Amzfast 27 inch Curved Gaming Monitor Review UK 2026

Your GPU's frame output is only as good as the panel that receives it. A 240Hz refresh rate sitting behind a slow pixel transition or a washed-out VA panel is a waste of silicon. So when a budget monitor claims 240Hz, 1ms MPRT, 4000:1 contrast, and 130% sRGB coverage all for under £150, the obvious question is: which of those numbers actually holds up, and which ones are marketing wallpaper?

The Amzfast AMZG27C1 Pro is a 27-inch, 1080p, 240Hz curved gaming monitor sitting firmly in the budget bracket. Over 3,337 owners have rated it an average of 4.5 stars on Amazon UK, which is a genuinely impressive number at this price tier. But owner ratings skew positive because people who bought a budget monitor and got a budget monitor tend to be satisfied. The real question is whether the specs stack up under scrutiny, and whether the compromises are ones you can live with. The verdict: for competitive FPS and racing games on a tight budget, this is a solid pick. For anything else, read carefully before committing.

Amzfast is a relatively new brand in the UK market, and we'll address the brand question properly in the FAQs. For now, what matters is the spec sheet and what owners are actually reporting.

The quoted response time is 1ms MPRT. MPRT stands for Moving Picture Response Time, which is a different measurement from the Grey-to-Grey (GtG) pixel transition time that most serious display reviewers care about. MPRT is achieved through backlight strobing rather than actual pixel speed, so the "1ms" here does not mean pixels are transitioning in 1 millisecond. Real GtG figures for VA panels at this price point typically land somewhere between 4ms and 8ms, and that distinction matters for how motion looks in fast-paced games. We'll dig into this properly in the response time section.

Connectivity is covered by HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4, which is the right combination for 240Hz at 1080p. There's no USB-C, no USB hub, and no built-in speakers, which is par for the course at this price. VESA 100x100 mounting is supported, and the monitor includes an AI-Crosshair overlay function, which is a software crosshair that displays on-screen regardless of what game you're running. Adaptive-Sync support is listed, covering both AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync Compatible scenarios.

The trade-off with VA is well-documented. Viewing angles are noticeably narrower than IPS. Colours shift and contrast drops as you move off-axis, which matters less on a curved panel (the curve naturally directs the screen toward your eyes) but is still a real limitation if you're sharing the screen with someone sitting beside you. Black smearing is the other VA-specific issue: in fast motion sequences, particularly in dark scenes, VA pixels can be slow to transition from black to a slightly lighter shade, creating a visible smearing or ghosting artefact. This is a known characteristic of VA technology, not specific to Amzfast, and it's something to factor in if you play a lot of dark-environment games like horror titles or space sims.

On the positive side, a 4000:1 contrast ratio is genuinely useful. IPS monitors at similar prices are pushing 1000:1 to 1200:1, which means blacks look noticeably grey in dark rooms. VA's deeper blacks make a real difference in immersive gaming, particularly with the lights off. The 1800R curvature is fairly aggressive for a 27-inch panel (some prefer 1500R or even flat at this size), but owner reviews don't flag it as a problem. Most people find 1800R comfortable at typical desk distances of 60cm to 80cm. If you sit further back, the curve becomes less noticeable and more of a cosmetic choice than a functional one.

The anti-glare coating on the panel is a matte finish, which is standard for gaming monitors and the right call for a product aimed at varied lighting environments. Matte coatings scatter ambient light rather than reflecting it as a sharp image, which reduces eye strain in bright rooms. The trade-off is a slight reduction in perceived contrast and colour vibrancy compared to glossy panels, but for a gaming monitor used in a typical living room or bedroom, matte is the sensible choice. Owner reviews don't report any unusual graininess from the coating, which suggests it's a reasonably fine-grained matte rather than a coarse one.

Brightness uniformity at this price point is always a question mark. Budget panels, particularly large curved ones, often show some degree of backlight bleed or clouding near the edges and corners. Owner reviews are mixed on this: the majority don't mention it, which suggests it's not severe enough to be immediately obvious, but a handful of reviewers note some backlight bleed in the corners during dark scenes. This is expected behaviour for a budget VA panel and not unique to Amzfast. The quoted peak brightness isn't specified in the listing, which is unusual and slightly concerning. Budget VA panels typically land around 250 to 300 nits in SDR mode, which is adequate for a dim room but can feel a bit dim in a bright, sunny environment.

The Adaptive-Sync implementation covers both AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync Compatible operation. The VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) range isn't explicitly stated in the listing, which matters because a wider VRR range (say 48 to 240Hz) is more useful than a narrow one (say 144 to 240Hz). Low Framerate Compensation (LFC) kicks in when the frame rate drops below the minimum VRR threshold, doubling or tripling frames to keep the sync active. If the minimum VRR threshold is 48Hz or lower, LFC will activate before the frame rate drops to a visually problematic level. Without the confirmed VRR range from the manufacturer, this is an area of uncertainty. Owner reviews don't flag tearing or sync issues as a widespread complaint, which suggests the implementation is at least functional.

