After the wave of cheap 27” monitors from South Korea hit Ebay, a number of vendors started to offer their own inexpensive models. One of the first models to hit the US, and one that I reviewed here, was the VUE27 from Nixeus. Now they have released their newest version, the VUE27D. Stripping the input selection down to a single DisplayPort input, the VUE27D reaches for an even lower price point than before. With all the changes in the display marketplace over the past year, how will the VUE27D fare today?

The display that the VUE27D resembles most is the HP zr2740w. Like that model the VUE27D offers no on-screen display at all, only controls for brightness with no indicator for level. Combined with a single DisplayPort input there really is nothing at all to adjust on the VUE27D. There is a reset button to take the brightness level back to the original setting, but that is it. There are extra buttons that do nothing as well, as it appears Nixeus uses generic off-the-shelf parts.

Compared to the other VUE monitors from Nixeus, the VUE27D is very thin. Most of the screen is very narrow except for the center where the inputs and stand are located.  Part of this is managed by using an external power supply to cut down on internal bulk. I’m still not a fan of external power supplies, but it helps keep a display cooler and makes it easier to sell around the world.

The back of the VUE27D is a fine diamond texture as opposed to the flat plastic we usually see. Almost no one will see it because it's on the back of the display, but it is a nice look.

The stand offers height adjustment along with swivel, and you can rotate the display to use it in portrait mode. This is more flexibility than any of the other affordable displays to come my way and makes setup much easier. The specifications indicate there is tilt available, but the model that I have does not tilt at all. The joint might just be adjusted too tight, as I've seen this on other review samples, but in my case it doesn't work.

The anti-glare coating works fine and doesn’t cause the degradation in image quality that people often worry about. Beyond this there isn’t much to comment on for the design of the VUE27D. It drops anything non-essential and only keeps what you need.

Nixeus VUE27D
Video Inputs DisplayPort
Panel Type IPS
Pixel Pitch 0.231mm
Colors 16.7 Million
Brightness 380 cd/m2 maximum
Contrast Ratio 1000:1
Response Time 6ms GtG
Viewable Size 27"
Resolution 2560x1440
Viewing Angle (H/V) 178/178
Backlight White LED
Power Consumption (operation) 72 Watts
Power Consumption (standby) < 1 Watt
Screen Treatment Anti-Glare
Height-Adjustable Yes
Tilt No
Pivot Yes
Swivel Yes
VESA Wall Mounting 100mm x 100mm
Dimensions w/ Base (WxHxD) 25 5/8" x 24 3/8" x 8 3/8"
Weight 16.6 lbs.
Additional Features NA
Limited Warranty 2 Years
Accessories MiniDP to DP cable, DP to DP cable
Price $430 MSRP ($450 online)

 

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  • cheinonen - Monday, December 23, 2013 - link

    That joint looks like it should tilt, but I just went and tested again and it does not tilt. The specs say tilt, which means perhaps mine is too tight as shipped, but I cannot get it to tilt when I try. I'll update the text to reflect this.
  • DiHydro - Monday, December 23, 2013 - link

    Could you also update the spec chart? I also see that on the manufacturer spec page for the monitor it says tilt.
  • menting - Monday, December 23, 2013 - link

    Chris, can you comment if this model has PWM dimming?
    Thanks!
  • Krause - Monday, December 23, 2013 - link

    How is the Refresh Rate and overclockability? The main reason people were importing these 27 inch monitors from South Korea was that the refresh rates weren't locked and would usually overclock 95hz+ no problem.
  • willxiv - Monday, December 23, 2013 - link

    I have no problem with the product images. They show what I want to know about the product (the physical features).

    Perfectly rendered professional product images lend no more credence to a monitor than crappy images. I'm here to read a review, not look at gorgeous photos of a cheap monitor.

    Thanks for the review, Chris.
  • SirZ - Wednesday, January 8, 2014 - link

    Lack of attention to detail in the photography suggests a lack of attention where things matter (ie the meat of the article.) Meticulous attention to detail produces a professional grade appearance, which enhances the inherent trust of credibility the reader has in the author. This is why people don't go to (white collar) job interviews with sweatpants and T-shirts with pizza stains on them. The OP said it perfectly.
  • Wall Street - Monday, December 23, 2013 - link

    Chris,
    Can you please please please request review samples for some faster monitors? I enjoy reading monitor reviews and I get they you probably like photography and care about color accuracy and viewing angles. I don't. It would be great if you could add the ASUS VG248QE (with or without g-sync), the Eizo Foris FG2421 and the BenQ XL2420Z to your lag database. For gamers who play things like Quake Live, Streetfighter or Couterstrike, 20+ ms lag just doesn't cut it.
  • wurizen - Monday, December 23, 2013 - link

    what's up with these ugly ips monitor reviews lately?
  • ZeDestructor - Tuesday, December 24, 2013 - link

    Demand. Lots of people want to know how the cheap Korean Catleap/Yamasaki/QNix etc perform. In this case, its particularly interesting to see a no-ISP, DisplayPort-only screen go through the test and give excellent results.
  • SunLord - Tuesday, December 24, 2013 - link

    Are there any good looking monitor outside of maybe apple if you like white anyways?
    They make a slightly better and more use able version of this monitor the Nixeus Vue NX-VUE27 and it looks to be the same screen for it's only $50 more on newegg plus you get dvi and hdmi

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