Rating of TOP 12 4K monitors. Tips for choosing and characteristics of the best models

In the television industry, the new 4K image standard is still taking its first, timid and cautious steps. At the time of writing this article, there is practically no TV content for such ultra-high resolution, so 4K TVs are still of little use. In addition, there are such TVs as one or two domestic passenger cars, which successfully scares away most of the buyers. Although, judging by the latest trends, affordable LCD TVs with UHD resolution have gradually begun to appear on the market. Now such a TV can be bought for about 100,000 rubles, which is five or seven times less than a year ago.

In the computer market, things are better with the 4K standard. Monitors with this resolution are now cheaper than similar TVs, both new and old. And in order to get a picture in “native” resolution with a screen refresh rate of 60 Hz, just connect the monitor to any video card that has a DisplayPort V1.2 connector. NVIDIA video cards have it since the GeForce 600 series, while AMD has it since the Radeon HD 6000, that is, a relatively long time ago. Also, instead of DisplayPort, its more compact version, Mini DisplayPort or even Thunderbolt can be used (taking into account that the DisplayPort version 1.2 protocol is supported by the Thunderbolt bus controller of a particular device) - the last two connectors have been found for many years in both laptops and motherboards or video cards.

However, after connecting such a monitor to a PC or laptop, you will have to solve the problem with the content yourself. There is no video in this resolution yet, but for working with a large number of windows, drawings and other documentation, such a monitor will come in handy. You shouldn’t forget about games either - there are now much more various titles capable of producing 4K images than videos in a similar resolution. But, judging by our tests, for a comfortable game at maximum graphics settings you will have to acquire one, or even two top-end desktop video cards. The amount of such a purchase can easily catch up and surpass the cost of the Samsung U28D590D.

⇡#Technical characteristics

Unfortunately, we were unable to find out the exact model of the Samsung U28D590D matrix. The diagonal of the monitor is 28 inches, which with a resolution of 3840x2160 gives a fairly high pixel density - 151.35 pixels per 1 square inch. Even without turning on the monitor, we can say that the image on it will be very small. Therefore, it would be best to use such a monitor with a PC on which Windows 8 or 8.1 is installed - these operating systems do much better with image scaling than the “seven”, although not to the quality of scaling that Apple showed the world on its “retina” » laptops, Microsoft, unfortunately, is still far away. But, on the other hand, at the time of writing this article, MacBooks cannot yet boast of support for 4K monitors, so it is still too early to talk about the most correct scaling on monitors with UHD resolution connected to Macs.

The manufacturer also does not indicate the exact number of bits that encode the brightness of the subpixels of the TN matrix. But, judging by the official specifications, the monitor can display more than 1 billion colors, which means that it has either a 10-bit matrix or an 8-bit matrix, complemented by FRC (Frame Rate Control) technology. We have never seen such a “pumped up” TN matrix before. Typically, such screens are 6-bit and are always “overclocked” using FRC technology to 8-bit. Perhaps the solution to this riddle lies in the specifications of the 4K standard: a matrix that can support such a standard must be 10-bit. The size of the monitor's LUT, as well as its backlighting system, are unknown to us, but according to Argyll measurements, the size of its lookup table could be 8 bits per channel. But we have access to a matrix response time of 1 ms when measured using the Gray-to-Gray method.

Let's continue studying the specifications. According to the table, the monitor brightness is 370 cd/m2. The indicator is a little strange - often manufacturers like to round it up, up to 400 cd/m2. Static contrast is also specified, it is 1000:1. This is the norm for modern monitors, although such high contrast is rarely found in Tienki monitors - only among good, high-quality matrices.

As for the price, it is relatively high. At the time of writing this article, you will have to pay about 25,000 rubles for the Samsung U28D590D, which is incredibly expensive for TN. For that kind of money you can get a good 27-inch monitor with IPS, but its resolution will be 2560x1440 pixels, and not 3840x2160, as in our case.

So far, the price difference between “cheap” and “expensive” monitors with 4K resolution resembles the difference between “budget” and “regular” DSLRs with a full-size matrix. Both cameras are very expensive, while a “budget” camera can cost several times less than a “top-end” one. Thus, the average price of our test subject today, Samsung U28D590D, is approximately five times lower than that of the ASUS PQ321QE 4K monitor. Let us remind you that the diagonal of the latter is 31.5 inches, and the IGZO matrix is ​​responsible for the quality of the “picture”.

Viewsonic VX3276-4K-MHD

4.3/5

7 reviews

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average price

RUB 35,301

Characteristics

• matrix type: *VA, 75 Hz
• resolution: 3840×2160 (16:9)
• response time: 4ms
• Contrast: 2500:1
• brightness: 300 cd/m²
• viewing angles: horizontal 178°, vertical 178°

In 8th place is the Viewsonic VX3276-4K-MHD. The monitor is far from the most famous, but still a worthy company. The device is included in the VX line and is positioned as a top-end option . The connectors here include DisplayPort, mini DisplayPort, 2 for HDMI and mini-jack. The design is interesting, with a small light gray frame on which there are stickers with basic information about the monitor. The screen diagonal is 32 inches, with very thin frames.

