Look, I get it. You get what you pay for. Corsair’s Xeneon 27-inch, QHD, 240Hz OLED monitor is many things. It’s sleek, crisp, responsive and vibrant. As many would have come to expect in recent years, any OLED option is looking to take the crown when it comes to panel quality, proving some of the deepest blacks available on a panel. But it also runs into a few issues. Much like any OLED, it’s not the brightest option available. The anti-glare display will suffice for most users, but at USD$999 (around A$1500), most will have to ask the inevitable question; is it really worth it?
Design
First things first. This monitor is incredibly sleek. The bezels are slim and the stand is easily installed, allowing for both height adjustment and tilt. The V-shaped stand can sit a little deep, making this a tight fit for smaller desks, but it’s all incredibly sturdy and nuanced.
Its lack of logos around the bezel makes this feel like more of a minimalist art piece, as opposed to a loud, RGB-infused spaceship that shows pretty pictures. This monitor also includes not one, but two HDMI 2.1 ports, a Displayport 1.4, and a USB-C port with power delivery, along with a multi-port USB hub.
It definitely feels a little more versatile than your average monitor and is ready to go with next-gen consoles too. But to be completely honest, its minimalist design leaves little more to discuss. It’s gorgeous. Moving on.
Panel
It’s what we’re all here for. Running on an LG WOLED panel, the Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240 looks great for the most part. As previously mentioned, blacks are as deep as they can be thanks to that OLED display, but there are a few setbacks. While this panel operates at 1,000 nits peak brightness in a 3% window, it does indeed drop to 800 nits in a 10% window. This basically means that the more white there is on the screen, the more this thing struggles.
To make things a little more complicated, the Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL) feature is on by default, meaning the panel will automatically adjust based on image vibrancy and colour ratio. When you’re looking at photos or watching videos, colours will pop and the brightness will certainly show off some impressive vibrancy. But things will indeed take a hit when you’re simply reading text or typing up documents. While you can turn ABL off, things rarely get the boost they deserve, unless you go through the monitor settings to crank the brightness up yourself.
That being said, the 240Hz QHD display makes up for this in spades. The 1440p display is undoubtedly sharp, while the 240Hz available is pretty much as good as it gets. Say goodbye to motion blurring and latency issues, as this beast will keep up with anything you can throw at it. I’m scared to see how far this thing can be pushed, as I’ve never really gone as far to push anything more than 120 fps anyway. But when all is said and done, it’s the perfect all-rounder for almost any genre, particularly FPS games. HDR also goes a long way in allowing colours to pop too.
The only real issue beyond this point is price. At USD$999 or around A$1500, does the OLED quality deserve such a price point? In many ways, yes. For those running decent rigs capable of high frame rates and consistent 1440p gaming, there’s a bunch to be said for the upcoming prevalence of OLED monitors in the next few years. But for many, a 165Hz 1440p IPS or VA monitor might do the trick for now. There are certainly Mini-LED panels that can fix the brightness issues, while the more casual gamer would have to consider the rig they’re running in the first place in order for this to make sense.
Verdict & Value
There’s a fantastic monitor on offer here. Putting the general OLED brightness and ABL issues aside, there’s still a legitimate case for the best outright monitors money can buy. With dual HDMI 2.1 ports on offer, a powered USB-C port and a sleek design, there’s plenty to love upfront.
I love my LG CS OLED TV, but I don’t think that quality always applies to monitors. The anti-glare texture does well in brightly lit rooms, but this certainly suffers when whites are on full display. Specs are top-tier and general quality is stellar, but there’s certainly a lot more to consider for those looking to break into this end of the market.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Sleek design; Range of ports; Smooth and responsive panel; Solid HDR
Lowlights: Hefty price tag; ABL is inconsistent and annoying at times
Manufacturer: Corsair
Price: A$1749
Available: June 30
Review based on unit supplied by Corsair.
