If you’ve been searching for a 27-inch curved gaming monitor that won’t drain your wallet but still delivers a premium feel, the AOC Gaming CQ27G3S Frameless Curved Gaming Monitor is worth a look. We’ve spent time gaming, working, and testing this monitor to see where it stands in the crowded midrange 2K gaming monitor market, and it turns out AOC may have struck a fine balance here.
Table of Contents
Design and Build
Manufacturer: AOC
Model: CQ27G3S
Price when reviewed: Varies by region
Supplied by: AOC
The AOC Gaming CQ27G3S keeps things simple while retaining that gamer aesthetic, with a frameless curved design that looks clean on the desk. It has a 1000R curvature, which is noticeably more aggressive than the typical 1500R you see on many midrange monitors, giving you a wraparound feel that makes gaming sessions feel a bit more engaging.
The stand is stable, offering tilt and height adjustments, though you don’t get swivel or pivot options here. Cable management is decent thanks to a routing hole, and the build feels sturdy enough for daily adjustments.
What’s in the Box?
- AOC CQ27G3S 27-inch monitor
- Power cable and brick
- DisplayPort cable
- HDMI cable
- Quick start guide
- Warranty documents
Assembly is straightforward, with a tool-free design that lets you click the stand into place and secure it with a thumbscrew. The frameless design on three sides is excellent for dual-monitor setups, allowing a seamless extension of your workspace.
Display Performance
This monitor AOC CQ27G3S brings a 27-inch VA panel with a 2560×1440 QHD resolution, paired with a 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms MPRT response time, setting it up well for competitive and casual gaming alike.
Brightness and Colour
Out of the box, colours are vibrant without being oversaturated. The VA panel delivers deep blacks and high contrast, making games and movies pop with added depth. The monitor covers a wide colour space that’s sufficient for gaming and streaming, and while it’s not a professional-grade editing monitor, it handles occasional photo or video edits well.
Brightness is around 300 nits, which is acceptable for most indoor settings. In brightly lit rooms, reflections may be visible, but the curved panel helps reduce some glare by angling light away from your direct line of sight.
Gaming Experience
This is where the AOC Gaming CQ27G3S shines. The 165Hz refresh rate, paired with the 1ms MPRT response, delivers crisp motion clarity. We tested it with titles like Valorant, Apex Legends, and Forza Horizon, and the fluidity is immediately noticeable compared to 60Hz displays.
The Adaptive-Sync and FreeSync Premium support keeps tearing away, and even though this isn’t an officially G-SYNC Compatible monitor, enabling G-SYNC on NVIDIA cards worked during testing with minimal flicker issues. The 1000R curve brings your peripheral vision into play, enhancing immersion, particularly in racing and open-world games.
AOC Low Input Lag mode makes a noticeable difference, reducing latency so that your actions register with minimal delay. This can give you a slight edge in competitive shooters, where every moment counts.
Everyday Use
The AOC CQ27G3S 27” 2K QHD (2560 x 1440) 165Hz curved screen gaming monitor isn’t just for gaming. The QHD resolution at 27 inches gives you a sweet spot for productivity, letting you have two windows side by side comfortably without feeling cramped.
Text remains sharp, and the curved display makes reading and scrolling through documents and web pages more pleasant. If you’re working in spreadsheets or coding, the extra vertical pixels are helpful compared to a 1080p display.
Viewing Angles and Curve
Being a VA panel, viewing angles are decent but not as wide as an IPS panel. You may notice slight colour shifting if you view the monitor from extreme angles, but in practical use, this isn’t an issue.
The 1000R curve is more immersive than the 1500R curve found on monitors like the AOC CQ27G2 and CQ27G2S, pulling the edges of the display closer and reducing the need to turn your head during gaming or multitasking.
Connectivity
Connectivity is straightforward with:
- 2 x HDMI 2.0 ports
- 1 x DisplayPort 1.4
- 1 x 3.5mm audio out
This configuration makes it easy to connect your PC, gaming console, and a streaming device simultaneously, with the DisplayPort unlocking the full 165Hz refresh rate at 1440p.
Settings and Calibration
To get the best out of this monitor, we recommend:
- Enable Adaptive-Sync in the OSD and your GPU settings to prevent tearing.
- Set overdrive to Medium for a good balance between ghosting reduction and avoiding overshoot.
- Use Game Color to adjust saturation to taste if you prefer more vibrant visuals.
- Keep brightness at around 80-90% in bright rooms, lowering it in dark rooms to reduce eye strain.
Many users ask for “AOC CQ27G3S best settings” to reduce ghosting, and in our testing, the Medium overdrive paired with FreeSync ON and low input lag mode enabled provided the best performance for competitive play.
Comparison: AOC CQ27G3S vs AOC CQ27G2
The AOC CQ27G3S vs AOC CQ27G2 comparison often comes up. The CQ27G3S offers:
- A 1000R curve (vs 1500R on CQ27G2), providing a more pronounced wrap-around experience.
- Similar 165Hz refresh rate and 1440p resolution.
- Slight improvements in colour tuning and gaming optimisations.
If you prefer a more immersive curve, the CQ27G3S is the better option. If you prefer a gentler curve, the CQ27G2 remains solid.
Who Is This Monitor For?
If you’re seeking a budget-friendly, 165Hz, 1440p gaming monitor that looks good and performs well across a variety of games, the AOC Gaming CQ27G3S frameless curved gaming monitor deserves a spot on your shortlist.
It is well-suited for:
- Gamers stepping up from 1080p 60Hz monitors.
- Competitive players wanting 165Hz without IPS glow.
- Console gamers looking for a high-refresh 2K display for future-proofing.
- Users who want an immersive curved monitor for daily use and streaming.
Summary
The AOC Gaming CQ27G3S Review shows this monitor offers excellent gaming performance with its 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response, and immersive 1000R curve at a competitive price point. The vibrant VA panel delivers solid colours and contrast, while Adaptive-Sync and FreeSync Premium support keep gameplay smooth.
While it lacks HDR capabilities and USB-C connectivity, its straightforward design, sturdy stand, and sharp 1440p resolution make it a well-rounded choice for gamers and productivity users alike.
If you’ve been researching AOC CQ27G3S Reddit discussions, Rtings reviews, or AOC CQ27G3S specs, you will find that real-world use matches the promise. It’s a monitor that feels tuned for gaming while being flexible enough for daily work.
If you want a 27-inch curved gaming monitor that balances affordability, immersive gameplay, and everyday utility, the AOC Gaming CQ27G3S Frameless Curved Gaming Monitor, QHD 2K 2560×1440, 1000R VA, 165Hz 1ms, FreeSync Premium, Black is a strong contender for your next upgrade.
The AOC CQ27G3S is available on Amazon.