Buying Guide
The Best AOC Gaming Monitors
Five monitors ranked on refresh rate and screen size, where the C27G4ZH has the highest refresh rate; the 25G51Z is the cheapest route in.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
AOC covers everything from budget 1080p screens to QD-OLED panels. Every pick is an AOC monitor, ordered by refresh rate.
The order reflects refresh rate, resolution and size from maker specifications; a missing HDR is flagged, not filled in rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Fastest Refresh
AOC C27G4ZH CurvedThe highest refresh rate here (280Hz).
Best for: Esports players with a GPU that can feed high frame rates.
Check price for AOC C27G4ZH Curved on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
AOC 25G51ZA lower price than the Q27G41ZE and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Q27G41ZE.
Check price for AOC 25G51Z on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
AOC Q27G41ZEAn overclocked 260Hz mode above its 240Hz native rate.
Best for: Buyers who want overclocked 260Hz mode above its 240Hz native rate.
Check price for AOC Q27G41ZE on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
AOC Q27GAZDV 27-inch QD-OLED Gaming MonitorHDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 inputs for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Best for: Buyers who want HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 inputs for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Check price for AOC Q27GAZDV 27-inch QD-OLED Gaming Monitor on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
AOC AGON PRO AG276QZD2The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a QD-OLED panel in AOC's AGON PRO line.
Best for: Buyers who want a QD-OLED panel in AOC's AGON PRO line and can spend more than the Q27GAZDV costs.
Check price for AOC AGON PRO AG276QZD2 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The highest refresh rate here (280Hz). | Esports players with a GPU that can feed high frame rates. | Check price for AOC C27G4ZH Curved on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| A lower price than the Q27G41ZE and the rest when we checked. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Q27G41ZE. | Check price for AOC 25G51Z on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| An overclocked 260Hz mode above its 240Hz native rate. | Buyers who want overclocked 260Hz mode above its 240Hz native rate. | Check price for AOC Q27G41ZE on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 inputs for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X. | Buyers who want HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 inputs for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X. | Check price for AOC Q27GAZDV 27-inch QD-OLED Gaming Monitor on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a QD-OLED panel in AOC's AGON PRO line. | Buyers who want a QD-OLED panel in AOC's AGON PRO line and can spend more than the Q27GAZDV costs. | Check price for AOC AGON PRO AG276QZD2 on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Fastest Refresh1 of 5
AOC C27G4ZH Curved
AOC's C27G4ZH curves a 27-inch 1080p VA panel and runs it at 280Hz on a height, tilt and swivel stand.
Best for
- Esports players with a GPU that can feed high frame rates.
Skip if
- Pass on it if a VA panel that can smear dark transitions rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It trades resolution for speed. It refreshes at 280Hz with a 0.3ms response time. The 1500R curve wraps the image around your view.
The 1500R curve keeps the corners of the 27-inch panel in view. On refresh rate it leads this guide at 280Hz, ahead of the 25G51Z (260Hz). It matches the Q27G41ZE and the Q27GAZDV on screen size (27 inches).
It shares a 1920x1080 (1080p) resolution with the 25G51Z; the Q27GAZDV goes with a 2560x1440 (1440p) resolution. A VA panel is unique to it among these picks, while the Q27G41ZE uses an IPS panel. It also comes with VESA mounting.
At 1080p, 280Hz is within reach of mid-range graphics cards in esports titles; use DisplayPort if your card's HDMI port is older. When we checked, only the Q27G41ZE and cheaper picks cost less, and the Q27GAZDV cost more.
Key specs
- Refresh rate
- 280Hz
- Resolution
- 1920x1080 (1080p)
- Size
- 27 inches
- Panel
- VA
- Response
- 0.3ms
- HDR
- HDR
- Stand
- height, tilt and swivel
Pros
- a 280Hz refresh rate for fast motion
- a stand with height, tilt and swivel
- 280Hz on a 1500R curve
- Height-adjustable stand
Cons
- a VA panel that can smear dark transitions
- Costs more than the 25G51Z at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here2 of 5
AOC 25G51Z
The 25G51Z reaches 260Hz overclocked on a 25-inch IPS panel, the highest refresh here.
