Xiaomi seems to be getting serious about getting into the desktop monitor market. Earlier this year, they launched two affordable desktop monitors, one of which was the Mi Desktop Monitor 27.
As the name implies, this monitor has a 27-inch screen. This laptop is equipped with features and specifications that are fairly general, so it might not be suitable for specific activities.
Even so, that does not mean the performance of Mi Desktop Monitor 27 can be underestimated. After testing this monitor for a few weeks, here is the full review:
Design
The first impression seeing Mi Desktop Monitor 27 is its minimalist and elegant design. This monitor has a slim design at the top, with a thickness of only 7.5 mm.
All three sides have very thin bezels, and the bottom is clean without any buttons or logos. There is only a white indicator light on the lower right side.
When you first remove Mi Desktop Monitor 27 from its packaging, you will immediately find the monitor and its accessories such as a stand, HDMI cable, power cable for power, and user manual.
The monitor itself is made of black plastic material with a matte finish which makes its weight quite light but still sturdy. Moreover, coupled with a stand made of metal and the neck is quite thick, it makes this monitor look more manly.
To attach the monitor to the stand itself is fairly easy, just insert the slot on the back of the monitor into the top of the stand. Even though it is simply inserted without additional security, this mechanism is quite secure and the monitor is also not easily shaken.
Unfortunately, this stand only provides the option to change the tilt or tilt level of the screen. There is no option to change the screen height. But for a monitor priced at Rp. 2 million, this is understandable.
Connectivity
All ports carried by Mi Desktop Monitor 27 are placed on the back of the screen. The ports provided are not many, there are only HDMI 1.4, VGA, audio, and DC ports for power.
Although the ports provided are limited, but this is more than enough for everyday use, such as for study and work. Using HDMI 1.4 which is more than 10 years old may be a bit outdated, but it still works.
Beside this row of ports, there is a power button that also functions as a joystick to access the on-screen menu. To turn the screen on or off just press the power button for a few seconds.
To access the menus on the screen, simply move the joystick left or right. The joystick itself can be moved in four directions, namely up, down, left, and right.
Features and performance
Before discussing the features, it's a good idea to first look at the specifications of the Mi Desktop Monitor 27. This monitor carries a 27-inch IPS panel with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) and a 16:9 ratio.
This monitor can display 16.7 million colors and has a 100% sRGB color gamut. The brightness level reaches 300 nits with a viewing angle of up to 178 degrees.
Although not so feature-rich when compared to more luxurious monitors, Xiaomi still provides several features and modes that keep the eyes comfortable in any condition.
Xiaomi provides several Smart Modes that can be accessed via the on-screen menu. These modes are useful for adjusting the screen according to user activity.
For example, there is Movie Mode which can change the screen to look cooler with a blue tone, ECO Mode to save electricity, and Standard Mode which is the default mode.
There is also a Game Mode, but this only serves to change the screen brightness level, not to change the refresh rate. Oh yes, this monitor supports a refresh rate of up to 75Hz.
To maintain eye health, there is a Low Blue Light Mode that can make the screen look warmer. This mode also comes with certification from TUV Rheinland.
In general, the performance of Mi Desktop Monitor 27 is very satisfactory in any lighting conditions. Even in a room exposed to a lot of direct sunlight, this monitor can still display content on the screen without distracting light reflections.
When used for work, watching, or playing casual games such as Genshin Impact, this monitor provides an adequate visual experience. But it may be less supportive for activities that require high color accuracy.
Our opinion
With its price, the Xiaomi Mi Desktop Monitor 27 can be the entry level monitor of choice for everyday life. Especially for those who have to work from home and feel that the laptop screen is not wide enough.
This monitor comes with a minimalist and elegant design, but doesn't look cheap. The screen is also spacious and can display content well. Embedded features and modes also really help productivity.
The most noticeable drawback is the limited ports offered. But considering the price, this shortcoming is understandable.