Best Reviewed Flicker Free Monitor Buying Guides > Best Reviewed Flicker Free Monitor Buying Guides
Best 144-170hz 1440p Monitors
NCX:
AHVA/IPS/PLS vs VA Panel Image Quality Differences
Curved VA panels have less sharp text than AHVA/IPS/PLS and TN panels:
IBXT Curved C24FG70 VA Text Blur Analysis
PC Monitors Curved VA Panel Text Blur Analysis
TN panels suffer from vertical gamma shift: their colors and shades are uneven from top (top quarter is too dark) to bottom (bottom half is washed out), as well tend to have more banding, and always have vastly less wide, or more restrictive viewing angles, though all LCD panel types look the worst when viewed from above, or looked down at.
VA panels suffer from horizontal gamma shift which causes the sides of VA panel to be significantly lighter or washed out compared to AHVA, IPS and PLS panels. VA panel gamma becomes lower, and colors and shades become more washed out the further away from the center.
AOC AG271QG (1440p AUO AHVA Panel):
AOC AG271QG GB Stripes by Dr NCX, on Flickr
BenQ Zowie RL2460 (1080p AUO TN):
BenQ Zowie RL2460 Gamma Shift 15s by Dr NCX, on Flickr
Samsung 43NU7100 (Samsung VA Panel):
Samsung 43NU7100 GB Stripes by Dr NCX, on Flickr
NCX:
AHVA/IPS/PLS vs TN Panel Image Quality Differences
All TN panels have very restrictive viewing angles and suffer from vertical gamma shift, therefore all TN panels have bad image quality. AHVA/IPS/PLS panel glow is not a problem if viewed correctly, and not in the dark with the brightness cranked:
IPS vs TN: Right & Wrong Ways To Use Or View;
How To Vastly Reduce AHVA/IPS/PLS Glow & Increase The Perceived Black Depth
Since TN panels suffer from vertical gamma shift, their colors and shades are uneven from top (top quarter is too dark) to bottom (bottom half is washed out), as well tend to have more banding, and always have vastly less wide, or more restrictive viewing angles, though all LCD panel types look the worst when viewed from above, or looked down at.
It does not matter if one sits directly in front of their TN panel (correct way to view a TN), or how much one pays, especially since the majority (excluding Dell S2716DG & S2719DGF) of the most expensive 27" 1440p TN panels use grainier/sparklier matte coatings than AHVA/IPS/PLS panels. Calibration can vastly improve inaccurate TN panels, but a TN is a TN, and all TN suffer from obvious vertical gamma shift.
Dell S2716DG (AUO TN) v BenQ XL2420G (AUO TN) v Qnix QX2710 (Samsung PLS):
Dell S2716DG v BenQ XL2420G v Qnix QX2710 by Dr NCX, on Flickr
Calibrated with an X-Rite i1 display pro colorimeter with ICC profile activated to correct the gamma in 2015.
Acer XB271HU (AUO AHVA) vs Dell S2716DG (AUO TN):
Acer XB271HU vs Dell S2716DG by Dr NCX, on Flickr
Calibrated but connected to a PS4 so there's no gamma correction; both monitors have non-linear and low-ish gamma below the target of linear 2.2
Are 27" 1440p TN panels Better? No
I reviewed the Dell S2719DGF (144hz 2560x1440 8 bit AUO TN from 2018) which has better image quality than the S2716DG (144hz 2560x1440 8 bit AUO TN from 2015) , but has worse image quality than the BenQ Zowie RL2460 since it can properly cover SDR (HTDV/REC 709 & sRGB) color spaces while both Dell monitors over and under-saturate colors, as well as can come with low preset gamma (the S2719DGF I tested came with sub 2.0 preset gamma):
e by Dr NCX, on Flickr
BenQ Zowie RL2460 vs Dell S2719DGF Calibrated Color Gamut Comparisons::
BenQ Zowie RL2460 vs Dell S2719DGF Color Gamut Comparison by Dr NCX, on Flickr
The BenQ Zowie (6 bit +FRC AUO TN panel) can fully cover both SDR color spaces (HDTV/REC709 & sRGB) without any under-saturation and only a bit of under-saturation while the Dell S2719DGF significantly over and under-saturates some colors compared to both the HDTV/REC 709 and sRGB color space, and does so significantly more when un-calibrated. When un-calibrated it significantly over and under-saturates some colors compared to both the HDTV/REC 709 and sRGB color space. The top left side of the triangle (HDTV/REC 709 color gamut) falls short resulting in the under-saturation of blue and medium to dark greens. Medium to light greens, yellows, oranges and some reds are all over-saturated, a phenomenon typical of AUO panels, including both their 27" 2560x1440 and 32" 3840x2160 AHVA (more balanced or pure) panels which also over-saturate the same colors resulting in green and yellow tints to browns, greys and whites, even after calibration.
