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BenQ EL2870U Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v1.1
Review updated Dec 12, 2018 at 10:02 am
Latest change: Retest Jul 02, 2021 at 09:45 am
BenQ EL2870U Picture
7.1
Mixed Usage
7.0
Office
7.3
Gaming
7.1
Multimedia
7.2
Media Creation
6.2
HDR Gaming

The BenQ EL2870U is a decent 4k monitor. It has great gaming features, including FreeSync support, a fast response time, and excellent low input lag. It also has great accuracy out of the box. Unfortunately, it has disappointing dark room performance due to the sub-par native contrast ratio and disappointing black uniformity. It supports HDR, but there's little benefit to this mode, as it can't get very bright and can't display a wide color gamut.

Our Verdict

7.1 Mixed Usage

The BenQ EL2870U is a decent monitor overall. It performs well as a casual gaming monitor since it supports FreeSync and has excellent low input lag. Unfortunately, it doesn't look as good in a dark room, and although it supports HDR, there's little benefit to enabling it, and the narrow viewing angles make it a bit less versatile.

Pros
  • Great gaming features, including low input lag and FreeSync support
  • Great accuracy out of the box
Cons
  • Disappointing dark room performance
  • HDR doesn't add much
7.0 Office

The BenQ EL2870U is a decent monitor for office use. The 28 inch, 4k screen is great for multitasking, and it has a good selection of inputs. Unfortunately, it has disappointing viewing angles, and the stand has terrible ergonomics, making it difficult to place in an ideal viewing position.

7.3 Gaming

The BenQ EL2870U is a decent gaming monitor for casual gamers. It has great motion handling, and it has excellent low input lag. It supports FreeSync, which is great, but it has a maximum 60Hz refresh rate, which may disappoint more serious gamers. It gets bright enough for even a well-lit room, but it isn't as well suited for dark rooms.

7.1 Multimedia

The BenQ EL2870U is decent for multimedia. The 4k, 28 inch screen is great for watching UHD movies, but unfortunately, HDR support is limited and it can't show movies the way the creator intended. Unfortunately, it isn't as well suited for watching movies at night due to the sub-par native contrast and disappointing black uniformity.

7.2 Media Creation

The BenQ EL2870U is a decent monitor for creating media. It has low input lag and a fast response time, giving the monitor a very responsive feel. It has an excellent SDR color gamut, but coverage of the wider Adobe RGB color space is less than ideal for professional photo or video editing.

6.2 HDR Gaming

The BenQ 2870U is a mediocre monitor for HDR gaming. It has good overall gaming performance, but HDR doesn't add much, as it can't get very bright and can't display a wide color gamut. For a better HDR gaming monitor, check out the Samsung CHG70.

  • 7.1 Mixed Usage
  • 7.0 Office
  • 7.3 Gaming
  • 7.1 Multimedia
  • 7.2 Media Creation
  • 6.2 HDR Gaming
  1. Updated Jul 02, 2021: Changed height adjustment result from 'N/A' to '0' to match our methodology.
  2. Updated Jun 08, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
  3. Updated Jan 15, 2019: We tested the monitor's compatibility with NVIDIA's new FreeSync driver. See our full investigation into NVIDIA's FreeSync Drivers here.
  4. Updated Dec 12, 2018: Review published.
  5. Updated Dec 10, 2018: Our testers have started testing this product.
  6. Updated Dec 10, 2018: Early access published.
  7. Updated Dec 08, 2018: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  8. Updated Nov 23, 2018: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 28" EL2870U, which is the only size available in this model. There are other models in the same family of BenQ monitors, some of which are listed below, but we don't expect them to perform the same as the EL2870U that we've tested.

If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their BenQ EL2870U doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review. Note that some tests such as the gray uniformity may vary between individual units.

Model Size Resolution Refresh Rate Notes
EL2870U 28" 4k 60Hz FreeSync, HDR, B.I.+ Sensor
EW3270U 32" 4k 60Hz FreeSync, HDR, B.I.+ Sensor
EX3203R 32" 1440p 144Hz FreeSync, B.I.+ Sensor, Curved
EW2775ZH 27" 1080p 60Hz B.I. Sensor
EW2770QZ 27" 1440p 60Hz B.I.+ Sensor

The EL2870U we reviewed was manufactured in August 2018.

Compared To Other Monitors

Comparison picture

The BenQ EL2870U is a decent monitor, but there are better choices in the same price range.

