Can I turn off HDRi mode while on HDR? I game in a dark room and I don't want this Adaptive lighting things to change. I already had a problem with LG about something similar to this where pictures brightness changes due to the saving energy feature which is not accessible when on HDR which makes brightness fluctuates when playing a game or watching a movie in hdr mode.
Are you saying you can't activate 'Display HDR' in the OSD? Because, as covered in the review. that setting doesn't adjust according to room lighting. But you do still get a Dynamic Contrast effect, which is again covered in the review and standard for most VESA DisplayHDR 400 level displays. Otherwise darker content appears significantly flooded.
@@PCMonitors oh no no I don't have the monitor yet. I was just asking because there was some one who reviewed this monitor and wasn't clear about the fact that there is a HDR choice without the i feature which is good. When I saw your review I noticed that there is an HDR option without this i thing so I might buy it now. My big huge problem is that I bought an LG27UN850 and as soon as I use HDR in PS4 pro or in windows, I get this Energy saver brightness fluctuation that I hate so much and there is no way to turn it off because while on HDR LG doesn't allow you to change the Energy saving feature because it is grayed out and is not even considered even if I have turned it off in SDR mode. Dude Im going crazy right now and this would be my second monitor i return to Amazon in these past 2 or 3 weeks. And thank you so much for replying but yea, Im actually struggling here lol. What do you recommend?
I recommend this monitor, but not specifically for HDR - pcmonitors.info/recommendations/. The HDR isn't bad per say, if you like what you see in the video/review (seems you haven't read or watched it carefully enough given your question) then it's a good choice for you.
@@PCMonitors I mean my LG27UN850 doesn't even go to 400 nits even though it is advertised as such so 400 and above with this screen is gonna be more than enough for me. Besides I also want an HDR coupled with a 4k. I can't go back to 1080p specially with console gaming which I will do more than PC gaming. I have a ps4 pro and will get a ps5 in the future.
Great review. Is it possible to setup custom profiles in the settings? For example: if I connect my PS4 as well as my Nintendo Switch to this monitor, is it possible to save different settings for both devices in some sort of custom profile, so if you switch between the devices, you can also switch the settings fast by selecting a different custom profile?
That's something the MOBIUZ models provide, this one does not. The profiles are universal so you'd need to switch settings manually when switching devices/inputs.
Yes, I recommend both. And it depends entirely on your usage, budget and preferences as to which would be the better choice - pcmonitors.info/recommendations/.
According to our research some users don't have the screen blanking issue and it seems to come down to the GPU they're using. This issue does not seem to apply to the RTX 20 series and shouldn't apply to future GPUs. It seems to affect GTX 10 series cards such as the GTX 1080 Ti used in our test system. Further information in this Tweet - twitter.com/pcmonitors/status/1270629235347111937.
I have a small space and desk, this is a bit too big for it. Was looking at the Samsung U28R550 which is much the same spec but it doesn't have certified HDR.
Pc Monitors, between Philips 328E1CA and Benq EW3280 what would you choose? In terms of real life colours which one is better? I can't decide between these 2 that are at aproximate same price in my country with a plus for the Philips one who it is at a reduced price right now.
As covered in the respective reviews, the EW3280U's IPS-type panel offers a stronger performance when it comes to colour output. It would clearly be the superior choice if strong colour output is your preference. It's also a long-standing recommendation for such purposes - pcmonitors.info/recommendations/photo-and-video-editing-monitors/.
@@PCMonitors Thanks. I ordered the BenQ based on your response. I will use it for tv shows and movies on streaming platforms and writing documents. I hope is eye resting.
The firm from where I bought the BenQ, sent me the 2780u instead of the 3280u. Should I keep it? I don't know if it's an Auo or LG. Display specifications only say ips. On panelook at the 27 inch 60hz 4k panels we have models in production from Auo, LG and the crap BOE. I really hate BOE. Only bad panels from them.
I've seen on your website that this monitor is the one you'd recommend for a 32" 4k non-curved monitor. In what aspects would you say that this one is superior to the Philips 326M6VJRMB? The IPS glow on this one appears to be worse than the VA glow of the 326M6VJRMB, yet many user reviews suggest that the backlight bleed of the 326M6VJRMB is unbearable, especially in HDR mode. Would you say that generally the backlight bleed of the EW3280U's is worse and bad user reviews of the 326M6VJRMB are based on faulty units? Thanks
Far superior colour consistency, superior colour vibrancy, superior responsiveness and a less grainy screen surface. The 326M6VJRMB has clear issues with 'spotlighting' at very high luminance levels - this is covered in the review, in detail. It isn't an issue during normal SDR usage. The EW3280U has worse overall black depth under HDR at a given luminance level, it just doesn't go as bright and doesn't offer local dimming. So there aren't localised patches of brightness with darker surroundings so much as you get with the Philips. Different experience, pretty apples to oranges comparison really and I'd highly recommend watching and reading both reviews and comparing for yourself.
