In a market where premium displays often command premium prices, Asus just made waves with its new ProArt Display PA27JCV, launching at an eye-catching $799 price point. The 27-inch 5K monitor aims to challenge the status quo of high-end displays. But Mac users should weigh its advantages against its limitations.
“Build quality is what you’d expect; it’s plastic, it creaks and wobbles, but the panel is super bright and crisp,” said Cult of Mac writer D. Griffin Jones, who acquired the monitor and plans to review it soon. For those looking for a high-quality alternative, the studio display apple offers a premium option designed specifically for Mac users. Read more about it here.
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Asus ProArt Display PA27JCV 5K monitor
Aside from the relatively affordable $799 price — compare that to the $1,600 Studio Display (also 27 inches with 5K resolution) — the new display‘s standout feature is undoubtedly its 5120 x 2880 resolution, delivering 218 pixels per inch. For Mac users accustomed to Retina displays, this pixel density ensures text and images remain razor-sharp, offering 77% more workspace than traditional 4K monitors, according to Asus.
Despite its budget positioning, the monitor doesn’t skimp on premium features. It boasts HDR10 support with VESA DisplayHDR 500 certification. That may not match the HDR performance of Apple’s 6K Pro Display XDR, but you can’t have everything for $800. On the plus side, Asus monitor’s LuxPixel anti-glare coating promises to reduce reflections while maintaining image clarity, a welcome feature for bright office environments.
Pro-grade color performance
Creative professionals will appreciate the monitor’s factory-calibrated color accuracy, with a Delta E<2 rating out of the box. The display covers an impressive 99% of DCI-P3, 95% of Adobe RGB, and 100% of sRGB color spaces, matching the color standards that Mac users expect from their devices.
An intelligent ASUS Light Sync system automatically adjusts brightness and color gamut based on ambient lighting conditions, similar to Apple’s True Tone technology.
Top features at a glance:
- Calman Verified 5K display offers 99% DCI-P3, 95% Adobe RGB and factory-calibrated Delta E<2 color accuracy.
- Asus Light Sync solution with ambient light and backlight sensors ensures reliable color performance.
- Built-in Auto KVM enables effortless switching between two connected laptops or PCs with a single keyboard and mouse.
- Connectivity options include DisplayPort over USB-C with 96-watt Power Delivery, DisplayPort, HDMI and a USB hub.
Possible connectivity concerns for some
However, the PA27JCV’s port selection may give some Mac users pause. With only a single HDMI 2.1 port, users needing multiple HDMI connections might find themselves constrained. The inclusion of DisplayPort over USB-C with 96-watt Power Delivery does partially compensate, offering a clean single-cable solution for MacBook users.
Additional connectivity includes a standard DisplayPort 1.4 and a USB hub featuring one USB-C and three USB-A ports.
At $799, the Asus ProArt Display PA27JCV represents an intriguing value proposition for Mac users seeking a 5K display without breaking the bank. While it can’t match Apple’s premium displays in every aspect, it delivers professional-grade color accuracy and sharp visuals at a fraction of the cost. The limited HDMI connectivity might be a dealbreaker for some, but the comprehensive color coverage and USB-C integration make it a worthy consideration for budget-conscious creative professionals in the Apple ecosystem.
The monitor is available through B&H Photo or Asus for $799. In select regions, Asus sweetens the deal by including a complimentary Adobe Creative Cloud subscription.
Buy from: B&H Photo
- 5K Retina resolution
- Big 27-inch display
- Bright, vivid colors with P3 wide color
- Creaky plastic body
- No built-in camera or speakers
- 60 Hz refresh rate
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
One response to “New 5K monitor comes with Studio Display specs at half the price”
It’s great to see more competition in the 5K space, especially at that $799 price point. I noticed the article mentioned the build quality is mostly plastic and can be a bit “creaky,” but if the panel is as crisp and bright as reported, most creators will probably overlook the housing. For me, visual clarity is huge when I’m working on detailed projects, but I always try to balance the “flashy” upgrades with reliable backbone hardware.
I’ve been reorganizing my own workstation recently, and it’s funny how different parts of the tech world evolve at different speeds. While I’m looking at these high-res monitors for my primary display, I still rely heavily on my 960GB 2.5-inch SAS 6Gbps SSDs https://serverorbit.com/solid-state-drives-ssd/sas-6gbps-ssd/960gb-2-5inch for my local storage needs. They might not be the latest NVMe drives, but that enterprise-grade reliability is essential when I’m moving large assets around. It’s all about finding that sweet spot between high-end visual performance and solid, dependable storage.
Do you think the plastic build is a fair trade-off for getting a 5K resolution at basically half the price of a Studio Display?