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Gigabyte’s M27UA is a genuine 27-inch 4K gaming monitor launched in July 2024. It combines a 3840×2160 SuperSpeed IPS panel, a maximum 160Hz refresh rate, USB-C video, and Gigabyte’s claimed 128% sRGB and 95% DCI-P3 gamut figures. Those headline numbers need context: the “1ms” figure is MPRT rather than GtG, HDR is limited to entry-level DisplayHDR 400, and USB-C power delivery is only 18W.
That makes the M27UA potentially attractive as a sharp, fast mixed-use display, but not a substitute for an OLED or Mini LED HDR monitor, a professional reference display, or a high-power USB-C docking monitor.
Gigabyte M27UA specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Size and resolution | 27 inches, 3840×2160 (4K UHD), 16:9 |
| Panel | SS IPS (SuperSpeed IPS), edge-lit |
| Refresh rate | Up to 160Hz |
| Response figures | 1ms MPRT; 5ms GtG |
| Colour claims | 128% sRGB and 95% DCI-P3; 8-bit + FRC |
| Brightness and contrast | 400 cd/m² typical; 1000:1 typical contrast |
| HDR | VESA DisplayHDR 400 |
| Inputs | 2× HDMI 2.1, 1× DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, 1× USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode |
| USB | Three USB 3.2 downstream ports and one USB upstream port |
| USB-C power | Up to 18W |
| Speakers | Two 3W speakers |
| Stand | 130mm height adjustment; −5° to +20° tilt |
Gigabyte’s regional specification page and user manual are the best references for the published figures. Stand bundles and feature labels can vary by market.
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What 27-inch 4K at 160Hz means
At 27 inches, 3840×2160 produces roughly 163 pixels per inch. Text, photographs and game geometry look considerably sharper than on a 27-inch 1440p screen. The trade-off is desktop scaling: Windows users will often find 125% or 150% scaling more comfortable than running the interface at 100%.
#1 Best Overall
- DUAL MODE - Easily switch between ultra-clear 160Hz UHD and ultra-fast 320Hz FHD, delivering dual experiences in one device.
- GAME WITH SUPERSPEED IPS PANEL - The M27UP features a stunning 27-inch SuperSpeed IPS display for the most smooth gaming experience ever!
- COMPETITIVE EDGE WITH 160HZ REFRESH RATE AND 1MS RESPONSE TIME - Achieve a super-fast response time and smooth motion clarity with dual 4K 160Hz/FHD 320Hz refresh rates and 1ms GtG response time. Whether you’re in high speed FPS battles or intense esports competitions, the M27UP ensures every frame is delivered with precision, giving you the edge when milliseconds matter.
- WIDE COLOR GAMUT - With 1000:1 contrast ratio, 125% sRGB color gamut, and 8-bit color depth, you can experience a fantastic color display and wide-gamut color coverage.
- SUPPORT VESA DISPLAY HDR 400 - With VESA DisplayHDR 400, the M27UP ensures a more realistic and captivating gaming experience with accurate color and contrast reproduction.
The 160Hz ceiling makes scrolling, camera movement and cursor motion smoother than 60Hz and gives a fast gaming PC more headroom than a 120Hz or 144Hz display. It does not guarantee 160 frames per second. Modern games at 4K can require upscaling, reduced settings or a high-end graphics card to approach that rate.
PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X generally target up to 4K/120Hz, so the extra 40Hz is principally a PC-gaming advantage. The monitor still works well with consoles, but console owners should not pay a premium solely for the 160Hz specification.
SuperSpeed IPS, colour gamut and the 1ms claim
“SuperSpeed IPS” is Gigabyte’s product designation, not a new display category. The M27UA remains a conventional IPS-type LCD: it offers broad viewing angles and generally consistent colour across the screen, but its native contrast is much lower than VA, OLED or many Mini LED designs. IPS glow and backlight bleed can also vary between units.
Rank #2
- NEXT-GEN 5-LAYER TANDEM OLED – The MO27U2 features a 27-inch cutting-edge electroluminescent QD-OLED display, delivering uncompromising 4K image quality with ultra-high 166 PPI pixel density for brighter colors, sharper details, and smoother visuals.
- EXCLUSIVE AI-BASED PROTECTION WITH GIGABYTE OLED CARE – GIGABYTE uses an AI-based algorithm to minimize the risks of burn-in issues and deploys it across a suite of OLED protecting technologies in the MO27U2’s background with minimal interference. OLED Care includes different settings that can be adjusted as you wish, and it efficiently minimizes the risks of burn-in issues.
- GRAPHENE THERMAL FILM - Four-sided ventilation, customized heatsink, plus a fanless design ensures superior heat dissipation for uninterrupted gaming.
- COMPETITIVE EDGE WITH 240HZ REFRESH RATE AND 0.03MS RESPONSE TIME – Achieve lightning-fast responsiveness and ultra-smooth motion clarity with an ultra-high 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms GtG response time. Whether you’re in high speed FPS battles or intense esports competitions, the MO27U2 ensures every frame is delivered with precision, giving you the edge when milliseconds matter.