@@PCMonitors thank you for your response, unfortunately neither seems to be the perfect choice for me so I'll keep on looking. Got a question off topic. Will you be reviewing the fairly new LG 32UN880?
It's unlikely, seeing as LG are completely uninterested in proper reviews of their monitors here in the UK. Furthermore it uses a BOE panel and in my experience of large BOE IPS-type panels you can expect inferior colour performance to this BenQ and a granier screen surface. The ergonomic stand is 'nice', but you're much better off going for this BenQ and mounting it to a VESA 100 compliant mount of the ergonomics of this one is an issue. Because the AHVA panel is very good and outperforms anything I've seen from BOE.
@@PCMonitors I don't know, I would have to compare both in real life. I'd mostly use it in a dark room so deep blacks are important to me and the BenQ for some reason always kinda looks not as black in videos due to the fair amount of backlight bleeding. And a review of the LG monitor suggests, that it has very little to almost no backlight bleeding, so that was kinda intriguing. But again, I'll have to see it for myself.
Backlight bleed varies between individual units and ours wasn't too bad in that respect (reference the written review - pcmonitors.info/reviews/benq-ew3280u/#Contrast_and_brightness ). But that's not really what's shown in the video - 'IPS glow' is shown, but as mentioned it's also exaggerated in the video. Seeing your yourself is certainly the best way to go, but don't expect a better performance from the LG in terms of contrast because it really isn't a key strength of that model at all and it has a fair whack of 'IPS glow' all the same. You're setting yourself up for disappointment by thinking otherwise.
HI this is a fantastic review all around , thanks i am seriously consider owning this model.I think it is still relevant 5 months later. I don't think i would need 120Hz anyway. Also do you know if a firestick 4K TV would recognize it as a 4K HDR monitor as i intend to use it also for multimedia since i don't own a TV. Thanks again PS : At the moment, i have a gaming Asus 27" VG278H monitor from 2011, 1080p TN panel and funny enough while it is a TN panel, i find its colors and brightness already pretty good.So i think this BENQ would be a nice upgrade.
Glad you liked the review! It would be a huge upgrade from your old model. The monitor can use a '4K' signal with a downsampling mode (pcmonitors.info/reviews/benq-ex2780q/#Features_and_aesthetics ). I assume a Firestick would be able to read/use that.
Well it's really not a proper HDR experience at all, there are no two ways about it. But it can still be enjoyable and it's far from the worst I've seen. 😉 You have to keep things in context.
@@PCMonitors yes, i think it should be a pretty enjoyable expérience...i will try to be creative around the erogonomics (the fixed stand and lack of additional usb ports). Thaaanks a lot and have a nice weekend
beyond insightful review can’t thank you enough! I just ordered one as I casually game and edit 4k video as a personal hobby and this seems perfect for me. How well do you think the ps5 will run on this in terms of responsiveness/input for games like cod or Fortnite. also would getting a 120hz monitor over a 60hz for competitive gaming make much of a difference when it’s only running at capped 60fps on ps5. Once again thanks!
It remains to be seen what frame rate the PS5 will run at with the '4K' UHD resolution, but the responsiveness is as presented in the review. The monitor doesn't care if it's connected to a PC or PS5 (which is basically a mid-range PC). 120Hz confers no advantage over 60Hz for up to 60fps gaming.
No, it isn't better at all and is in fact inferior in many respects. It's also inferior to our clear recommednation in the class (Philips 288E2E/A/UAE). Compared to the EW2780U, the EW3280 offers a significantly wider colour gamut, making it more vibrant and also more suitable for HDR output or image editing within the DCI-P3 colour space. The larger screen is also superior when it comes to immersion and generally considered the sweet spot for the resolution. Furthermore, the screen surface is significantly grainier on the 27" model. Static contrast is marginally stronger (though the specified 1300:1 is too optimistic), but the perceived contrast when factoring in 'IPS glow' etc. is not dramatically different. So it offers very little that's 'better' - it's simply smaller, cheaper and slightly cut down.
