TCL 27P2A Review - This affordable all-around monitor feels more expensive than it is

Without looking at its price tag, I thought I was using a premium-tier gaming monitor.

Meet TCL 27P2A

Mini LED monitors are often found in the premium segment, particularly models with higher refresh rates and larger panels designed to satisfy gamers and even demanding creators.

Fast forward to 2026, and major multinational electronics brand TCL has released the 27P2A in the Philippines. It is a gaming-focused monitor featuring a 27-inch QHD Mini LED panel, a refresh rate of up to 200Hz, and HDR600 certification.

The crazy part? The price. At the time of writing, the monitor has an SRP of just PHP 16,495 on Shopee and Lazada. That's more than twice as affordable as the Mini LED monitor with lower-end specs that I purchased just a few years ago.

Here's what we think about it.

Unboxing/Accessories

Everything inside the box

The monitor arrived in a simple-looking box containing the display itself, the stand, a DisplayPort cable, a power adapter with its accompanying cable, and the usual paper documentation.

Setup is super easy and self-explanatory. No tools are required, thanks to a convenient screw-lock mechanism that allows the monitor and stand to be assembled in seconds.

I would have liked TCL to include an HDMI cable for users whose laptops lack a DisplayPort connection. That said, given the monitor's aggressive pricing, it's hard to complain.

Build Quality/Design

Back design

With a body built primarily from durable-looking polycarbonate, the TCL 27P2A arrives with a futuristic design that is fairly slim and lightweight, allowing it to blend seamlessly into most room setups while remaining easy to move around when needed.

In particular, it measures 615 x 524 x 228 mm and weighs just 6.23 kg with the stand attached. If you use a monitor arm, the weight drops to just 3.99 kg.

Yes, the monitor supports VESA 100 mounting, making it compatible with most monitor arms and VESA-compatible mounts.

90-degree

Going back to the stand, it is sturdy and stable. It also offers a wide range of adjustments, including tilt, swivel, height adjustment of up to 125 mm, and even a 90-degree pivot for vertical use.

The top and side bezels are impressively slim, giving the TCL 27P2A a modern look. The bottom bezel is noticeably thicker, but that's typical for monitors, as it houses some of the display electronics and structural components. The TCL logo is also visible at the center of the bottom bezel.

The monitor's rear panel features multiple ventilation vents that help improve airflow and heat dissipation, keeping temperatures in check during prolonged gaming and productivity sessions.

The ports

For connectivity, the TCL 27P2A comes with two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a dedicated power input.

The dual HDMI 2.1 setup is particularly useful for users who switch between multiple devices, while the DisplayPort 1.4 connection is ideal for gamers who want to take full advantage of the monitor's high refresh rate. The headphone jack also adds convenience for those who prefer wired audio solutions.

TCL also includes a built-in cable management solution. The stand features a cable-routing cover that can be partially pulled out, allowing power and display cables to be neatly routed through the stand column. This helps create a cleaner and more organized desk setup.

Performance

Impressive for gaming

The monitor boots up quickly, taking only around five seconds to get up and running. After connecting it to a computer via HDMI or DisplayPort, everything works as expected with a hassle-free setup experience.

The power button underneath the bottom bezel also serves as a joystick controller for the monitor's settings menu. I particularly like this implementation, as it makes navigating options such as brightness, color profiles, HDR, input selection, and gaming-related features quick and intuitive.

Personally, this is easier to use and more convenient than the multiple-button setups found on many monitors.

For content creation

Also good for work

As a tech website owner and content creator, the first thing I did with this monitor wasn't gaming, but work.

My previous monitor, the ridiculously expensive Odyssey 3D G90XF, isn't really meant for content creation.

Good viewing angles

And man, the upgrades are undeniable. Despite stepping down from 4K to QHD, the overall experience feels significantly better for productivity and content creation.

Aside from the benefits of having a larger screen, which allowed me to split windows and do more things simultaneously, the TCL 27P2A noticeably improved my productivity.