See our recommendations for the best 32-inch monitors, the best 4k HDR monitors, and the best 4k monitors.

BenQ EW3270U

The BenQ EW3270U is better than the BenQ EL2870U. The EW3270U has a much better native contrast ratio, and better black uniformity. The EW3270U also has better HDR performance, as it can display a wide color gamut.

BenQ EX2780Q

The BenQ EX2780Q is much better than the BenQ EL2870U. The EX2780Q's IPS panel has much better viewing angles, contrast ratio, and black uniformity. It also has a much higher refresh rate, as well as a lower input lag. On the other hand, the EL2870U has a 4k resolution, which is better for productivity, and better color accuracy out of the box.

Dell S2721QS

The Dell S2721QS is much better than the BenQ EL2870U. The Dell has much better ergonomics, higher peak brightness, and its IPS panel has wider viewing angles. It also has a better contrast ratio and can display a wide color gamut for HDR content. On the flip side, the BenQ has better color accuracy out of the box.

Samsung UE590

The BenQ EL2870U is much better than the Samsung UE590. The BenQ supports HDR, although this doesn't add much. The BenQ also has slightly better motion handling, as the backlight is completely flicker-free at all brightness settings. Although both monitors support FreeSync, the BenQ supports it over DisplayPort and HDMI, whereas the Samsung only supports FreeSync over DisplayPort.

ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV

The ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV is much better than the BenQ EL2870U. The ASUS has an IPS panel with much wider viewing angles, its ergonomics are significantly better, it gets a lot brighter. Also, the ASUS' response time is faster, it has a slightly higher refresh rate and lower input lag. However, the BenQ has a higher resolution, which results in sharper text and images.

LG 29UM69G-B

The BenQ EL2870U and LG 29UM69G-B use different panels, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The LG uses an IPS panel, which delivers wider viewing angles, and it has a higher native refresh rate. The BenQ has a TN panel, with a much higher resolution 4k screen that is better for multitasking, and it supports HDR, although this doesn't add much.

LG 32UD59-B

The LG 32UD59-B is better than the BenQ EL2870U. The LG has a larger screen, and the VA panel delivers better dark room performance. The LG also has a slightly more versatile stand, and the image remains accurate when viewed at an angle. The BenQ supports HDR, although this doesn't add much.

LG 27UK650-W

The LG 27UK650 is significantly better than the BenQ EL2870U. The two monitors have different panel types, but very similar motion handling and equally low input lag. However, the LG is better overall as it has better picture quality, with wider viewing angles, better uniformity, and you can position it comfortably with ease. Finally, the LG has a better HDR performance as it can get brighter and display a wider gamut of colors.

Dell U2719D

The Dell U2719D is a bit better than the BenQ EL2870U. The U2719D has significantly better ergonomics, wider viewing angles, and better gray uniformity. The BenQ, on the other hand, supports HDR, although this doesn't add much, and it has better black uniformity and a higher resolution screen. The BenQ also supports FreeSync, for a nearly tear-free gaming experience.

LG UltraFine 4k

The LG UltraFine 4k is a bit better than the BenQ EL2870U for most uses. The LG has better viewing angles, better uniformity, and slightly better ergonomics. The BenQ, on the other hand, supports HDR, has better reflection handling, and has a flicker-free backlight.

Acer Predator XB273K Pbmiphzx

The Acer Predator XB273K Pbmiphzx and the BenQ EL2870U have different panels, each with advantages and disadvantages. In this case, however, the Acer is much better in most aspects. The Acer has a faster native refresh rate, better viewing angles, a faster response time that delivers crisper motion, and you can position it to your liking with ease. The BenQ is slightly larger.

Dell UltraSharp U2720Q

The Dell UltraSharp U2720Q performs significantly better than the BenQ EL2870U for most uses. The Dell has much better ergonomics, it gets much brighter, and it has wider viewing angles due to its IPS panel. Also, the Dell supports HDR, its black uniformity is much better, and it has more connectivity options. However, the BenQ has a faster response time and is more color accurate out of the box.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Size 28"
Curved No
Curve Radius Not Curved
Weight (without stand)
9.7 lbs (4.4 kg)
Weight (with stand)
12.3 lbs (5.6 kg)
Design
Stand
Width
12.6" (32.0 cm)
Depth
7.7" (19.6 cm)

The stand is mostly made of plastic, and it has a matte finish, which unfortunately tends to show fingerprints and dust a bit more. The stand supports the monitor well, and it only wobbles a bit when the monitor gets nudged.

