For us professional-grade content creators, a simple monitor isn’t going to cut it. We need something that conforms to international standards so that when we edit a photo or a video, white appears white, not a “shade” of white. Because I fall into that category, I was excited when I received the BenQ PD3205U monitor for review, because I knew my editing workflow would change for good. Not only does it offer a large, consistently color-accurate display, but it also lets you use two color spaces at once! Read this review to find out whether this monitor under 50 grand is worth your investment or not.
BenQ PD3205U Monitor Review: Build and design
The BenQ PD3205U is a solid, handsome product. Its body is carved out of high-quality metal, without a single badge facing you. I absolutely loved its sleek, minimalist design. It has a hefty metal base that screws onto your work surface and lets you make minuscule adjustments to viewing angles in all axes without requiring any tools. The stand also allows it to pivot vertically, which is very clever.
Bundled accessories | Calibration Report, Hotkey Puck G2, QSG, Warranty Card |
Connectivity options | Display Port (v1.4) x1 HDMI (2.0) x1 USB Type-C x 1 USB Type-B x 2 (upstream) USB Type-A x3 (downstream) |
Swivel rotation | 15˚(left) 15˚ (right) |
Tilt rotation | 5˚ (up) -20˚ (down) |
Pivot rotation | 90˚ (clockwise) |
Height adjustment | 110 mm |
It helps keep your work surface neat by stowing away all of its ample connectivity options behind its display, shrouded by a piece of plastic. The most impressive bit about its sprawling I/O options is the fact that it supports the 90W USB-PD standard, which lets you charge your MacBook and is something you don’t usually see in monitors.
To simplify the way you interact with this monitor, BenQ has bundled a second-generation Hotkey Puck. It is a rotatory KVM switch surrounded by a bunch of buttons that give you quick access to monitor settings and lets you assign hotkeys to specific color modes.
Using this, you can also work with two distinct color modes side-by-side. I love this attachment and wish more monitors came with it rather than the tiny, clumsy buttons behind their right bezel.
BenQ PD3205U Monitor Review: Display and audio
While the BenQ PD3205U has a ‘32’ in its name, it doesn’t exactly measure 32 inches diagonally. Rather, it’s a 31.5-inch panel, and here are its key specifications: