Imagine a computer display with a webcam, microphones, speaker and a built-in graphics tablet or touch function. That’s quite a tall order, but I spent a few weeks with the INNOCN 27P1U PRO. This 27-inch 4K touchscreen monitor has a refresh rate of 60Hz and uses a Quantum Dot IPS panel to offer the kind of color performance that photographers and graphic designers insist on.
Like most monitors of this type and size, the 27P1U PRO has a selection of inputs, including two HDMI, a DisplayPort, plus a USB-C input and output that can carry a full range of signals plus power for a laptop.
The USB-C option is the connection method if you want to employ the built-in webcam and touch screen because that’s how the data signals are transmitted to the host computer. Thanks to USB-C, we now have these multi-purpose monitors, and the interface has brought a whole new range of functions to computer monitors.
The INNOCN 27P1U PRO is an excellent Mac mini or Studio monitor. The colors are punchy and the LED backlight is exceptionally even. In fact, this quantum dot IPS screen performs similarly to the INNOCNs Mini LED 27-inch display I reviewed earlier this year. The main difference is the touch screen, webcam function, and shiny glass surface rather than the matte finish of the Mini LED version.
The display ships with a beefy power supply and a metal cantilever stand that can hinge and tilt. It can’t swivel or pan, but the stand is uniquely designed to fold almost flat, so you can draw on the screen with the graphics pen and the 27P1U PRO. The screen has a 10-point touch screen and the graphics pen has 1024 pressure sensitivity levels, making it useful for drawing or signing documents.
Regarding drawing accuracy, I’m not convinced that there is as fine a control as you might get with a graphics tablet from Wacom or Xencelabs, but the graphics pen, which has a rechargeable battery, seems to function quite well as a brush. I sense that some finer calibration of the pen wouldn’t go amiss. As for the finger touch function, launching apps from the dock with just a press of the finger is great fun. You can even use your finger to highlight text in a Word document.
The 4K Quantum Dot IPS display of the 27P1U PRO offers a maximum resolution of 3840 x 2160. I found the 2560 x 1440 resolution perfect for a Mac mini and the scaling function on the mini is superb. When scaled, this screen looks almost as good as a Retina display on a 27-inch iMac. The color balance is also very good, with 100% sRGB and 99% DCI-P3 and Adober RHB color gamut support. I used the Apple RGB setting straight out of the box and the screen didn’t need calibrating. This display is a good performer with up to 500 nits of brightness and 1.07 billion colors. It may not be entirely up to the standards of the Apple Display, but it is about $500 cheaper.
Like the Apple display, the 27P1U PRO has a built-in webcam with 8MP HD resolution. It’s not a bad webcam, but because it pops up from the screen, you are limited to where you can position it. The built-in stereo speakers are nowhere near as good as the ones on the Apple Display and you can’t control the volume from a Mac, which is a little disappointing. However, if you’re not too bothered about having great speakers and just need a basic sound, you could save the money you save by buying an Apple Studio Display on beefing up the RAM or SSD on your Mac.
With its stereo speakers and four-microphone array on board for the webcam, this screen is suitable for video conference use. The touchscreen means you could set up the host computer as a video kiosk in a conference room. It’s a neat solution for the money.
One feature I particularly liked is the foldable Z-shape metal stand. It enables easy viewing angle adjustment, including the height and tilt angles. There’s no facility to rotate the stand into portrait mode, which could be important for some graphic designers or multi-screen users. Even so, the stand is robust and solidifies the screen, especially when using the touch function.
Regarding connectivity, the 27P1U PRO offers a couple of USB-A ports, one USB Upstream port, two HDMI 2.0, and a DisplayPort 1.4. Finally, there’s a USB Type-C (65W) port for the touchscreen and webcam functions, plus it has power output for running or charging a laptop. The whole process is plug and play; I was up and running in minutes.
Verdict: The INNOCN 27P1U PRO is more than just an excellent 27-inch 4K monitor; it’s a complete workspace solution meticulously designed to meet the demands of graphic designers, artists, and professionals seeking top-tier display performance. The graphic pen that ships with the INNOCN 27P1U PRO isn’t quite a substitute for a proper graphics tablet, but it’s not bad at all and is ideal for signing documents or sketching on screen. If you want a decent 4K monitor with a heap of extra functions for almost half the price of Apple’s excellent Studio Display, especially as there’s a Black Friday offer on the screen of $799.99 on Amazon.
Pricing & Availability: The Innocn 4K 27P1U PRO touchscreen display with built-in webcam is available now and typically costs $999.99, but there is a Black Friday offer on Amazon for $799.99.
More info: www.amazon.com or innocn.com
Tech Specs:
- Model no: 27P1U PRO.
- Resolution: 4K (3840 x 2160p).
- Refresh rate: 60Hz.
- Brightness: 500 NITS.
- Color space: 100% SRGB, 99% AdobeRGB, 99% DCI-P3.
- Touchscreen: 10 point with graphic pen.
- Webcam: 8MP HD.
- Microphones: 4-mic stereo array.
- Connectivity: 2 x USB-A, 1 x USB Upstream, 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x USB Type C 65W , 1 x Audio Out.
- USB-C charge: 65W.
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