BenQ PD2770U assessment: A self-calibrating monitor for professionals

Finest Costs In the present day: BenQ PD2770U

Most screens offered at the moment are chasing the identical developments. OLED panels are widespread, bringing with them wonderful distinction, and refresh charges have surged into the lots of. These upgrades have led to wonderful shows, however the BenQ PD2770U marches to a distinct tune. It’s targeted on skilled content material creation and has a number of uncommon options—akin to a built-in show calibration software—that may enchantment to the monitor’s viewers.

Learn on to study extra, then see our roundup of the most effective screens for comparability.

BenQ PD2770U specs and options

The fundamentals of the BenQ PD2770U’s show panel are nothing to jot down house about. It has a 27-inch 4K IPS-LCD panel with a refresh fee of 60Hz. The backlight is edge-lit LED, so no fancy Mini-LED backlighting right here. Adaptive sync isn’t current, both.

• Show dimension: 27-inch 16:9 side ratio
• Native decision: 3840×2160
• Panel kind: IPS-LCD with LED edge lit backlight
• Refresh fee: 60Hz
• Adaptive sync: No
• HDR: HDR 10/HLG
• Ports: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x Thunderbolt / USB-C with 96 watts of Energy Supply and DisplayPort Alternate Mode, 1x USB-C upstream with 5Gbps knowledge, 2x USB-A downstream with 5Gbps knowledge
• Audio: None
• Further options: Mild sensor, distant management, built-in computerized calibration, uniformity mode, show hood
• Worth: $1,699.99 MSRP

Nonetheless, the BenQ PD2770U consists of a number of unusual options. It has built-in picture calibration {hardware} tucked into the highest bezel, plus ambient mild sensors and a USB-C / Thunderbolt hub that features Ethernet connectivity. It additionally ships with a show hood and wi-fi distant for controlling the monitor’s options.

These options don’t come low cost, although, because the PD2770U carries a excessive MSRP of $1,699.99. Speciality screens meant for professionals have a tendency to hold a hefty worth premium.

BenQ PD2770U design

The BenQ PD2770U is a monitor meant for skilled settings, so it presents a reserved and low-key look. That’s to not say it’s unattractive, although. I relatively just like the charcoal-and-gray colorway, which stays knowledgeable tone and is distinct from the matte black look typical of cheaper skilled screens, in addition to the metallic silver utilized by most equally priced opponents.

Construct high quality is excessive. As with most shows, plastic is the fabric of alternative, however the stand base is metallic and the plastics that make up the physique of the show are sturdy. It’s a hefty monitor, as nicely, at practically 20 kilos with stand. That’s heavier than many 32-inch screens.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

A monitor hood is supplied with the monitor. The hood is used to shade the show and cut back the impression of ambient mild on its floor. It attaches magnetically, too, so it’s not too troublesome to put in or take away. Most house customers are unlikely to make use of the hood, but it surely’s useful in case you work in an area the place you possibly can’t management ambient mild as a lot as you’d like.

The included stand has a flat, sturdy base that minimizes its footprint in your desk. Ergonomic adjustment consists of as much as 115mm of peak, 25 levels of tilt, 30 levels of swivel, and as much as 90 levels of pivot (to be used in portrait orientation). None of those changes are exceptional for a premium monitor, however they’re aggressive. A 100x100mm VESA mount can also be out there to be used with a third-party monitor stand, arm, or wall mount.

BenQ PD2770U connectivity

Connectivity is a headline function for the BenQ PD2770U. The corporate appears to anticipate that the monitor will likely be used with a high-end laptop computer, like a MacBook Professional or Asus ProArt, and so it supplies a Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C port with as much as 96 watts of Energy Supply and DisplayPort video. That makes for straightforward single-cable connections to any laptop computer that has USB-C with the identical options (which incorporates most trendy laptops).

The monitor additionally supplies a second USB-C upstream port, although it helps simply 5Gbps of information. It’s helpful if you wish to join a desktop alongside a laptop computer.

Each USB-C ports broaden a related machine’s connectivity to a pair of wired USB-A ports, every with 5Gbps knowledge charges, and a single RJ45 Ethernet port. This isn’t essentially the most connectivity you’ll discover from a monitor—the Dell U3225QE, for example, presents over twice as a lot USB connectivity—but it surely’s nonetheless a decent vary, and the inclusion of an Ethernet port is at all times good to see.