Best for
- Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Q27G41ZE.
Skip if
- Skip it if screen size matters most to you; the C27G4ZH offers 27 inches.
Why we like it
On refresh rate it sits mid-pack at 260Hz: the C27G4ZH offers 280Hz, and the AG276QZD2 comes in at 240Hz. Its 25 inches screen size is the smallest in this group; the C27G4ZH leads at 27 inches. It shares a 1920x1080 (1080p) resolution with the C27G4ZH; the Q27G41ZE goes with a 2560x1440 (1440p) resolution.
It shares an IPS panel with the Q27G41ZE; the Q27GAZDV goes with a QD-OLED panel. At 1080p, 260Hz is within reach of mid-range graphics cards in esports titles; use DisplayPort if your card's HDMI port is older. G-SYNC Compatible works on NVIDIA cards over DisplayPort, and FreeSync covers AMD cards. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Q27G41ZE was closest.
Key specs
- Refresh rate
- 260Hz
- Resolution
- 1920x1080 (1080p)
- Size
- 25 inches
- Panel
- IPS
- Response
- 0.5ms
- Adaptive sync
- G-SYNC Compatible
Pros
- a 260Hz refresh rate for fast motion
- an IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- G-SYNC Compatible to reduce screen tearing
- 0.5ms response, the only one here
Cons
- Screen size trails the C27G4ZH (27 inches)
The catch
Screen size is its weakest area, and the C27G4ZH covers it better at 27 inches.
Also Consider3 of 5
AOC Q27G41ZE
The Q27G41ZE runs 1440p at 240Hz natively, with an overclocked 260Hz mode, on an IPS panel.
Best for
- Buyers who want overclocked 260Hz mode above its 240Hz native rate.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the 25G51Z cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It is rare to see that combination at this price. It matches the Q27GAZDV and the AG276QZD2 on refresh rate (240Hz). On screen size it ties with the C27G4ZH and the Q27GAZDV at 27 inches.
Like the Q27GAZDV and AG276QZD2, it has a 2560x1440 (1440p) resolution, while the C27G4ZH uses a 1920x1080 (1080p) resolution. Like the 25G51Z, it has an IPS panel, while the AG276QZD2 uses a QD-OLED panel. It also offers DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 inputs.
To see 240Hz at 1440p, connect over DisplayPort or HDMI 2.1; older HDMI 2.0 ports cap the refresh rate lower. G-SYNC Compatible works on NVIDIA cards over DisplayPort, and FreeSync covers AMD cards. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper 25G51Z and the pricier C27G4ZH, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Refresh rate
- 240Hz
- Resolution
- 2560x1440 (1440p)
- Size
- 27 inches
- Panel
- IPS
- Response
- 0.3ms
- Adaptive sync
- G-SYNC Compatible
Pros
- a 240Hz refresh rate for fast motion
- 1440p resolution, sharper than 1080p at 27 inches
- an IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- G-SYNC Compatible to reduce screen tearing
Cons
- Costs more than the 25G51Z at the time of writing
Strong Alternative4 of 5
AOC Q27GAZDV 27-inch QD-OLED Gaming Monitor
AOC's Q27GAZDV pairs a 240Hz QD-OLED panel with a 0.03ms response time and a stand that adjusts for height, tilt, swivel and pivot.
Best for
- Buyers who want HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 inputs for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: oLED burn-in risk with static desktop elements.
Why we like it
HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 inputs cover a PC and a current console on one screen, and a USB 3.2 hub sits in the monitor. On refresh rate it ties with the Q27G41ZE and the AG276QZD2 at 240Hz. It matches the C27G4ZH and the Q27G41ZE on screen size (27 inches).
It shares a 2560x1440 (1440p) resolution with the Q27G41ZE and AG276QZD2; the 25G51Z goes with a 1920x1080 (1080p) resolution. It also offers a USB 3.2 hub and VESA mount compatibility. To see 240Hz at 1440p, connect over DisplayPort or HDMI 2.1; older HDMI 2.0 ports cap the refresh rate lower.
