BenQ SW270C review: 27-inch 2K monitor with a feature set geared for photographers

BenQ'due south SW270C is a 27-inch monitor built for photographers, and it acts as a successor or upgrade to the popular SW2700PT that's been effectually for a few years. The SW270C is past no means cheap and will no dubiety appeal just to those who need the specific feature set, but it's undeniably a fine piece of hardware with an outstanding picture. I used it for near a calendar week to see what it'southward all well-nigh and whether or not it makes the course as your next monitor.

2K photography monitor

BenQ SW270C

$800

Bottom line: This loftier-quality 2K PC display is geared toward photography piece of work thanks to precise color reproduction. As long as you don't need 4K, it'south easy to recommend.

Pros

High-quality build with versatile stand
Hotkey puck for user-friendly pic control
Outstanding color reproduction and HDR10
16-bit 3D LUT
Generous port option including USB-C

Cons

Some might adopt 4K resolution
A motion to 16:10 would be killer

What you'll love well-nigh BenQ's SW270C monitor

The SW270C has seen some minor design changes to the overall build, though information technology could all the same be mistaken for the SW2700PT at a glance. A wide, sturdy base of operations holds a rotating vertical arm to which the monitor attaches, and there'southward about six inches of motion for height adjustment. You can suit the display for tilt and orientation, allowing y'all to work in mural or portrait mode. All actions are shine, and it's clear y'all're dealing with a loftier-quality build. The stand up is heavy plenty to remainder the display no matter how it'southward sitting, and everything tin be adjusted with one hand. If y'all'd similar to attach the monitor to a wall or adjustable arm, it'southward compatible with a 100mm ten 100mm VESA mountain.

Category	Spec
Size	27 inches
Resolution	2560x1440
Refresh charge per unit	60Hz
Response time	5ms
Brightness	300 nits
Console	IPS LED backlight
HDR	HDR10
Aspect ratio	xvi:nine
Native contrast	1000:1
Dynamic contrast	20M:1
Colors	one.07 billion x-flake
Gamut	99% AdobeRGB 97% DCI-P3 100% sRGB

The majority of ports are located along the back of the display in a dedicated cutout, although in that location are 2 USB-A ports and an SD card reader for like shooting fish in a barrel file transfers in a small cutout on the left side. The lesser includes two HDMI ii.0, DisplayPort 1.4, Micro USB for the hotkey puck, and USB-C. In that location'south no Thunderbolt three like some other pro monitors, but this is still a expert selection for connecting multiple devices. The ability supply unit is contained inside the case, so there's no actress bulky slice to have below your desk.

Because of an included hood that you can snap on to block external lite and shadows, brandish controls are contained to six buttons along the front bottom-right corner of the monitor. For added convenience, BenQ's 2d-gen hotkey puck is included, assuasive you lot to go on convenient controls on your desk-bound side by side to your keyboard and mouse. Within the on-screen display (OSD) carte you'll discover plenty of adjustments and color modes, including HDR, DCI-P3, AdobeRGB, Black and white, sRGB, Rec. 709, Grand-volume (for working with Apple products), and custom calibration presets you can fix.

BenQ's SW270C monitor is ideal for whatever photography pros who don't need 4K.

The brandish has a 2560x1440 resolution (considered 2K or QHD), which many photographers prefer for editing images, as 4K can be overkill depending on the content at hand. Something similar BenQ'south PD2720U that we also reviewed brings a higher 4K resolution with many of the aforementioned features found here, though it costs far more money.

Switching through color presets earlier getting into any calibration of my own, information technology'due south clear this monitor is ready to work. Color is absolutely dazzling, and you tin expect color reproduction to hit 99% AdobeRGB, 97% DCI-P3, and 100% sRGB. The ten-bit brandish display means the SW270C tin put upwards more than a billion colors, and information technology has a sixteen-bit 3D lookup table (LUT) for accurate translation of color betwixt gamuts. Each monitor comes with a calibration study, showing y'all what to expect straight from the factory.

Because of the IPS panel there are wide viewing angles that don't distort the image, and a 60Hz refresh rate with 5ms response fourth dimension keeps things smooth. You could no doubt use the monitor for a bit of fun while you're not invested in professional work, though there are far better gaming monitors out in that location. Similar about of BenQ's pro monitors, at that place's a three-year warranty to help swallow the price.

What you'll dislike almost BenQ's SW270C monitor

Laptop manufacturers are slowly moving away from the 16:nine aspect ratio, and fifty-fifty a modest movement to 16:x hither would no uncertainty exist appreciated past a lot of people who want just a bit more screen real estate to work with. BenQ even makes a 24-inch SW240 photography monitor with 16:10 aspect ratio, and then it's clear they're not closed to the idea.

Equally mentioned, the 2K resolution might non appeal to everyone, particularly if you're getting into design and development work on superlative of photography. If you'd rather go 4K, be certain to have a look at our roundup of the best 4K monitors.

Should you purchase BenQ's SW270C photography monitor?

The BenQ SW270C essentially nails everything it sets out to practice, and if you lot're in the marketplace for a 2K photography monitor, it's like shooting fish in a barrel to recommend. You get accurate color reproduction straight from the factory, and the combination of 10-bit colour and a 16-bit 3D LUT offers an overall stunning motion picture.

It has a loftier-quality build with versatile stand and VESA compatibility, and you go easy command thank you to the second-gen hotkey puck. There are ample ports forth the dorsum and side, and the inclusion of an SD card reader is welcome. As long as you're not interested in a higher 4K resolution, consider checking out the BenQ SW270C as your next pro photography monitor.

2K photography monitor

BenQ SW270C

Color-accurate 27-inch monitor with HDR10

With a versatile, sturdy stand, 27-inch 2K IPS display, and outstanding color, the BenQ SW270C is easy to recommend for any photographers who don't demand the higher 4K resolution.

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