Inside there is a high-quality VA matrix, a frame rate of 75 Hertz, and a color depth of 8 bits. But the monitor is quite heavy - as much as 6.4 kilograms. Viewing angle - 178 degrees . Everything is fine with the software part: Flicker Free is available, and a couple of proprietary jokes are also included in the kit. Among the interesting things here are the already mentioned frames, HDR support, speakers (but like many monitors, they are here more for show), and the ability to mount on a wall. Users complain about dull colors and glare on the sides between the screen and the frames, which entails a large amount of dust getting inside, and this is definitely not what we want to see for 38,000 rubles.

Pros:

• Design.
• System characteristics.
• HDR support.
• Proprietary technologies.

Minuses:

• Price.
• Build quality.
• Dull colors.

So, let's sum it up. For 38 thousand we get, although not the most famous company, a monitor with powerful characteristics. However, due to the existing disadvantages, we do not have the right to rank the company’s development higher.

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⇡#Supply set

The packaging of the Samsung U28D590D is surprisingly small. It seems that Samsung was one of the first to realize that you can put two or three times less foam in the box with the monitor.

Comparison of packaging of 28-inch Samsung U28D590D and 24-inch AOC G2460Pqu .

The box has two cutouts on the sides, but thanks to the light weight of the monitor (gross weight is about 7.4 kg), you can simply tuck the box under your arm and carry the Samsung U28D590D in one hand.

In addition to the monitor and stand, the box contained several cables:

• DisplayPort to DisplayPort
• HDMI
• Network cable for connecting the power supply

Also there was the power supply itself and brief instructions for the monitor. The set is small, but in this case more is not needed.

⇡#Appearance

Most of all, the hero of our article is similar to the LCD TVs that Samsung produced several years ago: the monitor has a medium-sized glossy black frame, and its only control button is on the back panel. The screen coating of the Samsung U28D590D is matte; it is rarely found on TV screens.

There are no connectors on the left and right ends of the monitor - another difference between the hero of our article and TVs, which will definitely have a couple of HDMI and USB on the right side. Also, when looking in profile, you can appreciate the small thickness of the case - just under 65 mm at the thickest part.

Due to the simplest shape of the stand, the monitor cannot rotate around its vertical axis. The only movement available to him is tilt in a small range from -1 to +15 degrees.

The Samsung U28D590D monitor has very few video connectors: one DisplayPort and a pair of HDMI. The manufacturer does not indicate the version of the HDMI ports, but we assume that 1.4a is used. Actually, monitors with 4K resolution do not need any other connectors besides DisplayPort: HDMI and Dual-Link DVI cannot produce the required resolution (remember, it is 3860x2160 pixels) with a screen refresh rate of 60 Hz.

The remaining two connectors are intended for audio output to headphones (3.5 mm audio output) and for connecting a power supply. Also on the back of the monitor, at the bottom, you can find a slot for a Kensington lock. The monitor does not have holes for VESA mounting, so, unfortunately, it will not be possible to hang the Samsung U28D590D on a wall.

Plastic cable management loop on the back of the monitor

Close-up of Samsung U28D590D connectors

Also on the back of the monitor, in the lower left corner, you can see a single control key, or rather, a five-way joystick. In the instructions it is called the “JOG button” and is often found on the company’s TVs. But it turned out to be more convenient to use such a joystick on a monitor than on a TV. Probably the whole point is that the menu size on the monitor is smaller than on the TV.

The Samsung U28D590D stand consists of two parts: a leg is screwed to the T-shaped stand using two screws, and then the resulting structure is attached to the monitor. In this case, the monitor will be held on the stand only due to the force of friction - the manufacturer does not provide any other fasteners.

Reverse side of the Samsung U28D590D leg

However, not everything is as bad as it might seem. If you move the monitor from place to place, holding it by the edges of the screen, the stand will not fall off - it will not even shake. But if you grab the leg and turn the Samsung U28D590D upside down, the likelihood of breaking the monitor will be very high. Of course, here it can be argued that the hero of our article - like most other monitors - is designed to stand on a table (preferably in the same position), and is not at all intended to be moved from one place to another. This statement, of course, will be true, but for a display that costs almost 25 thousand rubles, you would like to see a stand with normal, full-fledged fasteners.

The Samsung U28D590D will stand firmly on the table, but if you accidentally touch the screen with your hand, it will wobble a lot. A similar property is found in many displays, but in those whose stand looks the same as our test subject’s, this drawback is more pronounced.

Optimal choice

The list below is compiled according to the principle - “optimal 4K models costing up to 45,000 rubles”, is not an unambiguous rating system “from best to worst”, but, of course, has subjective reasons from the author of the material why the proposed solutions are presented in exactly this way ok.

We are well acquainted with each of the presented monitors, we have separate articles/reviews for almost all of them (or are planning to do so in the near future), and we know first-hand about the quality, quantity of defects and complaints from users. In the further assessment and narration, we will exclusively touch on models that are present in the assortment of the 4K-Monitor.ru store and are, in our opinion, the most interesting and relevant at the end of autumn 2021 .