Leave the maker's pixel-refresh routines enabled and hide static taskbars to limit burn-in risk. G-SYNC Compatible works on NVIDIA cards over DisplayPort, and FreeSync covers AMD cards. When we checked, only the C27G4ZH and cheaper picks cost less, and the AG276QZD2 cost more.
Key specs
- Refresh rate
- 240Hz
- Resolution
- 2560x1440 (1440p)
- Size
- 27 inches
- Panel
- QD-OLED
- Response
- 0.03ms
- Color gamut
- 110% DCI-P3
- Adaptive sync
- G-SYNC Compatible
- Stand
- height, tilt, swivel and pivot
Pros
- a 240Hz refresh rate for fast motion
- 1440p resolution, sharper than 1080p at 27 inches
- a QD-OLED panel with per-pixel contrast
- 110% DCI-P3 colour coverage
Cons
- OLED burn-in risk with static desktop elements
- Costs more than the 25G51Z at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
AOC AGON PRO AG276QZD2
The AG276QZD2 is AOC's 240Hz QD-OLED in its AGON PRO line.
Best for
- Buyers who want a QD-OLED panel in AOC's AGON PRO line and can spend more than the Q27GAZDV costs.
Skip if
- Pass on it if oLED burn-in risk with static desktop elements rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
On refresh rate it ties with the Q27G41ZE and the Q27GAZDV at 240Hz. Its 26.5 inches screen size ranks fourth of 5 here, behind the C27G4ZH (27 inches) and ahead of the 25G51Z (25 inches). It shares a 2560x1440 (1440p) resolution with the Q27G41ZE and Q27GAZDV; the 25G51Z goes with a 1920x1080 (1080p) resolution.
To see 240Hz at 1440p, connect over DisplayPort or HDMI 2.1; older HDMI 2.0 ports cap the refresh rate lower. Leave the maker's pixel-refresh routines enabled and hide static taskbars to limit burn-in risk. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Q27GAZDV the nearest cheaper option. Refresh rate is its weakest area, and the C27G4ZH covers it better at 280Hz.
Key specs
- Refresh rate
- 240Hz
- Resolution
- 2560x1440 (1440p)
- Size
- 26.5 inches
- Panel
- QD-OLED
- Response
- 0.03ms
- HDR
- HDR10
Pros
- a 240Hz refresh rate for fast motion
- 1440p resolution, sharper than 1080p at 27 inches
- a QD-OLED panel with per-pixel contrast
- QD-OLED panel in AOC's AGON PRO line
Cons
- OLED burn-in risk with static desktop elements
- HDR10 support without a DisplayHDR certification
- Refresh rate trails the C27G4ZH (280Hz)
How We Chose These AOC Gaming Monitors
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- The figures behind the order
- We set side by side five monitors on refresh rate, resolution, screen size and panel, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house, and HDR and adaptive sync are missing for at least one pick.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the C27G4ZH to the AG276QZD2, state refresh rate, resolution and screen size.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The 25G51Z, the Q27G41ZE and the Q27GAZDV give no HDR; the C27G4ZH and the AG276QZD2 give no adaptive sync.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the 25G51Z ($100 to $150) to the AG276QZD2 ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in an AOC Gaming Monitor
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Refresh rate across these picks
Here refresh rate runs from 240Hz on the AG276QZD2 to 280Hz on the C27G4ZH, a 17% spread. The 25G51Z comes second at 260Hz, in the $100 to $150 tier against $150 to $250 for the C27G4ZH.
How much screen size you need
Across these 5 picks screen size spans 25 inches (the 25G51Z) to 27 inches (the C27G4ZH). For less, the Q27G41ZE is the runner-up at 27 inches.
A gaming desk with a monitor, a racing-style chair and shelves of figures Panel
The C27G4ZH lists VA; the 25G51Z and the Q27G41ZE list IPS; the Q27GAZDV and the AG276QZD2 list QD-OLED.
Response
The C27G4ZH and the Q27G41ZE list 0.3ms; the 25G51Z lists 0.5ms; the Q27GAZDV and the AG276QZD2 list 0.03ms. Sort out response before price: it splits 5 stated picks into groups of 2, 2 and 1.