1.2
Design
Ergonomics
Height Adjustment
0.0" (0.0 cm)
Switch Portrait/Landscape No
Swivel Range No swivel
Tilt Range -15Ā° to 5Ā°

Update 07/02/2021: We previously had incorrectly listed the Height Adjustment as 'N/A' as opposed to '0'. The review has been updated to reflect this change, as the Ergonomics score has dropped slightly.

The stand can only tilt, there are no height adjustments and it can't swivel, which is disappointing. If you want to be able to adjust the monitor, a VESA stand would be a better choice.

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 100x100

Like the BenQ EW3270U, there's no cable management on the BenQ EL2870.

Design
Borders
Borders
0.7" (1.8 cm)

The borders are a bit thicker than average, with a thicker bezel that surrounds the entire panel.

Design
Thickness
Thickness (with stand)
5.6" (14.2 cm)
Thickness (without stand)
2.5" (6.4 cm)

The BenQ EL2870U is slightly thicker than the BenQ EW3270U, which is unexpected. When removed from the stand, it's quite thin and will look good when the VESA is mounted.

7.5
Design
Build Quality

The BenQ EL2870U has good build quality. There's a small gap around the outer edge used for heat dissipation, but it shouldn't cause any issues. The monitor itself is mostly made of plastic, but there are no points of concern.

Picture Quality
5.8
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
915 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
N/A

Disappointing contrast ratio. Blacks appear gray in a dark room. These results are about average for TN monitors, but much worse than the larger BenQ EW3270U, which has a VA panel.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge

Local dimming is not supported on this monitor. The above video is for reference only.

7.3
Picture Quality
SDR Peak Brightness
SDR Real Scene
273 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 2% Window
292 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 10% Window
292 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 25% Window
291 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 50% Window
290 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 100% Window
290 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 2% Window
291 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 10% Window
291 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 25% Window
291 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 50% Window
290 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 100% Window
289 cd/mĀ²
SDR ABL
0.001

The BenQ has a decent peak brightness which is in the same ballpark as the BenQ EW3270U. There's very little variation between scenes, so the brightness won't change while you're using it, unless B.I.+ mode is activated.

5.7
Picture Quality
HDR Peak Brightness
HDR Real Scene
246 cd/mĀ²
HDR Peak 2% Window
271 cd/mĀ²
HDR Peak 10% Window
271 cd/mĀ²
HDR Peak 25% Window
272 cd/mĀ²
HDR Peak 50% Window
272 cd/mĀ²
HDR Peak 100% Window
272 cd/mĀ²
HDR Sustained 2% Window
270 cd/mĀ²
HDR Sustained 10% Window
271 cd/mĀ²
HDR Sustained 25% Window
272 cd/mĀ²
HDR Sustained 50% Window
272 cd/mĀ²
HDR Sustained 100% Window
272 cd/mĀ²
HDR ABL
0.001

Unfortunately, the BenQ EW2870U can't get very bright. While this can still deliver a decent experience when playing PC games in HDR that are mastered for lower brightness levels, it still falls short of the minimum DisplayHDR 400 requirements. It's far too dim to show off the creator's intent when watching movies in HDR.

6.2
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
32Ā°
Color Washout From Right
38Ā°
Color Shift From Left
28Ā°
Color Shift From Right
28Ā°
Brightness Loss From Left
43Ā°
Brightness Loss From Right
48Ā°
Black Level Raise From Left
28Ā°
Black Level Raise From Right
28Ā°
Gamma Shift From Left
22Ā°
Gamma Shift From Right
22Ā°

Like most TN monitors, the BenQ EL2870U has disappointing horizontal viewing angles. When looking at the monitor at an angle, colors lose accuracy rapidly beyond about 30Ā°, and at the same time, the contrast increases drastically. The brightness remains fairly consistent though, dropping to half at about 47Ā°.

5.1
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
13Ā°
Color Washout From Above
41Ā°
Color Shift From Below
21Ā°
Color Shift From Above
70Ā°
Brightness Loss From Below
24Ā°
Brightness Loss From Above
37Ā°
Black Level Raise From Below
20Ā°
Black Level Raise From Above
45Ā°
Gamma Shift From Below
3Ā°
Gamma Shift From Above
4Ā°

The vertical viewing angles are almost as bad as the horizontal viewing angles. When looking at the BenQ EL2870U from above, you shouldn't have any issues, as it manages to stay accurate to a fairly wide angle of about 40Ā°. From below though, colors shift rapidly beyond 11Ā°, and the brightness drops by half at only 15Ā°.

