BenQ 2730Z Gaming Monitor Review

The BenQ XL2730Z Gaming Monitor is a mouthful to say; luckily it’s a pretty awesome gaming monitor which makes it totally worth it. In BenQ’s own words the XL2730Z is built to dominate the professional gaming arena. Boasting a QHD resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms GTG response time and VESA Standard Adaptive-Sync technology, this all-new flagship gives you the finest, smoothest and fastest display performance for competitive game play.

First things first so let’s take a look at the tech specs of this gorgeous monitor.

Back Light Unit	LED
LCD Size	27.0
Max. Resolution	2560x1440
Typ. Brightness (cd/㎡)	350
Typ. Contrast	1000:1
Typ. DCR (Dynamic Contrast Ratio)	12M:1
Panel Type	TN
Typ. Response Time (Tr+Tf) (ms)	1ms (GTG)
Display Colors	16.7 Mil.
AMD FreeSync	Yes

Link: http://www.centrecom.com.au/benq-27-wqhd-2560x1440p-144hz-freesync-led-gaming-monitor

That last bit, FreeSync is true, however I was surprised by how little to no reference to it having it was anywhere near the box or even their website. FreeSync works as expected with supporting AMD GPU’s so that is all set for it.

Let’s first start with the packaging. It comes in a nice and bulky black box. The interior packaging has sufficient hard foam to protect that pretty screen from damage. It does come completely disassembled so it will take you a few minutes to put it together. The build quality is something you’d expect coming out of BenQ’s XL series. It’s robust with a sturdy stand and great positional options. One of the awesome things about the BenQ XL2730Z is the added handle on the stand for when you’re lugging this awesome display with you around LAN’s and gaming events, pretty neat and a must have on any gaming grade monitor.

The monitor itself has a number of inputs and buttons including a side panel for audio jacks, 2x USB3.0 ports (so much more useful on the sides) and a profile switches. Speaking of profiles there’s a also a breakout control box that sits nice in the stand of the display that also acts as your profile switcher. There are also a number of different profiles available however I did find myself making adjustments to every single one to suit my style but this is subjective to personal preference.

The OSD buttons and menu navigation wasn’t the greatest and could use some finer detail improvements. Buttons were very clunky and didn’t have a smooth feel to it. The support for 100mm VESA mounts is great and is always a welcome feature on any monitor.

The BenQ XL2730Z is loaded with a 2560x1440 panel resolution and I’ve said this a number of times with it currently being my favourite resolution to use, in both gaming and casual use. For me personally at this time of our tech it strikes and awesome balance between screen real estate and gaming performance. I think 4K still has a good 12 months before it becomes a viable option to go with. (and until Microsoft fixes Windows text scaling).

The monitor is primarily targeted to gamers and I do see why. The monitor with its FreeSync and 144Hz refresh rate is perfect for hard-core and competitive gamers, although even if you’re just a casual gamer you will definitely appreciate the 144Hz refresh rate.

Truthfully, other entertainment things aren’t so entertaining on this monitor. Things like movies and other photo related activities fall short from the BenQ’s TN panel. But this is the compromise you make switching to a faster & competitive panel. 

Overall the BenQ XL2730Z offers superior gaming performance for those who seek it. 1440p resolution, 1ms GTG response, FreeSync plus more, this monitor dishes up all the things needed to perform in a competitive gaming. Priced at $799 it is a decent chunk out of your wallet but it does give you the competitive edge you need.