A large monitor showing a game on a low media unit Extras that separate them
The Q27G41ZE: DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 inputs. The Q27GAZDV: a USB 3.2 hub. The AG276QZD2: a QD-OLED panel in AOC's AGON PRO line.
How to Choose an AOC Gaming Monitor
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Esports players with a GPU that can feed high frame rates | C27G4ZH | The highest refresh rate here (280Hz) |
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Q27G41ZE | 25G51Z | A lower price than the Q27G41ZE and the rest when we checked |
| Buyers who want overclocked 260Hz mode above its 240Hz native rate | Q27G41ZE | An overclocked 260Hz mode above its 240Hz native rate |
| Buyers who want HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 inputs for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X | Q27GAZDV | HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 inputs for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X |
| Buyers who want a QD-OLED panel in AOC's AGON PRO line and can spend more than the Q27GAZDV costs | AG276QZD2 | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a QD-OLED panel in AOC's AGON PRO line |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The C27G4ZH leads on refresh rate at 280Hz, ahead of the 25G51Z at 260Hz.
| Monitor | Refresh rate | Resolution | Size | Panel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C27G4ZH | 280Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 27 inches | VA |
| 25G51Z | 260Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 25 inches | IPS |
| Q27G41ZE | 240Hz | 2560x1440 (1440p) | 27 inches | IPS |
| Q27GAZDV | 240Hz | 2560x1440 (1440p) | 27 inches | QD-OLED |
| AG276QZD2 | 240Hz | 2560x1440 (1440p) | 26.5 inches | QD-OLED |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The 25G51Z was the lowest-priced pick ($100 to $150) and the AG276QZD2 the highest ($250 to $500) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Monitors |
|---|---|
| About $100 to $150 | 25G51Z |
| About $150 to $250 | Q27G41ZE, C27G4ZH |
| About $250 to $500 | Q27GAZDV, AG276QZD2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the C27G4ZH ahead of the 25G51Z on refresh rate?
The C27G4ZH tops refresh rate at 280Hz; the 25G51Z follows at 260Hz, 8% apart. The AG276QZD2 is at the other end of this group with 240Hz.
What does the AG276QZD2 add over the 25G51Z?
What it brings is screen size (26.5 inches against 25 inches). It does not win everywhere: the 25G51Z still leads on refresh rate (260Hz). On our last price check the 25G51Z was in the $100 to $150 tier and the AG276QZD2 in the $250 to $500 tier, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if screen size decides your purchase.
Why is the C27G4ZH our Fastest Refresh pick?
It carries the badge for the highest refresh rate here (280Hz). On refresh rate it leads the 25G51Z, 280Hz against 260Hz, an 8% margin. The 25G51Z, the cheapest pick, sat in the $100 to $150 tier against $150 to $250 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It suits esports players with a GPU that can feed high frame rates.
Do the C27G4ZH and the Q27G41ZE differ on resolution?
The C27G4ZH and the 25G51Z use 1920x1080 (1080p); the Q27G41ZE, the Q27GAZDV and the AG276QZD2 use 2560x1440 (1440p).
What extras do the C27G4ZH and the 25G51Z include?
The C27G4ZH: 280Hz on a 1500R curve. The 25G51Z: an overclocked 260Hz refresh rate. The Q27G41ZE: an overclocked 260Hz mode above its 240Hz native rate.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the C27G4ZH. Look at the 25G51Z for a lower price than the Q27G41ZE and the rest when we checked, the Q27G41ZE for an overclocked 260Hz mode above its 240Hz native rate and the Q27GAZDV for HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 inputs for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X if those matter more to you.
AOC model names encode size and panel; check the exact letters before buying.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Gaming Monitors to Buy Now
- Related guideThe Best 1440p Gaming Monitors to Buy
- Related guideThe Best OLED Gaming Monitors
- Lower budgetThe Best Budget Gaming Monitors
- Higher budgetThe Best FreeSync Premium Gaming Monitors
- ExplainerHow to Choose a 1080p Monitor
- ExplainerHow to Choose a 1440p Monitor
- Also see: graphics cardsHow to Choose a Graphics Card for 4K Gaming
- Similar guideThe Best Gaming Monitors
- Topic hubAll gaming monitors guides
About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
View all articles