@@PCMonitors OK, another question. 🤔 Which monitor in your opinion has a better image quality while playing without HDR the BenQ EW3280U or the Asus CG32UQ? And is the HDR on the Asus in your opinion the 150 Euro more worth it? Just asking because I want to make a decision because I look at monitors for days now and can't decide and I have the feeling I will be disappointed by the Asus somehow. 🤔😒
I recommend reading and watching both reviews. They provide detailed explanations (with examples) of the experience both models provide. They have rather different strengths and weaknesses, as the reviews highlight. The colour reproduction and responsiveness of the BenQ is better and the screen surface is less grainy. The ASUS offers stronger contrast. Apples and oranges.
As explained in the review, the 'DisplayHDR' setting does not use the ‘B.I.+’ light sensor. So brightness adjusts according to content displayed (Dynamic Contrast) but not according to room lighting.
This model actually has a Quantum Dot backlight as well, per the written review - pcmonitors.info/reviews/benq-ew3280u/. We measured 96% DCI-P3 on this BenQ vs. ~90% on the XB273K. So this model has a wider colour gamut.
Please can you tell me if this will fit in my cabinet. The dimension of my cabinet is: Horizontally I have 27” diagonally I have 34” and vertically I have 23”. Please can you tell me if this monitor will fit in my cabinet ?
According to BenQ's measurements this one's 20.63 inches high and 28.61 inches wide, so it's too wide. You'd need to consider a 27" or 28" model instead.
Hi i would like to check, i am i am using this monitor, should my window control panel stated i am using 8 bit color depth? is it correct ?? shouldn't it been 10 bit color depth?
Unless you're actually using a 10-bit program then I wouldn't worry about it. If you select the 'Automatic' option you'll only have Nvidia use 10-bit under HDR, for example. If using HDMI then the monitor only supports an 8-bit signal whereas using DP it's 8-bit + 2-bit FRC dithering. As covered in the review, the GPU can 'fill in the gaps' using its own dithering stage, via HDMI. IIRC this will be reported in Windows as '8-bit with dithering' rather than any specific mention of '10-bit'. If HDR works then it has to be using a 10-bit signal (GPU dithering or otherwise), no two ways about it.
Would you recommend this for a programmer or someone that looks at a lot of text for work, but also wants to play games in the evening occasionally? I am looking to update a couple ancient 24in and 22in 1080p monitors, would this give me at least equivalent screen space?
Yes as it has a lovely pixel density and excellent desktop real-estate. It's more like having 4 Full HD models in one if no scaling is used (not in terms of physical size, but how much data you could have on the screen). It also offers good viewing comfort characteristics. If you only play games occasionally and only use it for programming you might want to consider a cheaper VA alternative, though. You would gain better responsiveness for scrolling text with this one vs. a VA model, but you wouldn't really benefit from the improved colour reproduction which is the main selling point for this model. forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/4k-uhd-monitor-to-work-with-text/
The 'IPS glow' is explored in depth in the review and shown. The written review covers backlight bleed on our specific unit, but this varies between individual units as noted there - pcmonitors.info/reviews/benq-ew3280u/#Contrast_and_brightness.
32" is a better size for fully enjoying the resolution really - pcmonitors.info/reviews/benq-ew3280u/#The_%E2%80%984K%E2%80%99_UHD_experience. 27" isn't "pointless" for '4K' as some people incorrectly state, but ~32" is really more of a sweet spot. From a normal viewing position there are very clear benefits from the pixel density, strong immersion and in many cases no need for high levels of scaling.
Can you please explain me something about the HDR. In another review of this monitor the person said that the panel starts off strong with HDR but than after a few seconds it dims itself. This is happening in all the HDR modes. Is that correct? I would like to use this monitor for my ps5
No, that's incorrect. That is only if you use one of the HDRi modes as it reacts to ambient lighting. This is covered in the review and you see more than "a few seconds" of footage in the HDR section of the review (19:57).
Sir I don't use benq Auto brightness as it's soo high for my eyes. I use my benq monitor on 40 contrast and 0 brightness... So does the HDR increases brightness..
The HDR performance and what it does with respect to brightness is covered in the review. You can't control brightness with it active and if you like low brightness you shouldn't use HDR.
Not sure what this has to do with the EW3280U, but the EW2480's HDR capability is as good as non-existant - 'fake HDR' some would say. For reference the EW2480 is very different to the EW3280U reviewed here, it shares the panel type and some features cross over but that's about it. You'd be missing out nothing with the GW2480 vs. EW2480 and unlikely to want to use HDR on that anyway. The GW2480 is largely the same without that.
