The BenQ GW2790QT adds a premium twist to an otherwise boring monitor design that was intended for the office. It also has some added features that may soften the blow of the higher pricing, although that also affords better quality from the brand. Let’s take a closer look to see if this should be your workstation upgrade before the year ends.
BenQ GW2790QT Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 75Hz
- Response Time: 5ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 350 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 2 Watts)
- Stand: Height -Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot– Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2, DP 1.2 Out MST x 1, HDMI 1.4 x 1, USB-C PD65W x 1, USB 3.2 x 3, 3.5mm Audio Jack
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 24.2” x 21” x 9.4”
- Weight: 18.5 lbs
Design and Features
The BenQ GW2790QT has a more sophisticated look, especially when compared to the GW2785TC. The monitor has a matte white chassis, which looks clean if you keep it that way by wiping it down often. The screen has a bezel-free design but still has inner borders like most modern monitors.
It is not as intrusive as its larger sibling, the GW3290QT, but it’s still a larger monitor than what most businesses and offices use. Its big, flat, heavy base keeps it upright while serving as a platform for your small gadgets. It also makes the monitor heavier at 18.5 pounds, but that means that it will be planted and firm on your desk.
The product’s build quality is fantastic, just as you can expect from BenQ and its upper-range models. The plastic panels are smooth and sufficiently reinforced, and there were no cosmetic defects on any of its parts. The stand is firm and stable, so there will be no wobbling or sagging of any sort while you’re using the monitor.
The BenQ GW2790QT has an OSD joystick that’s easy to access from the front of the monitor. It’s also accompanied by shortcut keys, so you won’t have to spend too much time trying to get to some basic settings. Some of BenQ’s monitors have remotes, but those are unnecessary for most users.
The stand for the BenQ GW2790QT offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments for your convenience. This is valuable for productivity setups since you can always adjust the screen to match your changing posture after long hours of work. You can use VESA mounts, but they are unnecessary unless you have multiple displays on deck.
One of the highlights of the BenQ GW2790QT is its connectivity layout, which includes DisplayPort 1.2, DP Out MST, HDMI 1.4, and a 65-watt USB-C port with DP Alt Mode. You also get three USB 3.2 ports and a 3.5mm jack for peripherals, so everything you will need for typical setups is there. Other business models might have more to offer in this regard, but the only thing we’re wishing for here is a higher charging output for its USB-C connector.
It also has a built-in microphone, but the design did not include a camera to complete its usability for conferencing. BenQ is selling a webcam upgrade for it, but it is quite pricey, especially since you can get something decent for around twenty or thirty bucks.
The BenQ GW2790QT also has a pair of speakers, but they are weaker, with only 2 watts of power each. That’s sufficient for basic uses like notifications, but you are better off with headsets or separate speakers for entertainment.
Display and Performance
The BenQ GW2790QT sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 75Hz refresh rate, and a 5ms response time. The backlight has a 350 cd/m2 output while the contrast is listed at 1000:1. This model doesn’t have HDR certification, but that’s fine since it was not meant for entertainment use anyway.
1440p is better on a 27-inch monitor since it is sharper than the 32-inch variants without sacrificing visibility and legibility. It’s great for games and movies, but it’s also a godsend for productivity. It’s also easy to run for most GPUs, although it only goes up to 75Hz.
The BenQ GW2790QT covered 100% of sRGB and 94% of the DCI-P3 color space for vibrant performance in any application. Its default accuracy is even better since the deltaE average is only at 1.12. BenQ already did an excellent job at calibrating this monitor at the factory, so you won’t have to do anything.
Calibrating it further reduced the dE average to an even better 0.45, putting it very close to prosumer models that cost considerably more. The downside is that you will need a colorimeter to achieve comparable results. The gadget itself is quite expensive, so it might be better to just get a monitor that’s better suited for that purpose.
The BenQ GW2790QT’s backlight reached 364 cd/m2 at 100% brightness, so there is plenty of room for adjustment. Its contrast reached 1104:1 at 25% brightness, so it’s a bit better with black luminance than its bigger sibling. However, its still bound by the limitations of IPS technology, so you won’t be able to get true blacks from it.
Panel uniformity for the test sample was decent, except for some minor backlight leakage at the top edge of the screen. Its not distracting most of the time, but dark scenes or an all-black image will reveal them. Note that this can change with every monitor made due to tolerances, so there are better and worse units out there.
The BenQ GW2790QT isn’t the best when it comes to pixel response times; plus, it is limited to 75Hz. It is prone to some blurring and persistence, but it’s not as bad as it would be on a VA panel. Maxing out the monitor’s overdrive isn’t your best solution here due to overshoot, so getting a gaming variant might be a better choice if this bothers you.
The BenQ GW2790QT also doesn’t have VRR capabilities, but that’s understandable since it was not designed for gaming purposes. VRR is essential for higher resolutions, but it’s not much of an issue if you have a decent card. Its input lag sits at 9ms at 75Hz, so its snappy and responsive enough for casual play.
Thoughts on the BenQ GW2790QT
The BenQ GW2790QT is a nice pick if you want a top-shelf office display for productivity or work-from-home purposes. It carries plenty of features and a high-caliber IPS panel, so you are getting your money’s worth. Its build quality is our favorite aspect since it just feels good and solid if you are carrying it.
The biggest hindrance for it is its higher pricing, especially now that 1440p monitors have dropped into what 1080p models used to cost. It’s also a shame that they didn’t include a webcam since the monitor’s price can accommodate the addition. It is not for everyone, but it is one of the best options out there for office or business use.
Pros:
- Excellent Design and Build Quality
- Vibrant and Accurate
- USB-C and Mic Included
Cons:
- Higher Price than most 1440p Office Monitors
- Limited Contrast
- No VRR
About the Author: 
Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that 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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