The NEC PA271Q is a flagship QHD monitor aimed at designers who require a suitable display for color-critical work photo editing and graphic arts. The office display look can be deceiving, but it contains the brand’s best technologies such as the SpectraView Engine and a USB-C interface. We can expect fantastic imaging performance from the NEC PA271Q, but let’s take a peek at what this $1300 monitor has to offer.
NEC PA271Q Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 2K QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 8ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1500:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 350 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: No
- Stand: Height – No
- Stand: Tilt – Yes (-5°/+15°)
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes 100 x 100
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, Mini DP x 1, HDMI x 2 , USB-C x 1, USB 3.0 x 6x 1
- Dimensions (WxHxD) 25.2” x 21.5” x 9.2”
- Weight: 21.4lbs
Design and Features
The NEC PA271Q, like the rest of the products from the company, utilize an all-business look that only professionals can love. The monitor is finished in matte black and nothing else for a clean and simplistic appearance. There are thick bezels surrounding the panel, but they matter less in a monitor that focuses on extreme image quality.
Functionality is one of the main concerns of the NEC PA271Q to enhance its ease of use for designers and consumers. The product comes with a fully ergonomic stand that allows you to tilt, swivel, pivot, and adjust height which will make a multitude of configurations doable. There is also a VESA bolt pattern for 100 x 100 and 200 x 100 adapters at the rear in case wall or desk mounting is required.
Another asset of the NEC PA271Q is its full-featured connectivity suite that offers several options. There is a DisplayPort 1.2 and dual HDMI slots for video inputs, plus a Mini DP slot if you want to daisy-chain multiple PA271Qs. On the other hand, a built-in USB 3.0 hub with six slots (3 Upstream, 3 Downstream) for your accessories and thumb drives is also present.
There is also a single USB-C slot on the NEC PA271Q if you intend to pair this monitor with a MacBook Pro or a similar professional laptop. USB-C slots are also considered as a single cable solution for a clutter-free and easy setup.
Display and Performance
The NEC PA271Q boasts a 27-inch IPS with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate and an 8ms response time. It’s supported by a 350cd/m2 wide gamut WLED backlight and an extended 1500:1 contrast ratio. Modern high-end IPS panels are already capable of contrast that exceeds 1000:1, although that will require some testing.
Wide gamut outputs are made possible with the NEC PA271Q thanks to its 14-bit LUT which enables 99% Adobe RGB and perfect sRGB coverage. This model comes with the brand’s SpectraView Engine that guarantees industry-leading color reproduction, along with an integrated color calibration feature. There is also an internal and external sensor that helps the display keep your settings accurate as much as possible.
It’s interesting to note that the external sensor that’s included in the package needs to be connected to the USB port and manually set according to the user’s preferences. This add-on also eliminates the need for a host-based application and will allow direct hardware calibration to utilize the 14-bit 3D LUT.
Of course, there are no gaming features on the NEC PA271Q such as FreeSync or ULMB. The display’s focus on absolute image quality means that this model won’t be fast enough for our favorite past time.
Thoughts on the NEC PA271Q
The $1300 NEC PA271Q has all the right features required in a high-end display solution that is suitable for color critical work. It’s emphasis on convenience such as its connectivity options and the calibration features make it an attractive option for freelancers and studios alike.
However, we’re still wondering why NEC decided to go with a QHD resolution instead of 4K. Don’t get us wrong, a 2560 x 1440 at 27 inches looks perfect and crisp. But if you think about it, expensive designer displays like this device usually offer 4K or 5K resolutions at this price range.
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