I think this would offer a nice experience and I recommend it if you're after an immersive and colourful gaming experience - pcmonitors.info/recommendations/. Realistically the PS5 isn't powerful enough to drive >60fps at anything beyond Full HD anyway. So 3840 x 2160 @120Hz isn't something you'd be able to take advantage of.
PC Monitors I really appreciate your review and response, thank you. I’m after exactly what you described re colourful and immersive gaming experience. Do the eye care features really help eye strain? I’m wondering if I put this at the end of my bed, would it be an ok viewing distance? Will use it for movies etc also. Thanks again!
Both of your questions are far too subjective to answer. There are many factors affecting eye strain and the monitor does tick lots of boxes there (flicker-free, good LBL settings, good brightness adjustment range, broad backlight spectrum etc. - pcmonitors.info/articles/factors-influencing-pc-monitor-viewing-comfort/). The screen size can work fine at the end of a bed (or
Apples and oranges. The PS4 Pro I assume you mean? The original doesn't support 3840 x 2160 at all so it would be a waste. Depends if you prefer superior colour output, responsiveness and a smoother screen surface (EW3280U) or stronger contrast (EW3270U).
The ~32" screen size is much nicer for the '4K' resolution, you always pay a significant premium for ~32" '4K' IPS-type panels. The colour gamut of the EW2780U is significantly narrower as well and the screen surface is somewhat granier. So it isn't just about screen size.
Thx for your in-depth review, it was really helpful. I'm just curious, did you ever try the EW3270U, which I think is the predecessor to this one? I didn't find anything on that one on your website, but since it costs only half as much as this one and only sacrifices on speaker, remote, and IMO aesthetics, I think it could still be a viable option. I would just simply like to know how this one's screen compares to its predecessors, considering that one has a VA panel. If you by any chance know something about that it would really help me in making a decision.
It's an apples to oranges comparison. Fundamentally different due to the differnet panel types, this model is superior in many respects. I've made plenty of comments on the EW3270U and similar models on the forum. Many use the same flat Innolux VA panel, we've reviewed several as well. See this Tweet and links contained - twitter.com/pcmonitors/status/1257655933343354882.
Haha! Well as it happens, Dell have switched to new PR company here in the UK. And so far they've been unhelpful, so I'm not holding out much hope for that unfortunately.
@@PCMonitors I ordered this model on the 28th of February (Dell) Stuck at the docks until things start moving again. 😔 Really looking forward to seeing it in action.
I hope you enjoy it! I'd also welcome your feedback on this thread when you've had a play with it - forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/dell-s3220dgf-32-1440p-va-monitor-options/. Don't pay too much attention to the negative points raised in that thread though, it's just me being my usual fussy and thorough self. Not everyone notices or cares about some of the things mentioned and as you're well aware no monitor is perfect. It's all about deciding which imperfections you can live with. 😉
I've only ever recommended one of those products and it isn't the EW3270U. Whilst the 70U offers stronger contrast, even for a VA panel it is weak when it comes to colour and gamma consisitency, so saturation losses and shifts in detail on the screen are quite profound. The colour consistency on the 80U is vastly superior, it has a nicer (smoother and lighter) screen surface and better pixel responsiveness.
Features & Aesthetics= 3:22
Contrast= 9:16
Colour reproduction= 13:28
HDR (High Dynamic Range)= 19:57
Responsiveness= 31:47
Excellent review. Thank you
Just bought this monitor and can‘t wait to finally switch to 4k with my RTX 3080. Thank you for the great review.0
Nice objective review. Purchased this one and is very excited to try it out on my upcoming PS5 :)
How does it work with your ps5? Im actually also bought it for my upcoming ps5 :)
Can I turn off HDRi mode while on HDR? I game in a dark room and I don't want this Adaptive lighting things to change. I already had a problem with LG about something similar to this where pictures brightness changes due to the saving energy feature which is not accessible when on HDR which makes brightness fluctuates when playing a game or watching a movie in hdr mode.
Are you saying you can't activate 'Display HDR' in the OSD? Because, as covered in the review. that setting doesn't adjust according to room lighting. But you do still get a Dynamic Contrast effect, which is again covered in the review and standard for most VESA DisplayHDR 400 level displays. Otherwise darker content appears significantly flooded.
