The ASUS PB278Q Widescreen LED-Backlit LCD Monitor

The first thing you notice about the ASUS PB278Q 27” Widescreen LED-Backlit LCD Monitor is its large 27-inch screen. Considering that this is a monitor and you’ll be sitting much closer to it than you would to an HDTV, the 27 inches really becomes magnified.

The PB278Q is a 27” Wide Quad High Definition (WQHD) PLS monitor from ASUS. What is Wide Quad High Definition? It means this monitor provides four times the pixel density of a standard 720p resolution screen, at 2560 x 1440, allowing extremely crisp images and the ability to keep more windows open on the monitor.

The larger resolution is compatible with 720p and 1080p HD content. PB278Q has a 16:9 aspect ratio, so both 720p and 1080p look excellent, even when scaled to fit on the screen. The screen is backlit with LEDs, which reduce power consumption as well as increase the panel’s life. Speaking of panels, the PB278Q has a plane-to-line (PLS) panel, which allows for stable response time, clear images and consistent color from all viewing angles.

The PB278Q has an 80,000,000:1 ASUS Smart Contrast Ratio (dynamic ASCR) so blacks are deep and rich, while whites are bright. The 300cd/m² brightness also helps enhance display contrast by adjusting the backlight luminance. For a smooth viewing experience, the 5 ms gray-to-gray response time of the PB278Q helps you watch action sequences and other fast-moving scenes seamlessly, without ghosting. The PB278Q also has an ultra-wide 178-degree-wide viewing angle for both horizontal and vertical planes, which minimizes onscreen color shift.

If you’re going to invest in a monitor for professional use, one of the most important features to consider is how accurately the color is displayed on the screen. With the 100% sRGB color space compatibility, the PB278Q provides you with the option of selecting your preferred settings from the onscreen display (OSD). Driven by a precision color engine that automatically analyzes and determines the nature of your current task, the PB278Q uses Splendid Video Intelligence technology to adjust display parameters in order to promote color accuracy and image fidelity. The six preset modes are Scenery, Theater, sRGB, Standard and two user-customizable modes. All six preset modes can be selected quickly via the designated hot key, located on the bezel of the monitor.

There is also a QuickFit Virtual Scale function to render the actual size of a document or photo and even provides an alignment grid overlay onscreen so users can accurately preview and edit their documents or photos onscreen. The QuickFit Virtual Scale can be activated through a simple hot key and supports A4, Letter, 8 x 10, 5 x 7, 4 x 6, 3 x 5 and 2 x 2-inch sizes.

If you’re looking for connectivity, ASUS has you covered. The PB278Q offers an HDMI 1.4 port, a DisplayPort 1.2 port, a dual-link DVI-D port and a D-Sub (VGA) port. Also, please note that the HDMI, DisplayPort and dual-link DVI-D ports support 2560 x 1440 resolutions, but the VGA port will only support up to 1920 x 1080 resolution. For audio, you can use the 3.5mm headphone jack to connect a pair of headphones. There are also built-in stereo speakers. The monitor includes an HDMI cable, a DisplayPort cable, a dual—link DVI cable, a VGA cable and an audio cable, so you can connect to the ASUS monitor using any of the ports, right out of the box.

The PB278Q comes with an ergonomically designed stand as well. The stand comes with tilt, pivot, swivel and height adjustments in order to ensure a comfortable viewing experience. A smart cable management system in the back of the stand helps keep your workspace free of clutter.

Like all ASUS monitors, the PB278Q is covered by the ASUS Rapid Replacement (ARR) 3-year warranty, providing free cross-shipping should anything happen to the monitor.

If you’ve recently purchased the PB278Q, please let us know your experience in the Comments section below. Also, if there are any other products you would like to see reviewed by B&H InDepth, let us know that in the Comments section as well.