Performance

Our testing was performed using a 27” WQHD 2560 x 1440 IPS LCD monitor with LED backlighting, connected to a Windows 10 PC running a Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 graphics card. In an uncalibrated state, this monitor emits a noticeable green/yellow colour cast, which was effectively corrected by the ColorMunki Display. Objectively verifying the exact accuracy of the calibration is impossible with the simplified ColorMunki software, as it doesn’t include options for viewing the percentage of colour space coverage, or delta-e colour difference statistics.

Using the colorimeter to detect ambient lighting and set the monitor’s luminance accordingly gave another noticeable change in our monitor’s display output. This became significantly darker, to a level below what was possible by using the physical brightness controls on the panel itself (although it’s worth pointing out that the test monitor’s on-board brightness adjustment is fairly limited). This brightness reduction is due to the relatively dim ambient lighting during testing, and the end result is a more comfortable viewing experience where highlight details are easier to see and monitor brightness more closely resembles the perceived brightness of printed media.

Not only does the ColorMunki Display provide effective calibration, its software performs flawlessly with no glitches and the whole calibration process is pretty quick, taking approximately five minutes. Once the colour profile is saved, it’s automatically loaded whenever the computer is started.

Conclusion

The ColorMunki Display is an effortlessly easy to use colour calibration system that offers just enough customisation to satisfy enthusiastic photographers with knowledge of colour profiling. Its extra calibration features like flare correction, ambient brightness compensation and auto brightness adjustment are great for helping you view display and print output in comparable brightness levels. These features help set the ColorMunki Display apart from its baby brother, the ColorMunki Smile, while still undercutting X-Rite’s pricier and more intimidating i1Display Pro.

However, if you can do without the ability to profile projectors and you’re not fussed about auto brightness control, it’s worth considering the £72/$89 ColorMunki Smile. While its software is pared down to child-friendly degree, its calibration accuracy is uncompromising and it’s no slower to calibrate than the ColorMunki Display.

Even so, we’ve got no hesitation in recommending the ColorMunki Display. It offers all the performance and features you need for accurately calibrating LCD displays, and does so at a relatively accessible price.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	4
Features	4.5
Ease-of-use	5
Image quality	5
Value for money	4.5

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