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Conclusion
For some, a professional monitor is mandatory, and price is no object. But it’s possible to get all the color accuracy and most of the same features in an enterprise display if you know where to look. The price-to-performance ratio of BenQ’s DesignVue Series fits this well, and the PD2700U is a great addition. What do you sacrifice when buying a PD2700U instead of a pro-grade model like the BenQ SW271? Not much, it turns out.
The PD2700U has UHD resolution, factory-certified sRGB color accuracy, HDR with a 400-nit peak white level and superb build quality. The SW271 adds to that a 14-bit internal look-up table with a 10-bit native panel, built-in hardware calibration and one of the best light-blocking hoods we’ve ever seen. To some, the SW271 will be worth $1,089 / £1,055, but if you’d rather save some cash, the PD2700U is a qualified alternative at $536.99 / £439.
We loved the PD2700U’s out-of-box color accuracy and were even more impressed with the image after calibration. HDR quality is not quite at the level of more-expensive full-array backlight displays, but at this price point, we’re satisfied, especially since it adheres well to HDR standards for grayscale, EOTF and color. Our only wish is for a larger color gamut. Many HDR monitors now include coverage of much of the DCI-P3 spec.
The PD2700U is a great way to get professional-level accuracy and reliability, a super UHD image, decent HDR and build quality that ensures operation for the long haul at a reasonable price.
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