I tested this Asus 5K monitor that rivals Apple's Studio Display – but it's much cheaper

High-quality 5K monitors have been around for years, but they’re a rare sight on most desks. Although their high resolutions are great for creative work, these displays are expensive, limiting their adoption. Shop on Amazon or Best Buy, and you’ll find many screens for over $1,000. Enter the Asus ProArt PA27 JCV — a 5K (5,120 x 2,160 pixels) display that delivers premium quality without the premium cost.

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Designed with creative professionals and editors in mind, the image quality is sensational. The hardware supports HDR10 and several color spaces, including 99% of the DCI-P3 gamut. Pixel density is 218 PPI (pixels per inch), delivering razor-sharp clarity. Its vibrant quality is further helped by the fact that it’s not particularly large at only 27 inches. A lot is packed into this tight space.

These specs put the ProArt PA27 on par with the Apple Studio Display, although Asus’ device beats the Apple monitor in one key area. It sports LuxPixel technology to greatly minimize glare coming from outside sources. This technology is quite effective at maintaining visual clarity, speaking from experience.

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The Asus monitor has a refresh rate of 60Hz, which is fine for most cases but poor when watching fast-paced videos or movies. High refresh rates enable smoother on-screen motion, and 60Hz just doesn’t cut it. 

The high-quality display technology is the star of the show, but the monitor also features a few impressive design elements. The ProArt PA27 rests on an adjustable hinge that can be turned vertically 180 degrees. The range of motion is so smooth I could pivot the Asus monitor with just two fingers. Additionally, the hinge can be tilted forward and backward for more comfortable viewing.

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Below the glass is a series of six buttons and a knob for adjusting the output via a quick menu. There’s a button for adjusting the brightness level, activating Energy Saving mode, and accessing QuickFit Plus. This button lets you create virtual rulers and grids to help with creative work.

These buttons can even activate key features like picture-in-picture mode. I strongly recommend becoming familiar with these inputs since they let you customize your user experience. However, they aren’t the most responsive. Navigating through menus is slow. 

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The brightness of Asus’ ProArt PA27 JCV peaks at 500 nits, which can be intense. I maxed out the brightness on a blank white page and the brightness hurt my eyes. I can’t imagine staring at this screen would be healthy for anyone’s vision. Luckily, the monitor has a built-in blue light filter, accessible through the quick menus.

As great as the ProArt monitor is, I wasn’t a fan of the limited array of ports. You only get a single HDMI and a single DisplayPort input. The monitor has a USB-C port that supports DP Alt Mode, meaning it can also be used for video, but I still find this selection too restrictive. You won’t be able to connect multiple devices unless you frequently unplug and replug them. You can purchase a docking station to solve this issue, but that’s an extra cost.

ZDNET’s buying advice

I highly recommend the ProArt PA27 display to creative professionals. Its 5K resolution screen and customization features can’t be beat. It’s on sale for $800 on Asus’ website.

The device is compatible with Windows and MacOS, making it a good alternative to the Apple Studio Display. But is the ProArt monitor better? It is if you’re on a budget. You get similar visual performance at a lower price. However, Apple’s model has a brighter 600 nits screen and an immersive six-speaker system, while Asus’ model lacks these qualities.