Asus BE27ACSBK review: Rotate and webcam
As a monitor with an integrated full HD webcam, microphone and loudspeakers, the Asus BE27ACSBK should be the all-purpose weapon in the office. The BE27ACSBK is supposed to be everything: monitor, webcam, microphone and charging station. Asus seems to have put together an all-around carefree package for the (home) office. Instead of buying all the individual parts individually, a single grip on the 27” is enough.
| General Info | |
|---|---|
| Type | Monitor |
| Year | 2021 |
| Brand | Asus |
| Model Number | BE27ACSBK |
| Alias | BE27A |
| Size | 27″ (inches) |
| Panel | IPS |
| Display | |
| Screen Size Class | 27″ (inches) |
| Diagonal Size | 27.01 in 68.6 cm 685.985 mm 2.25 ft |
| Screen Width | 23.49 in 59.7 cm 596.736 mm 1.96 ft |
| Screen Height | 13.22 in 33.6 cm 335.664 mm 1.1 ft |
| Display Type | IPS |
| Display Bit Depth | 8 bits |
| Frame Rate Control | No |
| Max Number of Colors | 16777216 |
| Bits | 24 |
| Screen Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Screen Resolution | 2560 x 1440 |
| Screen Pixel Pitch | 0.233 mm |
| Screen Pixel Density | 109 ppi |
| Screen-to-Body Ratio | 76.55 % |
| Backlight Source | W-LED |
| sRGB | 100 % |
| Screen Brightness | 350 cd/m² |
| Static Screen Contrast | 1000 : 1 |
| Dynamic Screen Contrast | 100000000 : 1 |
| Screen Horizontal Viewing Angle | 178 ° |
| Screen Vertical Viewing Angle | 178 ° |
| Display Minimum Response Time | 5 ms |
| Display Coating | Anti-glare/Matte |
| 3D | No |
| Size, weight, color | |
| Case Depth | 2.21 in 5.6 cm 56.1 mm 0.18 ft |
| Case Weight | 5.8 kg 13 lbs |
| Case Width with Stand | 24.11 in 61.2 cm 612.4 mm 2.01 ft |
| Case Height with Stand | 17.39 in 44.2 cm 441.8 mm 1.45 ft |
| Case Depth with Stand | 10.2 in 25.9 cm 259 mm 0.85 ft |
| Case Weight with Stand | 8.6 kg 19 lbs |
| Case Color | Black |
| Hardware | |
| Built-in Camera | Yes |
| Connectivity | 1 x HDMI 1.4 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 (out) 1 x 3.5 mm Audio Out 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 (in) 1 x USB (Type-C; upstream; 80W; DP Alt Mode) 2 x USB 3.0 (Type-A; downstream) |
| Audio | |
| Audio Speakers | 2 x 2W |
| Features | |
| Cool Features | Flicker-free technology Frameless design QuickFit Trace Free Technology SPLENDID Technology Low Blue Light 5-way Navigation Key Videoconferencing shortcuts Color Temperature Selection (4 modes) |
| Extra Features | Anti-theft stand lock slot – Kensington |
| Ergonomics | |
| Case Width | 24.11 in 61.2 cm 612.4 mm 2.01 ft |
| Case Height | 16.82 in 42.7 cm 427.3 mm 1.4 ft |
| Vesa Mount Support | Yes |
| VESA Interface Standard Size | 100 x 100 |
| Removable VESA Stand | Yes |
| Height Adjustment | Yes |
| Height Adjustment Range | 150 mm 15 cm 5.9055 in 0.4921 ft |
| Landscape or Portrait Pivot Support | Yes |
| Left Pivot | 90 ° |
| Right Pivot | 90 ° |
| Left or Right Swivel Support | Yes |
| Left Swivel | 180 ° |
| Right Swivel | 180 ° |
| Forward and Backward Tilt Support | Yes |
| Forward Tilt | 5 ° |
| Backward Tilt | 35 ° |
| Frequency and Interpolation | |
| Vertical Digital Frequency | 30 Hz – 75 Hz |
| Horizontal Digital Frequency | 30 kHz – 122 kHz |
| Screen Interpolation Measurement Unit | NULL |
| Power | |
| 110V | 100 V – 120 V |
| 220V | 220 V – 240 V |
| AC Frequency | 50 Hz – 60 Hz |
| Power Consumption in Sleep Mode | 0.5 W |
| Average Power Consumption | 21.3 W |
| Accessories | |
| Extras | HDMI cable USB Type-C cable MiniPC Kit |
| Certificates and Standards | |
| Licenses | Energy Star BSMI CB CCC CE CEL level C-Tick CU ErP eStandby EU energy label FCC ICES-3 ISO-9241-307 J-MOSS KC KCC MEPS PSE RoHS TCO 8.0 TUV-Ergo TUV-GS UkrSEPRO UL/cUL VCCI WEEE WHQL (Windows 10/8.1/7) TUV Flicker-free TUV Low Blue Light |
| Usage and Storage Requirements | |
| Safe Operating Temperature Level | 0 °C – 40 °C 32 °F – 104 °F |
| Safe Operating Humidity Level | 10 % – 80 % |
| Internal Storage Temperature | -20 °C – 60 °C -4 °F – 140 °F |
The BE27ACSBK is supposed to be everything: monitor, webcam, microphone and charging station. Asus seems to have put together an all-around carefree package for the (home) office. Instead of buying all the individual parts individually, a single grip on the 27” is enough.
