The Sceptre C275B-1858RN is an unusual gaming monitor in that it’s admirably straightforward. Sleek, affordable and feature rich. Like the Sceptre C275B-144R from last year, on the new monitor, Sceptre offers an excellent mix of gaming features including AMD Freesync, fast 165Hz response rate, a gentle curved screen with vibrant colors and sharp graphics.
It has fast refresh speeds that let you take advantage of demanding games with high frame rates. And its abundance of menu options makes it both useful and intuitive. Surprisingly, all of these features don’t command a high price – sub $300 s on the affordable side of a 27-inch gaming monitor; and based on its performance, this is killer value.
On a feature-price basis, this Sceptre monitor easily one of the best budget gaming monitors around. If you’re in the market for an affordable gaming screen that does exactly what it says it will, read on for our full Sceptre C275B-1858RN review.
Design
The 27-inch might not be your typical gaming monitor as it lacks the illuminated LEDs on the surface, rather, it sports a pretty plain look. Don’t confuse that for boring – its V-shaped stand and curved monitor are enough to remind you that this is a gaming screen. What this Sceptre monitor lacks is flashiness, but it makes up with practicality, you can even use it at the office. At the back of the stand, there’s a small dock for keeping all your wires organized.
Like the 27-inch AOC CQ27G2 gaming monitor we reviewed recently, the C275B-1858RN uses a Vertical Alignment (VA) panel and has a 1800R curvature, which isn’t as pronounced as the 1500R curvature on the Samsung CF791, but is handsomely curvier than the Acer Predator X34 bmiphz.
For starters, a screen’s curvature is measured in R figures, and for a fixed screen, the larger the R value, the less the curvature. Our review unit has a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, a 3,000:1 contrast ratio, fast 165Hz refresh rate, a decent 16:9 aspect ratio, a 250 cd/m2 peak brightness and a 3-millisecond (3ms) pixel response rate.
Inputs & Presets
The Sceptre C275B-1858RN packs plenty of connections for your PC or console, with two HDMI inputs as well as a DisplayPort (the latter is required when you want to use the monitor’s FreeSync model). It also has a pair of built-in speakers and a 3.5mm mini-jack for external headphone or headphone, but it doesn’t include any USB port – which is understandable at this price point.
On this Sceptre monitor, there are multiple color modes depending on the task at hand. In total, you have five picture presets: Standard, User, Movie, Eco, FPS, RTS for adjusting you viewing modes, as well as two game presets: RTS (Real Time Strategy), FPS (First Person Shooter).
Gaming Performance
Offering a speedy 165Hz refresh rate, the Sceptre C275B-1858RN makes a sensation out of most modern AAA titles including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and the Red Dead Redemption 2. The 1080p monitor’s two shooter presets both serve a unique purpose when playing a title like Siege; where FPS1 mode offers duller colors to prevent eyestrain, while RTS makes it especially easy to attack enemies.
When gaming, this Sceptre monitor does an excellent job displaying the lush sceneries. Flowing rivers and the colorful fantasy characters of Dota 2, giving you ample time to keep up with the action. The monitor’s RTS and FPS modes make the images excessively sharp – though, they don’t look especially pretty, but these modes create visible outlines around every character that could potentially help pro gamers spot allies and enemies.
With AMD FreeSync support, screen-tearing is minimized on AMD-powered machines – like the HP Pavilion TG01-0030 or the iBUYPOWER Trace 4, by simply syncing the display directly with your computer’s graphics card. At some point, you might find it almost unnecessary due to the monitor’s already strong performance on standard mode.
Few genres are as dependent on low-input as fighting games are, and we’re happy that games like Street Fighter V will play smoothly on this Sceptre curved monitor. You’ll have no problems pulling off combos that require frame-perfect timing.
Bottom Line
The 27-inch Sceptre C275B gaming monitor has a lot of benefits for both gamers and office users, relatively few drawbacks and absolutely no surprises. With a VA panel, it stands out in the crowded category of 27-inch gaming monitors, offering lots of gaming speed, accurate color and awesome contrast. And to the simple design, it rocks AMD FreeSync that makes the best of your graphics card. What more would one need?
Sceptre did leave out a few other things that honestly, we don’t miss – it doesn’t include HDR signals, no lighting effect on the panel and USB ports aren’t included as well. But in all honesty, none of these features will derail your gaming experience.
What this Sceptre monitor does include, is a good contrast at this price range. Only a few other VA monitors have higher contrast above what you have here. Alternatives here include the VA-based AOC CQ27G2 that offers the most accurate sRGB mode, spot-on grayscale and extended colors that cover nearly 83% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. It remains our Editors’ Choice for 27-inch gaming monitors.
On the other hand, if you need a minimalist design over the flashy LEDs on the AOC CQ27G2, the Sceptre C275B offers exactly that, and a few more gaming extras, including AMD Freesync technology. And if you’re shopping for a 27-inch monitor that does it all – gaming and work, the Sceptre C275B-1858RN should be at the top of your short list.
Our Pick
