NEC EA275WMi 27-inch QHD IPS Monitor Review

There are few monitors engineered or built better than those from NEC. Today we’re testing the EA275WMi, a 27" QHD-resolution IPS panel with features that will appeal to enterprise and business-class users.

Reviews
By Christian Eberle
published

Early Verdict

For IT departments looking for an easy-to-install display, there’s little that can compete with the NEC EA275WMi. Tools like ControlSync and SpectraView II make it a snap to set up lots of monitors with a few simple procedures. The result will be happy users who can enjoy using a quality monitor with accurate color, good contrast, and a superb picture. In the business-class category, this display has few equals. Highly recommended.

Pros

  • +

    Out-of-box color accuracy

  • +

    Contrast

  • +

    High output

  • +

    Flexible OSD

  • +

    SpectraView II software

  • +

    ControlSync

Cons

  • -

    Gamma accuracy

  • -

    High input lag

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Introduction

For many users, any monitor with a decent image will suffice for workaday tasks. Things like fast refresh rates, high contrast and super-accurate color are less important than reliability and ease-of-use when you've simply got lots of work to get through. But having those things can make the day go by more quickly and smoothly. Better color and contrast quality results in a picture that’s easier on the eyes and won’t leave you feeling fatigued after staring at that screen for hours at a time.

The NEC EA275WMi is ideally suited as a general use tool. It offers QHD (2560x1440) resolution in a bright 27" AH-IPS panel. It includes NEC’s comprehensive OSD with many options designed for the enterprise. It also has a very cool feature called ControlSync, which lets you daisy-chain up to six monitors and share settings between them. Let’s take a look.

Specifications

The EA275WMi is priced a bit higher than other 27" IPS/QHD screens. But for that extra cost you get NEC’s much vaunted build quality, a superb image, and enterprise features that will please even the grouchiest IT departments.

ControlSync is something we’ve seen on previous NEC displays but never had the chance to test. For this review, we received two identical screens so we could experience this unique function for ourselves. We also got SpectraView II calibration software along with a color meter. We’ve used it before, and in its current iteration it still stands out as one of the most intuitive packages available from any manufacturer.

Packaging, Physical Layout & Accessories

The EA275WMi is packed quite securely in a nearly indestructible carton made from heavy double-corrugate cardboard. The monitor is fully assembled already: just lift it out, plug it in, and go. The stand can be removed if you want to use your own mounting system.

The power supply is internal, so multiple power cords are included to cover different regions. You also get DisplayPort, USB 3.0, and ControlSync cables. Documentation consists of a quick-start guide and download instructions for NaviSet Administrator, which is a tool that can control NEC monitors over larger networks. The calibration kit ships separately and includes SpectraView II software on a USB thumb drive and a color meter.

Product 360

Image 1 of 6

Even though NEC monitors are simply styled, there is no mistaking them even at a distance. Their beefy industrial look is unique and instantly recognizable. The EA275WMi both blends into its environment and stands out because of its monolithic appearance.

Despite its chunky dimensions, the front bezel is just 19mm wide. The anti-glare layer provides excellent light control while maintaining a tight air gap for maximum clarity. Detail is super fine, and you won’t see any pixilation unless you sit extremely close to the screen.

OSD controls consist of superbly-engineered, touch-sensitive keys that respond to light pressure. The silk-screened labels are quite small, but you only need to know which ones are for power and menu. The rest are indicated by the on-screen icons that clearly tell you their functions.

The stand is extremely solid and offers full adjustment of the panel’s position. You get a 5.1" height range along with nearly 360° swivel, 25° tilt, and a portrait mode. If you want to use your own mount, there are two sets of 100mm VESA-compatible threaded holes around back.

Ventilation is generous, and you can see through the grills that the internal components are heavily shielded. There’s no chance of EM interference from this display. Two small speakers fire out the top of the power bulge. Sound is polite at best with most of its emphasis in the middle to high-range frequencies.

