ASUS has done an admirable job of making a monitor that is suitable for both work and play. The ZenScreen Smart will look fantastic wherever you decide to locate it and the inclusion of Google TV will give you access to all the apps you could ever want. Unfortunately, the elevated price means there are better and more affordable 27-inch monitors for creatives that could be extended to smart TV status with a much cheaper Chromecast.
For
Monitor and TV combo
Good-looking design
Excellent cable management
Against
Lacks a webcam
Audio quality could be better
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27-inch monitors are the workhorses for most creatives. They’re light, portable, and the perfect size for placing two side-by-side on a desk. Having just finished reviewing the Acer Predator Z57 (57 inches), I was relieved to be unboxing something a little more manageable! It’s called the ZenScreen Smart Monitor MS27UC and it’s a mashup of a monitor and a TV.
I was therefore excited to get it up and running and see whether a 27-inch size would be big enough to serve as a TV. I was also eager to run the likes of Photoshop and Premiere Pro on it and see if it handled contrast, brightness, and colours in general. Read on to see what I thought.
(Image credit: Future)
ASUS ZenScreen Smart MS27UC: Key specifications
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Screen:
27-inch UHD (3840 x 2160)
Inputs:
USB-C (90 W PD), HDMI, DisplayPort, USB hub, headphone out
Speakers:
Yes
Adjustments:
Not specified
Dimensions:
Not specified
Weight:
Not specified
Design and build
(Image credit: Future)
A beautifully designed monitor
Good connectivity
The ASUS ZenScreen Smart oozes quality. After unboxing the unit, I was pleasantly surprised to see a classy grey fabric strip running across the front and back of the monitor. It was something that I didn’t expect but, on reflection, is a genius design decision that helps it blend in with the soft furnishings found in most living spaces.
The class continues with the grey metal and plastic casing with a super-thin frame around the left, top, and right of the display itself. The stand was easy to assemble with a click mechanism for attaching the stand to the display.
All the ports are located at the back, including HDMI, DisplayPort and USB-C and there’s even a USB hub containing two USB-A ports. The USB-C port also delivers 90 watts of power, which is ideal for even the most demanding of laptops. A pill-shaped hole is located in the upright part of the stand, which makes it possible to tidy cables away and force them out towards the back of your desk.
Above the location of the ports, you’ll find a shallow shelf which is designed to house your keyboard and mouse when they’re not in use. Being able to pack your peripherals away before kicking back and enjoying a movie is brilliant. ASUS really have thought of everything.
The monitor also comes with a white remote, although you can control it with the on-screen display (OSD). This remote makes it quick to transfer between inputs and apps.
Design and build score: 4.5/5
Features
(Image credit: Future)
Also a Google TV
5-watt speakers
One of the biggest selling points of this monitor is that it doubles up as a Google TV. That means you can access over 10,000 apps as well as live TV, music, and shows. As with all Google TVs, users will benefit from personalised content and a built-in Google assistant. I don’t think the monitor is worth buying just for Google TV, as you could easily convert any monitor into a smart TV using a Chromecast.
Considering most of the advertised features are related to the Google TV functionality, there isn’t a huge amount else to say regarding features for creatives. Maybe the only thing to mention is the dual front-facing 5-watt speakers that are certified by Harman Kardon.
Features score: 3.5/5
Performance
(Image credit: Future)
A fast and well-equipped smart TV
Colour gamut coverage that is lacking for serious professionals
Google TV performs like it does on any other device. Given that is the case, I don’t want to focus on how this aspect of the monitor performs. Instead, I’ll make some comments on whether this monitor delivers for creatives.
Let’s begin with the picture quality. The 4K UHD resolution provides all the pixels that most creatives will need at this point in time. With an increasing number of video editors working with 4K footage, the ZenScreen Smart is a perfect fit for these workflows. If you are working on detailed and complex video timelines though, we’d highly recommend getting two 27-inch monitors rather than just one.
Moving onto colour replication, this monitor covers 99% of the sRGB colour gamut. I know it’s not 100%, but this will be more than enough for most tasks, including browsing the web, watching videos, and editing photos for online use. Most real-world scenarios don’t demand 100%
This isn’t true for colour-critical workflows such as photography and graphic design. For these you’d be expecting 100% coverage as well as support for wider colour gamuts like Adobe RGB or DCI-P3.
The pictures themselves are bold and vibrant and, in HDR mode, display a high level of contrast. This is a monitor that is trying to straddle the world of TV and creativity. It manages to do this relatively effectively but lacks the quality for more professional work.
Performance score: 4/5
Price
The ASUS ZenScreen Smart costs £399.99, which is expensive compared to the Lenovo Legion R27qe but not as pricey as the AGON Pro AG276FK. If you were looking to buy two of these, then that will set you back a lot of money, but if one is enough, then you might be able to justify the cost.
(Image credit: Future)
Scorecard
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Design and build
A beautiful-looking monitor that wouldn’t look out of place in a living room.
4.5/5
Features
A serious focus on Google TV at the potential loss of features creatives really want.
3.5/5
Performance
High-resolution and vibrant images but lacks enough colour coverage for professionals.
4/5
Who's it for?
Creatives who need their monitor to double up as a TV
The ASUS ZenScreen Smart is designed for those who love to work and play on one screen. It’s therefore perfect for people in small apartments who don’t have the luxury of space to set up a separate TV. The added benefit of only needing one screen is a financial one, which means the ZenScreen Smart will attract those on a budget.
Buy it if
You need a computer monitor by day and TV by night
You like your monitor to look stylish
You want to be able to cast to the monitor
Don't buy it if
You want a 16:9 aspect ratio
You’re a gamer needing a responsive display
You need a monitor that has a webcam
The Verdict
7.5
out of 10
ASUS ZenScreen 27" 4K Smart Monitor
ASUS has done an admirable job of making a monitor that is suitable for both work and play. The ZenScreen Smart will look fantastic wherever you decide to locate it and the inclusion of Google TV will give you access to all the apps you could ever want. Unfortunately, the elevated price means there are better and more affordable 27-inch monitors for creatives that could be extended to smart TV status with a much cheaper Chromecast.
Paul is a digital expert. In the 20 years since he graduated with a first-class honours degree in Computer Science, Paul has been actively involved in a variety of different tech and creative industries that make him the go-to guy for reviews, opinion pieces, and featured articles. With a particular love of all things visual, including photography, videography, and 3D visualisation Paul is never far from a camera or other piece of tech that gets his creative juices going. You'll also find his writing in other places, including Creative Bloq, Digital Camera World, and 3D World Magazine.
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