Monitors - Organizer

Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P: a fast, well-featured but expensive 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor

4:10 am | June 26, 2024

Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P: Two-minute review

The 32-inch Aorus FO32U2P “Tactical” gaming monitor has a fast, 4K third-gen Samsung QD-OLED panel, some nifty design elements and is the first I’ve tested that has DisplayPort 2.1 connectivity. It’s in a crowded market, so how competitive and compelling will it be?

First up, it’s worth noting that there’s very little benefit to having DP 2.1 right now. Only AMD’s top-end workstation cards currently support it and there’s likely little real-world visual difference compared to DP 1.4 anyway. Still, it may be attractive to those seeking future-proofing.

The monitor is easy to assemble thanks to its three-piece-one-screw stand design. The panel itself is incredibly thin and all core electronics are isolated in a box at the back where it attaches to the stand. It's generally quasi-aggressive in terms of styling and includes an RGB strip at the rear – although you’ll likely never see it. A cool, rainbow-iridescent logo catches the light at the base, but all other design elements are geometric in nature.

While early QD-OLED panels struggled to display text without turning it spidery, this was practically banished when second-gen screens appeared and now there’s no problem at all. It uses the same anti-reflective coating we've seen on previous QD-OLEDs and this does a fine job of eliminating the black-mirror effect when viewing dark content – unless you have a bright light source behind you. The main downside of the coating is that it can slightly wash out OLED’s inherent true-black performance but it’s really not by much and I, for one, am OK with the trade-off.

The on-screen display (OSD) is operated by a small joystick button at the base that provides low-lag access to numerous standard display options, plus OLED care settings and game-boosting functionality – the latter includes on-screen crosshairs and contrast-equalization that stops enemies jumping out of shadows and bright lights.

The numerous anti-burn-in features still highlight the QD-OLED technology’s potential flaw (for use as computer monitors) – static images like toolbars risk burning into the screen if you regularly use them for work. Fortunately there’s a three-year anti-burn-in warranty to provide peace of mind.

A ‘tactical’ switch next to the joystick button can be programmed to do things like drop the screen size to 24 inches for competitive FPS players and also to activate, change or deactivate the crosshair.

As for gaming performance, the fast pixel response time marries with the fast 240Hz refresh rate to produce impressive ghost-free motion performance. It’s not as blur-free as 360Hz or pro-grade TN (twisted nematic) technology panels, but only some pro FPS players might grumble.

Multimedia performance is impressive, especially when Windows HDR is activated. Bright lights shine out of the screen and details are retained in dark shadows. Both colorful and monochromatic gradients are impressively smooth and designers will like that it supports 99% of the difficult DCI-P3 color gamut.

There are two 5W speakers that get loud but don’t provide much in the way of bass-heavy punch, but it's still handy to have them for casual video watching.

Powered-off Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P monitor on a desk — (Image credit: Future)

Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P: Price and availability

$1,299 / AU$2,199; UK price TBC
Available in US and Australia, UK availability TBC

This is far from a cheap monitor and it’s difficult to find outside of Asian markets right now. There are plenty of high-performing gaming monitors that rival many of the specs here, but the combination of QD-OLED, a UHD resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate and DisplayPort 2.1 really bumps the price up. Rivals with similar specifications (though without DP 2.1) can be found from MSI and Asus, but their availability and price also varies from region to region.

Value score: 3 / 5

Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P: Specs

Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P: Design and features

Easy to build
Packed with future-proof features
Some features not totally necessary right now

The Aorus FO32U2P has a very thin screen that’s mounted to a two-foot stand and has only minor decorative elements when compared to some bling-laden gaming beasts. It’s simple to fit together using the screen’s clip and a single finger screw (at the base) and, after construction, you’re left with a smart-looking gaming monitor that’s got a discreet (nay, hidden) RGB strip on the back and some ‘aggressive’ geometric lines.

The stand affords plenty of adjustments: there’s +20° to -5° of tilt, +20° to -20° of swivel, 90° of clockwise pivot and a generous 130mm of height adjustment.

There’s also one of the most impressive complements of ports I’ve come across on a monitor, even though some are so new (and expensive) that I’m questioning the value of their inclusion in the current market.

Cable management and branding on the Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P monitor — (Image credit: Future)

Indeed, if the 48Gbps bandwidth of HDMI 2.1 has felt constrictive for you(!), the Aorus FO32U2P supports DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20 connectivity that goes up to 80Gbps for a potentially completely uncompressed 240Hz UHD image. For most people this will be a bit like Spinal Tap going up to 11, as the existing image is excellent and looks far from compressed. Still, when compatible consumer graphics cards appear, image quality might suddenly improve – to some extent – and I might be eating my words. That’s hard to imagine on a 32-inch screen, though I’d expect it to be more apparent on massive 4K and 8K TVs.

Right now DP 2.1 UHBR20 only works on Radeon Pro (workstation) graphics cards anyway. Also be aware that the supplied DP cable is relatively short, so might not reach if your PC isn’t on your desk.

A joystick button provides access to the OSD where the usual preset display settings (plus HDR additions when turned on) live, along with the option to activate FreeSync Premium Pro.

There’s Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture that can be made use of via the two HDMI 2.1 ports, a USB-C port (with 65W PD charging) and the two main DisplayPorts (one is miniDP). There’s also a DisplayPort out for daisy chaining. Note too, there are dual 3.5mm audio jacks that will please/annoy those with (in)compatible headsets.

A Game Assist menu enables you to display a timer and the monitor refresh rate. There are also various styles of onscreen crosshairs (great for CoD Hardcore) and an Eagle Eye (sniper) mode that zooms in on a moveable area of the screen so you can ~~cheat~~ get better headshots. To be frank, if you can succeed using such a distracting feature, then good for you.

Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P gaming monitor rear profile

(Image credit: Future)

You can also activate a Dashboard that provides an on-screen system status (CPU, GPU and frame rate) list.

A Resolution Switch mode transforms the display into a virtual 24-inch screen – gimmicky but potentially attractive to e-sports players who require a smaller screen with a more eye-friendly field of view.

An OLED Care menu monitors how long you’ve been using the screen and provides numerous burn-in tools like Pixel Clean, Static Control, Pixel Shift and (zoned) screen dimming. While burn-in on QD-OLED panels is still a heated issue, Gigabyte offers a three-year burn-in warranty for peace of mind.

A Tactical Button next to the joystick can be configured to instantly drop the resolution, activate the crosshair, enable an OLE-care cleaning cycle or mute the speakers.

Ultimately, it’s a good-looking and very well-specced monitor with few missing features and additional future-proofed, high-bandwidth connections.

Design and features score: 5 / 5

The ports on the underside of the Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P gaming monitor — (Image credit: Future)

Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P: Performance

Vibrant colors
Impressively fast in use
Built-in speakers are good but not great

The Aorus FO32U2P’s colors are as vibrant as I’d expect from a QD-OLED screen and both monochromatic and colorful transitions are smooth when Windows HDR is turned on.

Contrast is excellent, with details remaining visible in bright and dark areas alike. The 250 nit SDR brightness might seem low but it's uniform and well suited to gaming and day-to-day use. HDR brightness can hit 1000 nits on 3% of the screen – enough that all but larger highlights really pop. You can also butcher it with Aorus’ Black Equalizer 2.0 settings to stop enemies hiding in shadows and jumping out of the sun.

The 240Hz refresh rate marries well with the super-quick 0.03ms (stated) pixel response time. You can get faster screens but only super-fussy pro e-sports players might grumble at the minuscule blur on show.

Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P gaming monitor on a desk beside a laptop — (Image credit: Future)

Another potentially contentious issue with monitors using this third-gen Samsung QD-OLED panel is that it’s not quite true black. An anti-reflective coating does a very impressive job of banishing reflections (even in dark scenes) and despite this being a great trade-off, some multimedia purists might hate having ever-so-slightly washed-out blacks.

A less contentious issue concerns the QD-OLED’s spidery text problems from its early days. It was almost perfectly fixed on second-gen panels and I didn’t have any issues on this third-gen display.

The twin 5W speakers get loud and offer a bit of punch. However, there’s not much bass to speak of and fidelity suffers in the mid-range when at high volume. Still, I like having them as sometimes you want to watch a quick video without dealing with headphones.

Performance score: 5 / 5

Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P gaming monitor in its packaging — (Image credit: Future)

Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P: Score card

Should I buy the Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P?

Buy it if...

You want an uncompromising gaming monitor

Having a 240Hz refresh rate on a UHD-resolution QD-OLED panel ticks my three core features of a dream monitor, and this Aorus has them all.

You want DisplayPort 2.1

There are few actual benefits to having this technology but, if you’ve been hanging out for huge video bandwidth, then this is the first monitor to provide it.

Don't buy it if...

Money is an issue

It’s a very expensive display and you can get non QD-OLED variants that have similar headline specs for much less money.

Thoughts of QD-OLED burn-in gives you anxiety

There are many anti-burn-in technologies in the Aorus FO32U2P (plus a three-year warranty), but you’ll be thinking about it a lot – especially if you’re planning on working with a fixed Windows Taskbar on a day-to-day basis.

