BenQ takes on Apple Studio Display with 5K 27-inch monitor and nano texture-like option

Zac Hall | Oct 15 2024 - 8:42 am PT

Since Apple discontinued the 27-inch 5K iMac, Mac users have had to look elsewhere for a comparable desktop experience. Apple, Samsung, and LG have been the only display makers with 27-inch 5K monitors on the market for a while. Fortunately, a fourth competitor is joining the 5K 27-inch party soon, and it’s one MacBook users will appreciate.

BenQ 5K PD2730S

BenQ, which specializes in monitors for designers and content creators, unveiled the 5K PD2730S this week in conjunction with Adobe MAX. The latest DesignVue PD monitor from BenQ is the 27-inch 5K Thunderbolt 4 monitor that was missing from BenQ’s lineup.

While pricing hasn’t been announced yet, it looks like we have a formidable competitor to Apple’s Studio Display on our hands. That’s because BenQ touts its own “nano texture” type of anti-reflective coating technology as an option for the PD2730S. Here’s a rundown on BenQ’s nano matte panel tech compared to glass and matte panels:

Glass Panels: The features mentioned above indicate how a panel reduces the effects of ambient light on the displayed image. A typical monitor that features a glass panel without any of these features tends to have a reflection rate of over 4%.

Matte Panels: These panels use a film substrate instead of glass and feature a hard coating to diffuse ambient light, resulting in a reflection rate of approximately 3.5%.

Nano Matte Panels: Enhanced with anti-glare and low-reflection features, these panels add an additional protective layer on top of the anti-glare coating, reducing the reflection rate to below 3%.

As for the elevator pitch on specs:

27″ 5K display with a 2000:1 high contrast ratio and 98% P3 color coverage for pixel-perfect precision
Factory-calibrated for out-of-the-box color accuracy and intuitive color matching across displays
Thunderbolt 4 with 90W power delivery for fast data transfer and seamless Mac compatibility

Expect more coverage as we get our hands on the new hardware and launch details come into focus.

BenQ 4K PD3226G

Not every Mac user insists on Apple’s preferred resolution and screen size specs. For gamers and game designers, BenQ has announced a 4K 32-inch monitor with 144Hz refresh rate. This Thunderbolt 4 monitor with 95% P3 color matches crisp visuals with smooth motion. Launch details, including pricing, will be available in the future. Stay tuned for updates.