Pros:
- Great colours and vibrancy, even in SDR
- 240Hz at QHD resolution
- Image reproduction and clarity
- Adaptive Sync works great to reduce ghosting and blur
- Simplistic design
- Pretty solid selection of ports and a USB hub
- KVM switch makes life much easier
- Price considering the overall package
Cons:
- Contrast ratio isn’t very high
- Can only be adjusted for height and tilt, no swivel or rotation
- Lacks HDMI 2.1 port, so isn’t great for consoles
Rating: 4.25/5
Price: Rs 40,000 on e-commerce platforms
When it comes to 27-inch gaming monitors, finding one with a 1440p resolution and a blazing-fast 240Hz refresh rate can be a challenge. Enter the Gigabyte M27Q X, aiming to fill that gap with its impressive specs and reasonable price point.
While the headline features are indeed the resolution and refresh rate, the M27Q X offers much more. The IPS panel delivers vibrant colours and solid display quality, making gaming and multimedia experiences enjoyable. The 27-inch size strikes a balance between screen real estate and pixel density, providing an immersive viewing experience without sacrificing clarity.
For anything faster than 240Hz, you better have something as powerful as the RTX 4080 or the RTX 4090 if you want to enjoy your games at the highest details. Anything under 1440P nowadays simply doesn’t cut the mustard any longer.
Despite its strengths, the M27Q X isn’t without its drawbacks. The lack of an HDMI 2.1 port is unfortunate, and some users may miss the swivel and rotational features so you can’t switch to a vertical orientation on the go. Nevertheless, my experience testing the Gigabyte M27Q X was overwhelmingly positive. Its combination of high performance, solid display quality, and reasonable price makes it a compelling option for gamers seeking a premium gaming experience without breaking the bank.
Gigabyte M27Q X Gaming Monitor review: Design and built
The Gigabyte M27Q X has a sleek and understated design It doesn’t scream “gamer vibes” like some other monitors, but it’s not super plain either.
It has a 27-inch display, which is placed in a black plastic chassis. It should should fit comfortably on most desks. We get some pretty thin bezels on the sides and the top, while the bottom one has a slightly larger chin, that also has Gigabyte’s logo.
The screen can move up and down about 5-6 inches and also has tilt movement for about 25 degrees, front and back. However, we don’t get any swivel movement. What’s worse is that it also doesn’t support any rotational movement, which, in my book, is its biggest flaw as far as design is concerned. It would have made a great secondary monitor that could added to your main monitor, especially if you’re a streamer.
In terms of build quality, the M27Q X impresses despite its plastic construction. The plastic doesn’t feel cheap to touch, although, there is a glossy section on the back panel which is a literal fingerprint magnet.
The stand, again is pretty solid, and hold the monitor well in place, without any major concerns.
Setting it up is easy as well. You just bolt the base with the upright arm that also has a VESA holder, and you snap that into the cutout at the back of the monitor.
You also have the option to use your own stand or arm as long as it is compatible with the included 100mm VESA mount.
Looking at it from the back, there’s a shiny strip with the Gigabyte logo and model number. There are some grooves for style points, and you’ll find the control buttons there too. Plus, there’s a handy joystick for navigating the on-screen menu and a KVM button for switching between connected devices.
The Gigabyte M27Q X is not as bulky as some other monitors of this size, so it won’t take up too much space on your desk.
You also get two 2W speakers built in. They get the job done when you’re in a tight situation and are a nice inclusion, but I wouldn’t recommend using them as your primary audio solution, as they tend to sound tinny and a little sharp.
Gigabyte M27Q X Gaming Monitor review: Inputs & OSD Menu
The Gigabyte M27Q X has a pretty impressive selection of ports. On the rear panel, you’ll find a DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports, a USB-C with 18W PD, a 3.5mm audio jack, and three USB-A 3.0 ports, two for downstream and one for upstream. You can also practically hook the monitor up to anything and more than one device, thanks to its onboard KVM switch, one of the standout features of the M27Q X.
The integrated KVM switch, lets users connect multiple devices, such as a desktop computer and a laptop, to the monitor and easily switch between them using the intuitive controls. This makes multitasking and productivity workflows much more easy to manage.
While the M27Q X performs solidly in many areas, it does not have a HDMI 2.1 port, which means it does not behave well with most modern gaming consoles such as the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Considering just how popular console gaming has become, we’re not sure that Gigabyte may want to ignore this segment.
The M27Q X comes with an AMD FreeSync Premium certification, but it also performs admirably with G-Sync, ensuring smooth and tear-free gaming experiences for gamers.
Coming to the on-screen display (OSD) menu, navigating the monitor’s settings and menus is a breeze, thanks to small nubbin or joystick located at the back of the monitor. It gives users a pretty great control for adjusting various image settings, gaming enhancements, and a bunch of convenience features.
