Donux
Best way to check if a monitor is true 8-bit is to research the panel model inside – but many monitors (even high-end ones) are built using panels from multiple manufacturers. Even if a model is marketed as “8-bit”, some batches might have true 8-bit panels, while others use 6-bit + FRC. This is especially common with Hi-FRC or other advanced FRC panels, which are designed to simulate 8-bit more convincingly than older, simpler FRC implementations – making them harder to identify without a deep dive.
Panel models also vary by region. For example, I had the same laptop model in the EU and Australia – but the panel inside was from a completely different manufacturer. Same applies to external monitors.
For this particular monitor, I ran a Gemini deep search and checked the simplified service manual. It mentions a panel model MV270QHM-N40 Z, and Gemini flagged this as the probable candidate as well. But it’s worth noting this model is listed only for the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa). So if you're in Europe or nearby, there’s a strong chance this is your panel. If you're elsewhere, like North America or Australia, the manufacturer might have sourced a different one entirely – so it’s not guaranteed.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a datasheet for the exact “Z” version – only for MV270QHM-N40. I’m more familiar with LG’s naming system, so it’s unclear whether the “Z” indicates a small variation, a newer revision, or something more significant. But unless you have the exact panel model including suffixes, you're always working with probabilities, not certainty.
Taking all this with a grain of salt, I looked at page 4 of the datasheet – it states:
“8-bit (True) colour depth, displays 16.7M colours” – which is definitely promising. That suggests it’s not FRC-based (at least in that variant). However, this only confirms what that panel is capable of – not necessarily what’s inside your monitor.
You can buy and check of course. Some people try to identify the panel without opening the screen by reading the EDID (Extended Display Identification Data). In theory, that can give you the panel model or internal ID. But in practice, EDID often gives vague or partial info, or it might be locked down by the manufacturer – especially on laptops or newer devices. So unless you're able to physically inspect the panel (which isn't always easy or realistic), you're still relying on indirect clues.
Datasheet (MV270QHM-N40):
https://www.greentouch.com.cn/static/upload/file/20220223/1645606129166511.pdf
https://www.panelook.com/upload/202311/MV270QHM-N40_Rev.P1_20190125_202311014949.pdf
Gemini deep research:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z_g1ZUMQiiXaRBhEogBy_dT_TSbyRDf1mBUzWqcIOy8/edit?usp=sharing
Dell service manual:
https://dl.dell.com/content/manual13479826-dell-s2722dc-monitor-simplified-service-manual.pdf?language=en-us
Research is not easy, and I might have missed something. So if anyone finds something more accurate or a missing detail, feel free to share.