@@PCMonitors oh no no I don't have the monitor yet. I was just asking because there was some one who reviewed this monitor and wasn't clear about the fact that there is a HDR choice without the i feature which is good. When I saw your review I noticed that there is an HDR option without this i thing so I might buy it now. My big huge problem is that I bought an LG27UN850 and as soon as I use HDR in PS4 pro or in windows, I get this Energy saver brightness fluctuation that I hate so much and there is no way to turn it off because while on HDR LG doesn't allow you to change the Energy saving feature because it is grayed out and is not even considered even if I have turned it off in SDR mode. Dude Im going crazy right now and this would be my second monitor i return to Amazon in these past 2 or 3 weeks. And thank you so much for replying but yea, Im actually struggling here lol. What do you recommend?
I recommend this monitor, but not specifically for HDR - pcmonitors.info/recommendations/. The HDR isn't bad per say, if you like what you see in the video/review (seems you haven't read or watched it carefully enough given your question) then it's a good choice for you.
@@PCMonitors I mean my LG27UN850 doesn't even go to 400 nits even though it is advertised as such so 400 and above with this screen is gonna be more than enough for me. Besides I also want an HDR coupled with a 4k. I can't go back to 1080p specially with console gaming which I will do more than PC gaming. I have a ps4 pro and will get a ps5 in the future.
Great review. Is it possible to setup custom profiles in the settings? For example: if I connect my PS4 as well as my Nintendo Switch to this monitor, is it possible to save different settings for both devices in some sort of custom profile, so if you switch between the devices, you can also switch the settings fast by selecting a different custom profile?
That's something the MOBIUZ models provide, this one does not. The profiles are universal so you'd need to switch settings manually when switching devices/inputs.
@@PCMonitors alright, thanks for your fast reply!
Would you recommend this Monitor or the Philips 328E1CA?
Yes, I recommend both. And it depends entirely on your usage, budget and preferences as to which would be the better choice - pcmonitors.info/recommendations/.
PC Monitors Wich one would you choose for Console Competitive gaming?
The BenQ, because it offers superior responsiveness.
According to our research some users don't have the screen blanking issue and it seems to come down to the GPU they're using. This issue does not seem to apply to the RTX 20 series and shouldn't apply to future GPUs. It seems to affect GTX 10 series cards such as the GTX 1080 Ti used in our test system. Further information in this Tweet - twitter.com/pcmonitors/status/1270629235347111937.
I have a small space and desk, this is a bit too big for it. Was looking at the Samsung U28R550 which is much the same spec but it doesn't have certified HDR.
Pc Monitors, between Philips 328E1CA and Benq EW3280 what would you choose? In terms of real life colours which one is better? I can't decide between these 2 that are at aproximate same price in my country with a plus for the Philips one who it is at a reduced price right now.
As covered in the respective reviews, the EW3280U's IPS-type panel offers a stronger performance when it comes to colour output. It would clearly be the superior choice if strong colour output is your preference. It's also a long-standing recommendation for such purposes - pcmonitors.info/recommendations/photo-and-video-editing-monitors/.
@@PCMonitors Thanks. I ordered the BenQ based on your response. I will use it for tv shows and movies on streaming platforms and writing documents. I hope is eye resting.
I hope you enjoy it.
The firm from where I bought the BenQ, sent me the 2780u instead of the 3280u. Should I keep it? I don't know if it's an Auo or LG. Display specifications only say ips. On panelook at the 27 inch 60hz 4k panels we have models in production from Auo, LG and the crap BOE. I really hate BOE. Only bad panels from them.
It's a very different monitor. The simple answer is keep it if you like it, return if not.
I've seen on your website that this monitor is the one you'd recommend for a 32" 4k non-curved monitor.
In what aspects would you say that this one is superior to the Philips 326M6VJRMB?
The IPS glow on this one appears to be worse than the VA glow of the 326M6VJRMB, yet many user reviews suggest that the backlight bleed of the 326M6VJRMB is unbearable, especially in HDR mode. Would you say that generally the backlight bleed of the EW3280U's is worse and bad user reviews of the 326M6VJRMB are based on faulty units?
Thanks
Far superior colour consistency, superior colour vibrancy, superior responsiveness and a less grainy screen surface. The 326M6VJRMB has clear issues with 'spotlighting' at very high luminance levels - this is covered in the review, in detail. It isn't an issue during normal SDR usage. The EW3280U has worse overall black depth under HDR at a given luminance level, it just doesn't go as bright and doesn't offer local dimming. So there aren't localised patches of brightness with darker surroundings so much as you get with the Philips.
Different experience, pretty apples to oranges comparison really and I'd highly recommend watching and reading both reviews and comparing for yourself.
@@PCMonitors thank you for your response, unfortunately neither seems to be the perfect choice for me so I'll keep on looking.