7.5
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
5.406%
50% DSE
0.134%
5% Std. Dev.
2.131%
5% DSE
0.082%

The BenQ has decent gray uniformity overall. There's above-average variation in the overall gray, but there's only a slight dirty screen effect near the center, which shouldn't be too noticeable when browsing the web or streaming sports.

In near-dark scenes, the uniformity improves, but is still worse than average. There's very little dirty screen effect, which is good.

5.1
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
2.580%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

The BenQ has a disappointing black uniformity. There's a noticeable edge bleed around the edges of the monitor. There are significant uniformity issues throughout the screen, and these are noticeable in some content.

8.0
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
Picture Mode
User
Luminance
273 cd/mĀ²
Luminance Settings
100
Contrast Setting
50
RGB Controls
Normal
Gamma Setting
3
Color Temperature
6,396 K
White Balance dE
2.88
Color dE
2.16
Gamma
2.24

Out of the box, the BenQ EL2870U has great accuracy. White balance and color dE are both below three, and even enthusiasts are unlikely to notice any inaccuracies. The color temperature is a bit warm, but not far from the target 6500 K. Gamma follows the target curve well, but some scenes appear a bit dimmer than they should.

9.7
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
Picture Mode
User
Luminance
100 cd/mĀ²
Luminance Settings
25
Contrast Setting
50
RGB Controls
100-94-96
Gamma Setting
3
Color Temperature
6,442 K
White Balance dE
0.44
Color dE
0.59
Gamma
2.18

After calibration, the BenQ EL2870U is nearly perfect. The white balance dE and color dE are so low, specialized equipment is needed to spot any inaccuracies. Gamma follows the target curve nearly perfectly. The overall color temperature is a bit closer to the target of 6500 K, but still a bit warm.

You can download our ICC profile calibration here. This is provided for reference only and should not be used, as the calibration values vary per individual unit even for the same model due to manufacturing tolerances.

8.6
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB xy
96.7%
Adobe RGB xy
74.9%
sRGB Picture Mode
User
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
User

The BenQ EW2870U has an excellent SDR color gamut. It covers nearly all of the s.RGB color space, which is good, but the Adobe RGB coverage is limiting for professional photo and video editing (see our recommendations for the best monitors for photo editing). If you need a monitor with wider Adobe RGB coverage, check out the LG 32UL500-W.

8.7
Picture Quality
SDR Color Volume
sRGB In ICtCp
94.7%
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
78.4%
sRGB Picture Mode
User
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
User

The BenQ EW2870U has excellent SDR color volume. It has nearly perfect coverage in the s.RGB color space, which is great, but it can't produce deep, dark colors very well.

5.7
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
No
DCI P3 xy
62.4%
Rec. 2020 xy
51.5%
DCI P3 Picture Mode
Cinema HDR
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
Cinema HDR

The BenQ EW2870U has a disappointing HDR color gamut. There's very little difference in the gamut between HDR and SDR, so HDR content won't look as vibrant as it should.

4.9
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
DCI-P3 In ICtCp
50.5%
Rec. 2020 In ICtCp
45.8%
DCI P3 Picture Mode
Cinema HDR
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
Cinema HDR

The BenQ EL2870U has bad HDR color volume. It's limited by the HDR color gamut, the disappointing HDR peak brightness, and the contrast ratio. These results are much worse than the BenQ EW3270U.

10
Picture Quality
Image Retention
IR After 0 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 2 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 4 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 6 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 8 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 10 Min Recovery
0.00%

There are no signs of temporary image retention, even immediately after showing our high contrast static torture test for 10 minutes.

9.8
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit

The BenQ EW2870U has outstanding gradient performance. There's some banding in dark shades, but this shouldn't detract from the viewing experience in any way. These results are among the best, and better than most TN monitors, similar to the Samsung UE590 and AOC AGON AG271QX.

10
Picture Quality
Color Bleed
Pixel Row Error
0.000%
Pixel Column Error
0.000%

There's no color bleed at all, which is great.

7.5
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
5.1%
Indirect Reflections
2.5%
Calculated Direct Reflections
2.5%

Overall, the BenQ EL2870U has good reflections handling, similar to the Dell S2417DG. There shouldn't be any issues with indirect lights, but light sources directly opposite the screen may cause some issues.