Also consider

Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2

The non-P version of this monitor doesn’t have DisplayPort 2.1 (or DP daisy chaining) and its USB-C port isn’t as powerful (18-Watt PD), but this can save you some money. However availability is not great in all regions.

Gigabyte M32UC

Gigabyte’s non-QD-OLED 4K gaming monitor packs in the features and still manages to offer a 144Hz refresh rate. It also costs one-third of the price!

Read our full Gigabyte M32UC review

How I tested the Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P

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

For the review, I tested the Aorus FO32U2P over the course of a month by using it as my work-from-home monitor, which I also use for gaming. That means I regularly use all Microsoft and Google Office applications, Adobe photo and video editing applications, social media and YouTube.

In order to test the overall image quality I focus on real-world tests and a few technical tests. For multimedia performance I use UHD video clips (HDR where possible) on YouTube to establish color vibrancy and accuracy, smoothness (and noisiness) of chromatic and monochromatic gradients, plus contrast range and true-black performance.

For speed and gaming performance I predominantly focus upon CoD MWIII and PCars 2 for fast-and-frantic motion smoothness. I also look at the TestUFO technical motion test.

For physical attributes I check reflectivity of the screen and speed/intuitiveness/features of the OSD.

I’ve been reviewing computers, peripherals and components for over 20 years for multiple titles in the UK, Australia and internationally.

HP E45C G5: One-minute review

Using the HP E45c G5, a 44.5-inch ultrawide monitor, is an experience. It’s not for everyone as the price tag is high, and it takes up a lot of space (as any 40-inch+ monitor would, of course). However, it’s engagingly immersive for media and, more importantly, allows for the ability to streamline a workflow where you need to look at multiple tabs or windows without having to switch between them.

If you’re looking for 4K resolution or need impeccable color accuracy and coverage for editing, your money may be better spent elsewhere. That’s not to say this screen isn’t great, or falls down badly in those respects, but the HP E45c G5 is among the best monitors for those looking for that immersive experience or ability to spread out a workflow, and not so much for other considerations.

Of course, if you’re reading this review, you’re probably looking for one of the best ultrawide monitors for your needs, anyway. In that regard, I think it’s up there.

HP E45C G5: Price and availability

HP E45c G5 running Sable — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

How much does it cost? $1,099 / £959.99 / AU$2,045
When is it available? It’s out now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK and Australia

While the HP E45c G5’s price tag is certainly justifiable, $1,099 / £959.99 / AU$2,045 is not a small chunk of change to pay for a monitor. However, it fills a very specific niche as it’s for those who like to have the screen real-estate of two monitors, but in a somewhat more streamlined setup.

Looking at it from that perspective, the price tag isn’t so bad. Most decent monitors are going to set you back about $400 to $500 anyway, so getting two of them will be the same price as the HP E45c G5, while requiring two spots on an outlet or power strip for power, not to mention you won’t have a single ultrawide screen if you want to use it this way.

As for the similarly-sized competition, you’re looking at the same kind of asking price or more. For instance, the Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 OLED is just as big and has a nicer OLED display with a faster 240Hz refresh rate, but costs $1,999.99 / £2,099.99 / AU$3,299.99.

Or, consider the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 with its similar aspect ratio and resolution. Of course, it does have an OLED display as well, so it’s going to cost much more at $2,199.99 / £1,599 / AU$3,399. Really, the only way you’ll pay the same $1,000-ish price tag as this HP display is to find the older non-OLED version of this monitor or go smaller.

Value: 4 / 5

HP E45C G5: Design and features

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HP E45C G5 cable management — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

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Assembling the HP E45C G5 — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

When discussing the design of this HP monitor, we have to go into detail about the obvious fact that this thing is big. With a 44.5-inch VA panel, it’s made to replace the need for two monitors. In fact, I would say it’s mostly better than using two monitors as the 1500R curvature allows for a more natural way to take in the whole panel. Plus, you can either split the screen between two sources, or expand the screen real-estate of one source in a way that isn’t separated by the blemish of an inconvenient bezel (well, two bezels).

HP E45c G5 Specs

Screen size: 44.5-inches
Aspect ratio: 32:9
Resolution: 5,120 x 1,440
Brightness: 400 nits
Refresh rate: 165Hz
Response time: 3ms gtg (overdrive)
Viewing angle: 178/178
Contrast ratio: 3,000:1
Color coverage: 99% sRGB
Inputs: 1x DP 1.4, 1x HDMI 2.1, 2x USB-C, 4x USB-A, 1x RJ-45
Weight: 32.18lbs (14.6kg)

Of course, the downside with this one-panel solution is that you don’t have the same level of ergonomic control as with two separate monitors, so for example, some people like to use the second monitor in portrait mode, and obviously that’s not possible with the HP E45c. Aside from that, the HP monitor’s overall ergonomics are somewhat limited, offering a 10-degree swivel in either direction, along with a 5-degree downward tilt and 20-degree upward tilt. On a more positive note, at least its height adjustment is substantial at around 8-inches.

Another point in HP’s favor compared to using two monitors is that the HP E45c’s base, while substantial, takes up less space than you would need for two monitors. Additionally, its stand comes with some basic cable management to keep the desk looking tidy. On a side note, assembling the whole thing is much easier than I thought it would be – just attach the stand to the back of the monitor while in the box, attach the base, and just pick it up from behind.

There are plenty of ports available as well, including three video-capable inputs: HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C. While there are no duplicates, so you won’t be able to plug in two laptops that only have HDMI, that’s still enough to take advantage of its ability to split the screen between two sources. Also, that USB-C port can deliver up to 100W of power to one PC, or 65W to two computers.

There’s also an additional USB-C port and a couple of USB-As on hand for peripherals. Since this monitor is a multi-tasker’s dream, KVM is incorporated too. You can even plug in an Ethernet cable with the HP E45c G5.

The last design-related aspect I want to mention is the OSD menu button on the back. It’s situated all the way over on the right side behind the panel, requiring a bit of a stretch whenever you want to change a setting.

Design: 4.5 / 5

HP E45C G5: Performance

Using the HP E45c as a productivity monitor — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

When it comes to performance, most of the negatives go right out of the window. Though this large display is limited to a (still great) 99% sRGB color coverage, its DCI-P3 coverage is not provided, and there are no settings for different color coverages, meaning that this is probably not an ideal monitor for photo and video editing.

However, for the rest of us non-creatives, it’s a blast to use. It still looks great with its dual QHD (5,120 x 1,440) resolution at a 165Hz refresh rate, and offers the kind of immersion for gaming and media that I found engrossing (I did have a powerful PC on hand to run it, of course).

This isn’t meant as a gaming monitor necessarily and is more targeted to worker bees who need a lot of screen real-estate to spread out on. This is an aspect I really appreciate, as I often have to look at several tabs to access and process different bits of information for articles and reviews. Additionally, the monitor can snap windows to an assortment of grids for easy organization.

HP was thoughtful enough to include a pair of 3W speakers. They’re loud enough and sound fine if you just need some audio in a pinch. But, if you care about sound quality, you’ll really want to pair this monitor with some decent speakers. This is true of 99% of the monitors I test, mind you, and it’s still nice to have integrated speakers as a little extra for a well-rounded experience.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the HP E45C G5?

HP E45c G5 picture in picture — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Buy it if…

You hate switching windows or tabs
With this ultrawide panel, you no longer have to rifle through different tabs and windows to find what you’re looking for. You can streamline, organize, and spread out your workflow here.

You want an immersive experience
It might not be 4K, but the dual QHD screen is plenty sharp enough. And, with its 1500R curvature and ultrawide panel, you’ll be engrossed in whatever you’re doing.

You have multiple PCs to connect
As a monitor meant for multi-taskers, the HP E45c comes with the right kind of features including KVM and picture-by-picture so you can seamlessly switch between two different computers.

Don’t buy it if…

You’re on a budget
Compared to buying two separate monitors, the price is right. But if you’re on a budget, you can get a decent monitor for much less. You’ll just need to go smaller.

You need portrait mode
If you’re considering alternatives to a second display, just be aware that by the very nature of this monitor, ergonomically speaking you’ll be forever locked in landscape mode.

Also consider

How I tested the HP E45C G5

Used regularly for a couple of weeks
Tested with multiple sources
Tried out all the features

I used the HP E45c G5 regularly for a couple weeks. I tested it with various games, as well as connecting multiple sources to see what it’s like viewing them side-by-side with its wide 32:9 aspect ratio. I tested the various features as well, not to mention the built-in speakers.

After spending some time with the HP E45c G5, it’s obvious that this monitor is for those looking for an impressive visual experience for gaming, for instance, or, as HP has positioned it, for streamlining and organizing a large workflow.

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 June 2024

Samsung Odyssey OLED G60SD/G80SD: two exciting new entries in the gaming monitor market

12:30 am | June 7, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Monitors Peripherals & Accessories | Tags: Red Dead Redemption | Comments: Off

Several monitors were showcased at the Samsung Wonders Unlocked event, with two of them gaming-oriented. In recent years, the manufacturer has really stepped up its gaming monitor game, with the Odyssey series nearly always delivering on display quality and performance as some of the best gaming monitors out there.

