The H27P3 comes in a simple carton with no frilly graphics. Crumbly foam disgorges three bits: panel, upright, and base. The stand is slim but all metal and rigidly constructed. Cables include an external power supply plus USB-C and HDMI. You’ll need a Phillips-head screwdriver for assembly, and a small one is included.
(Image credit: KTC) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) (Image credit: KTC) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) Looking at the photos, you’d think the H27P3 is easy to topple, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The slender stand is made of cast aluminum and is very rigid. It’s also perfectly balanced so that the panel sits right over the center of gravity. It ain’t goin’ nowhere. That minimal design means you only get tilt, 5/15 degrees. And the panel hinges at the bottom, meaning adjustments take the top of the screen away from you. If you’d rather use an arm, there’s a 100mm VESA mount in the back, but you’ll need to provide your own fasteners.
The back view is marked only by a KTC logo on top. The slim part of the panel is finished in shiny black plastic, while the component bulge below is matte. The stand snaps in and out easily. In the lower right corner, as you look from the front, there’s an OSD joystick that controls all monitor functions. A tiny hole graces the upright for cable management; fat connectors need not apply.
The input panel faces backward and includes one each of HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, and USB-C (DP Alt) with 65 watts of power. HDMI is limited to 3840×2160 @ 60 Hz, which is not a multiple of 5K’s 5120×2880. That means a 4K image will look a bit rough. Stick to native resolution or QHD, and you’ll be fine. DP and USB-C support full-bandwidth and dual-mode operation. The input panel ends with two USB ports and a headphone jack.
Advanced Settings is where you’ll find the HDR toggle (leave it on Auto for automatic switching), KVM for the two USB ports, the OSD color, and the Dual Mode toggle. It switches between 5K/60 and 2K/120. Once you set up the two resolutions in Windows, the change is quick and easy.
The H27P3 is one of the most accurate out-of-the-box monitors I’ve ever reviewed. It includes a full set of calibration controls, but I didn’t need any of them. Just set the brightness to taste and enjoy. I noted that changes to the color space, called Professional Modes, retained access to the color temps and brightness slider, but all other picture controls were greyed out. Only Native has full calibration ability. My SDR settings are below. For HDR, there is only one setting, Auto.
Like any dual-mode monitor, the H27P3 must be set up in Nvidia Control Panel or Radeon Settings. First, make sure it runs at 5120×2880/60 Hz, then switch to 2K mode and set the 2560×1440 speed to 120 Hz. Then, the H27P3 will switch back and forth between the OSD without needing to change software settings. I noted that HDR won’t always stay active, so you might need to switch that back in Windows Display Settings.
The picture in 5K mode is stunningly sharp. It’s super colorful too, in either resolution, thanks to that IPS Black panel. It delivers more color volume than many of the Quantum Dot screens I’ve experienced. I also noted a VA -level contrast with deep, convincing blacks. While you won’t mistake the H27P3 for an OLED, it is more textural than the average IPS monitor. With over 500 nits available, it’s brighter than many OLEDs as well.
When watching video in 5K mode at 60fps or less, it looks solid with minimal blur. I found the best overdrive setting to be Auto, since it varies the overshoot with frame rate. Gaming required some compromise, though. Playing casual titles with slow rendering, like Myst, is a superlative experience on 5K. The pixel density is incredible, with not even the slightest suggestion that the image is made from dots. If you like to sit inches from the screen, this monitor is for you.
When the action intensified, I found myself reaching for the 2K mode right away. Playing Doom Eternal and other 3D shooters at full resolution and 60 Hz was a challenge. I’m very spoiled by speedy monitors and OLEDs, and the H27P3 just isn’t one of those. To be fair, gaming at 60fps on any LCD won’t be fun. Motion blur makes aiming difficult with the moving background constantly smearing. If you want to explore at a leisurely pace, it’s fine. But if fragging is the goal, this isn’t a great monitor. I did find it responsive, though. Input lag in 5K mode is lower than you might expect.
Work tasks were a pleasure thanks to the sharp and smooth-toned image. Color is a level above most other monitors. Only the best QD screens I’ve reviewed can match the H27P3’s volume and accuracy. I discovered in testing that it was spot-on out of the box, with calibration unnecessary. This would be a great display for color grading and Photoshop. It was also great for documents because text of all sizes looked like fine printing on high-end paper.
Physically, I wished for more adjustments from the stand. Though it is solid and elegant, I had to tilt the panel upward to my eyepoint. I prefer a vertical stance, and you can only achieve that with the H27P3 if you put it on a pedestal or arm. I also missed internal speakers. I did appreciate the inclusion of USB ports and KVM, though.
Takeaway: The H27P3 is only a fair gaming monitor thanks to its relatively low refresh rates, but it is stunning to look at when the action is laid back. It’s gorgeous for photos and video, too, with tremendous color saturation and precise accuracy. I enjoyed its elegant styling and slim profile, but wished for a more adjustable stand. Overall, it’s impossible to deny the value factor. You’re getting a 5K monitor for $550. That’s pretty amazing.
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Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/monitors/gaming-monitors/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/monitors/gaming-monitors/ktc-h27p3-27-inch-5k-dual-mode-gaming-monitor-review#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
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Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.