** Update 25-Nov-2022 ** The promised firmware update has been released on the CoolerMaster website. Had to copy MERGE.bin to root folder of a USB flash disk formatted as FAT32 with Master Boot Record (MBR). Firmware update will take a good 5 minutes or so; just need to be patient. Picture quality is significantly improved with local dimming enabled. When moving bright objects around the screen, some local dimming artifacts (such as full screen brightness fluctuations) have disappeared. Haven't tested VRR with local dimming, but the capability is there. Improvements also made to KVM.I've been waiting for a high refresh rate 4K monitor with mini-LED for a long time. Even Apple's recent Studio Display lacks high refresh rate and mini-LED, yet sells for $1599 -- and contains a single video input.By comparison, the Tempest GP27U is packed with all the latest features. Four inputs including one with USB-C (w/90W charging), 160Hz variable rate refresh, mini-LED, quantum dot, IPS panel, HDR, high-accuracy color, speakers, USB ports, etc.And the price? Currently $799, which is $800 cheaper than Apple's -- in other words, HALF the price.I'll provide early impressions now and will update this review as my experience with it builds over the next few weeks. I'm not a gamer so my impressions are based only on productivity applications.I'm using a Mac with two monitors side-by-side: (a) this monitor and (b) Asus 4K 60Hz Designo.This monitor is advertised not only for gaming, but also for productivity workflows because of high black levels with mini-LED, accurate color, and high refresh rate (for smooth movement of windows).Day 1 Impressions:1. Zero dead pixels. No manufacturing defects of any kind.2. Monitor is preset to a particularly bright, non-miniLED mode, with too high contrast. It takes a few minutes to experiment with different preset picture modes and discrete picture settings. Reducing contrast to 50%, enabling mini-LED, lowering brightness, and changing the color temperature to 'standard' were some of the adjustments I made right away.3. Because the Asus 4K Designo is sitting right next to the Tempest G27U, I can make A/B comparisons rather easily. In every color mode the Tempest has punchier, more vivid colors. In dark scenes, not only are the blacks noticeably darker (i.e. blacks are black, not gray), but colors ring through as if HDR were enabled. (HDR is disabled.)4. Text legibility seems a little off compared with the Asus, but I think a little more tweaking with picture controls should help. Specifically, text appears a little 'thinner' than on the Asus. Each stroke is thinner. **UPDATE** Reducing Sharpness to 50% has fixed this issue.5. Asus 4K Designo has speakers designed by Bang and Olufsen. For built-in speakers, they are pretty decent. The Tempest's speakers easily lose the contest, but for me, having speakers in the monitor is better than not having them. I'll switch to headphones or desktop speakers whenever I need to, but most of the time it's very convenient to use the monitor's speakers for all the little sounds that macOS makes.6. Mini-LED makes a huge difference. Blacks are black. It is incredibly refreshing to get rid of the backlight bleed that plagues every standard backlit monitor. I remember the day my Asus 4K Designo arrived. I was so excited to set it up, only to have the grin wiped off my face when the boot screen popped up with the entire background smeared in dark gray. That is the main problem this monitor fixes for me.7. High refresh rate. My current GPU does not support VRR, so I'll update this item soon -- after switching to a newer card. I often drag large windows across the screen, and know the difference that high refresh rate makes on my 144Hz 1440p monitor.** UPDATE #1 ** While waiting for the new video card to arrive, I decided to connect my Apple 14" MacBook Pro (Apple Silicon) to the monitor's USB-C port. The MacBook Pro immediately set it to 144Hz. This monitor is a very good match for the 14- and 16-inch Apple Silicon MacBook Pros because:* Both have Mini-LED screens* MBP has 120Hz ProMotion and Tempest GP27U has up to 160Hz VRR* Note: MPB does not support VRR so it sets GP27U to fixed 144Hz, which is fine (see photo)* The GP27U is therefore an ideal external monitor for the MBP's built-in display (they are very well matched)Summary:Pros:1. Full feature set. It there anything else that compares to this?2. Mini-LED make a huge difference.3. Colors are rich and vibrant.4. Price -- especially when compared to Apple Studio Display (it is half the price of Studio Display)5. Firmware is upgradeable via USB6. Fully adjustable (height, swivel, tilt, VESA mount)Cons:1. Out-of-box picture settings are not ideal. It will take some time to tweak them. Mini-LED is disabled by default so you'll see gray background.2. Text appears a little thin. Need to tweak settings further. **UPDATE** Fixed by reducing Sharpness to 50%.3. Speakers are okay, but I would rather have them than not.4. This would be a home run at 5K resolutionCurrent Picture Settings:Picture Mode: StandardBrightness: 50 ---> **UPDATE** changed to 25Contrast: 60 ---> **UPDATE** changed to 52Black Stabilization: 50 ---> **UPDATE ** changed to 45Sharpness: 50Current Color Adjust Settings:Color Temperature: Cool ---> **UPDATE** Changed to 'Blueish'Gamma: 2.2 ---> **UPDATE** Changed to 1.8Color Domain: AutoColor Space: AutoBlue Light Filter: 0Current Advanced Settings:HDR: OffLocal Dimming: LowHDMI Range: AutoRGB Light: Off (LEDs on rear of monitor)