Taiwanese manufacturer AOC has added a relatively inexpensive 27-inch monitor to its range with the Q27V5CW. The monitor can supply power to MacBooks and other laptops via USB-C and also comes with an integrated webcam and a USB hub. The top and sides of the black plastic frames around the panel are pleasantly narrow at just one millimeter thick. The underside has a slightly wider strip with the manufacturer’s logo printed on it.
The supplied metal stand is elegant and allows the display to be adjusted in height, tilted, or turned into pivot mode. Thanks to the built-in VESA preparation, it also fits on monitor arms.
The built-in IPS panel accommodates the WQHD resolution of 2560 × 1440 pixels on 27 inches. While the pixel density of 109 dpi is below the Retina level, the display under macOS is sharp enough for office applications.
The refresh rate is a maximum of 75 Hz and can be variably switched between 48 and 75 Hz by macOS. However, the effect does not work as efficiently as Apple’s dynamic promotion technology on the MacBook Pro 14″/16″. The contrast is good at around 1000:1, and the brightness of up to 300 candela/m² is sufficient for use in offices or at home.
The Q27V5CW exceeds the sRGB color space (126 percent), but when it comes to DCI-P3 it only covers 96 percent. In the default setting, colors appear pretty bright, with red standing out in particular. It looks more natural in sRGB mode, which can be switched on via the somewhat sluggish display menu.
The Q27V5CW has an HDMI and a display port, as well as a USB-C input. A USB 3.0 hub with four Type A ports is also on board. When connected to a MacBook via USB-C, it charges up to 65 watts via Power Delivery. In standby without a connected device, the display’s power consumption was 0.5 watts.
The webcam is installed in the upper frame and records videos with Full HD (1080p) at 30 fps. While the sharpness is sufficient for video conferences, the image quality seemed rather poor to us as videos got noisy in daylight. The quality is on par with the FaceTime cameras found on older MacBooks. The camera can unlock a Windows PC using face recognition via Windows Hello, but macOS lacks a corresponding function.
The two built-in 5-watt speakers sound okay, but the bass rattled a bit. For normal users who are looking for a cheap display with a large area, the display for photos, videos, and texts is good enough. The webcam is sufficient for occasional conferences, and thanks to the USB hub, the monitor is great as a docking station for a MacBook in the home office.
Overall, while the Q27V5CW doesn’t have the finest resolution available, it is a good display option at its price point.
