AORUS FO27Q5P Review

Introduction and Technical Specifications of the AORUS FO27Q5P

In this new AORUS FO27Q5P Review We will analyze the gaming monitor with the fastest QD-OLED panel in the world thanks to its 500 Hz refresh rate.

It is a monitor with a screen diagonal of 27 inches and a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels, equipped with compatibility with AMD Freesync and NVIDIA G-Sync technologies, in addition to being combined with all types of connectivity, including HDMI, Displayport, USB-C and even a Mini DisplayPort.

Technical Characteristics of the AORUS FO27Q5P

27″ anti-reflective OLED panel (QD-OLED).
QHD resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 in 16:9 format.
500Hz refresh rate.
VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500.
0.03 ms GtG response time.
Maximum brightness:
300 cd/m² (SDR APL 100%)

1000 nits (HDR APL 3%).
2 x 5W speakers.
Connectivity:
- 2 x HDMI 2.1
- 1 x DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20
- 1 x MiniDP 2.1 UHBR20
- 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 (HBR3) out
- 1 x USB-C DP Alt Mode with Power Delivery up to 18W
- 2 x USB-A 3.2
- 1 x USB-B 3.2 (upstream)
- 1 x 3.5mm minijack headphone output
- 1 x 3.5mm minijack input for microphone
Special functions: ClearMR 21000, Flicker-free, factory calibration (ΔE<2), etc.
Measurements: 610.3 x 158.6 x 532.5 mm (with stand).
Weight: 7.2 kg (with stand).
Price: 999 euros.

Design and Connectivity

The AORUS FO27Q5P uses the typical mounting system of many monitors today: a base that is screwed manually without the need for screwdrivers, and a tab system that fixes the main column to the monitor itself. With a lever it can be easily released without the need for any tools.

It has a design on the back that follows the line of other brand monitors such as the AORUS FO32U. Therefore, we have a thin panel with a much thicker central module where the main hardware of the equipment is housed. It follows angled lines, typical of laptops and other devices with a gaming soul, along with letters that form AORUS on an iridescent material and with ARGB lighting.

Below, we have a “cutout” with two synchronized ARGB lighting zones.

The column allows you to adjust the height, inclination of the panel forwards or backwards, and also the rotation of the panel up to 90º degrees to be able to use it vertically.

At the bottom, on the right we have USB connectors for the HUB, two USB-A 3.0 are duplicated from the USB-B that acts as a host from the PC. This is followed by the power connector for the power supply, and two 3.5 mm audio minijack sockets for headphones and microphone.

On the opposite side is where all the video connectivity is. We have a pair of HDMI, a DisplayPort input and another output, which allows us to duplicate the signal or add more monitors in chain mode. Curiously, there is also a mini DisplayPort, a port not widely used today, but which can be useful for connecting depending on which devices.

It also does not lack a USB-C for video with DP alt Mode. Unfortunately, this USB-C can only deliver 18W of power, so it won’t help us charge a laptop while we use it.

Right between the two connectivity blocks, we have the control buttons and the joystick to navigate the OSD, their functions we will review in the next section.

On the front there is little to say about the design. The panel is integrated into a system with only a thick plastic frame at the bottom. The side and top bezels, at least the external ones, are minimal, although the panel has its own black frames on the edges. Despite being an OLED panel; With maximum brightness you can clearly see the difference between the image and the frame due to the color difference, but it is nothing that does not occur on practically all monitors.

OSD interface and Software control

This monitor, although it does not appear on the download website on the Gigabyte website, works with the Gigabyte Control Center software. It is an application that works by connecting the monitor via USB-C DisplayPort or HDMI. Even so, it has some bugs when it comes to recognizing the monitor, such as it not recognizing the device when connecting it via USB-C until you connect the USB-B cable, then you can remove the USB-B cable and continue using it.

Its functions allow you to configure all the monitor settings, from button configuration to panel parameters, technologies, etc.

If we prefer to use the OSD, we have a joystic system with buttons from which we can access quick functions or the main menu.

