Notebookcheck Logo

Auzai M270HQ 27-inch 2K Gaming Monitor is Affordable with Cut Corners

TN panel limitations. The Auzai checks a lot of desirable boxes including 1440p native resolution, 165 Hz refresh rate, fast response times, attractive narrow bezel design, and FreeSync support for under $300 USD. Actual display quality, however, is average at best or poor at worst when compared to most mid-range IPS gaming laptops and other pricier gaming monitors.
Monitor Chinese Tech
(Image source: Amazon)
(Image source: Amazon)

The Auzai M270HQ monitor is one of the least expensive 27-inch gaming monitors in the market at under $300 USD or even $250 USD when on sale. Let's see how it performs.

The full specifications of the monitor can be found on its Amazon page here. 

More monitor reviews:

Model M270HQ
Screen Size 27-inch, 16:9, 2560 x 1440 native
Light Type LED backlit
Advertised Response Time 1 ms (MPRT)
Advertised Brightness 230 nits
Advertised Color Gamut 16.7 M, 72% NTSC
Refresh Rate 165 Hz via HDMI and DP
Ports 2x HDMI, 1x DP, USB-A (power-out), 3.5 mm earphones
Thinnest Dimension 0.55 inch
Size w/ Base 24.21 x 14.17 x 3.35 inches
Net/Gross Weight 8.82 lbs/11.45 lbs
Wall Hangings Support VESA Aperture M4

Case

Great first impressions out of the box in terms of design and weight
Great first impressions out of the box in terms of design and weight
Assembled base is sturdy with no teetering. The rubber feet improves stability
Assembled base is sturdy with no teetering. The rubber feet improves stability
However, range of motion is limited (no swivel or down-tilt feature)
However, range of motion is limited (no swivel or down-tilt feature)
Display at minimum height
Display at minimum height
Display at maximum height
Display at maximum height
Display rotation is not recommended because of the limited TN viewing angles
Display rotation is not recommended because of the limited TN viewing angles
Rear LED lights will automatically change between different colors
Rear LED lights will automatically change between different colors
Most of the monitor is plastic and can be easily damaged
Most of the monitor is plastic and can be easily damaged
Display portion of the monitor is extremely thin
Display portion of the monitor is extremely thin
VESA mount is off-center unlike on most other monitors
VESA mount is off-center unlike on most other monitors
Buttons are difficult to use because they are behind the screen
Buttons are difficult to use because they are behind the screen
All ports are easily accessible along the rear
All ports are easily accessible along the rear
Four screws secure the base to the display portion
Four screws secure the base to the display portion

Accessories

All included accessories. The AC power adapter cable is very short at just under 3 feet
All included accessories. The AC power adapter cable is very short at just under 3 feet

Display

There is a discrepancy in the advertisement. The product image reads "100% AdobeRGB" while the specification reads "100% sRGB". Our tests with an X-Rite colorimeter show only 84 percent sRGB coverage maximum even after setting the display to AdobeRGB via its OSD.

Note that both brightness and contrast are relatively low and so images are not nearly as vibrant as a typical Ultrabook display.

