So far, 2024 has been a yr marked by wonderful gaming screens, and the perfect ask you to dig deep into your pockets to name them your personal. But with the Xiaomi G Pro 27i, the buyer tech large is having its very personal “maintain my beer” second. At retail worth of solely $370, it’s an important 1440p gaming monitor that brings a characteristic set that might normally value twice as a lot, and it’s readily available on Amazon. It lacks a few options, like a built-in USB hub, however its mini-LED show makes it a killer worth and the most effective price range monitor which you need to positively contemplate for your self.
The Xiaomi G Pro 27i sports activities a 27-inch, 1440p show with a design that has a definite similarity with Alienware with its white stand and rear panel. It’s the proper decision for the display measurement, providing a pixel density of 109 PPI for crisp visuals. While it’s not essentially “esports grade” by going with 180Hz refresh fee reasonably than a extra fascinating 240Hz, it’s completely adequate for anybody that isn’t on the cusp of going professional (and the trade-off is value it, belief me). Its movement readability remains to be higher than 144Hz screens that run related IPS panels. It additionally sports activities variable refresh fee (VRR) by way of each AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync, so any fluctuations whereas making an attempt to hit 180 frames will clean out.
Since it’s utilizing an IPS panel, it options the same old advantages of wealthy and correct colours and vast viewing angles. While these panels are traditionally slower, that’s not a difficulty right here because it’s rated for a 1ms GTG (gray-to-gray) response time. In regular phrases, there’s no ghosting to be seen even in quite a lot of gameplay eventualities. This monitor additionally sidesteps the same old issues of backlight bleeding and low distinction that incessantly plague IPS shows.
It accomplishes this through the use of a mini-LED backlight as an alternative of a extra widespread edge-lit design. Beneath the panel’s floor, there’s an enormous array of miniaturized LED lights spanning its whole space. This permits it to attain greater than double the typical brightness of gaming screens round this worth (usually 350 to 500 nits) and obtain much better distinction by way of full array native dimming (FALD). Mini-LED know-how isn’t new, nevertheless it’s solely lately that costs have dropped to incorporate in additional inexpensive screens like this. As of this writing, the Xiaomi G Pro 27i is the most effective mini-LED monitor you could find below round $700.
It’s in a position to carry out so a lot better than the competitors as a result of Xiaomi has outfitted it with two-to-three instances the variety of dimming zones in comparison with its nearest competitors. It options a formidable 1,152 native dimming zones, permitting every to be fairly small. The monitor detects the content material being displayed and dims the backlight in shadowed and utterly black areas of the display. Most IPS gaming screens high out at a 1,000:1 distinction ratio, which may make blacks seem like a darkish grey in well-lit rooms. With native dimming on excessive, I measured simply shy of an 8,100:1 distinction ratio utilizing my colorimeter. The subsequent step up from right here is OLED, which may simply increase the value by about $500 or extra.
These LEDs additionally permit it to attain a rated brightness of 1,000 nits. Paired with its native dimming zones, it’s in a position to provide a “true” HDR expertise that’s a deal with to expertise in each video games and streaming content material. Unlike OLED screens, there’s no threat of picture retention or issues with textual content readability both, making it a robust selection for productiveness and longevity.
There are just a few on this worth vary in a position to compete. AOC’s inexpensive mini-LED, the Q27G3XMN, is rated for 1,000 nits however has 336 zones. The Cooler Master Tempest GP2711 is a bit higher with 576 zones with the identical peak brightness, however is greater than $100 pricier. With fewer dimming zones, these screens provide blotchier lighting experiences and way more pronounced blooming when gentle objects seem on grey backgrounds.
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To get an identical degree of efficiency, you’ll be able to count on to pay roughly double, exterior of main gross sales, as with the INNOCN 32M2V. And the costs go up from there. Asus has a 4K mini-LED monitor with the identical variety of zones for $1,500 on sale, although, in equity, it’s a 4K show with a peak brightness of 1,400 nits, so it’s not precisely apples to apples. The vary of comparable screens at such larger costs simply highlights how stunning it’s to see these sorts of specs at such an inexpensive worth.
