BenQ EW2780Q 27" Black 2019

The BenQ EW2780Q nails color with 99% sRGB coverage and 350 nits brightness, but the 60Hz refresh rate puts it in the bottom fifth for performance. Connectivity is a standout with HDMI, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt. Grab it refurbished at the low end of the CAD 210 to CAD 400 range and it's a solid workhorse, just not a gaming monitor.

Let's be blunt about the performance numbers. A 60Hz refresh rate and 5ms response time put this panel in the 21st percentile for performance in our database. That's not a typo. For everyday desktop use, video playback, and photo editing, it's perfectly serviceable. The IPS panel keeps colors stable at wide viewing angles, and the 2560 x 1440 resolution gives you plenty of screen real estate for multitasking. But anyone coming from a 120Hz or 144Hz panel will notice the difference immediately, especially when scrolling or moving windows around.

The connectivity story is much better. With two HDMI ports, a DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt support, this monitor ranks in the 91st percentile for connectivity. That's best-in-class territory for a monitor at this price point. You can hook up a laptop, a console, and a streaming box all at once without swapping cables. The 5-key navigator makes switching inputs and adjusting settings less painful than the usual button hunt on the bezel.

Stacked against the competition, the EW2780Q is playing a different game. The ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQDMG and MSI MAG 271QPX QD-OLED E2 are OLED panels with refresh rates well above 60Hz, and they'll absolutely destroy this BenQ in motion clarity and contrast. The LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B and Samsung Odyssey G7 G75F are similarly built for speed. But those monitors cost significantly more, and they're aimed at gamers who need every frame. The BenQ counters with 99% sRGB coverage and a connectivity suite that beats most of those gaming panels. If you're editing photos or watching content, the BenQ holds its own. If you're gaming, every one of those competitors is a better choice.

Pricing on this monitor is all over the place in Canada. We're seeing CAD 210 to CAD 400 across three listings, which is a CAD 190 spread for the exact same panel. Memory Express has the refurbished unit at the lower end of that range, and that's the deal to grab if you're in the market. At CAD 210, you're getting a 27-inch QHD IPS panel with excellent connectivity and solid color performance for less than many 1080p monitors. At CAD 400, you're paying too much for a 60Hz panel when faster options exist. The refurbished route makes the most sense here, especially since BenQ's eye-care features and build quality tend to hold up well over time.

The BenQ EW2780Q is a 27-inch IPS panel pushing 2560 x 1440 pixels, and the color story is the headline here. It covers 99% of the sRGB gamut, which lands it in the top quarter of monitors in our database for color performance. That's the kind of coverage that makes photos and videos look right without needing a calibration tool on day one. The 350 nits of brightness helps too, especially with HDRi doing its thing to boost clarity and contrast on the fly.

But this is not a gaming monitor, and the numbers make that clear. You get a 60Hz refresh rate and a 5ms response time, which puts its raw performance in the bottom fifth of what we track. If you're editing spreadsheets, watching movies, or doing light creative work, that's fine. If you're trying to climb ranked ladders, you'll feel the ceiling fast. The built-in speakers are a nice touch, and the eye-care features are genuinely useful for long sessions, but the ergonomics are limited to tilt only, which is a bit of a letdown at this size.

Skip this one if you care about motion clarity or fast-paced gaming. The 60Hz refresh rate and 5ms response time are the weakest parts of this monitor, landing in the 21st percentile for performance. If you're coming from any panel running at 120Hz or higher, the difference will feel jarring. Also skip it if you need real ergonomic adjustments, since tilt-only stands get old fast on a 27-inch display. And if portability matters at all, the 11.6 out of 100 portable score tells you everything you need to know. This is a desk monitor, full stop.

The BenQ EW2780Q is a monitor that knows exactly what it is, and that's a comfortable, color-accurate display for work and entertainment. The 99% sRGB coverage and 350 nits brightness make it a solid pick for photo editing and media consumption, and the connectivity options are genuinely impressive. But the 60Hz refresh rate and 5ms response time are hard to ignore in 2025, especially when faster panels keep getting cheaper. If you can find it at the lower end of that CAD 210 to CAD 400 range, it's a good deal for the right user. Just don't expect it to keep up with anything faster than a casual gaming session.