BenQ GW2790QT Monitor Review: One For the Workstation

Tech Specs:

• Display: 27-inch IPS panel with LED backlighting
• Resolution: 2560x1440 pixels (2K QHD)
• Refresh rate: 75Hz
• Response time: 5ms (Grey to Grey)
• Brightness: 350 nits
• Connectivity: 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 2x USB-C, 3x USB-A 3.2, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack
• Weight: 8.4kg

PC displays have been kicking around for a long time now, and it is common knowledge that some panel types ace certain applications. However, one could argue that IPS LCDs and OLED displays are the most versatile options available at multiple price points, with the latter usually being more expensive. Considering that every minute spent using a computer will entail staring at the display you buy, this is one aspect of your setup where you shouldn't cut corners.

The new BenQ GW2790QT is a typical IPS LCD display at first glance, but a closer look at the specifications and marketing material reveals it could be a delicate blend of a Kindle e-reader and a run-of-the-mill display. We spend several days using this monitor everyday and testing it in multiple scenarios to determine if it trumps other popular options for your work-from-home setup.

PROS

• Sturdy base with tilt, swivel, rotation, and height adjustment
• Daisy-chain displays via USB-C
• Rich connectivity options
• Intuitive controls with dedicated MacBookand ePaper modes

CONS

• Struggles with direct reflections
• Automatic brightness feels gimmicky (Brightness Intelligence Gen2)
• Integrated speakers and mic are average

Pricing and Availability: Within Easy Reach

BenQ's new range of QT monitors come in two sizes - the GW3290QT, which is a 32-inch 1440p display, and the GW2790QT, which maintains the same resolution despite the smaller 27-inch size. We tested the smaller 27-inch model with a sticker price of Rs. 34,990. It is regularly discounted down to around Rs. 26,000 on Amazon India, which brings the pricing in line with the features on offer.

If you're looking for a larger display for effective split-screen multitasking, the 32-inch model bears a Rs. 49,990 price tag, but regular discounts on Amazon India see the price plummet to a reasonable Rs. 32,500.

Box Contents and Design: Clean and Minimal

The BenQ GW2790QT comes flat-packed with a stand split into two pieces, a power cord, a 1.5m long HDMI cable, and typical documentation. It's nice to see there's no laptop-like power brick, with all the circuitry housed behind the display's convex rear panel. The accompanying stand is easy to assemble with a captive thumb screw for attaching the flat base to the vertical member. The monitor is easy to clip onto the stand, without the use of specialized hardware, thanks to a spring-loaded clip which keeps it in place once attached.

Despite the chunky column design of the stand, the lack of any cable routing options through it disappointed us. The base also has a massive footprint considering the display weighs just 5.5kg. However, the stand allows the pane to swivel 20° in either direction and tilt 5° down or 20° upwards. Combined with 110mm of vertical travel for height adjustment and smooth movement in every direction, the design makes this display a great option for a sit-stand desk.

The height adjustment also comes in clutch when rotating the display for use in portrait mode. However, we were displeased to discover you can rotate the display clockwise only. As a result, the I/O ports and buttons which usually point towards your desk now point to the left, rendering the display unusable in portrait orientation on the right-hand side of any multi-monitor setup. However, this concern is easily remedied with an aftermarket stand commonly used to support multiple free-floating displays. The GW2790QT can mount to any of them with a standard 100x100mm VESA adapter.

Coming to the display itself, this 27-inch 2K panel is flanked by black bezels and a white frame on all four sides. The chin is substantially thicker than the other three sides, also housing an infrared sensor for automatic brightness adjustment in the black "goatee" under the BenQ logo. There's plenty of labeling in the lower right corner of the chin, so you aren't feeling up the display every time you wish to change its settings. As all modern monitors should, the GW2790QT has a four-way nipple with a click button for menu navigation, making it easy to sift through the settings. We loved that the display also has a dedicated button for the Low Blue Light Plus feature which reduces the blue light emission of the display so you don't strain your eyes as much.

Firmware features: Packed to the Rafters

Blue light controls are the proverbial tip of the iceberg with the BenQ GW2790QT. The monitor is loaded to the gills with features. You can connect your MacBook or any other Apple device and switch to the M-book mode so your external display looks like an extension of the vivid MacBook display, taking full advantage of the 99% coverage of the sRGB color gamut.

The highlight ought to be the Coding mode, which cranks the contrast at the expense of detail retention in the dark areas. The brightness drops to a comfortable level as well. Together, these parameters make text much easier to read. For everyday use, the standard mode provides a balanced and comfortable viewing experience once calibrated correctly (more on calibration in the testing section).

E-paper mode makes the display a giant Kindle e-reader with even lower brightness and saturation dropped to zero for a proper greyscale experience. The Game mode provides a fast response time and low input lag to help you stay ahead of the competition, although there is no mention of NVIDIA G Sync or AMD FreeSync technology on this monitor. Lastly, if you're watching movies or videos, the Movie mode provides a rich and immersive viewing experience.

