Eve Spectrum 4K HDMI 2.1 Monitor review: A beautiful companion for Xbox Series X & PS5

When the Xbox Series X|S was announced a little over a year ago, it brought a slew of intriguing new features and hardware capabilities to the next-gen consoles. The release of HDMI 2.1, which offers native 4K gaming at 120 frames per second with High Dynamic Range, was one of the most notable improvements (HDR). Unfortunately, there haven’t been many options for small TVs that support the current HDMI version.

There are a slew of excellent goods in the TV business that support HDMI 2.1, but these enormous screens typically run from 55 to 70 inches in size. A display of that magnitude would undoubtedly melt the retinas of players like myself who typically play at a desk. There was a time when getting a display under 50 inches that included all of the latest technological advancements seemed nearly impossible. Then came a strange crowd-sourced idea that promised to fill this market niche.

The Eve Spectrum 4K is a 27-inch IPS monitor that promises “greater power” without sacrificing “quality.” Since its unveiling in 2020, I’ve been paying careful attention to the product and its marketing strategy. As one of the first businesses to market a 4K monitor with HDMI 2.1 connectivity, Eve has drawn a lot of scrutiny to see if they can keep their claims. After over a month of evaluating the Eve Spectrum 4K in a variety of environments, I can certainly declare that this stunning display is one of the best options for gaming on Xbox One X or PlayStation 5.

Spectrum 4K Monitor by Eve

The Eve Spectrum 4K offers a few pricing alternatives for clients, thanks to a lot of feedback from the community and backers. As of right now, you may reserve a 27-inch Eve Spectrum 4K display for $799 on the company’s . This introductory pricing does not include a stand, which may be purchased separately for $99. Orders will begin shipping in January 2022 for those who reserve now.

Eve Spectrum 4K Monitor: What you would like

The Eve Spectrum 4K Monitor’s genuinely excellent build quality and exceptionally sleek appearance were instantly apparent upon opening. Even the packaging of this item oozed with care and attention to minute nuances, despite being a rather minor accommodation in the larger scheme of things. I soon noted the Eve Spectrum 4K’s amazing weight after removing it from its beautiful enclosure. It wasn’t heavy by any means, but everything about this monitor seemed robust and strong, from the sleek optional stand to the respectably thin housing.

I couldn’t help but like the physical aspect of this monitor being a huge proponent of minimalistic hardware design. The 27-inch panel stands out because to the thin bezel that runs down the screen’s edge. There’s also no superfluous branding or logo on the front of the display, which helps maintain the presentation razor-sharp. The stand’s movable track glides up and down smoothly while somehow retaining its position firmly held in place. Every aspect of the Eve Spectrum 4K has been thoughtfully designed to leave the smallest possible footprint, and I adored how well it blended into my workstation.

While a beautiful presentation is a desirable feature of any good gaming monitor, the overall picture quality is what matters most. This magnificent IPS Oxide LCD panel on the Eve Spectrum 4K delivers gorgeous colors and essential gaming-centric video features. On my Xbox Series X, this display revolutionized my console gaming experience with native 4K resolution, HDR600, 10-bit color depth, and frame rates up to 120 FPS. Thanks to HDMI 2.1 support, titles like Grounded, which features a variety of vibrant settings, exploded with beautiful detail, and competitive multiplayer games like Halo Infinite felt smoother than ever before.

Thanks to HDMI 2.1 support, games like Halo Infinite ran smoother than ever before.

The Eve Spectrum 4K is specifically designed to give the best gaming display, with a wide range of customizing options to assist players get the most out of their games. The Eve Spectrum 4K features a staggering array of onboard choices for consumers, including NVIDIA G-SYNC, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and an overdrive mode with a 1ms response time. This display was designed with core gamers in mind, from the integrated FPS counter to the ability to alter the RGB color of the front LED light.

The sheer quantity of input choices available with this display is certainly worthy of praise. The Eve Spectrum 4K is versatile enough to function as a standalone monitor for a console/PC workstation like mine, with two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, one USB-C, two USB-A, and more. I can readily connect four game consoles and run a dual-display arrangement from my PC when combined with my existing LG 27-inch UK850. Even with just the Eve Spectrum 4K display, I was able to connect my Xbox Series X, PS5, PC, and even my Surface Duo 2 at the same time in my tests. You won’t have to worry about swapping wires or designating inputs in most cases.