The DisplayPort 1.4 connection supports 240Hz at 1080p without any bandwidth issues. HDMI 2.0 also supports 240Hz at 1080p, though it's worth confirming your specific GPU and cable combination supports this. Some older HDMI 2.0 implementations cap out at 144Hz at 1080p depending on the cable quality and GPU driver. If you're using a console rather than a PC, note that current-generation consoles output at 120Hz maximum, so the 240Hz capability is effectively unused in that scenario. The monitor will still work fine with consoles, but you're paying for a refresh rate you can't use.

In practice, what does this mean for gaming? For competitive FPS titles at 240Hz, the combination of high refresh rate and backlight strobing (if MPRT mode is enabled) does produce a sharper, cleaner motion image than a 60Hz or 75Hz panel. The improvement is real and perceptible. But VA-specific black smearing will still be present in dark scenes regardless of MPRT mode, because that's a characteristic of how VA pixels transition, not something backlight strobing fixes. Some owners specifically mention that dark scenes in games like Call of Duty can show some ghosting on fast camera movements. This is consistent with VA panel behaviour and is not a defect; it's a known trade-off of the technology.

The AI-Crosshair feature is worth a mention here because it's an overlay function that works independently of the game engine. It's useful in games that don't provide a crosshair option, or in titles where you want a consistent crosshair style regardless of weapon. It won't give you a competitive advantage in games with anti-cheat systems that detect overlay software, but for casual play it's a handy addition. Owner reviews are positive about it as a bonus feature, though it's clearly not the reason anyone is buying this monitor. The OSD (on-screen display) for adjusting settings is described by owners as reasonably straightforward, which is since some budget monitors have confusing menu systems.

Budget monitors at this price point rarely ship with factory calibration data or accurate colour profiles. The out-of-box accuracy is typically measured by independent reviewers in terms of Delta-E (dE), where dE below 2 is considered accurate and dE below 1 is essentially indistinguishable from a reference display. Budget VA panels without factory calibration often show dE values of 3 to 6 out of the box, which means visible colour inaccuracy compared to a reference. For gaming, this is mostly irrelevant because games aren't colour-managed applications. For photo editing or video colour grading, it's a genuine problem and this monitor isn't the right tool for that work.

The 130% sRGB figure likely corresponds to roughly 85% to 90% DCI-P3 coverage, which is the wider colour space used in cinema and HDR content. That's a reasonable figure for a budget panel and not unusual. What's missing from the spec sheet is any mention of Delta-E, factory calibration, or a colour profile included in the box. Owner reviews don't mention colour accuracy as a concern, which suggests the out-of-box colours are at least pleasing to look at even if they're not reference-accurate. Vivid, punchy colours are generally what gaming monitor buyers want, and VA panels with extended gamuts tend to deliver that.

At those brightness levels, HDR content will look marginally better than SDR in some scenarios, but you won't see the dramatic highlights and deep shadow detail that HDR is supposed to deliver. True HDR requires either a very high peak brightness (1000 nits or more) or granular local dimming to control brightness zone by zone. Neither is achievable at this price point. The HDR checkbox on this monitor is best understood as "HDR signal pass-through" rather than "genuine HDR rendering". The monitor will accept an HDR signal from your PC or console without rejecting it, but the visual improvement over SDR will be modest at best.

This isn't a criticism unique to Amzfast. Virtually every monitor under £200 has the same limitation. DisplayHDR 400 is the entry-level certification and even that is widely considered to be below the threshold for meaningful HDR. If HDR performance is important to you, the budget bracket is simply not where you'll find it. You're looking at DisplayHDR 600 minimum for a noticeable difference, and that starts at £250 to £300 for a 27-inch panel. For the competitive gaming use case this monitor is aimed at, HDR is largely irrelevant anyway. Most competitive players run SDR with high brightness and vibrant colours rather than HDR, which can introduce input lag through tone mapping processing.

The peak SDR brightness isn't explicitly quoted in the spec sheet, which is an unusual omission. Based on typical VA panels in this category and the budget price point, a reasonable estimate is 250 to 300 nits in standard mode. That's adequate for a dim or moderately lit room but can feel washed out in a very bright environment, particularly near a window with direct sunlight. If you game in a bright room, an IPS panel with 350 to 400 nits peak brightness might actually serve you better despite the lower contrast ratio, because the higher brightness compensates for ambient light more effectively.