Keep in mind that the S2719DGF is calibrated and has its gamma fixed in the below comparison versus being too low out-of-the-box and significantly more washed out. Click here to see comparisons of the Dell pre-calibration or un-calibrated versus calibrated to see what a unit with low-preset gamma looks like.
1.) AOC AG271QG (AUO AHVA) versus Dell S2719DGF (AUO TN) calibrated with a Spectracal C6 HDR 2000:
AOC AG271QG vs Dell S2719DGF STALKER CLEAR SKY 2 by Dr NCX, on Flickr
2.) AOC AG271QG (AUO AHVA) versus Dell S2719DGF (AUO TN) calibrated with a Spectracal C6 HDR 2000:
AOC AG271QG vs Dell S2719DGF STALKER CLEAR SKY 1 by Dr NCX, on Flickr
3.) AOC AG271QG (AUO AHVA) versus Dell S2719DGF (AUO TN) calibrated with a Spectracal C6 HDR 2000:
AOC AG271QG vs Dell S2719DGF 3 by Dr NCX, on Flickr
NCX:
Best 144-165hz 1440p Monitors with Free-Sync
Official G-Sync compatible AMD Free-Sync Monitor List
Curved VA panels have less sharp text than AHVA/IPS/PLS and TN panels:
IBXT Curved C24FG70 VA Text Blur Analysis
PC Monitors Curved VA Panel Text Blur Analysis
List of cards which support Free-Sync.
1.) Acer Nitro VG270UP (40-144hz AMD Free-Sync & 120hz back-light strobing = Visual Boost Response); AHVA version
1.) Eizo FS2735 (48-144hz AMD Free-Sync & back-light strobing) AHVA; from 2015
1.) Acer XF270HUA bmiidprzx (30-144hz AMD Free-Sync) AHVA
2.) LG 27GL850 (48-144hz AMD Free-Sync) LG IPS
2.) LG 27GL83A (48-144hz AMD Free-Sync) LG IPS
2.) Pixio PX7 Prime (20-144hz AMD Free-Sync) IPS type
2.) ViewSonic VX2758-2KP-MHD (20-144hz AMD Free-Sync) IPS type
3.) Acer Nitro XV272UP (48-144hz AMD Free-Sync & back-light strobing) Innolux IPS
3.) ASUS ROG Strix XG279Q (48-170hz AMD Free-Sync & back-light strobing)
4.) BenQ EX2780Q (48-144hz AMD Free-Sync) IPS type
5.) Razer Raptor 27 (20-144hz AMD Free-Sync) IPS type
5.) Gigabyte AORUS AD27QD (48-144hz AMD Free-Sync) Innolux IPS
5.) Samsung C27HG70 (48-144hz AMD Free-Sync) curved VA
6.) Asus MG279Q (30-90hz AMD Free-Sync) AHVA
6.) Nixeus NX-EDG27Sv2 & NX-EDG27v2 (30-144hz AMD Free-Sync) AHVA
7) Acer Nitro VG270UP (40-144hz AMD Free-Sync & 120hz back-light strobing = Visual Boost Response); Innolux IPS version
8.). Acer VG271 (40-144hz AMD Free-Sync & 120hz back-light strobing = Visual Boost Response); Innolux IPS
9.) AOC 273QCX (48-144hz AMD Free-Sync) curved VA
10.) MSI MPG27CQ (48-144hz AMD Free-Sync) curved VA
11.) Monoprice 33822 QHD (48-144hz AMD Free-Sync) VA
12.) Asus MG278Q (30-144hz AMD Free-Sync) TN
13.) AOC AG273QCG (30-144hz AMD Free-Sync) TN
14.) BenQ XL2730Z (30-144hz AMD Free-Sync and Blur Reduction) TN
15.) AOC AG271X Agon (30-165hz AMD Free-Sync) TN
The Acer Nitro VG270UP (AUO AHVA panel) and Eizo Foris FS2735 is the best 144hz 1440p AHVA panel since they are very accurate as well as supports back-light strobing; the Acer is significantly cheaper, but lacks a height adjustable stand and USB ports, and Acer replaced it with an inferior Innolux IPS panel which is less accurate and has slower pixel response times.
The Acer XF270HUA uses an AHVA panel with faster pixel response times (less ghosting) than the Innolux IPS panels, as well as is very accurate. The Acer Nitro XV272UP and Gigabyte AORUS AD27QD are very similar, but the Acer is more accurate out of the box and when set to the over-saturation reducing sRGB mode.
