This 27-inch 5K designer monitor is my new must-buy for creative pros everywhere - I've had it for the last few weeks and never want to let it go

If you use an external display, whether it’s for creative or general work, you’ll know how important a good-quality monitor is. And BenQ have also got that memo, because they are seriously creating some of the best monitors on the market right now.

And the good news is that if you’re looking for the best monitor for photo editing or an amazing monitor for MacBooks, the BenQ PD2730S is ready to deliver. This 27-inch monitor has plenty of screen real estate so you can spread your work out, but the big draw is its stunning 5K display with spot-on colour accuracy.

I’ve reviewed BenQ monitors before, including the BenQ DesignVue PD2706US, and have been impressed that they manage to strike the perfect balance between price and performance. But the BenQ PD2730S takes this to another level; it’s a genuine contender for the Apple Studio Display, and coming in at just under £1,000, it’s pretty good value too. I’ve been using this as my main monitor for a couple of weeks, doing everything from writing to editing photos, so here’s what it’s really like to use and whether this should be your next monitor choice…

BenQ PD2730S: Key Specifications

Design and build

• The monitor is ergonomically flexible and can be adjusted, tilted and pivoted
• Has a Nano matte coating to reduce glare

The BenQ PD2730S has a simple but attractive design. It has a 27-inch IPS panel, which features a Nano Matte coating that has an almost paper-like texture and does a great job of reducing screen reflection and glare.

Whilst it’s primarily made using plastic, it doesn’t feel cheap and flimsy; in fact, it’s got some weight to it, and that’s before getting to the stand. This monitor has slim black bezels, making the screen really pop, and is finished with a white powdered back for a clean, sleek look.

The base, however, is made from steel and has a silver finish, which really sets this monitor off and honestly, it's not an ugly monitor to have on your desk. There’s plenty of room on the base too for you to dock your Mac mini or other bits and bobs; personally, I find the base a little too big, but that’s because my desk is already lacking space. However, the monitor does have a VESA mount, so if you prefer an arm or wall mount, you can easily switch out the base.

And still talking about the base, it has full ergonomic flexibility. You can adjust the height up to 150 mm, swivel it 60° as well as being able to tilt and pivot, which is ideal if you’re sat at your desk for long periods of time or you’ve a standing desk and need to easily adjust it to suit your needs.

The monitor is easy to get together; everything just clicks into place, so you don’t need any tools. Just remember to fully tighten the key on the bottom of the base so that your monitor is secure and, more importantly, even.

The ports are spread between the back and under the front of the monitor, making it easy to access, and there’s a handy cable management clip included that will help you secure any wires, keeping that clean, aesthetic look.

Score: 4.5/5

Features

• Plenty of ports, including a dual Thunderbolt 4 with power delivery
• Comes factory-calibrated 

The onboard features are where this monitor really shines with some great hardware and software features. Let’s start with the ports, there are plenty to choose from, including a dual Thunderbolt 4 (one upstream, one downstream) with a 90W power delivery, so it doubles as a dock for powering up your MacBook and has support for daisy-chain video connection if you need it. It also has two USB-C, three USB-A, an HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort and a headphone jack. The only port missing is an Ethernet, but for the number of other ports you’re getting, you can’t really complain.

This monitor is factory calibrated before it’s shipped, which is great because you can start enjoying the display’s high quality right out of the box. However, you do need to redo the calibration so it matches your own computer, and the good news about that is it’s made a whole lot easier thanks to it being compatible with the BenQ Palette Master software, which intuitively and quickly offers advanced calibration. It also includes ColorTalk for calibration without a colourimeter, and Display Pilot 2 for window management and On-Screen Display control from macOS or Windows.

It comes with a wireless HotKey Puck so you can quickly flick between presets and colour modes without having to fiddle around with on-screen menus.

It does have HDR support and is VESA DisplayHDR400 Certified. But in reality, it’s underwhelming as it doesn’t have enough brightness and contrast to really make a difference. If HDR is a priority, you may want to look at a higher-end OLED or mini-LED display instead.

It has plenty of features, but one thing it is lacking (if we’re holding it up against the Apple Studio Display) is a decent webcam. Yes, there are plenty of ports where you can plug an external one in, but a built-in webcam would make this monitor perfect.

Score: 4.5/5

BenQ PD2730S: Performance

• Outstanding colour accuracy covering 98% of the P3 colour gamut
• Brightness is limited to 400 nits

I’ve been using the BenQ PD2730S daily for everything from writing, basic photo editing and watching content. And right from the start, you could see what a quality screen it was. At 27 inches and a 5K resolution, this makes everything from text to photography look razor sharp. It’s really noticeable when editing hi-res images which show details that get lost on even 4K panels. And when you spend as much time in front of a screen as I do, it can make a real difference.

Colours are where this monitor really stands out, I found the factory collaboration was spot on and it worked really well straight out of the box. Colours looked really accurate and you didn’t get that washed-out effect that you can get on some cheaper monitors. It’s definitely a contender for one of the best video editing monitors, covering 98% of the P3 colour gamut.

The brightness is decent, it does have a limit of 400 nits but honestly, that was more than bright enough for my home office. The matt finish did make a big difference, especially on sunny days as I have two windows behind me so the glare can sometimes get a bit too much, especially during the light months.

It only has a 60Hz refresh rate, which for gamers may not be good enough, but this monitor isn’t really designed to cater to the gaming market. For everyday use it’s perfect, scrolling was smooth, videos played back seamlessly and it just worked really well with no lag or flickering.

There isn’t much negative to say about this monitor other than the built-in speakers are weak. If you listen to a lot of music or stream content whilst you work, you may want to invest in some external speakers or the best headphones.

Score: 4.5/5

BenQ PD2730S: Price

• Cheaper than the Apple Studio Display 
• Fantastic value for money

The BenQ PD2730S is currently priced at £999.98/$1399 and is available from BenQ direct or online retailers such as Amazon. In comparison to the Apple Studio Display, which starts at £1,499/$1,499 before any extras that come as standard with the BenQ, such as a tilt and height-adjustable stand, you’re getting a pretty good deal. If you’re a creative professional, this is a monitor that will be an investment, so it’s worth the higher price tag.

Score: 4.5/5

Scorecard

Who's it for?

• Creative professionals who want a 5K monitor with plenty of screen real estate

The BenQ PD2730S has been built for creative professionals who crave an ultra-sharp display, accurate colours and plenty of connectivity. However, if you’re a casual user with a decent budget, don’t let that put you off because it would still be a smart investment, as this monitor is built to last. It’s also a good choice for anyone who needs plenty of monitor space but doesn’t have a lot of room for a dual-monitor set-up.

Buy if...

• You want a true 5K screen (5120 × 2880 @ 218 ppi) for detailed creative work
• You need colour accuracy
• You want a Thunderbolt 4 hub with 90W charging and daisy-chain support

Don't buy if...

• You need a super bright monitor
• Built-in audio is a priority
• You're a gamer and need a high-refresh rate