InnoCN 27M2U: review in 30 seconds
What InnoCN has achieved with the 27M2U is nothing short of a breakthrough: an excellent monitor with Mini LED technology, exceptional visual performance, solid OSD controls, and excellent build quality at a barely believable price point: one for creative professionals and prosumers with a keen eye. . for color reproduction.
Mini LED offers an OLED-like viewing experience with deeper blacks, better contrast, and more vivid colors, without the inherent problems associated with this, including runtime issues and higher production costs. Highlights of this 4K monitor include a custom-produced factory color collaboration report, a smart sensor that adjusts brightness based on surroundings, and a USB Type-C port that delivers up to 90W.
Content producers and creatives looking to optimize their tech budgets should keep an eye on this monitor; it's a sublime choice whether you're looking for a video editing monitor, graphic design display or Photoshop display.
InnoCN 27M2U: price and availability
- How much is it? $529.99 (with Amazon Prime and promo code M2ULED4K), or around $480 or AU$800.
- Where is it available? Available now
- Where can you get it? You can buy it on Amazon
At the time of this writing, the InnoCN 27M2U (opens in a new tab) is only for sale on Amazon US; it will roll out later this year in other territories where Amazon operates. Keep in mind that you should be able to buy it on Amazon US even if you're not a US citizen. Expect the retailer to add significant shipping and import fees, though; trying to send it to the UK would cost you around a third more. It's worth it? Your call.
InnoCN 27M2U: Design
- disappointing chassis
- Good choice of ports.
- Taillights don't work
Most monitors you come across typically opt for a carbon finish, but InnoCN had other ideas. He opted for a gray plastic chassis, which isn't what you'd expect from a high-end product that sells for several hundred dollars. It looks cheap and tawdry, something you'd expect to see from an entry-level TV maker.
If it had been matte black, we probably wouldn't be so difficult. We will leave this one because it does not affect the visual performance of the entire product. However, first impressions count.
The 27M2U's bezel is as thin as possible on three sides. The bottom edge is naturally thicker than the rest, as it carries the branding and buttons for the on-screen display (OSD) controls. The connectors (one Type-C, two HDMI, one full-size DisplayPort, one barrel connector for power, and one audio-in port) all face downwards, which is best if you want your display close to the wall.
This box also includes a brick power supply along with four cables and a custom color calibration report for each monitor.
A word about the packaging used by InnoCN. It can best be described as reflective, as we didn't have to wrestle with the Styrofoam as much as we usually do when testing other monitors. Taking the panel out and putting it together was a doddle, something we encourage other manufacturers to follow.
Thanks to a versatile stand, the monitor can be moved up and down by approximately 30 cm, rotated to the right and left, as well as tilted forward and backward. Of course, you can rotate it to portrait mode, although the presence of the thicker bottom edge makes it look unsightly. Note that there are lights on the back that are useless; they create a very subtle glow against the surface behind your monitor, but that's about it.
InnoCN 27M2U: Features
- MiniLED is a game changer
- Lack of additional USB ports
At the heart of what this monitor stands for is Mini LED technology which, as the name suggests, consists of smaller light-emitting diodes used to literally illuminate the LCD panel. This is the same technology used in Apple laptops that has garnered a lot of industry attention and is built into the matte 4-inch 27K IPS display.
InnoCN 27M2U – Performance
Specifications
Screen Size: 27 "
Resolution: 4K (3840x2160)
Brightness: 1000cd / m2
Contrast Ratio: 1220: 1
Ports: HDMI (x2), DisplayPort, USB-C, headphone jack,
Release year: 2022
More smaller diodes means more evenly lit panels and much more in terms of brightness, contrast, etc. For a full overview of the technology, please see our esteemed colleague, Simon Lucas' article, "What is mini LED? TV Display Technology Explained". Jeremy Laird has also written a detailed comparison between OLED and Mini-Led which is worth reading. .
In addition to this title capture feature, the 27M2U has a built-in automatic light sensor that, when turned on, adjusts the brightness of the screen based on ambient lighting. Another built-in gravity sensor changes the orientation of the screen depending on whether it's in landscape or portrait mode.
We wish we had more USB ports and other features; There's a missed opportunity to turn this monitor into a true productivity powerhouse by integrating a USB hub; add KVM switch functionality, Picture-in-Picture (PiP), and a webcam and it's almost hybrid work nirvana.
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(Image credit: future)(Image credit: future)(Image credit: future)(Image credit: future)(Image credit: future)(Image credit: future)(Image credit: future)(Image credit: future)(Image credit: future)The sensational is the panel used; supports 99% Adobe RGB, 99% DCI-P3 and 100% sRGB color gamuts, which means it achieves excellent results in color reproduction and fidelity thanks to MiniLED technology. This results in crisp, clean whites, excellent viewing angles, and excellent color saturation and vibrancy. But it's not OLED; So black levels are still a bit underwhelming and color accuracy is just poor. But this monitor still has excellent overall image quality considering its price.
While the 27M2U's overall visual performance is excellent, it does require some tweaking to suit an on-site work environment, highlighting what we consider to be the biggest flaw with this InnoCN product; your OSD controls. That's by no means a strong criticism, but even a cheap TV has better control mechanisms, albeit via a remote. Using four buttons to control the myriad of menus and options on offer is cruel, especially if purists often want to fiddle with settings.
Elsewhere, two 5W speakers, firing from the rear, provide a reasonable listening experience at their limited capabilities. They're good enough for a quick Youtube video or Zoom video conference, but they won't impress otherwise. The tilt and swivel and the general behavior of the mount and arm can only be praised.
Should I buy the InnoCN 27M2U?
Buy it if….
You want an affordable monitor with MiniLED technology.
This is the main selling point of the InnoCN 27M2U and an incredibly good point on top of that.
You want excellent image quality.
MiniLED means better image quality with more granularity in brightness, colors, and hues.
Don't buy it if...
You want a big screen. It's only 27 inches, so if you're looking for additional physical real estate, look elsewhere
Also consider
Monoprice CrystalPro 4K 28-inch monitor
Monoprice delivered a very balanced product in the form of the 4-inch CrystalPro 28K. It doesn't offer the visual richness and complexity of its rival, but it comes at a more modest price, making it a perfect fit for productivity and creative work that doesn't require near-perfect color reproduction.
Samsung M8 Smart Monitor
The Samsung M8 Smart Monitor is a bigger screen with USB-C and wireless connectivity, plus SmartTV functionality and sleek Apple-esque styling. But it doesn't offer the best picture quality at this price point and smart features and build quality are a bit uneven.
First revision: October 2022