The 27GL850 is also excellent, but has low contrast (<800:1) and needs to be set to the sRGB mode (which is very accurate and has adjustable brightness but locked color controls) to prevent the wide gamut panel from over-saturating the color of non-HDR content. The 27GL850 has negligible or very low input lag and very fast pixel response times with minimal overshoot, but the overdrive needs to be set from Normal to Fast at 144hz to provide the fastest pixel response times, and to Normal at 60hz to prevent obvious overshoot ghosting.
The Pixio PX7 Prime and ViewSonic VX2758-2KP-MHD have negligible input lag, superior gamma tracking and sRGB (99.5% measured by Rtings) color space coverage than the LG 27GL83A-B which has faster pixel response times (less ghosting) and less color bleed (in gradient tests) than both the Pixio and ViewSonic. The Pixio PX7 Prime comes with a height adjustable stand, 165hz support and more inputs than the Viewsonic, but the ViewSonic VX2758-2KP-MHD has better black uniformity (based on Rtings reviews) and slightly faster pixel response times (less ghosting).
The Gigabyte AORUS AD27QD (Innolux IPS) is the most consistently accurate 144-165hz 1440p AHVA/IPS panel with Free-Sync along with the Eizo FS2735, has a semi-wide gamut Innolux IPS panel with some HDR support and great gaming performance, but it is slower than the AHVA panels and LG IPS panel in the LG 27GL850. Read my in depth Gigabyte analysis here for much more information about how the reviewed units compare.
The 170hz ASUS ROG Strix XG279Q is faster than the Gigabyte monitors, BenQ EX2708Q and a few others, but also over-saturates SDR color (HDTV/REC 709 & sRGB) by over 30% and does not have a good SDR color mode.
The BenQ EX2780Q is very accurate when set to the Standard and Rec 709 Picture modes; the Standard mode uses the native wide gamut which covers 94% of the DCI-P3/HDR color space and over-saturates SDR color (HDTV/REC 709 & sRGB) by 33% while the REC 709 mode accurately emulates the REC 709 color space without significant over or under-saturation and should be used when not viewing HDR content. The BenQ has negligible input lag (<4ms measured with the SMT Tool) and fast pixel response times when the preset AMA High Response Time setting is used, but it's not as fast as IPS competitors like the LG 27GL850 which Playwares measured a 3ms pixel response average time compared to the BenQ's 6-7ms average.
The Razer Raptor 27 is very accurate, but has a slight preset red tint and over-saturates the color of non DCI-P3 content (HDTV/REC 709 & sRGB) by 36% since it uses a wide gamut and HDR capable panel without a properly functioning sRGB emulation mode. The HDR mode is more accurate than the SDR modes, and the Razer has negligible input lag and fast pixel response times for a non-TN panel.
Do to a lack of reviews I can't determine if the BenQ is faster than the Razer or vice versa, but I do know that the BenQ has a properly functioning SDR (HDTV/REC 709 & sRGB) mode.
The Samsung C27HG70 uses a VA panel with both back-light strobing, Free-sync and decent HDR support for the price. It has much better image quality than the TN panels, but slightly less sharp text caused by the curved VA panels pixel structure, and slower pixel response times which causes more ghosting, or smearing of black, browns and greys, especially medium and dark variants of these colors and shades.
The Samsung C27HG70 is more accurate than the Monoprice 33822 QHD, and the Samsung has a semi-wide gamut panel with good HDR color space coverage (95% DCIP3), back-light strobing, a properly functioning and accurate sRGB mode to prevent over-saturation of non-HDR content, and has a perceived black depth increasing dark matte grey bezel versus the Monoprice's fake bezel/frame-less casing's inner black bezel. The Samsung offers a perceived black depth increasing matte grey bezel significantly better HDR support than the AC 273QCX which uses a fake bezel/frame-less casing with a perceived black depth reducing inner black bezel, but has faster pixel response times and is completely PWM free.
The Asus MG279Q has a limited Free-Sync range, but is fairly accurate, has faster pixel response times than the Innolux IPS version of the VG270UP and Nixeus, and has a perceived black depth increasing matte grey bezel. The Free-Sync range can be increased to 60-144hz with the Custom Resolution Utility made by ToastyX.
The non-S version, the NX-EDG27v2 does not come with a height adjustable stand. The Nixues is very accurate, but is a bit too warm (5800k color temperature) or has a minor preset orange or red dominance. It can be considered to be display free or to have negligible input lag (TFT Central measured <5ms with the SMT Tool), but has significantly slower pixel response times than some AHVA panel using competitors, however, it is important to remember that the Nixeus is one of the cheapest 144hz 1440p non-TN panels, and that the Innolux IPS panels are also slower than the best AHVA panels such as the Acer XF270HUA bmiidprzx.
I'm not sure if the Nixeus is slower than the IPS version of the VG270UP since they were tested by different reviewers, and the Nixeus as better preset gamma accuracy than the VG270UP, but it can be improved by selecting the sRGB mode which locks the brightness and color controls. Both are two of the cheapest 144hz 1440p non-TN panels, so until more reviews come they will be equally ranked.
