BenQ DesignVue PD2770U 4K professional monitor review: A blend of flexibility, control, and precision

A flexible and capable professional monitor with a 27-inch IPS panel, 4K resolution, and premium build quality.

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BenQ DesignVue PD2770U
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Professional displays are designed and engineered for specific purposes. Comparing them is a bit of an apples-to-oranges affair. And there isn’t one that’s better than others in every aspect. When considering a purchase, make sure you know what you plan to do with it. Will it be for video postproduction? Are you creating web graphics or editing photos for digital display? Or do you need a Pantone monitor for print work? Are you crafting a new game environment? There isn’t a single monitor that dominates all categories.

BenQ DesignVue PD2770U

(Image credit: BenQ)

The BenQ DesignVue PD2770U is nearly all these things but one thing it isn’t is a gaming screen. If you need to play test your latest fragfest, there is no Adaptive-Sync, overdrive or fast refresh. Slow-moving VR worlds? You’re good there. The PD2770U has decent response and low input lag.

But it does have everything else needed to be a reference screen for print, photography, video and digital display. It’s the first true Adobe RGB monitor I’ve seen in a while and it’s Pantone certified. It has tremendous color volume filling nearly 100% of both Cinema and Display P3 gamuts. And it’s reasonably accurate out of the box, but I recommend an initial calibration to firm up gamma and grayscale tracking.

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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The built-in calibrator is super convenient. Controlled by either software or the OSD, it takes just 12 minutes per mode and can be done hands off when you’re not working. There’s plenty of customization there as well. I also loved the HotKey Puck controller. It’s the coolest and most useful remote I’ve seen, included with any monitor.

For $1,700 at this writing, this monitor is firmly in the premium professional territory but relative to others, it’s a decent value. When you consider the integrated meter and auto calibration, it becomes a bargain. If your work requires accurate color from a flexible reference display, the BenQ DesignVue PD2770U is a great choice. Definitely check it out.

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Christian Eberle
Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.