Got a question off topic. Will you be reviewing the fairly new LG 32UN880?
It's unlikely, seeing as LG are completely uninterested in proper reviews of their monitors here in the UK. Furthermore it uses a BOE panel and in my experience of large BOE IPS-type panels you can expect inferior colour performance to this BenQ and a granier screen surface. The ergonomic stand is 'nice', but you're much better off going for this BenQ and mounting it to a VESA 100 compliant mount of the ergonomics of this one is an issue. Because the AHVA panel is very good and outperforms anything I've seen from BOE.
@@PCMonitors I don't know, I would have to compare both in real life. I'd mostly use it in a dark room so deep blacks are important to me and the BenQ for some reason always kinda looks not as black in videos due to the fair amount of backlight bleeding. And a review of the LG monitor suggests, that it has very little to almost no backlight bleeding, so that was kinda intriguing. But again, I'll have to see it for myself.
Backlight bleed varies between individual units and ours wasn't too bad in that respect (reference the written review - pcmonitors.info/reviews/benq-ew3280u/#Contrast_and_brightness ). But that's not really what's shown in the video - 'IPS glow' is shown, but as mentioned it's also exaggerated in the video. Seeing your yourself is certainly the best way to go, but don't expect a better performance from the LG in terms of contrast because it really isn't a key strength of that model at all and it has a fair whack of 'IPS glow' all the same. You're setting yourself up for disappointment by thinking otherwise.
HI this is a fantastic review all around , thanks i am seriously consider owning this model.I think it is still relevant 5 months later.
I don't think i would need 120Hz anyway.
Also do you know if a firestick 4K TV would recognize it as a 4K HDR monitor as i intend to use it also for multimedia since i don't own a TV.
Thanks again
PS : At the moment, i have a gaming Asus 27" VG278H monitor from 2011, 1080p TN panel and funny enough while it is a TN panel, i find its colors and brightness already pretty good.So i think this BENQ would be a nice upgrade.
Glad you liked the review! It would be a huge upgrade from your old model. The monitor can use a '4K' signal with a downsampling mode (pcmonitors.info/reviews/benq-ex2780q/#Features_and_aesthetics ). I assume a Firestick would be able to read/use that.
@@PCMonitors thanks it s really appreciated even if from your review the conclusion about hdr modes on this monitor is a bit scary :-)
Well it's really not a proper HDR experience at all, there are no two ways about it. But it can still be enjoyable and it's far from the worst I've seen. 😉 You have to keep things in context.
@@PCMonitors yes, i think it should be a pretty enjoyable expérience...i will try to be creative around the erogonomics (the fixed stand and lack of additional usb ports).
Thaaanks a lot and have a nice weekend
beyond insightful review can’t thank you enough! I just ordered one as I casually game and edit 4k video as a personal hobby and this seems perfect for me. How well do you think the ps5 will run on this in terms of responsiveness/input for games like cod or Fortnite.
also would getting a 120hz monitor over a 60hz for competitive gaming make much of a difference when it’s only running at capped 60fps on ps5.
Once again thanks!
It remains to be seen what frame rate the PS5 will run at with the '4K' UHD resolution, but the responsiveness is as presented in the review. The monitor doesn't care if it's connected to a PC or PS5 (which is basically a mid-range PC). 120Hz confers no advantage over 60Hz for up to 60fps gaming.
Isn't the BenQ EW2780U better then the 32' version? Because only this one is in the recommandations.
No, it isn't better at all and is in fact inferior in many respects. It's also inferior to our clear recommednation in the class (Philips 288E2E/A/UAE). Compared to the EW2780U, the EW3280 offers a significantly wider colour gamut, making it more vibrant and also more suitable for HDR output or image editing within the DCI-P3 colour space. The larger screen is also superior when it comes to immersion and generally considered the sweet spot for the resolution. Furthermore, the screen surface is significantly grainier on the 27" model. Static contrast is marginally stronger (though the specified 1300:1 is too optimistic), but the perceived contrast when factoring in 'IPS glow' etc. is not dramatically different. So it offers very little that's 'better' - it's simply smaller, cheaper and slightly cut down.
