Asus Launching 27-inch WQHD Display in September
This new 27-inch display cranks out a 2560 x 1440 resolution, and can be positioned vertically for a tall viewing experience.
Asus on Tuesday announced the upcoming launch of its new PB278Q wide quad high definition (WQHD) 27-inch LED-backlit display for pros and gamers. The company said it pumps out true-to-life 2560 x 1440 resolution visuals (109 PPI) courtesy of an LED-backlit, wide-view angle (178°) display. That's four times the pixel resolution of standard 720p HDTVs, and enables users to view more image detail and do more thanks to an onscreen footprint larger than regular displays, the company said.
The PB278Q comes packed with features including an 80,000,000:1 ASUS Smart Contrast Ratio and 300cd/m² of brightness, both of which help enhance display contrast and sharpness by adjusting backlight luminance to achieve the darkest blacks and the brightest whites. A 5ms GTG response time ensures a smooth viewing experience, and Splendid Video Intelligence Technology optimizes video performance and image fidelity by enhancing color, brightness, contrast, and sharpness.
"The QuickFit Virtual Scale function to provide actual sized document, photo and alignment grid overlays onscreen so users can accurately preview and edit their photos on screen. QuickFit Virtual Scale is activated through a simple hotkey and supports A4, letter, 8x10-inch, 5x7-inch, 4x6-inch, 3x5-inch, and 2x2-inch sizes," Asus said on Tuesday.
The PB278Q also comes with 100-percent sRGB color space compatibility, and a host of ports including HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.2, Dual-link DVI for WQHD and D-sub Full HD content transmission. There are also two 3W speakers built into the display's ergonomic design, and smart cable management to ensure a clutter-free workspace. The full set of specs can be accessed here.
"The PB278Q might sound new, but you’ve probably already met it earlier as the VA278Q," Asus said on the Republic of Gamers website. "It’s not just been rebranded though, its (slight delay) has been through upgrading to P-series spec, with professional-quality enhancements that include 8-bit IPS (100% sRGB color space compatibility), color pre-calibration at the factory, and ASUS exclusive QuickFit Virtual Scale, and Splendid Video Intelligence Technology. The other advantage of a 27″ 2560 x 1440 display is the higher pixel density at 109 pixels per inch (PPI), giving a crisper, easier to read image.
Asus points out that PC gamers will need a recent on-board GPU or add-in card capable of dual-link DVI, DisplayPort 1.2 or HDMI 1.4 to be able to send over 2560 x 1440 graphics, as previous connector standards are limited to the smaller Full HD (1920 x 1080) only. However the display has an ergonomic tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustment, meaning that PC gamers can spin the screen to a vertical position (seen left), creating an extremely tall window -- now imagine four PB278Q vertical screens side-by-side!
So far Asus hasn't attached a pricetag to this new WQHD display, but it's scheduled to hit the market in September.
For gamers? 75Hz?
Not defending this monitor, which isn't terribly impressive, but 1280x720 is also considered HD and this has 4x the resolution of that.
With that kind of marketing, you could claim 1080p is "Quad HD" because its 4x the resolution of 480i...
This isn't for gamers, while I'm sure it will look great, a gamer would just buy two or three 120hz 1080p monitors.
What I want to see is a review of how it stacks up to the three year old Dell monitor with almost exactly the same specs....
Seriously, I would rather get a higher end Dell or HP IPS display and then purchase an aftermarket stand for it to make it pivot. I mean, after you have spend that much money on the display, what is $100 for a better stand?
I want more high resolution displays! 1440 and 1600 don't cut it for screen real estate when editing HD footage. High end TVs are getting UHD this year, so why don't we get a major bump up in PC monitor resolutions? Also, if they could keep with the 16:10 ratio I would be even happier... but I know that is just wishful thinking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLk-b8_Eq-4
IF Asus can get the pricetag even in the vicinity of the Korean WQHD displays so that the masses can finally get there hands on WQHD and see how amazing IPS and higher resolutions are, this can only be a good thing for everyone. We need more incentive for display and laptop manufacturers to push higher res displays. 1366x768 resolution needs to die a very fast death and that means more people need to be able to compare it to WQHD to see how hard is really sucks.
Actually HD is 1280 by 720, what you're mentioning is Full HD.
Actually no, this monitor had a new type of IPS panel, Super PLS, unlike those from HP or Dell. Dell doesn't have a all-in-one computer with a PLS display, but no standalone monitor.
Maybe I'll change it in 4~5 years, but not right now, that's for sure.
I don't live in the US but I've heard that ASUS support there is a nightmare. In my country is the complete opposite. Even though HP and Dell support are also very good they're not as good as the support from ASUS. I have that exact same monitor, fortunately mine is hot/dead/stuck pixel free and never had a problem with it. I did however had a problem with a monitor that had just one dead pixel from ASUS, and even though the warranty doesn't cover just one dead pixel two days later I was delivered to me a new monitor. All I had to do is pack the old one and give it to the person that delivered me the new monitor. Perhaps I was lucky. But I do work for a company that sells a lot of ASUS hardware. and when a problem arises they're very quick to resolve issues and I never had the impression that the person on the other end of the line giving support is a tech illiterate that is reading their answers from a a screen. I've also used support from other companies and the only one that really come close is HP and Dell. Apple also has a good support but nowhere near these three. Acer is on the other end of the spectrum in my country. To call their support awful is an understatement. Their tech support people is incompetent and when we do manage to get them to repair the product they take like forever to do it. Another technical support that is problematic is Sony Vaio, not because the service is bad, but because the company that does the repairs is several countries away. So when a product malfunctions out of warranty the shipping fees makes the costs prohibitive, it's more economically viable to buy a new one.
One thing is disappointing in ASUS. In the past on their top of the line monitors/laptops/... ASUS had a zero dead/stuck pixel policy, but now they dropped it and use the ISO 13406-2 Class II in all monitors like almost all other companies.