I've fallen in love with this stunning 5K monitor and its built-in KVM switch — it's ideal for my creative projects

A significant part of my time is dedicated to using Adobe Creative Cloud applications on computers. Consequently, I understand the importance of having a dependable monitor that faithfully portrays the colors and intricate details of my creative projects.

I took notice of the ASUS ProArt PA27JVC monitor right away due to its professional 5K IPS design, tailored for creative tasks.

For nearly a month, I’ve been putting this monitor through its paces to gauge its visual clarity and performance.

In summary, I find it worthy of the Editor’s Choice, making it an excellent choice for individuals engaged in creative fields, despite the fact that there is a single aspect that might deter certain potential artists.

ASUS ProArt PA27JCV: Cheat sheet

What is it? A 27-inch IPS display with an excellent color gamut, high resolution, auto-KVM functionality for peripherals connected to different devices, and a good range of ports.
Who is it for? It’s ideal for anyone who does creative work and wants to have superior picture quality. The eye comfort features also make it an excellent choice for sensitive eyes.
How much does it cost? The ASUS ProArt PA27JCV sells for $799.00 at Amazon.
What did I like? This monitor can tilt, swivel, pivot, and adjust vertically. It also produces a great color range in an extremely crisp 5K resolution. Because of this, the colors and details in my creative projects look amazing. Plus, the auto-KVM function with its USB hub makes this monitor even more convenient.
What didn’t I like? While it’s nice that this monitor has built-in speakers, they don’t get particularly loud and sound extremely muffled. It also only reaches a 60Hz refresh rate, which feels limiting for video work.
What is ASUS ProArt? The ProArt line is specifically designed for professional creative workflows, including photography, graphic design, filmmaking, architecture, and animation, to name a few. In addition to monitors, there are ProArt laptops (like in my ProArt PX13 review), desktops, computer components, accessories, and more.

ASUS ProArt PA27JCV: Price and specifications

The ProArt PA27JCV monitor typically retails at around $799.99, however, you might find it available for a lower price. It’s offered for sale on platforms like Amazon, Best Buy, B&H, and Newegg.

Despite its high price tag, you get what you pay for considering the advanced features and capabilities that come with this premium display.

In case you don’t know, ASUS’s ProArt line is specifically designed with creative work in mind.

The ASUS ProArt monitor stands out by featuring built-in auto-KVM technology, allowing a single keyboard, video, and mouse setup to function seamlessly on multiple computers. It also offers a convenient USB hub for additional device connections and comes equipped with integrated speakers, enhancing the overall work experience.

For this monitor, ASUS provides a three-year coverage under their warranty. For detailed information, please visit the warranty section on their official website.

ASUS ProArt PA27JCV — What’s in the box?

This purchase gives you everything you need to connect to a compatible PC.

Upon opening the container, I discovered a monitor, a flexible stand, a foundation featuring a pre-installed screw, a rear panel, a USB-C to USB-C cord, an HDMI cable, a power line, a microfiber cleaning cloth, instructions, and assorted documents.

Buying this monitor comes with a complimentary three-month subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud (worth $397.44). This grants you access to over 20 creative applications, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom for photos, Premiere Pro for videos, and many more.

The Adobe deal can be claimed before August 31st, 2025 (Central Standard Time). To redeem it, customers should navigate to ASUS.com, and look for the option on the linked page located towards the bottom.

ASUS ProArt PA27JCV: What I like

Similar to numerous modern monitors, including the ASUS ProArt PA27JCV, you won’t need any tools to put it together because it comes with a built-in screw in its base and a pop-in stand design for quick setup, allowing me to get it up and running within mere minutes.

The design is both sleekly professional and versatile, suitable for both formal and informal environments. Moreover, it features a cable management opening at its base, allowing for better organization of wires, resulting in a tidier workspace.

Delighted to share, the screen offers a flexible range of movements – swivel, rotation, pivot, and height adjustment – providing an optimal viewing angle for me. What’s more, I discovered it can also be set in portrait mode, which might prove useful for creative professionals.

As an analyst, I can attest that upon leaving my ProArt monitor in its placed position, it maintains its stability without any signs of sinking or wobbling, indicating a well-designed stand. Additionally, the compact base significantly minimizes the space it occupies on my desktop compared to other monitors, making it a practical choice for my workspace.

OSD controls and presets

Managing the OSD (on-screen display) menu is effortless, given the five neatly arranged buttons and a joystick button strategically placed at the bottom right corner of the device. With such a variety of controls, it’s simple for me to swiftly access specific menus or instantly alter brightness levels as needed.

This monitor comes equipped with ten customizable settings, including two user-defined modes, allowing me to tailor the display perfectly for each unique project I work on.

Although the on-screen display (OSD) is user-friendly and straightforward, I recommend you download the ASUS Display Widget Center software directly from their website for a more comprehensive experience.

With its straightforward design, you can effortlessly manage up to 10 monitor presets, along with adjustments for blue light balance, brightness, and additional settings. Instead of manipulating physical buttons, simply slide the controls on each preset to tailor the screen appearance to your preference.

Excellent picture quality and eye comfort features

In terms of color quality, this monitor performs exceptionally well, particularly considering it’s an IPS display, which is not usually associated with creative tasks as opposed to the more commonly suggested OLED displays.

In my work, colors are vividly and sharply defined to ensure details pop out, while images appear strikingly clear due to the high-density 218 pixels per inch screen and expansive 5K resolution on display.

Regardless of me looking at the screen from an angle, the colors and details are clear and vivid due to its wide 178-degree view. However, it appears slightly dimmer on the periphery.

