck, you may want to look into the RCA Evolution Select M27SG134F. At the cost of only having 168Hz refresh rate, the 1440p display provides commendable image quality and performance, plus better speakers and on-screen displays.

Understand that there are affordable 4K monitors of quality as well like the Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q. Of course, those two other potential choices will require a rig that can handle solid output beyond 1080p.

Value: 4 / 5

Lenovo Legion R25f-30: Specs

Lenovo Legion R25f-30: Design

When it comes to overall design aesthetics, the all-black colorway of The Lenovo Legion R25f-30 is a bit boring. Don’t expect an aggressive angular design outside of the base which features the Lenovo logo stretched across triangular grills.

No RGB lighting or anything of the likes are to be found here. Thankfully, the fairly generic design does lend itself to a simple setup. Simply screw in the base to the neck and snap both into the back panel.

To secure the back panel to the neck, there are four large screws that require some tightening.

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The overall weight of the gaming monitor is a bit less than 15lbs which means it's easy to maneuver around. Meanwhile, adjustments to display position include lift, tilt, pivot and swivel.

The swivel can also convert the Legion R25f-30 to portrait layout as well. There are several buttons on the back panel for power, input, game-related modes and a thumb stick for navigating and selecting options on the in-display menu.

Power comes through a port that connects directly to an outlet so you don’t have to worry about an adapter. Outside of that, the only ports are one single DisplayPort, two HDMI ports and 3.5 headphone jack. Some USB ports would have been nice but considering the budget nature, these are understandable.

Design: 3 / 5

Lenovo Legion R25f-30: Features

The feature set of the Lenovo Legion R25f-30 is very light which is expected given the sub-$200 price tag. Alongside the lack of USB ports or more standard gaming monitor features like KVM, there are two extras that you may find interesting - the first is compatibility with Lenovo’s Artery software.

This allows features like crosshair and frame rate overlays and easier access to color correction on the monitor. Understand that console players are going to miss out on any of these capabilities since it’s tied to the software.

Another feature are the two 3W in-display speakers that are fairly weak for everyday usage. If the room is quiet, they could be good for the occasional YouTube video.

However, serious gamers are going to either use the 3.5m headphone jack or a pair of the best wireless headphones around. The volume on the speakers aren’t the highest and lack any real sonic nuance.

Features: 3 / 5

Lenovo Legion R25f-30: Performance

Performance is the highlight of the Lenovo Legion R25F-30 thanks to its 280Hz refresh rate and 0.5 latency which will definitely give gamers a competitive edge. Add AMD FreeSync Premium into the mix and this display competes very well in that department. Playing competitive online titles like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III feels great on the R25F-30.

Motion is buttery smooth with no noticeable screen tearing. Having a powerful desktop for this 1080p display means these games enjoy significantly higher framerates that make good usage of its 280Hz refresh rate. Even more fast-paced games like Black Myth: Wukong and Forza Motorsport (2023) feel incredibly tactile thanks to the low latency.

When it comes to image quality, the Legion R25f-30 makes great use of its 380 peak nits of brightness, 3000:1 contrast, and 16.7 million color support. Though some tinkering is required to get near perfect color accuracy in both SDR and HDR, images look great on the gaming monitor.

This is noticeable in gaming when playing titles like Alan Wake II and Cyberpunk 2077. Having the settings pumped up to max on these games provide great visuals that the Legion R25f-30 can really take advantage of at the 1080p resolution range.

This leads into general application use as well. Text is crisp and easily legible on Google Chrome, and videos offer bold colors and deep enough blacks. Creative tools like Adobe Suite mean that content creators will be fine using Photoshop and Premiere Pro.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Lenovo Legion R25f-30?

Buy it if…

You want a solid budget 1080p display
The Lenovo Legion R25f-30 is definitely for budget gamers with a lower-spec PC. The 1080p imagery this monitor provides is crisp and clear, and the price tag is definitely reasonable for the panel.

You want great performance
Having a high 280Hz refresh rate is one thing, but having a 0.5ms response time and AMD FreeSync Premium capabilities is another for any competitive-minded gamer.

You require fantastic image quality
This gaming monitor makes well use of its 380 nits and high contrast ratio. Add some good HDR into the mix(that might require some tinkering to get right) and the Lenovo Legion R25f-30 offers some great image quality.

Don’t buy it if…

You want a design that balances look and substance
The Lenovo Legion R25f-30 offers a pretty boring design that lacks any real extras like USB ports.

You need some in-display options and settings
This gaming monitor has some simple options from jump but things like overlays are only useful from the Lenovo Artery software.

You want high-quality speakers
Two built-in 3W stereo speakers are fairly weak on the audio quality side. Thankfully, there’s a 3.5 headset jack for gaming headsets.

Also Consider

RCA Evolution Select M27SG134F
At around the same price, the RCA Evolution Select M27SG134F offers so much more than the Lenovo Legion R25f-30. This includes a higher 1440p display with a reduced refresh rate of 160Hz, better speakers and more features.

Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q
If image quality matters more than performance, the 4K Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q might be something to look into.

Read our full Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q review

How we tested the Lenovo Legion R25f-30

For the review, the Lenovo Legion R25f-30 was tested over the course of about a week. Daily tasks primarily involved using Google Chrome and Slack, including working with Google Docs and project management software like Asana, as well as social media management tools such as Hootsuite. Slack was also frequently used to communicate across various channels. Additionally, Adobe Suite, including Photoshop and Premiere Pro, was used throughout the week for video and photo editing.

For gaming tests, I evaluated both image quality and performance. To assess image quality, I played Black Myth: Wukong, Hogwarts Legacy, Starfield, and Cyberpunk 2077. On the performance side, I tested Fortnite, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, and Forza Motorsport. Additionally, I played Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon and Redout 2.

I’ve spent the past several years covering monitors alongside other PC components for TechRadar. Outside of gaming, I’ve been proficient in Adobe Suite for over a decade as well.

First reviewed September 2024

Alienware AW2725QF review: Two resolutions, one monitor

11:53 pm | September 16, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Monitors Peripherals & Accessories | Tags: HDR | Comments: Off

Alienware AW2725QF: Two-minute review

Alienware AW2725QF monitor on desk showing Cyberpunk 2077 main screen — (Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)

The idea of using pixel doubling to turn a 4K monitor into a native 1080p panel isn't new. But it hasn't been very successful so far. Can the new dual-mode Alienware AW2725QF do anything to change that, or will it prove just another failed attempt at having both high-res visual sizzle and high-refresh speed in a single monitor?

Apart from the dual 4K and 1080p modes, this Alienware panel looks like it has a decent shot of qualifying as one of the best gaming monitors out there. It runs at up to 360Hz and boasts a claimed response time of just 0.5ms. That's seriously fast for an IPS-type LCD monitor.

It also sports HDR 600 certification and both G-Sync and FreeSync support. If there's one area where it's a little lacking, it's connectivity. You do get a USB hub, but there's no USB-C input for single-cable connectivity, which is a pity.

Alienware AW2725QF: Price and availability

Alienware AW2725QF monitor's logo on the front bottom bezel

(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)

How much does it cost? $599 / £599 (estimated) / AU$899 (estimated)

When is it available? Available now

Where can you get it? Available in the US

At $599 in the US, the Alienware AW2725QF is fairly pricey for a 27-inch 4K gaming panel that lacks a mini-LED full array backlight. The larger 32-inch Gigabyte M32UC is actually cheaper. So you're really going to have to want that dual-mode functionality.

Whether it's worth the money is a tricky call. It certainly looks a little better at 1080p than the dual-mode LG UltraGear 32GS95UE. But it's ultimately a bit of a niche feature. The good news is that purely as a high-refresh 4K panel, the Alienware AW2725QF is an absolute zinger and nearly worth the asking price simply on those terms.

For now, pricing in the UK and Australia hasn't firmed up. But we expect the market positioning to be pretty similar. In other words, it'll be more expensive than a regular 4K panel of similar specs minus the dual-more functionality.

Alienware AW2725QF: Specs

Alienware AW2725QF: Design and features

Alienware AW2725QF monitor with Cyberpunk 2077 open — (Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)

For a monitor from an out-and-out gaming brand like Alienware, the AW2725QF is pretty restrained. Yes, there are a few RGB flourishes including the power button and logos on the rear (all fully configurable) and hexagonal base design. But for the most part, it's pretty businesslike and sober suited, though the slim bezels do make for a suitably contemporary overall vibe.

Is that a disappointment? Might Alienware customers expect something a little more extroverted? Possibly. But fussier styling tends to date faster, so the restraint Alienware has shown here will probably be welcome for most users, as will the solid build quality and full range of adjustment, including tilt, height, swivel and pivot into portrait mode.

Side profile of the Alienware AW2725QF monitor, screen tilted at a slight angle

(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)

The OSD menu is similarly comprehensive with settings for pretty much everything you need.

It's a fairly logical menu and makes it very easy to jump between the 4K and 1080p modes. You simply hit the main OSD menu selector button twice to toggle between the two modes. Less impressive is the display's connectivity.

The two HDMI and single DisplayPort inputs all support the full 4K at 180Hz resolution, which is good. There's also a USB hub that includes two USB-A ports at the rear, plus a USB-A and a USB-C on the lower bezel. But there's no USB-C input and thus no single-cable connectivity option for laptops.

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Alienware AW2725QF monitor's hexagonal base — Alienware AW2725QF's hexagonal base (Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)

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Alienware AW2725QF's on-screen display — Alienware AW2725QF 's on-screen display for swapping resolutions and other settings (Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)

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Alienware AW2725QF's port selection — The port selection on the bottom of the Alienware AW2725QF (Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)

Some would argue that's fine for a gaming display. Given the limitations of USB-C power supply and the elevated power consumption of a proper gaming laptop, you can't really keep one fully juiced with a USB-C cable.

