Alogic Clarity Pro Touch 27: 30-second review
The Alogic Clarity Pro Touch 27in UHD 4K Monitor is one of a few high-quality touch-ready monitors on the market suitable for the creative sector. It is a full Mac, which essentially means that Mac users can use the full standard Mac OS with full touch screen abilities.
Alongside pitching itself as one of the best business monitors, it also offers 99% Adobe RGB Colour Accuracy, which makes it extremely interesting for creative workers looking for the best monitors for photo editing of this size and spec.
Straight out of the box, the Alogic Clarity Pro Touch 27in UHD 4K Monitor impresses with a solid build quality and weight stand that means that the monitor stands rock steady on your desktop with plenty of flexibility over its positioning. While the monitor and stand combo is more weighty than most 27in monitors, this means that it's simple to quickly rotate the orientation without wobble, meaning that whether it's checking artwork or your latest social video, this monitor makes it easy to see your work as intended.
Setup is quick, and essentially involves connecting via USB-C for the visuals and data while power is supplied through a traditional AC power cable. If your computer utilises HDMI or DisplayPort, then there are the usual connection options with the data feed to enable the touch screen capabilities linked through a USB Type-B to A cable that will fit directly into your computer. Once done, it's simply a case of using the OSD and computer OS options to set your monitor preferences.
If you intend to use the monitor for creative work, then calibration through a colour calibration solution is required, and in this test, we utilised the DataColor SpyderX2. One thing to note is that the monitor features a gloss finish. This makes it easy to clean but is also highly reflective, so it's worth carefully considering the monitor's position to ensure you minimise the reflections.
While touchscreen monitors can be a point of contention for creatives due to sticky finger marks, there's no doubt just how useful they can be, especially for creative work. Switching on Snap in Photoshop or InDesign enables you to shift items around the screen quickly. In use, the 10-point multitouch display is responsive, and the 4K resolution gives you the clarity and detail needed for creative work.
The retractable 8MP webcam is a great feature that keeps the otherwise stylish lines of the monitor intact. It only pops up when required and reseeds into the body of the monitor once a conference call is over. Overall, the Clarity Pro Touch is a great solution for creatives, offering a versatile and high-performance monitor for a variety of uses.
Alogic Clarity Pro Touch 27: Price and availability
- How much does it cost? £999 / $99
- When is it out? Available now
- Where can you get it? You can get it from the Alogic website
Priced at around $999 / £999, the Alogic Clarity Pro Touch 27in UHD 4K Monitor is available for purchase directly from the Alogic website and online retailers.
- Value: 4 / 5
Alogic Clarity Pro Touch 27: Specifications
Alogic Clarity Pro Touch 27: Design
The design of the Clarity Pro Touch monitor is minimalist and modern, with an ultra-thin bezel that maximises the size of the screen. As well as the solid metal stand that's shipped with the monitor, our review unit was also supplied with the Clarity Fold stand, which is well worth the additional outlay if you work in the creative field, as it enables you to move the monitor in a more traditional work canvas position. This works exceptionally well when you want to work directly on the monitor in a similar way to traditional pen and paper, and another available accessory is a touch pen.
At 27 inches, the screen size gives you plenty of real estate for all types of applications, and adjustments to the screen quality settings can be made through the OSD, which is accessed through the buttons on the bottom right of the monitor. This OSD is extensive. One thing to note about the screen is the high gloss finish - while this is great for touch screens as it helps to minimise the effects of fingerprints over a matt screen, the reflections can be distracting, so the positioning of the monitor in a way that minimises reflections will be important. Often, a slight tweak to the position is all that's needed, and that's where the solid stand comes into play.
Using the supplied stand, you have plenty of flexibility over positioning, enabling you to pivot, tilt, and swivel as needed. As with previous Clarity monitors, you can also quickly rotate the monitor from landscape to portrait, which is a great feature for Art workers. The all-metal base helps to provide stability first when using the monitor's touch features and also through any rotation or positioning of the screen. It's all very solid.
When it comes to connections, the monitor utilises a USB Type-C connection, which supplies both the visual feed and the data feed required for the touch screen. This also means that the monitor can be used as a USB hub, so other devices and accessories can be plugged into it rather than directly into your laptop.
Another nice build feature is the webcam, which is integrated into the top of the monitor. We've tested many of the best 4K monitors and that's not always the case. In normal use here, this camera stays hidden, retracted into the body of the monitor, and it's only when Zoom, FaceTime, or your video conferencing App of choice is loaded that the small camera pops out of the top, ready for use.
When it comes to the build and handling of the monitors, high-quality plastic, solid metal construction, and ultra-thin bezels make them sleek and stylish and perfect for professional locations. The initial handling of the monitor is also straightforward. All that's needed to connect is a single USB Type-C cable to the machine, at which point the touch capabilities of both Mac and PC systems instantly kick in.
- Design: 4.5 / 5
Alogic Clarity Pro Touch 27: Features
While most monitors of this price and level will have a host of impressive features, the touchscreen ability and the 99% Adobe RGB instantly elevate the interest of creatives around this monitor. Starting with the touch screen abilities, this is plug-and-play with the latest Mac and PC systems, which will be a surprise for most Mac users who are restricted to the feature on the manufacturer's phones and tablets rather than on their standard laptops and computers. Windows users will be more familiar, and on both systems, this touch functionality works incredibly well.
The monitor features a precision 10-point multitouch system that recognises up to 10 touch points at once and enables easy interaction with creative software such as Adobe Photoshop or DaVinici Resolve, some of the best free video editing software you can get. When coupled with the optional Clarity Active Stylus Pen 2 and the Fold stand, this makes an incredibly useful combo for anyone wanting to draw or work directly on the screen to mimic traditional pen-and-paper techniques.
