Asus ProArt 27 QD-OLED (PA279cdv) Review: HDR for All

The Asus ProArt 27 QD-OLED (PA279CDV) is a high-end display designed for creators, offering HDR capabilities to enhance the dynamic range, contrast, and color of visual content. Priced at $699, this monitor is competitive in price for the technology, though it has made some compromises to keep costs low. Asus is among the few manufacturers releasing OLED monitors for non-gaming users, with the PA279CDV being the cheapest in their lineup.

The closest competitor is the Dell 32 Plus QD-OLED, which is larger but also more expensive. The PA279CDV features a 27-inch screen with larger side bezels and uneven top and bottom bezels, although the adjustability of the stand is impressive, allowing swivel, tilt, rotation, and height adjustments. The monitor includes USB-C ports for power delivery and KVM switch functionality, as well as USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and a DisplayPort Out for daisy-chaining monitors.

The OSD and menu controls are on the right side of the front panel, with a joystick for navigation. The monitor comes with built-in speakers, though their quality is poor, making it suitable primarily for notifications. The PA279CDV demonstrates strong HDR performance, with peak brightness of 1,038 nits in a 1 percent window and 917 nits in a 4 percent window, offering a more vivid visual experience than dimmer displays.

While not as impressive as the Apple Studio Display XDR, the comparison is not fair due to price differences. In SDR content, the monitor reaches a maximum brightness of 240 nits, which is adequate for most use cases but may not be sufficient when near a window. The color gamut is excellent, covering 91 percent of Adobe RGB and 98 percent of Display P3.

Overall, the PA279CDV offers a compelling option for creators seeking an HDR display at a reasonable price.