But it would still make this a more versatile display to offer USB-C upstream connectivity. With a USB-C input, you could share this panel between a gaming desktop and a laptop. And who knows what you might like to do with it in future. With USB-C, you simply have more options and with the price point Alienware has gone for, it's a thoroughly reasonable expectation.

The Alienware AW2725QF also lacks an audio line-out jack, which can be handy for headphones. Again, it's not exactly a deal breaker. But this isn't a cheap display and it's the kind of feature you'd have thought Alienware would throw in just to cover all the bases on a premium monitor.

Alienware AW2725QF: Performance

Alienware AW2725QF monitor resting on a desk — (Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)

The Alienware AW2725QF's IPS LCD panel makes a very strong first impression. It's extremely bright and punchy, with up to 450 nits in SDR mode and 600 nits peak for HDR. It's also beautifully calibrated in sRGB mode, with rich but accurate colors.

Of course, in default 4K resolution, the pixel density is super sharp and crispy, so fonts look fab. In-game, there's a crazy amount of detail to go with the visual sizzle. This is a very sweet looking panel.

It's also seriously fast for an IPS display. Alienware claims 0.5ms GTG response for the Extreme setting in the display's Overdrive submenu. That does bring in a tiny bit of overshoot and inverse ghosting. But the two less aggressive options are still very fast and look just great. In fact, this panel is fast enough that pure speed is barely a concern. Or a reason to upgrade to an even more expensive OLED.

Backside view of the Alienware AW2725QF monitor — (Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)

The same can't be said for the HDR performance and more broadly contrast and black levels. This monitor is edge-lit and does not have full-array local dimming. So, there's plenty of light bleed and relatively poor contrast, which goes with the territory with any LCD panel without local dimming. SDR colors also aren't terribly well calibrated in HDR mode, so you'll want to switch between modes depending on content type, which is a bit of a pain.

But what about that secondary 1080p mode achieved via pixel doubling? The idea is that for some game types, such as online shooters, you want more speed not more pixels. So, the 1080p mode offers a boost up to 360Hz refresh and is easy to access.

As for how it looks, well, it doesn't quite look like 1080p on a native 1080p display. It's certainly better than the similar feature on LG's own dual-mode 4K OLED, the UltraGear 32GS95UE-B.

That might be thanks to the conventional RGB subpixel layout of this IPS display. The superior pixel density will help, too. Whatever, the results on the desktop are fairly good, though you wouldn't confuse it with true native. Everything looks just a little jagged and pixelated.

In-game, for the most part, the 1080p mode works better and is very playable to the extent that you forget it isn't true native 1080p much of the time. The exception is that just occasionally, certain details can look quite messy and pixelated. One example is fine foliage and grass. When it happens, it can be pretty ugly.

Pixelated foliage on the Alienware AW2725QF's screen — Pixelated in-game foliage on the AW2725QF's 1080p resolution setting (Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)

In the end, there will always be shortcomings with pixel doubling, but this display does it better than any yet, including that LG, which looks soft and blurry by comparison.

Should I buy the Alienware AW2725QF?

Buy it if...

You want two monitors in one

The Alienware AW2725Q's dual-mode functionality isn't perfect. But the 1080p mode ups the refresh rate to 360Hz and looks OK in-game most of the time.

You love crispy, speedy visuals

The 4K resolution on a punchy, well-calibrated 27-inch IPS panel looks fabulous, and this is also just about the fastest gaming monitor of its type we've yet tested.

Don't buy it if...

You're expecting a true 1080p native experience

The 1080p pixel doubling mode is the best we've yet seen. But it still doesn't look like a true 1080p panel and adds significant cost to this display...

You love HDR sizzle

The Alienware AW2725Q does have HDR 600 certification. But there's no full-array dimming and it doesn't come close to an OLED panel for HDR or contrast performance.

Also Consider

Gigabyte M32UC

This is a larger 32-inch display, which arguably makes better use of a 4K pixel grid. It's not as fast as the Alienware, but it is a fair bit cheaper and offers better contrast from a VA panel.

Read our full Gigabyte M32UC review here

Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q

If you want 4K gaming on a very tight budget, you could do a lot worse than the Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q. It's only 60Hz, but has a quality IPS panel and basic HDR support.

Read our full Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q review here

How I tested the Alienware AW2725QF

I rigged up the Alienware AW2725QF as my primary display for a week. The aim was to use it across a wide range of applications to get a really good feel for how it delivers in both 4K and 1080p for everything from daily desktop duties to hardcore gaming sessions.

As a 4K IPS panel, it's actually well suited to precision productivity. But what the Alienware AW2725QF is really built for is gaming, and for the most part it's pretty stellar. I assed everything from color accuracy and response to latency and HDR performance.

It was particularly interesting to see how it stacked up against LG's dual-mode OLED display, not to mention all the other recent OLED monitors, numerous examples of which I've reviewed. Plenty of more conventional 4K gaming panels have passed under my beady gaze, too, so putting the Alienware AW2725QF into context was certainly intriguing.