A special highlight is the integrated full HD webcam with a rotation function. You can find out how well the monitor actually works in practice and whether it can keep up with dedicated peripheral devices in our following test.
The assembly of the BE27ACSBK is done quickly: After removing the package, we place the monitor in the base, connect the two with the screws provided and connect the whole thing using the power and USB cable.
Then we adapt the monitor to your own ergonomics. The height, as well as the vertical and horizontal inclination, can be continuously adjusted. There is also a pivot function, with which we place the monitor upright. But then the integrated webcam is on the side, which is why we only consider the BE27ACSBK to be suitable for this purpose to a limited extent or at times.
On the front of the monitor, there are a number of buttons for quick operation: a volume button, a button to mute video conferences and calls, a button to accept calls, one for settings and a power button. We can control the individual submenus using a thumbstick, which we also use to confirm our settings. The operation is so easy and intuitive.
The BE27ACSBK does without a comprehensive frame, the bezel on the edges is quite thin at around 0.5 cm. On the underside, a modern “chin” is used, i.e. a wider frame behind which the speakers, technology and part of the bezel are hidden. But you couldn’t hide it completely behind it, which is why the actual display area and the chin are not directly connected to each other.
An entire range of connections is made on the back. Overall, the BE27ACSBK features a DisplayPort 1.2 with daisy chain, HDMI 1.4, USB 3.0, headphone output and a USB-C with DisplayPort alternate mode and 80W Power Delivery. The USB-C port can also be used directly to charge a connected notebook or tablet. A fantastic additional function for the office.
We can get over the fact that DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4 are not quite state-of-the-art. The missing features are particularly relevant for gaming - the BE27ACSBK is clearly designed for the office and not for gaming.
The VESA compatibility of the monitor is also useful, which means that it can be easily attached to a wall or monitor mount. In addition, mini PCs can be attached directly to the back of the BE27ACSBK, which frees up space on the desk. Asus BE27ACSBK in the test: display, brightness and color space
With a 27-inch display diagonal, the Asus BE27ACSBK is just the right size to not be too small as a single monitor and still leave enough space on the desk for a possible second screen. In terms of resolution, WQHD resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels, 2K) is offered, and even a high-end office monitor doesn’t need more. With the HDR400 display, the IPS panel is not among the best in terms of dynamic range, but it still keeps up well. The brightness is also in the midfield at 350 cd/m2.
In the settings, the monitor offers a choice of eight different screen modes, including a brighter “Scenery” mode, the dark modes “Night View”, “Reading” and “Darkroom”, a “Gaming” mode and a more color-accurate “ sRGB” mode.
The latter makes sense considering that the BE27ACSBK achieves 100% color coverage in the sRGB color space. With a color depth of 8 bits, you can’t get close to the new Asus ProArt displays, but image processing typical for offices isn’t a problem either. The contrast ratio is given as 1200:1.
Anyone who works late in the evening or has sensitive eyes will be happy about the five-level blue light filter that Asus has given the monitor. It also makes working at night pleasant and protects the eyes when staring at the display for hours.
The refresh rate and response time make it clear that the BE27ACSBK belongs in the office. Up to 60 Hz and 5 ms polling time are absolutely no problem in the office but are not enough for gaming.
The Full HD 2 MP webcam is not as crisp as you would expect from a dedicated Full HD. But that alone costs almost a third of our screen. The integrated camera struggles with slightly blurred faces and artifacts, especially in dark rooms. However, it is definitely good enough for video conferences or presentations on average to strong lighting. This is also ensured by the automatic exposure function, which recognizes and brightens faces. This worked excellently in our test with a frontal view of the monitor.
An analog lens cover, which we slide in front of the webcam after the end of the video call, ensures more privacy when working. In addition, the webcam is not only easy to personalize thanks to its tilt and swivel function but is also suitable for specialized applications such as customer authentication at banks or at customs. Because the camera can not only be tilted up and down by 10° but also rotated from +180° to -135°. This also allows alignment to the back of the monitor.
Our only strong criticism of the BE27ACSBK is the two microphones. They sound dull even when noise canceling is switched off and pick up background noise, even in quiet surroundings. They are also not sensitive enough to pick up sounds loud enough from a typical video conference distance. To do this, we have to lean against the microphone or the monitor, which should cause strange looks from our fellow conferees when the webcam is on.
On a positive note, the AI noise-canceling ensures that in typical office environments or in the living room that has been converted into a home office, the sound quality does not drop even further due to people present or keyboard clicking.
The 1.2 W speakers are also convincing: they sound a bit tinny, as is so often the case with monitors. On the other hand, the BE27ACSBK has surprisingly clear highs and the bass is also acceptable. More than enough for the office.