I tested two of the latest in the Odyssey series – the Odyssey OLED G60SD and the Odyssey OLED G80SD – to see how these iterations hold up. So far, I've been very pleased with the results. Not only do they look great, but they offer plenty of upgrades, quality-of-life additions, and improved specs to justify the steep price - especially the HDR 10 support, which was stunning to witness.

Odyssey OLED G60SD: price and availability

The Odyssey OLED G series has two models: the 27-inch Odyssey OLED G60SD and the 32-inch Odyssey OLED G80SD.

The G60SD is available for preorder on the Samsung online store at $899.99 / £799 / AU$1,499, while the G80SD is priced at $1,299.99 / ££1,099.99 / AU$2,058. You'll also receive a bonus of $300 in Samsung credit if you purchase one of the new monitor models.

Odyssey OLED G60SD: specs

Here are the specs for the Odyssey OLED G60SD/G80SD at a glance.

Odyssey OLED G60SD/G80SD: design

Odyssey OLED G60SD

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gaming monitor near pink keyboard — (Image credit: Future)

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Odyssey OLED G80SD

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gaming monitor near white keyboard — (Image credit: Future)

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Like most other Odyssey-series gaming monitors, the Odyssey OLED G60SD and G80SD look gorgeous. They sport luscious QHD+ and UHD 4K OLED displays, respectively, both outfitted with glare-free technology that actually works - and quite well at that.

I tested it out by simply having the monitor near sunlight coming in through an open window (one of the most pervasive lighting situations for the average buyer), and light didn't wash out the screen in the slightest. Thanks to said tech, the flat shape of the monitors isn't a hindrance as they don't require the curved shape to filter out light. I'll go out on a limb and say that this is such an important feature that it'll make reviewing other monitors difficult, as glare is one of my biggest issues.

Other nifty new features that combat overheating and OLED burn-in are Samsung OLED Safeguard+ technology and the Dynamic Cooling System. These tools diffuse heat and reduce the monitor's core and surface temperatures, keeping the internal components safe from heat damage and preventing burn-in from static images like logos and taskbars.

The two monitors' vibrant white color stands out in the sea of plain black monitors on the market, especially when paired with the CoreSync and Core Lighting+ features. Those are RGB light rings in the back of the monitor that you can control through various settings. They're purely aesthetic but help brighten up your gaming desk setup in a fun and unobtrusive way.

I also appreciate how, despite the large screen sizes, it's easy to pick up both the monitor and stand, making moving them around a living space much easier. The thin displays also mean that it doesn't take up much desk real estate, an absolute boon for any gamer struggling with space issues.

Odyssey OLED G60SD/G80SD: performance

Odyssey OLED G60SD

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gaming monitor menu — (Image credit: Future)

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Odyssey OLED G80SD

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I tested out both the Odyssey OLED G60SD and G80SD gaming monitors through Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2, and more of the best PC games. The G60SD has a higher refresh rate at 360Hz versus the G80SD's 240Hz, while both sport a 0.03ms response time. Combined with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, you can fully eliminate choppiness, screen lag, and image tears.

No matter what title I played, the gameplay was silky smooth and made the QHD+ and UHD 4K resolution shine even more. It was also explained to me that the G80SD featured no color shifting, no added latency, and could maintain its 240Hz refresh rate at 4K - an impressive feat. It has a tool called the Samsung NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor, meaning that the monitor can upscale content to nearly 4K

I was also able to try HDR10 through the G80SD and compare the image to the G60SD. We started with Red Dead Redemption 2's prologue through the wintery landscape as the protagonist navigated through a snowstorm on horseback. Not only were the colors, the whites, and the blacks far more vibrant, but the overall picture quality was much sharper and cleaner, with improved visuals.

Odyssey OLED G60SD/G80SD: early verdict

Both the Samsung Odyssey OLED G60SD and G80SD are exceptional gaming monitors that not only boast excellent specs but also come with a host of other quality-of-life features and upgrades that enhance the gaming experience.

From a full ventilation system that prevents the dreaded OLED burn-in to HDR 10 that takes an iconic scene from a video game and elevates it to new heights to (one of my personal favorites) glare-free technology that ensures sunlight from an open window won't completely wash out your screen during a gaming session.

I'm excited to see what Samsung will churn out next, as its gaming offerings just keep getting better and better with each new year.

MSI MPG 271QRX review: a feature-rich gaming powerhouse that can’t be missed

5:30 pm | May 29, 2024

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

MSI MPG 271QRX: One-minute review

This year has seen MSI enter the QD-OLED gaming monitor space with several releases through its MPG series. Think of QD-OLED monitors as updated versions of OLED displays with four elements to create an image including an LED backlight, a layer of quantum dots, an LCD matrix, and color filter. Though they’ve already been popular in the high-end television space for a while, they’ve recently entered the gaming market.

The MSI MPG 271QRX is about as fine an example of what an entry-level QD-LED gaming monitor can offer, though its $800 price tag might make some balk at the term 'entry-level' in this case.

What you get for that money though is fantastic. The 27-inch display features a 1440p resolution with a 360Hz refresh rate in addition to an exceptionally fast 0.03ms response time, making it a killer esports display. On a surface level, these attributes are fairly standard for what someone would consider one of the best 1440p gaming monitors, but the QD-LED panel significantly increases image quality beyond the standard QHD display, alongside having both VESE certification for DisplayHDR True Black 400 and Clear 13000.

From enjoying the visual benchmarks set by games like Alan Wake II and Cyberpunk 2077 to competitive shooters such as Fortnite and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, the MPG 271QRX does a fine job of blending high-end image quality with speedy performance. Even the color accuracy matches Apple displays in terms of creative tools like Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop.

That doesn’t even count the loads of extras such as MSI’s OLED Care 2.0 which improves the durability of the QD-OLED screen in addition to Gaming Intelligence for enhancing the gaming experience through crosshair overlay, customizable RGB lit back panel, and KVM capabilities.

Most importantly, MSI managed to throw in a three-year burn-in warranty as well, critical for any OLED display nowadays. The accumulation of all these fine attributes makes the MSI MPG 271QRX one of the finest examples of a 27-inch 1440p gaming display available today, and well worth the price of entry.

MSI MPG 271QRX : Price & availability

An MSI MPG 271QRX on a table — (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

The MSI MPG 271QRX is available now in the U.S., UK and Australia for $799.99 (£999.00, AU$1,799). Through the MSI store, there are buyer links to various online stores depending on the territory. Retailers in the U.S. include MSI’s own store, Micro Center, and NewEgg among others.

Within the 27-inch 1440p OLED gaming monitor race, the MPG 27QRX’s main competitor is the $800 Alienware AW2725DF. Outside of the price difference, there isn’t a wide difference between the two as far as image quality and performance goes.

This is where feature sets come in and this will largely depend on user preference. If both MPG 271QRX and AW2725DF are too much, the KTC 27-inch standard OLED gaming monitor for $699 might be a better bet for more budget-friendly OLED panels.

Value: 4 / 5

MSI MPG 271QRX: Design

Various poseabilty settings
Plenty of ports

The design of the MSI MPG 271QRX is such a wonderful union of fantastic visual design and purposeful functionality in nearly every aspect. Even the setup is pretty straightforward with the base and neck design that clips into the back panel. One of the cool things about the design is that poseability is good enough to use the MPG 271QRX in a vertical position if a portrait setting is needed.

There’s a singular power port facing down near the other ports that goes straight to a plug. Meanwhile, PC gamers with multiple consoles will appreciate having a singular DisplayPort and two HDMI 2.1 ports. There’s also an additional USB-C with DisplayPort and 90w charging as well. Other ports include a USB-B for KVM capabilities with the additional two USB-A ports.

Once powered on, it's easy to notice the bright RGB logo that features customizable lighting through the in-display design. It does add a nice flair to the all-black colorway and angular back panel. Though the display is relatively thin, the center in the back panel does protrude outward for things like the head sink alongside other components.

The front of the display has thin bezels on the top and sides with the bottom displaying the MSI logo. On the bottom of the back panel is a small thumb stick that sits between the power and KVM buttons. Finally, there is the beautifully glossy QD-OLED display that also has some amazing anti-glare and anti-reflective coating. Without even turning the MPG 27QRX on, it stands out visually among even the best gaming monitors.

Design 4.5 / 5

MSI MPG 271QRX: Features

Nice amount of screen image retention options
Game Intelligence and KVM capabilities are great

If the MSI MPG 27QRX doesn't already look jaw-droppingly gorgeous and provide silky smooth performance, its feature set is also fairly hefty.

The first is totally focused on screen image retention through a graphite film back and custom-made heatsink which eliminates the need for a fan. Then there’s MSI OLED Care 2.0 which is a system designed to reduce the OLED screen burn-in through pixel shift, panel protection through pixel refresh, and static screen detection. Carrying over from the previous OLED care system includes static multi-logo and taskbar detection. Making the deal sweeter is a three-year burn-in warranty from MSI.