First reviewed September 2024

LG 32-Inch UltraGear OLED review: This is the 4K OLED monitor of my dreams

8:18 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Monitors Peripherals & Accessories | Tags: HDR, LG | Comments: Off

LG 32-Inch UltraGear OLED: one-minute review

I’ve been waiting a long time for a monitor like the LG 32-Inch UltraGear OLED. With a brilliant OLED display and a gorgeous 4K resolution, backed up by an ample 240Hz refresh rate and brilliant picture quality, this LG monitor makes OLED technology a must-have for anybody who plays PC games or bases their home life around their computer desk.

There’s a noticeable quality difference between OLED and IPS monitors when playing cinematic and competitive games alike on a computer, and with this thing sitting on your desk you’re bound to get bang for your buck on the picture quality front.

But while we can celebrate LG for bringing the cost of an OLED monitor down with the 32GS95UE-B, let’s be honest with ourselves – $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,399 is still expensive for a monitor no matter how impressive the tech is.

Those looking more greater image depth and HDR performance may also want to look elsewhere, as the LG's peak brightness doesn't reach the retina-searing heights of similarly priced Samsung and Alienware models. My biggest bugbear though? Surely we can give peripherals better names than difficult to understand numbers and letters.

LG 32-Inch UltraGear OLED: price and availability

The LG 32-inch UltraGear OLED — (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / Techradar)

How much does it cost? $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,399
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? LG directly and technology retailers in the US, UK and Australia

It’s tough to find a cheap 32-inch gaming monitor – especially one with an OLED panel (with prices often starting well above $800 / £800 / AU$1,000) – but the LG 32-Inch UltraGear OLED offers a sensible price-to-cost ratio for enthusiasts. It’s kind of a rarity, considering that it ditches an ultrawide profile and a curved screen for a more standard design, while most OLED monitors elect to have at least one of the aforementioned traits.

Similar monitors are available from Gigabyte and Alienware with significantly lower costs, with the closest competitor being the Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD (with a listed price of $1,299 / £1,099 / AU$1,999).

LG 32-Inch UltraGear OLED: Design

LG 32-Inch UltraGear OLED Key Specs

Screen size: 32-inch
Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160
Brightness: 275 nits full screen, 1,300 nits max HDR
Color coverage: 98.5%
Response time: 0.03ms
Refresh rate: 240Hz (4K) / 480Hz (1080p)
HDR: DisplayHDR True Black400, HDR10
Features: FreeSync Premium Pro, NVIDIA G-Sync, Dual Mode, Pixel Sound, 1 x HDMI, 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x Headphone out, 1 x USB-A upstream, 1 x USB-A downstream

An achilles heel of many gaming displays is the design – thick bezels, beefy stands and a focus on big, obvious branding offen make a monitor look cheap and overdesigned. This is in no way a problem for the LG 32-Inch UltraGear OLED.

It’s tempting to head this section off with ‘it’s a big black rectangle with a pentagonal stand’ but we can entertain the monitor more than that. It’s a premium design language that LG and Samsung alike have been leaning into with their high end monitors.

It’s mature to the point of only having the ‘UltraGear’ and ‘LG’ brand signifier in the front of the pentagon stand, without any branding on the actual display bezels. There’s RGB lighting on the back, allowing you to shine numerous colors onto the wall behind. If you know this feature isn’t for you, it’s easily turned off through the monitor settings.

Cables can be fed through the back of the monitor easily thanks to a neat cable management system, and you’re able to raise the panel quite high up off the base.,It would be nice if it could go lower, but we’re being quite picky. The monitor can swivel, tilt and pivot as well if you want to adjust the pitch of the display.

The panel is extremely premium, too. It’s polished with an anti-glare coating that only shows a warped reflection at most in low-light or reflective light situations. This is quite remarkable for an OLED display, as the technology, inherently, can’t go particularly bright. This means it can occasionally suffer in bright rooms, but as I found during testing in my office-bedroom – which is filled with light at all times during the day – I was able to play games with little issue.

LG 32-Inch UltraGear OLED: Features

The big sales pitch of the LG 32-Inch UltraGear OLED is its ‘dual mode’ functionality. At the press of a hotkey (located conveniently under the monitor), this monitor can switch between 4K 240Hz to 1080p 480hz. The first is more ideal for those after more cinematic, graphically beautiful gameplay, albeit at a lower framerate, while the second is intended for high octane competitive gamers after smooth frames.

We can err on the critical side with this feature and note that 4K 240Hz gameplay, at its height, would be difficult for even the most expensive gaming computers to reach in gorgeous single player games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Star Wars Outlaws. I would even go as far as to say that 240Hz is not just difficult to attain but is also very much overkill – 144Hz will suffice for a story-rich game.

The flipside of the feature makes much more sense to me – 1080p gameplay at 480Hz for fast-paced games where you want to see more frames rendered in a second. I can see the benefit of this in a game like Counter Strike 2 and League of Legends – but those high frame rates may even be seen as unnecessary by a competitive gamer. Leveling with you, dear reader, that’s not me – I prefer a pretty picture to a consistently smooth one (though I do like my frames to be above 60FPS). The monitor has a smart cleaning process for when it doesn’t detect an input, refreshing the pixels to avoid burn-in – a common issue with OLED monitors.

