Pros:
- Excellent Color Accuracy
- High Contrast Ratio
- Low Price
Cons:
- Limited sRGB Coverage
- Poor Panel Uniformity
The BenQ BL2780T is an easy to own IPS monitor that guarantees value and quality for home and business users. This model is a budget offering, but BenQ promises enterprise-class performance that aims to improve productivity. Let’s check out how the BenQ BL2780T represents its makers and how it stacks up in a very competitive segment.
BenQ BL2780T Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 11920 x 1080 Full HD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 5ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 250 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 2 Watts)
- Stand: Height -No
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot– No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 1.4x 1, VGA x 1, 3.5mm Audio Jack
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 24.09″ x 21.54″ x 9.09″
- Weight: 15.87 lbs
Design and Features
The BenQ BL2780T sports a clean and simplified design which isn’t particularly eye-catching, but neat and easy on the eyes. The monitor has a matte black finish that doesn’t attract dust or fingerprints while feeling nice to the touch. The display is bezel-free on three sides thanks to a dual-stage setup, but you will still see panel borders when the screen is on.
The design of the BenQ BL2780T makes it an ideal and economical choice for multi-monitor setups which you will see in both business and enthusiast setups. This variant is better equipped than the GW2780 for this kind of application since its more flexible.
We’ve always disliked OSD buttons since most now offer joysticks or even software-based control for their display products. The BenQ BL2780T’s layout is conveniently placed and responsive, but it can sometimes feel that it takes too many presses to get to a specific setting. It shouldn’t be an issue for seasoned users, but we know some will still struggle especially when the lights are out.
One of the biggest improvements of the BenQ BL2780T over its cheaper sibling is it includes a fully-flexible stand. You can tilt, swivel, pivot, and adjust the height of the monitor, so virtually any view angle you will ever require is possible. You can also swap this part out with a VESA mount, but as always, that adds cost to your total bill.
Build quality is solid and reliable for the BenQ BL2780T thanks to its refined contruction and durable materials. There is no warping or uneven seams on the plastic panels, plus there is no creaking sound from the monitor’s mechanism. The device has a good weight to it, so you won’t get that dreaded feeling that it will topple over with something as light as a nudge.
However, we feel that the BenQ BL2780T is lacking in the connectivity department especially since its marketed as a business monitor. The layout at the rear only offers DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4, and VGA for video inputs. That’s all you will ever need for daily use, but it would be nice to see a USB hub on the product for the user’s convenience.
The BenQ BL2780T manages to include a pair of built-in speakers despite its low price. However, the two watts of power isn’t sufficient for entertainment purposes since bass is almost nonexistent and they start to garble as soon as you raise the volume. The pair is useful for office-based audio such as minimal background music or notifications, but for everything else, a decent pair of cans will be better.
Display and Performance
The BenQ BL2780T offers a 27-inch IPS panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and 5ms response time. A backlight with a maximum output of 250 cd/m2 is specified along with a typical 1000:1 contrast ratio. This product’s specifications do not emphasize on specialized uses, but it focuses more on reliability and eye comfort for extended periods of use.
The negative notion about full HD monitors in this size is always about its looser pixel density. However, we don’t think many users will be bothered with visible pixelation or softened images as long as you sit at a decent distance. Its also worth noting that visibility will better due to the pixel’s spread, so you don’t have to squint and strain your eyes trying to read walls of text and the like.
The BenQ BL2780T provides decent color reproduction for daily use with 93% of the sRGB gamut. This model isn’t as vibrant as the other IPS monitors we’ve reviewed, but its default color accuracy of DeltaE 1.6 says a lot about its quality. Color temperature is slightly warmer than the ideal 6500K, but its not a big enough issue to require the use of a colorimeter.
Another aspect where the BenQ BL2780T excels at is its contrast ratio which reached a maximum of 1150:1. Many budget IPS monitors struggle to breach the 900:1 mark, so this is a huge plus for the product. The screen may not be as vibrant as other offerings, but the added depth of changing shades, blacks, and grayscale is a welcome treat for watching movies or playing games.
However, the BenQ BL2780T is an IPS monitor that’s prone to defects such as backlight bleeding. The screen on the test unit looked dimmer the further down you go on the screen due to a maximum brightess deviance of around 16%. This flaw had a noticeable effect on colors and contrast in dark scenes, so getting a unit with better panel uniformity is a must.
The BenQ BL2780T isn’t fantastic for gaming since its only 60Hz plus it has a slower pixel response time. The monitor is prone to some blurring and ghosting in fast-paced sequences, but single player titles or even movies shouldn’t present any issues.
The BenQ BL2780T isn’t a FreeSync monitor, so naturally, G-Sync compatibility goes out of the window. 60Hz 1080p monitors don’t need VRR most of the time, but FreeSync is pretty standard in today’s market. Input lag sits at 10ms at 60Hz, so there should be no delays felt while using the device.
Thoughts on the BenQ BL2780T
The BenQ BL2780T is an excellent option if you require a reliable and inexpensive IPS monitor for daily use. The monitor provides excellent color accuracy, but as expected, it doesn’t come with any specialized features for gaming or design. The monitor’s build quality and ergonomics make it a top pick in a pricing category that mostly offers tilt-only variants.
The BenQ BL2780T is far from perfect, but most of its shortcomings are forgivable if you consider that its an affordable business or home office monitor. Its also a better buy than the BenQ GW2780 due to the advantages mentioned above.
About the Author:
Paolo is a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since his junior high years. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations and he believes that it’s every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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