An interesting press release found its way into my inbox just now that announces a new competitor to the world of 4K monitors. Seiki, made famous recently for its line of incredibly low cost 4K TVs that really started the 4K trend for consumers and PC gamers, is building a set of three professional series 4K monitors for release early next year with some damned impressive specifications.

Though you can find the 50-in Seiki SE50UY04 for just $799 on Amazon and the 39-in SE39UY04 for only $469, these are televisions with somewhat limited 30 Hz refresh rates. The new products that Seiki is showing for the first time at CE Week Exhibits and Conferences in New York City do not have any of these limitations though and instead boast one of the most complete list of specifications I have seen on a monitor.

Seiki SE39UY04 4K Television

Seiki will introduce three different sizes including a 28-in (28U4SEP-G02), 32-in (32U4SEP-G02) and 40-in (40U4SEP-G02) offering with the following specs:

  • Vertical Alignment (VA) LED panel technology with 3,840 by 2,160 4K Ultra HD
    resolution
  • 12-bit color processing and 14-bit gamma mode
  • HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.3, MHL 3.0, DVI and VGA standards display connections
  • Picture-by-picture (x4) and daisy chain mode
  • USB 3.0 hub (1 upstream and 2 downstream)
  • VESA-compliant adjustable monitor stand with quick release

I am still waiting for confirmation on the panel type quality (more like TN or more like IPS, etc.) but the list of specifications here offers a glimpse of what to expect. (Vetical Aligned panels should be pretty damned good.) 12-bit color and 14-bit gamma indicate that this display will be built for the professional and creative designer at heart. Support for upcoming standards like HDMI 2.0 and Displayport 1.3 should tell you that the monitors won't be shipping for a while (Q1 2015 I'm told) but when you have them they will be able to push 4K at 60 Hz without issue.

The quad PiP mode could be really cool if it works as I suspect – four different HDMI inputs allow for four unique unscaled images on the panel at the same time. This could be great for multi-display uses where consumers can utilize a set of four 20-in (effective) 1080p panels without a bezel. We are already drooling over the possibilities of that here for our test setups…

So while I am excited about the prospect of these monitors, we don't yet know the pricing. If these are high quality IPS displays you can expect them to be quite expensive. But Seiki is known for building great displays at a low cost, so perhaps the company will be able to do so once again and surprise us all in time for CES next year.

You can find the full press release by looking after the news break!

SEIKI BREAKS INTO DESKTOP MONITOR MARKET

WITH A TRIO OF SEIKI PRO BRANDED 4K ULTRA HD DISPLAYS

Seiki Introduces High-performance 28-, 32- and 40-inch Displays

Featuring 3,840 by 2,160 4K Ultra HD Resolution, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.3, and MHL 3.0

NEW YORK (CE Week 2014) – June 24, 2014 – In keeping with the goal of accelerating the adoption of 4K Ultra HD standard, Seiki (www.seiki.com), a leading brand in the emerging 4K Ultra HD display market, today announced its entry into the desktop monitor segment with a new lineup of 4K Ultra HD displays. The new Seiki 4K displays will be branded Seiki Pro, the company’s innovation brand for advanced products, and designed for today’s 4K Ultra HD early-adopter users ready for the ultimate desktop computing and gaming experience.

“According to industry experts, 4K desktop monitors are forecasted to reach two million units in 2014 and continue to climb through 2017. Seiki aims to tackle the desktop monitor market and duplicate the success we’ve experienced in the 4K Ultra HD TV market,” said Frank Kendzora, executive vice president at Seiki. “Our strategy again is to offer products that capture the excitement surrounding 4K Ultra HD and make the technology available to the masses at a fair price.”

Seiki will demonstrate its new high-performance Seiki Pro 4K Displays for the first time at the CE Week Exhibits & Conferences (June 25-26) held at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City.

Seiki Pro 4K displays are designed to deliver the ultimate desktop computing experience for intensive computer graphics, photo and video editing, and programming applications, as well as fast-paced 4K PC gaming at up to 60 frames per second.

Seiki will introduce three displays sizes including a 28- (28U4SEP-G02), 32- (32U4SEP-G02) and 40-inch (40U4SEP-G02) models. Current specification list include:

 Vertical Alignment (VA) LED panel technology with 3,840 by 2,160 4K Ultra HD resolution

 12-bit color processing and 14-bit gamma mode

 HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.3, MHL 3.0, DVI and VGA standards display connections

 Picture-by-picture (x4) and daisy chain mode

 USB 3.0 hub (1 upstream and 2 downstream)

 VESA-compliant adjustable monitor stand with quick release

The Seiki Pro 4K Ultra HD displays will be available in Q1 2015. Suggested retail pricing will be announced closer to product availability.

About Seiki

Seiki (pronounced “SAY-key”) represents a new way of thinking in consumer electronics. Seiki offers straightforward, reliable digital entertainment experience that is affordably priced and backed by comprehensive customer support.

Featuring a one-year replacement warranty, Seiki markets a full range of high-definition LED televisions that feature 4K Ultra HD and Full HD 1080p resolutions. Seiki 4K Ultra HD TV was recognized and presented with the ninth annual POPULAR MECHANICS’ Breakthrough Awards as one of the top ten products setting benchmarks in design and engineering today.

The company also markets an audio product line that includes multi-channel stereo sound bar solutions and portable Bluetooth® speaker models. Seiki products are available at select authorized national in-store and online retailers. For more information about Seiki and its complete list of North American retail partners, please visit www.seiki.com.