Image: Innocn
Alright, deal hunters. You’ve been waiting for an affordable OLED monitor for a year, maybe two. And that day is finally here, if you’re willing to be somewhat flexible with that word “affordable.”
OLED gaming monitors aren’t cheap, but Amazon is selling a 27-inch OLED monitor with a 2560×1440 resolution, a speedy 240Hz refresh rate, and a USB-C video input for just $430 right now. That’s hundreds less than any comparable OLED display on the market.
If you’re bracing for the other shoe to drop, here it is: the brand is Innocn. That’s a white-label seller who takes generic hardware designs, slaps its own logo on them, and ships them out at low prices. Without seeing any expert reviews, I don’t want to guess at the quality (or lack thereof) of Innocn as a brand. But it seems likely that you’ll find some corners cut versus similar OLED monitors from LG, Alienware, Corsair, etc.
That said, on paper this 27A1S monitor looks pretty darn good. In addition to that sweet OLED screen, you also get a 2560×1440 QHD resolution, which is the current sweet spot for PC gaming. Add in the 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time and it’s plenty fast enough even for some intense multiplayer shooters.
Connections are flexible with an HDMI port, two DisplayPort ports, and one USB-C port with 65 watts of charging. (That’s enough for most laptops, though the beefiest gaming laptops might not be able to go full power without a dedicated charger.) Oh, it also has a wireless Qi phone charger built into the stand, which I guess is a nice touch.
Extras include some RGB bling on the back, plus four five-watt speakers that I’m begging you not to use. (But it looks like they’re integrated into the monitor’s bottom edge, so you might actually be able to hear them for a change.) You also get two standard USB-A ports for external gadgets, a headphone port, and VESA mount compatibility if you want to use a monitor arm.
Normally, I’d be a little hesitant to spend this much money on a white-label monitor, especially an OLED that’s prone to issues like burn-in. But buying through Amazon gives me a little more confidence as I’ve never had an issue with returns, and a 3-year Asurion warranty is only $58 when checking out. Even with the extra protection, it’s still the cheapest price I’ve ever seen for this level of OLED monitor.
This is a fantastic OLED monitor for $430, so get it while this deal lasts. Also worth considering is a similar 34-inch ultrawide OLED from the same brand that’s currently on sale for $550, which is, again, several hundred dollars less than comparable models from Alienware and LG.
A 27-inch 1440p 240Hz OLED monitor for $430? That’s a steal!
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he’s the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop “battlestation” in his off hours. Michael’s previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he’s covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he’s always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.