Outside of standard color correction and game mode features, the MPG 27QRX has Gaming Intelligence. This includes various smart crosshair overlays alongside Optix Scope which provides a built-in aim magnifier. The most interesting one is A.I. Vision which uses deep learning to reveal more details in the dark areas of a game without messing up graphical detail. Through the same in-display menu, users can also change the color of the lit logo on the back panel.

The MPG 27QRX also offers KVM like most premium gaming monitors of the modern era. KVM allows users to use the same keyboard and mouse combo through another device connected to the display. It’s become popular for individuals who stream from one device and play on another.

For console gamers, there’s a console-specific Console mode that automatically accepts 4K signals while supporting HDR.

Features: 4 / 5

MSI MPG 271QRX: Performance

Image quality and performance are top notch
360Hz refresh rate makes this one of the best OLED monitors for esports

For $800, the MSI MPG 27QRX most definitely makes good on its image quality and performance. Having the QD-OLED display opens up users to bold and crisp colors in addition to deep blacks. VESE certification for DisplayHDR True Black 400 and Clear 13000 enhances HDR visuals to the stratosphere.

Playing more visually arresting games like Alan Wake II, Cyberpunk 2077, Forza Motorsport (2023), and even indie games like Children of the Sun are just beautiful visually. Color accuracy is more than respectable in terms of video and photo editing. There’s no better way to create content, game, and view videos on a 27-inch 1440p display.

Having a 360Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms definitely will give players a significant competitive edge in more esports games if they have the PC hardware to support it. Games like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III not only look fantastic but give exceptionally smooth motion without latency.

Performance: 5 / 5

MSI MPG 271QRX: Specs

Should I buy the MSI MPG 271QRX?

Buy the MSI MPG 271QRX if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also Consider

How I tested the MSI MPG 271QRX:

For the review, the MSI MPG 271QRX was tested over a period of two weeks. During the day, most of the taks revolved around using Google Chrome and Slack. This allowed the use of Google Docs, use management software Asana alongside social media management tools like Hootsuite.

Outside of that, other software mainly used was Slack to communicate with different channels. It was here where we tested general everyday use of the gaming monitor.

In order to test out overall image quality, games played included Alan Wake II, Hogwarts Legacy, and Children of the Sun. This was done to see how games looked on technical visual levels alongside art direction. To test performance and game enhancement features, games such as Helldivers 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III were played.

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 May 2024

Gigabyte GS32QC review: an exceptional value for a 1440p gaming monitor

12:00 pm | April 3, 2024

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

Gigabyte has earned a stellar reputation for providing quality gaming monitors at an extremely approachable price like the M32UC and the Gigabyte GS32QC continues that tradition.

At $239/£251.99/AU$334.40, potential buyers will get a solid 31.5-inch display that also provides a curved 1440p screen resolution and 165Hz refresh rate. Expect a 1ms response time alongside the ability to overclock the display to 170 Hz for more in-game performance.

Beyond that, its price point also provides display features ranging from covering 109% of the sRGB color space to AMD Freesync Premium. There are even HDR capabilities, though there will be some serious settings maneuvering to get color accuracy just right, as the monitor's default settings are really flat.

Through its price point, there are some obvious sacrifices. This includes a design that prevents posability of the monitor; especially for those who need a specific viewing angle. Then there are other missing things like a lack of internal speakers and USB connectivity. Again, at this price point, those issues are excusable. That doesn’t mean that the gaming monitor is a no-frills package. It’s quite far from it.

The GS32QC does have some significant extras that’ll impress game enthusiasts outside of performance. Extras like crosshair overlay and aim stabilizer are satisfying, but on the other hand, Black Equalizer does more harm to image quality than good.

HDR image quality is flat-out horrible by default but can look somewhat decent if some color correction settings are changed. Alongside PC gamers, multi-console gamers have a few HDMI ports for good measure outside the singular DisplayPort. Thankfully, SDR image quality is good for this price.

Gamers on a sub $300 budget in need of a 32-inch 1440p display with a high refresh rate and extra gaming-centric features should look no further. The Gigabyte GS32QC does enough magic to compete with some of the best gaming monitors that sell for twice its price. Just be mindful of the caveats as one manages expectations.

Gigabyte GS32QC: Price & availability

A Gigabyte GS32QC on a desk — (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

The Gigabyte GS32QC is priced at $239 (£279.99, AU$469) and is available now. Potential buyers in the U.S., UK, and AU can purchase the gaming monitor through Gigabyte’s purchasing portal, which will take you to various retailers in your region that sell the monitor where you are.

For a 31.5-inch gaming monitor with a 170 Hz max refresh rate, there aren’t a lot of rivals in its class, but if the $239 is too much, users can get the 32-inch AOC C32G2 1080p monitor that has a similar refresh rate and can be purchased for $209. Though it doesn’t have any HDR capabilities, it has better posability. Another good alternative is the 27-inch Monoprice Dark Matter 27, which you can get for just over $200.

Value 4.5 / 5

Gigabyte GS32QC: Specs

Gigabyte GS32QC: Design

Setting up for the Gigabyte GS32QC is pretty easy. Considering it’s also around 13 lbs, maneuverability makes the process even simpler. All users have to do is connect the stand to the neck via pre-installed screws and both to the monitor rear. The simplicity of putting the GS32QC together relates to the generally boring all-black plastic design. Don’t expect any aggressive angles or RGB lighting. This gaming monitor is meant solely for functionality. That also lends to the inputs located on the back panel.

On the right near the neck is the power port that thankfully doesn’t require a battery pack. On the far opposite side to the right are two HDMI ports, a sole DisplayPort, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. This is perfect for PC gamers who own multiple consoles as well. Considering the price, it makes sense for extras such as external speakers and USB hubs to be absent. Just understand that this is a true plug-and-play machine. One of the most significant design flaws is the fact that the GS32QC can only tilt up and down. This means there isn't any height or tilting to the side.

A small nub at the bottom of the lower bezel serves as the power button in addition to in-display controls. Holding the nub for several seconds will turn the monitor off and on. Making color changes, changing inputs, and adding crosshair overlays among others are done by clicking in the nub and going from there.

Design 3.5 / 5

Gigabyte GS32QC: Features

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Though it would have been nice to have G-Sync compatibility, the Gigabyte GS32QC does offer FreeSync Premium which is compatible with the best graphics cards from Nvidia anyway. Considering the gaming monitor is geared toward enthusiasts and more esports gamers, it's a respectable variable refresh rate solution to be offered at this price.

It doesn’t hurt that the display is HDR-compatible, too, though making changes or using features through the OSD menu controlling nub can be a bit cumbersome; especially when in the middle of a game. Having OSD software in Windows that can streamline whatever personal touches or changes need to be made is a better way to go.

The GS32QC does have three main game assist functions that will help gamers gain an advantage. The most obvious are the handful of crosshair overlays which work fine when playing games of Call of Duty, Fortnite, and other first-or-third-person shooters.

Then there’s the aim assist that reduces motion blur in speedier games like F1 2023. Be mindful that it won’t work if the refresh rate is below 100Hz and if FreeSync is activated. One way to avoid using aim assists altogether is by turning in-game motion blur off.

Finally, there is an on-screen timer which works wonders for speed runners.

Features 3.5 / 5

Gigabyte GS32QC: Performance

Taking a gaming-first approach, the Gigabyte GS32QC leans more on technical performance than overall image quality. PC gaming rigs that are powerful enough to reach high frame rates in games like Doom Eternal, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, Fortnite, and the like will run fine on the gaming monitor.

Don’t expect any lag or legacy issues even when FreeSync is turned on. Games run fine and having assists like crosshair overlays helps with hitting targets in shooters. Anyone with a budget rig between 1080p and 1440p native resolutions should find the GS32QC a nice buttery smooth start.

General SDR image quality is more than solid for this type of budget gaming monitor. Contrast is fantastic at 3500:1 and the monitor makes the most of its 300 cd/m2 brightness.

Colors are bold and crisp while blacks are deep. Visuals pop appropriately when playing more visually arresting games like Alan Wake II. One thing users might want to avoid though is using the Black Equalizer, which causes more harm than good when it comes to image quality. However, it won’t matter much for those who are more concerned with winning than image quality anyway.

The biggest thing that holds back the Gigabyte GS32QC is the HDR. Toggling HDR in Windows monitor settings lends a flat and drab image. The only way to slightly fix that is through GPU color settings.

Using creative software like Adobe Photoshop and Premiere, color correction was pretty much impossible. This means that creatively-minded gamers are probably going to either stick to SDR settings or look elsewhere completely.

Having a curved VA monitor does create issues with direct lighting sources like lamps and sunlight nearby since this causes glaring issues that aren’t necessarily an issue when playing in a dark to dimly lit area.

Performance 4 / 5

Should you buy the Gigabyte GS32QC?

Buy the Gigabyte GS32QC if..

Don’t buy it if…

Also Consider

How I tested the Gigabyte GS32QC:

My two weeks with the Gigabyte GS32QC were split between business and pleasure. During the day, the monitor was used during general tasks including Google Docs, Asana, and Adobe Suite.