In the Gaming menu, gamers can choose from a range of gaming aids and features, including Aim Stabilizer, which reduces motion blur via backlight strobing, and Black Equalizer, which enhances shadow detail by adjusting black levels. You can also control the monitor’s OSD using the mouse and keyboard, thanks to a feature called OSD Sidekick
With six picture presets and three custom memory slots, users can also easily adjust settings to their liking. Standard and sRGB presets offer accurate colour representation, while customizable gamma options, colour temperatures, and RGB sliders allow for personalized image adjustments. Users can also quickly save and access custom modes through the saved configuration options.
Gigabyte M27Q X Gaming Monitor review: Performance
With the M27Q X, you get a 27-inch screen size, with a resolution of 2560X1440, and a native refresh rate of 240Hz at 8-bit colour. The QHD display ensures that every pixel strikes an optimal balance between achieving smooth frame rates and delivering crystal-clear imagery, all while offering a pixel density of approximately 109 pixels per inch (PPI).
We have an IPS panel here, which is great for minimizing ghosting and motion blur, making it ideal for fast-paced first-person shooter (FPS) games. Additionally, the panel has great viewing angles and colour accuracy, which ensures that every visual detail pops on the screen.
Gamers will truly enjoy the monitor’s native refresh rate of 240 hertz, which essentially guarantees buttery-smooth gameplay that’s second to none. Plus, you get support for FreeSync Premium as well as G-Sync. The M27Q X basically ensures you have tear-free gaming, a fully immersive gaming experience, whether you have an NVIDIA system, or an AMD one.
When it comes to colour coverage, the M27Q X covers 92 per cent of the DCI-P3 colour space and 140 per cent of the sRGB colour space. This wider colour gamut ensures that every shade is rich and vibrant, adding depth and realism to games and multimedia content alike.
Additionally, the monitor supports eight bits of colour at its full 240-hertz refresh rate, with the option to utilize frame rate control (FRC) to achieve 10 bits of colour at 200 hertz or below, providing users with flexibility and versatility in their colour reproduction.
Coming to the image quality, in SDR, the M27Q X shines with an impressive brightness rating of approximately 380 nits, which is more than the advertised 350 nits. The colours look pretty solid and vibrant — they pop out.
However, where this monitor truly shines is in HDR mode. Yes, you are only getting HDR400, so it’s not that bright or vibrant an HDR experience as you would get from an OLED panel. However, activating HDR mode elevates the gaming experience to new heights, as you get truly vibrant colours. The visuals leap off the screen, all while maintaining the smoothness and fluidity of the 240Hz display.
Out of the box, the M27Q X may exhibit slightly over-boosted greens and underdone reds and blues. Nevertheless, the monitor’s colour temperature remains spot-on, which results in a natural-looking image that’s easy on the eyes.
Just make a few adjustments in the on-screen display (OSD) to fine-tune the colour profiles if you’re looking for accuracy, and you’re good to go.
While the M27Q X may not boast perfect panel technology, it excels where it truly matters — in delivering an exceptional gaming experience. Whether you’re going on epic adventures in story-based games or engaging in adrenaline-fueled fast-paced battles in competitive shooters, this monitor delivers great performance and immersion that’s sure to captivate gamers of all levels.
Gigabyte M27Q X Gaming Monitor review: Verdict
The Gigabyte M27Q X is a standout performer, and offers a solid combination of fast refresh rate and resolution. With its impressive 240Hz refresh rate and QHD resolution at a 27-inch size, it strikes a great balance between smooth gameplay and sharp image quality. Whether you’re into in intense, fast-paced FPS gaming or highly detailed, story & visual-oriented games, you’ll appreciate the clarity and fluidity this monitor delivers.
While there are many other 1440p gaming monitors on the market, the M27Q X stands out because of its high refresh rate — this monitor keeps visuals crisp and clean, even during the most demanding gaming moments.
The M27Q X practically ticks all the boxes that a gamer would want from their monitors. It has great colour accuracy and is pretty big enough for an immersive gaming experience.
While it excels in many areas, the M27Q X does have a few limitations. Its lack of HDMI 2.1 ports may disappoint console gamers who are looking for the latest connectivity options, and its lack of swivelling or rotating features may pose challenges for productivity users who prefer a more flexible positioning.
Despite these minor drawbacks, the Gigabyte M27Q X is a top choice for gamers and professionals alike. With its winning combination of performance, features, and affordability, it’s a monitor that delivers on all fronts. No matter what you plan on doing, gaming on a more serious, but amateur level, or simply using it for your office work and other productivity tasks, the M27Q X is very easy to recommend.
