Mini/micro LED QHD monitors
- Thread starter michty_me
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I need to do some further testing but it looks pretty good. I've only spent about two hours with it so far but will get some more testing over the next day or two.
The only test that I've seen a bit more of an issue so far is this one: https://testufo.com/framerates-versus
The scrolling is pretty poor on my IPS panel regardless but is a bit worse on the rapid VA. It can't be read on either. I don't think this will really translate to real world use. Every other test looks pretty good.
I'll get some more checks done later.
My experience with VA monitors has been terrible. For the first few days after getting one, I am always impressed with the black levels and don't notice the black smear too much or the bad viewing angles. I do all the tests, the UFO one and the colour tests etc. etc. and all seems good. Then after about a week or so of real world use, the bad viewing angles and black smear are only things I can notice!!
In all attempts at trying VA, I end up returning the monitor after a few weeks. I even tried a few miniled panels, HVA etc. It's been the same story every time.
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So what is the best 27" mini-LED monitor on the market? I am waiting for the G Pro 27Qi 2026 and it seems to be not available yet. The VA MAG 274QPF X30MV looks an alternative,but seems pricier due to the 300Hz mode I won't use. I generally need something with decent colour accuracy for image editing,without excessive smearing for some gaming.
I have seen the IPS Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q for £100 and VA KOORUI GN10 for £130 - are these any good? But these seem to be older models.
I have seen the IPS Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q for £100 and VA KOORUI GN10 for £130 - are these any good? But these seem to be older models.
Can you advise what monitors you had tried and which were the worst? What really highlighted the black smear for you and what games? I would like to try and replicate it in games I may have.
As I mentioned, Viewing angles on this monitor appear great. I'm not implying this is a unicorn monitor at all but I'm surprised.
It is very hard to get consistent reviews on MiniLED monitors unfortunately. It is also very hard to even get a decent enough one in the UK due to one reason or another (AOC don't meet energy efficiency ratings etc). Awareness of them and popularity are getting stronger so I'm hopeful we may see more input from larger manufacturers rather than relying on imports from China.
The Cooler Master has the half the dimming zones of the others mentioned. Dimming zones aren't be all and end all though. The dimming algorithm plays a key part, More so than dimming zones.
From what I have found with the new Xiaomi G Pro 27Qi, There is still no way to upgrade the firmware.
Mini LED Monitor List 2026 [Always Updated] - Display Ninja
We maintain a list of all mini LED monitors in the world. These mini LED monitors are great for creative use among other usage scenarios.
www.displayninja.com
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Caporegime
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It is very hard to get consistent reviews on MiniLED monitors unfortunately. It is also very hard to even get a decent enough one in the UK due to one reason or another (AOC don't meet energy efficiency ratings etc). Awareness of them and popularity are getting stronger so I'm hopeful we may see more input from larger manufacturers rather than relying on imports from China.
The Cooler Master has the half the dimming zones of the others mentioned. Dimming zones aren't be all and end all though. The dimming algorithm plays a key part, More so than dimming zones.
From what I have found with the new Xiaomi G Pro 27Qi, There is still no way to upgrade the firmware.
Mini LED Monitor List 2026 [Always Updated] - Display Ninja
We maintain a list of all mini LED monitors in the world. These mini LED monitors are great for creative use among other usage scenarios.
I heard the Coolermaster has firmware issues and other problems and uses a proprietary power supply. The price has gone up but don't mind spending another £200 if I can get a decent one. OLED is tempting but I am still concerned about panel lifespan as I keep monitors for years.
So does that leave the VA MAG 274QPF X30MV as the only contender?
There are some good reviews of the KTC M27T6 is that floats your boat?
At the minute, I can't fully recommend this monitor yet as want to give it a full run down.
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Is the firmware updatable? Looks promising: https://www.displayninja.com/ktc-m27t6-review/ I wonder if the MSI is much better?
How is the 4K KTC M27P6?
It is but can be problematic to locate. I believe you have to get it from a chinese website.
I'm unsure about 4K as I'm still sticking with my happy spot of 1440P currently which of course limits my options even further.
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Caporegime
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OK,that sounds about right for the Chinese brands!
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Caporegime
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@michty_me How much did you get the MSI MAG 274QPF X30MV for? So far it looks the best compromise.
I paid £249. It was a manufacturer refurbished item so reduced warranty from 3 years to 1 year. I was happy with that as likely wouldn't get any warranty or support with any of the other Chinese units. If I get a few years out of it, Allow the tech to mature a bit, Then upgrade again.
I've now got the monitor setup alongside my LG 27GL850-B for some testing next to each other. I played some Doom last night and did not notice any issues with it whilst gaming. Shall go through the library over the weekend.
Edit to add: The Xaiomi G Pro 27i was £180 not too long ago on Ali, Unfortunately my one was cancelled as they ran out of stock. My second attempt at that was a dead pixel in the centre of the screen. If it weren't for that, I would have kept it.
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Is there any noticeable black smearing at all with fast paced action? I know the newer 'fast' VA panels are meant to be quite good at mitigating it, was just wondering how you were finding it playing FPS games!
Playing Doom last night, Flicking the mouse around wildly looks no worse than my 7 year old IPS LG display but that is one game so I need to play more varied games. Scrolling text on the UFO Test page looks clean with no smearing as it scrolls up. There is a bit of a smudge on the UFO test but as expected.
Some further testing can be done today and over the next few days.
