Ultra HD is one of the hot themes of this year’s CES, evidenced by the fact that Dell, Lenovo, Asus have all chosen to debut more affordable 4K monitors.Buyers who have been awaiting an affordably-priced entry into the world of ultra-high definition monitors are in luck, with several manufacturers unveiling sub-$1,000 4K displays.
The price drops come as the market for 4K desktop displays begins to gain steam — Apple’s Haswell-based MacBook Pros support 4K output over Thunderbolt, and the company’s all-new Mac Pro can drive up to 3 of the ultra-high resolution monitors.
Dell 2815Q
Dell’s newest 28-inch display is actually the company’s third entry into the 4K arena, but its previous efforts — a $1,299 24 inch model and $3,322 32-inch variant — bore premium price tags. The 2815Q, according to a report from Forbes, will cost consumers just $699.
The new 28-inch model sports a 3840 x 2160 pixel anti-glare TN panel, in contrast to the IGZO parts found on its more expensive siblings. Connectivity includes DisplayPort in and out, HDMI, and a built-in USB hub. Availability is still unknown.
Lenovo ThinkVision Pro2840m
Lenovo’s ThinkVision Pro2840m is another 28-inch, 3840 x 2160 display mounted on a tilt and swivel stand. Lenovo has not specified the type of panel used on the professionally-targeted monitor, but the company does tout a 72 percent color gamut.
The Pro2840m also features touch-sensitive controls and edge-to-edge cover glass. DisplayPort, mini DisplayPort, and HDMI ports provide video connectivity, while a USB hub and dual built-in speakers round out the $799 device. Lenovo expects to begin shipping the Pro2840m in April.
Asus PB287Q
Asus’s PB287Q mirrors its competition with a 28-inch, 3840 x 2160 panel. The display does boast the quickest response time of any other sub-$1,000 unit released thus far at just 1ms, and sports a native 60Hz refresh rate.
Taipei, Taiwan-based Asus says the PB287Q will ship in the second quarter of 2014 for $799.
