Expert's Rating
Pros
- Excellent gaming performance
- Maximum refresh rate of 240Hz
- Curved monitor with curvature of 1,000R
- Designed by Porsche
Cons
- High electricity use
- Expensive
Our Verdict
The AOC PD27 is an elegantly designed 1440p gaming monitor that’s perfect for hardcore gamers looking for a premium display. This monitor can keep up with very demanding games running at high frame rates, and this excellent performance is complemented by a curved display that’s bright and rich in contrast. It offers comprehensive ergonomic adjustments and its menu interface is intuitive and useful. But you also must take into account the $799 MSRP and the expensive, high-end graphics card needed to take full advantage of the monitor’s features.
Price When Reviewed
799
The PD27 is unique among other gaming monitors: It bears an exclusive design by none other than Porsche Design—hence the “PD” in the PD27 model name. These design elements can be seen throughout, such as in the monitor’s base, which is inspired by the roll cages found on Porsche rally cars and DTM cars. This 27-inch monitor also produces light effects thanks to an RGB strip on the monitor itself and a separate light that projects the PD logo on your physical desktop.
This review is part of our best gaming monitors roundup. Go there to learn more about competing monitors, our buying recommendations, and our evaluation process.
AOC PD27: The specs
The AOC PD27 isn’t just flashy design either; it also has exceptional performance characteristics. The display comes with an ultra-fast VA panel with a reaction time of 1 millisecond and a resolution of 2560×1440 pixels.
The curved monitor has a radius of 1,000mm, which supports a more immersive gaming experience. Furthermore, this 1440p monitor uses adaptive sync technology with AMD graphics cards to produce a blazing-fast refresh rate of 240Hz.
| Display size | 27 inches |
| Native resolution | 2560×1440 |
| Panel type | VA / 16:9 |
| Refresh rate | 240Hz |
| Adaptive sync | Yes, specifically AMD FreeSync Premium Pro |
| Ports | 2x Display ports, 2x HDMI, 4x USB, 1x audio-interface analog |
| Stand adjustment | Height, tilt, swivel |
| VESA mount | Yes, 100x100mm |
| Speakers | Yes |
| HDR | Yes, VESA DisplayHDR 400 |
| Price | $799 |
For comparison purposes, we also tested the monitor with a GeForce graphics cards and although Nvidia doesn’t list the AOC PD27 in its compatibility list, the synchronization of the gaming monitor worked without any issues.
AOC
AOC PD27: Image quality
The AOC PD27 shows fantastic image quality with strong contrast and high brightness. The drawback is that the distribution of brightness within the whole screen could be better. Additionally, the color rendering is neutral and feels natural because this gaming monitor covers 100 percent of the sRGB spectrum, which is important in gaming.
In our gaming test, the AOC PD27 was convincing on all fronts. The 27-inch monitor is very responsive; we didn’t notice any input lag in any gaming situation. Even in very complex, graphics-heavy games the display handled confidently. With a refresh rate of 240Hz and a pleasant curvature, the monitor does exceptionally well with fast-paced games. Note: To truly experience the potential of the AOC PD27, you will need a very potent graphics card, which only enhances the overall expense.
AOC PD27: two HDMI and Displayport interfaces
.PC Welt
AOC PD27: Ports
The available ports are diverse: Two HDMI ports and two DisplayPort inputs, plus four USB 3.0 ports are integrated into the casing. The max refresh rate of 240Hz is only possible using the DP interface though.
A nice benefit is that cables are included in the box for all ports, even the analog ports for audio. Both speakers offer a variety of adjustments like DTS and an equalizer, but the sound can feel quite weak because a solid foundation bass is missing.
AOC PD27: Features and menu
The screen menu is tabularly structured and really easy to navigate. There are a lot of gaming settings, like presets for different game genres, including racing and FPS.
The controls are comfortable, using a five-way joystick on the right side of the back of the casing, or with a small, triangular remote control. The curved monitor can also be easily positioned thanks to a multitude of ergonomic adjustment settings.
AOC PD27: The WQHD gaming monitor can also be used with a small remote control.
PC Welt
AOC PD27: Power consumption
Due to its high maximum brightness of 400 cd/qm, the AOC PD 27 needs more than 50 watts of power—quite a lot for just 27 inches of screen. When it’s in standby mode, the need for electricity goes down to 0.2 watts.
AOC PD27: Final thoughts
The AOC PD27 is a really fantastic choice for anybody who is really into gaming. The excellent screen quality, the natural-color display, and the maximum refresh rate make this monitor an almost perfect option. The 240Hz refresh rate offers buttery-smooth gameplay and the super-low input lag makes onscreen decisions feel almost instantaneous.
The ostentatious design and high price might not appeal to everyone, but under all of the luxury Porsche Design branding, sits a terrific monitor. If you can afford it, it’s hard to say no to this monitor.
The AOC PD27 impressed us so much that it even made out list of Best monitors and Best gaming monitors.
This review originally appeared on PC-Welt, PCWorld’s German sister site.