Review: Wasabi Mango QHD277

Review: Wasabi Mango QHD277

Korean monitors are a popular choice for the budget scene, but Wasabi Mango? That’s a pretty weird sounding brand. However, at under $200 (after coupons) for the Wasabi Mango QHD 277, a 27″ AH-IPS 2560 x 1440, multi-input monitor, it screams great value to me and I took the plunge.

Design

I have been considering this monitor for some time now but didn’t pull the trigger on the purchase because the last year model selling on Qoo10 had the words Wasabi Mango spelt in full and emblazoned on the bottom bezel. I didn’t really like the look. The QHD 277 has changed that, with a more subtle wm logo.

The QHD277 is almost all black, with glossy plastics for the bezel and a matte grayish trim for the bottom panel. The bezel is rather substantial at around 25mm thick, which appears fairly chunky. The OSD control labels are also on the front of the screen, in the bottom right hand corner. I don’t fancy the stale “ARIAL” font used for the OSD labels, but at least it is in English. The monitor also uses an external power supply brick.

The stand attaches at the bottom of the screen but can be removed. The monitor does come with VESA mounting holes (100mm), which is good for those who require additional tilt or mounting options. Like most other Korean monitors in this range, Qnix, Crossover, etc, the provided stand is really very basic, and has a limited tilt range. It is also non-height adjustable.

The default OSD menu is in Korean but can be switched to English. I used Google Translate to navigate when you first setup the monitor.

Monitor Specifications

Model : QHD277 UNIVERSAL
Size: 27″ 16:9 AH-IPS
Panel Coating: Light AG coating
Interfaces: 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 2x HDMI, 1x DL-DVI
Resolution: 2560 x 1440
Pixel Pitch: 0.233 mm
Response Time: 6.5ms G2G
Ergonomics: Tilt only
Static Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 1 million:1
VESA Compatible: Yes 100mm
Brightness: 440 cd/m2
Accessories: Power cable and brick, DL-DVI and audio cables, remote control
Viewing Angles: 178 / 178
Backlight Technology: W-LED
Size with Stand : 655 x 460 x 180 mm
Usable Screen (H x V ): 596.74 x 335.66mm
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Adapter Power Input : DC 24V / 5A ( 100V-240V )
Special Features: 2x 2W speakers, headphone socket, audio in connection, PiP function

The QHD277 universal offers a decent range of connectivity options with DisplayPort, 2x HDMI and Dual-link DVI provided. The digital interfaces are HDCP certified for encrypted content. In the box, the video cables are provided in the box for DL-DVI only. Good to see a range of connectivity options offered here considering the low retail price of the display and the fact a lot of Korean monitors tend to limit themselves in this area when cutting costs.

Screen

Viewing angles of the screen were very good as you would expect from an IPS-type panel. It is sharp and clear and while I didn’t opt for the perfect pixel version, the unit I received had no problems. When viewed at wide angles beyond 45°, the colour tone and contrast shift were minimal. I felt the colour temperature out of the box was too warm, and I adjusted it to 6500K. There was still a slight yellow tinge to it, although that can be further tuned with Windows built in color calibration tool.

The screen with the high resolution is really good for text, editing documents in general. I haven’t really tried out gaming yet, but was able to do a comparison on a 2K versus 1080p video. Difference is minimal but the Wasabi Mango handled the blacks / and colour contrast well.

I have read reports that some of the earlier Wasabi Mango also use LG AH-IPS panels, and I would not be surprised, given the quality of the panel.

The image adjustment features are limited. There was a review I read that highlighted disappointment with the brightness control. However, I left mine at the default setting and was generally satisfied with it.

Box Contents

The QHD 277 was sent over via FedEx and shipping was relatively quick. It took around 3-4 working days only. I ordered on Sunday night, and received it on Thursday morning.

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Verdict

In terms of pricing and features, it’s great value for money. If you are looking for a high refresh rate like 144 Hz, then this is not the one. The cheapest monitor for that would be the Qnix 2710 and it has to be the DVI-Only model without the built in graphics scalar. There’s a Qnix with additional display ports too but will lose the overclocking features. The refresh rate wasn’t important to me and the Wasabi Mango delivers on my requirements of high resolution, good viewing angles, and decent colour representation.

What’s not so good about the monitor then? The stand is flimsy, and not height adjustable. That could be a problem for some and a good monitor stand isn’t cheap. There is also the relatively thick bezel to deal with, but those can be overlook because at under $200, that’s an excellent prize for a 2560 x 1440 resolution, 27″ monitor.

Now on the pricing, here are the coupons I used on Qoo10. The SG50 $50 coupon is no longer available but there are other cart coupons you can apply for $10 – $20 off. Link to QHD277 on Qoo10 Store (affiliate link).

  • Base Price (Discount) – $267.40
  • $10 item coupon
  • SG50 $50 item coupon above $300 spend (pro-rated value of $42.90)
  • 1000 Qoo Points ($10)
  • 6% Frank Credit Card online rebate

$192.23