BenQ PD2700Q 27-inch QHD Designer Monitor Review
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Conclusion
It’s well established that an IPS panel, regardless of the monitor it’s used in, will be more expensive than a TN screen. After three years or so, prices of premium business-class monitors like the PD2700Q haven’t dropped much, but they are lower than they were. In 2013 and 2014, we reviewed several 27" monitors with QHD resolution that sold for between $600 and $1000. And a professional model with a factory calibration could easily push the cost into four figures.
The PD2700Q is not billed as a professional’s tool, and it doesn’t include a wide gamut option or a factory-certified calibration. But it does offer performance that easily compares with more expensive products and costs far less than its enterprise-ready counterparts did just a short while ago. There are cheaper screens out there, but none will compete in overall build quality and performance with this BenQ.
As we mentioned at the beginning of the review, this is considered a Designer Monitor. One might think that refers to its styling, but after working with it, it is quite obviously for designers. A quick check of BenQ’s website shows the PD2700Q is part of the Photographer and Designer Monitor Series. Price-wise it fits below the Color Management and Specialty displays, but costs a bit more than Home & Office products.
You’ll save some cash here because there is no wide gamut or factory calibration. Measured performance, however, is nearly on-par with the excellent pro-screens we’ve seen from BenQ in the past, like the SW2700PT and the PV3200PT. Out-of-box color accuracy is more than sufficient to eliminate any calibration requirement, and contrast is at the extreme upper-end of all the IPS panels we’ve tested. Aside from some screen luminance uniformity issues, which are sample specific, there is nothing but high performance to be had here.
Gamers will likely be shopping elsewhere since the PD2700Q tops out at 60Hz and has a bit too much input lag for those with rapid trigger fingers. For any other use we can imagine though, this display will perform extremely well. And thanks to its excellent build quality, it should last through multiple computer upgrades.
With pro-level color accuracy, high contrast, and superb physical quality, the BenQ PD2700Q easily earns the Tom’s Hardware Editor Recommended Award.
MORE: Best Computer Monitors
MORE: How To Choose A Monitor
MORE: Display Calibration 101
MORE: The Science Behind Tuning Your Monitor
MORE: All Monitor Content
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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.
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jammur I would be curious to see you compare this or the AOC to the HP Omen 32. It is QHD VA panel, like the AOC, and priced in line with the BenQ and also has FreeSync. During Black Friday, it was on sale for $299, which to me seems like a tremendous value. I know you have 1,000 monitors you could review, but that seems like one that a lot of people can afford to put on their desk with a few bells and whistles thrown in.Reply -
LordConrad Looks like a decent monitor, but I only buy 16:10 screens. 16:9 just doesn't suit my needs.Reply -
aylafan LordConrad - Unless you're talking about 2560x1600 on 16:10... I would choose 2560x1440 over 1920x1200 any day.Reply