The wife had surgery last week so I don't have as much free time at the minute until everyone in the house is settled and down for the night.
Mute the AI dubbed video (From around 4mins) but you get an idea of some games on it. I had heard foliage can be a nightmare on VA panels etc.
The KTC can be had for £177 currently elsewhere and ships from the UK.
I nearly rolled the dice on another Titan Army just for a bit of a trial but in all honesty, Can't be bothered with the wait and potential bother again. The algorithms they have on the Innocn and Titan Army models are meant to be superb.
I nearly rolled the dice on another Titan Army just for a bit of a trial but in all honesty, Can't be bothered with the wait and potential bother again. The algorithms they have on the Innocn and Titan Army models are meant to be superb.
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If you don't notice black smear/ghosting, my advice is forget about it!! Once you start seeing it, it's impossible to to unsee it. It's like one of those optical illusions with the stairs going up and down at the same time, but you can only see it going one way but once you see it going the other way, it's really tough to get back to the original way of looking at it.
Some of the monitors I tried lately were the KTC M27T6, The AOC Q27G3, The Samsung Odyssey G7 Neo, all three minileds. Of the three the Samsung was the best for black smear and viewing angles. Those were just my recent attempts at VA. And the only reason I tried them at all was because I really wanted to get a MiniLed monitor. I thought with new fast VA panels that the black smearing would be almost negligible. It's not the case however, at least with non of the monitors I tried.
I even wrote about the KTC M27T6 here. I was so impressed with it at the start, I honestly thought I had found a VA monitor that I would stick with. However, it was faulty and I had to return it. Now maybe I am been a little unfair, but in the time I used it, it started off fine, but the more I used it the more I noticed the black smear, ghosting, bad viewing angles. It's a great monitor for the price but only if you aren't sensitive to issues with VA panels.
I have had older models VA models and it's the same story. The absolute best VA monitor that I have ever had is a Samsung C27JG52. It's just a basic VA monitor that I have had as backup monitor for ages. I won it in a raffle years ago!! Yes, I notice the black smear and bad viewing angles, but it takes a lot longer for the issues to become so annoying that I can't use the monitor any more.
As for games. Cyberpunk is a good one I think. Elite Dangerous is another. Call of Duty or CS:GO in any of the dark areas should be a decent test too. But, I notice it most often in real world use, just browsing the internet, watching YouTube etc. It's when I stopped looking for it, that I started noticing it more. My advice to you is to stop testing it and just use the monitor as normal. Play your games, watch your movies, surf your sites and do your work. If you are sensitive to black smearing etc, it will start driving you nuts after a while. You won't know exactly what's wrong, it will just niggle you all the time.
However, if you aren't sensitive to black smear, you won't notice a damn thing and you will be a very happy user!!
Valid points.If you don't notice black smear/ghosting, my advice is forget about it!! Once you start seeing it, it's impossible to to unsee it. It's like one of those optical illusions with the stairs going up and down at the same time, but you can only see it going one way but once you see it going the other way, it's really tough to get back to the original way of looking at it.
Some of the monitors I tried lately were the KTC M27T6, The AOC Q27G3, The Samsung Odyssey G7 Neo, all three minileds. Of the three the Samsung was the best for black smear and viewing angles. Those were just my recent attempts at VA. And the only reason I tried them at all was because I really wanted to get a MiniLed monitor. I thought with new fast VA panels that the black smearing would be almost negligible. It's not the case however, at least with non of the monitors I tried.
I even wrote about the KTC M27T6 here. I was so impressed with it at the start, I honestly thought I had found a VA monitor that I would stick with. However, it was faulty and I had to return it. Now maybe I am been a little unfair, but in the time I used it, it started off fine, but the more I used it the more I noticed the black smear, ghosting, bad viewing angles. It's a great monitor for the price but only if you aren't sensitive to issues with VA panels.
I have had older models VA models and it's the same story. The absolute best VA monitor that I have ever had is a Samsung C27JG52. It's just a basic VA monitor that I have had as backup monitor for ages. I won it in a raffle years ago!! Yes, I notice the black smear and bad viewing angles, but it takes a lot longer for the issues to become so annoying that I can't use the monitor any more.
As for games. Cyberpunk is a good one I think. Elite Dangerous is another. Call of Duty or CS:GO in any of the dark areas should be a decent test too. But, I notice it most often in real world use, just browsing the internet, watching YouTube etc. It's when I stopped looking for it, that I started noticing it more. My advice to you is to stop testing it and just use the monitor as normal. Play your games, watch your movies, surf your sites and do your work. If you are sensitive to black smearing etc, it will start driving you nuts after a while. You won't know exactly what's wrong, it will just niggle you all the time.
However, if you aren't sensitive to black smear, you won't notice a damn thing and you will be a very happy user!!
I have read your KTC thread actually and believe I had commented a few months back when I was on the hunt.
I've got cyberpunk installed and also Ready or Not which can be heavy on the dark scenes. I'll just go about my usual business and see how I get on, I've got until June to return it regardless so no great shakes.
or in my case, literally get headaches
This was a concern too. I need more time with it for my daily usage.or in my case, literally get headaches
Is your headaches caused by a VA panel or more of the PWM setup? I know a few folk that don't get on with OLEDs due to the same.
This MSI is DC dimming for that reason. I didn't want to tempt fate with a PWM setup.
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Caporegime
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TCL 27G64 on offer for £219.