1. LG 27UL650

The bulk of the proposed models will be presented in the form of 27-inch copies - this is the unspoken standard among modern 4K solutions. With this diagonal/resolution ratio, you can enjoy a pixel density of 163 ppi (versus 82 for Full HD and 110 for WQHD solutions) and experience “high definition”, without any special tricks with selecting scaling (as a rule, the system automatically sets 150%) .

The first option proposed is the long-familiar and repeatedly tested LG 27UL650. This is a mid-class solution that replaced the equally popular 27UK650, which we reviewed in the corresponding review. Among the new changes, there is only one item - official compliance with VESA DisplayHDR400 and the ability to activate pseudo-HDR in the operating system. Otherwise, the monitor remains the same as it was a few years ago - high-quality, with a fairly good factory setting, a convenient control system, decent ergonomics (not the best, but still) and a pleasant appearance. Considering the price of about ~30,000 rubles, the level of performance and the long-won rating among buyers, the model can safely be classified as a “must have”. Of course, she also has disadvantages, but who can do without them?!

2. LG 27UL850

As an alternative option for those who are ready to add 10 thousand rubles and get something more in the LG range, there is another one that we have tested and is well known to users, the 27UL850 - a top 4K solution among the classic - non-gaming options, with a standard refresh rate of 60 Hz. The model became widespread after the 27UK850, a review of which we wrote a few years ago. The changes are the same as in the case of the model above - compliance with the VESA DisplayHDR400 specification.

What are some of the other advantages? Firstly, the model is equipped with a USB Type-C interface for connecting and working with modern laptops. Secondly, the 27UL850 has a built-in speaker system that is quite adequate in terms of level and has USB ports for convenient connection of peripherals. In addition, the model is better configured and, what is important for some, supports hardware calibration through the LUT table of the monitor itself. This allows you to avoid damaging gradients, as is the case with conventional calibration, and all settings are saved in one of two user blocks. The monitor is sold in large volumes, has no serious flaws and has long been tested by many consumers. You can take it with confidence!

3. LG 27UL500 or Philips 276E8VJSB

For those who are not ready to overpay for not very important features of the models above, LG and Philips have something to offer. Among the solutions we also tested (without full reviews, unfortunately), we chose the LG 27UL500 and Philips 276E8VJSB models.

With the first one, everything was clear even before we met and all assumptions were confirmed. The setup is worse than that of the more expensive representatives of the line, the frame body (a rarity among modern 4K), slightly worse backlight uniformity/flare, simplified ergonomics, similar quality of materials and a decent set of interfaces. The model has support for AMD FreeSync adaptive synchronization and other software features from LG. The price is also pleasing - from 22,000-23,000 rubles!

If you want even cheaper and prefer a “frameless” design, then purchasing the Philips 276E8VJSB would be an extremely good purchase for its class. This is a model that, frankly speaking, came to us at one time purely by chance - it turned out to be a pleasant and very important discovery. Despite the visual fragility of the design, the monitor turned out to be tightly built, pleasant in appearance, without any problems in terms of backlight uniformity, with HDR support and, most importantly, a very high-quality factory setting. Among the obvious shortcomings of the model: so-so plastic and the lack of a VESA-compatible mount. For the rest, for ~21,000-22,000 rubles, you won’t find anything better.

4. Iiyama ProLite XUB2792UHSU-1

None of our selection guides can do without Iiyama monitors, and there is every reason for this - the price/quality/capability ratio of the brand’s solutions is the highest possible. The proposed ProLite XUB2792UHSU-1 for 28,000-31,000 rubles is made with high quality, is equipped with an ergonomic stand with all degrees of freedom, has a built-in speaker system (though of so-so quality) and a wide selection of connection interfaces with a USB hub.

The control system is not as convenient as LG’s; you won’t have to pick too much at the factory settings; there is no USB Type-C connection. There is no need to worry about the marriage – it is at the level of solutions from more popular brands, but you have the opportunity to get “the maximum for the minimum”!

5. Dell S2721QS

Dell has had and still has interesting 4K solutions with a 27-inch diagonal, but until recently they all cost more than 45,000 rubles, which is not very suitable for sampling this material. We were lucky that the manufacturer recently launched new models of the S series, which included several affordable 4K monitors, which we have already gotten to know better.

In the S2721QS, the manufacturer uses simpler but textured plastic - it looks cheaper than that used in the U and P series, and the overall build quality is lower. The quality of the factory settings leaves much to be desired, which is doubly worse when using an extended color gamut. The model has an ergonomically advanced stand, built-in acoustics, support for AMD FreeSync, but no USB hub. The control system is usually not very convenient - it is based on hard and small physical keys located on the bottom edge. Otherwise, the monitor should be perceived as a slightly more expensive alternative to the Iiyama discussed above for those who are eager to purchase a monitor from a popular A-brand and/or cannot stand black cases without visual accents.

6. BenQ PD2700U or PD2710QC

If you are ready to increase your budget by about 5 thousand rubles, then you should consider one of two excellent solutions from BenQ: PD2700U and the rare PD2710QC. The author is well acquainted with each of them and has confidently recommended purchasing them for several years.

