BenQ PD2730S review: A feature-packed 5K monitor for creative pros

At a glance

Expert's Rating

Pros

• Attractive and functional design
• Wide range of connectivity including Thunderbolt 4
• Bundled remote is handy
• Excellent SDR image quality

Cons

• No Ethernet connectivity
• HDR is available but underwhelming
• Only a 60Hz refresh rate

Our Verdict

The BenQ PD2730S will call to creative professionals with its 5K display, but some will find its connectivity and special features just as alluring as its razor-sharp image.

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5K monitors are having a bit of a moment. Although hardly new (Apple first introduced a 5K iMac all the way back in 2024), 5K resolution was available from just a few monitors outside Apple’s ecosystem. That is changing, however, thanks to monitors like the BenQ PD27230S. It’s a feature-packed display that pairs 5K resolution with Thunderbolt 4 connectivity and a bundled remote.

BenQ PD2730S specs and features

The BenQ PD2730S is a 5K monitor widescreen, which means it has a resolution of 5120×2880. It’s part of a new breed of more affordable 5K monitors just now hitting store shelves. Unlike earlier 5K displays, this monitor has new IPS technology which roughly doubles the contrast ratio compared to most prior IPS monitors.

• Display size: 27-inch 16:9 widescreen
• Native resolution: 5120×2880
• Panel type: In-Plane Switching (with enhanced contrast), 10-bit panel
• Refresh rate: 60Hz
• Adaptive sync: None
• HDR: Yes, HDR 10
• Ports: 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x Thunderbolt 4 with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and 90 watts of Power Delivery, 1x Thunderbolt 4-out with daisy-chain display support, 1x USB-C upstream, 1x USB-C downstream, 4x USB-A downstream
• VESA mount: 100x100mm
• Speakers: 2x 3-watt speakers
• Remote control: Included
• Price: $1199.99

Resolution aside, the BenQ PD2730S is also notable for its connectivity. It supports Thunderbolt 4 as well as USB-C and includes a total of four USB-A downstream ports. The Thunderbolt 4 output also supports daisy-chain connections, meaning it’s possible to connect two monitors to a single video output on your PC. 

Further reading: See our roundup of the best monitors to learn about competing products.

BenQ PD2730S design

The BenQ PD2730S is part of the company’s designer sub-brand so, unsurprisingly, it boasts a professional and attractive design. It has slim black bezels around the sides and top and a modestly sized chin below. Around back, BenQ relies on “powdered white” matte plastics which look clean and feel robust. Overall, the design is simple but purposeful.

A robust silver-gray stand keeps the monitor upright and provides a wide range of ergonomic adjustment including tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustment. The swivel and height adjustments offer more room to adjust than with many other monitors, at 60 degrees of swivel and up to 150mm of height adjustment.

I also like the broad yet thin stand base, which keeps the monitor stable while allowing owners to use the desk space that it occupies. If you don’t want to use it, however, the display panel has a 100x100mm VESA mount for use with third-party monitor arms and stands.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

BenQ PD2730S connectivity

The BenQ PD2730S is a 5K monitor, but that’s not the only thing notable about it. It’s also a Thunderbolt 4 monitor that provides a ton of connectivity.

Video connectivity includes HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and Thunderbolt 4 with DisplayPort Alternate Mode, for a total of three video inputs. This is one area where connectivity is a tad weak, as I’d prefer to see a second DisplayPort. Still, the available video connectivity is fine for most people.

The monitor’s Thunderbolt 4 port also supports USB-C, of course, and up to 90 watts of Power Delivery for charging a connected tablet or laptop. There’s also a Thunderbolt 4/USB-C downstream port with up to 15 watts of Power Delivery and support for daisy-chain video connections (meaning the monitor’s Thunderbolt 4 output can be passed to a second monitor’s input, which allows for cleaner, simpler monitor connections).

In addition to that, the monitor has a data-only USB-C upstream port that handles data rates up to 10Gbps, as well as a USB-C downstream port with 10Gbps of data and 7.5 watts of power.

USB-A connectivity is robust, too. The monitor has a total of four USB-A downstream ports. One offers 10Gbps of data, while the rest handle up to 5Gbps of data.

A KVM switch function is included and arranged so that the Thunderbolt 4 port provides one source, while a USB-C port provides the other. A 3.5mm audio-jack rounds out that monitor’s connectivity.

That’s a lot, and it should be well-suited for the monitor’s intended use. This is a monitor built for professional use, after all, and many professional users want to connect many external devices. The only important port missing is Ethernet. That’s something a few competitors like the Dell U3224KB provide (though, in that case, at a higher price).

BenQ PD2730S features

The BenQ PD2730S is not short on features, especially when it comes to color management and calibration. The company provides several software utilities including ColorTalk (a color matching utility for people lacking a colorimeter for calibration) and Palette Master Ultimate (for those who do have a colorimeter). It’s also compatible with Display Pilot 2, a utility that provides access to most monitor options and settings in Windows.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Alternatively, the monitor’s options can be changed with a joystick on the lower right bezel or BenQ’s unique puck-style rotary remote. The puck is wireless and provides a quicker, more intuitive way to change settings. Not everyone will need it, but owners who make frequent adjustments to their monitor will appreciate it.

The monitor also features a pair of 3-watt speakers. As with most bundled speakers, they suffer from a lack of bass (as there’s no subwoofer), which causes audio to sound tinny and muddy at higher volumes. Still, the speakers are acceptable for listening to a podcast or playing ambient music at lower volumes.

BenQ PD2730S SDR image quality

The BenQ PD2730S is meant for creative professionals, so image quality is a high priority, and the monitor doesn’t disappoint. Though it’s not perfect, the PD2730S delivers an accurate, sharp quality that’s great for both creative work and general productivity.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

First up is SDR brightness, and here the BenQ PD2730S provides a strong score of 485 nits. While the Asus ProArt Display 5K PA27JCV scored better, the BenQ PD2730S otherwise runs ahead of the competition, including the Philips Creator Series 27E2F7901, another solid monitor for creative work.

Many people will use the PD2730S at some small fraction of its maximum potential brightness. However, its ability to reach a high brightness could be helpful if you work in a sunlit room or brightly lit open office.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Contrast is a strong point for the BenQ PD2730S, though it does depend on your needs. I measured a maximum contrast ratio of 2070:1 which, as the graph shows, is a good result in line with other monitors that have an IPS Black display panel. The contrast improvement is noticeable when compared to monitors with a conventional IPS panel, such as the Asus ProArt PA278CFRV.

However, shoppers should know that OLED monitors can achieve an effectively infinite contrast ratio that provides a deeper and more immersive image with better detail in shadowy scenes. On the other hand, most OLED monitors are inferior in brightness in sharpness.