I’m not sure what size monitor you’re chewing on these days, but I’m guessing a 24″-25″ is as small and plastic-tasting as you’re willing to go for desktop monitor. What’s that? You don’t use a monitor – VR only, huh? Well, we’re heading there, but until then, many are still siftin’ 3D on a 2D screen.
We 3D CAD folks like large monitors and (preferably) lots of them. Two screens aren’t uncommon, but with 4k UHD resolution proliferating, can one or two 3k QHD screens compete? BenQ thinks they have the answer with a 25″ QHD option that’s “Designed for Designers”. Why would you use it? Let’s have a look, shall we?
OVERVIEW
The last BenQ Designer monitor we looked at was the PD2700Q 27″ QHD. (I’m sitting behind a BenQ UHD 32″ that has served beautifully as my main monitor for the last few years.) Altogether, the BenQ PD Series currently makes up seven monitors ranging in sizes from 24″ to 32″. All of the monitors are designed around providing high resolution, view modes and color performance for professionals in engineering, design and media production. You’ll generally find the same ports, view settings, and color space support, with differences in size, resolution, and features like KVM switch, Dual View, and Hotkey puck.
For the PD2500Q, you have a QHD resolution (2560 x 1440 max), and HDMI, DisplayPort, mini DisplayPort, and 5x USB ports, with 100% sRGB and Rec. 709 standards color accuracy, along with the Darkroom, CAD/CAM, and Animation modes with Low Blue Light and auto-brightness adjust options. You can view the full specs here. Here’s the breakdown:
SPECS
- Display Area: 21.8 x 12.3in (552.96 x 311.04mm)
- Display Modes: Standard, Rec.709, sRGB, Dark Room, CAD/CAM, Animation, Low Blue Light
- Ports: DP1.2 / mDP1.2 / HDMI / DP out / 4x USB 3.1 (down) / USB 3.1 (up) / headphone jack
- Native Contrast: 1000:1
- Viewing Angle: 178/178
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 pixels (16:9 QHD 2K)
- Panel Type: LED Backlit IPS Technology
- Display Colors: 16.7 million
- Size (full height with base): 20.9 x 22.4 x 9.4in (532 x 570.2 x 239.65mm)
- Stand Adjustability: 130mm height adjustment and detachable
- Wall mount: VESA 100 x 100mm
- Weight: 20.3 lbs (9.2kg) with stand
- Misc: Integrated Speakers (2Wx2)
- Price: $299 (Amazon)
HIGHLIGHTS
Color Performance – Even with the 16.7 million colors (down from 1.07 billion colors on their other monitors) and a 2560 x 1440 resolution, the colors come across crisp, factory calibrated and ready to go right out of the box. For those in need of it, you have 100% sRGB representation and Rec.709 color space support. Note, however, that it doesn’t have Adobe RGB support if your design needs require it.
Design – Like other BenQ monitors the monitors are easy to switch between vertical and horizontal orientation. I have two set up, side-by-side, so don’t plan on ever doing that, but that brings up another design feature. The bezel is 0.31″ (8mm), so these work great side-by-side. One complaint of other BenQ monitors was having the cable attachments on the side. All I/O ports for the PD2700Q are on the bottom which adds to the ease of switching positions. Height adjustment is made for horizontal mode, however, with but an inch of adjustment if you set it in a vertical orientation.
CAD/CAM Mode – You’ll see this option on BL and PD series BenQ monitors. It’s the feature that gets BenQ certified and recommended for work with software such as SOLIDWORKS, PTC Creo, and CATIA. The setting switches from sRGB mode to CAD/CAM mode with higher contrast that brings outline work and sketches.
CONCLUSION
There are larger monitors for less but, surprisingly, you won’t find many at this price point with QHD (2560 x 1440), resolution, especially with the color quality and view modes useful for 3D CAD work. Now, this doesn’t have the display colors of the 27″ monitor (PD2700Q) or Adobe RGB support, so it may be a deal-breaker for you there if your workflow bridges graphic design or matching that color space.
I’ve always preferred the 4k monitors, but a side-by-side setup with the PD2500Q gives you a nice 5,120 (2560 x2) of pixel width and 1440 height. While 3840 x2 would be nice, this works great as a supplement to a larger BenQ UHD monitor when you need lower resolution and bright, crisp colors.
BenQ 27 inch QHD Designer Monitor PD2700Q
Base price: $299 (Amazon) / $299 (BenQ – with available extended service contracts)
More information: BenQ PD2500Q
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