Owner reviews don't flag brightness as a major complaint, which suggests the panel is bright enough for typical indoor gaming conditions. The combination of high contrast and reasonable brightness means the image is punchy and engaging in the kinds of environments most people actually use gaming monitors in. The 1800R curve also helps by reducing the amount of ambient light that hits the panel surface at an angle, which subtly improves perceived contrast in real-world conditions. It's a minor effect but a real one, and it's part of why curved monitors became popular in the gaming market in the first place.

The VESA 100x100 compatibility is genuinely useful here. A decent monitor arm costs £20 to £40 and transforms the ergonomics completely, giving you full height, tilt, and swivel adjustment while also freeing up desk space. If you're buying a budget monitor and care about ergonomics, budgeting for a monitor arm alongside it is a sensible approach. The VESA 100x100 standard is universal, so any arm that supports this pattern (which is almost all of them) will work with this monitor.

Build quality for a budget monitor is always a question of expectations. The chassis is plastic, which is standard at this price. Owner reviews describe the build as solid enough for everyday use without wobble or flex issues during normal operation. The stand base footprint is moderate for a 27-inch curved panel. A handful of owners mention the cable management options are minimal, which is a minor annoyance but not a dealbreaker. No built-in speakers means one less thing to complain about, honestly. Budget monitor speakers are universally terrible and you're better off using headphones or a proper audio setup anyway.

• HDMI 2.0 (x1) - suitable for PC and console connections at up to 240Hz at 1080p
• DisplayPort 1.4 (x1) - preferred connection for PC gaming at 240Hz
• No USB-C
• No USB hub
• No built-in speakers or audio out
• 3.5mm headphone jack - not confirmed in spec sheet; check current listing

The absence of USB-C is expected at this price point and not a concern for a gaming monitor. USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode and Power Delivery is a feature of mid-range and premium monitors. The lack of a USB hub means you won't be able to connect peripherals through the monitor, but again, that's a premium feature. What you get here is exactly what a competitive gaming monitor needs: two video inputs, both capable of 240Hz at 1080p, and nothing else to get in the way.

One thing before purchase is whether a DisplayPort cable is included in the box. Owner reviews suggest the included accessories are basic, and some buyers report needing to purchase a DisplayPort cable separately if their GPU outputs via DisplayPort rather than HDMI. This is a minor inconvenience but in advance. A quality DisplayPort 1.4 cable costs a few pounds and is widely available, so it's not a significant additional expense, just an unexpected one if you're not prepared for it.

The comparison is instructive. Against the AOC C27G2ZE, the Amzfast is competitive on paper but the AOC benefits from brand recognition and more available independent measurements. If you can find the AOC at a similar price, it's a toss-up that comes down to brand confidence versus specification matching. Against the MSI G274F, the choice is more philosophical: 240Hz VA with high contrast versus 170Hz IPS with better colour accuracy. For pure competitive gaming, 240Hz wins. For a more general-purpose monitor that also does some content work, the IPS panel is the better choice.

What the Amzfast does well in this comparison is the value proposition at its current price point. The combination of 240Hz, VA contrast, and Adaptive-Sync at under £150 is genuinely competitive. The brand uncertainty is a real factor, and we'll address it directly in the verdict. But on specification alone, the AMZG27C1 Pro holds its own against established competitors. The 4.5-star average across 3,416 suggests that buyers are getting what they expected, which is the most honest endorsement a budget monitor can get.

The caveats are real, though. The panel type isn't confirmed, which means you're trusting the spec sheet inference rather than a stated specification. The 1ms MPRT claim is marketing language rather than a GtG measurement, and VA black smearing in dark scenes is a known limitation that no backlight strobing trick fully eliminates. The HDR implementation is almost certainly checkbox-level rather than meaningful. And Amzfast as a brand is relatively new in the UK, which means the long-term reliability data and after-sales support track record are thinner than you'd get from AOC, LG, or Samsung. These are real risks, not imaginary ones.

Who should buy this? If you play competitive games like CS2, Valorant, Apex Legends, or racing titles, you're running a mid-range GPU that can push 200fps-plus at 1080p, and your budget is firmly under £150, this is a strong option. The high contrast and 240Hz combination genuinely suits that use case. Who should skip it? If you play dark, atmospheric games where black smearing will be distracting, if you need accurate colours for any kind of creative work, or if brand reliability and warranty support are important to you, look at the AOC C27G2ZE or save a bit more for an established mid-range option. And honestly, if you're only pushing 144fps or below with your current GPU, a 144Hz monitor at this price point will save you money without costing you any real-world performance. The 240Hz advantage only materialises when you're actually hitting those frame rates.

Editorial score: 7 out of 10. Good specifications, impressive owner satisfaction, honest limitations. A budget monitor that earns its rating rather than just marketing its way to one.