Dependable Display: AOC 24V5CW Monitor review

No computer setup is complete without a quality monitor as part of it. Whether it's your main screen or part of a dual display, you'll want to make sure you're picking a monitor that's worth your money, and that's where the AOC 24V5CW comes in.

The AOC 24V5CW is a budget-friendly monitor that costs comfortably under £200, so it's still within a good price range for those looking for a second monitor. With an array of ports, a sleek design, and a handy webcam, its potential as an office monitor is clear, and it'll also be reliable for working from home.

All that's well and good, but with so many great monitors on the market, does the AOC 24V5CW have what it takes to stand out and be worth your consideration? Is it worth your money? And what is it like to use? We're here to help answer those questions.

We've had one of our tech experts, Kyle Purves, test the AOC 24V5CW. They've been hands-on with the monitor, using it as their main monitor and as part of a dual-screen setup. From the screen itself and its specs to the ports and overall build, they've developed a deep understanding of the monitor and are now ready to share their findings.

The Quick Version

The AOC 24V5CW is a consistent all-rounder of a monitor that is ideal for those working either in an office or from home. The webcam, port selection, and tidy design make it very space-friendly and ideal for desk work. The screen is surrounded by very thin bezels that enhance the overall visual experience. and make it suitable for use in a dual-screen setup. The specs are solid with no singular aspect dragging it down. The only notable issue is that the included power cable is quite short, but that may not be a problem depending on your setup.

Performance and User Experience

With its FHD resolution, AOC 24V5CW might not be as impressive as a 4K screen, but I was nevertheless pleased with its display. Everything appears clear, readable, and detailed, with no sense of blurriness whatsoever. This is likely aided by the fact that the screen is flicker-free, which combines with the 75Hz refresh rate to ensure smooth motion and visuals, as well as being kind to the eyes. In fact, I never experienced any eye strain when using this monitor, and I can thank the Low Blue Light feature for that.

The other specs are also quite impressive for the price. I've already mentioned the reliable and consistent refresh rate, but the response time is also worth noting. At 1ms, it's super speedy, allowing colours to shift in an instant. Speaking of which, 16.7 million colour support competes with monitors over twice the price of the AOC 24V5CW, as does the 300 nits brightness. You don't need to worry about sun glare from a window interfering with it. All of this culminates in a monitor screen that looks great no matter what is displayed or where it is placed.

If you want to refine aspects of the display further, you can play around with the menu and settings. Using a button around the side with directional inputs, you can adjust the brightness, colour, contrast, and just about every individual visual feature you could want to tweak. There's even a mode specifically for gaming, so even though the 24V5CW is not a true gaming monitor, it can still serve as a decent option. While navigating this all with a single button may sound difficult, I actually found that it felt a lot more natural and streamlined than many other monitors. At no point did I get lost in the menus, and everything was labelled in an easy-to-understand way.

I would be remiss not to mention that the AOC 24V5CW sports a webcam. It's part of the reason why I appreciate it so much as an office monitor, and it's been very handy for working from home. The quality is good enough and matches the price tag, being a bit better than the inbuilt cameras of laptops that I've used recently. In particular, I like that it has a shutter to close it. We all know someone who places a bit of tape or a sticky note over their webcam, and if that's you, then you can rejoice in this design choice.

Monitor speakers can often fall short in terms of quality, but the 24V5CW's do a satisfactory job. As is standard, I would recommend sticking to headphones or external speakers, but the ones here are completely fine. When doing other tasks I would play music through the monitor, and in my experience testing it with gaming, it all sounded solid. They may not excel, but they get the job done and don't sound tinny at all, which is great for a reasonably-priced monitor.

So, what is it like to actually use the 24V5CW? As has come up a few times, dependable is the key adjective for this monitor. It's not flashy and never really blew me or my expectations away, but it also never disappointed me. Instead, it was consistent and reliable in what it set out to do. It's a versatile monitor that can handle a bit of anything and everything you throw at it, so my experience has been quite positive.

