NEC MultiSync EA244UHD 24-Inch 4K Monitor Review

While you were busy blinking, a new development was fast tracking its way onto the monitor scene. We're talking about the transition to 4K, otherwise known as Ultra High Definition (UHD). No matter what you want to call it, the technology shift treats your eyeballs to four times as many pixels as the current standard, which is Full HD 1080p. That's a huge increase, not just in the number of pixels, but in the resulting picture quality that comes from having so many more dots crammed into the same space.

Usually when there's a major shift in technology, it comes with a standoff between hardware makers and content creators, each of which is waiting on the other to create a category big enough to leap into. That hasn't been an issue this time around -- display makers put their collective heads down and charged forward like LeBron James driving the lane en route to a slam dunk, only their early efforts haven't been as graceful. Due to a number of different issues -- both on the hardware and software driver sides -- we've experienced numerous hand-banging issues with 4K monitors. Though it's been frustrating, we're starting to see the light at the end of tunnel as the technology and drivers mature.

What we have to evaluate today is NEC's new MultiSync EA244UHD, a 24-inch 4K Ultra HD monitor. As part of NEC's EA series, this monitor is intended for high-end desktop users as opposed to professional graphics users, though there are features of the EA244UHD that may tempt potential customers who fall into the latter category. Things that separate this monitor from a traditional desktop display include extras like up to four-way display matrix support (there are multiple inputs for connecting multiple PCs), a ControlSync feature that lets users control the settings for up to half a dozen daisychained displays, a high-speed USB 3.0 hub, and a standard warranty that even covers the backlight for the first three years.

The star of the show, of course, is the 10-bit panel. It boasts 99.3 percent coverage of AdobeRGB and 1.07 billion displayable colors, along with wide viewing angles (178 degrees horizontal / 178 degrees vertical). NEC seems equally proud of the panel's power saving features, such as its Eco Mode that reduces power consumption up to 56 percent, auto-brightness controls, and human sensor that detects when you've gotten off your rump for a coffee break. It all adds up to a promising display for high-end users, but does it deliver?

NEC MultiSync 24-inch (23.8-inch) EA244UHD 4K IPS Monitor Specifications & Features

Display Size	23.8-inch widescreen
Resolution	3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz (DP1.2) 3840 x 2160 @ 30 Hz HDMI
Aspect Ratio	16:9
Brightness	350 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio	15,000:1 (dynamic); 1,000:1 (typical)
Response Time	6ms
Viewing Angle	178° vertical / 178° horizontal
Display Type	In-Plane Switching (IPS) TFT with W-LED backlight
Connectors	1 x HDMI; 1 x HDMI/MHL; 2 x DisplayPort; 2 x DVI-D
Power Consumption	41W (Eco Mode); 52W (typical); 79W (max); 0.32W (power savings mode)
Speakers	Yes (1W x 2)
Stand	Height (130mm); Tilt (-5 to +30 degrees); Swivel (-170 to +170 degrees); Rotate (0 to 90 degrees / landscape to portrait)
I/O Ports	USB 3.0 (1 up / 3 down); headphone jack
Dimensions (with stand)	558.2mm x 386.7mm x 218mm (WxHxD)/ 21.9 inches x 15.2 inches x 8.5 inches
Weight	7 kg / 15.43 lbs
Included Accessories	Power cable; DisplayPort cable; ControlSync cable; USB 3.0 cable; ; Setup manual; Mounting screws
Warranty	3 years including backlight
Price	$1,349 (MSRP) - Find It At Amazon.com

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NEC opted for an AH-IPS TFT panel rather than an IGZO (Indium gallium zinc oxide) screen like we've seen on some larger 4K displays. AH-IPS, or Advanced High Performance In-Plane Switching, is one of LG's newer panel technologies that brings improved color accuracy and greater light transmission, which in turn means lower power consumption compared to previous versions.

The specs won't knock your socks off, though we've learned not to put a ton of stock into these non-regulated values. Instead, it's the little things that get our attention in the bullet points, like the backlight warranty, SuperSpeed USB 3.0 hub, and ergonomically friendly stand which supports both landscape and portrait viewing modes, without having to disassemble and re-assemble the display.