Part of the explanation the G Pro 27i is ready to obtain such brightness is as a result of the panel has been handled with Quantum Dots, which additionally expands its coloration gamut. Xiaomi claims 100% protection of the sRGB colours area, 99% protection of DCI-P3, and 97% protection of Adobe RGB. In a pleasing shock, these measurements had been really decrease than what I measured. sRGB and Adobe RGB had been spot-on, however DCI-P3 peaked at 100%. Note that that is the best studying with my present meter, so it’s potential (and our colleagues within the area have proven) that it could possibly be even larger. That’s unbelievable for inventive professionals.
It additionally comes coloration calibrated from the manufacturing facility, although this was extra of a miss. Out of the field, Xiaomi claims a median DeltaE of <2, which is correct sufficient for coloration vital work. On my pattern, the colour temperature skewed heat and the DeltaE common got here in at 3.42. It’s perceptible sufficient that you just’ll need to calibrate it by yourself if you happen to plan to wish extraordinarily correct colours. I think many avid gamers will discover it simply advantageous out of the field or with a couple of small tweaks within the OSD.
But barely skewed colours aren’t the one challenge to pay attention to. To maintain the value low, there actually aren’t any gaming options exterior of its core specs. You have a couple of genre-based image presets, however these solely appear to regulate coloration and brightness, not any core efficiency traits of the show. There’s a shadow enhancer and a number of other escalating overdrive settings (the default Fast setting is greatest), however that’s about it.
The OSD permits you to modify the entire typical settings for image high quality (brightness, distinction, saturation, and so on.) in addition to set the monitor to devoted sRGB, DCI-P3, and Adobe RGB modes, however there are treasured few settings to really improve gameplay. Within the superior menu, you’re additionally in a position to allow VRR and HDR and select what degree of native dimming you favor.
The connectivity choices are additionally very restricted. There are two HDMI 2.0 ports, two DisplayPort 1.4s, and a headphone jack. There’s no enter for USB Type-C and no USB hub, which is widespread to search out in high-performance screens today. That’s a bummer if you happen to prefer to maintain your peripherals or a flash drive plugged in and inside straightforward attain.
Surprisingly, the stand is kind of good. It makes use of Philips screws to lock to the bottom, which I haven’t seen shortly (thumbscrews are the brand new normal), nevertheless it’s straightforward to assemble and stands securely with the show connected. It gives round 4 inches of top changes, tilts, rotates, and may pivot into portrait orientation to make use of as a facet show. I discover the “MiniLED” stamp on the facet a bit garish nevertheless it’s not unhealthy and I just like the uniform white look between the stand and again of the monitor.
Xiaomi G Pro 27i – Performance
Overall, the Xiaomi G Pro 27i blew me away. As somebody who opinions screens for a residing, I didn’t count on this degree of efficiency from a monitor with an MSRP of $370 and, on the time of this assessment, a pleasant $40 off coupon to convey that all the way down to $330. That worth could even go down as time goes on, however let’s be clear: even at $370, this can be a nice worth.
I’ve spent most of this yr testing high-end screens that normally begin round $700 and lengthen properly above $1,000, however over time, I’ve examined dozens of extra inexpensive choices too. The G Pro 27i has far more in widespread with these costly screens than it does with something within the price range or mid-tier of gaming screens. It’s not excellent, however for image high quality and HDR, it punches approach above its class and comes surprisingly near a few of the pricier OLEDs which were launched this yr. For round $370, it doesn’t get a lot better than this. And below $600, it nonetheless doesn’t get a lot better than this.
That’s excessive reward, however the monitor is value each ounce of it. With slightly tweaking, I used to be in a position to dial within the image so shut that I legitimately stated “wow” even after testing a $1,300 OLED from Asus. It requires trade-offs however with specs like these, it appears clear that that is Xiaomi’s market challenger. The different mini-LED and historically backlit screens merely don’t evaluate to the image high quality it’s in a position to ship when all the pieces is dialed in.
