Greatest Costs At the moment: BenQ RD280U

$599.99

There’s one thing unusual taking place at BenQ. First the corporate launched the SW242Q pictures monitor, which was the primary monitor with a 16:10 side ratio to cross our desks in years. Now BenQ is even nearer to sq. with the RD280U, which has a 3:2 side ratio. BenQ says it’s excellent for programmers, they usually’re proper — although this monitor is all work and no play.

BenQ RD280U specs and options

The BenQ RD280U has a 3:2 side ratio as a substitute of the extra frequent 16:9 widescreen side ratio. Due to that, the monitor’s 4K decision works out to 3840×2560 as a substitute of 3840×2160. That’s 400 extra vertical pixels, which proves helpful.

• Show dimension: 28.2-inch 3:2 side ratio
• Native decision: 3,840 x 2,560
• Panel kind: IPS LED backlight
• Refresh fee: As much as 60Hz
• Adaptive sync: None
• HDR: Sure, VESA DisplayHDR 400 Licensed
• Ports: 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 2x USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and 90 watts USB Energy Supply, 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 downstream, 1x USB-B 3.2 Gen 1 upstream
• Audio system: Sure, 2x 2-watt audio system
• Worth: $599.99

Decision apart, the RD280U’s specs are a combined bag. It lacks options to enhance movement readability, because it has a 60Hz refresh fee and doesn’t assist adaptive sync, however it helps HDR and has a variety of connectivity together with USB-C with DisplayPort and Energy Supply. These options come at a steep value of $600, which is greater than the same 27-inch 16:9 monitor just like the Dell Ultrasharp U2723QE.

Additional studying: See our roundup of the perfect displays to find out about competing merchandise.

BenQ RD280U design

An important side of the BenQ RD280U’s design is clear proper out of the field. It has a 3:2 side ratio, which is taller and nearer to sq. than the extra frequent 16:9 side ratio. Due to this, the monitor is way bigger than its 28-inch diagonal dimension may counsel. It’s nearly precisely as huge as a 27-inch 16:9 monitor, however its peak is akin to a 32-inch widescreen monitor.

That’s why BenQ markets the RD280U as a monitor for programmers. Programming usually means viewing loads of textual content, which typically flows vertically down the display screen. A 3:2 side ratio permits you to see extra code directly, or extra simply accommodate a number of vertically organized home windows. Nonetheless, the advantages lengthen past programming. Writers, editors, proofreaders, and designers who work with PDF paperwork are prone to recognize the three:2 side ratio.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

BenQ ships the RD280U with a heavy stand that features a massive, flat base. Regardless of its dimension, the bottom permits you to principally use the area it occupies in your desk. The stand affords the standard ergonomic changes, together with peak, tilt, and swivel, however it doesn’t assist pivoting. Cable administration is a minor miss, because it’s dealt with by a leather-like button clip on the base of the stand. It’s a singular contact, however wires clipped into place stay nonetheless seen from sure angles.

A 100x100mm VESA mount is included for attaching the monitor to a third-party stand or arm. The RD280U is heavier than most displays, weighing 16.5 kilos with out the stand and nearly 23 kilos with it. That’s necessary to think about for those who plan to make use of a monitor arm. Most high quality arms ought to assist the burden, however it’s towards the higher restrict for entry-level arms.

BenQ RD280U design connectivity and menus

The three:2 side ratio is the BenQ RD280U’s most noticeable departure from extra standard displays. Nonetheless, it additionally takes a forward-thinking strategy to connectivity. The monitor’s HDMI and DisplayPort inputs are joined by a USB-C port with upstream information, DisplayPort Alternate Mode, and USB Energy Supply of as much as 90 watts.