Another headline feature that will appeal to the creative industry is that the monitor supports DCI-P3 97%, sRGB 100% and Adobe RGB 99% colour gamuts, which makes it ideal for photoediting, although we'd still like a higher DCI-P3 coverage for it to really compete against the best monitors for video editing we've reviewed.
Other handy features include the 8MP retractable webcam and the fact that when it's down, you have absolute privacy, which will appeal to many. However, this is a fixed camera, and due to the design, the tilt can be adjusted with the small wheel on the back of the unit. When it comes to connections, you have the option of the one cable solution through the USB Type-C connection, which also delivers 65W power delivery, alongside HDMI, DisplayPort, and multiple USB-A ports. When connected through USB Type-C, those additional USB ports can be utilised by other accessories and devices, effectively using the monitor as a USB Hub.
- Features: 4.5 / 5
Alogic Clarity Pro Touch 27: Performance
The Clarity Pro Touch's initial setup is extremely easy and a little different from other monitors. The single cable approach utilising the USB Type-C port effectively makes this plug-and-play for both Mac and PC systems, with the touch screen abilities flickering to life as soon as it's connected.
The stand that ships with the monitor is weighty and solid and acts as a solid base for the screen; this proves to be especially effective when you're using the touch screen functions and helps to minimise the inevitable wobble as you interact with the screen drawing and moving settings and windows around.
It's worth mentioning here the two accessories that shipped with the review unit, which are the ultra-solid folding base and the Active Stylus Pen 2. Switching stands between the standard and folding is easy, and the folding is designed as a replacement for the standard and enables all the positions offered by the standard. However, it also enables you to fold the monitor down so that it can be used in a more traditional position, more akin to a traditional drafting desk. This makes it incredibly intuitive and gives you a far more traditional feeling of interaction between you and the screen, similar to pen on paper. The screen sensitivity is excellent, but its usability and accuracy don't quite level up to the abilities of the Wacom Cintiq Pr0 27in. However, that screen is over three times the price with similar display quality, which puts it in perspective.
When it comes to the screen, it's suitable for all types of work, and the touch feature, which has obvious benefits for the creative sector, is equally useful for office-based work, enabling windows to be quickly and easily moved around the screen. The screen finish is of a high gloss One-Glass Solution (OGS) which is high. Reflective: Through the test, it took a few positions to find a location that minimised the effects of the reflections. One of the major benefits of the screen is that it didn't seem to attract as many smears from fingers as some other touch screens, and the surface was extremely easy to wipe clean when needed.
Under the glass surface is a 4K resolution and IPS panel that delivers vibrant colours and sharp details. There's also plenty of control over the brightness, with a typical brightness of 400 nits. During the test, the monitor was calibrated using the Datacolor Spyder X2 as a matter of course to counter the effects of the daylight-balanced bulbs in the studio.
The monitor's colour accuracy and brightness proved impressive during the test, and the images on the screen and video were displayed with excellent clarity. One point to mention is that the monitor's only 60Hz refresh rate may be a limitation for some users, and while you can use the monitor for gaming, this really is different from what it has been designed for.
One feature that we really liked was the built-in webcam that popped out of the top of the monitor when needed and then disappeared when not. This just helped add an extra level of privacy compared to integrated options. Any fears that the fixed position of the camera would have some composition issues were quickly dispelled, and the small wheel at the back of the unit enables you to adjust the tilt easily enough. As is common with most monitors, there are built-in speakers; these are perfectly good for day-to-day audio playback but nothing special.
After running a selection of real-world tests, the monitor performance was checked with the Datacolor Spyder X2.
Starting with the colour performance, the Clarity Pro Touch excels with a gamut score of 5/5, covering sRGB and Adobe RGB gamuts comprehensively. This makes it an ideal choice for photo and video editing, where accurate colour representation is crucial. The tone response and colour accuracy scores of 5/5 and 4/5, respectively, further underscore its capabilities in delivering true-to-life colours and smooth tonal gradients.
However, the monitor's white point and contrast scores of 3/5 indicate that there might be room for improvement in these areas. While the white point score suggests that the monitor's colour temperature might not be perfect out of the box, due in no small part to the ambient lighting in the room, it can still be calibrated to meet personal preferences, and this was easily tuned with the monitor calibrator. The contrast score implies that while blacks are deep and whites are bright, there might be some variance that could affect the viewing experience in highly detailed or dark scenes.
The luminance uniformity score of 3/5 indicates that brightness levels might not be perfectly consistent across the entire screen, which could be a consideration for professional use. However, the colour uniformity score of 4.5/5 highlights the monitor's ability to maintain consistent colour accuracy across its surface, which is essential for tasks that require precision.
- Performance: 4 / 5
Alogic Clarity Pro Touch 27: Final verdict
The Alogic Clarity Pro Touch 27in UHD 4K Monitor is a great solution for creative professionals, with the display itself meeting the colour gamuts of DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, which makes it ideal for use with colour-sensitive image and graphics work. The ability to then use the touch screen features of the monitor increases the intuitive nature of the work. It will suit many creatives who are now used to working on smaller tablets similarly.
Out of the box, the monitor and touch screen features are simple and easy to set up— essentially, they are plug-and-play with that single cable connection. However, the addition of the folding stand and stylus elevates this monitor to the next level, and while it may not have the absolute accuracy and sensitivity of something like the Wacom Cintiq Pro, it is a third of the price.
One thing to watch with the monitor, aside from a few fingerprint smears, is the reflections due to the ultra-glossy finish. Overall, the Clarity Pro Touch is a solid choice for creative professionals looking for a decent, high-resolution touchscreen monitor. It also has the handy addition of a retractable webcam and USB-C connectivity.
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