As you would possibly anticipate, the PD2770U supplies KVM change performance. Meaning you possibly can join two computer systems to the USB-C upstream ports, then join wired gadgets to the USB-A downstream ports, and use the monitor to modify which pc is related to the USB-A gadgets.

BenQ PD2770U menus and options

The BenQ PD2770U’s on-screen menu system might be accessed both with a joystick management on the monitor, or a handy puck-style distant. The puck-style distant is a small, wi-fi dial that’s nice for making fast changes. Alternatively, most monitor options might be accessed by means of BenQ’s enticing DisplayPilot software program, which is out there for each Home windows and MacOS.

An extended listing of picture high quality changes can be found. These embrace many preset modes that focus on particular colour gamuts, akin to AdobeRGB, Rec.709, DCI-P3, DICOM, and extra. The monitor additionally supplies exact gamma and colour temperature changes with further colour customization, if desired.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Ambient mild sensors are included and can be utilized to mechanically modify brightness all through the day. This could cut back eye pressure and can assist the monitor seem correct in a variety of lighting situations.

The jewel within the PD2770U’s crown, nonetheless, is the automated {hardware} calibration software completely tucked contained in the thick high bezel. It could actually deploy mechanically on a set schedule and runs a hardware-defined show calibration course of (which means no further software program is required to make use of it). Except for comfort, this function provides worth, as colour calibration instruments usually promote for $150 to $300 or extra, relying on the mannequin.

On high of that, the BenQ supplies a distant calibration administration software known as DMS Native, which can be utilized to sync colour profiles throughout a fleet of screens and implement obligatory calibration. After all, I can’t touch upon the specifics of how nicely DMS Native works in knowledgeable studio, however I believed it price a point out.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Total, I just like the built-in calibration. Calibration usually requires further {hardware}, which you will need to join and put into place earlier than calibration can happen. That additional trouble could make it straightforward to justify placing it off till tomorrow—for weeks on finish. BenQ’s built-in calibration provides you much less purpose to place it off.

Calibration does require roughly 10 minutes, although, so that you’ll must take a break (or use a second show). You additionally have to heat up the show for half-hour earlier than it may be calibrated, although the {hardware} takes this under consideration and can mechanically interact after the warm-up interval has ended.

BenQ PD2770U audio

The BenQ PD2770U doesn’t embrace built-in audio system and as a substitute supplies solely a 3.5mm audio pass-through for connecting a headset or audio system. It’s a bit disappointing to see audio system are excluded, although it’s not unusual for high-end screens to lack audio system.

BenQ PD2770U SDR picture high quality

The BenQ PD2770U is a monitor tightly targeted on artistic work together with images, videography, and digital artwork. That may lead you to anticipate wonderful picture high quality throughout the board, however the PD2770U as a substitute makes some trade-offs to supply a presentation targeted on accuracy and realism.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

First up is brightness, the place the BenQ PD2770U achieved a suitable most SDR brightness of 351 nits. Because the graph exhibits, it’s undoubtedly not the brightest picture out there, but additionally not dim. This degree of brightness is adequate to cowl SDR workflows, as nicely, which generally see brightness calibrated to someplace within the 100 to 200 nits vary.

Although not the brightest monitor round, the BenQ PD2770U advantages from an efficient Nano Matte end and the included show hood. These options collectively make glare a non-issue in most conditions, even in rooms with unusually vibrant and uneven lighting. You’ll solely see glare if a vibrant mild supply is straight over your shoulder.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Distinction is a weak point of the BenQ PD2770U. Although it goals to supply nice picture high quality, it’s additionally a IPS-LCD show, and doesn’t have a dynamic Mini-LED backlight. The result’s a distinction ratio that’s behind even most LCD screens.

It ought to be famous, although, that enhanced distinction isn’t the target of the show. Slightly, the Nano Matte show is supposed to diffuse mild in a manner that gives good colour accuracy and a cushty viewing expertise. I prefer it, although I ought to point out I’m usually biased in direction of matte over shiny panels.