The USB-C port is right for docking a Home windows or Mac laptop computer, offering each show output and charging capabilities by means of the monitor. It additionally delivers information to the three downstream USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports and single USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port. A USB-B upstream port is accessible, too, for connecting to the downstream ports in case your pc lacks USB-C. Whereas the RD280U’s general connectivity doesn’t match leaders just like the Dell U2724DE, which incorporates Thunderbolt 4 and Ethernet, it affords extra ports than ordinary and may function a USB information and charging hub.

BenQ’s on-screen menus are accessed by means of a joystick discovered on the decrease bezel. It’s fast and intuitive to make use of, which is sweet, because the monitor is full of options and choices designed to reinforce usability for programmers.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Certainly one of these is the “MoonHalo” LED mild on the rear of the monitor, which gives an ambient glow in darkish environments. Other than including some visible aptitude, the MoonHalo is meant to scale back eye pressure by decreasing the distinction between the monitor and its environment. That is just like the Ambiglow function discovered on some Philips displays. I don’t normally undergo noticeable eye pressure, so I can’t touch upon the function’s effectiveness in that space, however I did discover the lighting enticing, and the monitor affords a broad vary of choices to regulate the lighting’s brightness and coloration temperature.

The monitor additionally has an ambient mild sensor that may robotically set off an evening mode, decreasing the brightness of the monitor in hopes of minimizing eye pressure. I like this function, because the optimum brightness for a monitor can range relying on ambient mild circumstances, and it’s simple to overlook to regulate the brightness manually. It’s particularly helpful in a house workplace, the place ambient mild can change considerably all through the day.

Whereas BenQ equips the RD280U with quite a few helpful options, its built-in audio falls brief. The monitor is supplied with a pair of 2-watt audio system that lack quantity and element. They’re satisfactory for those who simply want to listen to fundamental Home windows system sounds, however headphones or exterior audio system are really helpful if you wish to hearth up your favourite lo-fi tunes whereas working.

BenQ RD280U SDR picture high quality

Odd side ratio apart, the BenQ RD280U’s panel know-how is acquainted. It has an IPS panel with a traditional edge-lit LED backlight. IPS panels have a tendency to offer glorious sharpness and brightness, however undergo in distinction, and the RD280U isn’t any totally different.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Brightness is a little bit of a mixture. The monitor’s most brightness of 323 nits is actually wonderful for many conditions, however it falls behind some rivals, reminiscent of Dell’s current Ultrasharp displays with IPS Black shows. Due to this, the RD280U may very well be pushed to its restrict if the monitor is utilized in a room with many vibrant, sunlit home windows or many overhead lights. Provided that it’s meant for programmers — who, as a bunch, are stereotyped as having a factor for the darkish — that is unlikely to be a difficulty. However I’d’ve most popular a sustained SDR brightness nearer to 400 nits.

I also needs to point out that the RD280U has a matte end, which reduces glare and makes the a lot of the brightness that’s accessible. BenQ is particularly good at matte finishes, and the end does make the monitor simpler to view in vibrant rooms.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Distinction is the normal weak point of IPS displays, and the RD280U doesn’t enhance the scenario. Its distinction is sweet for an IPS monitor however can’t match the distinction of newer Dell displays with IPS Black panels. “IPS glow” is often seen, inflicting a hazy grey sheen to look when viewing darkish pictures in a darkish room.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The BenQ RD280U’s coloration gamut is huge sufficient to look good out of the field, however a bit extra slender than displays centered on leisure or pictures. It could show as much as 93 % of DCI-P3 and 87 % of AdobeRGB. That’s a bit extra slender than a Dell monitor with an IPS Black show, and fairly a bit extra slender than a BenQ or Asus ProArt monitor meant for design and pictures.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Colour accuracy is mid-pack, too. It’s good, however not distinctive. The monitor’s coloration accuracy will seem right in most conditions however extraordinarily important viewers could choose options.

The RD280U did properly in gamma and coloration temperature. It achieved an out-of-box gamma curve of two.2, which is true on our most popular goal, and a coloration temperature of 6400K, which is simply barely hotter than our goal of 6500K. These figures are necessary for the monitor’s meant use, as programming usually consists of loads of time observing apps rendered in varied shades of black, grey, and white. The monitor’s good default outcomes imply these apps ought to look as anticipated.