The first option is a universal solution with virtually no serious drawbacks, which happens extremely rarely. Of course, you will find reviews of copies that, according to buyers, “everything is disgusting, but the competitors are better,” but we dare to say that they simply haven’t worked much with modern monitors in general and this class in particular. And marriage happens to everyone, even decisions for 200-350 thousand rubles (this seems to be the norm there).

As a direct alternative, which has recently dropped sharply in price, we recommend taking a look at the PD2710QC. Previously, this monitor, due to its price and rather strange positioning, was of little interest to anyone, but now, given the lack of a large choice among 4K displays with USB Type-C on board, it looks the most interesting, and for 35,000-36,000 rubles - a gift of fate. If you need its capabilities and are not bothered by a large stand with integrated interfaces, then feel free to take it while it can still be found on sale.

7. Viewsonic VP2768-4K

At number 7 we have a rare representative of the species - a semi-professional Viewsonic VP2768-4K monitor with a starting price of 46,000 rubles. Formally, it does not fit into the range we have laid down, but we could not do without such a product in the presented list.

The monitor is interesting for its appearance - “frameless” design on all four sides. Unlike its older brother, the model has a matrix with a standard color gamut, but still with the same high-quality factory settings. Hardware calibration is supported through high-quality and functional software (not like LG), a system for compensating for backlight unevenness, a wide range of settings and unlimited customization are available. Among the possible shortcomings, perhaps, spots of flare at the bottom of the screen on black in many copies. They are smaller than Viewsonic's 32-inch variants, can be masked by reduced brightness, and sometimes go away over time. It’s worth recognizing this drawback (which may not be there, depending on your luck) and boldly go shopping.

8. ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q

ASUS has made significant progress in the distribution of affordable gaming monitors in recent years, and the TUF series has acquired a huge army of fans. The new product from this series we proposed, number VG289Q, does not have real gaming capabilities, but it combines the best features of the line: the body, ergonomics and controls from the brand’s older lines for much less money.

The monitor was lucky to be born with a new 28-inch IPS matrix, which for some consumers will be an important difference from everything we have previously offered. Plus one inch is not an extra addition, and for 30,000-33,000 rubles it’s just a godsend from ASUS, without obvious pitfalls. We have already worked with this model and have no particular complaints about it. Everything is so clear and familiar that it’s not even interesting. Maybe it's for the better?

9. Samsung U32J590UQI or U32R590CWI

We already feel how fans of *VA technology are “boiling”, but we can’t do anything about it - 4K monitors with *VA panels start only with 32-inch solutions, which do not fully justify the concept of “high pixel density” after all, the value with such a diagonal drops to a level of 138 ppi. But since we are at the bottom of our rating, such models fit perfectly here - just for those who like a non-standard diagonal/resolution ratio.

We will talk about the well-known Samsung U32J590UQI straight from 2021 and its updated version U32R590CWI with a different stand shape and higher quality (at first glance) materials. Both solutions, of course, attract a very tempting price - starting from 22,000-24,000 rubles and this is for a large 4K monitor.

In each case, you will get an expanded color gamut, a very good factory setting, a wide range of brightness changes with a high contrast ratio (and, accordingly, deep black color), but you will encounter heterogeneity in black, PWM modulation in the older model in the range of 0-30 % brightness, lack of sRGB operating mode and other minor shortcomings. Those who want to get a more stable picture across the screen field should give their preference to the latest available modification - it has a curved *VA matrix. Thanks to the brand’s smart pricing policy in Russia, Samsung data has virtually no real competitors. The manufacturer made every effort to ensure that no one could repeat such a successful product in terms of price/features ratio, and he succeeded. Bravo!

10. Dell S3221QS

For IPS fans who are willing to pay an extra 10 thousand on top and want to do without a scaling system (alas, only with perfect vision, as in the case of Samsung), a representative of the S line has recently appeared in Dell’s assortment - the S3221QS. Previously, one could only dream of a 4K IPS monitor with such a diagonal and for such money (about ~34,000 rubles), but now it has become a reality. The reality would have been even more pleasant if it had not been for the sharply increased dollar exchange rate, which spoiled the promotion of the monitor on the Russian market. However, we have gone off topic...

The proposed option is a budget representative of its class, and therefore you definitely shouldn’t bet big on it. You should count on a frankly average factory setting, average quality of materials and workmanship, not very convenient controls and not the best indicators of illumination uniformity, both in light fields and in dark ones. However, the panel itself will delight you with fairly high clarity and a huge working area, which is why people look at solutions of this kind. And if you have a limited budget and only the matrix itself is important, then the choice becomes obvious.

⇡#Samsung U28D590D Menu

The Samsung U28D590D menu turned out to be simple and intuitive. It is located in the lower right corner of the screen and looks almost the same as on Samsung TVs. It is impossible to change the position of the on-screen menu, but there is no desire to do this.