@@PCMonitors OK, another question. 🤔 Which monitor in your opinion has a better image quality while playing without HDR the BenQ EW3280U or the Asus CG32UQ? And is the HDR on the Asus in your opinion the 150 Euro more worth it? Just asking because I want to make a decision because I look at monitors for days now and can't decide and I have the feeling I will be disappointed by the Asus somehow. 🤔😒
I recommend reading and watching both reviews. They provide detailed explanations (with examples) of the experience both models provide. They have rather different strengths and weaknesses, as the reviews highlight. The colour reproduction and responsiveness of the BenQ is better and the screen surface is less grainy. The ASUS offers stronger contrast. Apples and oranges.
do you have any recommended settings for this monitor, brightness contrast etc ? . currently im just using the display hdr mode (emulated) on my pc
Refer to the 'Test Settings' in the calibration section of the written review for a suggestion - pcmonitors.info/reviews/benq-ew3280u/#Calibration.
I just had one question about the HDR settings. When you use displayHDR the brightness doesn't change as opposed to the other HDR settings?
As explained in the review, the 'DisplayHDR' setting does not use the ‘B.I.+’ light sensor. So brightness adjusts according to content displayed (Dynamic Contrast) but not according to room lighting.
When this monitor Compared it with quantom dot panel such as acer xb/xv 273k which one is more accurate when it comes to color vibrancy
This model actually has a Quantum Dot backlight as well, per the written review - pcmonitors.info/reviews/benq-ew3280u/. We measured 96% DCI-P3 on this BenQ vs. ~90% on the XB273K. So this model has a wider colour gamut.
Please can you tell me if this will fit in my cabinet. The dimension of my cabinet is: Horizontally I have 27” diagonally I have 34” and vertically I have 23”. Please can you tell me if this monitor will fit in my cabinet ?
According to BenQ's measurements this one's 20.63 inches high and 28.61 inches wide, so it's too wide. You'd need to consider a 27" or 28" model instead.
Is this good for pc gaming ?
If you want a 60Hz '4K' experience then yes, as covered in the review.
Hi i would like to check, i am i am using this monitor, should my window control panel stated i am using 8 bit color depth? is it correct ?? shouldn't it been 10 bit color depth?
Unless you're actually using a 10-bit program then I wouldn't worry about it. If you select the 'Automatic' option you'll only have Nvidia use 10-bit under HDR, for example. If using HDMI then the monitor only supports an 8-bit signal whereas using DP it's 8-bit + 2-bit FRC dithering. As covered in the review, the GPU can 'fill in the gaps' using its own dithering stage, via HDMI. IIRC this will be reported in Windows as '8-bit with dithering' rather than any specific mention of '10-bit'. If HDR works then it has to be using a 10-bit signal (GPU dithering or otherwise), no two ways about it.
Would you recommend this for a programmer or someone that looks at a lot of text for work, but also wants to play games in the evening occasionally? I am looking to update a couple ancient 24in and 22in 1080p monitors, would this give me at least equivalent screen space?
Yes as it has a lovely pixel density and excellent desktop real-estate. It's more like having 4 Full HD models in one if no scaling is used (not in terms of physical size, but how much data you could have on the screen). It also offers good viewing comfort characteristics. If you only play games occasionally and only use it for programming you might want to consider a cheaper VA alternative, though. You would gain better responsiveness for scrolling text with this one vs. a VA model, but you wouldn't really benefit from the improved colour reproduction which is the main selling point for this model. forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/4k-uhd-monitor-to-work-with-text/
@@PCMonitors I forgot to mention the 60 w power and dp over usb-c is must, I don't see anything in that link that provides power.
Aha, then I suppose that's another point for this BenQ.
How’s the back light / ips glow
The 'IPS glow' is explored in depth in the review and shown. The written review covers backlight bleed on our specific unit, but this varies between individual units as noted there - pcmonitors.info/reviews/benq-ew3280u/#Contrast_and_brightness.
Which size is the best for 4k? 32" or 27" monitor?
32" is a better size for fully enjoying the resolution really - pcmonitors.info/reviews/benq-ew3280u/#The_%E2%80%984K%E2%80%99_UHD_experience. 27" isn't "pointless" for '4K' as some people incorrectly state, but ~32" is really more of a sweet spot. From a normal viewing position there are very clear benefits from the pixel density, strong immersion and in many cases no need for high levels of scaling.
Can you please explain me something about the HDR. In another review of this monitor the person said that the panel starts off strong with HDR but than after a few seconds it dims itself. This is happening in all the HDR modes. Is that correct?
I would like to use this monitor for my ps5
No, that's incorrect. That is only if you use one of the HDRi modes as it reacts to ambient lighting. This is covered in the review and you see more than "a few seconds" of footage in the HDR section of the review (19:57).
Sir I don't use benq Auto brightness as it's soo high for my eyes. I use my benq monitor on 40 contrast and 0 brightness... So does the HDR increases brightness..