It’s noteworthy that this monitor employs ASUS Light Sync Technology, which combines a backlight sensor and an ambient light sensor. This duo automatically adjusts the screen brightness according to the surroundings, ensuring accurate colors right from start-up or when there are environmental changes.

Regardless of the lighting or color scheme in your room, the hues displayed on the screen will maintain a uniform appearance.

Furthermore, this panel features High Dynamic Range technology, specifically HDR10, and boasts a LuxPixel anti-glare, low-reflection finish. These attributes enhance the color, sharpness, and luminosity for an even more vibrant viewing experience.

I tested the color range, brightness, and contrast of the ProArt PA27JCV monitor using my colorimeter, and it appears to meet the international DCI-P3 standard with nearly perfect precision (99%) as well as covering 100% of the sRGB spectrum, which is in line with ASUS’s stated specifications.

The chart shows that the display provides various adjustable settings, enabling optimal color range for different types of tasks you’re engaged in at present.

In terms of brightness, the panel registers as low as 21 nits at its minimum setting (0%) and goes up to an impressive 550 nits at full capacity (100%). This is slightly higher than ASUS claims it can achieve, but still within a satisfactory range. I’m quite content with this performance.

I must say, the contrast on this display is quite impressive, often reaching 1500:1 or even surpassing it, as ASUS claims.

Additionally, the ProArt PA27JCV screen is free of flickering and employs low blue light technology, minimizing eye strain. The On-Screen Display (OSD) and the ASUS Display Widget Center software enable you to customize the blue light filter according to your comfort, as previously mentioned.

To sum up, the ProArt PA27JCV boasts impressive features that deliver top-notch image quality suitable for a variety of creative endeavors. This monitor is an excellent pick for both professional designers and enthusiastic amateurs.

The KVM feature and USB hub make multitasking a breeze

As a tech-loving individual, I’ve been thrilled to tackle multiple tasks simultaneously thanks to this monitor’s expansive 27-inch screen. Its spacious width allows for the simultaneous display of two windows, making multitasking a breeze!

To boost productivity, I can effortlessly switch between two linked devices using multiple ports and the integrated auto Keyboard, Video, Mouse (KVM) function. This means I don’t have to spend time exchanging USB dongles or cables when transitioning from my work laptop to my desktop; it’s a truly convenient feature.

At the rear, you’ll find an HDMI 2.1 connector, a DisplayPort 1.4, a pair of USB-C ports (one acting as an upstream port, the other being a full-function port), a headphone jack, and two standard USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports.

Additionally, you’ll find another USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 and a USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 located conveniently at the bottom left corner of the screen on your monitor.

I never felt limited on ports while using the ProArt PA27JCV.

ASUS ProArt PA27JCV: What I don’t like

Overall, I really appreciate this monitor, but there are a couple aspects that might not meet top-notch expectations.

Initially, it’s pleasing to note that the ProArt PA27JCV monitor comes equipped with two 2W speakers, a feature not commonly found in monitors. Yet, these speakers are incredibly faint and muffled, making it challenging, if not impossible, to discern sounds, even at the highest volume setting.

It would be more beneficial for you to use external speakers, headphones, or a headset if you wish to listen to any sound.

Beyond my initial thoughts, I find it somewhat unexpected that this monitor limits its refresh rate to 60Hz, especially considering its other premium attributes. A 120Hz refresh rate would greatly enhance its performance for tasks requiring a higher focus on video creation.

If your line of creative work doesn’t require a faster screen refresh rate, then you won’t encounter any problems with it.

ASUS ProArt PA27JCV: Alternatives

For more options on excellent computer monitors, you might want to check out our compilation. Alternatively, I strongly suggest these particular displays.

ASUS ProArt PA27JCV: Standout feature

The ProArt PA27JCV stands out from other monitors in two major areas: Image quality and efficiency.

At present, there aren’t numerous 5K displays with a pixel density of 218 PPI available in the market. Consequently, the detail on this screen appears significantly sharper and clearer compared to others.

Regardless of whether the surroundings significantly shift in color or brightness, the monitor’s sensors adjust the screen to show the truest colors and optimal image clarity. This ensures a steady and comfortable visual experience by maintaining consistency across various lighting conditions.

To enhance productivity significantly, this device features an automatic KVM function and a built-in USB hub, allowing seamless switching between two devices such as a work laptop and a personal desktop. This is an added advantage not commonly found in most monitors, and it’s definitely a valuable asset to have.

ASUS ProArt PA27JCV: My final thoughts

✅ You should buy this if …

You’re looking for a 5K monitor with a wide color gamut, great motion clarity, and eye comfort features.
You’d prefer a display that can easily be adjusted to a better viewing angle.
You frequently work between two computers and want a monitor with built-in KVM.

❌ You should not buy this if …

You don’t need this high-tier of a monitor.
You’d prefer a display with a higher refresh rate.
You’re specifically looking for an OLED display.

The ASUS ProArt PA27JCV monitor is an ideal choice for creatives, boasting exceptional color precision, adjustable settings, and practical tools that tempt me to utilize it for all my ongoing projects.

Additionally, I appreciate the versatility of the adjustable display which maintains its stability even in various positions, all while boasting a compact base that doesn’t crowd my workspace.

It would be more pleasant if the quality of the speakers improved and if the monitor had a refresh rate of 120Hz, but overall, it’s one of the top-tier monitors for many creative endeavors.

2025-04-24 16:12

I’ve fallen in love with this stunning 5K monitor and its built-in KVM switch — it’s ideal for my creative projects