Adobe Suite software including Photoshop and Premiere Pro were used to look into color correction and to test image quality. To test video capabilities, various YouTube videos were played to get a play of image quality as well. As a way to test streaming and input capabilities, various picture-in-picture modes as well.

I played competitive games to test out the performance of the monitor, including Fortnite and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. To test image quality, I played Hogwarts Legacy and Alan Wake II, among other titles. Tests for general tasks and gaming were done in both SDR and HDR modes.

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, so I know a good monitor when I see one.

First reviewed April 2024

Gigabyte GS34WQC review: a good curved gaming monitor for a great price—with caveats

7:00 am |

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

Gigabyte has consistently been making gaming monitors primarily focused on the budget PC Gaming experience and the GS34WQC successfully leans into the ultrawide tier. The 34-inch 1440p display comes with a 120Hz refresh rate in addition to the ability to overclock to 135Hz. Performance aside, SDR image quality is quite stunning and looks great.

Then there’s an incredibly reasonable feature set that comes with various gaming assists such as crosshair overlay. Though there’s a nub to make various in-display settings changes, the GS34WQC can also be personalized through the OSD Sidekick app. For variable refresh rate solutions, the monitor comes packed with AMD FreeSync Premium to combat potential screen tearing.

For $329(£388, AU $549), this gaming monitor makes more than enough sense for PC gamers who want an ultrawide display that won’t break the bank. That doesn’t mean that there won’t be any sacrifices to pack all of this into that price point.

One of the most glaring issues is its HDR implementation. Even with changing settings through software or in-display, image quality is only going to look slightly average. To be honest, it’s best to avoid HDR on the GS34WQC altogether. Then there are some design problems that come in the general aesthetic alongside set-up.

Like other modern Gigabyte gaming monitors, some assists like Black Equilizer and Aim Stabilizer do more to hurt overall image quality than help in any way. PC gamers looking for more extras like speakers and USB capabilities are going to be a bit disappointed. Anyone with a solid 1440p rig looking to play games in the 120 frame rate range may walk away satisfied; more so if they also have PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. The Gigabyte GS34WQC offers a quality PC gaming experience at the cost of things that individuals in the price range probably won’t care about.

Gigabyte GS34WQC: Price and availability

A Gigabyte GS34WQC gaming monitor on a desk — (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Available now in U.S. UK and AU territories, the Gigabyte GS34WQC retails for around $329(£388, AU $549) depending on where one shops. Though available on Amazon, the gaming monitor can be grabbed at various stories depending on where one resides. In the U.S., the monitor can be purchased at Best Buy, UK residents can find it at Currys and Australian citizens can find it at MSY.

Considering the price, the GS34WQC is one of the most affordable 34 inch ultrawide gaming monitors available. RIght now on Newegg, the monitor can be purchased on sale for $289 which adds even more to its value. Users looking for a bit more extras can pay around $10 bucks more for the Dell 34 Curved Gaming Monitor that also comes with a healthy selection of USB ports. Meanwhile, the significantly more expensive AOC CU34G2X at $450 provides better HDR capabilities in addition to USB ports.

Value: 4 / 5

Gigabyte GS34WQC: Specs

Gigabyte GS34WQC Design

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Like other Gigabyte gaming monitors, don’t expect the GS34WQC to do much in the looks department. The all-black matted material feels more acceptable in a classroom or library than next to an RGB desktop. Again, the GS34WQC is more about function than everything else.

When it comes to maneuverability out of the box, the 18 lbs gaming monitor doesn’t feel unwieldy. Set-up is where some of the problems with the design began to show up. A singular attached screen connects the stand to the neck. However, those who don’t read the monitor may run into some issues in the next steps.

The four screws already come taped to the neck that connects to the display. Be careful not to remove the tape without catching them because they will fall and can potentially get lost. Even more so, the packaging doesn’t come with a small screwdriver so users are responsible for securing the display themselves. Both height and tilt can be adjusted on the gaming monitor too.

There are a handful of ports available to get started including one DisplayPort, two HDMI ports, 3.5mm headphone, and power jack. Power goes directly through the display so users won’t have to worry about a larger powerbrick. The port selection is respectable and will definitely satisfy gamers with at least two consoles. Switching between inputs is pretty easy through the nub as well. Considering the low price for this ultrawide gaming monitor, this is good enough for a multiplatform gaming set-up alongside a gaming PC rig.

Gamers who want extras like external speakers and USB hubs for connectivity are going to have to look elsewhere. Considering the max refresh rate output is 120Hz and 135Hz when overclocked, this is for lower-powered 1440p gaming rigs.

Design 3.5 / 5

Gigabyte GS34WQC: Features

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The Gigabyte GS34WQC isn’t necessarily feature-rich but does have a handful of tools to improve a user’s gaming experience. When it comes to variable refresh rate solutions, having AMD FreeSync is a great addition; even for users who have Nvidia GPUs. Then there is HDR capability but we’ll explain why it's not very good in the next section.

Those who don’t want to fiddle with the nub for settings outside of input can definitely give the OSD Sidekick app a shot. Though the app works well, it’s really a matter of preference in regards to usability. Users can make color changes in SDR and other display options but it’s also for toggling various game assists.

Three primary gaming assistance features are designed to provide gamers with a competitive edge on the GS32QC. Foremost among these are the various crosshair overlays, seamlessly enhancing gameplay in titles like Call of Duty and Helldivers 2, as well as other first or third-person shooters.

Additionally, there's the aim assist, effectively reducing motion blur in fast-paced games, though it's important to note its inoperability if the refresh rate falls below 100Hz or FreeSync is activated. To circumvent the need for aim assists entirely, players can opt to disable in-game motion blur. Finally, there's the on-screen timer, a boon for speedrunners seeking to optimize their performance.

Features 3.5 / 5

Gigabyte GS34WQC: Performance

PC gamers with lower-to-mid-range rigs should feel more at home with the Gigabyte GS34WQC than more expensive gaming monitors. What the display does well is make good on its native 120Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time. Playing fast-paced online shooters like Helldivers 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III was a blast in addition to running exceptionally well. Add AMD Freesync Premium into the mix, it’s clear that the GS34WQC can run with the big dogs at similar settings. As mentioned earlier, the monitor is suitable for multi-platform gamers as well considering both Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 can deliver a max frame-rate output of 120Hz.

When it comes to image quality, the GS34WQC is wonderful when running in SDR. Colors are bold and crisp with just the right amount of brightness. Blacks are deep and the contrast ratio looks pretty good. Just stay far away from the Black Equilizer which needs to be bumped down considerably. The game assists are supposed to make visuals clearer in darker spaces when playing a game but that can ruin emersion and can simply be fixed through in-game brightness settings. More visually arresting games like Alan Wake II and Cyberpunk 2077 look as well as they perform on the GS34WQC if one’s rig is up to snuff.

Just leave HDR completely alone on this gaming monitor. By default, HDR looks really washed out and flat. The monitor loses a lot of the colorfulness and lushness that SDR provides. Blacks look a bit too bright as well. Even when tinkering with settings, it's hard to get color accuracy. With that said creatives who use Adobe suite software like Photoshop and Premiere Pro might want to leave HDR alone when using the GS34WQC. It’s simply not good for gaming, creative work, or general computing tasks.

Performance: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Gigabyte GS34WQC?

Buy the Gigabyte GS34WQC if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also Consider

How I tested the Gigabyte GS34WQC

During the day, I used the Gigabyte GS34WQC for general computing tasks that revolved around using sites including Google Docs, Hootsuite, and Asana. Now and then, I would have to create graphics and cut video clips as well. There were also times when I took a break to watch videos on YouTube alongside other social media platforms.

For gaming, I tested out the monitor's performance by playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer alongside the current popular game of the moment, Helldivers 2. To test out overall gaming image quality, Forza Motorsport (2023), Alan Wake II, and others were played. All games played were tested in both SDR and HDR modes, for good measure.

First reviewed April 2024

BenQ PD2705UA review: a photographer’s dream monitor

8:00 pm | March 17, 2024

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

BenQ PD2705UA: Two-minute review

Unless you’re looking for a super-fast monitor for competitive gaming, there's very little to fault with the BenQ PD2705UA. It’s a fantastic display, whether for work tasks or those jobs that require greater accuracy such as photo and video editing.

While 27 inches may seem small when it comes to shopping for the best monitors, it will be the perfect size for those not wanting to be overwhelmed by their display. In fact, it has all the makings of the best 4K monitors for most people, with any issues I’ve had with the BenQ PD2705UA pretty minimal.

For instance, the sound quality isn’t anything to shout about; but then I've yet to come across a monitor that has really delivered in that realm. Plus, you can always use a set of speakers.

When it comes to what makes this monitor special, I have to start with its ergonomics, specifically the PD Ergo Arm. Instead of the usual stand, it clamps onto the lip of the desk for incredible stability. From there, you can swivel the monitor to either side by a massive 275 degrees. Its tilt is a bit more modest at five degrees down and 30 up, although I don’t find it to be too bothersome. More interestingly, it’s very easy to pivot the screen 90 degrees into portrait mode – perfect for coders.

