Asus PA246Q ProArt 24-Inch LCD Monitor Review

Performance Summary: Asus' PA246Q is the second monitor we've reviewed since adding DisplayMate to our suite of tests, which is both brutal and unapologetic when it comes to pointing out even the smallest flaws. But as we saw with NEC's PA271W, the PA246Q was more than up for the task. Asus didn't mess around with its first professional series monitor, opting for a top-of-the-line 10-bit P-IPS panel. To say that this is a better display than your average, or even above average TN panel is like saying Ray Allen has an above average jump shot. The truth is the PA246Q is worlds apart from most TN monitors in every way. The PA246Q produces accurate colors, it's bright and crisp without washing out your photos, and it excels at both the dark and light end of the spectrum.

Asus could have stopped there and had a winner on its hands, but there's more here than just a capable 10-bit panel. We can see professional artists getting addicted to the on-screen grids accessible via a hotkey. With the press of a button, you can see exactly how large your photo is, in both inches and centimeters, so when you go to print, what you see is truly what you get. And of course there's the ability to rotate the monitor in either portrait or landscape mode.

So is the PA246Q for everyone? Not quite. At $500 for 24-inches of real estate, the PA246Q is reserved for professionals, enthusiasts, and those who both want and can afford a better monitor than your typical TN panel. That means your mom and pop probably shouldn't go spending part of their retirement on this monitor if all they're going to do is surf the Web and fire off an occasional email.

If you fall into one of the former categories, however, the PA246Q justifies its price, not only with a strong performing panel, but with an expanded feature-set not found on your average 24-inch monitor. The integrated 3D Look Up Table (LUT) alone will be justification enough for some to shell out a little extra green for the PA246Q. It doesn't have a glossy finish, and the racing stripe along the bottom bezel is kind of cheesy if you're not into that sort of thing, but otherwise Asus got very little wrong with this monitor. The PA246Q serves up a smorgasbord of features, its color accuracy and brightness are both exceptional, and even at $500 street, it won't obliterate your tax refund like larger screens of this caliber will. Considering this is Asus' first ever professional monitor, we're excited to see what comes next.