The AOC 273QCX uses a curved 2560x1440 144hz semi-wide gamut and matte VA panel with Nvidia compatible (requires 10 series or better) AMD Free-Sync, 2x Displayport, HDMI 1.4 (75hz 2560x1440), HDMI 2.0 (144hz & Free-Sync support), HDR 400, RGB Lighting, 2x USB 3.0, VGA and 3.5mm Audio In & Out. The Game Mode 1 and 2 presets offer the most accurate colors, but over-saturate some by over 20% since the 273QCX uses a semi-wide gamut panel. AOC included a fairly accurate sRGB mode which prevents over-saturation, but locks the color controls. The AOC claims HDR400 support, but lacks a full 10 bit and wide gamut (91.3% DCI-P3 coverage) panel with 1000cdm/2 or nit brightness (it can output 400cdm/2 as advertised) and local dimming to provide real HDR, which is to be expected from monitors under 1300$ US. The 273QCX has a very low 8ms delay (SMT Tool measurement) and fast pixel response times (for a VA panel) without obvious overshoot ghosting.
NCX:
Best 144-165hz 1440p Monitors with G-Sync
Curved VA panels have less sharp text than AHVA/IPS/PLS and TN panels:
IBXT Curved C24FG70 VA Text Blur Analysis
PC Monitors Curved VA Panel Text Blur Analysis
1.) Viewsonic XG2703-GS (30-144hz Nvidia G-Sync) AHVA*
2.) AOC AG271QG (30-144hz Nvidia G-Sync) AHVA*
3.) Asus PG279QE or QZ (60-165hz Nvidia G-Sync) AHVA
3.5) Asus PG279Q (30-144hz Nvidia G-Sync) AHVA*
4.) ViewSonic XG270QG 30-144hz Nvidia G-Sync) IPS*
5.) Acer XB271HU (30-165hz Nvidia G-Sync) AHVA*
6.) HP 27 Omen (30-165hz Nvidia G-Sync) TN
7.) AOC AG273QCG (30-165hz Nvidia G-Sync) TN
8.) Asus PG278Q (30-144hz Nvidia G-Sync) TN
*Support 165hz overclock
There are five 144-165hz 2560x1440 matte AUO AHVA panels (marketed as IPS) with Nvidia G-Sync, of which the AOC AG271QG is currently the best since the Viewsonic XG2703-GS was discontinued. The other two options are the Acer XB271HU (least accurate), and Asus PG279Q (overpriced and worst build quality) and PG279QZ, but none have gamma settings to combat potentially low preset gamma, the Acer suffers from a bit of overshoot ghosting at 60hz (important for console gaming), and the Asus can not scale 1080p very well. All of these monitors suffer from an obvious preset green/yellow tint, as well as tend to under-saturate blue. The Acer is the least accurate of the bunch, and AOC tends to purposefully preset their monitors gamma too low, but at least AOC has multiple useful gamma settings to achieve more linear 2.2 gamma while the Acer and Asus's gamma can only be lowered resulting in more washed out colors.
The XG270QG is very accurate aside from a slight warm preset green tint, and can fully cover the SDR (HDTV/REC 709 & sRGB) color spaces, but has average contrast (850:1) and over-saturates the color of non DCI-P3 content (HDTV/REC 709 & sRGB) since it uses a wide gamut and HDR capable panel without a properly functioning sRGB emulation mode. The ViewSonic XG270QG has negligible input lag and fast pixel response times for a non-TN panel at all refresh rates with the response time is set to the Standard (no overshoot) and Advanced (faster but with minor overshoot) settings.
I'm not sure if the HP 27 Omen (more information and comparisons) suffers from the same dark scene banding as the Dell S2417DG and S2716DG, but it is more accurate than the AOC AG273QCG and Dell monitors which is why it is ranked higher.
The AOC AG273QCG has fairly linear gamma and a semi-wide gamut panel which slightly over-saturates colors, but has strong preset green tint (Belgium Hardware) and may come with low (700:1) contrast which is normal for curved TN panels. While flawed, the AOC offers better image quality than the Dell S2417DG and S2716DG which suffer from horrific dark scene banding, overshoot ghosting (S2716DG), and similar contrast and accuracy flaws.
The Asus PG278Q comes in last place because it is very expensive, uses the grainiest matte coating used by a 1440p monitor since 2011, often comes with pathetically low average gamma (1.7 gamma average=washed out colors) and has many quality control and functionality related issues.
NCX:
Correct Display Height=Reduced AHVA/IPS/PLS Glow
Read The Article and/or watch The Extended YouTube Version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBAQ4Toxt9U
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version