How many inches do you need?
You don't want to buy a 27-inch monitor only to realize it's too small or too big for your desk. Everyone has different needs when it comes to the size of their computer monitor so knowing how big 27 inches is can help you gauge if it's practical for you before you make a purchase.
For traditional desktops, anything smaller than 22 inches might not be large enough while some people find 30 plus inches too large and bulky. To give you an idea of the range we typically recommend between 20-24 inches for slim and sleek desks and 24-27 inches (or more) for larger ones with lots of space.
If you're buying a monitor purely for entertainment like gaming or watching movies then there are even more considerations to make. 27 inches is larger than an average-sized TV screen (which can range from around 23-32 inches) but since you sit closer to your monitor the image will look smaller compared to how it would appear on a TV of similar size.
For this reason, some people prefer buying slightly smaller monitors because the images are larger which makes for a more immersive experience.
If you're not sure what size you should get, try measuring your desk and adding about 10 inches in width and depth so there's enough space for you to work. This way, when comparing different monitors at stores or online, they'll all seem relatively similar in size no matter which one you buy.
How can you decide on the monitor`s size?
This is where 27-inch monitors really shine. If you're limited in desk space and can't decide between a 24 inch or a 32 inch, consider the 27-inch monitor as the happy medium. It's not too large or too small and will give you enough room to work without causing distractions in your peripheral vision.
As we mentioned above, gaming is more immersive when you sit closer to the screen so if that's an important feature for you then go with a larger TV size. You can get great deals on refurbished TVs online so even though it might require investing in an HDTV receiver box for your computer, it may be worth looking into if you want a rich multimedia experience right from your home office.
How should you orient the monitor? Most 27 inch monitors can be placed horizontally or vertically and swiveled so you can find the ideal position for your desk.
If you're shopping online, don't forget to check if there's a rotating stand feature which is handy if you work on multiple projects that require scrolling through paperwork instead of typing it all out. Some models only offer tilting capabilities but this should suffice for most purposes.
So, here is the list of the 5 best 27-inch monitors.
Acer CB272
This monitor is best for everyday use. It is ideal for long hours of work and entertainment. It comes with great features such as Type: IPS, Panel Display: 27" (68.6 cm), Aspect Ratio: 16:9, Resolution: 2560x1440, Refresh Rate: 60 Hz, Response Time: 4 ms, Connectivity: HDMI, VGA Viewing Angle (H/V): 178° / 178°, Features & Functions - Active Control, Focused on User-Friendliness.
Design and equipment:
Acer CB272 has a beautiful design and it is available in several colors. It is equipped with a high-quality IPS panel that ensures excellent image quality regardless of the angle from which you look at it. It also comes with a curved base for easy cable management, so the desk always looks tidy. The stand for this monitor was built with ergonomics in mind and the monitor has a VESA mount that allows you to mount it on the wall.
It is equipped with ports HDMI, DVI, and VGA. Thus, today Acer CB272 will easily integrate into any modern multimedia system. It comes with two built-in speakers that provide high-quality sound without any additional external solutions.
It also features Acer VisionCare technology which helps protect the eyes from the harmful effects of unwanted glare and blue light radiation. In addition, it has a flicker-less function that does not cause constant changes in brightness when you work long hours in front of your monitor.
Panel characteristics:
Acer CB272 has a high-quality IPS panel. It's great for working on Office documents, web surfing, watching movies or playing games on the PC. Acer CB272 also has good pixels that provide excellent image quality from all angles - you can work as comfortably as sitting in front of your monitor. The pixel density of this monitor is 28 pixels per inch.
You will get a comfortable and convenient work with Acer CB272, regardless of whether you are watching movies, playing games, or working on Office documents. This monitor has a response time of 4 ms which makes it perfect for watching movies, playing games, or working on the PC.
Image:
The quality of the image is excellent. Acer CB272 has a high resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and a 6,000,000:1 contrast ratio so you can enjoy beautiful pictures in all their glory. The dynamic contrast ratio of the monitor is 100 million:1.
Acer CB272 supports HDCP so you can watch digital films on it in full HD without any problems or limitations. It also has two built-in speakers that provide good sound quality regardless of your choice for work - listening to music or watching movies without extra external solutions.
The color gamut is normal and covers the sRGB 93 % color space.
Productivity:
Acer CB272 has an IPS panel that provides excellent viewing angles and accurate colors for your work no matter how you look at it. The response time of this monitor is 4 ms, so images do not blur under fast movements and transitions between different scenes in games and videos will be displayed fluidly and quickly.
Which results in a great comfortable experience, without delays and problems with watching movies, surfing the web, or playing games. In addition, the 27" screen is ideal for working on large documents and allows you to have several windows open simultaneously.
Acer CB272 also includes a Flicker-less technology that does not cause constant changes in brightness when you work long hours in front of your monitor. It will be easy on your eyes and allow more comfortable viewing. So you will feel more refreshed after a long day at work or entertaining activities. This function is turned off by default but can be activated from the OSD menu if needed.
BenQ EW277HDR
When it comes to the best 27-inch monitor BenQ EW277HDR is a great choice thanks to its high resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels), high contrast ratio (20,000,000:1), the quick response time (4 ms), and many other useful features.
It has an ergonomic VESA mount that allows you to easily change the height of the screen or rotate it up to 90 degrees according to your wishes. The design of this monitor was created with comfort in mind - it has thin bezels on three sides so there are no distractions when watching movies.