The Build

Let's talk about size and space first. At 24 inches, the AOC 24V5CW is the perfect size for a desk monitor and makes a great choice for a main office monitor or even as part of a dual-screen setup. The base of the stand is also quite convenient, leaving enough room to not lose out on any surface space.

The assembly went by fairly easily, with just the base of the stand needing to be attached. It did require a screwdriver to tighten three very tiny screws, but a hex key is included to help with this. The overall weight of the monitor isn't too heavy, so it never felt cumbersome to put it together and find the right placement for it.

One look at the screen, before even turning it on, and I was impressed. For a budget-friendly monitor, the bezels here are surprisingly thin. Bezels are the dark sections that frame the display, providing a layer of protection. Thin bezels are generally preferred aesthetically, as they allow you to see more of the screen and get immersed in what you are watching. They're also ideal for dual-screen setups, and the AOC 24V5CW can comfortably compete with zero-bezel monitors for that purpose.

In terms of adjustability, AOC 24V5CW does not disappoint. The height is easy to adjust, as is the forward and back pivot. The swivel and tilt are much the same, just with an even greater range of motion. I had no trouble tweaking the monitor to my exact liking, and whenever I had to move it to accommodate something else on my desk, I could sort it back to an angle I liked without any bother.

The ports are actually quite notable. Four USB ports make this a fantastic USB hub monitor, and it was very handy being able to keep all my cables centred in one area. It's easy to imagine the benefit this would have for a busy office setup. There's also a USB-C port, which is always a great addition to a monitor and one that is still fairly uncommon. It has a power delivery of 65W, so I was able to charge my power bank up in the background as I worked on other tasks. The AOC 24V5CW also sports two HDMI ports, further adding to its identity as an excellent office monitor or part of a dual-screen display.

Any Downsides?

An unfortunate aspect of this monitor isn't part of the screen itself, but rather the included power cable. It's fairly short and, in my experience, limited the available spaces in which I could place the monitor. In fact, I had to switch around my entire setup so that the monitor could be closer to a nearby socket, as the cable couldn't reach the standard placement I've used with other monitors.

Depending on your setup, this may not be a problem, but I feel it's definitely worth bringing up. It's a shame since the included HDMI is perfectly fine.

Final thoughts

As mentioned earlier, the reliability of the AOC 24V5CW is what stands out most. It's not a revolutionary design, but it is consistently good, and that's absolutely worth some merit. The thin bezels and convenient menus have been my favourite aspects, and the overall experience of using it has been pleasant. Even if I move onto another monitor, I see myself keeping the 24V5CW nearby, ready to act either as a second screen or if I need a dependable all-rounder.

Who is it for?

As an all-around solid monitor, the AOC 24V5CW is suitable for just about anyone. That said, I think it excels as an office or working-from-home monitor. The webcam, ports, and easy-to-navigate menu streamline the monitor experience, making it a convenient bit of kit that won't get in the way, even in terms of physical space.

With its thin bezels, the AOC 24V5CW is also a great contender for anyone looking for another screen to have as a second display. Alternatively, if you want to start straight away with a dual-screen setup, the affordable price of the 24V5CW means you could consider buying two of them to pair up.

Do we recommend it?

We can confidently recommend the AOC 24V5CW. It's excellent value for money and versatile enough to fulfil whatever purpose you need a new monitor for. There may be better displays for specific niches, but this will remain an all-rounder you can rely on.

Other items to consider

Not convinced by the AOC 24V5CW? We've reviewed other monitors in the past, so here are a few notable ones that we think are worth your consideration:

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Kyle Purves is a Tech Writer and Reviewer for What’s The Best, with an avid interest in all things gaming and tech.

They’re well-versed in reviewing a variety of tech products, with a soft spot for speakers and earphones. They’re also no stranger to hunting down the best savings, always wanting to get the best deal possible. Outside of work, they can often be found playing through an RPG, listening to Japanese noise rock, or trying to catch up with their ever-expanding list of shows and anime to watch. If possible, they try to play Dungeons and Dragons a couple of times a week, but getting six adults to be free at the same time is easier said than done.

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