AOC u27v4ea Reviews, Affordable 4K

The evolution of the workplace has led to many changes in the way people work and also in the technology and features of the devices we use to do our work. One of the elements that have evolved are the monitors from which we currently demand higher resolution and larger size to, on the one hand, be able to have all the applications we need to carry out our tasks on the screen and, on the other hand, an image quality that protects our visual health. and allow us to work more comfortably.

Not to mention that more and more, especially if we are talking about working from home, monitors have to offer features compatible with leisure and be able to offer that quality when watching movies or playing games. There are many debates about which are the most appropriate formats and resolutions, but in reality it all depends on the activity that we carry out. Intuitively we can understand that the more applications on the screen we need, the more screen size and resolution will be necessary.

Although 24 inches could be enough for many tasks, little by little, monitors of 27 inches and above are conquering tables and desks. It’s only a few inches on the surface, but anyone who’s gone from 21 or 24 inches to a larger size appreciates the increased surface area to work on. In addition, the highest resolutions will be found in the largest panels. Said in silver: if what we are looking for is a 4K monitor, we are talking about 27 inches or higher.

The fair budget

This obviously represents an increase in the budget, but there are already many manufacturers that offer this combination (4K resolution and 27 inches) for a really affordable price for the features they offer. AOC is a well-known Taiwanese monitor manufacturing brand in whose catalog we often find true champions when it comes to quality-price. In this case, we have had the opportunity to test its model AOC u27v4ea that meets the two conditions that we have mentioned: 27 inches and 4K resolution.

The first reflection when unpacking this AOC model is how much progress has been made in terms of monitors also in terms of design, especially in terms of the depth of the monitor and the thickness of the frames, almost non-existent on the top, right and left of this model. The base is also minimalist and takes up very little space on the table. It is something that at first can be somewhat disturbing but the truth is that during the tests, even by varying the inclination of the screen, the monitor has been perfectly stable.

On the front, at the bottom right, just below the screen, we find the buttons for turning on and configuring the monitor’s operation. On the front we can see the labels that allow us to know what each button is for. As they are engraved in black with a black background, it is somewhat difficult to distinguish them, but on the other hand, this preserves the clean and minimalist design of the front part, in which only the brand logo stands out.

Monitor Settings

As the configuration of the monitor is not something that we have to do very often, it is not a major difficulty. In addition, the shape of the buttons makes it easier for us to recognize their position to the touch, so with a little practice we will get to grips with the controls. Within the configuration possibilities, in addition to selecting the input, controlling the brightness and other usual options, we can also choose whether to activate the dynamic contrast ratio and we can choose between different HDR modes.

A very interesting point is the ability of the monitor to activate the refresh rate synchronization mode or Adapive Sync that will adapt the display modes of the monitor with the refresh rate of the graphics card or the console. In fact, it is a great advantage to get the most out of the new generation consoles. We will have a maximum of 60Hz in 4K resolution mode but more than enough for most games, especially considering the price of the monitor.

Good for games

Speaking of its operation with games, it is also possible to choose various parameters to optimize the use of the monitor with them. We can choose various game modes to optimize the experience, from first-person action games, racing games or strategy games where screen response or image quality will prevail in each case. It is also possible to individually adjust parameters such as reducing blur or blurring with moving images, reducing video input delay or increasing panel response.

There is also the option to choose between different HDR modes, although it is somewhat confusing because the monitor does not support this technology. The fact is that by choosing between one of the three modes (Picture, Game or Movie) the brightness, contrast and color temperature settings change. We can also define different color temperature or dynamic contrast ratio responses in the corresponding menu.

The connection section is somewhat limited but sufficient, especially considering the price. On the back we find two HDMI 2.0 connectors and a Display Port 1.2 connection as well as a headphone jack and the one for the external power supply. As we have pointed out, the base is small and the support does not allow too wide a variation in inclination since we can only tilt the screen between -5 and 23 degrees.

Color fidelity

Regarding image quality and before carrying out the tests we review specifications . It is an IPS panel so we are assured of a good color response and a good viewing angle. According to the specifications, this viewing angle covers 178 degrees while color reproduction covers 112% of the sRGB color range and 83% of that defined by Adobe. It is capable of displaying 4K images with a refresh rate of up to 60Hz and the screen has a brightness of 350 cd/m2. The contrast ratio reaches 20 million to 1 in dynamic and 1,000 to 1 in static. The response of each pixel is 4 milliseconds.

In the tests, the color fidelity has seemed very adequate with rich and natural tones. The factory calibration is very adequate with special attention to the gradients that appear smooth and without obvious jumps. We have also detected good performance in contrast, although it is not its most outstanding virtue, with a uniform back lighting that barely reveals the typical halo of IPS panels.

When using it with demanding games, the seams of this model are somewhat visible, but even so, its management of moving images is very good for a 60Hz monitor, especially if we activate the overdrive function. Again, you have to take into account both the price range and the fact that it is an off-road monitor. Video playback tests have shown excellent response, even in action scenes. We have only been able to put it in difficulty with especially dark scenes in which the contrast is maximum and even so the quality is more than remarkable.

Conclusions

Little by little, a 4K monitor is no longer a whim to become a reasonable option. Not only because there is more and more content and games compatible with that resolution, but also because for professional tasks a high resolution makes more sense to be able to handle more tools at the same time but at the same time take care of eye health, closely related to the quality of the image we are destined to see for hours.

In this sense, the monitor AOC u27v4ea presents a perfect solution for those who need to work in 4K with a reasonable screen size and a price within everyone’s reach. It is a monitor with a more than reasonable quality and a minimalist design that adapts to any home and work environment with an excellent color response and even configuration possibilities that allow it to be quite competent when it comes to displaying the images of the more demanding games.