AOC i2757fh

The AOC i2757fh ($299.99 list) is the latest player in the rapidly growing field of affordable IPS (in plane switching) monitors, and it's also our newest Editors' Choice for mainstream big-screen monitors. This 27-inch head-turner offers all the benefits of IPS technology such as deeply saturated colors, good grayscale reproduction, and wide viewing angles. It's not exactly loaded with features but it does come with two HDMI ports so you can stay connected to multiple HD sources without swapping out cables. A few extra amenities such as a USB hub or a height adjustable stand would be nice, but for under $300 it's still a killer deal.

Design and Features
Simply put, the i2757fh is a gorgeous monitor. The 1,920-by-1,080 panel sits inside a glossy black cabinet that is less than a half-inch thick. The cabinet is similar to the one used on the Viewsonic VX2770Smh-LED in that it has a bezel-less design (top and sides) that makes the panel appear as though it is floating above the stand. The 1.3-inch bottom bezel contains five touch-sensitive buttons and is done up in a brushed aluminum finish that gives the monitor a sleek high-tech look.

The 12.5-pound cabinet rests atop a rectangular stand that is also finished in brushed aluminum. It allows you to tilt the screen 5 degrees forward and 15 degrees backward but doesn't support height, swivel, or pivot adjustability. At the rear of the cabinet are two HDMI ports, a VGA port, a headphone jack, and an audio input. There aren't any USB ports on the i2757fh but it is equipped with a pair of 2-watt speakers. As with most monitor speakers they are a bit tinny sounding but get reasonably loud without distorting.

Picture settings include contrast, brightness, gamma, dynamic contrast ratio, and color temperature controls. On this monitor (and most other AOC models), the picture presets are referred to as ECO modes even though they are not related to power saving schemes. There are six modes (standard, text, internet, game, movie, sports) optimized for specific applications with standard being best suited for everyday use. There are also five Dynamic Color Boost (DCB) settings that add saturation to the entire picture or can be set to individually enhance greens, blues, or skin tones. As with the AOC e2351F the i2757fh has a Bright Frame setting that lets you frame out a segment of the image you're viewing and change luminance values for objects within the frame. Think of it as highlighting a select portion of the picture without changing the entire picture.

The i2757fh comes with a three year parts, labor, and backlight warranty. Included in the box are VGA and audio cables and a resource CD containing a comprehensive user guide and drivers. Alas, an HDMI cable is not part of the deal and must be purchased separately.

Performance
IPS monitors are known for their color depth and wide viewing angles and the i2757fh does not disappoint. Swatches from the DisplayMate Color Scales test were bold and deep but not oversaturated. Color gradation was smooth across the scale and showed no signs of tinting or banding. Better yet, colors remained bold and accurate when viewed from any angle and screen brightness was unchanged. The panel's matte coating did a good job of eliminating glare and reflections.

The i2757fh was able to display every shade of the 64-Step Grayscale test but the lightest shade was slightly washed out and the darkest shade could have been darker. That said, while the monitor's grayscale accuracy is significantly better than most TN (twisted nematic) monitors it's not as good as what you'll get from a high-end professional grade monitor such as the NEC PA301W.

A 5-millisecond (black-to-white) pixel response helped the i2757fh to deliver relatively smooth video. I watched Rat Race on Blu-ray and enjoyed blur-free action and sharp image quality. It also handled PS3 gaming duties with aplomb; Need For Speed: Carbon played flawlessly with no noticeable lag.

The 2757fh required 30 watts of power during testing. That's exactly what the Viewsonic VX2770Smh-LED used and is pretty much in line with other similarly sized IPS monitors. However, this monitor doesn't have dedicated power saving modes like the Viewsonic model, but it does have an off timer to help you conserve energy when you're not at your desk.

You'd be hard pressed to find a 27-inch IPS monitor for under $300 that looks and performs like the AOC i2757fh does. Its slender chassis and brushed metal accents will elicit more than a few compliments, and its rich color quality and superb off angle viewing will have you wondering how you ever got by without an IPS monitor. As good as it is, the i2757fh can't compete with high-end IPS models like the Dell UltraSharp U2713HM and NEC MultiSync PA310W , but it is certainly good enough to replace the Viewsonic VX2753mh as our Editors' Choice for mainstream big-screen monitors.

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