A BenQ PD2705UA monitor on a desk — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Also worth mentioning about the Ergo Arm is the fact that cable management is built right into it for a very clean-looking setup.

Port selection impresses, too, with HDMI, DisplayPort and USB-C options. The latter is particularly welcome; I no longer need a dongle to plug in a MacBook, plus it comes with charging to keep that MacBook juiced up during use.

There’s also a USB-hub with KVM capabilities, so you can use the same keyboard and mouse no matter the source – and while this isn't a new feature, it’s implemented well here. Again, that USB-C shines insofar that you don’t need an upstream cable connected to that computer to use the KVM feature. Unfortunately, there’s only one upstream cable included, despite the inclusion of two ports. As such, if you want to use the KVM feature between an HDMI and DisplayPort source, you’ll have to invest in an extra cable.

As far as controls are concerned, they’re situated on the monitor's back-right corner and consist of three buttons and a joystick. Using them to navigate the OSD menu is about as straightforward and intuitive as it gets. However, BenQ also includes a hotkey puck with a dial for some easy manipulation, which can be customized in the OSD menu.

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The display itself is a 27-inch IPS panel with a 4K resolution at 60Hz. Unless you want total immersion, which I think is more important for gaming over anything else, it’s actually the perfect size. And, with 99% Rec.709, 99% sRGB color coverage, it’s vibrant enough for any media and can handle any color work you need to complete.

While it’s plenty bright at 250 nits, its 350 nits peak in HDR is only adequate. It’s nice to have, but I do wish HDR was a bit better. However, considering this is a sub-$600 monitor with so much going on, I’m not surprised.

There are some additional features that really add to the experience, though, with two that photo editors in particular will appreciate. First, there are a number of color modes (specifically: Animation, CAD/CAM, Darkroom, DICOM, HDR, Low Blue Light, M-Book, Rec.709, sRGB, User) for different situations, so you can adjust the color coverage and temperature for your work or for matching your laptop’s screen – the M-Book to match an Apple laptop’s XDR display, for instance.

The second is an extension of those color modes. Specifically, you can split the screen between any two color modes so that you can see what your work will look like on different screens.

Additionally, Picture-In-Picture and Picture-By-Picture are available with the BenQ PD2705UA. My only issue with either is the fact that it takes a bit of work to adjust each source’s resolution manually to fill the screen, although that’s probably more of an issue with Windows than with the monitor.

As mentioned before, the BenQ PD2705UA comes with two 2.5W speakers. It isn't particularly loud, there’s little bass, and it can sound a little boxy. However, it will do in a pinch, if need be. That said, I'd recommend using the monitor with a set of external speakers, especially for any audio work when working on video.

BenQ PD2705UA: Price & availability

How much does it cost? $549.99 / £549.99 / AU$739
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK and Australia

A price tag of $549.99 / £549.99 / AU$739 could be considered pricey; but if you consider all that the BenQ PPD2705UA has to offer, it’s more than reasonable. Especially if you have an awkward setup and are in need of its ergonomics or want good color coverage.

Consider, for instance, the LG 32UN880, which has been around for a few years already. It’s still priced higher, even though we reviewed it back in 2020. At the time, it went for $699 (£599, AU$1,203) and now seems to hover closer to $630. Of course, it's bigger at 32 inches and has a similarly useful ergonomic arm, not to mention top-notch color coverage (or 4K resolution). However, the cable management and range of KVM implementation on the BenQ PD2705UA is better.

This BenQ model is just a bit cheaper than the BenQ PD2706UA I reviewed last year priced at $629.99 (about £503.60, AU$932.65). And, as far as I can tell, the PD2706UA is just a bit brighter with a focus on its DCI-P3 color coverage.

Price: 4 / 5

BenQ PD2705UA: Specs

Should you buy the BenQ PD2705UA?

Buy the BenQ PD2705UA if...

You need a great screen for photo editing
With 99% sRGB and Rec.709 color coverage, not to mention that sharp 4K resolution, accuracy of photo editing work won't be an issue with this monitor.

You care about ergonomics
The Ergo Arm stands above typical stands in more than just a literal way. It can turn in all sorts of directions, making it perfect for those who have an awkward setup or want to put their monitor in portrait mode.

Don't buy it if...

You want a high refresh rate
If you’re looking for a high-refresh-rate monitor, this isn't for you. It’s capped at 60Hz and is meant for creatives and worker bees, not competitive gamers.

You’re on a budget
While the price is good for those who need such a monitor, technically it still can't be classed as cheap. Of course, for editing work, you’re better off saving up for a monitor such as this over opting for a cheap model.

BenQ PD2705UA: Also consider

If my BenQ PD2705UA review has you looking for other options, here are two more monitors to consider...

How I tested the BenQ PD2705UA

Used regularly for a week
Tested with multiple sources
Tried out all the features

I used the BenQ PD2705UA regularly for a week. While I did play some games on it (which went very well), it was mainly used as intended. I tried multiple sources and used the various features to see how well they worked, especially the KVM and various color modes. I also played around with the Ergo Arm to assess its limitations.

Having used this monitor, it’s clear that it’s meant for professionals and creatives, particularly photographers, who want a great monitor that doesn’t break the bank.

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 to deliver an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

BenQ PD2705UA: Price & availability

Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS review: performance gaming on a budget

12:00 pm | March 14, 2024

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

Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS: One-minute review

1440p on a 27-inch panel is arguably still the best choice for mainstream PC gaming. It's also cheaper than ever, with even high-refresh options dipping below $200. In that context, the new Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS doesn't immediately look like a bargain.

For sure, it's cheaper than the equivalent model from Asus's premium ROG range. But at around $300 it's still a fair bit more expensive than entry-level screens that tick the 1440p, 27-inch, and high-refresh-rate boxes.

Then again, the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS does have a pretty strong spec list with which to do battle with the very best gaming monitors. Beyond the 1440p, 27-inch thing, you get 180Hz refresh instead of the 144Hz more common to cheaper models, plus 1ms GtG response. That later figure implies this is probably an IPS rather than VA panel, and that is indeed the case.

The Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS gaming monitor on a white desk. — (Image credit: Future)

What's more, it comes with HDR400 support, and thus can achieve 400 nits peak brightness. HDR400 is the lowest level of HDR compliance, so you have to be realistic about what this kind of screen can achieve. But it's better than no HDR support at all.

Then add in USB-C with power delivery and a stand that adjusts every which way, not to mention the fact that this is a monitor from one of the best brands in the gaming business and you have a very attractive overall proposition. Sure, it's not the cheapest 1440p panel out there. But it's pretty reasonably priced and very promising on paper.

Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS: Price & availability

How much does it cost? $299 / around £325 / AU$450
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US at the time of writing

At $299 in the US, and likely around £325 in the UK and $450 in Australia (pricing in those two territories has yet to emerge at the time of writing) the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS isn't the cheapest high-refresh 1440p panel out there.

Still, it's pretty competitive given the specs, including a 180Hz refresh from an IPS panel, and the fact that it's from Asus. If you want cheaper, you could try the Gigabyte G27Q, which is also an IPS panel but only hits 144Hz.

Value: 4 / 5

Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS: Design

Fully adjustable stand
Premium build quality despite the relatively low price
HDR400 rating, but no local dimming

As a member of the more affordable Asus ROG Strix range, as opposed to the more premium ROG Swift line, it's perhaps not a huge surprise that the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS isn't decked out with a zillion RGB lights. However, you do get a high-quality and fully adjustable stand, including height, tilt, swivel, and pivot into portrait mode.

Generally, it looks and feels a cut above more affordable 1440p options. That extends to the connectivity, which includes not only DisplayPort and HDMI, but also USB-C with power delivery. If the latter is an impressive inclusion at this price point, the catch is that you only get 7.5W of power delivery. So, you can forget keeping a laptop juiced up in a single-cable scenario, that's not enough power.

Instead, Asus envisages that you'll use it to charge your smartphone, for which there is a slot on the front of the stand base. That's just about plausible, but it's not a really clear-cut advantage over just plugging your phone into the wall. If the stand did wireless charging or the USB-C interface did a lot more than 7.5W then the utility on offer would be a whole lot better.

Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS Key Specs

Panel size: 27 inches
Panel type: IPS
Resolution: 2560 x 1440
Brightness: 400 nits
Contrast: 1000:1
HDR: HDR400
Pixel response: 1ms
Refresh rate: 180Hz
Inputs: 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x USB-C with 7.5W PD

Beyond the 1440p and 27-inch basics, the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS offers a very solid set of specs. You get 180Hz refresh, which is plenty for all but the most serious esports addicts, plus 1ms response times. That's about as good as it gets for an IPS gaming monitor and this panel is comfortably faster than cheaper models based on VA rather than IPS screen technology. For tangibly better response, you'd need to speed nearly three times as much on an OLED monitor.

As for HDR, there's DisplayHDR 400 certification, which means 400 nits brightness. There's no local dimming, so this isn't a true HDR display. However, with a claimed 97% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space, this is a fairly high-fidelity monitor.