The very first menu item is called “Image”, and its purpose is clear even without a detailed description. Unfortunately, this section contains only the most basic settings. Here you can turn Samsung Magic Bright and Magic Angle settings on or off, as well as change basic color settings.

The monitor does not have any set of image profiles, which means that the Samsung U28D590D is not suitable for professional “color work”. The remaining menu items contain other monitor settings, but there is nothing interesting in them, because they are found on any modern display.

⇡#Testing methodology

The Samsung U28D590D monitor was tested using our new method. We decided to ditch the slow and sometimes inaccurate Spyder4 Elite in favor of the faster and more accurate X-Rite i1Display Pro colorimeter. Now this colorimeter will be used in conjunction with the latest version of the Argyll CMS software package to measure the basic parameters of the display. All operations will be carried out in Windows 8. During testing, the screen refresh rate was 60 Hz.

In accordance with the new methodology, the following monitor parameters will be measured:

• White brightness at backlight intensity from 0 to 100% in 10% increments;
• Black brightness at backlight intensity from 0 to 100% in 10% increments;
• Display contrast at backlight intensity from 0 to 100% in 10% increments;
• Color gamut;
• Colorful temperature;
• Gamma curves of the three primary RGB colors;
• Gamma curve is gray;
• Delta E (according to CIEDE2000 standard).

For calibration and analysis of Delta E, a graphical interface for Argyll CMS will be used - DispcalGUI, the latest version at the time of writing. All measurements described above will be performed before and after calibration. During the tests, the main profiles of the monitor will be measured - in our case there is only one. Calibration is carried out in the default profile, and for monitors with an extended color gamut - in sRGB hardware emulation mode (if available). In the latter case, colors are converted using the monitor's internal LUTs (which can be up to 14 bits per channel) and output to a 10-bit matrix, while an attempt to narrow the color gamut to the sRGB boundaries using OS color correction tools will lead to a decrease in color encoding accuracy. Before starting all tests, the monitor will be warmed up for an hour, and all its settings will be reset to factory settings.

We will also continue our old practice of publishing calibration profiles for the monitors we tested at the end of the article. At the same time, the 3DNews test laboratory warns that such a profile will not be able to 100% correct the shortcomings of your particular monitor. The fact is that all monitors (even within the same model) will certainly differ from each other in their small color rendering errors. It is physically impossible to make two identical matrices - they are too complex. Therefore, any serious monitor calibration requires a colorimeter or spectrophotometer. But a “universal” profile created for a specific instance can generally improve the situation for other devices of the same model, especially in the case of cheap displays with pronounced color rendering defects.

Philips 276E8VJSB

4.5/5

62 reviews

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average price

RUR 23,510

Characteristics

• matrix type: IPS, 61 Hz
• resolution: 3840×2160 (16:9)
• response time: 5ms
• Contrast: 1000:1
• brightness: 300 cd/m²
• Flicker-Free backlight: yes

Philips 276E8VJSB takes a well-deserved fifth place. Another 27-inch monitor in our rating. Philips itself positions this model as a first-class solution, suitable for both basic tasks such as surfing the Internet, and more complex ones, such as working with graphics. There are 2 connectors for HDMI, one for DisplyPort, mini-jack .

There's a lot to be said for the design here. Very thin frames with a chin that is already typical for us (but in this model it is a little thinner than, say, in the same Viewsonic VX3276-4K-MHD). The curved leg is not adjustable in height, but the angle of inclination can be changed. The aspect ratio here is 16:9. The viewing angle is 178 degrees . The model weighs, albeit not much, but more than its competitors. There is a pseudo-ten-bit IPS matrix on board (8 bits + FRC). There is W-Led backlight.

The refresh rate is slightly behind compared to models from other companies - only 61 Hz. The device supports Flicker Free technology and has a Low Blue Light mode. One of the features here is the ability of the screen to display an image from two sources at once - very useful if you work with images. Automatic color calibration. There are no speakers or any other interesting additions here. Great emphasis was placed on picture clarity. Users complain about the unstable leg and the inability to attach to the bracket. And also there were some flares, albeit small ones, but we cannot ignore their presence. One monitor works at 8 bits, and the other at 10, and this is from the same video card.

Pros:

• Design.
• Price.
• Use of special technologies.
• Color rendition.
• Picture clarity.

Minuses:

• Glare.
• No height adjustment.
• Stand.
• There is excess contrast.

Price 23,000 rubles . Good price-quality ratio, considering modern prices. If you are picky about color reproduction and image clarity, then this model is definitely for you. But the device was not remembered for anything interesting, so we cannot place it higher.

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⇡#Testing Samsung U28D590D

Connecting the monitor to the PC using DisplayPort and HDMI cables did not pose any problems. Thanks to the new controller installed in the Samsung U28D590D, the operating system believed that one monitor was connected to it, and not two, as was the case with the ASUS PQ321QE.

The monitor has a slight blue light. Therefore, if you display a picture in dark gray or black tones on the screen, then the illumination can be seen near the monitor frame, almost along its entire perimeter. Almost all Tienki have this drawback, although in the Samsung U28D590D it is less noticeable than in others.