From this menu you access the built-in settings functions, dark tone enhancements such as Black Equalizer 2.0, VRR; etc

One of the functions that we saw when checking the ports is the Daisy Chain, with which several monitors can be linked taking advantage of the DisplayPort output that it integrates. We also have built-in KVM support.

As standard, we have custom modes, ECO and an sRGB mode.

There is no shortage of “gaming” technologies, such as Night Vision, which turns the screen green to highlight dark scenes, or configurable crosshairs, a central zoom or “eagle eye”, etc.

AORUS FO27Q5P panel tests and calibration

If there is any doubt, the most striking thing about this AORUS FO27Q5P They are the impressive 500 Hz that its QD-OLED panel reaches. It is a superlative frequency with which maximum fluidity is achieved. It is true that for the majority of mortals, making the leap from figures such as 240 or 360 Hz to 500 Hz does not represent a notable improvement in casual games or in the regular use of a computer.

However, competitive games where quick reactions are key is where you can get the most out of a panel like this.

Generally, we are used to panels with such high frequency rates limiting their resolution to FullHD, with a clear orientation towards eSports, where lower resolutions are sought to achieve more FPS and HZ, in addition to using panels that are much more modest in quality and color representation, or contrast, such as the “TN” ones.

However, this AORUS FO27Q5P is surprising, not only because it is the first QD-OLED panel that reaches 500 HZ and hits the market, but because it does so with a more than satisfactory resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels.

OLED technology allows for very fast response times, and a contrast that is difficult to achieve with conventional panels.

Brightness and contrast

According to Gigabyte’s specifications, the AORUS FO27Q5P should be able to reach 1,000 nits in HDR content in areas of 3% of the screen. In our tests, with 9%, we have not managed to exceed 270 nits. The SDR brightness is close to 231 nits, they are not particularly high brightness, although being OLED panels, the contrast between illuminated and unlit areas is very wide.

Maximum SDR Brightness: 230.9 cd/m².
Maximum HDR peak brightness (9% APL) : 270 /m².
Maximum black brightness: 0 cd/m².
Contrast: “infinity.”

Ghosting

This panel, due to its own QD-OLED technology, does not show a trace of ghosting. We can see in the Test UFO test, with recordings made with a mobile camera that slides at the same speed as the small flying saucers move, how the images are defined on all their edges, without a trace of trails or reverse ghosting.

Color Coverage

The color coverage of this panel is very wide, covering practically all of the three ranges. SRGB and DCI-P3 we have 100%, while Adobe-RGB remains at 97.2%. These values allow its use not only for gaming, but even for professional design applications as it is one of the monitors with the best coverage that we have tested.

Color and calibration tests

The factory calibration in sRGB mode is also quite good, we have a deviation of 2.53 points. Some tendency towards greenish tones in the gray scale, but in general it is good.

In the default mode the deviation increases as the colors are displayed with a little more intensity, but with a quick calibration we achieve much tighter values.

Factory color vs SRGB tests, sRGB mode without calibration

Factory color vs SRGB tests, default mode without calibration

Color vs SRGB tests after default mode calibration

Analysis and Conclusion

He AORUS FO27Q5P It follows the line set by other models from the company, which has managed to create a catalog of monitors with high features that stand out in the market.

On this occasion, we have the first monitor in the world that reaches 500 Hz on a QD-OLED panel, and it does so with a 2K resolution that finally leaves behind the FullHD that dominated high refresh rate monitors until now.

All the connectivity options it offers also stand out, with two HDMI, DisplayPort input and output (to be able to connect several monitors with a single PC output), mini DisplayPort and USB-C. This last port is the one that disappoints a little by only offering 18 W of power, which erases in one fell swoop any option to use a laptop with only one of these cables.

Its price is not affordable either: it is 999 euros for a 27-inch 2K panel, although those 500 Hz are something quite exclusive that can justify those prices. After all, any new cutting-edge technology usually has a higher cost.

He AORUS FO27Q5P It is one of those monitors that shine with its own light, its 500 Hz within a 2,560 x 1,440 pixel QD-OLED panel are the first to hit the market, making it one of the best options we can find if we want to play competitive games with the greatest fluidity and without giving up the extra sharpness that its resolution gives.