The monitor also comes with FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync. It has a Display Port, HDMI, headphone jack, USB (downstream) and USB (upstream) ports, with support for a 100 x 100 mm wall mount. Satisfying me as someone who likes to watch stuff on their computer in bed, the monitor also has built-in speakers and comes with a Displayport and HDMI cable in the box.

LG 32-Inch UltraGear OLED: performance

The LG 32-Inch UltraGear OLED’s display is matte – not glossy like you’d expect from most displays. The extreme blacks and darker shades that the OLED pulls off in use – and when turned off – are so deep that you’ll at most see a rough reflection of yourself, but not enough to ruin the experience.

That’s an OLED panel’s entire deal and it leads to better performance on every front – deeper blacks equals better contrast – the difference between the darkest and brightest parts of an image.

And at the 32-inch size, I’ve found this monitor to be the best way to experience a lot of cinematic games. Star Wars Outlaws and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine II both play exceptionally well on the monitor and look much more gorgeous on the OLED screen than my previous 32-inch Gigabyte M32Q monitor.

TV shows like The Acolyte and The Bear look equally impressive – particularly The Bear for its attractive use of color sharpness in central objects amid a bland palette. The LG 32GS95UE-B aces it on color clarity.

The speakers are pleasantly surprising, too. I was expecting sound that peaks too readily and sounds washed out, but the 32GS95UE-B performs just about as well as any TV without a separate speaker system. This can be chalked up to LG’s ‘Pixel Sound’ feature, which provides a directed sound experience without any external speaker system.

The monitor performs relatively well on brightness and HDR – though both could be better at this pricepoint. The maximum brightness (1300nits) and enhanced darkness clarity doesn’t fare much better for content than just using the display with HDR disabled (275nits standard luminosity).

And while it doesn’t fit into any other category in Techradar’s review format, I’ve just got to say it – this name, the LG 32GS95UE-B, is just letters and numbers. They have meanings obviously but it’s extremely difficult to communicate to a customer – so much so that LG just calls the display the ‘32" UltraGear OLED Dual Mode 4K UHD’ on its website, and hence why we’ve been naming it interchangeably throughout this review. Less letters and numbers please.

Should I buy an LG 32-Inch UltraGear OLED?

Buy it if...

Don't buy if...

Also Consider

LG 32-Inch UltraGear OLED: Report Card

How I tested the LG 32-Inch UltraGear OLED

As soon as I received this monitor, I got to work unpacking it and setting it up. Pulling it out of the box was easy, as was the process of putting the stand together (no tools were needed, as everything slots and screws into place by hand). As my main space in my home is my bedroom-office, this monitor was switched on at almost all hours whenever I was home. To avoid burn-in, the panel was often turned off for cleaning when not being used.

The main use of the monitor was for gaming using a separate headset. I played a variety of games, including Caravan SandWitch, Team Fortress 2, What The Car, Star Wars Outlaws, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon 5.

I also used the monitor for watching Twitch streams, YouTube videos and lots of TV shows, including The Bear and The Acolyte.

First reviewed September 2024

Mobile Pixels Geminos T: A vertical stacking monitor solution that needs perfecting

7:00 pm | August 24, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Monitors Peripherals & Accessories | Tags: UK, US | Comments: Off

Mobile Pixels Geminos T: Two-minute review

The Mobile Pixels Geminos T delivers when it comes to productivity. Having two monitors stacked vertically allows for multiple windows to be open at the same time without the need for either a single widescreen monitor or multiple monitors laid out side by side. The Geminos T is therefore an impressively compact solution for desks that lack width. On the flip side, because the bottom display tilts forward, you really do need a deep desk to accommodate both the display and a keyboard/laptop.

The displays themselves unfortunately top out at 1080p, which is fine for most productivity tasks but nowhere near enough for creatives craving 4K resolution. Each display also has only a 60Hz refresh rate so gamers will want to stay away. Mobile Pixels has purposefully created a set of monitors that are designed for productivity and not for creativity or gaming.

The base doubles up as a hub with plenty of connectivity, including an SD/TF card slot, two USB-A ports, and a USB-C port. Being able to ditch your existing hub further tidies up your desk setup. I would have liked to have seen more USB-C ports rather than USB-A, especially with an increasing number of devices utilizing the latest technology. The hub functionality does make the base rather cumbersome and larger than most monitor stands but that's the trade-off for having a built-in hub.

Mobile Pixels Geminos T — (Image credit: Future)

The hub provides 100W USB-C pass-through charging capability, enabling users to charge a laptop in just a couple of hours. The only cables you'll need trailing out of your laptop will therefore be the two you need for connecting to the displays. As long as the top display is connected via USB-C, you can make use of the extended capabilities.