Eve Spectrum 4K Monitor: What you will not like

On paper, the Eve Spectrum 4K has pretty much everything a modern gaming display could want. Unfortunately, one element in particular left me feeling unimpressed. The display’s HDR and the forced global dimming that comes with it are undoubtedly the most noticeable drawback in what is otherwise an excellent product.

The Eve Spectrum 4K display supports HDR 600 from a technological standpoint. This should, in principle, provide more contrast between extreme darks and extreme brightness. When it comes to brighter sequences, such as taking a daytime stroll in Grand Theft Auto V, the display does an excellent job of delivering the HDR experience that is expected. Unfortunately, the global dimming required for this display to support HDR completely washes out any darker scenes.

This was tough to overlook for someone who regularly plays horror games and grittier RPGs like Dark Souls.

This was tough to overlook for someone who regularly plays horror games and grittier RPGs like Dark Souls. Any hint of color or light jarringly awakens the vertical glow of the global dimming regions. Even subtitles triggered dramatic emotions when playing , creating a bright white glow to otherwise absolutely dark times. After chatting with an Eve representative about the issue, it appears that the team is looking into the prospect of allowing consumers to prevent global dimming in a future firmware update, but for the time being, I’ve just turned off HDR.

The only other point worth mentioning is a considerable delay while switching inputs. When switching from HDMI 1 to HDMI 2 or DisplayPort via the monitor’s rear controls, it could take up to five seconds for the display to recognize the input change. This delayed transition isn’t a deal-breaker in the great scheme of things, but it’s worth mentioning if it’ll be your primary display. When switching from SDR to HDR when a game starts up on Xbox Series X, it’s really visible.

Eve Spectrum 4K Monitor: Competitors

There aren’t many monitors with HDMI 2.1 capability on the market right now, especially if you’re looking for something that will fit on a typical desk. However, if you’re looking for a display that can fully utilize the capabilities of the Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5, there are a few possibilities worth considering.

First up is the . This 28-inch ISP show hosts lots of similar options because the Eve Spectrum 4K, together with two HDMI 2.1 inputs and 4K gaming with HDR at 120 FPS, however, without the worldwide dimming points related to Spectrum’s HDR. The Acer Nitro could solely help HDR400, which implies a much less spectacular total distinction, however contemplating I’ve fully turned HDR off on my show, that is a possibility to think about if HDR is a must-have. Should you can swallow the $1,200 price ticket.

If the actual property is not as much of a problem, one other stable contender is the . At 43 inches, this show is kind of giant and resembles a TV. Nevertheless, with a decent quantity of bang to your buck relating to complete function set and measurement, this $1,000 HDMI 2.1 monitor is an incredible worth.

Eve Spectrum 4K Monitor: Must you purchase it?

If you’re looking for a unique way to express yourself, this is the book for you.

If you’re looking for a unique way to express yourself, this isn’t the product for you.

The Eve Spectrum 4K 27-inch display was clearly made for next-generation consoles and PC gaming. If you’re like me and have been waiting for a selection of mid-sized monitors that take advantage of HDMI 2.1’s advances, this is without a doubt one of the best options on the market right now. The Eve Spectrum 4K has a very expensive price tag, like many similar monitors now available, but its value is confidently proved in my experience with it.

Overall, the Eve Spectrum 4K is a stunning, well-designed monitor that performs admirably on practically every level. My Xbox Series X has never looked or felt better when I’m gaming. The thin design, high build quality, and bright, brilliant IPS panel make this a device that looks great whether it’s on or off. The Eve Spectrum 4K is an excellent addition to any workplace environment, especially if you want a monitor that can handle both PC and current-gen console gaming.

The Eve Spectrum 4K is an incredibly well-made HDMI 2.1 monitor that anyone using an Xbox One X, PS5, or PC would love. Although I have some reservations about this monitor’s HDR capability, the colors are brilliant and deep even when HDR is turned off. There isn’t a better alternative at this pricing point or in this size.