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Brightness and Contrast

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

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Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF — (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Portable monitors aren’t known for high brightness and that makes sense from a power efficiency standpoint. But the MB27ACF tickles the underside of 300 nits peak which puts it on par with most desktop screens. It’s not super bright but it is more than bright enough. A decent-for-IPS black level of 0.2239 nit gives it an above average contrast ratio of 1,330.3:1.

After Calibration to 200 nits

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Calibration drops measured contrast a bit to 1,240.4:1, but that difference is nearly impossible to see in actual content. The MB27ACF is well above the norm compared to all other IPS screens. The ANSI test also looks good with a 1,156.6:1 result. It’s right in there with the other premium IPS panels here and only beaten significantly by the two VA monitors from AOC.

Test Takeaway: The MB27ACF utilizes IPS technology for its excellent viewing angles, but even though it sacrifices contrast to VA panels, it surpasses the IPS average by around 20%. Decent black levels give it a nicely saturated picture with good depth and pop.

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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.