9.5
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
TN
Sub-Pixel Layout
RGB
Motion
7.6
Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Best Overdrive Setting
High
Rise / Fall Time
4.0 ms
Total Response Time
19.1 ms
Overshoot Error
7.5%
Dark Rise / Fall Time
2.1 ms
Dark Total Response Time
18.7 ms
Dark Overshoot Error
13.7%

Response Time Off
Response Time High
Response Time Premium

The BenQ EL2870U has an excellent fast response time. There are three different settings for the response time, and we recommend the 'High' setting, as it produces the fastest response time with the least amount of overshoot. The 'Off' setting results in significant undershoot in most transitions, resulting in a slower overall response time, and the 'Premium' setting results in significant overshoot.

7.6
Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Best Overdrive Setting
High
Rise / Fall Time
4.0 ms
Total Response Time
19.1 ms
Overshoot Error
7.5%
Dark Rise / Fall Time
2.1 ms
Dark Total Response Time
18.7 ms
Dark Overshoot Error
13.7%
10
Motion
Image Flicker
Flicker-Free Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz

The BenQ EL2870U, like the BenQ EW3270U, is completely flicker-free, which is great. Unfortunately, there's no option to add flicker to reduce persistence blur.

0
Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
No
BFI Maximum Frequency
N/A
BFI Minimum Frequency
N/A
7.4
Motion
Refresh Rate
Variable Refresh Rate
FreeSync
Native
60 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
FreeSync
Yes
G-SYNC
Compatible (Tested)
VRR Maximum
60 Hz
VRR Minimum
40 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors DisplayPort, HDMI

The BenQ EL2870U supports a maximum 60Hz refresh rate, which may be disappointing to more serious gamers. It does support FreeSync though, which is great, and the full VRR range is available to both HDMI connections and the DisplayPort connection. Unfortunately, low framerate compensation (LFC) is not supported, so you may still experience some tearing when the frame rate drops below the VRR minimum.

Update 01/15/2019: We have tested the BenQ EL2870U with the new NVIDIA G-SYNC compatible drivers. FreeSync can be manually enabled from the NVIDIA Control Panel, and it works without any major issues.

Inputs
8.9
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution
8.8 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
8.8 ms
Variable Refresh Rate
9.7 ms
Variable Refresh Rate @ 60Hz
9.7 ms
10 Bit HDR
8.8 ms
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
N/A

Excellent low input lag, typical of 60Hz monitors. Unlike most monitors, there's slightly higher input lag when using FreeSync, although it's still low enough to be good for most gamers.

9.2
Inputs
Resolution And Size
Native Resolution 3840 x 2160
Aspect Ratio 16:9
Megapixels 8.3 MP
Pixel Density
161 PPI
Screen Diagonal 27.9"
Screen Area 329 inĀ²

The 28 inch screen and 4k native resolution are great for multitasking, as you can easily place multiple windows side-by-side.

Inputs
Inputs
Inputs
Total Inputs
DisplayPort 1 (DP 1.4)
Mini DisplayPort No
HDMI 2 (HDMI 2.0)
DVI No
VGA No
DisplayPort Out No
USB No
USB C No
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 1
Microphone In 3.5mm No
Digital Optical Audio Out No
Analog Audio Out RCA No
Power Supply Internal

Both HDMI ports support the full bandwidth of HDMI 2.0, great if you are planning on connecting a 4k console to it. It also supports HDCP 2.2, so you won't have any issues watching 4k UHD Blu-rays on it. There's a single audio out port with controllable volume, which is useful for a quick headphone connection.

Features
Features
Additional Features
RGB Illumination
No
Speakers
Yes
HDR10 Yes
Multiple Input Display
No

The BenQ EL2870U has a few additional features, very similar to the BenQ EW3270U:

  • M-book mode: This mode adjusts the picture settings to closely match the look of a Macbook.
  • Super Resolution: Like the feature of the same name found on LG monitors, this adjusts the upscaling of lower resolution content
  • B.I. +: There's a sensor protruding from the bottom bezel of the monitor that is used to adjust the color temperature based on the ambient lighting.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)
Features
Controls

The controls are identical to the BenQ EW3270U. There's a dedicated HDR control button that enables HDR simulation when not in HDR, and can also be used to toggle the B.I.+ sensor on or off.

Features
In The Box

  • Manual
  • Driver CD
  • Power cable
  • HDMI cable