Also, TN matrices often have problems with viewing angles, but this drawback was minimized in the hero of our article. There were enough horizontal viewing angles, but there was no constant desire to change the angle of the monitor - in order to eliminate the transition of the image to negative. There was no such color transition when looking at the monitor from a normal angle.

The Samsung U28D590D does not have built-in speakers, but it does have a 3.5 mm audio output to which you can connect headphones. They will have some background noise if the game is playing music at low to medium volume. It is also worth noting that this noise will only appear while playing some music, starting a video, or when playing system audio messages, which improves the situation a little.

We didn't have any major complaints about the uniformity of the screen backlight; the monitor's backlight does its job well.

LG 27UL650

4.7/5

55 reviews

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average price

RUB 28,980

Characteristics

• matrix type: IPS, 60 Hz
• resolution: 3840×2160 (16:9)
• response time: 4ms
• Contrast: 1000:1
• brightness: 300 cd/m²
• technology: FreeSync

In sixth place is the LG 27UL650. A first-class monitor from a Korean company. Positioned as an advanced device for performing basic tasks. The connectors here are all modern: two for HDMI, one each for Display Port and mini-jack. The design is modern, the developers called this style Cinema Screen, except that the frames are slightly larger than those of competitors. It’s not entirely clear what this is connected with, but the frameless effect does not go away. The stand, like the Philips 276E8VJSB, is in the shape of a month. There is adjustment in height and viewing angle , and it is very decent, suitable for people with different physical characteristics.

Inside there is a high-quality IPS matrix of our own production with a bit capacity of 10 bits, or, to be precise, eight bits plus FRC. There are no questions about the matrix: detail is at the level, and the colors are not blurred. The frame refresh rate is 60 Hz. The viewing angle is standard - 178 degrees , without changing colors at an angle. Free Sync technology is available. Now about the advantages of the model over its competitors. There are high-quality speakers here: you can quite comfortably watch a movie or play Counter-Strike. A good reserve of brightness, even in strong sunlight, using the monitor will be comfortable.

Control is carried out by a joystick, which is located in the center at the bottom. And the icing on the cake here is support for HDR10 mode: all images on the monitor will be as close to real as possible.

Users complain about glare, which only gets bigger over time, the company is in no hurry to admit its mistakes, and accordingly, it will be difficult to change anything under warranty.

Pros:

• Design.
• Stable stand.
• Adjustable height and viewing angle.
• Using HDR.

Minuses:

• Low quality control.
• On some models, grain appears over time.
• Glare.

Price 30,500 rubles . I would like to recommend a model from a well-known company with a number of advantages over its competitors, but there are often problems with the matrix and temperature changes, cold on top and warm on bottom. Also, many people do not like the very large stand, which takes up a lot of space and gets in the way. I think it's a lottery, depending on your luck. But overall, 91% of users were satisfied with the purchase.

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⇡#Testing the Samsung U28D590D monitor without calibration

As we wrote above, the Samsung U28D590D does not have any set of profiles or flexible image settings. In addition to being able to influence the brightness of the three primary colors (red, blue and green), you can use one of the few gamma or hue presets available. Therefore, we decided not to experiment with the available parameters and simply reset the monitor to factory settings, and then carried out our standard measurements.

The maximum brightness of the white field was 375 cd/m2, and the black field was 0.45 cd/m2. As a result, we got a static contrast of 820:1. This is a very good, although not ideal, result for TN matrices.

With the color gamut of the Samsung U28D590D, everything turned out to be normal: the sRGB triangle is covered by 99.3%, and Adobe RGB by 73.6%. Even the white point is not very far from its reference location, point D65. Again we got quite a good result.

But with the gamma curves of our experimental subject, everything is not so rosy. The blue gamma curve is too far from the reference. Things are a little better with the gray color range.

The color temperature of the monitor turned out to be slightly lower than 6500 K, which is both good and strange for a TN matrix. The fact is that in most cases the color temperature of these matrices turns out to be too high, but in our case the opposite happened. Another plus for the Samsung U28D590D.

The Delta E color rendering measure did not meet strict standards. Its average value was 2.76 units, and its maximum was 5.43. For a monitor costing 25 thousand rubles, this is, of course, not the best result. But there are two points here: firstly, TN matrices usually have worse results, and secondly, the Samsung U28D590D is the most affordable 28-inch monitor with 4K resolution. Therefore, the shortcoming we found can be forgiven, especially since our test subject performed well in other subtests, and its competitor, ASUS PQ321QE, costs, let us remind you, almost four times more.

Game models

The most popular 4K gaming models according to customer reviews and ratings.

ASUS MG28UQ 28″

The leader among gaming monitors on the market.

The model is one of the best in its class. It has many gaming options.

Among them is support for AMD FreeSync, that is, image transmission without gaps, and a minimum response interval of 1 ms.

There is an on-screen timer, a virtual sight and an FPS counter. There are special game settings.

The backlight is brighter around the perimeter than in the center. There is relatively little contrast in the image. The device can be rotated in any desired direction.

