UPERFECT ZX27BU (UMax 27") 4K Monitor Reviewed by Over 50 Tech

Please Note: Our model name has changed from UPERFECT UMax to (ZX27BU), but due to the recent transition period, we will also include the old model name in parentheses! The product remains the same, only the model name has changed!

I've been looking for a portable monitor that I can use here in the home studio for content creation, productivity, and also streaming and recording video game content. But not only here in the home studio, but also outside the home studio for the same tasks, as well as a reference monitor for videos that I record and stream in other locations. So today, we're gonna check out the UPERFECT ZX27BU (UMax 27 Inch). Dual-mode monitor and see, is it worth it, especially for the expensive price tag. So, there's a ton of specs. We're going to put them up on the screen right now so you can see them when I scroll through the web page. But of course, those refresh rates and resolutions talking about the 4K, 144, and 1080p 288 are really the flagship features of this 27-inch portable monitor.

Versatility and Compatibility Features

Also, versatility. A really is key. Like I said, from here in the home studio or even outside, especially outside the home studio, I need something that can be set up very quickly and very easy for video games, productivity, whether I'm working with a PC, a Mac, a Chromebook, or an iPad Pro, and of course, gaming with a PS5 Pro, or even a Steam deck. It works for everything. There's your spoiler. on the conclusion, but we're gonna go through because this is not cheap. On sale at just around $670. It's still super expensive. So, in this review, I'm gonna tell you how I use it, and if it's overall a worthy buy and a value for your situation where I have multiple situations where I need to use a monitor like this.

What Comes in the Box

Included Cables and Accessories

So, let's talk about what comes with This portable monitor, it comes with a USB type C for audio and video input. We're gonna test that later. A Type C for power input, also an HDMI cable for audio and video input, and a display port cable for the same audio and video input. Also, obviously, it comes with a 27 inch 4K or 1080p if that's what you choose to use it as, and that is about it. You have all All these different things. The cables are a big deal because some places don't include that display port cable.

Why the Included Cables Matter

Some places or brands don't include the HDMI cable, nor a USB-C video monitor cable that's capable of carrying the video audio simultaneously. And why we say audio is because this here has built-in speakers. Are the speakers great? Not really, but judge for yourself as I play some Fire Pro wrestling. Spoiler later, we're gonna talk about video games on the monitor, playing Fire Pro Wrestling, but just listen to this audio playing this game on the PS5 Pro, and the volume is set to 100.

Gaming Performance and Experience

Testing the Monitor With PS5 Pro

So, let's talk about video games because this is advertised as a gaming monitor in the description on their website. I connected my PS5 ProV that included HDMI cable. Happy to say that worked without a problem. Also, playing one of the best pro wrestling games in history. Debate me on that in the comments. Fire Pro Wrestling World. And I have to say there was never a problem.

Gameplay Performance and Casual Gaming Experience

It did have a 4K signal. It didn't need 144 Hz for Fire Pro wrestling world, but also playing games like Madden and other things, Ace Combat. I didn't see any kind of ghosting. I didn't see any kind of lag. It just was a plug and play experience. Now, I'm not a hardcore PC gamer or anything like that. I'm just a casual console gamer.

Steam Deck and Built-In Speaker Experience

Also I have a Steam Deck OLED as well, as well as I said, a PS5 Pro, and I had no issues. It's very much plug and play, easy to use. And as I said earlier, the speakers are included, and that's always a really good thing to include, but the speakers are nothing to write home about. I would just plug my headphones into my PS5 controller, and I'm ready to go. But not really an experience that I can nitpick about to really carry my PS5 Pro or even any other more portable console and be able to play on this. Portably is really, really a cool thing.

Using the Monitor With an iPad Pro

Connecting the iPad Pro Through USB-C

So, I wanted to connect my 13-inch iPad Pro, the M5 model, and connect that Thunderbolt port to the USB-C port using the included USB-C cable. Happy to report, the video and the audio did carry over and I was able to extend the display. So I'm using Final Cut Pro on the iPad or even Da Vinci Resolve, which you're gonna have to pay for on. The upward studio tier of Resolve in order to get that clean feed onto a 2nd display, but it does work.

Bonus Charging Feature While Connected

And as a matter of fact, here's a little bonus I didn't know about. It also, at the same time of carrying the video and the audio inputs, it also charges my iPad Pro. That is really with some video monitor cables I buy off Amazon, it doesn't work for all three. This, I'm happy to report, does work and is really a big plus when working with the iPad.

Home Studio Setup and Workflow

How the Studio Desk Is Organized

So, I wanna give everybody an overhead shot of my studio desk here and how we produced the Stevie Richards show as well as Stevie Richards Fitness. Over here is the Apple Studio display, usually all the apps, the menu bar, everything over here, as a matter of fact, you saw on the B-roll. We had to move that over, the menu bar over to the Apple Studio display, but I could have it on the UPERFECT 27 inch monitor. In the middle, we have the prompter XL.

Monitor Usage During Streaming and Production

Now, the way I usually do the Stevie Richards show, Ecam live on at the studio display. James up here or, anything we're watching, watch-ons on Patreon, stuff like that. Over here is usually another one for show notes if I don't have them on the 13-inch iPad Pro. Now, in a gaming situation, right here, it's just like the 24-inch Vizio TV I had, the $12. Thrift store one. This is just a little bit more money than that.

Gaming and Streaming Setup Integration

I would put my PS5 Pro on the floor or somewhere behind the monitor, and then I'm over here. The Elgato 4KX is actually plugged in over USBC to the Apple Studio display, ecam Live, and then even I would have the live chat up here on the prompter XL. Now, there's two different things I'm looking at doing in regards to this UPERFECT. Monitor. I'm either going to invest in a single or dual monitor arm.

