BenQ RD320U 32” 4K 3840x2160 Programming Monitor with 2000:1 Contrast Ratio, Nano Matte Panel, Backlight, 90W USB-C, Coding Modes, Night Hours Protection, Ergonomic Design, and Eye-Care Technology

It's still early days, but this review is intended for those who want to use this monitor to work with Word and PDF docs, not necessarily for coding. For more than a decade I have used 1920x1200 24-inch S-PVA monitors (Samsung 244t, NEC LCD2470WNX, and HP LP2465 currently) with two desktop computers. I spend a lot of time working in Word on the right and either another Word doc (research notes) or a PDF (source doc) on the left. I have always worked without glasses, but lately it's getting more difficult to see the small stuff. So my hope was that increasing pixels per inch from 93 to 164 and simultaneously increasing the size of the document on screen would help.The big question was how the change in ratio from 16:10 to 15:10 would play out, and whether Windows scaling would have to be changed to keep icons at a usable size and if so, how well that would work too. I have tried the BenQ monitor with both a 12-year-old desktop computer with an Intel i7-3770 processor and a 9-year-old machine with an i7-6770 processor. The older processor limits maximum resolution to 2160x1440. The newer one goes all the way to 3840x2560. Both models use Intel HD 530 integrated graphics and DisplayPort.With the 24 inch monitors, when an 8 1/2 x 11 Word doc was on screen next to a similar doc (either Word or PDF), both as large as they could go, the Word doc was zoomed at 79% and measured about 8 1/2 x 11. With 1440p as maximum resolution, that figure is now 94% and the doc measures 10 1/2 x a little over 13 1/2. The adjacent PDF is zoomed at 120%. Both are much easier to read. I was using "small icons" and had text scaled at 125%. Those settings are still usable. Increasing Windows scaling to 150% makes them look almost too large.I also tried the monitor on the more recent computer to see how 3840x2560 resolution compared. Desktop icons were too small, but a change to "Medium icons" fixed that. Text scaling needed to be increased to 200%. As for sharpness, I don't see much difference between 2560p and 1440p, other than some improvement in smoothness of gradations and edges. This computer is currently stored on life support, but when it replaces the older one, I'll go with 3840x2560.Desk space is limited and I want to be able to look out the window, so I was concerned that the added two inches of lateral width would be a problem, but it appears it won't block the view. I wouldn't want to go any wider.I discovered that the version of the monitor with the stand does not rotate between landscape and portrait. You have to buy the swing arm to get that functionality. Really, BenQ, make your stand rotate. I removed the BenQ stand and attached a stand from a retired Samsung 244t using the BenQ's four VESA mount screws. The 244t's stand does rotate and the height is perfect (and adjustable, like that of the BenQ's stand). I could have bought one of the many swing arms offered on Amazon for as little as $25 or so, but space is limited.OSD functions controlled by the downward-facing buttons are straightforward. I probably won't mess with the downloadable software. YMMV. I bought this monitor to use for research and writing. I just want it to work, providing me text I can read with acceptable brightness, color, and other characteristics. I have this in common with people doing coding: Distraction is not a good thing. I am happy to report that this monitor fits the bill.Update, one week later: Still delighted. Have spent long days writing, with less eyestrain and stress. Life is too short not to make this kind of improvement.

