The BenQ PD2705Q focuses on accurate color reproduction and excellent value for users who want a reliable display solution for editing and content creation. The brand’s DesignVue monitors cover a wide range of budgets, but their lower-priced offerings do not necessarily mean that the quality will leave something to be desired. The BenQ PD2705Q gets a few notable upgrades over its predecessor, so let’s see if it’s the better pick or a worthy upgrade.
BenQ PD2705Q Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time:5ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
- Brightness: 300 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: No
- Stand: Height – Yes (2 x 2 Watts)
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot– Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4x 1, DP 1.4 w/ MST x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 1, USB 3.1 x 5, USB_C PD65W x 1, 3.5mm Audio Jack
- Dimensions With Stand(WxHxD): 24.17″ x 16.87″ x 9.1″
- Weight: 12.57 lbs
Design and Features
The BenQ PD2705Q looks just like the PD2700U we reviewed earlier in every way, and the only way to know the difference is to check the resolution. The monitor has a matte black finish all over except for the blue accent on the cable tidy hole. The display is bezel-free on three sides, but you will still see panel borders when its in use.
You will also notice a small gadget that hangs at the bottom bezel of the BenQ PD2705Q just below its logo. It’s the ambient light sensor that is used by the monitor’s Brightness Intelligence feature to measure your room’s lighting so it can adjust the backlight accordingly. It’s BenQ’s handy feature to help keep your eyes safe and comfortable for extended periods of use.
We like that nothing is oversized on the BenQ PD2705Q and every part was designed with practicality in mind. The monitor will be bigger than your typical office screens, but it is sleek and slim in all the right spots. The rectangular base doesn’t consume a lot of depth, plus you can place small peripherals on its slightly slanted surface.
Build quality for the BenQ PD2705Q is fantastic and comparable even with the brand’s high-end models. The plastics are thick and sturdy, while the rest of the product’s body feels like it’s reinforced to withstand a few hits. We didn’t notice any wobbling from the stand, and its adjustment mechanism can old the angle you’ve set permanently.
One thing we dislike about the BenQ PD2705Q’s physical features is its use of OSD buttons instead of joysticks which are easier to use. The keys are tactile and responsive, but you can’t see them directly so you have to feel them out with your hands first. The monitor has plenty of OSD options, so it can get tedious especially if you calibrate regularly.
The stand included with the BenQ PD2705Q offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments so you can get your preferred viewing angle readily. The adjustment mechanism is firm yet smooth and it looks like the stand can hold the cabinet’s position almost permanently. You can use VESA mounts with this model, but we only think its necessary if you want to save the save or for multi-screen setups.
The BenQ PD2705Q has plenty of connectivity features, starting with its DisplayPort 1.4 and DP Out slot with MST for daisy-chaining. There is also an HDMI 2.0 connector for secondary devices, along with a total of 5 USB 3.1 receptacles for accessories. The monitor is also equipped with a USB-C port with a 3.5mm jack so it can be used as a dock for compatible devices like the MacBook Pro.
The BenQ PD2705Q even has a pair of built-in speakers, but their 2-watt output isn’t sufficient for entertainment purposes. However, we see this model as an excellent candidate for work from home use, so it will see some use there in conference calls or for a little background music while grinding.
Display and Performance
The BenQ PD2705Q sports a 27-inch AH-IPS panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and a 5ms response time. The backlight sits at 300 cd/m2, while the contrast ratio is listed at 1000:1 like most IPS panels. This model is also advertised as HDR compatible, but it doesn’t even reach the HDR 400 spec so it means it can only translate HDR signals as best it could.
QHD screens perfectly fit in a 27-inch monitor since the pixel density offers excellent balance between visibility and sharpness. You won’t have to use scaling with the BenQ PD2705Q, but it also offers more details and more room for your apps and media. Games will also look better if they support the resolution, but the framerate will drop considerably.
The CalMAN verified and Pantone Validated BenQ PD2705Q offers excellent color quality, starting with 110% sRGB coverage and around 85% DCI-P3. Default accuracy has an excellently low deltaE average of 1.12 which is already good enough for content creation. The color temperature is slightly cooler than the 6500K point, so some white backgrounds can have a faint bluish tinge.
We still recommend calibrating the BenQ PD2705Q with a colorimeter so you can iron out these issues and achieve its advertised performance and an even lower dE of around 0.63. However, for some users its already an excellent starting point, so a little tweaking can make a difference. Take note that this will vary between every unit, so not all profiles or calibration settings will provide identical results.
The BenQ PD2705Q’s backlight reached a decent 335 cd/m2 at 100% backlight, but its not bright enough for HDR imaging. The contrast ratio maxed out at 1082:1 at 60% brightness which isn’t weak, but insufficient in lowering the black luminance. The screen can still look washed out when viewing dark scenes with the lights off, but it’s a known limitation of IPS panels in the market.
The test unit of the BenQ PD2705Q did have a very acceptable panel uniformity but there are very minor light leaks at the top corners. They are only visible if you have an all-black background, but they did not affect the adjacent quadrant’s saturation and contrast. This typically is more than reasonable for an IPS panel, but manufacturing tolerances can give other units worse symptoms.
The BenQ PD2705Q isn’t particularly great when it comes to pixel responsiveness, but that’s understandable since it’s a 60Hz display that isn’t meant for gaming. Fast-paced scenes can reveal some persistence and trails, so you have to utilize the monitor’s overdrive or AMA feature to alleviate the issue. We recommend opting for the High setting since the Premium level did add some noticeable overshoot.
The BenQ PD2705Q like many of its prosumer siblings is not compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync since it was not designed for gaming. 1440p graphics can be demanding on many GPUs, so having Adaptive Sync can be helpful for its target audience that enjoys games. Input lag is excellent at 10ms, so there is no need to worry about de-synced instances or delays between your inputs and the screen.
Thoughts on the BenQ PD2705Q
The BenQ PD2705Q is an excellent choice if you need a vibrant and color-accurate display without blowing your budget. The IPS panel offers eye-popping color with great out of the box accuracy, but the monitor truly shines when its calibrated. The monitor’s design is as reliable as ever, so you know that this monitor will last even if its at the budget price segment of the DesignVue models.
The only weaknesses we found on the BenQ PD2705Q are expected, such as its weak contrast and limited gaming performance. However, these are forgivable, especially since anything better costs considerably higher. The BenQ PD2705Q is the perfect pick for a value QHD monitor that will perform nicely in your editing or content creation work.
Pros:
- Excellent Color Coverage
- Great Default Accuracy
- Slim and Functional Design
- Affordable Price
- USB-C with 65 Watts Power Delivery
- Lots of Useful Features
Cons:
- Mediocre Contrast
- Limited Gaming Performance
- No FreeSync/G-Sync Compatibility
-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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