Inputs include one each of DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4, and DVI, which can accommodate digital or analog signals. You also get a DP output for MST operation. The USB hub accepts version 3.0 upstream and offers two downstream ports on the bottom. The side port is version 2.0 compatible. Analog audio is supported by a 3.5mm input and a side-mounted headphone output. The gray and black connectors are for ControlSync.


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Christian Eberle
Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.

8 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Jeffrey_44
    That's a sweet little monitor you got there. I run four 23 in Lenovo LCD monitors here on my trading station. Looking to do a server upgrade next spring and go with 32 or 36 in monitors. Getting old. Sometimes, the pips are hard to see...lo!
    Reply
  • thundervore
    NEC monitors are always a beauty. Nice matte black, not the shiny piano black we see everywhere. These always go toe to toe against the Dells that cost more.
    Reply
  • DirgDub
    "NEC’s much vaunted build quality"
    Both of my EA231wmi monitors died just after the 3 year warranty expired.
    Reply
  • kittle
    Love my NEC PA27W - its still going strong after several years of use. NOT cheap, but it should last through several system upgrades.
    and despite what the gaming sites say, its great for games and movies, general use..and the occasional photo
    Reply
  • alidan
    what is uc on uc off in the contrast page?
    Reply
  • Spanky Deluxe
    I'm so fed up with these 27" monitors. Why can't they make something a little larger. 32-40. My 30" 2560x1600 monitor is almost a decade old but I'm yet to see anything that tempts me to upgrade. I'm probably going to have to hold out until 8k becomes mainstream and we get 8k 40" panels.
    Reply
  • alidan
    18845567 said:
    I'm so fed up with these 27" monitors. Why can't they make something a little larger. 32-40. My 30" 2560x1600 monitor is almost a decade old but I'm yet to see anything that tempts me to upgrade. I'm probably going to have to hold out until 8k becomes mainstream and we get 8k 40" panels.

    https://www.amazon.com/Philips-Computer-Monitor-3840x2160-Truevision/dp/B00UBCVY02/

    It may not be the best monitor, but its a 40 inch 4k monitor.
    Honestly Im toying with the idea of a 2 monitor setup myself, something massive for every day use, 40-50 inch 4k, especially if i can get 10 bit and a fantastic contrast ratio, and then something for more demanding things like gaming

    also, 8k is never going to be a thing, at least till its so trivial to make the panels it just out right replaces 4k for the same price. 4k looks amazing in a store, when you are up close, you see the crispness, but then put the 50-60 inch tv 7-10 feet away from you and that 1080p tv right next to it looks the same for far less money., the same will be true for 8k, on a computer, there is a practical benefit for photographers, artists, people who work with video, but for the normal person they ui scale their crap up the monitor looks the same as the old one maybe a bit crisper in areas, but it takes 4 times the hardware to run it even idle.

    the next thing that will push monitors forward is oled, possibly quantum dot if they emit their own light, don't know enough to make a call there. Not sure if you know this, but contrast is the number 1 thing that determines how good a monitor looks ot normal people, nothing else matters so long as its at least tn quality, but contrast is king. its funny to me how much manufactures lie on boxes for this too, had an argument with someone who claimed his 3000:1 monitor was worse then his apple 5k, and i had to dig up a review for his monitor where they did the contrast test and not just put out a press release, turns out that his monitor was actually about 800:1 and apple is around 1250:1

    contrast ratio is what will push sales of tvs and monitors next, and it will be oled or qd that do it. and you want the normal people to adopt things enmass, just because that drives the price down faster.
    Reply
  • Spanky Deluxe
    Yeah, I know about the 40" 4K one. I've thought about it numberous times but it doesn't really feel like enough of an upgrade - it's about the same DPI as my 30". I'd like a bigger size with more pixels and a higher resolution too. 5k at 40 would be perfect. I'm using two 20" 1600x1200 monitors in portrait mode either side of my 30" and I'd ideally like a larger monitor that I feel can replace the whole lot. If they'd made 32" 5k monitors instead of 27", I would have bought one years ago.
    Reply