This gorgeous 27-inch 4K monitor is right for work or play [Review]

If you want a monitor for your Mac, let me suggest the 27-inch Innocn one that just launched. It has a 4K resolution, offers 1.07B+ colors and high contrast. The screen is suited for Photoshop, gaming, or watching TV and film.

I tested the + 27-inch 4K Computer Monitor 27C1U in my home office, and it’s some serious eye candy. Here’s why I think you’ll agree.

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Innocn 27-inch 4K Computer Monitor 27C1U review

The only external display Apple offers starts at $5,000. Which means the average consumer has to look for other options. That’s certainly true for me.

When shopping for a new display, the Shenzhen Century Joint Innovation Technology Company probably doesn’t immediately leap to mind, but its latest addition to the Innocn line is definitely worth considering.

Display

A glance at the specs shows the Innocn 27-inch 4K Computer Monitor 27C1U offers a high-quality screen.

Its resolution is 3840 by 2160, with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The LCD has a 1000:1 contrast ratio so blacks are black and whites are white. A 60Hz refresh rate ensures there no lagging.

The screen can produce more than 1.07 billion colors, and it offers 98% DCI-P3. That’s really high, but rival displays that offer 100% DCI-P3 aren’t hard to find.

To ensure that each particular monitor lives up to the color specifications, they come with their color calibration report from the factory in the box. The Adobe RGB average Delta E for my specific monitor is 0.78, for example. Because that’s less than 1, the colors being displayed are virtually indistinguishable from what they are supposed to be.

The backlights in the Innocn 27C1U hit 400 nits brightness, which is plenty for a typical office or living room. The image is clear across a 178-degree wide viewing angle, allowing multiple people to enjoy the display.

Real-world performance

Specs can’t tell the whole story. That’s why I used the Innocn 27-inch 4K Computer Monitor 27C1U in my home office for my job and to entertain myself.

The external display works well when I’m doing image editing. That’s when getting the correct colors is most important, and it’s good enough for my needs. The resolution and brightness are more than meet what I need for my typical task: writing.

All of the screen’s capabilities come into play when displaying video. I watched shows from a variety of streaming services, and I have no criticism of the Innocn 27C1U.

Just to be sure, I also played games on the external monitor using a variety of computers. There was no lagging.

I find 27 inches to be as large an external display as I’d want on my desk. And it’s a reasonable size for a TV.

Ports, speakers and stand

While it’s far and away the most important component, there’s more to the Innocn 27-inch 4K Computer Monitor 27C1U than the screen.

The most noticeable feature — or perhaps least noticeable — is the pleasantly slim screen bezels. They are a mere 0.33 inches on the top and sides, while the bottom edge is 0.75 inches.

The casing is black plastic. Not that you’re likely to notice because you can see so little of it.

On the back of the Innocn 27C1U are one DisplayPort, a USB-C port, two HDMI ports, two USB 3.0 ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack. That’s about as wide a selection as you could hope for. I tested playing games on a PC through the DisplayPort, on an iPad through USB-C, and on iPhone through HDMI… all without a hitch.

There’s a pair of 5-watt speakers in the external monitor. They’re capable of putting out between 60dB and 70dB at about 2 feet from the front of the display, according to my testing. That’s adequate for video or games in a quiet environment. But you might want to use the 3.5mm audio jack to plug in better speakers for movie night.

The Shenzhen Century Joint Innovation Technology Company put a nicely flexible stand on this monitor. It is height adjustable — the bottom of the display can go from 2.25 inches to 7 inches off the desktop with a push. The screen can also swivel back and forth across a wide angle, and tilt up and down slightly.

You can even rotate the display 90 degrees. And there’s a built-in gravity sensor.

I found the base to be very solid. It holds the screen securely, with little chance of it being knocked over in anything less than an major earthquake.

Innocn 27-inch 4K Computer Monitor 27C1U final thoughts

Let’s be clear: if you are an artist whose livelihood depends on your display, you should be thinking hard about that $5,000 one from Apple. But for just about everyone else, the Innocn 27-inch 4K Computer Monitor 27C1U delivers all you need. To go over the high points: it looks great, there are lots of input options and the stand is height adjustable.

Whether you’re looking for work display or a mid-size TV, it’s worth a look. Especially right now, when it’s on sale.

Pricing

Shenzhen Century Joint Innovation Technology Company’s standard price for its latest 27-inch external display is $479.99. It’s sold exclusively through Amazon.

Buy from: Amazon

A temporary 6% price reduction lowers to cost to $449.99. And use coupon code 27C1U2022 to further drop the price to just $359.99. That’s a serious bargain.

Shenzhen Century Joint Innovation Technology Company provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out more in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.