HP Spring 2018 Range: ZBook, ZBook, ZBook

HP DreamColor Z27x G2 Display

HP's new professional monitor is the DreamColor Z27x G2 Studio Display. The new LCD features automatic calibration techmp;pgu and supports the key color spaces used in DCC today. In addition, the DreamColor Z27x G2 has all modern inputs and even a KVM keyboard connection, ensuring compatibility with various systems and easy switching between connected PCs.

The HP DreamColor Z27x G2 display is based on a 27-inch 8-bit + FRC IPS panel featuring a 2560×1440 resolution, 250 nits brightness*, a 1500:1 typical static contrast ratio, a 10.2 ms response time, a 60 Hz refresh rate, and 178°/178° viewing angles. The monitor comes with a LED backlighting rated for 30,000 hours minimum lamp life to half brightness, and an anti-glare coating for added accuracy when working with color-critical content.

The DreamColor Z27x G2 LCD covers 98% of the DCI-P3, 99% of the Adobe RGB, and 100% of the sRGB color spaces. The Adobe RGB is crucial for photographers and designers working on materials for print media, whereas the sRGB and the DCI-P3 are used for web and multimedia content creation. The DCI-P3 was originally developed as a standard for the American digital cinema industry, but monitors normally support consumer version of the color gamut (with its different white point and gamma) that is also supported by the latest hardware from Apple as well as growing number of other CE manufacturers. The rather limited brightness of the DreamColor Z27x G2 practically excludes its usage for post-production work (since most modern titles need to support HDR), but people who need the DCI-P3 to design software for Apple, or modern smartphones/tablets, will find the new LCD quite useful.

To ensure that the monitor always displays colors correctly, the new 27-inch professional LCD from HP features a built-in pop-up sensor that calibrates it on demand or on a regular schedule. In addition, the LCD supports external calibration devices, such as the X-Rite i1Display Pro, the Colorimetry Research CR-100/CR-250, the Konica Minolta CA-310, and others.

Moving on to I/O of the monitor. Connectivity is another strong feature of the DreamColor Z27x G2: it has five inputs (two DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 1.4, and one DP 1.2 over USB-C), an integrated hub supporting multiple USB 3.0 Type-A ports, and a GbE header for remote management. To simplify switching between devices connected to the display, the LCD supports a KVM keyboard connection. All the ports are located on the backside of the monitor and face downwards, which is common, but which is not particularly comfortable if you need to attach a mobile PC to the monitor every day. Meanwhile, the device also only supports 15 W USB-C power delivery, so it cannot charge mobile PCs.

The DreamColor Z27x G2 LCD comes in a stylish black chassis made of thick plastic. The display has a stand with height, tilt, and swivel adjustments. It can also be detached, opening up VESA 100mm mounting holes.

HP’s DreamColor Z27x G2 display will be available in the coming weeks starting at $1,999. The monitor is covered by a three-year limited warranty.

*Professional displays are calibrated in a bid to offer uniform brightness across their surface. Usually, this means that their peak luminance goes down, but the “extra” headroom in luminance is then “used” for panel aging compensation.

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