The hub also includes two speakers, which provide superior audio quality to most laptops or monitors I've ever used. The audio is loud, sharp, and surprisingly even provides enough bass for enjoying music and videos.

Touch-screen functionality left a lot to be desired. I was able to use the Windows bar to open and close apps but the rest of the display seemed to lack touch-screen capability. This could have been amazing for enhancing productivity and essentially turning the bottom display into a laptop display. Unfortunately, I couldn't benefit from this, although that should be possible.

Ergonomically, the dual-stacked display is okay but not great. The only position in which the top display is natural is if the bottom display is angled at around 45 degrees. I found having the bottom display angled so acutely a little unnatural and uncomfortable for my neck.

For the price of $699.99 / £859.97, I think I would lean towards buying two superior 24-inch monitors and a separate vertical mount system. The 1080p resolution and 60Hz refresh rate really limit the versatility of these displays, effectively restricting users to a purely productivity-focused workflow.

Mobile Pixels Geminos T: Price and availability

$1,099.99 / £859.97
Available in US and UK

The Geminos T from Mobile Pixels retails at $1,099.99 in the US and £859.97 in the UK. At the time of writing, the US version was reduced to $699.99 - a pretty hefty discount.

If I'm honest, I think the initial price will put a lot of people off, and I have to wonder how much of a market there is for a high-end productivity-focused monitor solution like this. If you want everything in one neat package, no matter the cost, then this is a great option. But if you're prepared to buy two monitors and a separate vertical mount, then you'll be sure to get displays with better specifications.

Value score: 3 / 5

Mobile Pixels Geminos T: Specs

Mobile Pixels Geminos T: Design and features

Top monitor slides up/down, bottom monitor tilts
Built-in hub
100w pass through power

When it comes to design, the Geminos T is a really intriguing product. Most people who want two displays tend to put them side by side. This requires a desk-width that accommodates it but it has generally been the go-to setup for users needing more screen real-estate. Ultra-wide monitors have also been born out of this phenomenon. Mobile Pixels is trying to shake things up, especially for those seeking greater productivity.

The Geminos T is a vertically stacked dual-screen desktop monitor connected via a linkage system, with the bottom display supporting multi-touch to provide an efficient and user-friendly way to interact with the computer. We'll come back to the touch screen later.

The top screen shifts up and down, which then forces the bottom screen to tilt. I've never experienced anything like it but I did find it difficult to find a natural position for both. When I had the bottom display perfectly positioned, the top display was too high. When I dropped the top display to make that line up with my eyes, the bottom display was angled too acutely to make it useful. They can even be completely collapsed thanks to the robust hinge system.

Adjusting the monitor positions is fairly straightforward, although you'll want to handle it with care. Mobile Pixels plasters the entire unit with stickers giving instructions and warnings, which is a little over the top. Unfortunately, the removal of these stickers left a number of residue marks on parts of the monitor and on the webcam. This could easily have been avoided by using some sort of card or alternative labeling solution.

The displays are connected via independent HDMI/USB-C ports, which makes it possible to connect two separate laptops or computers. That being said, considering the hub is only connected to the bottom display, I think this has been primarily designed for use with a single device.

Other than the displays, there is also a built-in hub located in the stand. This is a well-implemented solution for users who have multiple devices and has the added benefit of furthering productivity. Connectivity includes 2 x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 2x HDMI ports, 3.5mm headphone jack, RJ45 Ethernet, TF and SD card slots. This is a good spread of options, although I would have liked to have seen more USB-C ports to ensure the device stays current in the years to come.

Also included in the hub are a pair of very capable speakers. I was surprised by the level of volume achievable, which was significantly better than my on-board laptop speakers. Even though there are two speakers, they are very close to each other and therefore lack the ability to convert into anything resembling surround sound.

The hub continues to deliver great functionality with 100W passthrough charging through USB-C. This reduces the number of cables you need coming out of your laptop and provides a fast way of getting your devices charged up quickly. In terms of hub capabilities, the Geminos T is indeed very capable, which is probably part of the reason for the inflated price of the product.

The final design element to mention is the webcam, which is located at the top of the upper display. There is a small amount of tilt available on the webcam, making it usable at whatever height you have the top display set to. Unfortunately, due to a label being plastered over it, I was left with glue residue that couldn't be easily removed, rendering the webcam useless - a frustrating flaw with the packaging rather than the product design itself.

Design and features score: 4 / 5

Mobile Pixels Geminos T: Performance

Well-performing 1080p monitors
Poor touch screen
Great hub functionality

The Geminos T performed pretty well in almost all areas, especially if you limit your concerns to productivity applications and workflows rather than gaming and creativity.

The 1080p displays are clear, bright, and vibrant—everything you need from monitors that are not required to represent color 100% accurately. Whenever I test monitors at this resolution, I am always left wanting more, even if I'm only using a document editor or writing emails. At 1080p, everything lacks the sort of crispness that is present in 4K or even 3K displays. In my opinion, we're so used to amazing clarity on our mobile phones at this point that not seeing that same quality on our monitors can leave us feeling a little disappointed.

