The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV is a decent overall monitor. This is the 2021 update to the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV, and while it performs largely the same, it comes with a few extra features that its predecessor lacks, like a USB-C port. Like other monitors in the ProArt series, it's designed for content creators and media professionals, so it has perfect coverage of the sRGB color space, but limited Adobe RGB coverage. It's also versatile, with a large screen and 1440p resolution that's well-suited to productivity, gaming, or multimedia. It gets bright enough to combat glare, with good reflection handling, and it has superb ergonomics. If you game on the side, it has a 75Hz refresh rate, quick response time, and low input lag. It also supports Adaptive Sync variable refresh rate (VRR) to reduce screen tearing.
Our Verdict
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV is a decent monitor for mixed usage. Its 27 inch screen and 1440p resolution are great for all uses, with plenty of space for multitasking or immersing yourself in a movie or game. It gets bright enough to fight glare in most lighting conditions, and it has wide viewing angles that are ideal for sharing content. Unfortunately, the contrast is mediocre, producing blacks that look more like gray, so it doesn't perform as well in dark rooms.
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Bright enough to overcome glare.
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Wide viewing angles.
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Large screen size and high resolution.
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Mediocre contrast ratio.
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Lacks HDR support.
The ASUS PA278CV is an impressive office monitor. It gets bright enough to combat glare in most lighting conditions and has good reflection handling. It also has a ton of ergonomic adjustment options, so you can set it to your ideal viewing position. The IPS panel has wide viewing angles as well, which is great for sharing content. Finally, the size and resolution are suitable for opening windows side-by-side. Unfortunately, we couldn't get daisy-chaining to work on our unit.
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Bright enough to overcome glare.
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Wide viewing angles.
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Superb ergonomics.
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Large screen size and high resolution.
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Mediocre contrast ratio.
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Lacks HDR support.
The ASUS PA278CV is decent for gaming. While it's not a gaming monitor, it has a 75Hz refresh rate, higher than the standard office monitor. It also has a quick response time for clear motion and a low input lag that makes gaming feel responsive. It's not great for gaming in the dark due to its low contrast ratio, but on the upside, it supports VRR to reduce screen tearing in games.
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Supports Adaptive Sync VRR.
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Low input lag.
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Large screen size and high resolution.
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Mediocre contrast ratio.
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Lacks HDR support.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV is a decent monitor for multimedia. It's a good size for watching movies or videos, and its 1440p resolution delivers a sharp image. It also has wide viewing angles if you want to watch with someone else. Unfortunately, its contrast ratio is mediocre, so blacks look more like gray, especially in the dark. It also lacks HDR support.
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Excellent color gamut.
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Wide viewing angles.
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Large screen size and high resolution.
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Mediocre contrast ratio.
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Lacks HDR support.
The ASUS PA278CV is good for media creation. The 1440p resolution delivers a sharp image, and the 27 inch size offers plenty of space to open multiple windows side-by-side. It has an excellent color gamut with good coverage of the Adobe RGB color space, though it may not be enough for professional photo editing. On the upside, it has wide viewing angles, so the image stays accurate from almost any angle. It also has extra features like a built-in ruler and screen overlays to help measure and align content.
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Excellent color gamut.
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Wide viewing angles.
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Large screen size and high resolution.
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Built-in ruler and screen overlays to aid measurement/alignment.
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Mediocre contrast ratio.
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Lacks HDR support.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV monitor doesn't support HDR.
- 7.1 Mixed Usage
- 8.2 Office
- 6.9 Gaming
- 7.2 Media Consumption
- 7.9 Media Creation
- 3.0 HDR
- Updated Apr 18, 2023: Confirmed that 1440p @ 60Hz works on this monitor with the PS5.
- Updated May 02, 2022: We tested the monitor with the PS5's new variable refresh rate feature and confirmed that it's not compatible, since the PS5 only supports HDMI Forum VRR.
- Updated Apr 08, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.2, resulting in changes to the results and scores with the Response Time and Input Lag. Added tests for Console Compatibility and macOS compatibility and made minor changes to other tests, which you can see in our Changelog.
- Updated Mar 22, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Mar 17, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Mar 09, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Mar 08, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Mar 04, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 27 inch ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV, which replaces the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV and is the only size available for this particular model. That said, there are a number of closely related models in the ProArt series, including a 24 inch 1080p and a 27 inch 4k model, as well as more professionally-oriented models. You can see the differences between some of them below.
| Model | Size | Resolution | Panel | Refresh Rate | Adaptive Sync | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA148CTV | 14" | 1080p | IPS | 60Hz | No | Portable |
| PA278CV | 27" | 1440p | IPS | 75Hz | Yes | |
| PA247CV | 24" | 1080p | IPS | 75Hz | Yes | |
| PA279CV | 27" | 4k | IPS | 60Hz | Yes | HDR |
| PA27UCX-K | 27" | 4k | IPS/Mini LED | 60Hz | Yes | HDR, Quantum Dot Technology |
| PA32UCX-PK | 32" | 4k | IPS/Mini LED | 60Hz | Yes | HDR, Thunderbolt 3 |
If you come across an ASUS ProArt PA278CV with a different panel or that doesn't correspond to our review, please let us know in the discussions and we'll update the review. Note that some tests such as gray uniformity may vary between units.
