BenQ USB-C Budget Monitor...

There are numerous affordable 27-inch monitors with 1080p resolution, making it difficult to distinguish the best from the worst. The variation is often due to minor and specific features. However, the BenQ GW2785TC is a practical option due to its sturdy ergonomic stand and USB-C port, despite being a relatively standard 1080p monitor.

• Display size: 27-inch

• Native resolution: 1,920 x 1,080

• Panel type: IPS LCD 

• Refresh rate: 75Hz

• Adaptive-Sync: None

• HDR: No

• Ports: 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x DisplayPort-out (MST), 1x USB-C with 60 watts Power Delivery and DisplayPort Alternate Mode

• Stand adjustment: Height, swivel, tilt, pivot

• VESA mount: Yes, 100x100mm

• Speakers: 2x two-watt speakers

• Price: $269.99

The GW2785TC monitor is designed for basic home productivity, but it provides several features that are not typically found in less expensive office monitors. One of its noteworthy features is the USB-C port which delivers 60 watts of Power Delivery and DisplayPort Alternate Mode, allowing a single-cable connection with a compatible USB-C laptop or tablet. With this feature, the USB-C cable can handle both video and device charging. However, it does not have USB-A ports for connecting peripherals like keyboards, mice, or hard drives. Despite this, it has a DisplayPort-out port, an unusual feature for a monitor in this price range. This enables daisy-chained video connections, allowing you to connect a video input to the GW2785TC and then connect a second monitor to its DisplayPort-out. This is a useful feature for devices that lack multiple video outputs.

The GW2785TC monitor has a fast, responsive, and user-friendly on-screen menu. While BenQ provides some image quality features, such as color temperature and gamma options, customization options are limited. However, the monitor offers a variety of usage modes that may benefit those who have difficulty using monitors for extended periods, such as Color Weakness mode, which enhances image quality for individuals with color blindness.

Interestingly, the monitor includes a microphone, but its purpose is unclear. BenQ claims it is a productivity feature for video conferencing, but since most webcams have a built-in microphone of comparable quality, it seems redundant. Additionally, the monitor has speakers, but their audio quality is lackluster, which is typical of budget monitors. While they are adequate for listening to podcasts, they produce subpar sound quality when listening to music.