ViewSonic Elite XG270QC Review: Sub-$500 Excellence at 1440p

165Hz, FreeSync and killer HDR at a good price

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ViewSonic Elite XG270QC
Editor's Choice
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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It seems that when new video standards are introduced, it takes consumer hardware a while to fully realize them. HDR is proving a great example. Though it’s hard to buy a monitor without HDR these days, only a few screens truly do the standard justice. We’ve looked at many of them, and it seems that only FALD-equipped and a few edge-backlight monitors can deliver truly impactful HDR. ViewSonic’s Elite XG270QC is in the latter category. 

(Image credit: ViewSonic)

With a VA panel, the ViewSonic XG270QC is already ahead of the curve. By adding a useful and well-tuned dynamic contrast feature to its HDR mode, ViewSonic takes that performance to a high level. This screen is almost as good at HDR as its much more expensive FALD competition. With decent DCI-P3 color coverage and a sharp picture, there are no flaws in image quality.

Gaming performance is equally impressive. We played at 165Hz all day on both FreeSync and G-Sync systems. When using DisplayPort, HDR works with both technologies. If you have an AMD graphics card , you can enjoy 165 Hz, FreeSync and HDR on your system over HDMI as well. ViewSonic’s overdrive implementation provides smooth blur free video processing with very low input lag. If you want even smoother performance, the PureXP backlight strobe option is available, albeit without Adaptive-Sync.

HDR is definitely the star here. Our favorite HDR screens all cost around $1,000 but this one delivers most of that experience for less than $500. The XG270QC is an image quality bargain for sure. Along with its excellent build quality, slick lighting effect and contemporary styling, this is a package sure to appeal to any gamer looking for a 27-inch ,16:9 monitor. It’s also a great way to make the jump to a curved screen without spending more money and desktop space for an ultra-wide.

The ViewSonic Elite XG270QC represents one of the best values we’ve seen of late. It delivers a superb gaming experience and provides a great SDR or HDR image for any content. Whether you’re grinding away at spreadsheets, watching movies or fragging with your friends, this monitor's highly recommended.

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Christian Eberle
Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.

2 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Chm0012001
    Thanks for the comprehensive review. I'm trying to decide whether to buy this monitor or the Dell s3220dgf. Which of these two monitors will offer the most impactful HDR experience? The Viewsonic has a higher peak brightness (600 nits) but uses an 8 bit panel, whereas the peak brightness of the Dell is lower (500 nits) but has a 10 bit panel.
    Reply
  • CyrusPhillip
    Admin said:
    With few flaws, the ViewSonic Elite XG270QC is one of the best gaming monitors we’ve seen in the sub-$500 category.

    ViewSonic Elite XG270QC Review: Sub-$500 Excellence at 1440p : Read more
    Informative review! Thanks for sharing it with forum posters. It is an amazing curved gaming monitor. I would like to suggest this monitor with a 27-inch screen size, 165Hz refresh rate, and AMD freesync graphics facility. I am using the previous model of Viewsonic: https://viewsonic.com/me/products/lcd/XG270QG.php It is also marvelous. Please keep sharing such reviews.
    Reply