- LIFE-LIKE COLORS EXPERIENCE – With 1.5M:1 contrast ratio, 99% DCI-P3 color gamut, and 10-bit color depth, you can experience unmatched contrast with deeper blacks and witness lifelike visuals like never before.
Gigabyte claims 128% sRGB colour saturation and 95% DCI-P3. A gamut percentage describes the range of colours the panel can reproduce; it is not a colour-accuracy score. Wide-gamut mode can make unmanaged sRGB games and applications look oversaturated. An sRGB mode, operating-system colour management and an ICC profile measured from the exact unit can help, but the published gamut figures do not establish factory Delta E, white-point accuracy or panel uniformity.
The manual specifies 1.07 billion colours using 8-bit + FRC. That is not the same as a native 10-bit panel.
Likewise, “1ms response time” needs qualification. Gigabyte lists 1ms MPRT and 5ms GtG. MPRT is commonly associated with a strobing or motion-blur-reduction mode; it should not be read as every pixel transition completing in 1ms. The 5ms GtG figure is the more conventional specification.
Rank #3
- PIXEL PERFECT IN QD-OLED PANEL – The MO27Q2A features a stunning 27-inch QD-OLED display, delivering uncompromising image quality and unmatched gaming performance down to every pixel.
- EXCLUSIVE AI-BASED PROTECTION WITH GIGABYTE OLED CARE – GIGABYTE uses an AI-based algorithm to minimize the risks of burn-in issues and deploys it across a suite of OLED protecting technologies in the MO27Q2A’s background with minimal interference. OLED Care includes different settings that can be adjusted as you wish, and it efficiently minimizes the risks of burn-in issues.
- COMPETITIVE EDGE WITH 280HZ REFRESH RATE AND 0.03MS RESPONSE TIME – Achieve lightning-fast responsiveness and ultra-smooth motion clarity with an ultra-high 280Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms GTG response time. Whether you’re in high speed FPS battles or intense esports competitions, the MO27Q2A ensures every frame is delivered with precision, giving you the edge when milliseconds matter.
- LIFE-LIKE COLORS EXPERIENCE – With 1.5M:1 contrast ratio, 99% DCI-P3 color gamut, and 10-bit color depth, you can experience unmatched contrast with deeper blacks and witness lifelike visuals like never before.
- SUPPORT VESA DISPLAY HDR TRUE BLACK 400 AND CLEARMR 15000 – With VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400, MO27Q2A ensures a more realistic and captivating gaming experience with accurate color and contrast reproduction. Additionally, the VESA ClearMR 15000 certification ensures top-tier motion clarity in digital displays, achieving 145-155 times more clear pixels than blurry pixels.
HDR400 is entry-level HDR
The M27UA is certified for VESA DisplayHDR 400 and lists 400 cd/m² typical brightness. HDR-compatible games and video can use a wider signal range and higher highlights, but this is not premium HDR.
A typical 1000:1 IPS panel without meaningful local dimming cannot keep a bright object and a dark background independently controlled. Blacks therefore remain greyish compared with OLED, while Mini LED monitors with many dimming zones can produce stronger contrast and brighter highlights. HDR quality also depends on Windows or macOS settings, the game’s own HDR implementation and calibration.
Think of HDR400 as a useful compatibility feature, not a reason to expect OLED-like shadow detail or cinematic impact.
Rank #4
- GAME WITH SUPERSPEED IPS PANEL – The GS27QA features a stunning 27-inch SuperSpeed IPS display for the most smooth gaming experience ever!
- COMPETITIVE EDGE WITH 180HZ REFRESH RATE AND 1MS RESPONSE TIME – Achieve a super-fast response time and smooth motion clarity with an 180Hz refresh rate and 1ms MPRT response time. Whether you’re in high speed FPS battles or intense esports competitions, the GS27QA ensures every frame is delivered with precision, giving you the edge when milliseconds matter.
- WIDE COLOR GAMUT – With 1000:1 contrast ratio, 100% sRGB color gamut, and 8-bit color depth, you can experience a fantastic color display and wide-gamut color coverage.
- HDR READY - Experience richer colors and deeper contrast with HDR10 certification.
- SUPPORT AMD FREESYNC – With AMD FreeSync, the GS27QA provides an enhanced gaming experience by reducing screen tearing and stuttering.
Ports, 4K/160Hz support and USB-C limitations
For a desktop PC, DisplayPort 1.4 with Display Stream Compression is the likely route to 4K/160Hz. The HDMI 2.1 inputs are useful for consoles and compatible PCs, but the label alone does not prove that the monitor exposes the full 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 bandwidth. USB-C carries DisplayPort Alt Mode, although the host laptop must support the required video mode.