Yes, there are higher-specification gaming monitors, including 1440p models. However, the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS's spec ticks all the important boxes for a great gaming experience.

Design: 4 / 5

Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS: Performance

Factory color calibration is excellent
Solid SDR visuals in HDR mode
Incredibly snappy response times

This is a beautifully calibrated monitor. The colors are pitch-perfect and there's oodles of visual pop. This is a vibrant, punchy, and accurate display.

If that all applies to the default SDR mode, the HDR mode is even better. But perhaps not for the reasons you might expect. As an HDR400 panel with no local dimming, there's only the most basic HDR support on offer. But it's the way SDR content is handled in HDR mode that actually most impresses.

In short, this is the closest an affordable HDR-capable LCD monitor gets to perfect SDR calibration in HDR mode. All too often this class of entry-level HDR monitor makes a mess of SDR content in HDR mode. That means you have to keep jumping back and forth between modes depending on content type. But with this Asus Strix panel, you can leave it in HDR mode all the time. It's so much simpler.

Another highlight is pixel response. This is as good as IPS gaming monitors get for perceived pixel response, it's really, really sharp and clear. Even better, in the OSD menu you can choose from no fewer than 20 levels of pixel overdrive. If that sounds like overkill, and it is really, it means you can strike exactly the balance between outright speed and overshoot that you are willing to tolerate.

In truth, even with the overdrive maxed out the overshoot and inverse ghosting are pretty mild. In fact, the only real demerit in the response department is that the ELMB or Extreme Low Motion Blur mode only slightly improves subjective response and does so like all other ELMB modes, by crushing brightness to the point it's hard to imagine why anyone would use it.

Anyway, short of an OLED monitor for about 2.5 times the money, you'll have a hard time spotting the extra speed from more expensive 1440p panels. Even here in 2024, 1440p on a 27-inch makes a lot of sense for mainstream gaming. You get plenty of image detail but without the debilitating GPU load of 1440p. So, you don't need a $1,000 graphics card to get the most out of this display.

At the end of the day, the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS isn't the cheapest high-refresh 1440p panel out there. But it is a clear cut above lesser alternatives when it comes to everything from speed to accuracy and all-round visual pop.

The only obvious flaw is the fairly pointless USB-C interface with such limited power delivery (and the gimmicky phone slot in the stand, if that bothers you). But that aside, this is just a really nice gaming panel with great specs for a decent price. Highly recommended.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS?

Buy it if...

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Also Consider

Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS: Report Card

First reviewed March 2024

AOC Gaming CQ27G2S/BK review: A solid performer for a reasonable price

12:40 pm | March 6, 2024

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

AOC Gaming CQ27G2S/BK: Two-minute review

It’s gotten to the point where you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a generally solid gaming experience. That’s certainly where AOC is positioning their latest panel, the catchily named AOC Gaming CQ27G2S/BK, which brings with it the ideal combo of panel size and resolution – 2560 x 1440 strewn over a 27-inch screen – alongside purposeful looks and a generally great image for reasonable money in today’s economy.

There’s quite a sea of options at this more affordable price point, but the AOC Gaming CQ27G2S/BK offers a lot for a good price, and may well just be one of the best gaming monitors out there in its price bracket.

The AOC Gaming CQ27G2S/BK is perhaps a little non-descript compared to some similarly-priced gaming monitors, opting for a simple but effective black plastic chassis with flecks of red on the stand and underside of the bottom bezel. This is typical for AOC monitors and makes this panel look as if it’s a successor to the AOC display I use day to day.

The AOC Gaming CQ27G2S/BK photographed on a desk. — (Image credit: Future)

Its simple design pays off, as it’s a good-looking monitor, with thin bezels helping it to look reasonably modern. A weight of 5.5kg gives it some nice heft, and it feels well-made, considering the price. The stand on offer is practical, offering solid adjustment with tilt, height, and swivel, but not rotation - arguably given the slight 1500R curvature. This is also a VESA-compatible panel if you want to opt for wall mounting or on a desk clamp with a mount, as opposed to the bundled stand.

It’s also easy to put together with a tool-less construction. Instead, the CQ27G2S/BK uses a screw-in stand that attaches to the panel especially conveniently, making life easy. If you’re like me and have a small phobia of manual labor then putting together AOC’s candidate is a doozy.

As for inputs, the CQ27G2S/BK features a pair of HDMI 2.0 ports and a singular DisplayPort 1.4 option, as well as a headphone jack. Given the more affordable price point, I’m not too worried about the lack of more modern accoutrements such as any USB ports, although they would have been nice to have.

There are built-in speakers, although they aren’t the best, sounding thin overall with little in terms of bass and top-end. The saving grace here is that the AOC Gaming CQ27G2S/BK features a 3.5mm earphone jack so you can connect up external speakers, which would be preferable.

Apart from the actual panel itself, the AOC Gaming CQ27G2S/BK doesn’t offer much else in the way of additional features. The big thing here though is its on-screen display (OSD). While offering plenty of features to play around with including dedicated gamer modes as well as a handful of HDR modes you can enable, it isn't easy to navigate. It takes a few seconds to move from menu to menu, and the buttons on the bottom right offer very little in the way of assistance with function and direction. A joystick would have made things a lot easier.

In delving into the actual panel, the CQ27G2S/BK utilizes a 27-inch VA panel, complete with a 2560x1440 resolution and 165Hz refresh rate. There is support for VRR with AMD FreeSync, although Nvidia GPUs are supported with adaptive sync, and there's a vague semblance of HDR with support for DisplayHDR 10.

In testing, the AOC Gaming CQ27G2S/BK provided some excellent image quality. It provides decently bright images with a measured peak figure of 242 nits while offering pretty deep blacks and solid contrast that actually exceeds AOC’s own quoted 4000:1 by a little bit. Its 6900K color temperature is solid for a monitor of this price too, as is its SDR color accuracy. 100% sRGB coverage means it displays all the colors needed for mainstream work and play as accurately as possible while 90% DCI-P3 means it could handle more specialist workloads if you wanted to.

AOC Gaming CQ27G2S/BK Key Specs

Panel size: 27 inches
Panel type: VA LCD
Resolution: 2560 x 1440
Brightness: 250 nits
Contrast: 4000:1
HDR: HDR10
Pixel response: 1ms
Refresh rate: 165Hz
Inputs: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 3.5mm headphone jack

In enabling HDR though, it’s where AOC’s more affordable mid-ranger falls over. It becomes a much more washed-out and overall less enticing picture. Its 80% sRGB and 59% DCI-P3 color space coverage mean that the CQ27G2S/BK isn’t at all suitable for HDR workloads, and you should stick to working in SDR.

However, it’s important to note that this isn’t necessarily a panel designed for color-sensitive workloads, and for gaming in SDR, it was excellent. The combination of a 27-inch screen and 1440p panel offered solid detail over a great size for my desk, while the 165Hz refresh rate ensured output was smooth. Playing CS:GO at a high frame rate felt especially responsive while using it for day-to-day work and running my Football Manager 2023 save felt sharper.

The moderate 1500R curve helped to provide a tad more immersion in FPS titles, and allowed me to focus more on firing at bots in CS:GO (I refuse to play online, I don’t want to get smoked!). That curvature was also welcome for filling my eyesight for day-to-day working, and while it may seem like an odd thing to say, the CQ27G2S/BK helped to immerse me in what I needed to get done. When rewatching the last series of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel on Prime Video, the curvature helped there, and viewing YouTube videos was solid too.

AOC Gaming CQ27G2S/BK: Price & availability

How much does it cost? £220 (US model $290, about AU$425)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Currently available in the UK

The AOC Gaming CQ27G2S/BK appears to be a UK-exclusive panel, being priced at £220 - at least, this exact model. A virtually identical monitor - the AOC Agon Q27G2S - is available in the US for $290 (around AU$425). It sits well amongst some of the best high refresh rate monitors we’ve looked at in the past, such as our top choice, the Gigabyte Aorus CV27Q, and other similar specced options.

The CV27Q, despite now being a slightly older panel, matches well against AOC’s latest option with the same screen size, resolution, and refresh rate, although offers a quicker response time of 1ms, but a worse contrast ratio at 3000:1 compared to AOC’s 4000:1.

Perhaps the next nearest competitor to the CQ27G2S/BK is an option from the brand 'X=', a spin-off from UK retailer AWD-IT. Their X=XRGB27WQ offers a virtually identical spec sheet to AOC’s choice with the same resolution, screen size, and resolution. It gets a little brighter than the CQ27G2S/BK with 350 quoted nits and offers an IPS panel as opposed to VA. That’ll run you £230, although you are banking on trusting a lesser-known brand.

Other options from the likes of Dell are going to cost at least £100 or so more than the CQ27G2S/BK, making it a rather great value-for-money choice in its category.

Should you buy the AOC Gaming CQ27G2S/BK?

Buy it if...

Don't buy if...

