Monoprice Zero-G Slim 27" IPS Monitor Review
by Chris Heinonen on August 26, 2013 12:00 AM EST
We’ve almost all bought things from Monoprice -- most likely some cables, maybe printer toner, perhaps some speakers. They certainly come to mind for those products, but until recently you didn’t think of them for monitors. Now they offer a line of 27” and 30” IPS displays that are priced to compete with the imported models from South Korea. Their newest 27” model is also the least expensive: the Zero-G Slim.
The 27” 2560x1440 IPS display sells for only $390, or $386 if you want to order 50+ of them at once. That's more expensive than some import brands, but it does undercut competitors like Nixeus in the budget 27” realm. One way it gets here is by being DVI only. There is a VGA input, but if you want to stay all digital you’ll need to use DVI.
It also features an external power brick. Many people aren’t as bothered by this as I am, but I prefer an IEC connector. The strangest design choice is the on-screen controls. The front of the display is very clean, with a metal finish around the front and a very simple look. To accomplish this all controls have been placed on the back of the screen. There are no labels on the front to guide you. You need to learn the buttons and rely on memory to use the OSD. This isn’t the worst design I’ve used but it isn’t far off. Perhaps most users never adjust anything on their display, but I don’t like to reach around back and fumble around for the power button and other controls.
The OSD has access to basic controls and preset color temperatures. There is a gamma control that is curiously labeled “On/Off” and not with a numeric value. Beyond the basic controls and a one-point adjustable color temperature, there isn’t much you can adjust on the Monoprice.
The flat front look that Monoprice uses looks nice from a distance, but up close and in use the 1” bezel feels very large. The bezel on my monitor next to it is larger, but being raised and not flat causes it to feel smaller. It’s a personal thing but it felt like I was looking at a massive bezel while using it.
The glossy finish of the Zero-G will certainly make some people very happy. It’s not glass but a laminate in front of the panel that has an anti-glare treatment applied. It isn’t the reflection magnet that some displays are, but it also doesn’t hide them well. In the Brightness and Contrast section, you’ll see what I think they do to deal with the inherent issues of a glossier finish.
With an IPS panel, the viewing angles on the Monoprice leave nothing to worry about. You’ll have a bigger issue with reflections from the screen finish than you will from any colors washing out or having contrast shifts. Those flaws are absent from any normal viewing angle.
The stand attaches easily with two screws at the base but offers almost nothing in the way of adjustments. Tilt is the only thing you can adjust on the Zero-G with the included stand. There are standard 100mm VESA mounts on the back for an after-market stand if you need more flexibility.
| Monoprice Zero-G | |
| Video Inputs | DVI-DL, Dsub |
| Panel Type | IPS |
| Pixel Pitch | 0.2331mm |
| Colors | 1.07 billion |
| Brightness | 400 cd/m^2 typical |
| Contrast Ratio | 80,000:1 Dynamic |
| Response Time | 6ms GTG |
| Viewable Size | 27" |
| Resolution | 2560x1440 |
| Viewing Angle (H/V) | 178/178 |
| Backlight | LED |
| Power Consumption (operation) | < 90W |
| Power Consumption (standby) | < 1.5 W |
| Screen Treatment | Anti-Glare |
| Height-Adjustable | No |
| Tilt | Yes |
| Pivot | No |
| Swivel | No |
| VESA Wall Mounting | Yes, 100mm x 100mm |
| Dimensions w/ Base (WxHxD) | 25 5/8" x 19 3/8" x 7 1/4" |
| Weight | |
| Additional Features | NA |
| Limited Warranty | 1 Year |
| Accessories | DVI-DL Cable, AC Power Cable |
| Price | $391 |
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borderdeal - Tuesday, August 27, 2013 - link
I do not doubt it is not a 100% accurate calibration for the problem u mentioned but for sure looks a lot better than the manual calibration I tried to do. I do not do anything professional with it so I do not need 100% color accuracy or even close to it so I am happy the way it looks and I compared it to the ICCs floating around for this monitor and I though the one done with the i1 looked better to my eyes (probably because it is wrong though)HisDivineOrder - Monday, August 26, 2013 - link
Really wish companies would produce the display hardware that would go with the IPS panels capable of pumping 120hz and give us a high speed, high frames per second IPS monitor. Even if we had to overclock it ourselves, just make sure the monitor can do it.That'd be worth it. This, not so much.
kmmatney - Tuesday, August 27, 2013 - link
"Once you calibrate it, the Monoprice puts out a fantastic image. "I would say the same for my 24" Soyo Topaz, which is still running perfectly after 6 years. I just downloaded an ICC file from the internet, and a few small tweaks from there and the color was great. The only thing about my Soyo was that I did have a capacitor go bad on the power supply, and I had to order a $12 capacitor kit off Ebay to fix it. Having an external power brick actually sounds like a great idea for me as that would be very easy to replace.
L33TiZBACK - Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - link
I just got the monitor , i would like to know what your calibrations were besides brightness and contrast. I have never calibrated a monitor before and i would like to get the best experience with this monitorjb510 - Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - link
Glad you guys reviewed this, but hope you review the much higher quality Monoprice 27" IPS-Glass Panel Pro LED Monitor (PID 10489) which seem like a much better comparison to the Dell 2713HM.SeanFL - Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - link
Agree. Just bought two of the higher end monoprice 27 inch and am very impressed. They are bright and seem fairly accurate. Having displayport HDMI VGA and dvi is also nice.EMP1155 - Thursday, August 29, 2013 - link
On your next Monoprice purchase use promo code EMP1155 to receive 50+ pricing on all products. No limit to how many times you can use code. Offer ends 9/15/13Wellsoul2 - Thursday, August 29, 2013 - link
I've had the Catleap 2703 for awhile and love the color and resolution compared to a TN.I got it for $300 . The power switch doesn't always work on it after six months, but I don't care
I just switch off the power brick. (It still looks great)
I still would buy the cheap Korean one because of the price. If you want quality buy the Dell for twice the price because the $300 cheapie is probably the same as the $400 ones.
ijh - Saturday, January 18, 2014 - link
I know this is about the 27" MONOPRICE and this looks as if this is all old hashed-out stuff but.. I am going to put my two cents in for what it's worth. I purchased the MONOPRICE 30" IPS CrystalPro LCD Monitor WQXGA 2560x1600 Display last year 2013.07.13 and have been pleased with my purchase. So satisfied that I have not looked back, no wishes I had done something else, not one bit. Bang for the buck this PC Monitor is great. If you would like a complete in-depth review go here << http://toytalks.weebly.com/1/post/2013/04/review-m... >> ; If you are dissatisfied with the 60Hz RES then use a utility such as: Custom Resolution Utility [CRU] which will allow you to OverClock your 30" MONOPRICE IPS. I use my 30" piece of real-estate for work which requires rendering, AUTOCAD & some PHOTO work along with Word, EXCEL, Web Designing etc and last but not least GAMES. I utilize Dual SAPPHIRE Radeon Vapor-X HD 7970 GHZ OC 6GB and yes I can put the 30" MONOPRICE into the "Hurt Locker" in short order but that is not what I purchased this piece of real-estate for; I needed something that would be a good compromise over a broad range for different applications & this MONOPRICE 30" IPS definitely fulfills my requirements. So for what it's worth, if anyone is in need for a good all around large PC Monitor [30"] & does not have the out-lay of cash for the thousand dollar range then this is a good solid purchase.