At 2560 x 1440 resolution, or roughly 109 pixels per inch, images and text look impressively sharp. Unless you're actively pixel-peeping (like, who does that?), there's very little to complain about in terms of detail.

The Mini LED panel is amazing. TCL claims up to 99% sRGB color gamut coverage, resulting in vibrant and accurate colors that proved particularly useful for my photo and video editing tasks.

Unlike the TCL 27P2A Pro, the TCL 27P2A has no listed DCI-P3 support, which is understandable given its low price tag. Even so, its 99% sRGB coverage is still very impressive for its class.

In particular, I enjoyed using this monitor to edit the photos I took for our smartphone camera reviews and the 4K videos we produce for our YouTube channel and TikTok accounts. Its impressive picture quality made color correction, image selection, and video editing a more enjoyable experience.

Viewing angles are also excellent. The display remains clear and easy to see even when viewed from the sides.

The 1ms GtG response time also helps keep text crisp and reduces visual smearing during rapid document scrolling, web browsing, and other day-to-day productivity tasks.

On my ASUS Zenbook S 14 UX5406, I was only able to connect via HDMI 2.1, which limited the refresh rate to 144Hz. And yes, 144Hz is still buttery smooth, whether you're scrolling through web pages, navigating Windows, or switching between apps.

Glare and reflections are barely an issue!

My favorite part? This display uses a matte finish. Glare and reflections are kept to a minimum, even when sunlight from my window hits the screen directly. Even with my 120W and 150W video lights turned on for photography and videography work, the display remains easy to see.

I didn't even need to crank the brightness up to the maximum under those conditions, as 70% was more than enough. For regular use, I typically keep the brightness at around 50%.

The monitor is very comfortable on the eyes, and I can use it for hours with minimal fatigue. The 27-inch screen size also hits the sweet spot for me.

As someone with astigmatism and a high prescription of around 300 degrees, I find it much less overwhelming than larger monitors. The size provides ample screen real estate while remaining comfortable to view during extended work sessions.

For gaming

Good for fast-moving action

I tried to game on both my above-mentioned work laptop and a gaming PC w/ RTX4070 and DisplayPort.

Does it have some sort of upscaling? 1080p looks extra crisp here. Wow.

To see how the TCL 27P2A performs in gaming, I tried titles such as Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered, CarX Street, and Valorant. I wanted to find out whether the monitor could enhance the experience, even though my laptop is limited to a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz and doesn't have a dedicated graphics card.

And yes, thanks to the overall quality of the display, we thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Even for racing games

Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered looked sharp even at 1080p, with impressive shadow detail and highlight reproduction. CarX Street also appeared smooth and enjoyable, despite my laptop only managing around 20 to 30 FPS.

Valorant, meanwhile, looked fantastic at 120 FPS, delivering crisp visuals, vibrant colors, and fluid gameplay.

It's worth noting that I'm not an avid gamer. I only play occasionally, usually once or twice a month to relax. Even so, the TCL 27P2A made a noticeable difference, thanks to its excellent image quality, fast refresh rate, and responsive performance.

AION 2

Hooking the TCL 27P2A up to a desktop equipped with an RTX 4070 via DisplayPort unlocks the monitor's full potential.

With the full 200Hz refresh rate enabled, the TCL 27P2A feels exceptionally fluid and responsive. Fast-paced titles benefit greatly from TCL's Motion Clarity (Tmoc), MPRT-Plus, and OverDrive-Pro technologies, which work together to reduce motion blur, ghosting, and trailing while keeping fast-moving objects sharp and easy to track.

For NVIDIA users, the monitor supports G-SYNC Compatible technology. When paired with an NVIDIA graphics card such as the RTX 4070, the monitor synchronizes its refresh rate with the GPU's output.

The result? Smooth, tear-free gameplay. I particularly enjoyed playing AION 2 (70-120 FPS), where dashing across the battlefield, rapidly changing directions, and engaging in fast-paced hack-and-slash combat felt incredibly fluid and responsive.