The 60Hz refresh rate is no major problem in general, but gamers will likely want to steer clear. I think if Mobile Pixels just increased the resolution and refresh rate a little, then they would significantly open themselves up to other markets. There is also no HDR functionality, which might be a limiting factor for some, especially anyone looking to do creative work.

The bottom display on the Geminos T is advertised as a touchscreen, although I didn't have a great time with it. I only seemed to be able to find touch sensitivity on the bottom Windows bar and not anywhere else on the screen. Considering this is one of the selling points for productive workflows, I was amazed at the problems I was facing. Note that touchscreens are only available on the Geminos T and X models.

The other disappointing part of my experience was with the webcam. After removing one of the stickers that was placed on the webcam, I was left with glue residue on the camera and I couldn't get rid of it. I was therefore unable to effectively test the quality of this part of the device.

I think the Geminos T is so close to being worthy of its high price tag. High-resolution displays, quicker refresh rates, and a better touchscreen would really help cement this stacked monitor solution as a productivity-enhancing machine.

Performance score: 3.5 / 5

Mobile Pixels Geminos T: Score card

Should I buy the Mobile Pixels Geminos T?

Buy it if...

You need a vertical mount

There aren't too many options on the market for a built-in vertical stacked monitor so the Geminos T is one of your only choices.

You want a foldable monitor solution

The Geminos T enables users to shift the top display up and down while at the same time tilting the bottom display. Both are connected so a change to one monitor affects the other. The two displays can also be completely collapsed flat.

Don't buy it if...

You need a 4K monitor

The Geminos T displays are both 1080p, which is enough for many but not for creatives working with 4K footage or gamers playing 4K games.

You're a gamer

A 60Hz refresh rate is nothing near what is required for modern gaming. The Geminos T is not designed for this market so you'll need to look elsewhere for an alternative solution.

Also consider

BenQ PD2725U

A pricey monitor with excellent color accuracy and a wide range of connectivity options, including Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C. It has a sleek design with thin bezels and an adjustable stand.

Read our full BenQ PD2725U review

InnoCN 27M2U

A budget-friendly monitor with superb color reproduction and impressive peak brightness. The inclusion of 90W Type-C power delivery makes it useful for minimizing cables out of your laptop.

Read our full InnoCN 27M2U review

How I tested the Mobile Pixels Geminos T

The packaging for the Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P gaming monitor — (Image credit: Future)

After setting up the Mobile Pixels Geminos T, I had it as my main monitor for a number of weeks. It's quite imposing so I had to clear my desk first. Knowing that the monitor stack is designed primarily for productivity, I made sure to utilise office applications and web browsing most of the time. I also tested it using other creative applications and watching videos.

I’ve been reviewing computers, peripherals and components for many years for multiple different publications around the world.

Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD: one-minute review

Gaming monitors that have taken inspiration from Samsung's 32-inch 4K QD-OLED display have been around for a little while. But this is Samsung's own take, the Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD. In theory, that should make it the ultimate example of the breed and a nailed-on certainty to top the tables among the best gaming monitors in 2024, right?

It certainly all bodes well. You get Samsung's stunning QD-OLED panel tech combined with crispy 4K resolution and high pixel density, plus a 240Hz refresh. More to the point, this is Samsung using its own QD-OLED panel. In other words, you'd think Samsung knows how to get the best out of it.

Of course, it's far from cheap and hardly looks like good value compared to a much larger 4K OLED TV for about the same money. Speaking of which, it just so happens that TV-style functionality might just be this monitor's greatest flaw. Hold that thought.

Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD: price and availability

Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD monitor on a desk — (Image credit: Future)

How much does it cost? $1,299 / £1,099 / AU$1,999
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

No 32-inch 4K OLED monitor is cheap. But the Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD is still one of the most expensive of this new breed. By way of example, the MSI MPG 321URX can be had for $899, albeit that's such an attractive price it's usually sold out.

There are various other monitors using essentially the same QD-OLED panel from brands like Gigabyte and Alienware that are between $100 and $200 cheaper. That's problematic given this Samsung option is not without its flaws. On a pure value basis, it's hard to recommend.

Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD: design

The thin side profile of Samsung's Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD monitor

(Image credit: Future)

Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD Key Specs

Screen size: 32-inch
Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160
Brightness: 250 nits full screen, 1,000 nits max HDR
Color coverage: 99% DCI-P3
Response time: 0.03ms
Refresh rate: 240Hz
HDR: HDR10
Features: Samsung QD-OLED 3rd Gen panel, Adaptive Sync, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 2x HDMI 2.1, SmartTV, phase-change cooling

No question, if it's a gaming monitor with a mature, upmarket vibe you're after, look no further than the Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD. It's got the same premium design language as other Samsung Odyssey OLED monitors. Put simply, it looks and feels grown up and expensive in a way that most, if not all, of the competition simply doesn't.