Everything works. No errors. No dead pixels.The RD280U/RD280UA 28.2" is the only high resolution monitor that has a 3:2 aspect ratio, aside from the (discontinued) Huawei MateView that had the same specs. It's becoming a winner for serious work, programming, media, multitrack production. It took a day or so to visually adapt. I'm using it as a middle monitor in a three monitor setup.FYI:1. You should have enough depth on your desk to place it further back for a comfortable field of focus.2. You need a DisplayPort cable if you're not using USB-C for display. It's an odd oversight by BenQ. To use the monitor in full native 3840x2560 resolution 60 Hz, you have to use the DisplayPort or USB-C connection. You can't use the HDMI port because it's HDMI 2.0 which lacks the bandwidth for full resolution at 60Hz. The odd part is that BenQ provides cables for all of these USB connections and HDMI, but not the DisplayPort cable. No problem. Get a DisplayPort 1.4 cable.The cable I got from UGREEN is perfect, 6.6 ft, braided, on sale for $7: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088GQM9CV --- OR --- Alternatively, if you don't have a DisplayPort on your GPU, but your GPU has an HDMI 2.1 port, get a "DisplayPort 1.4 to HDMI 2.1" cable.3. LED lights under it, in front, and in back can all be turned off, as you'd expect. Turn them off by hitting the toggle button (the middle button underneath) > Coding Booster > Function Bar > Power Key LED and the LED Indicator. MoonHalo settings are nearby.4. Yes, the speaker sound is expectedly bad. That's fine. No one buys monitors for the speakers. If it meant making the monitor rim smaller, I'd assume they not include it. On the other hand, it's a nice rudimentary backup selling point for sound, alerts, talk radio streaming.5. The adjustable MoonHalo is a genius add. Very handy to help eyes when you're in a darker area. I keep mine on all the time now with the 270 option. Nice adjustable glow as the sun sets.6. I was hesitant, thinking the extra grey bulk and notch at the bottom of the monitor would be distracting. I prefer pure black and uniformity, no weird notches, no flashy branding. Luckily, when you start using it, it mostly fades out of sight in contrast to the illuminated screen, both in daylight and night.7. To do firmware upgrades using the Display Quickit software, make sure your USB upstream cable (included) is plugged in and into the computer, with no other USB cables in the monitor, along with your DisplayPort cable, as the software will tell you: it only tells you all that just before an OK click initiates the attempt. The firmware upgrade takes a few minutes. Or, if you're using USB-C, I think that's all you need as the connection.8. 60 Hz isn't a problem whatsoever. Games will be fine for most casual folks. Video is good. Negativity surrounding 60Hz could be justified if your life is more focused on gaming, but then you're probably reducing your resolution anyway to achieve more frames and choosing a smaller monitor. If or when monitors in 3:2 go to 120Hz+, yes, that'll be great too, and I'm sure it will boost sales. That's probably no time soon. Even so, serious productivity, dragging windows, scrolling browser pages, reading, writing, production, and the like doesn't require higher refresh rates. The vast portion of your time spent interacting and reading is in the continual pauses between dragging and scrolling. You won't notice a deficit. It's good.9. BenQ, if you're reading this:- Keep making 3:2 monitors.- Also make 16:10 monitors with the same or better DPI at the 27/28" range. There are no serious 16:10 monitors on the market larger than the 24-inchers. I think most people would find 16:10 to be the sweet spot for general computing for work and entertainment. BenQ appears to have the only 24" 16:10 monitor with a higher resolution, also part of this "programming" product line: RD240Q. Great. Yet I've been using 24-inch 16:10 monitors for 17+ years. There's a crazy huge gap in the market that would buy every larger high resolution 16:10 monitor in sight. I'm not alone.- Remove extra stuff at the bottom of the monitor, the notch. Make rims uniform and black, not grey. I took a chance and found it's not a serious problem in practical use, but I prefer the cleanest look. If it means removing speakers, do so. Or do both. People are capable of choosing their own speakers or soundbars.- Linux. Hire Linux developers. Make all Linux software you produce open source. Take a serious presence in the Linux game. Calling yourself a "programming monitor" and not supporting Linux in your added software is a miss. You can run the monitor normally in Linux. It's just that the optional BenQ software (Display Pilot 2 and Display Quickit) that provides a GUI to tweak settings and firmware upgrades (settings you can still access through physical controls) doesn't run on Linux. Not a deal breaker.I hope to see more 3:2 monitors and larger 16:10 monitors in even higher resolution. Meanwhile, RD280U is a winner.