I wasn't able to try it, but AMD users aren't left out either, as the TCL 27P2A also supports FreeSync Premium.

Visual quality is equally impressive. The Mini LED panel, paired with 84 precise local dimming zones and HDR600 support, delivers deep blacks, bright highlights, and improved shadow detail. Whether exploring dark environments or taking in bright outdoor scenes, games look more immersive thanks to the enhanced contrast and sense of depth.

The 84 local dimming zones are respectable for a budget Mini LED monitor. While they can't match the precision of higher-end models with hundreds of zones, I found the trade-off more than acceptable given the monitor's 200Hz refresh rate and affordable price point.

I expected more blooming from an 84-zone Mini LED backlight, but in practice, it was barely noticeable during my testing. TCL appears to have tuned the local dimming algorithm well, resulting in surprisingly deep blacks and a convincing HDR600 experience with minimal haloing around bright objects.

For entertainment

Again, this display uses a Mini LED panel instead of the more expensive OLED technology, yet the black levels are among the best I've seen on a monitor in this price range.

Very good colors

Blacks appear impressively deep, while colors look vibrant and accurate right out of the box. In fact, I barely felt the need to tweak any picture settings beyond adjusting the brightness from time to time.

One of the blacks I've seen yet in the under-PHP 20K range!

The result is an image that simply looks great the moment you turn it on. Whether I was editing photos, watching videos, or browsing the web, the display consistently delivered excellent contrast, rich colors, and pleasing detail.

Good blacks

It is also a fantastic monitor for entertainment. HDR content on Netflix and Prime Video looked particularly impressive, with bright highlights and deep shadows adding extra depth to movies and TV series during downtime. Watching high-resolution YouTube videos was equally enjoyable, as the Mini LED panel helped bring out vibrant colors and finer details that made every scene pop.

Great for entertainment

My only real nitpick is the lack of built-in speakers. This is probably one of the compromises TCL made to keep the price affordable. Fortunately, there is a 3.5mm headphone jack onboard, making it easy to connect your favorite wired headphones or external speakers.

Generally, my TCL 27P2A unit arrived without any noticeable dead pixels, excessive backlight bleed, or significant panel uniformity issues. Black scenes looked clean, while brightness and colors appeared consistent across the display.

Pros - Tool-free assembly, ergonomic stand, modern design, high-quality Mini LED panel, accurate colors, up to 200Hz refresh rate, up to HDR600 support, matte display, easy-to-use joystick OSD controls

Cons - No built-in speakers, no HDMI cable included in the box (nitpicks)

TCL 27P2A  key specs and features:

• 27-inch Mini LED screen w/ QHD 2560 x 1440 resolution at 109 ppi
• Up to 200Hz refresh rate
• 1ms GtG response time
• HDR600 certification
• 84-zone local dimming
• Up to 99% sRGB color gamut
• Matte anti-glare screen
• AMD FreeSync Premium
• NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible
• TCL Motion Clarity (Tmoc)
• MPRT-Plus and OverDrive-Pro technologies
• 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• Ergonomic stand (tilt, swivel, height adjustment, pivot)
• VESA 100 x 100 mount support
• Built-in cable management system
• 615 x 524 x 228 mm (w/ stand)
• 6.23 kg (w/ stand)
• 3.99 kg (w/o stand)
• PHP 16,495

Verdict

It's more than just a gaming monitor. It's an all-around performer for less.

Again, without looking at its price tag, I genuinely thought I was using a premium-tier gaming monitor. For just PHP 16,495, the TCL 27P2A delivers a Mini LED experience with deep blacks, vibrant colors, smooth 200Hz gaming, and excellent productivity performance that punches well above its class.

Overall, the TCL 27P2A proves that you no longer need to spend a fortune to enjoy a high-quality Mini LED gaming monitor.

I highly recommend it for gamers, content creators, and anyone who wants a larger, premium-looking display without the premium price tag.

Do you agree with us?