Given how common 4K computer monitors are these days, it’s easy to think they’re the better option. Yes, this may be true in some cases – after all, many of them offer excellent display quality, wide screens and accurate colors. But Consumer Reports says otherwise. According to the CR rankings, the best computer monitor isn’t 4K and actually comes from one of the underrated monitor brands that can compete with Samsung and Dell; Asus.
The top-ranked monitor is the Asus ProArt PA248QV. It is a 24.1″ IPS monitor, with a resolution of 1920 x 1200, an aspect ratio of 16:10, a PPI of 94 and a wide viewing angle of 178°. It offers a response time of 5 ms and a variable refresh rate of 48 Hz to 75 Hz. Released in 2020, the ProArt PA248QV is Currently available for $200, so it might seem a bit pricey for an older model, but here’s what might be worth it and what users are saying about it.
What the Asus ProArt Display PA248QV offers
Although it’s not particularly new to the market, the Asus ProArt Display PA248QV nevertheless stands out largely because of its color accuracy features. On the one hand, it offers 100% coverage of sRGB and Rec. 709 color spaces. This basically means that you get accurate and realistic colors. The ProArt Display PA248QV is also Calman verified and factory calibrated, so you can use it right out of the box without having to color correct yourself. If you want to fine-tune the display to your liking, there’s the built-in Asus ProArt palette, which lets you customize hue, gamma, and temperature, among other settings.
To complement this professional-grade screen, Asus designed the monitor to be ergonomic. It is mounted on a flexible stand that can be tilted +35° to -5°, rotated left or right, and converted from landscape to portrait. You can even change the height from 0 to 130 mm. If you work on a small desk, you are also free to mount the monitor on the wall. Setting up the monitor with multiple units is also a smooth task, thanks to its bezel-less panel.
Besides the design, the ProArt Display PA248QV offers the same level of versatility in terms of input and output ports. It comes with the standard HDMI 1.4 port on the back, as well as a DisplayPort 1.2, audio-in port, headphone jack, and even a VGA port for your existing devices. Its USB hub includes four USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports to accommodate all the cool USB gadgets you’ll connect to your computer monitor. You also get two built-in 2W speakers.
What users say about the Asus ProArt Display PA248QV
Consumer Reports gave the Asus ProArt Display PA248QV high scores on all three criteria: display quality, ease of use and versatility, putting it at the top of CR’s rankings. This positive evaluation joins numerous opinions on the Asus site and Amazon, highlighting the good value for money of the monitor.
But users especially highlight the use case of the ProArt Display PA248QV for content creation. They claim that its high color accuracy and crisp colors are ideal for all kinds of content-related tasks, including photo and video editing, digital art production, and simple visual review for interior design jobs. Tech reviewer RTINGS also highlighted that the ProArt Display PA278QV is a “very good monitor” when it comes to content creation. Although the aspect ratio is a bit different than usual monitors, users have noted that it fits the Steam Deck perfectly and works well with Adobe After Effects, Lightroom, and DaVinci Resolve.
When it comes to gaming, the ProArt Display PA248QV isn’t exactly one of the best gaming monitors for PS5 or any console for that matter. It’s not specifically designed for gaming, but some users, including RTINGS, have said it’s decent enough for gaming.
Behind these positives, however, the ProArt Display PA248QV is not without its flaws. One user noted the lack of a USB-C port, usually found on modern monitors. A few users also mentioned that the monitor makes switching inputs unnecessarily difficult. According to the same user, you have to press eight buttons to find what should have been a basic setting. The ProArt Display PA248QV’s speakers aren’t the best quality either. They might work in a pinch, but shouldn’t be your primary speakers for more audio-focused tasks.