The HDR performance and what it does with respect to brightness is covered in the review. You can't control brightness with it active and if you like low brightness you shouldn't use HDR.
@@PCMonitors So there is any benefit to go with ew2480 if I will not use HDR then I think GW2480 Is better I think
Not sure what this has to do with the EW3280U, but the EW2480's HDR capability is as good as non-existant - 'fake HDR' some would say. For reference the EW2480 is very different to the EW3280U reviewed here, it shares the panel type and some features cross over but that's about it. You'd be missing out nothing with the GW2480 vs. EW2480 and unlikely to want to use HDR on that anyway. The GW2480 is largely the same without that.
Do you think I’d be better off waiting for a 120+ hz monitor for ps5 or would this Benq be good enough for you think?
I think this would offer a nice experience and I recommend it if you're after an immersive and colourful gaming experience - pcmonitors.info/recommendations/. Realistically the PS5 isn't powerful enough to drive >60fps at anything beyond Full HD anyway. So 3840 x 2160 @120Hz isn't something you'd be able to take advantage of.
PC Monitors I really appreciate your review and response, thank you. I’m after exactly what you described re colourful and immersive gaming experience. Do the eye care features really help eye strain? I’m wondering if I put this at the end of my bed, would it be an ok viewing distance? Will use it for movies etc also. Thanks again!
Both of your questions are far too subjective to answer. There are many factors affecting eye strain and the monitor does tick lots of boxes there (flicker-free, good LBL settings, good brightness adjustment range, broad backlight spectrum etc. - pcmonitors.info/articles/factors-influencing-pc-monitor-viewing-comfort/). The screen size can work fine at the end of a bed (or
in your personal opinion which model that best fit for ps4?? ew3270u or ew3280u? thank u
Apples and oranges. The PS4 Pro I assume you mean? The original doesn't support 3840 x 2160 at all so it would be a waste. Depends if you prefer superior colour output, responsiveness and a smoother screen surface (EW3280U) or stronger contrast (EW3270U).
@@PCMonitors tq my man
I feel that the 27-inch model, ew2780u is a better choice as this two perform very similarly but it is about 50% cheaper.
The ~32" screen size is much nicer for the '4K' resolution, you always pay a significant premium for ~32" '4K' IPS-type panels. The colour gamut of the EW2780U is significantly narrower as well and the screen surface is somewhat granier. So it isn't just about screen size.
Thx for your in-depth review, it was really helpful. I'm just curious, did you ever try the EW3270U, which I think is the predecessor to this one? I didn't find anything on that one on your website, but since it costs only half as much as this one and only sacrifices on speaker, remote, and IMO aesthetics, I think it could still be a viable option. I would just simply like to know how this one's screen compares to its predecessors, considering that one has a VA panel. If you by any chance know something about that it would really help me in making a decision.
It's an apples to oranges comparison. Fundamentally different due to the differnet panel types, this model is superior in many respects. I've made plenty of comments on the EW3270U and similar models on the forum. Many use the same flat Innolux VA panel, we've reviewed several as well. See this Tweet and links contained - twitter.com/pcmonitors/status/1257655933343354882.
@@PCMonitors Cheers! I wasn't aware that there was so much info on the forum. Very helpful indeed!
Unacceptable; still no Dell S3220DGF review? 😋❤
Haha! Well as it happens, Dell have switched to new PR company here in the UK. And so far they've been unhelpful, so I'm not holding out much hope for that unfortunately.
@@PCMonitors
I ordered this model on the 28th of February (Dell)
Stuck at the docks until things start moving again. 😔
Really looking forward to seeing it in action.
I hope you enjoy it! I'd also welcome your feedback on this thread when you've had a play with it - forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/dell-s3220dgf-32-1440p-va-monitor-options/. Don't pay too much attention to the negative points raised in that thread though, it's just me being my usual fussy and thorough self. Not everyone notices or cares about some of the things mentioned and as you're well aware no monitor is perfect. It's all about deciding which imperfections you can live with. 😉
@@PCMonitors
Indeed; I will definitely report my findings when I received and used it.
🤗
Hi, do you think this is worth the price difference over the VA EW3270U ?
I've only ever recommended one of those products and it isn't the EW3270U. Whilst the 70U offers stronger contrast, even for a VA panel it is weak when it comes to colour and gamma consisitency, so saturation losses and shifts in detail on the screen are quite profound. The colour consistency on the 80U is vastly superior, it has a nicer (smoother and lighter) screen surface and better pixel responsiveness.
@@PCMonitors Thanks for the reply!