Also Consider

AOC Gaming CQ27G2S/BK: Report Card

How I tested the AOC Gaming CQ27G2S/BK

Spent nearly two weeks testing
Used for gaming, photo editing, watching videos and day to day work
Tested using a colorimeter for testing overall image quality

During my time with the AOC Gaming CQ27G2S, I used it as my main working monitor, using it for day-to-day work writing articles and editing images with Photoshop. I also used it to watch streaming content on Disney+ and Prime Video after work, as well as playing a variety of games

This is a monitor primarily designed for gaming, hence my testing in eSports titles such as CS:GO, where you’re more likely to feel the benefit of the panel’s 165Hz refresh rate. Its excellent color accuracy also makes it suitable for productivity and generalist workloads, as opposed to using it for more specialist tasks.

As someone who has a few years of experience writing reviews and testing all sorts of monitors, I’ve got the right tools to help you through the minefield of whether a monitor is actually any good or not. You can trust me to take everything into account to help you make the right buying decision.

First reviewed March 2024

Lenovo Legion R45w-30 review: A large ultrawide that doesn’t cost the earth

8:26 pm | March 5, 2024

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

Lenovo Legion R45w-30: One-minute review

It’s easy to see the appeal of ultrawide monitors, as long as you’ve got the space for them. You get loads of horizontal screen real estate to give you more screen space to use, and that can wrap around you to get you more immersion.

It’s also gotten to the point where you can get solidly specced choices that don’t cost the earth, relatively speaking, That’s where Lenovo is aiming to push their latest screen, the Legion R45w-30, which is one of the larger ultrawide panels available on the market today, and undercuts many of the best ultrawide monitors around in price by quite some distance in the name of offering a solid overall experience backed by a massive 44.5-inch screen.

Lenovo Legion R45w-30: Price & availability

The Lenovo Legion R45w-30 ultrawide gaming monitor on a desk. — (Image credit: Future)

How much does it cost? $799 / £799 / AU$999
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the UK and USA

The Lenovo Legion R45w-30 is available in both the UK and USA for reasonable sums of money compared to other ultrawides, and was subject to a handy discount in the UK this past Black Friday to bring its price down further.

It matches reasonably well against our top ultrawide monitor choice, the LG UltraGear 38GN950, which clocks in at a third more in price than this Lenovo option, at £1200 or so. That panel offers a smaller screen size and aspect ratio, but makes up for it with higher brightness and contrast. It lacks some other nice-to-have features though, including extra USB ports and a KVM switch, making this Lenovo choice especially good value.

Other options from the likes of Samsung are going to cost nearly double that of the Legion R45w-30, given they are OLED, making the Legion R45w-30 a rather great value-for-money choice in its category.

Value: 4 / 5

Lenovo Legion R45w-30: Design

Easy setup
Plenty of connectivity options
Lackluster speakers

The Legion R45w-30 is a good-looking monitor, and carried a lot of presence when placed on my desk. It filled my 120cm desk entirely, and offers a lot of display real estate for the price, that’s for sure. Its black plastic construction feels sturdy, and the flecks of metal across the base of the stand were a nice touch alongside the small Lenovo logo. It means that it should fit well in virtually any setup, with looks to it that are far from being the most obnoxious.

On the point of the stand, that’s especially sturdy, as it would have to be to support such a large monitor. The Legion R45w-30 is also especially easy to put together, and requires no tools to do so. This proved useful if you’re someone who has no dexterity in your hands like I do, so being able to put this Lenovo ultrawide together with little effort was rather handy. You do have to be a bit stronger to put it on the VESA mount if you don’t want to use the included stand, though - and of course, for that you’ll need to make sure you’ve got a stand that supports a monitor that weighs 8.3kg without the stand.

Lenovo Legion R45w-30 Key Specs

Panel size: 44.5 inches
Panel type: VA WLED
Resolution: 5120 x 1440
Brightness: 450 nits (quoted)
Contrast: 3000:1
HDR: HDR400
Pixel response: 1ms
Refresh rate: 165Hz
Inputs: 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DP 1.4, 3.5mm headphone jack, 1x USB-B upstream, 3x USB-A downstream, 1x Ethernet

The scope for adjustment is decent, and you can tilt and pivot the Legion R45w-30 to your liking. It can swivel left and right up to 30 degrees, as well as being height adjustable with a scope of five inches, while its tilt is between 5 and 22 degrees, which is useful for making sure you’re comfortable. Admittedly, in using the Legion R45w-30, the massive screen did take some getting used to.

The vast array of inputs on offer pushes the Legion R45w-30 up a lot in my estimations, given it also packs in some options you don’t usually see on more affordable panels. You get a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4 as well as an Ethernet jack, a trifecta of USB-A downstream ports, a USB-C upstream and USB-B upstream, as well as a headphone jack. That gives you a lot of options for connecting additional devices, speakers, and multiple desktops or laptops.

Design: 4 / 5

Lenovo Legion R45w-30: Features

Easy-to-use UI
KVM switch is useful
Weak, thin-sounding 3W speakers

The OSD that the Legion R45w-30 provides is easy to navigate, especially with the mixture of buttons and a joystick to navigate through its numerous modes. Inside it, you can toggle between various HDR modes and profiles, and fiddle with more traditional settings such as brightness and contrast. I did find myself pressing the wrong buttons inherently, but that’s down to my own incompetence more so than the monitor. Having the joystick for navigating inside menus was a godsend though, and made my life a lot easier.

You even get access to a KVM switch, meaning you can have two devices connected to the Legion R45w-30 and use the same input devices. Switching over from my MacBook Pro to my desktop PC using the same peripherals (don’t worry, my keyboard has dual legend keycaps) was seamless. If you want to, you can also split sources on-screen by using either USB-C or the DP port with picture-in-picture, allowing you to work on two systems at the same time, which is a nice touch, and means you can take full advantage of the 44.5-inch screen for multitasking. Features like that truly exhibit the purpose of an ultrawide panel for productivity workloads.

There are built-in 3W speakers, although they aren’t the best, sounding thin overall, although they do give plenty of volume. You’ll definitely be thankful for the presence of that 3.5mm jack for connecting some external speakers to boost your audio performance.

Features: 4 / 5

Lenovo Legion R45w-30: Performance

Overall image quality is fantastic
Deep blacks and vibrant color reproduction in games
HDR performance is weak

In testing the Legion R45w-30, it provided some good detail and especially smooth output when running Counter-Strike 2, Assetto Corsa Competizione, and Forza Horizon 5 - even if the latter would only run at 21:9, so it couldn’t take advantage of the full wide 32:9 aspect ratio on offer.

Nonetheless, the Legion R45w-30 impressed me, with its good colors and responsive feel. Having never used an ultrawide panel for games before for an extended period, I can certainly see the appeal. ACC especially impressed me, with the entire cockpit of the GT3 Bentley Continental I was driving around Silverstone wrapped around me. Using such a wide monitor seemed to also take away the need to use the camera navigation buttons to move around, as I physically turned my head to take note of where competitors were. The Legion R45w-30 worked wonders for sim racing, not least when I moved from using an Xbox Elite 2 controller to my trusty Logitech G29 wheel.

It also proved to be much the same story when playing Dirt Rally 2, with sharp images and smooth motion thanks to the 165Hz refresh rate. On tight, twisting rally stages with lots of quick changes of direction, the sharper output was most certainly welcome. Counter-Strike 2 was a lot of fun in ultrawide form, with detailed visuals and smooth frames with that 170Hz refresh rate, even if I was terrible at killing enemies.

Out of the box, the Legion R45w-30 offered up relatively deep blacks and near-perfect whites alongside wonderfully accurate colors. It offered a crisp experience for both work and play, and the 5120 x 1440 resolution served up some excellent detail whether I was bombing my way across a New Zealand rally stage or watching some mindless content on YouTube.

A peak brightness of 367 nits is good enough for the price, and meant images did look rather vibrant. Cranking things up to that level didn’t have that much of an impact on whites, although blacks weren’t quite as deep. However, as much as SDR performance here was great, the same can’t be said for HDR. Enabling HDR400 on the monitor and in Windows revealed more washed-out colors and lower color accuracy, meaning this isn’t necessarily the best panel for those workloads. Stick to SDR though, and you’ll be golden.

Performance: 4 / 5

Should you buy the Lenovo Legion R45w-30?

Buy it if...

Don't buy if...

Also Consider

Lenovo Legion R45w-30: Report Card

How I tested the Lenovo Legion R45w-30

Spent nearly two weeks testing
Used for gaming, as well as photo editing and watching videos and day to day work.
Tested using a colorimeter for verifying overall image quality

During my time with the Lenovo Legion R45w-30, I used it as my main working monitor, using it for day-to-day work writing articles and editing images with Photoshop. I also used it to watch streaming content on Disney+ and Prime Video after work, as well as to play a variety of games, including sim racing and shooter titles.

This is a monitor primarily designed for gaming, hence my testing in eSports titles such as Counter-Strike 2, where you’re more likely to feel the benefit of the panel’s 165Hz refresh rate, and using it in sim racing titles such as Assetto Corsa Competizione and Dirt Rally 2 allowed me to gauge its true immersion capabilities. Its fantastic color accuracy and detail also make it suitable for productivity and generalist workloads.