Specifications:

• weighs – 8 kg;
• dimensions – 66×41.6×23.3 cm;
• resolution – 3840×2160;
• response in 1 ms;
• vertical/horizontal viewing – 160°/170°;
• three USB ports;
• operating power – 63 W.

Advantages

• minimum response time;
• convenient adjustment of height and angle of inclination;
• does not flicker;
• Game Mode;
• easy to set up.

Flaws

• thick frame;
• not suitable for work;
• The frame does not fit tightly.

Philips 326M6VJRMB 31.5″

DisplayHDR 600 certified device with Ambiglow backlighting.

The device supports Adaptive-Sync technology, the maximum frequency is 60 Hz.

It has a glossy frame that is quite wide by modern standards.

The stand is made in the form of three metal legs. The device sits securely on it. You can change the height and angle of inclination.

There is detailed manual adjustment of screen parameters. There is a built-in USB hub and a large supply of connectors.

Specifications:

• weighs – 7.21 kg;
• dimensions – 72.8×60.4×20.6 cm;
• resolution – 3840×2160;
• response in 4 ms;
• vertical/horizontal viewing – 178°/178°;
• four USB ports;
• operating power – 41 W.

Advantages

• good viewing angle;
• a large number of connectors;
• detailed customization;
• convenient stand;
• loud.

Flaws

• gets hot at high brightness levels;
• price;
• highlights around the edges at high brightness.

Samsung U28E590D 28″

Supports AMD FreeSync technology and 1ms response time.

The device looks like an expensive gadget at a relatively low price. The frame is made of metal.

The design is made in the spirit of minimalism. You can change the angle of the screen, but you cannot change its height.

The menu is intuitive, anyone can navigate it. There is a hint mode.

It features high brightness and good color accuracy. The matrix has high speed. The device can be attached to the wall.

Specifications:

• weighs – 5.28 kg;
• dimensions – 66.1×46.9×18.7 cm;
• resolution – 3840×2160;
• response in 1 ms;
• vertical/horizontal viewing – 160°/170°;
• operating power – 38 W.

Advantages

• high accuracy and good brightness;
• instant response;
• can be hung on the wall;
• price;
• convenient and understandable menu with tips;
• stylish appearance;
• high build quality.

Flaws

• You cannot adjust the height of the screen;
• not very large viewing angles.

⇡#Testing the Samsung U28D590D monitor after calibration

After hardware calibration, the brightness of the white field dropped to 335 cd/m2, but the brightness of the black field remained virtually unchanged. As a result, the static contrast dropped to 740:1.

After calibration, the white point went a short way and took its rightful place, at point D65. Also, after calibration, the color gamut increased slightly: up to 101.2% in the sRGB range and up to 75% for Adobe RGB.

The position of the gamma curves has also improved. Now the red curve completely coincides with the reference one, and the blue curve has significantly approached it. The same thing happened with the gray scale - it became much closer to the standard.

The color temperature remained virtually unchanged after calibration; it is still around 6,300 K.

Hardware calibration helped the Delta E color rendering measure best. Its average value dropped to 0.45 units, and the maximum to 1.4. This indicator can already be considered not just good, but excellent.

⇡#Impressions from working with Samsung U28D590D

At the time of writing this article, 4K resolution on monitors can be called both a blessing and a curse - everything will depend on what such a monitor is being purchased for. The fact is that the Samsung U28D590D has a pixel density of 151.35 pixels per square inch, so if you don’t use scaling, the image on the screen will be very clear, but small and a little grainy at the same time.

But in Windows, scaling does not work as well as we would like to see. Our test bench used Windows 8, which had the ability to zoom in up to 150%, which allowed us to get a nice, scaled image. Alas, it was too early to rejoice. The scaling function in Windows 8 or 8.1 does not work as well as in OS X. Text and icons in some windows will simply be stretched, this effect will be noticeable not only in older programs, but also in the OS interface, which leads to very sad thoughts. Examples of such scaling can be seen in the screenshots below, where the Explorer window scaled perfectly, but the DispcalGUI program window scaled with errors. The fonts and icons in this window blurred unpleasantly, as if the window had been passed through Photoshop filters, only in real time.

However, other applications like Photoshop and the VLC video player were almost unaffected by system scaling.

But scaling has only benefited the browser. After increasing “everything and everything” to 150%, surfing the Internet became much more enjoyable. Of course, less text began to fit into the window, and the pictures became a little blurry, but you can get used to such changes in a couple of hours. In addition, in the famous “apple retina” the blurring of pictures on websites is noticeably much stronger.

A little history

The history of consumer monitors with high resolution (UHD - Ultra High Definition) began approximately in mid-2012, when it became possible to purchase at retail the first 4K 22-inch monitor from the Japanese corporation Sharp, which still existed at that time. The solution did not find much interest among consumers, and therefore, a year later, ASUS set about conquering the market with its PQ321Q - the top product of that time, built on a *VA IGZO panel, all from the same Sharp, but with a much larger diagonal.

This approach of the Taiwanese manufacturer seems to have been dictated by the growing interest of consumers in large screens, as well as obvious problems with scaling graphic elements, fonts and images in general in the Windows operating system of those years. However, it is impossible to completely eliminate problems even as of the end of 2021, but it is good that there are many fewer of them, and the power characteristics of modern hardware have increased significantly.