Display suffers from a grainy matte overlay
Display suffers from a grainy matte overlay
Narrow bezels along the two sides and top edge
Narrow bezels along the two sides and top edge
The product images are claiming different color spaces. This image claims full AdobeRGB coverage...
The product images are claiming different color spaces. This image claims full AdobeRGB coverage...
...while this claims full sRGB coverage. Our own measurements show sRGB coverage only
...while this claims full sRGB coverage. Our own measurements show sRGB coverage only
Auzai monitor colors are not as deep as expected especially when reproducing red. Our laptop in this comparison is the 14-inch 4K Vaio Z
Auzai monitor colors are not as deep as expected especially when reproducing red. Our laptop in this comparison is the 14-inch 4K Vaio Z
174.9
cd/m²		214
cd/m²		231
cd/m²
176.5
cd/m²		220
cd/m²		232
cd/m²
164.3
cd/m²		196.4
cd/m²		224.6
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 232 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 203.7 cd/m² Minimum: 61.2 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 71 %
Contrast: 550:1 (Black: 0.4 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.8 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 4.41
ΔE Greyscale 2.5 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
84.4% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
55.2% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
62.3% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
85% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
61% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.04
Auzai M270HQ 27-inch
x, 		Auzai ME16Z01 Portable Monitor
1920x1080, 15.60		Dell G7 7590
AU Optronics B156HAN, , 1920x1080, 15.60		HP Omen 17-cb0020ng
CMN175D, , 1920x1080, 17.30		Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA503Q
CMN N156KME-GNA (CMN152A), , 2560x1440, 15.60
Display
-18%
6%
8%
39%
Display P3 Coverage
61
48.53
-20%
64.4
6%
63.7
4%
97.3
60%
sRGB Coverage
85
72
-15%
90
6%
96
13%
99.9
18%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
62.3
50.2
-19%
65.3
5%
65.8
6%
86.2
38%
Response Times
-89%
24%
15%
37%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
20.8 ?(12.4, 8.4)
38.8 ?(20.8, 18)
-87%
14 ?(7.2, 6.8)
33%
17.6 ?(8.4, 9.2)
15%
8.8 ?(4.4, 4.4)
58%
Response Time Black / White *
13.2 ?(11.6, 1.6)
25.2 ?(16, 9.2)
-91%
11.2 ?(6, 5.2)
15%
11.2 ?(6, 5.2)
15%
11.2 ?(6.8, 4.4)
15%
PWM Frequency
201.6 ?(23)
25510 ?(44)
Screen
-54%
-11%
51%
26%
Brightness middle
220
300.7
37%
330.5
50%
360
64%
327
49%
Brightness
204
267
31%
324
59%
342
68%
309
51%
Brightness Distribution
71
77
8%
91
28%
91
28%
89
25%
Black Level *
0.4
0.66
-65%
0.71
-78%
0.26
35%
0.33
17%
Contrast
550
456
-17%
465
-15%
1385
152%
991
80%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.8
10.26
-114%
5.33
-11%
1.91
60%
4.49
6%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
9.12
22.93
-151%
11.08
-21%
4.08
55%
8.42
8%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
4.41
5.05
-15%
3.63
18%
0.78
82%
2.27
49%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
2.5
9.5
-280%
6.7
-168%
2.72
-9%
4.2
-68%
Gamma
2.04 108%
1.51 146%
2.24 98%
2.37 93%
2.173 101%
CCT
6457 101%
8200 79%
8035 81%
6692 97%
7014 93%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
55.2
45.8
-17%
58.3
6%
60
9%
86
56%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
84.4
71.5
-15%
89.5
6%
96
14%
99
17%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-54% / -52%
6% / -4%
25% / 38%
34% / 30%

* ... smaller is better

Display Response Times

ℹ
Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
   ↔    Response Time Black to White
13.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 11.6 ms rise
↘ 1.6 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 29 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms).
   ↔    Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
20.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 12.4 ms rise
↘ 8.4 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 28 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.8 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

ℹ
To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17933 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
Grayscale before calibration
Grayscale before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration

Viewing angles are very limited due to the TN panel. Rotating the display for portrait mode is not recommended as a result.

Temperature

Front side after an hour of use
Front side after an hour of use
Back side after an hour of use
Back side after an hour of use

Power Consumption

Jumping from minimum brightness to maximum brightness consumes about 12 W more. The monitor draws just under 40 W when at full brightness.

Minimum brightness power consumption
Minimum brightness power consumption
Maximum brightness power consumption
Maximum brightness power consumption

Pros

+ fast black-white response times
+ 3.5 mm audio passthrough
+ slim and attractive design
+ FreeSync compatible
+ 3x video input ports
+ inexpensive
+ strong base

Cons

- low maximum brightness and low contrast ratio
- base provides no swiveling or down-tilting
- OSD buttons are inconvenient to use
- only 55 percent AdobeRGB coverage
- average gray-gray response times
- AC power adapter is very short
- VESA mount is off-centered
- limited TN viewing angles
- monitor is mostly plastic
- grainy matte overlay

Verdict

In review: Auzai M270HQ monitor. Test unit provided by Auzai
In review: Auzai M270HQ monitor. Test unit provided by Auzai

The sleek visual design is a highlight of the inexpensive Auzai monitor. The devil is in the details, however, as display quality leaves a lot to be desired. Both brightness and contrast are below average for overall muted colors that graphics artists and content creators will want to stay away from.

The fast response times and refresh rates make the Auzai a good option for budget gamers so long as they don't mind the subpar colors and contrast ratio.

There are a couple of small improvements we would like to see without impacting the affordable price point. Better OSD buttons and a longer AC power adapter cord, for example, can make the user experience less frustrating. It's otherwise decent for pure gaming purposes where high refresh rates often take priority over color accuracy.

Price and availability

The Auzai M270HQ 27-inch QHD gaming monitor is now on Amazon for $330 USD. Sales may bump the price down to under $300.

Pricecompare

Read all 1 comments / answer
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Auzai M270HQ 27-inch 2K Gaming Monitor is Affordable with Cut Corners
Allen Ngo, 2021-03- 7 (Update: 2021-03- 7)