Gigabyte M27UP 27"

The Gigabyte M27UP is a 27-inch 4K IPS gaming monitor that punches way above its budget price with 160Hz smoothness, a handy 1080p 320Hz mode, and top-tier connectivity including USB-C and HDMI 2.1. Its HDR is forgettable and the contrast is just okay, but for under $300 when you find it at the right retailer, it's an absolute steal that blends work and play seamlessly.

If you've been searching for a 4K gaming monitor that doesn't flatten your wallet, the Gigabyte M27UP keeps popping up for a reason. This 27-inch IPS panel pushes a crisp 3840 x 2160 resolution at 160Hz, plus it throws in a sneaky 1080p 320Hz mode for competitive shooters. At its lowest price of around $250, the spec sheet alone reads like a prank on the monitor industry.

We're not looking at an OLED-killer here, but the M27UP nails the fundamentals: solid motion handling with a 1ms GTG response, full G-Sync and FreeSync Premium support, and enough ports to act as a mini docking station. For anyone splitting time between work and gaming, that USB-C KVM switch and the HDMI 2.1 ports are quietly some of the best features in the whole package.

In our database, the display quality sits in the 88th percentile, meaning it's one of the sharpest and smoothest IPS screens you can grab without jumping to a much higher price tier. The catch is something you'd expect from any budget-focused 4K panel: HDR is more checkbox than experience, and contrast is strictly average.

With a 160Hz refresh rate and that rapid 1ms GTG response, the M27UP handles fast-paced games without breaking a sweat. Our test numbers put its motion clarity in the 76th percentile, so it's comfortably above average for gaming monitors. In practice, you won't notice any ghosting in Apex Legends or Overwatch 2, and the Tactical Dual Mode that drops you to 24 inches and 320Hz at 1080p is a neat trick for esports players who want one screen to rule them all.

Color accuracy is a more mixed story. The panel covers 125% sRGB and can push 1.07 billion colors, but it lands in the 65th percentile for overall color performance. That 350-nit brightness and DisplayHDR 400 certification won't make HDR content pop the way a true OLED or Mini-LED would. For SDR gaming and desktop work, though, the image looks vibrant and sharp, especially when you first boot up a game and see all that 4K detail on a 27-inch screen.

Pricing on the M27UP is all over the place. We've seen it listed from $250 to a laughable $87,940, but if you can snag one for under $350, it's a steal. At that level, you're getting a 4K 160Hz experience that normally costs hundreds more, plus the kind of I/O you'd expect on a premium productivity display. Just make sure you're not paying scalper prices — check a few retailers, and you'll likely find the real deal around $300, which puts it in a class of its own.

Stacked against popular OLED options like the ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQDMG or the MSI MAG 272UP QD-OLED, the Gigabyte loses badly on contrast and HDR. Those screens deliver true blacks and eye-melting colors, but they're also 1440p panels that cost significantly more. The Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 is another 1440p 240Hz competitor that will make the M27UP's IPS panel look a bit dull in a dark room, while the LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B trots out similar 4K 144Hz specs with a different port selection. Where the M27UP wins is the combination of 4K sharpness, 160Hz speed, and a price that undercuts almost everyone. If you're not married to inky blacks, it's a smarter buy than most OLEDs for mixed use, especially when you factor in the USB-C KVM and that 1080p 320Hz party trick.

Skip the M27UP if you mainly play in a dark room and care about deep blacks or true HDR. The 1000:1 contrast ratio and 350-nit brightness mean dark scenes look lifted and HDR highlights lack punch. For that cinematic immersion, you'll be happier with an OLED like the Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 or the ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQDMG, even if they cost more and drop you to 1440p. Also, if you're a competitive esports athlete who needs the absolute lowest input lag and doesn't care about 4K, a dedicated 240Hz or 360Hz 1080p display will serve you better.

Should you buy this? If you want a single 27-inch monitor that handles both 4K AAA games at high refresh rates and swivels into a crisp productivity screen with a USB-C dock, the M27UP is an easy recommendation when it's near $300. It's not going to wow you with HDR fireworks, and the contrast ratio will remind you you're on an IPS panel every time you watch a dark movie, but in everyday use it feels fast, sharp, and feature-rich.

For pure competitive esports where every millisecond matters, a dedicated 1080p 360Hz monitor would be a better fit, and if you crave rich HDR for single-player games, those OLED competitors are worth the extra cash. But for the rest of us who just want a great all-rounder that doesn't cost a fortune, the M27UP is one of the best 4K gaming monitors you can grab right now.