The Asus VA27ECPSN incorporates must-have features for productivity and functionality in a well-rounded package. It’s a business monitor, but it’s also classified as a docking monitor thanks to its expanded connectivity. It’s quite pricey for an office monitor, but let’s check it out to know if it is justified.
Asus VA27ECPSN Specifications
- Screen Size: 24 Inches
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 FHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 75Hz
- Response Time: 5ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 300 cd/m²
- Speakers: Yes (2 x 2 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes 100 x 100
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 1.4 x 1, USB 3.0 x 3, USB-C (PD65W) x 1, RJ45 x 1, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions with Stand (WxHxD): 24.1” x 20.6” x 8.9”
- Weight 14.29 lbs
Design and Features
The Asus VA27ECPSN has a simplified design that resembles the older Asus gaming models, such as the VG279Q. It has a matte black finish which looks timeless and clean, provided that you wipe it down regularly. The screen has a bezel-free design, but it still has inner borders like most modern displays.
It’s not a very sleek monitor, but it is modest enough to fit into most standard-sized office or school computer desks. It and its flat, square-shaped base only need 8.9 inches of depth, so it shouldn’t offset your other gear. The device isn’t very heavy at 14.29 pounds, but it feels solid like a premium monitor would.
Its build quality doesn’t fall far as well, even if it belongs to the more basic range of displays the brand offers. The plastics used are tough and sturdy, and there were no signs of cosmetic defects caused by poor manufacturing practices. The included stand is firm and stable, so the screen won’t sag or shake while you are immersed in your tasks.
The Asus VA27ECPSN doesn’t have an OSD joystick like so many other Asus monitors in different brackets. You have to deal with pesky cut-out buttons, which are stiff and time-consuming to use. The layout is located at the back, so you have to feel around for them and, at some point, master them to avoid mistakes.
The stand included in the package offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. Ergonomics is always nice to have for something that’s designed for productivity since it will get hours of use at a time. You can use VESA mounts, but the only reason to buy one is if you plan to use multiple displays.
The Asus VA27ECPSN’s connectivity is its most prominent selling point since it is advertised as a docking monitor. It has DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4, but it also has a 65-watt USB-C port with DP Alt Mode. It also includes a trio of USB 3.0 ports, a 3.5mm jack for peripherals, and an RJ45 LAN port.
You also get speakers with this model, but it’s still the typical 2-watt pair Asus uses on most of its display products. They sound tinny and weak, so they are mostly unusable for entertainment purposes.
Display and Performance
The Asus VA27ECPSN sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, a 75Hz refresh rate, and a 5ms response time. The backlight has a 300 cd/m2 output, while the contrast is listed at 1000:1, like most IPS panels. This model doesn’t have HDR certification, but that’s understandable since it was not meant for entertainment use.
1080p monitors are great for productivity due to their simplicity, so they are still widely used in business settings. This model won’t be the sharpest screen available, but it is easy on the eyes thanks to that looser pixel pitch. The latter is ideal for reading and document processing since you won’t strain your eyes too much while looking at walls of letters and numbers.
The Asus VA27ECPSN covers 99% of the sRGB gamut, so it’s slightly better than older office monitors that range between 93% and 97%. Its default accuracy had a deltaE average of 1.21, so most users won’t need to calibrate it. It’s not the most accurate out there, but it is already usable for content creation by default.
Calibrating it reduced the dE average to 0.71, making it even more suitable for creative tasks. The downside is that you will need a colorimeter to achieve comparable results. Its not worth buying a gadget that’s more expensive than the monitor, so prioritize buying a better imaging monitor like one from the brand’s ProArt series first.
The Asus VA27ECPSN’s backlight reached 297 cd/m2 at 100% brightness, so it has some room for adjustment. Its contrast isn’t impressive at 971:1, so it isn’t capable of deep blacks like a VA alternative. However, the latter is expected from an IPS panel, so it is not a deal-breaker at this point.
Panel uniformity for the test unit did not have any major issues, but there was a little backlight bleed on the bottom edge. They added clouding in dark scenes, but others are not as affected. Note that this can vary with every unit made due to tolerances, so there are worse and better panels out there.
Responsiveness isn’t its main strength, but that’s understandable since it’s not a gaming variant. The extra refresh rate provides a minor boost to motion smoothness, but its intangible compared to a 144Hz variant. It is suitable for casual enjoyment, but there are better options if gaming is a priority.
The Asus VA27ECPSN supports FreeSync and G-Sync for tear and stutter-free gaming. It is not essential for a productivity model, but it is useful for more demanding titles. Its input lag sits at 9ms at 75Hz, so it’s snappy and responsive, unlike the old business models.
Thoughts on the Asus VA27ECPSN
The Asus VA27ECPSN is a great pick for a daily driver due to its panel’s qualities and its features. It offers decent entertainment capabilities, but what stands out more is its accuracy and connectivity layout. It is built better than most options, so it should last longer than some cheaper picks out there.
It is far from perfect, but we think that the results mentioned here are more than enough for its intended use. It’s also pricey for a 1080p 75Hz display, but we’d rather pay extra for better overall quality than deal with something lackluster. Anything better will surely cost more money, so this is a practical purchase if you only need a display for work with some entertainment on the side.
Pros:
- Great Image Quality
- Premium Build Quality
- USB-C Connectivity
Cons:
- Low Contrast
- OSD Buttons
About the Author: Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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