AOC Releases i2757fh: the Cheapest 27-inch IPS Monitor?

AOC isn't the first company to jump on to the affordable IPS display bandwagon, but they may end up becoming the most impressive. Known more for selling displays through retail channels such as Best Buy or Staples, AOC's brand of displays may not have quite the cachet that competitors like Dell or HP achieve.

This new product might just change that.

Part of the company's award winning 57 Series, AOC's new i2757fh has a clever stand that users can remove just by pushing in a button and pulling up on the display. AOC pushes the stand's flexibility, suggesting that you could use the monitor as a wall-mountable photo frame.

Well...for less than $300, why not?

Surrounding the IPS panel is a 2mm bezel, which is an impressively thin differentiator, compared to competing monitors. An anti-glare finish will likely make the i2757fh popular with IPS panel enthusiasts; a common complaint seen around the Internet is the run of super glossy displays, made popular by their saturated, 'wet' appearance.

The monitor includes a pair of integrated stereo speakers; keeping extra cords off of your desk adds to the monitor's minimalistic appeal. 

Behind the display, you'll find two HDMI-in ports, as well as VGA-in, line-in audio, and a headphone jack.

This display is more than just a pretty face, however; in addition to the IPS panel, AOC is pushing the fact that the i2757fh manages a 50,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio (the static contrast ratio isn't mentioned, but likely to be between 700:1 and 1000:1) while offering a blazing 5ms response time - which means that even gamers should be happy with what the display can do.

AOC is targeting a suggested retail price of $349 for the i2757fh, but is currently selling it through BestBuy.com and the chain's biggest 250 stores for just $299.99; at the moment, BestBuy is offering the monitor for just $250.