Mini LED is a panel currently used in laptops such as the new MacBook Pro and is seen as a technology that sits between OLED and LED. Because it is still new, TVs and monitors with this technology are sold at high prices. The RedMagic 4K Gaming Monitor is the first Mini LED technology gaming monitor we reviewed . This raises the question is it worth it or not? This is the full review for the RedMagic 4K Gaming Monitor.
SPECIFICATION AND DESIGN
RedMagic 4K Gaming Monitor
27″ Mini LED screen, 3840 x 2160 pixels, 16:9, 160Hz
Color Support 1.07 Billion colors
99% Adobe RGB,
99% RGB,
99% DCI-P3
DisplayHDR 1000
Contrast Ratio 1000 : 1
Brightness 1300 cd/m²
Response Time 1 ms (GTG)
NVIDIA G-Sync Adaptive Display Support
AMD FreeSync
VESA mount
I/O 2x HDMI 2.1
1x Display Port 1.4
1x USB-C
1x 3.5mm audio jack
Audio None
USB 1x USB 3.0
2x USB 2.0
Webcam No
Price RM 3999
SCREEN
The screen is only 27″ with a Mini LED panel with 4K resolution. The screen has a traditional 16:9 ratio with a refresh rate of up to 160Hz which is high enough for a gaming monitor. There is support for NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, which means that tearing or flickering graphics issues will not occur. The panel can also reach a peak brightness of 1300 nits which exceeds the VESA Display HDR 1000 standard.
The specifications are very impressive, especially for those who have high specification PCs. It's just a bit of a loss to use a 4K panel on a 27″ screen. 4K detail is not as clear and this is the reason why usually only QHD panels are used for screens under 30″. However for those who want 4K all the time, this monitor has no problem meeting this requirement.
The monitor has three thin bezels on the sides and one thick bezel on the chin. The design is still beautiful and in line with other monitors in the Malaysian market. What's strange is another large chin at the bottom that doesn't seem congruent with the rest of the monitor's design. We don't know why this big chin exists. It has a light which is just a sign that it has electric power. On other monitors, a small LED light is sufficient for the same function.
The screen is attached to a base that has a neck that can be turned vertically 90 degrees, lifted up, the neck swivels and the height can be raised or lowered. There is a gravity sensor that detects when the monitor is changed from vertical to horizontal position and vice versa. Users do not need to change the screen orientation manually through the computer's Display Settings menu. The neck freedom of this adjustable monitor is comparable to the majority of gaming monitors such as the Predator X series for example.
The neck is connected to the base in a tripod design with the vertical pole itself being the third leg. It is stable and does not require a large tabletop. On the same neck there are holes to manage various cables (power, HDMI, USB-C or DP) so that it looks neater. A headphone stand is also placed on the base post where it can be stored when not in use.
I/O options are 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DP 1.4, 1x USB-C, 2x UBS 2.0, 1x USB 3.0, and 1x 3.5 mm audio jack. We have to say that the I/O position in a rather deep "trench" behind the large chin of this monitor makes the cable connection process a little difficult. Why this design is used by RedMagic is a mystery. Never in our history of PC use have we wanted hard access to I/O.
Finally at the back there is an RGB lighting system in a triangular configuration. On the back is also placed the monitor control button. One special button for HDR, one to access the menu, one to change the input and another to activate the gaming mode. All the buttons are made of smooth plastic material,.
Visual And Software Quality
The graphics performance is satisfactory if you have a computer that can reach high frame rates. We use this monitor with a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Acer Predator Helios 18 and MacBook Air M2. All input connections can be automatically detected by the monitor at the highest resolution. The issue only occurs on the Helio 18 where the displayed screen ratio is not accurate causing the visuals to look blurry. Never had this issue happen because it was too random.
The HDR display is also quite bright helped by native 4K content. We played a few videos from Netflix and Disney+ Hostar and they all looked interesting. A difference can be seen when HDR mode is activated by pressing the button on the back of the monitor. It's just that we noticed a slight "blooming" effect on bright areas. It doesn't make the screen performance bad but for a premium monitor, we want perfection to be achieved.
Speaking of perfection, we feel the OSD issues and control buttons are more or less pleasant. Less pleasant because the buttons feel too plastic and cheap. The use of a multi-button system instead of a rotary knob (which the Predator and Samsung monitors use) also makes using this monitor feel a bit archaic.
The process of changing color settings, sensors, gaming settings and more requires us to enter a multi-layered menu list. This is a monitor OSD design from previous decades and should not be used on modern monitors with the latest Mini LED panels.
More manufacturers should realize that the software on the monitor is just as important as the panel type, panel quality and other designs. This is especially important for a monitor whose sales price falls into the premium category.
AUDIO
There is no direct speaker which we feel is a bit disappointing because normally a 2W speaker is included. All it has is the audio jack we mentioned at the beginning of this review. Maybe RedMagic felt it was better not to include the speaker at all than to give a cheap speaker that didn't satisfy at all.
IN THE BOX
Here are the contents of the box when the RedMagic 4K Gaming Monitor is purchased.
Monitor RedMagic 4K Gaming Monitor
Monitor site
Power cable.
USB-C cable
HDMI cable
DP cable
Manual.
CONCLUSION
The RedMagic 4K Gaming Monitor is an excellent and satisfying display for gamers who need high refresh rate support, a bright screen, good color display and the freedom to adjust a fairly good monitor. It has a 4K panel that does not disappoint because of the vivid color display. Through the support of FreeSync and G-Sync, two popular formats avoid the issue of "torn screen" can be solved.
The issue is that access to various I/Os is quite limited, there are no speakers and the monitor software is less user-friendly. At a price of RM3999 it is also sold at a very premium price. But this is not surprising because it is of the Mini LED type. Want the best panel then your pocket needs to be thick. For sure if bought you will be satisfied with the quality.
Pro
Bright, sharp display and good color display.
NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync support.
The monitor is easy to adjust its angle, rotation and height.
True HDR support.
High refresh rate.
Cons
No speakers.
Monitor software and control systems are less user-friendly.
Access to hard I/O.