All these modes can be paired with BenQ's Brightness Intelligence Technology automatically adjusts the backlight of the monitor based on the ambient light conditions, helping reduce eye strain. In our experience, brightness adjustments were quite minor and we still had to adjust it manually for optimal comfort. Finally, we were thrilled to observe that the GW2790QT supports firmware updates via USB.

I/O and Performance: An Unexpected Surprise

BenQ's GW2790QT supports multiple inputs through one DisplayPort 1.2 and one HDMI 1.4 ports. If you're using HDMI eARC, which routes audio through your graphics card, you can use the 3.5mm headphone jack on the monitor for audio output. The GW2790QT also has an integrated mic with ambient noise cancellation tech, which we found suitable for the average video conference.

If you don't prefer headphones, the monitor also has a pair of 2W speakers firing down towards your desk. Their performance is quite lackluster, with a flat, tinny sound lacking depth and immersion. We would not suggest depending on them for anything except YouTube Shorts and quick video meetings.

This brings us to the display's standout feature which differentiates it from hordes of other 27-inch displays - support for display extension via USB-C. There are two USB-C Thunderbolt ports on the display, one of which supports display input, and the other only supports charging. If you have a MacBook with a newer M1 or M2 chip, or any other device which supports the Thunderbolt 3 standard or newer, you can daisy chain two or more BenQ displays without using additional I/O on your computer. You just need a Thunderbolt or DisplayPort link between your laptop and the display along with another Thunderbolt or DisplayPort cable linking two or more monitors. Just bear in mind that only one of the USB-C ports (the one beside HDMI) accepts input, while the other located in the display's chin only serves as display out.

Even if you don't have multiple displays to daisy-chain, you could use the spare Thunderbolt ports on the GW2790QT to fast charge your devices. They conveniently slot into the pill-shaped cutout in the base as well. For this reason, the monitor's average power draw is rated at 20W, but it could peak at 150W if you plug another device in for charging.

Testing

All the features and conveniences of PC monitors are practically pointles sif the display doesn't serve its primary function. We use a standardized and objective testing methodology to put the monitor through its paces and thankfully, we are pleased to report the BenQ GW2790QT can hold its own in most scenarios, as long as you temper your expectations from this workhorse.

First, we installed the recommended drivers from BenQ's website, turned off all the assists like Brightness Intelligence and Low Blue Light Plus, and then calibrated the display for ambient indoor lighting. After calibration we found that ideally, brightness should be left at 70%, contrast at 47%, and Sharpness at 80% for optimal comfort. Testing revealed Gamma correction and color temperature adjustment of the Standard mode were not required, which speaks volumes about the display's color accuracy.

BenQ claims 99% coverage of the sRGB color gamut, making it ideal for casual photo editing and color-sensitive work, just like most other IPS panels. The 178° viewing angles don't suffer like on TN panels either, but we would recommend investing in a professional display with adequate coverage of the Adobe RGB color space because it is significantly larger than sRGB. All the display modes we mentioned earlier seem to overdo the requisite adjustments to these display parameters, so we strongly recommend calibrating the display manually to best suit your application.

That said, the GW2790QT doesn't do an impeccable job at detail retention in the darker regions. It is limited by the capabilities of the LCD technology and you're better off with an OLED if this aspect would prove bothersome in your usage. We also observed moderate backlight bleeding in our test unit - another detriment to this aspect of the performance. However, the bleed was limited to the four corners of the screen.

BenQ doesn't lean into the gaming prowess of the GW2790QT and typical features like a high refresh rate, NVIDIA GSync, and AMD FreeSync support are absent here. The refresh rate is capped at 75Hz, so you may not notice jittery scrolling coming from the average 120Hz smartphone, but that's about where the good things end. Performance while gaming is acceptable only for casual use. During competitive gameplay, you may feel hamstrung by the 75Hz refresh rate and serious ghosting issues caused by the 15.3ms grey to grey pixel response times, which is a far cry from the advertised five milliseconds.

All things considered, this display gets the job done, but you're better off with a purpose-built model if your usage entails serious gaming or color-sensitive work like image correction or video editing. For the average coder - BenQ's target audience - the clarity, color accuracy, sharpness, and eye care features work perfectly to reduce optical strain.

Verdict: Should You Purchase it?

Overall, the BenQ GW2790QT offers a variety of display modes and software features that make it a versatile and user-friendly monitor. Whether you're a budding creative professional, a casual gamer, or simply looking for a high-quality monitor for everyday use, the GW2790QT is a great product. We didn't feel restricted by the 27-inch size, but if you want a larger size display for split-screen multitasking, you should consider the 32-inch model instead. Its sticker mentions a retail price of Rs. 49,990, but Amazon regularly discounts it to Rs. 32,500.