Quick Review: Asus PB278Q Super PLS Monitor

Specs That Matter

Display Size: 27 Inch

Panel Model: Super PLS (LTM270DL02)

Pixel Pitch: 0.233m

Color Depth: 8-bit (16.7m colors)

Screen Coating: Light Matte

Response Time: 5ms (g2g)

Brightness: 300 nits

Static Contrast Ratio: 1000:1

Resolution: 2560 x 1440

Backlight: W-LED

Refresh Rate: 60Hz

Connectivity: HDMI (1), Dual Link DVI-D (1), DisplayPort (1), VGA (1)

Features: Integrated stereo speakers (3 watt)

4.5 out of 5

Rating:

+ Positives

• Super PLS panel offers wide viewing angles similar to those found in a IPS based display.
• Asus includes a cable for each of the connections available on the PB278Q: VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort and VGA.
• The PB278Q handles motion very well, with very little blur or overshoot issues.
• High quality stand that features the full range of ergonomic adjustments: Height adjust, swivel, tilt and pivot.
• Samsung uses light matte AG coatings on their displays and the PB278Q is no different. It has no issues with reflections and the image is very clean, with no sparkly or grainy appearance commonly found on displays with overly aggressive matte coatings.
• Very understated, industrial design with an all matte black finish. No cheap looking glossy plastic here.
• Good backlight uniformity even in a darkened room. Backlight bleeding is minimal and not very noticeable with the naked eye. Clouding wasn't a problem either.
• Very good contrast ratio with deeper blacks than a typical monitor using IPS technology.
• Excellent build quality. The display is free of any noise or buzzing while in operation, manufactured using high quality materials and overall has a very sturdy and reliable feel you expect from a premium PLS monitor.
• Good color accuracy provided by a true 8-bit PLS panel (16.7 million colors with no dithering).

- Negatives

• Input lag, while lower than many early PLS monitors (around 16-17ms on average or 1 frame of lag), is still too high for the PB278Q to be used as a primary gaming monitor.
• The PB278Q uses PWM for backlight dimming. The PWM runs at somewhat of a low frequency. It also has a W-LED backlight. All of those variables are a bad combination for anyone sensitive to flicker caused by PWM.

See PCHardwareHelp.com's complete list of IPS monitors for more options other than the Asus PB278Q.

• LCD Panel Types Explained
• Backlight Bleeding: An LCD Problem