The Gigabyte M27U is a 27-inch, 4k gaming monitor. As a part of Gigabyte's M Series lineup, it's a smaller option compared to the Gigabyte M28U and the Gigabyte M32U, and it has many of the same features. Designed as a gaming monitor, it has 24 Gbps of HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, which lets you play games at a high frame rate from consoles or gaming PCs. It also has native FreeSync VRR support to reduce screen tearing, and G-SYNC works with NVIDIA graphics cards. Besides its gaming features, it has productivity perks like a KVM switch, so you can switch between two devices and use the same keyboard and mouse. It also has a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode, but it's limited to 15W of power delivery.
Our Verdict
The Gigabyte M27U is decent for PC gaming. It has a 160Hz max refresh rate with VRR support to reduce screen tearing. It also has low input lag for a responsive feel and a fast response time for sharp motion, but there's more inverse ghosting at lower refresh rates. Unfortunately, it has limited picture quality as it has a low native contrast ratio, and its edge-lit local dimming feature performs terribly, so it fails to improve the picture quality in dark scenes.
- Fast response time at most refresh rates.
- Low input lag.
- Supports all common VRR formats.
- 4k resolution for detailed images.
- Low native contrast ratio.
- Terrible local dimming that can only be enabled in HDR.
- More inverse ghosting at lower refresh rates.
The Gigabyte M27U Monitor is great for PC gaming. It has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and it also has a high 4k resolution to display sharp and detailed images. It even provides a responsive feel thanks to its low input lag, and it has a fast response time for sharp motion, but there's more inverse ghosting at lower refresh rates. Sadly, it isn't ideal for HDR gaming as it has a low contrast ratio with a terrible local dimming feature, and it fails to make highlights pop in HDR.
- Fast response time at most refresh rates.
- Low input lag.
- HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.
- 4k resolution for detailed images.
- Terrible local dimming that can only be enabled in HDR.
- More inverse ghosting at lower refresh rates.
- Highlights don't pop in HDR.
The Gigabyte M27U is great for office use. The 4k resolution and high pixel density deliver incredibly sharp text, and its 27-inch screen is big enough to open two windows next to each other. It's also great to use in a well-lit office as it gets bright enough to fight glare, and the reflection handling is decent. It has wide viewing angles that are useful for sharing the screen with a coworker, but it has limited ergonomics as you can't swivel it. Luckily, it has some extra productivity features, like a KVM switch and a USB-C port.
- Incredibly sharp clarity.
- High peak brightness in SDR.
- KVM switch and USB-C port.
- Decent reflection handling.
- Doesn't offer swivel range.
- USB-C port only limited to 15W power delivery.
The Gigabyte M27U Monitor is good for content creators. It delivers sharp images, and its screen is big enough to multitask. It also has wide viewing angles, which is important if you often need to share the screen with others, but the stand is hard to adjust for others as it doesn't offer swivel range. It has an accurate sRGB mode, which is great if you work in that color space, but most picture settings are limited with it on. It also has a low contrast ratio, so blacks look gray, and highlights are muted in HDR.
- Incredibly sharp clarity.
- High peak brightness in SDR.
- KVM switch and USB-C port.
- Accurate sRGB mode.
- Doesn't offer swivel range.
- USB-C port only limited to 15W power delivery.
- Low native contrast ratio.
The Gigabyte M27U has great brightness. It easily gets bright enough to fight glare in a well-lit room, and while it also gets bright in HDR, small highlights don't pop against the rest of the image.
- High peak brightness in SDR.
- Highlights don't pop in HDR.
The Gigabyte M27U Monitor has a good response time. Motion looks sharp, but there's more inverse ghosting and blur at lower refresh rates.
- Fast response time at most refresh rates.
- More inverse ghosting at lower refresh rates.
The Gigabyte M27U has disappointing HDR picture quality. It has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray, and it has a terrible local dimming feature that fails to improve it. It also displays a wide range of colors, but not all colors are vivid.
- Low native contrast ratio.
- Terrible local dimming that can only be enabled in HDR.
The Gigabyte M27U Monitor has unremarkable SDR picture quality. While it displays a wide range of colors, it has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray.
- Displays wide range of colors.
- Low native contrast ratio.
The Gigabyte M27U has excellent color accuracy. It has an accurate sRGB mode, but calibrating it gives you access to settings that are locked out in the sRGB mode and further improves color accuracy.
- Accurate sRGB mode.
- sRGB mode locks many settings.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Feb 21, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.0.1. This includes a new test result for DisplayPort 2.1 Transmission Bandwidth.
- Updated Sep 03, 2024: Added that the MSI MAG 274UPF delivers more power over USB-C.
- Updated Aug 06, 2024: Updated text throughout the review according to Test Bench 2.0, mainly in the Verdict and Motion sections.
- Updated Aug 05, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.0. This includes new tests for VRR Motion Performance, Refresh Rate Compliance, Cumulative Absolute Deviation (CAD), and VRR Flicker. You can read the full changelog here.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 27-inch Gigabyte M27U, the only size available for this monitor. There are similar 4k monitors available from Gigabyte, too, like the Gigabyte M28U and the Gigabyte M32U, but those are different models. There's also a newer Gigabyte M27UA, which seems to be very similar to the M27U, but it's unclear if there are any differences.
| Model | Size | Panel Type | Resolution | Native Refresh Rate | Overclock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M27U | 27" | IPS | 4k | 150Hz | 160Hz |
Our unit was manufactured in February 2023; you can see the label here.
Popular Monitor Comparisons
The Gigabyte M27U is a good gaming monitor that provides versatility thanks to its various features, so it's a great choice if you need something for both work and play. It has a fast response time and low input lag, and it supports 24 Gbps of HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, which lets you play games at a high frame rate from the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or your gaming PC. The 4k resolution and productivity features are also great if you need something for your at-home work setup. That said, it has limited picture quality, so the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx is a better choice if that's more important for you, as it has Mini LED backlighting.
See our recommendations for the best 27-inch gaming monitors, the best 4k gaming monitors, and the best monitors for Xbox Series S.
The Gigabyte M27U and the Gigabyte M28U are very similar monitors in terms of features, but the M27U edges out in a few areas. The M27U gets much brighter, making it better for bright rooms and delivering a better HDR experience. The M27U also has an overclock feature to 160Hz for a slightly smoother feel than the 144Hz on the M28U.
The Gigabyte M27U is a higher-end monitor than the Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 2.0), so it's the better monitor for most uses. The biggest difference is that the M27U has a higher resolution, so text looks sharper, and this monitor delivers more detailed images. The M27U is also the better choice for console gaming because it supports all signals from a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, and motion looks better on it. The M27U also gets brighter, and while both monitors have many of the same features, including a USB hub, the M27U has higher power delivery over USB-C.
The Gigabyte M27U and the MSI MAG 274UPF are 27-inch 4k gaming monitors. You may prefer to get whichever is cheaper, as both have similar performance. If HDR brightness is important to you, the Gigabyte is a slightly better option, as it gets a bit brighter in HDR. However, if you want to charge your laptop from the monitor, the MSI is a better option, as it provides more power over USB-C.
The LG 27GR93U-B and the Gigabyte M27U are both 4k gaming monitors. They have many similar features, especially for gaming, but the LG supports higher HDMI bandwidth, so it doesn't need to use compression for demanding signals like on the Gigabyte. That said, the Gigabyte has a few extra features for productivity, like a USB-C port and KVM switch, making it the better choice for multitasking with different devices.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, all of which we purchase ourselves, without cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized, custom tools to measure various aspects and deliver objective, data-driven results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance compared to the competition, and whether it's easy to find.
Test Results
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