Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240 OLED Review

CONS

• Expensive
• Minor color accuracy problems

CORSAIR XENEON 27QHD240 OLED SPECS

Corsair has made a triumphant return to the gaming monitor market with the Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240 OLED, following the experimental Xeneon Flex. This 27-inch OLED monitor boasts a stunning 1440p resolution, a sleek design, and an impressive 240Hz refresh rate. Despite lacking the bendable curve of its predecessor, the Xeneon 27QHD240 offers a fantastic visual experience, thanks to its LG panel technology. While the color accuracy may suffer slightly at peak brightness due to an exaggerated color gamut, the monitor’s overall performance and features more than make up for this minor flaw. With a plethora of I/O ports and a compact footprint, Corsair has truly delivered a top-notch OLED monitor for gamers willing to invest in quality.

A New 27-Inch Contender

Corsair’s most recent OLED model has abandoned the curved design in favor of a slim, flat panel that sits on top of a port hub, which is then connected to a sleek, black stand. This design gives the monitor a very thin appearance, and at just 13.8 pounds, it is extremely lightweight. However, appearances can be deceiving, as the Xeneon’s slender frame is actually quite sturdy. The two-prong stand’s rubber feet keep the monitor completely still, making adjustments to height and tilt effortless. With virtually no bezels, you’ll have the full 27 inches of stunning OLED display without any distractions.

The monitor’s sleek and lightweight design allows it to have a compact form, making it suitable for various locations. Corsair’s monitor has dimensions of 20.8 by 23.7 by 8.8 inches (HWD), making it ideal for cramped desks. While it is slimmer than Sony’s Inzone M3, it has a slightly greater maximum height. Additionally, the monitor offers flexible tilt and pivot options, and its absence of RGB lighting prevents it from having a flashy appearance.

Upon rotating the monitor, you will notice two vertical columns of I/O ports surrounding the 100-by-100mm VESA mount, which is a departure from the typical horizontal arrangement of ports that is commonly seen. Included in these ports are four USB Type-A ports, USB-C upstream and power-delivery ports, two HDMI 2.1 ports, a headphone jack, and a DisplayPort. It is worth noting that this monitor does not come equipped with speakers.

The monitor is efficiently arranged even without a sound system, effectively managing cord congestion and maintaining a sleek design.

An excellent new feature is the integration of a proximity sensor located at the base of the screen. When your hand approaches, the screen will indicate precisely where the OSD control, power button, and input toggle are located. No longer will you need to tilt, adjust, or search around your monitor to find the power switch. This is a feature that I believe will become popular.

The OLED display on the Xeneon is stunning and definitely worth sacrificing 4K resolution for, especially at this size. The 2K resolution is ideal for 27-inch screens, catering well to midrange PCs, Xbox Series X, and PlayStation 5 (especially for those prioritizing performance over visuals). Regardless of the video source, you’ll get exceptional quality. OLED screens surpass IPS displays in power efficiency, color range, and viewing angles, placing them in a league of their own.

OLED technology stands out for its ability to deliver “true blacks,” where black pixels are completely turned off to achieve areas of zero-light and optimal contrast. Despite its drawbacks such as a higher cost compared to IPS, TN, or VA panels, as well as the risk of burn-in from prolonged display of static images, Corsair provides a generous three-year warranty with burn-in protection included.

The Corsair monitor utilizes LG’s Meta technology, unveiled at CES 2023, to enhance viewing angles and brightness by up to 30% and 60%, respectively. Each OLED pixel is individually illuminated with a micro lens array (MLA) for improved brightness and clarity. This enhancement is particularly noticeable in naturally lit environments and is likely to appeal to fans of National Geographic. It is worth noting that despite the panel being from LG, the technology was absent in the recent LG UltraGear 45 OLED model.

The Corsair monitor integrates LG’s Meta technology, which was introduced at CES 2023, to enhance viewing angles and brightness by up to 30% and 60%, respectively. Each OLED pixel is self-lit with a micro lens array (MLA) to improve brightness and clarity. This enhancement is most noticeable in naturally lit scenes and is expected to be popular among National Geographic enthusiasts. Interestingly, despite the panel being an LG product, the technology was not included in the recent LG UltraGear 45 OLED model.

The display is compatible with AMD FreeSync Premium and also supports Nvidia G-Sync, both of which contribute to a smoother gaming experience by reducing screen tearing. We will delve deeper into its performance in the following section.

Evaluating the Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240 OLED: Witnessing Is Convincing.

The Corsair’s grand arrival captures attention, boasting a stunning 27-inch display that ensures an enhanced gaming session. However, the question remains: does it live up to expectations? With the 2K OLED market expanding, we decided to compare the Xeneon with other popular OLED models like the Alienware 34 Curved QD-OLED Gaming Monitor and the LG 45 UltraGear, along with some comparable IPS and VA panels. To accurately assess the differences, we conducted various benchmark tests utilizing our Calman monitor calibration software, Murideo Six-G signal generator, and Klein K-80 colorimeter.