Monitor Arm and Desk Setup Plans

Plans for a Better Desk Layout

By the way, Chase has an excellent review on a single monitor arm that's available on Amazon. That will be the brand I go with either with a single monitor arm or a dual with the 27 inch somewhere over here and a 24 over there. Is it overkill? Of course it is. But this here could replace the 24-inch on its own, but I definitely want to probably put it on a monitor arm.

VESA Mount and Flexible Design

The best part about this monitor is, it has the visa or vasa mount, however you pronounce it, tomato, tomato, and also, the stand does not need to be removed. You could go either or. So I can take it off the mound, and still, if my wife wants to work on her Chromebook, or we want to work in the other office, I can just take it off the mound. And I don't have to reinstall the stand.

Adjustable Viewing Angles and Comfort

That's really a quality of life thing. I know it's first world problems to reattach the stand, but this here, it's a really nice upgrade. And if the viewing angle with the lights and everything, you see the key lights up here, the viewing angle can be switched instantly right there or with the monitor on, it can raise or lower it. But right now, I really do like where this is. I like what it's doing.

Microphone and Streaming Adjustments

Adjusting the Mic Setup for Gaming

And if I'm playing video games, the only other thing I would do, you could see a scissor arm here. This here is a Rode PSA One Plus, and I usually have it right here, so I could just talk here and look there or play games. But what I'm probably going to do is get a low profile. Monitor arm, or, actually, not a mic arm.

Future Improvements to the Studio Setup

I have my mind on the monitor arm, a mic arm that comes out here or from the front of the studio desk, and I can have it right here, talk to James, have the mic off camera, and also be able to look at the monitor, where even here, I can see a great deal of it, but I'm kind of twisting my body around to do it. Not a big deal. Right now, I have a choice, but like I said, I can disconnect it from the monitor arm and put it basically on a desk, a table, or whatever, and even customize the angle as I see fit.

Appreciation for the Overall Setup

This is a, an overkill setup, but it's something. Thing that's never done and I'm looking forward to improving all this. But man, I'm really blessed and fortunate to have this kind of setup and be able to create content.

Downsides and Complaints

Clunky Monitor Controls

Now, I want to say a couple of cons on this because this is one thing, and it's such a thin portable monitor. Take a drink once again. But the controls are very clunky. As a matter of fact, I have the instructions and the manual on hand in order to remember certain things. I wish they did one of two things.

Missing Remote Control

The number 1 thing I wished especially for the price, was maybe include a remote. A remote would make everything much easier with buttons. It's an extra thing not to lose, but to me, especially for the price, they should have included a remote or maybe even a joystick on the side. Where the controls are.

Suggestions for Better Control Options

Of course, it's super thin. I don't think you can fit the mechanicals for a joystick, so the remote would be awesome. And if this thing had something like general Bluetooth, and I could use just a really generic third brand or a third-party brand, remote with it, I would rather than just release a remote, even as an accessory to kind of buy. Although, like I say, and I repeat it over and over again, this monitor is not cheap.

Portability Concerns

Lack of Carrying Case

The other thing I talked about portable. Take a drink once again, but it's supposed to be portable. Guess what is not included, especially for this high price? A bag, a case, something you carry it in. Now, I'm looking on Amazon to see if there's any, you know, like even an iMac case. I used to have one of those way back in the day, and that really did make the iMac much easier to carry around.

Need for Better Protection During Travel

If there was a more, say, efficient solution to just put a 27 inch monitor, with some cables and stuff. A little cable bag so you don't scratch the monitor. It would be great. But those two things, the remote, to be able to control this without reaching around the side and kind of fumbling around with it, and a carrying case of some sort would make this perfect.

It's still expensive, but that would make it much easier to kind of swallow that cost, especially as I cannot say it enough, and I've said it way too much. This is a portable monitor. I can carry it around very easily, but at the same time, It's, it's not protected by a case. So, you got to be very, very careful if you're carrying this in a car, truck, to on location, video village type stuff. That's the stuff you need to look out for. Please include that remote and definitely include a carrying case with this particular model.

Touchscreen Monitor Ideas for Future Use

EA Live, it can bring the scenes in on the 24-inch portable monitor just down here. Same thing with the adjustable stand where you can adjust the angle. I could literally have it down on the desk here, off-camera, and just hit the scenes I need to control. Control what I need to, or even if I'm editing Da Vinci Resolved certain plug-ins, I can have it set up through Touch Portal and put it on the screen and add transitions and other things while I'm editing.

Replacing Older Displays and Expanding the Setup

It just adds another control surface here to the home studio, but right here, even show notes for that, I can have it here. And that 24 inch is a bit more affordable than the 27-inch. Well, I have both? More than likely. So. And now that I'm here and I replaced my 24-inch TV over to the side, I really can't see myself going back.

Final Viewer Engagement and Wrap-Up

And actually, it takes up a lot less desk real estate, even with the stand than a 24-inch TV. And of course, as I said earlier, the monitor arm will come into play and recapture that space on my desk while I can move this monitor anywhere I want to for gaming, productivity, video editing, or all of the above.

Final Verdict and Conclusion

So, what is my conclusion about the UPERFECT (ZX27BU) UMax 27 inch dual mode monitor offered by UPERFECT? I think it's really, really cool. I really, really like it. There's one thing that I didn't mention earlier. That I don't expect this to have, but the next monitor I may have here in the home studio will be the 24-inch touchscreen monitor because then I can really use that like a stream deck.