Our unit was manufactured in December 2020. You can see the label here.
Compared To Other Monitors
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV is a great office monitor that offers versatile performance and exceptional ergonomics. While the previous version is a highly recommended budget model, this one falls somewhat outside of the 'budget' category. While it does have some extra features, including a USB-C port, it delivers almost the same performance as its predecessor.
For other options, check out our recommendations for the best office monitors, the best monitors for photo editing, and the best monitors for the MacBook Pro.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV and the Gigabyte M27Q are meant for different purposes. While the Gigabyte is a gaming monitor, the ASUS is meant for content creation and multimedia. That said, the Gigabyte has an exceptionally wide color gamut, and it supports HDR, making it well-suited to photo and video editing. It also outperforms the ASUS when it comes to gaming, with a much higher refresh rate and faster response time. If gaming is less important to you, the ASUS may be a little more suited to an office setting, as it has more ergonomics adjustment options and wider viewing angles.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV is the successor to the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV. They look and perform very similarly overall. The PA278CV has a smaller swivel range but still has superb ergonomics. It also has an added USB-C port that's compatible with its USB hub feature, allowing you to connect a device over USB-C and gain access to additional USB 3.0 ports, have a second display, and charge your device. It also has a DisplayPort 'out' port on top of a DisplayPort 'in' port for daisy-chaining, but we weren't able to get ours to work. Otherwise, the two monitors are extremely similar, although the PA278CV has a slightly wider color gamut if that's important to you.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV and the Dell S2722QC are both impressive office monitors, but they have a few different features. The Dell is a 4k monitor with much better text clarity, while the ASUS has a 1440p screen and a slightly higher 75Hz refresh rate. The Dell supports HDR, which the ASUS doesn't have, but it doesn't add much on the Dell anyways because it has a low contrast and lacks local dimming. The Dell also supports Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture modes. On the other hand, the ASUS has much better out-of-the-box accuracy, but this can vary between units. Both have similar stands, but the ASUS offers a wider range of ergonomic adjustments.
The Dell S2721QS and the ASUS ProArt Display are both great 27 inch office monitors. The Dell has a 4k resolution, whereas the ASUS is 1440p; however, the difference might not be very noticeable at typical viewing distances. Feature-wise, the Dell has a Picture-in-Picture mode, but the ASUS has USB ports, including a USB-C that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode and 65W charging.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV and the Dell UltraSharp U2720Q are both great general-purpose monitors that are well-suited to office work or content creation but offer different advantages. The Dell is a 4k monitor with HDR support, so it's good for displaying extra crisp images and HDR content. However, it's a little less versatile if you want to do some gaming on the side, whereas the ASUS has a higher refresh rate, a significantly faster response time, and VRR support.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV and the Apple Studio Display are both very good monitors for content creators, but they're different in a few ways. The ASUS is a 1440p monitor with much better ergonomics, and it has a better selection of inputs like an HDMI and DisplayPort input, so it's more versatile if you want to connect a PC or gaming console. Both have fantastic out-of-the-box accuracy with their sRGB modes, but you can only get the sRGB mode on the Apple with a macOS device. However, the Apple has a higher 5k resolution, gets brighter, and has better reflection handling, so it's a better choice if you work in a bright room.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV and the ASUS TUF VG27AQ are from different series in ASUS's lineup. The ProArt is meant for productivity and content creation, whereas the TUF is part of ASUS's budget gaming series. That said, they're both versatile and perform well overall. The TUF is better for gaming thanks to its high refresh rate and fast response time, although the ProArt actually has a faster response time at 60Hz. The ProArt also has a slightly wider color gamut and more accurate colors out of the box, though this can vary between units. On the other hand, the TUF supports HDR.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV and the ViewSonic VG1655 are different office monitors. While the ASUS is a desktop monitor with an ergonomic stand, the ViewSonic is a portable monitor that's lighter to carry around. The ASUS is a better choice for well-lit rooms thanks to its higher peak brightness and good reflection handling, and content creators should appreciate its superior color gamut. The ViewSonic has a smaller screen and lower resolution, but it still has higher pixel density that results in better text clarity.
Video
Test Results
The ASUS ProArt PA278CV has a similar design to its predecessor. It's simple and boxy with thin bezels on three sides. The bottom bezel has a built-in ruler along the edge of the screen to aid in photo editing and content creation.
The monitor feels well-built and is made out of good quality plastic. There's a bit of flex to the back panel, but overall it feels quite stable and solid. However, if you're not careful when rotating the monitor into portrait mode, the edge of the screen can hit the stand and leave a black mark there.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV has fantastic ergonomics, allowing for all kinds of adjustments. It can rotate into portrait mode in either direction. The back of the monitor looks sleek and simple, with a textured finish. There's a clip attached to the back of the stand for cable management.
The stand is plastic with a brushed metallic finish, and it supports the monitor well.
The controls are located on the front of the monitor, on the right side of the bottom bezel.
