Gigabyte MO27Q28G OLED Gaming Monitor — Review

Gaming monitors tend to get disregarded by most, as if it’s not a vital component in every gamer’s arsenal, as only gamers understand how important every item in their setup help shape their performance. From monster gaming rigs down to the force needed to input actions on a keyboard, everything plays a part in ensuring the best possible experience and few matter as much as monitors. 

With this in mind, gaming giant Gigabyte has introduced the gaming-centric MO27Q28G OLED monitor, sporting high refresh rates that can go up to 280Hz, white OLED (WOLED) that promises vibrant colours, deep blacks and reduced power consumption, alongside the now standard support for Nvidia G-Sync. And with a wallet-friendly S$899 price tag, this beauty sits comfortably between its more affordable and premium peers without compromising its performance.

Perhaps understanding the professional gaming scene better than anyone else, given its support for gaming events and esports over the last four decades, the 27-inch display comes with a four-sided borderless design to bring immersive gaming to the next level, supplemented by its already stealthy metallic black structure with a slim stem and 2mm-thin base. Its rear follows suit with a minimalist Gigabyte logo on the monitor and at the top of the stem – contrary to the usual flurry of RGB lights seen in other monitors – because the Gigabyte MO27Q28G was made for ‘no-frills, all performance’ gaming, showing it can get the job done in sleek fashion.

There are a good number of rear ports in a plastic housing that include a 3.5mm audio jack, two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, two USB 3.2 downstream ports, a USB 3.2 upstream port and a USB Type-C port that functions as an upstream port and delivers power of up to 18W with an alternate mode. There are more than enough ports to hook up your PC, Nintendo Switch 2, or other consoles at the same time for a one-stop gaming experience, as console players can also expect up to 120Hz refresh rate at 4K via HDMI. It also comes with two 5W speakers on the sides, which work nicely as a backup option, and a 100mm x 100mm VESA mount for all your monitor arm needs.

In terms of colour performance, the Gigabyte MO27Q28G performs exceptionally well in presenting vivid colours and deeper blacks thanks to its 4th-generation WOLED components that cover 99.5 percent of the DCI-P3 gamut. Great colour accuracy and contrast mean visually vivid environments, especially in games like Borderlands 4 and Apex Legends. Gigabyte says that this WOLED display decreases power consumption by 20 percent and increases peak brightness by 13 percent, so users are getting more performance for less. Although it’s not something we can test, the promise of ‘Perfect Black’ of up to 500 lux certainly delivers deep blacks and clear visuals in any lighting. 

The monitor works well in most environments you can think of, even when facing a studio light placed directly in front of it or from an angle, with hardly any light reflected, partly due to its matte display’s 99 percent anti-reflection nature. Having a matte display not only reduces the ‘pop’ that comes with glossy screens but also diffuses light more softly and gently on the eyes, making the Gigabyte MO27Q28G ideal for productivity and web scrolling aside from hours of gaming.

On top of the 1440p, 280Hz monitor’s exceptional colour accuracy, it also offers colour-accurate and consistent performance in its default HDR mode. The highlights may appear too bright at times, but the WOLED experience has proven to have a more consistent HDR performance compared to other OLED options. The only concern is OLED burn-in with prolonged use, a common cause of worry for monitors of its nature, though the likelihood of occurrence is low. 

Located at the rear, the Tactical 2.0 switch can be programmed for various functions, from changing the monitor’s resolution to enabling built-in game-assisting tech like crosshairs. There are a slew of features for AI OLED care, including customising monitor profiles, as well as anti-flicker and ultra-clear options, accessible via the adjacent thumbstick for ease of access. Using preset profiles works just as well, and users are given a choice on how they want to approach the monitor through a host of tools. 

At S$899, the Gigabyte MO27Q28G​ is exactly what PC and console gamers need to get a competitive edge with quality to match and then some. With a focused 27-inch screen that runs at a hot 280Hz, an exceptionally performing WOLED monitor that provides all the colour accuracy and depth for an immersive gaming experience, the monitor was made with gamers’ needs in mind in a beautifully stealthy package. 

Zinho De Costa

Abandon Reason Know Only War! Zinho is a shooter fanatic still waiting for direct sequels to Black (2006) and Star Wars: Republic Commandos. He also truly believes that the Warhammer 40K universe can take on any franchise and destroy them. To think any different is heresy and punishable by Exterminatus.