BenQ EW3270U Review – 4.5/5
The BenQ EW3270U 4K HDR Eye Care Monitor is a must-have for PC/ PS4 gamers and film addicts who do not mind an “uncool” design but reaps all the benefits of a high-end 4K HDR monitor at only S$899 (initial retail price).
Remember those days when you stared at the monitor screen for hours? Be it a gaming day or a hectic workday, regular monitors are incapable of protecting your eyes from the effects of prolonged computer use, i.e CVS symptoms. Your eye muscles get strained and finally, unable to recover due to the lack of adequate rest. These symptoms can be further aggravated if your monitor is not up to par, with issues such as blue light, flickering and other improper lighting conditions.
Want to prevent that dry eyes and constant headaches for good? Say no more, the BenQ 4K HDR Eye Care Monitor is here to provide your eyes comfort even after long hours of usage.
At Guidesify, we would rate this monitor not only the best monitor for PS4 Pro but a superb 4K gaming monitor & 4K HDR monitor as well. Here’s more to our take.
Disclaimer: We have received a review sample of this product and all opinions are our own and not influenced by any 3rd party. There are no affiliate links placed in this review and we do not earn any commission fee after any purchase of BenQ EW3270 4K HDR Eye Care Monitor is made. Since change is inevitable and nothing is constant, our views on the product may also change from time to time, especially when HDR has only just begun and we are unaware of the full potential of this new tech.
HDR? Does it matter?
HDR stands for high dynamic range. In simple terms, HDR is the ultimate enhancement for the 4K monitors/TVs.
However, not all HDR sets are created equal, and hence, you may not notice a drastic improvement for monitors that barely hit the benchmark of HDR. Do not worry, the BenQ EW3270U 4K exceeded the benchmark of HDR.
Here is a comparison between an HDR and non-HDR image. (FIFA PS4)
The Review
Enjoy extremely vibrant, precise and realistic images as well as much higher frame rates with 4K resolution. You will be amazed by the crystal-clear and details of the image and be able to take advantage of the most advanced viewing experience.
The EW3270U design is simplistic and is appropriately priced at S$899 (link directs to BenQ’s official Lazada shop in a new tab). This fine piece of art by BenQ has a 32-inch screen with a 3840 x 2160 (4K) resolution, HDR10 compatibility, and 10-bit colour. The monitor has a refresh rate of 60Hz, which is the standard for most modern monitors. It has a response time of 4ms. While it’s not the best, it is good enough for most casual gamers out there. Another wonderful feature the EW3270U has is a 178 degrees viewing angle! Combine this with the 4K HDR and 32-inch screen, it will be the perfect monitor for the next FIFA or Netflix sleepover. The BenQ EW3270U has a modern aesthetic that makes it a really sleek and cool-looking technological device that is extremely appealing. With all that impressive features in its spec sheet, most UHD HDR monitors would cost over S$1200. If you are interested in a more detailed comparison of the BenQ EW3270U 4K HDR Eye Care Monitor with other BenQ monitors, here it is:
Of course, there’s more than meets the eye; is the EW3270U truly worthy of being on your desk?
BenQ EW3270U – 4K HDR in Games
Apart from the noob gameplay and low key raging, observe how smooth the graphics and environment pan out as Aurelia from Night Owl Cinematics plays Assassins’ Creed: Odyssey with the 32-inch 4K monitor.
HDR technology offers enhanced brightness and contrast and brings incredible details and vividness.
If you plan on playing games at 4K, a good monitor is not enough, obviously. You would also need a seriously powerful graphics card to actually push that many pixels, 4K at 60Hz to just under 500 million pixels being displayed every second.
These photos won’t do HDR justice but here are comparisons of the image quality between:
Emulated HDR where the PS4 is in HDR off mode but with HDR (HDR/BI Button) turned on and HDR
Non-HDR where both PS4 and HDR/BI Button has HDR switched off and HDR
BenQ EW3270U – 4K HDR in Movies
Details are important. With the onset of HDR filming, this VA panel monitor will have a clear advantage over regular monitors in terms of native contrast and dynamic contrast ratio.
Not to mention, this BenQ monitor actually comes with inbuilt speakers, providing you with an immersive experience without having the need to install additional speakers.
The BenQ EW3270U 32-inch monitor also comes with multiple connect ports, giving the user the freedom and convenience to connect to many devices (HDMI, DP and USB-C) at the same time.
The Defining Factor – Eyecare
Being workaholics, addict gamers and movie watchers, the average adult spends more than 9 hours on screens. This alarming figure alone shows how critical it is to implement eyecare features to protect our already strained eyes.
Although the best practice is to take regular breaks from the monitors, this is practically impossible when it comes to 2 hour long movies and intense gaming sessions. Fortunately, it is heartwarming to see that companies like BenQ has already advanced their display technology and is ahead of their game, where eyecare features are readily available for all screen-heavy users.
For starters, the screen auto-adjusts with colour temperature and ambient brightness. The BenQ EW3270U 4K HDR Monitor has also earned the TÜ V Rheinland Certification of low blue light content, flicker-free and high contrast 3000:1.
It also comes with 4 levels of HDR and Brightness Intelligence (B.I.) modes, allowing the user to manually select the most appropriate setting in different environments.
Content not HDR?
Fret not. The EW3270U is still capable of emulating HDR content just by switching on HDR.
Although the EW3270U may not have the coolest design or the highest end specs of 32-inch gaming monitors (hence the deduction in points), it is still the best choice for an affordable power upgrade to your current gaming or movie experience. The superior eye care technology coupled with auto adjusting features have also set this monitor apart from other 4K HDR monitors. It has succeeded in its objective of reducing eye strain to the minimum while producing fantastic images.
The BenQ EW3270U 4K HDR Eye Care Monitor is a must-have for PC/ PS4 gamers and film addicts who do not mind an “uncool” design but reaps all the benefits of a high-end 4K HDR monitor at only S$899.
You may visit BenQ official webpage for more information about the EW3280U here.