Those that need extra distinction ought to contemplate the Asus ProArt PA32UCDM, an attractive skilled monitor with an OLED panel.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Colour efficiency is one thing the BenQ PD2770U must nail and, fortuitously for BenQ, it scores extraordinarily nicely. The BenQ PD2770U achieved a most colour gamut that spanned one hundred pc of sRGB, 98 % of DCI-P3, and 99 % of AdobeRGB. That’s among the many greatest consequence we’ve ever recorded.

There may be one element to notice, although, which is that the monitor can’t show this vary of all gamuts concurrently. For instance, when the monitor is about to AdobeRGB the DCI-P3 colour gamut drops to about 87 % (and vice versa). This isn’t of a lot sensible concern as a result of I’ve a tough time fathoming a scenario the place you would want to work in each colour areas directly on the identical show, however I believed I’d point out it.

BenQ additionally supplies modes for colour gamut requirements I don’t usually check, like DICOM and Rec.709. The vary of supported colour gamuts is wider than what you’ll discover on a typical gaming or general-use monitor—even these offered above $1,000.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The BenQ PD2770U delivered a strong colour accuracy consequence that dipped beneath a mean colour error worth of 1. Whereas not the perfect I’ve examined, any consequence round one (or beneath) is superb, and means the picture will usually look correct and true to the content material being displayed.

Colour temperature and gamma are additionally necessary points of accuracy, and right here the BenQ PD2770U scored extraordinarily nicely. It offered a decent gamma curve of two.2 and a colour temperature worth of 6500K. Each are the values we anticipate to see at default settings, and the values most screens goal out of the field. These numbers imply the picture appears neither too darkish or too vibrant, nor too heat or too cool. The monitor supplies a variety of gamma and colour temperature settings, so you possibly can tune these figures to your wants or desire.

Sharpness is superb, because the 27-inch monitor packs a decision of 3840×2160. That works out to about 163 pixels per inch, which is as excessive as you’ll discover with out upgrading to one thing extra unique, akin to a 5K or 6K monitor. 4K pictures and movies reveal a ton of advantageous element, and small textual content stays straightforward to learn.

On the entire, the BenQ PD2770U’s SDR picture high quality is nice aside from distinction, which is modest at greatest—and this relatively bluntly defines the PD2770U’s enchantment. This isn’t a monitor for having fun with leisure or taking part in video games, however relatively a monitor for skilled work. As such, the accuracy of the picture, and the flexibility to calibrate it, turns into extra necessary than the wow-factor a greater distinction ratio would supply.

After all, the dream could be to have a monitor with each a high-contrast OLED panel and the excessive diploma of accuracy and calibration that the BenQ PD2770U supplies. Displays like that do exist, however they’re usually at the least twice the PD2770U’s worth (and but should lack helpful options discovered on the PD2770U, akin to computerized {hardware} calibration).

BenQ PD2770U HDR picture high quality and movement efficiency

The BenQ PD2770U helps HDR10 / HLG, however HDR just isn’t the main focus of the monitor, and it lacks any model of VESA DisplayHDR certification. It’s best to contemplate HDR to be one thing the PD2770U can present in a pinch, however not one thing that will likely be correct. That is largely as a result of lack of brightness and distinction, each of that are required to do HDR justice.

Movement readability additionally takes a again seat, because the PD2770U solely supplies a 60Hz refresh fee and doesn’t assist adaptive sync. Whereas slower-paced video games look advantageous on the PD2770U, it’s undoubtedly not a good selection for extremely aggressive video games.

Must you purchase the BenQ PD2770U?

The BenQ PD2770U is knowledgeable content material creation monitor aimed toward creatives who primarily produce SDR content material and want wonderful, correct colour efficiency. It goes the additional mile with an computerized colour calibration software that may function on a schedule and requires no further {hardware} or software program to function.

Whereas {many professional} screens embrace calibration {hardware}, it’s uncommon for that {hardware} to be constructed bodily into the monitor itself. It ought to show helpful in case you imply to calibrate your monitor however usually discover it a trouble, or neglect to do it on a daily schedule.

This perk is balanced by the monitor’s barely-there HDR assist and lacking adaptive sync, which imply the PD2770U just isn’t nice for leisure and gaming. Nonetheless, the PD2770U is a good alternative in case you want a colour correct monitor for skilled work.