Monoprice 27” CrystalPro is a good-but-not-great display, though the price is sweet

Monoprice’s 27″ CrystalPro Productivity Monitor offers good bang for the buck (US$299). However, unless you’re on a tight budget, I recommend it as a secondary display for a Mac, though it makes a fine external display for use with an iPad.

The monitor’s 4K UHD 3840x2160p resolution promises “crisp and detailed visuals” with an “IPS panel with great color saturation for lifelike image quality.” However, I found images to be less than vibrant despite Monoprice’s statement that with “sRGB at 100% and DCI‑P3 at 95%, you can expect true‑to‑life image quality and stunning visuals.”

The screen display isn’t bad, just not as crisp as I like. This was my main disappointment with the 27” CrystalPro. Another one was that no manual is included, which meant that it was only by accident that I discovered that the power on/power button also serves as a knob for controlling features (source input, for example).

Still, set-up was very easy. Assembling the display required no tools at all, which was a pleasant surprise. The CrystalPo helps reduce cable clutter thanks to its USB-C power delivery. 

Unlike some monitors (such as Apple’s Studio Display) the Monoprice display has a height, tilt, and swivel adjustable stand for customizable viewing angles and ergonomic comfort. Plus, it has a VESA compliance mount setting of 100mm x 100mm for mounting options.

Finally — and this should be obvious — don’t expect the build quality of a pricer display such as the Studio Display. The CrystalPro is all plastic, but solidly built. 

Apple World Today rating (out of 5 stars): ★★★