The Pixle 27-inch 2K QHD IPS Monitor tries to straddle the divide between work and gaming. While it's decent and competitively priced for its specs, the Pixle falls slightly short for productivity. It's also a bit rough around the edges when it comes to installation and usability. On the bright side, the customer support has been very helpful. While I can't say for sure if the same level of care is given to all its customers, online reviews seem positive.

Like some local tech brands that have popped up in recent years, Pixle uses an ODM (original design manufacturing) model and doesn't actually make any of its monitors. Instead, the company gets its products tailored to its specifications from a factory. If you know where to look online, you can find monitors that are identical to Pixle's, though there might be some variations in the specs. For the installation, I had to bust out the screwdriver, which almost never happens. The monitors I have tested usually come with a stand that snaps on easily to the back. But for the Pixle, I had to screw the included stand to a mounting bracket, which is then attached with more screws to the rear of the monitor. I counted 12 screws altogether.

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Once assembled, the monitor itself is decent. The build quality — plastic and creaky — isn't great, but acceptable for a budget monitor. You can tilt the display forward by around 15 degrees, but the fixed stand lacks height adjustment, swivel, or rotation. This isn't ideal for productivity, but the company sells an adjustable stand (S$39 with the monitor) on its website that adds these functions. Alternatively, consider getting a monitor arm like the Prism+ Arc Opus Dual. The on-screen menu controls are located at the bottom right corner of the monitor. They are stiff and clunky, which makes navigating the monitor settings somewhat frustrating. Some buttons also act as shortcuts. For example, you can press a button to bring up a crosshair overlay for games and another for screen brightness. You can also switch between several preset profiles for different use cases like gaming, movies and text.

Pixle says its panel is from Sharp, with a crisp sharp UHD resolution that's great for web browsing and editing documents. The matte screen is reasonably bright and colours look acceptable out of the box. Just don't use the Game profile for everyday use, as it oversharpens everything. The refresh rate goes up to 180Hz with an overclock feature. But the default 165Hz (tested using UFO Test) probably suffices for most users. The monitor also comes with built-in speakers, but you're better off using headphones or a PC soundbar like the Creative Stage 360. I also noticed a fair amount of backlight bleed from the bottom corners. It's especially prominent when watching movies with black bars at the top and bottom.

My review set had one dead pixel. Pixle says it will usually exchange the monitor if there's one, though its official policy is three bright or five dark pixels. At around S$500, the Pixle 27-inch 2K QHD IPS Monitor offers a much higher refresh rate than competing 27-inch office monitors that usually top out at 75Hz in this price range. However, it is not quite as polished as the ones from established brands. The lack of adjustment with the default stand is also a downside for office use. If you're not too picky and willing to overlook some of its rough edges, the Pixle is a decent option, especially if you snag it during a sale. Get it now on Shopee and Lazada.

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Note: Review unit provided by Pixle.