BenQ EX2780Q 27"

The BenQ EX2780Q is a 27-inch 1440p IPS monitor with 144Hz, FreeSync Premium, and excellent color coverage at 95% DCI-P3. It's a great mixed-use display for creative work and casual gaming, with useful extras like USB-C and HDRi. The 5ms response time and basic stand keep it from being a top competitive gaming pick.

The EX2780Q runs at 2560x1440 with a 144Hz refresh rate and a 5ms GtG response time. That's a solid combo for gaming, though the 5ms response is on the slower side for an IPS panel aimed at gamers. Fast-paced shooters won't feel as crisp as they would on a 1ms TN or a good QD-OLED, but for most people this is plenty smooth. FreeSync Premium keeps things tear-free on AMD GPUs.

Color performance is where this monitor really shines. It covers 95% of the DCI-P3 color space with 10-bit color and 350 nits of brightness. In our database, its color score lands in the 92nd percentile, which puts it near the top of the charts for this category. That's genuinely impressive for a monitor that also targets gamers. The HDRi feature helps here too, adjusting contrast and detail based on ambient light. It's not true HDR with local dimming, but it's a nice step up from standard SDR.

Overall performance sits around the 60th percentile, which is about average for this class. The display itself is in the 72nd percentile, so it's a strong panel held back a bit by the response time and lack of more aggressive gaming features.

Against the ASUS ROG Strix XG27UCDMG, the BenQ loses on raw gaming performance. The ASUS is a 4K panel with faster response and better HDR, but it costs significantly more. The BenQ's 1440p resolution is easier to drive, which matters if you don't have a top-tier GPU. The LG UltraGear 45GX950A-B is a massive ultrawide, so it's really a different category entirely, but it shows what you can get if you spend more. The Samsung Odyssey G60SD is a closer competitor, with better gaming specs but typically weaker color accuracy out of the box.

The MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED is probably the most direct threat. It's also 27 inches and 1440p, but with QD-OLED contrast and near-instant response times. The BenQ fights back with better color calibration and the HDRi sensor, plus it's usually cheaper. If you care about deep blacks and fast motion, the MSI wins. If you care about accurate color and a more versatile feature set, the BenQ holds its own. The Dell UltraSharp U4025QW is a productivity ultrawide, not a gaming monitor, so it's not really a fair fight, but it does highlight that the BenQ is a jack-of-all-trades rather than a specialist.

Value is tricky here because the price swings a lot depending on where you buy it. At 600 CAD, the EX2780Q is competing with some newer panels that offer faster response times and better HDR. But if you can find it at a discount, the color performance alone makes it worth considering. The USB-C connectivity and HDRi sensor add real utility that cheaper monitors don't have. Compared to something like the MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED, you're giving up OLED contrast and speed, but you're also likely paying less. For a mixed-use setup where you do creative work during the day and game at night, this is a reasonable deal if the price is right.

The BenQ EX2780Q is a 27-inch 1440p IPS gaming monitor that tries to do a bit of everything. It's aimed at people who want solid color performance for creative work but also want 144Hz and FreeSync Premium for gaming. The price is a bit all over the place depending on where you shop, with listings around 600 CAD and 157,524 JPY, so it's not exactly a budget pick in every market.

What makes this one interesting is the HDRi feature. BenQ built in a sensor that reads your room's ambient light and adjusts the picture on the fly. That's not something you see on every monitor in this class, and it's a genuinely useful trick if your lighting changes throughout the day. You also get a USB-C port with DP Alt mode and 10W power delivery, which makes it easy to hook up a laptop with one cable.

For connectivity, this thing is loaded. Two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort, USB-C, a headphone jack, and built-in speakers with a 2Wx2 plus 5W setup. The speakers are actually better than most monitor speakers, which isn't saying a ton, but they're fine for casual use. The stand only tilts from -5 to 20 degrees, so you'll probably want a VESA mount if you care about height adjustment.

Skip the EX2780Q if you're a competitive FPS player who needs the fastest response time possible. The 5ms GtG panel will feel sluggish compared to a 1ms TN or a QD-OLED like the MSI MPG 271QR. Also skip it if you want real HDR with high peak brightness, since 350 nits won't deliver that. And if you need a highly adjustable stand out of the box, the tilt-only design will frustrate you unless you plan to buy a VESA arm. For pure gaming, the Samsung Odyssey G60SD or MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED are better fits. For pure productivity, an ultrawide like the Dell UltraSharp U4025QW gives you more screen real estate.

Should you buy the BenQ EX2780Q? If you want a monitor that handles both creative work and gaming without breaking the bank, yes, this is a strong option. The color accuracy is genuinely excellent, the 144Hz refresh rate keeps games smooth, and the USB-C port makes it easy to switch between a desktop and a laptop. The HDRi sensor is a nice bonus that you'll actually notice in daily use.

But if you're a competitive gamer who needs the fastest possible response time, look elsewhere. The 5ms GtG response and limited stand adjustability hold this back. And if you want real HDR with high peak brightness, this isn't it. For everyone else, especially people who split their time between Photoshop and games, the EX2780Q is a solid pick that does a lot of things well.