With slim and symmetrical bezels on all four sides of the 32-inch QD-OLED panel, it's sleek and modern, too. You do get some programmable RGB lighting on the rear, which is a subtle nod to the monitor's gaming remit. But for the most part, Samsung has sidestepped the usual adolescent gamer design cues in favor of a more mature look.

Design: 5 / 5

Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD: features

The back side of the Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD monitor — (Image credit: Future)

Up front and center is the 32-inch QD-OLED panel. The big attraction is the combination of 4K resolution and therefore pixel density with the speed and HDR performance of OLED. Samsung rates the monitor at 250 nits for full screen brightness, 1,000 nits for peak HDR, plus 0.03ms for response time. Add in the 240Hz refresh rate and you very much have the same recipe as other 32-inch 4K monitors using this QD-OLED panel.

Where the Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD notably differs is its SmartTV functionality. It's what makes this a "Smart Gaming Monitor" in Samsung terms, and it's a bit of a mixed bag. The positives involve the full Samsung SmartTV platform complete with a NQ8 AI Gen3 processor for video upscaling and motion enhancement.

So, assuming you watch your TV over IP rather than using a tuner, then this monitor effectively has full TV functionality with support for all the major streaming apps. The problem is that this functionality has been put up front and center to the extent that the Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD ends up feeling like a very small and expensive 32-inch TV.

The on-screen display (OSD) interface kicks you back into the "Smart" functionality at every opportunity. Indeed, there's a certain amount of SmartTV setup you have to go through to even use the monitor as, well, a monitor. The OSD in general also has quite a steep learning curve. It's not nearly as straightforward to access the DisplayPort and HDMI inputs as it should be, and there are multiple and overlapping menus that make adjusting some settings absolutely baffling.

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The Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD monitor's small remote control — Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD IR remote (Image credit: Future)

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The connectivity options on the back side of Samsung's G8 Odyssey OLED G80SD — Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD connectivity options (Image credit: Future)

Obviously all of this is something you'd learn to navigate eventually. And the bundled IR remote control does help with accessing some features. But it really shouldn't be this hard or this confusing. It's also a pity because SmartTV would be a welcome extra feature if done right. As it is, it feels like a nuisance if what you mainly want to do, again, is use this monitor as a monitor.

Elsewhere, Samsung has implemented a phase change cooling system for the panel known as Pulsating Heat Pipe, which bodes well for both brightness and panel durability. Speaking of which, Samsung has also implemented various burn-in mitigation features, including logo and taskbar detection.

Finally, along with DisplayPort and HDMI connectivity, there's also USB-C with 90W of power delivery, enabling single-cable functionality with a laptop. So, pretty much all your connectivity needs should be covered.

Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD: performance

Samsung G8 OLED G80SD monitor resting on a desk — (Image credit: Future)

The first thing you'll notice in terms of image quality with the Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD is that it has a matte anti-glare coating rather than glossy. There are pros and cons to both types of coating, but it's notable that every other monitor based on this QD-OLED 4K panel we are aware of has a glossy finish.

Broadly, glossy coatings maximize contrast, which in turn makes the most of the perfect per-pixel lighting of an OLED screen. The matte panel does detract a little from those characteristically deep and inky blacks. It's also a little odd given that all of Samsung's actual TVs are glossy and Samsung is pitching the SmartTV functionality here. But the matte coating also helps to mitigate the quantum-dot associated greyness these panels can suffer from in strong ambient light.

In the end it's a subjective call. We think glossy coatings really let OLED panels zing. But this is still a mostly stunning monitor. Full-screen brightness is as good as OLED monitor technology currently allows, which means it's about the same as a 250 nit LCD monitor for SDR content. But for HDR games and video, it'll hit 1,000 nits for small highlights. That's some serious sizzle.

The catch is that the calibration in both SDR and HDR modes could be better. Connected to a PC, the SDR colors are oversaturated. The factory default HDR color balance could do with a little tweaking, too. To be clear, this is not a massively wonky monitor in terms of color accuracy. But given the price, you'd be justified in expecting near perfection. And you're not getting that.

That said, you can't argue with the speed. The combination of 240Hz refresh and 0.03ms response makes this a seriously rapid panel. For both latency and pixel response, it's pretty much impeccable. The only catch is that the 4K resolution takes some driving. If you want to hit high frame rates and make the most of that 240Hz refresh at 4K, you're going to need one of the best graphics cards on the market.

Performance: 4 / 5

Should I buy a Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD?

Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD resting on a desk with the on-screen display shown — (Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

Don't buy if...

Also Consider

Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD: Report Card

How I tested the Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD

I had the Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD as my primary PC and Mac display for two weeks. That meant everything from daily work duties to watching YouTube and streaming services. Oh and gaming - lots of gaming.

The latter is really what this monitor ought to be about, though with the SmartTV functionality dominating proceedings, it's easy to forget that. Along with my usual suite of test images and apps, I used the Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD across multiple gaming genres, from shooters to strategy titles.

Most of all, it was intriguing to see how it compared with other 4K OLED monitors. This is the fifth such model I have personally reviewed, so I have a pretty good feel for how they all stack up.

First reviewed August 2024