Design and equipment:
BenQ EW277HDR offers a stylish curved design with a simple matte black finish. It's great for working on Office documents, web surfing, watching movies or playing games.
This monitor has an advanced ergonomic system that allows you to set it up in three different ways - height adjustment of the screen is possible using the standard 100mm VESA mount. You can also rotate the panel into portrait mode or tilt it up to 45 degrees depending on your needs and requirements.
In addition, BenQ EW277HDR has a suitable cable management solution that hides all cords and cables connected to this monitor - no one will even notice them which means there are no distractions when working.
Construction materials are good so you will feel comfortable when using it. It has an anti-glare screen coating that provides a clear vision regardless of the angle from which you look at it.
Panel characteristics:
Its VA panel provides a high contrast ratio of 20 million:1 to ensure great images with deep blacks and bright whites. 80% of the NTSC color space is supported by this model.
It has good viewing angles (178 degrees both vertically and horizontally) so colors will not change even when looking at such monitors from different positions. There's also BenQ Eye-Care Technology that regulates brightness, reduces blue light emissions, and prevents flickering.
Image:
Thinking about image quality, BenQ EW277HDR is very good. The IPS panel provides accurate colors and is typical for this monitor - high contrast ratio of 20 million: 1.
BenQ EW277HDR also has a quick response time (4 ms) to ensure smooth transitions between different scenes in games, movies, or videos which results in great comfort when using it. You can also activate its black equalizer technology that enhances the visibility of dark areas without affecting the whole image.
The pixel density is relatively high (91.79 pixels per inch) to provide detailed images and allow you to work with multiple windows open simultaneously. Brightness is not high (250 cd / m²) but sufficient to work comfortably even in bright environments. And the color gamut covers 91.9% of sRGB color space.
Productivity:
This monitor features with energy star certificate which means it is eco-friendly and uses less energy when compared to regular monitors. In addition, BenQ EW277HDR supports a Flicker-less technology that does not cause constant changes in brightness when you work long hours in front of your monitor. So you will feel more refreshed after a long day at work or entertaining activities.
The refresh rate is 75 Hz, but this monitor is compatible with AMD FreeSync technology so you can easily connect your graphics card to it and enjoy smooth video playback. So, when playing games you won't notice any tearing or image stuttering.
AOC CQ27G2
AOC was always one of those brands that I would not be drawn to when choosing a monitor. They seem to produce low-end and mid-range products that never really stood out or did anything new and exciting.
The CQ27G2 is the newest addition to AOC's C range of monitors which usually consists of smaller screens aimed at casual gamers and multimedia consumers. This differs from their G (Gaming) and E (Enthusiast/Professional ranges). The device has a fairly standard 27", 2ms GTG, 16:9 VA panel with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution; offering true 8-bit color reproduction even on VGA input. Viewing angles are 176 degrees both horizontally and vertically without losing contrast or saturation levels.
Design and equipment:
AOC CQ27G2 design is almost identical to all other C range monitors. The base is the same plastic offering that provides only basic ergonomics options unless you choose to wall mount it or place it on a VESA stand, which is not included in the package.
The bezels are quite thick at 16mm, but this doesn't take too much away from an otherwise decent-looking monitor - especially for work-related tasks. What does help maximize its potential is the addition of touch-sensitive buttons located under the bottom bezel. They are placed near the center so they are easily accessible during use and light up when the screen goes into standby mode.
This monitor is equipped with VGA, HDMI, and DisplayPort so you can connect your main peripherals using various cables. You may also use the integrated USB hub to conveniently plug in your mouse, keyboard, or other devices.
Panel characteristics:
AOC CQ27G2 uses an AU Optronics M270DAN02.3 AHVA panel which unsurprisingly offers similar performance to other modern panel technologies such as IPS and TN. It has a 7ms grey-to-grey response time, 3000:1 contrast ratio, and 250 cd/m² maximum brightness for both sRGB and Adobe RGB modes. The latter is not available when you first plug the monitor in but can be activated from windows settings.
Lastly, the viewing angles are average but as usual, it depends on your sitting position. You can see the image clearly from a little over 45 degrees to the left and right, which is not as wide as IPS monitors provide. The color reproduction is almost perfect with dE < 2. This makes it suitable for web design or any other color-critical work.
Image:
The AOC CQ27G2 produces accurate colors (79% NTSC) which is good for work-related tasks like image processing, editing photos, and browsing web pages. There are some presets that will help you fine-tune your colors by changing color temperature (6500K, 5000K & 9300K), gamma (1.8/2.0), and black level (50/100%) but keep in mind they only apply to VGA input.
76% of the sRGB color palette is covered which makes it suitable for movies, games, and multimedia activities. As with most modern monitors it is also equipped with low input lag technology which means you can use it to play video games without experiencing delays in processing commands sent by your controller or mouse.
Productivity:
AOC CQ27G2 provides a consistent grayscale and gamma performance which makes it suitable for web design and photo editing. It offers accurate colors out of the box but needs calibration to achieve consistent color accuracy. The monitor is flicker-free with DC adjustment at all brightness levels.
Viewing angles are average so you need to be in front of the screen when working on multiple devices or documents. And, if you plan on using it for color-critical work, we highly recommend a calibration to achieve better results. Overall, the image quality is good but not exceptional for this price range.