Initially, the monitor was assessed in its factory picture setting using an SDR signal. The Corsair Xeneon achieved an average brightness of 307 nits (candelas per square meter). When switched to HDR mode, the average brightness increased significantly to 637 nits. These measurements were calculated based on an 18% average picture level (APL).

Assessing HDR peak brightness, the maximum level of brightness that an image can attain, is quite intricate. We measured 704 nits of peak brightness, whereas Corsair specifies the monitor for 1,000 nits. Nevertheless, the company’s peak HDR rating is established on a 3% APL, while ours is based on 10% APL. (For this evaluation, we utilized the VESA DisplayHDR compliance tests, accessible for free on the Microsoft Store.) Corsair asserts that the monitor will average approximately 800 nits at peak brightness at 10% APL, so our outcome is in line with the monitor’s theoretical capability.

The brightness levels of these numbers are commendable, particularly for an OLED display, as OLED monitors are able to uphold contrast with lower levels of brightness, enabling comfortable viewing in dimly lit environments. While low brightness could pose a challenge in well-lit rooms, we encountered no difficulties with the brightness levels of the Corsair monitor, whether we were situated in a dimly lit studio or a naturally illuminated office testing area.

The brightness figures are satisfactory, especially for an OLED screen, as OLED monitors maintain contrast with reduced brightness levels, making it possible to view content comfortably in dimly lit settings. Although low brightness might be an issue in brightly lit rooms, we did not face any problems with the brightness levels of the Corsair monitor, whether we were in a dimly lit studio or a naturally lit office testing space.

Regarding the monitor’s color gamut, the Corsair Xeneon performs admirably. It covered 135% of the sRGB color gamut, 92% of Adobe RGB, and 96% of DCI-P3, providing excellent coverage overall. However, it is important to note that exceeding 100% sRGB coverage may result in over-saturation of colors.

The color accuracy may not be optimal, however, it has the potential to enhance vibrancy in specific scenes. Despite this, the color accuracy remained consistent, with a Delta E measurement of 2.3 in Standard mode. A higher Delta E value indicates a greater deviation from the intended hue of colors. Ideally, a value below 1 is preferred, although only a few gaming monitors are able to achieve this level of accuracy.

First, we will examine the contrast ratio, which represents the difference in brightness between the brightest white and darkest black that a monitor can display. This has a significant impact on picture quality, particularly in dark scenes during gaming. We recorded a contrast ratio of 3,476:1 and a black level of zero. Although Corsair states that the contrast ratio can reach as high as 1,500,000:1 (the same as the LG Ultragear 45 OLED), this is an extremely high number that is rarely achievable in normal day-to-day usage. IPS panels typically aim for contrast ratios of 1,000:1 or higher, while OLED and mini LED panels can theoretically achieve much higher contrast ratios due to the nature of the black pixels.

Media and Gaming Performance

The 27-inch OLED from Corsair is certainly visually appealing, but its gaming performance is the real question. Our usual method of using an HDFury Diva HDMI matrix to assess input lag was unsuccessful in providing an accurate reading this time, possibly due to a technical issue with the testing equipment or software rather than the monitor itself.

I found the anecdotal testing of Cyberpunk 2077 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive to be enjoyable, and I observed no screen tearing, even when the refresh rate was set to 240Hz. The high refresh rate will also be advantageous for console gaming, as numerous console games now provide variable refresh rates (VRR), offering gamers more video options. Additionally, the clarity of the OLED panel compensates for any decrease in resolution.

Corsair promotes a gray-to-gray (GTG) response time of 0.03 milliseconds, however, the company mistakenly labels it as input lag, which is a different concept. GTG specifically measures the duration for a pixel to transition from one gray level to another, whereas input lag measures the delay in displaying a signal received by the monitor. GTG is not a universally standardized metric due to variations in how vendors measure gray levels, hence it is not included in our review assessments.

In general, I encountered no problems with the Corsair during my evaluation. This monitor complements high-end hardware as well as mid-range PC setups, and the variety of ports provides ample flexibility for connecting multiple devices. While it may be considered too compact by some, a 27-inch OLED display is a perfect fit for my personal office space.

Naturally, the cost of that match is. It exceeds the price of a typical IPS screen of the same size, but the immediate benefits of OLED are undeniable—once you have it, you won’t want to go back.

Verdict: A Superb Option for Upgrading to OLED Technology.

Corsair’s newest OLED screen comes highly recommended, being an ultra-thin, lightweight monitor with a small footprint that is filled with impressive visual capabilities. This monitor is a dream for gamers, particularly for those who are hesitant about the hardware demands and compromises needed to achieve 4K resolution on a midrange gaming PC. It is a stunning choice for gamers who play on both consoles and PCs, and ultimately stands out as the top choice for gaming OLED monitors in a rapidly growing market.