Sharpness is one other perk. The monitor’s decision of 3840×2560 interprets to a pixel density of about 163 pixels per inch, which is similar as a 27-inch widescreen 4K monitor with a decision of 3840×2560. That is near as sharp as trendy pc shows get, with the one exceptions being these uncommon 5K and 6K shows. Whereas the sharpness will be helpful when viewing pictures or enjoying video games, right here it proves extra useful when viewing small textual content, as wonderful fonts are superbly rendered.

The BenQ RD280U’s general SDR picture high quality clearly tilts in direction of work over leisure. It’s a crisp, vibrant, and colourful show that’s simple to view in each dim and vibrant rooms, however it lacks the distinction and coloration gamut required to make video games and films look their finest.

BenQ RD280U HDR picture high quality

The BenQ RD280U helps HDR and is VESA DisplayHDR 400 licensed. Nonetheless, it’s not HDR monitor, for causes typical of IPS shows that lack a mini-LED backlight. The RD280U doesn’t have the brightness to offer enough luminous element in vibrant HDR scenes and lacks the distinction wanted to show vibrant particulars with out elevating the brightness of darkish areas in a scene. Because of this, HDR content material tends to look washed out, and the monitor suffers from the dreaded “IPS glow,” the place areas that ought to seem black as a substitute have a hazy gray-silver look.

None of that is shocking given the RD280U’s meant objective. HDR is never a requirement for programmers. Nonetheless, the RD280U’s price ticket of $600 places it in league with entry-level OLED and Mini-LED shows that supply a much better HDR expertise. I believe buyers contemplating the RD280U received’t prioritize HDR, however for those who’re on the lookout for a single show that may deal with each work in SDR and leisure in HDR, the RD280U isn’t it.

BenQ RD280U movement efficiency

It’s no shock that the BenQ RD280U just isn’t designed as a gaming monitor, and that is mirrored in its 60Hz refresh fee and lack of adaptive sync for easy body pacing. Because of this, its movement efficiency falls on the decrease finish of what’s accessible from displays in 2024. It’s not horrible — video games will look acceptable in the event that they run at 60 frames per second with V-Sync enabled — however in comparison with a 240Hz IPS gaming monitor, the RD280U will look like a blurry mess.

Whereas I perceive BenQ’s resolution to stay with a 60Hz refresh fee, I feel it’s a mistake. An enhanced refresh fee makes every thing smoother, together with the Home windows desktop, and scrolling by means of fields of textual content or code. A hazard of reviewing dozens of displays every year is that I’ve change into delicate sufficient to note the distinction between 60Hz and 120Hz, even when opening the Home windows begin menu or scrolling by means of an internet web page. A 120Hz refresh fee affords a noticeably smoother and extra responsive expertise.

Dell has acknowledged this with its new UltraSharp displays, just like the U2724D, which embraced 120Hz. It’s time for BenQ to observe swimsuit.

Must you purchase the BenQ RD280U?

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The BenQ RD280U targets a selected person and scores a bullseye. Its uncommon 3:2 side ratio, glorious sharpness, enticing design, connectivity, and further performance make it a super monitor for programmers, writers, editors, and designers who often work with textual content. Whether or not you favor to work with one massive window, or with 4 snapped to every nook of a monitor, the RD280U’s additional peak gives extra vertical area for textual content.

Nonetheless, the monitor has weaknesses alongside its strengths. Its HDR and movement efficiency fall wanting what equally priced displays can ship, and whereas the RD280U’s picture high quality is a match for its meant objective, it’s not excellent for video games or different leisure. The monitor’s lack of versatility makes it a miss if it is going to be the one monitor connected to your solely PC. However if in case you have a devoted workspace, or desire a second monitor particularly for work and productiveness, the RD280U is successful.