- User guide
- Calibration report
- DisplayPort cable
- HDMI cable
- USB-C cable
- Power cord
The ASUS ProArt PA278CV has a mediocre contrast ratio, but that's expected from an IPS panel. Blacks look grayish, especially in the dark. Keep in mind that contrast may vary between units.
This monitor doesn't have local dimming. The video above is for reference only.
The monitor has great peak brightness in SDR. It's higher than the advertised brightness and enough to overcome glare in most lighting conditions. It also stays very consistent across different content. If you're a photo editor and want a monitor that gets even brighter, then consider the Apple Studio Display.
We measured the peak brightness after calibration in the 'Standard' Picture Mode with Brightness set to max.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV doesn't support HDR.
The horizontal viewing angles are great. The image stays accurate even when viewed at a reasonably wide angle.
The vertical viewing angles are exceptional, among the widest on any monitor we've tested. The image stays very accurate even if you mount the monitor above or set it below eye level.
The ASUS ProArt PA278CV has great gray uniformity. The edges of the screen look a little bit darker, but there's very little dirty screen effect.
Black uniformity is mediocre. There's some clouding throughout and visible backlight bleed near the corner and edges of the screen.
The ASUS ProArt PA278CV has fantastic color accuracy out-of-the-box. The sRGB picture mode locks all colors to the sRGB color space, so there are minimal color inaccuracies, and the white balance is excellent too. The color temperature is nearly spot-on with the 6500K target, and the gamma follows the curve fairly well, but very bright and very dark scenes are a bit too bright. The sRGB mode locks most picture settings, so you can't fine tune the image to your liking, but other pictures modes are less accurate.
After calibration, the accuracy is incredible. Calibration allows you to fine tune the image because the sRGB picture mode locks most picture settings, and the white balance is improved after calibration. The gamma is also better, but most really bright and dark scenes are slightly too bright.
The ASUS ProArt PA278CV has an incredible SDR color gamut. It has virtually perfect coverage of the commonly used sRGB color space, but it has limited coverage of the wider Adobe RGB color space used in photo editing.
The color volume is superb. It has a bit of trouble with really dark, saturated colors because of its low contrast ratio, and it can't display really bright blues, but that's normal for an LCD screen.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV monitor doesn't support HDR.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV monitor doesn't support HDR.
The ASUS PA278CV has decent reflection handling. It has a matte anti-reflective coating that diffuses direct reflections well. It's suitable for most lighting conditions, but it's best not to place it directly in front of a window or light.
Text clarity is decent. Enabling ClearType (top photo) improves the look of diagonal and curved lines, as you can see in the R, N, G, and S.
Gradient handling is impressive. There's a bit of banding that's most apparent in the grays and greens, which is normal for an 8-bit display, but overall banding shouldn't be noticeable.
The max refresh rate delivers a slightly smoother experience than a 60Hz office monitor, but the difference is minimal.
Although it's not certified by AMD or NVIDIA, it's compatible with both FreeSync and G-SYNC VRR technologies. FreeSync works over DisplayPort and HDMI connections, while G-SYNC only works over a DisplayPort connection.
| Overdrive Setting | Response Time Chart | Response Time Tables | Motion Blur Photo |
| 0 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 20 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 40 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 60 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 80 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 100 | Chart | Table | Photo |
This monitor has a good response time at its max refresh rate, with only minimal blur trail behind fast-moving objects. The best overdrive setting is '40' because it's the fastest setting with no overshoot.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV doesn't support 120Hz signals.
| Overdrive Setting | Response Time Chart | Response Time Tables | Motion Blur Photo |
| 0 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 20 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 40 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 60 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 80 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 100 | Chart | Table | Photo |
The response time is decent at 60Hz. The recommended overdrive setting is '40,' even though there's a touch more overshoot than at the max refresh rate, and higher settings like '60' have more overshoot, leading to inverse ghosting.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV has an optional backlight strobing feature, commonly known as black frame insertion, to reduce persistence blur. It has two settings, 'Normal' and 'Advanced', and both severely hamper the screen's brightness, and cause image duplication because it has bad crosstalk.
The ASUS PA278CV has a flicker-free backlight at its max brightness, but even below the maximum, the flicker frequency is so high that it won't be noticeable to most people.
This monitor has a low input lag. There's a bit more lag with BFI enabled, but it's still low enough for a responsive desktop experience.
The ASUS PA278CV has a 27 inch screen with a 1440p resolution that offers plenty of space to open windows side-by-side. The pixel density is good, resulting in a sharp image.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV has limited capabilities with the PS5. It can't downscale 4k content, and it only plays 1080p and 1440p games at 60Hz.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV has bad compatibility with the Xbox Series X. You can't play high-frame-rate games due to the low contrast, and it doesn't support HDR or downscale 4k games.
Unlike the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV, the ASUS PA278CV has a USB-C port, and it has enough power to charge your laptop while you're working. It also works as an upstream port, so you can connect your peripherals like your mouse and keyboard, and they'll work with your laptop.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV works well with recent Mac computers. There aren't any issues, and windows go back to the proper screen when waking up from sleep mode.