With native dimming on excessive, blacks get as darkish as I’ve encountered with out shifting to an OLED panel or paying tons of extra for a monitor with an identical quantity of dimming zones. The identical is true on the alternative finish of the spectrum. Whites and highlights pop, and because it’s nonetheless an LED monitor, it doesn’t undergo the identical restricted SDR brightness, which signifies that excessive distinction will be paired with excessive brightness always to get a wealthy picture high quality. It can keep a vibrant, punchy image in perpetuity. In reality, it might get so vivid that I’ve seared my eyes greater than as soon as forgetting to show the brightness again down after a gaming session. Thankfully, it ships from the manufacturing facility with the brightness turned down to stop this from occurring straight out of the field.
According to my colorimeter, it’s in a position to output round 960 nits of sustained brightness on a full-white display in HDR. OLED screens, in contrast, usually solely hit these ranges (and, in equity, can typically get considerably brighter) in very small percentages of the display, limiting peak brightness to highlights solely. The monitor did get heat, however I loved cranking the brightness up for probably the most vivid image.
The trade-off is that its wonderful distinction is just potential with native dimming on excessive, which can be the place blooming is most seen. It’s not noticeable when gaming, however if you happen to’re in a program with a grey background, like Photoshop, you’ll be able to’t miss it. A purplish circle follows the mouse pointer across the display. Xiaomi acknowledged, through e-mail, that that is anticipated habits and that it is suggested to solely use native dimming on “low” exterior of films and video games.
Dropping to this mode, or turning it off completely, eliminates the bloom on the expense of constructing it seem like a standard IPS monitor. That’s not a nasty factor, however these dimming zones are spoiling. I by no means stopped noticing the bloom however discovered that it was remoted sufficient that I received used to it after a few days and most popular simply letting native dimming do its factor always. This may be very subjective, so I like to recommend looking on the photograph above, or a dwell video if you could find it, to make sure you gained’t thoughts or are comfy turning distinction down for productiveness.
Blooming can be a reality of all mini-LED screens presently – it’s the core trade-off when in comparison with OLED. If you’ll be able to dwell with it, the G Pro 27i gives brightness, no threat of burn in, and a dramatically cheaper price. It’s additionally not a difficulty in video games and films the place there’s extra movement occurring on display.
Interestingly, it’s actually solely seen on grey backgrounds and the monitor appears to disregard illuminating the pointer in black areas. Moving the mouse to the darkish nook of my wallpaper (pictured above) simply causes the mouse pointer to get uninteresting from a scarcity of lighting. It’s a bit odd to see in day by day use however is preferable to seeing that bloom on each darkish background.
Response time is superb, though setting Overdrive to the “Faster” possibility is required for the most effective efficiency. Using that mode, the BlurBusters’ UFO Ghosting Test confirmed outcomes which might be on par with different 1ms IPS gaming screens. There are some minor picture trails, significantly transitioning from darkish to gentle, and a few overshoot within the lightest row, however in precise video games, I didn’t see any ghosts or different visible artifacts that might take away from the expertise. Response time remains to be an space the place OLEDs soar above IPS and VA panels and is a core cause you continue to would possibly need to contemplate one if you happen to’re a aggressive participant.
Playing video games on it’s a distinctive deal with at this worth. Though it lacks most devoted gaming options you’ll discover on different screens, I didn’t miss them as I soaked in its attractive image. Its 180Hz refresh fee, backed by stutter-free Nvidia G-Sync, made each Diablo 4 and Battlefield 2042 really feel clean and fluid. If I didn’t know the value, its image high quality and gaming expertise alone would lead me to guess it was nearer to $600 to $700.
Its out of the field calibration is a matter, nevertheless it’s not a dealbreaker. Generally, it simply appeared slightly heat, however I used to be in a position to appropriate that by merely adjusting the image settings inside the OSD. If you’re not counting on coloration accuracy for inventive work, you actually don’t want a colorimeter to get it dialed in, simply time and a willingness to tweak it to your choice.
In the tip, what we’re left with is a gaming monitor that has a couple of small, largely simply addressed, points however is in any other case an unbelievable worth. Its high quality and efficiency are next-level for this asking worth.