USB-C power delivery is limited to 18W. That can provide light charging for a tablet, ultrabook or accessories, but it is far below the 65W–100W delivered by productivity monitors designed to replace a laptop charger. A performance notebook may continue discharging while gaming or rendering.
The three-port USB hub requires the monitor’s USB upstream connection to the computer. Retail listings advertise KVM functionality, but Gigabyte’s visible regional specifications do not document it consistently. Confirm the OSD menu, manual and firmware for your region before treating the M27UA as a KVM or docking solution. A monitor KVM normally switches USB peripherals between sources; it does not supply Ethernet, high-wattage charging or every feature of a dedicated dock.
Best Value
- QUANTUM DOT SUPERSPEED IPS PANEL – The M27Q2 features a stunning 27-inch Superspeed IPS display with Quantum Dot Technology delivering OLED-class color vibrancy with 99% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage.
- COMPETITIVE EDGE WITH 200HZ REFRESH RATE AND 1MS RESPONSE TIME – Achieve a super-fast response time and smooth motion clarity with an 200Hz/OC 210Hz refresh rate and 1ms GTG response time. Whether you’re in high speed FPS battles or intense esports competitions, the M27Q2 ensures every frame is delivered with precision, giving you the edge when milliseconds matter.
- LIFE-LIKE COLORS EXPERIENCE – With 1000:1 contrast ratio, 99% Adobe RGB wide color gamut, and 8-bit color depth, you can experience richer, more lifelike colors for a cinema-grade visual experience.
- SUPPORT VESA DISPLAY HDR 400 – With VESA DisplayHDR 400, the M27Q2 ensures a more realistic and captivating gaming experience with accurate color and contrast reproduction.
- SUPPORT AMD FREESYNC PREMIUM & NVIDIA G-SYNC COMPATIBLE – With AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility, the M27Q2 provides an enhanced gaming experience by reducing screen tearing and stuttering.
Setting up the M27UA
- Connect a desktop PC by DisplayPort when targeting 4K/160Hz; use HDMI for a console or a source where HDMI is preferable.
- Use USB-C for a compatible laptop when one-cable video and modest charging are sufficient.
- Attach the USB upstream cable if you need the hub or Gigabyte’s OSD Sidekick software.
- In Windows or macOS display settings, select 3840×2160 and the highest available refresh rate.
- Enable Adaptive-Sync or the relevant variable-refresh option in the monitor and graphics-driver settings.
- Enable HDR only for supported games or video, then use the operating system and game calibration controls.
If 160Hz is missing
Check the cable rating, GPU driver, selected input, adapter or dock bandwidth, DSC support, and the laptop’s USB-C DisplayPort implementation. Also verify that the operating system has not reverted to 60Hz or a lower resolution.
If colours look too vivid
Try the monitor’s sRGB mode and colour-managed applications. Do not assume the mode is accurate without independent measurement; screenshots cannot show what another display is actually reproducing.
M27UA versus M27U and M27UP
The M27UA should be treated as its own model, not a renamed M27U. The earlier M27U has a related 27-inch 4K gaming concept, while the newer M27UP is listed by retailers as a separate 4K/180Hz model with dual-resolution features. Check the exact model number, port layout and panel specifications before comparing prices. A listing for an M27UP is not evidence that it is identical to the M27UA.
Availability and buying advice
Launch coverage dated July 2024 introduced the M27UA, but U.S. stock has since appeared inconsistent. The retrieved Newegg listing showed a $439.99 reference price while out of stock, and an open-box listing showed $395.99 with final-sale/non-refundable terms. B&H marked its page no longer available. These are historical availability signals, not guaranteed prices for September 2026; check Gigabyte’s retailer locator and live listings before ordering.
Because the model is older than many current 4K/180Hz, Mini LED and OLED displays, judge it by today’s street price rather than its launch positioning. An inexpensive, returnable new unit can make sense. An expensive open-box unit with no return rights is much harder to justify.
Who should buy it?
- PC gamers: A good fit if you want 4K sharpness, high refresh and Adaptive-Sync, and your GPU can make use of them.
- Console owners: Suitable for 4K/120Hz consoles, but 160Hz provides little additional benefit.
- MacBook or Windows laptop users: USB-C video is convenient, but 18W charging is not a replacement for a laptop power adapter.
- Mixed-use creators: 4K workspace and wide gamut are useful for general editing, photography and video work. Professional grading still calls for measured accuracy, uniformity and stronger HDR.
- HDR enthusiasts: Look elsewhere if deep blacks, local dimming and bright highlights are priorities.
- Budget buyers: Consider it when discounted well below newer 4K/180Hz alternatives, and compare warranty and return terms.
The M27UA’s strengths are its sharp 4K image, 160Hz PC refresh rate, broad connectivity and wide-gamut potential. Its compromises are modest contrast, entry-level HDR, the qualified response-time claim, weak USB-C charging and uncertain availability. It is sensible at the right price, but not automatically the best value simply because the box says “4K,” “160Hz” and “1ms.”
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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