The ASUS PQ321Q monitor itself is also interesting because of how quickly its price dropped. At the time the author became acquainted with this model, it was presented in Russian retail for 140-150 thousand rubles, which, translated into American currency, amounted to $4300-4500 at the exchange rate as of September 2013. At the beginning of 2014, the price was reduced to 100 thousand (~ $3000), after some time it managed to stabilize at around 75,000-80,000 rubles (2,200-2,400 $), and then the collapse of the Russian economy happened, and all further assessments can only be made based on data from the graph above, which was found on the Internet.

It shows that in the period from mid-2015 to 2021, the model could be found on sale at an average price of $680-700, which sometimes fell as low as $350-500. In other words, the path from ~4500 to $500 was completed in 5 years and this is an excellent example demonstrating the real drop in the cost of modern technologies in the field of liquid crystal displays with high pixel density.

Even more illustrative is an example, as some will say, “from the realm of science fiction.” Few people know that the first UHD monitors were introduced by IBM and were sold between 2001 and 2005

. These were the T220 and T221 models with a native resolution of 3840x2400 pixels (WQUXGA format) and a diagonal of 22.2 inches, which, together with 9.2 million working pixels, gave them a screen density of 204 ppi - a figure close to that of modern Apple screens in laptops and desktop displays (both from Apple itself and their main contractor - LG). At that time, it was an experimental technology, and ready-made solutions, which were later sold under the brands Iiyama, Viewsonic and IDTech (a joint venture between IBM and Chi Mei Group), could be purchased for $8400-8500, and the first samples from IBM itself sold for $17,000-$18,000.

Now let’s remember that modern 4K UHD monitors start at $200 (it’s not our fault that now it’s 15,500-16,000 rubles), which means that over the past 20 years the availability of the technology has increased 90 times ( ratio of 18,000 to 200 $). This is no joke!

⇡#Impressions from games for Samsung U28D590D

Now we come to the most enjoyable part of the review - the gaming part. Thanks to the 4K resolution, the picture quality in games makes up for all the other sins of the monitor: a strange stand, a TN matrix and unimportant Delta E color rendering indicators. Thanks to a resolution of 3840x2160 pixels, immersion in the game turned out to be much stronger than ever before. Even monitors with WQHD resolution (2560x1440) do not give the same effect that can be obtained from the Samsung U28D590D. The gameplay is so captivating that the slight blue flare of the matrix along its edges becomes unnoticeable, and it was very difficult to tear yourself away from the games.

But there is another side to this medal. Firstly, to ensure a good level of FPS at 4K resolution you need a very powerful video card, if not two. So, if you are planning to buy a Samsung U28D590D monitor for gaming, then you should consider purchasing one of the top modern video cards, or better yet, two. You can learn more about testing video cards in 4K resolution in our group testing of video cards in 4K resolution.

Secondly, not all games can run properly at 4K resolution. So, in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, when MSAA 4x anti-aliasing was enabled, the game went crazy: the OS switched non-stop between the game and the desktop. It was possible to stop this endless loop only with the help of the task manager and another monitor, on which the game launched without problems and allowed me to reduce anti-aliasing.

CS GO: before pressing the PrintScreen button

CS GO: after clicking the PrintScreen button

But in Titanfall there were no problems with the image settings, but the power of the video card we used was not enough to get 60 frames per second at maximum settings, so the graphics quality had to be reduced due to the same anti-aliasing.

What important characteristics should you pay attention to when choosing a 4k monitor?

For your information! To make your choice, you should know the following important points regarding 4K monitors:

• Screen diagonal. Only on a large device can you fully appreciate the level of 4k quality. Therefore, it is recommended to choose models with a diagonal of at least 27 inches and above.
• Update frequency. The higher the refresh rate, the more powerful the video card on the computer is needed, which entails additional restrictions and costs. For 4k format, a frequency of 144 Hz will be excellent. However, many models have a frequency of 60-80 Hz. This is enough for games, photo and video editing, as well as graphics processing.
• Rotate the screen. It is convenient when the screen can be rotated in any desired direction and its height can be adjusted. However, not all models have this property. Special attention should be paid to this.
• Gaming monitors. For games, preference should be given to options with a diagonal of more than 27 inches and a refresh rate of 80 Hz or higher. Also an important parameter will be the response speed. The best indicator is 1 ms, but not all devices can boast of it. A level of up to 4 ms will be sufficient.
• Home use. For everyday tasks, a frequency of 60 Hz and a VA or IPS matrix is ​​sufficient.

⇡#Working Samsung U28D590D in Apple OS X 10.9.2 Mavericks

Alas, the Apple OS is still very bad with support for 4K monitors. We tried to connect the Samsung U28D590D to a 13-inch retina from 2013, but we were unable to get a resolution higher than 2560x1440, although the monitor was connected to a Thunderbolt connector with DisplayPort 1.2 support.

This flaw will likely be fixed in the 10.9.3 update, which should include new graphics drivers.