Why I DITCHED my Apple Studio Display for the BENQ PD3220U!

In my BENQ PD3220U 4K monitor review, I answer the big question - can it replace the Apple Studio Display? And is it one of the best 4K monitors on the market for the Mac? Equally, is it the perfect companion to the MacBook Pro? Let’s find out!

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CHAPTERS
00:00 - Intro
00:58 - Specs and pricing
02:09 - Setup and design
04:02 - Performance
08:20 - Inevitable conclusion

[MarkEllisReviews]

What's the best monitor you've ever owned?

[phbrinsden]

Love my Studio with built in everything. No wires or crap clipped on top. And 5k

[techtipsuk]

I love the speakers in the Studio display they are second to none.

[ChrisDavisStudio]

I have this monitor, it's a great screen, but as a Photogrpaher, it's super annoying that the contrast is SO far off the Mac displays. A lot of my clients will be viewing images on an iPhone, iPad, MacBook etc, and the BenQ just cant replicate the same contrast, editing black and white images especially I have to go back to my MacBook screen to see how it will read.

[digitalclips]

I added the Apple 5K Studio Monitor a few weeks ago and removed the Dell 4K 27". This is for my M2 Studio Ultra. The difference is astounding; I can see things that are simply not there on the 4K.

[n.r.c.w]

I personally prefer a clean, single screen setup. So for me this is just another 4k monitor lacking a built-in camera, mic and speakers. I have Teams meetings on a daily basis where I share (part of) my screen, and my Studio Display does the job perfectly. Plenty of pixels to keep my notes next to the shared part. Great mics. Impressive speakers. It’s the all in one solution that does it for me. And after work I launch Lightroom and start editing my photos, which works fantastic too.
Also, couldn’t care less about the power cable. I wasn’t planning on disconnecting it anyway.
The Studio Display remains a niche product however. It’s a very personal decision whether or not it’s worth the money compared to less expensive alternatives that offer parts of the all in one experience.

[DanielRodriguez-fgll]

I personally think 32" is a bit too big, it takes effort to look from edge and edge, while easier to look all 27" without moving your neck.

[marijanWS]

Using this display since it was released. I love the understated design, the size (which is key), the color accuracy and the KMV switch. I wish the display would be a bit brighter and a higher refresh rate would be cool too but I think it‘s still hard to find another display that does better with all the features I care most about

[steveosaur]

Ah, what a timely video! I have been looking at the Studio Display and this Benq for a while. Which scaling are you using on the Benq? I also worry a bit that a new version will come out soon, since the screen is from 2019.

[withoutwroeirs]

Bought the PD3220U a year ago after hours of research, there is so much choice out there. However I can say I'm delighted. As a photographer the image colour reproduction is excellent. Additionally my eyes were thanking me for that matt display, I forget how much I missed using a matt display.

[georgelyras]

Sorry, going from a 27" pixel pact, 5K monitor, to a 32" 4k monitor? NO way! sorry

[jimnewtonsmith]

I’ve recently bought the BenQ 27” 4K version for £400 to work with my new Mac mini. It’s ok and suits my needs as an upgrade to my 13+ year old 27” iMac, but there’s lots of extra cables and the overall set up is not as “nice” as a standalone Apple product. However, price rules and I get a really clear display with options.

[eli.alcaraz]

I'm currently on my Apple Studio Display, and before it I was on this exact monitor - the BENQPD3220U, and was using this for 2 years well before I switched to the Apple Studio Display. The BENQ isn't as sharp as the Studio Display, and at only 4K (versus 5K), there are scaling issues with the screen. The only thing I miss about the BENQ monitor is its 32" screen size. For Apple users, I think understanding the principle behind Retina display and doing the math will tell you that 5K, at 27" is the perfect, linear scale which the Studio Display give you.

[mannkeithc]

I am huge fan of BenQ Monitors. I have a couple, both 27-inch HDR with speakers, great connectivity options and remote controls. One is 4K / 60Hz and the other 2K / 144Hz. The specs are not as good as the PD3220U monitor, but they were excellent value for money when purchased, and suit my needs. I often use the 2K monitor with my M2 MacBook Pro, M1 iPad Pro, Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, and an AMD 7 Series Ryzen 7 Mini PC, whereas my Windows Dev Kit 2023 and Apple TV 4K is connected to the 4K monitor.

[ChristopherFonseka]

I think if you’re in the market for a 4K display, then there are tons of options out there where the price difference makes the Studio Display unreasonable. What sets the studio display apart is that 5K panel, and there really isn’t any decent alternative

[maikolverasson]

Tip for every user of that display:
I just got this monitor for work, really nice. Though after pairing it with the Mac Studio, it looked strange and I went into the settings: the "sharpness" was on full effect! I put it down significantly and it looks more natural now overall.

[classicaloracle]

Thanks for this. How do you find the scaling and would it be worse on the 27" PD2725U?

[sharetherisk]

Apple 27" Studio and 32" XDR displays offer 218 ppi which produces outstanding text clarity. This BENQ monitor is 140 ppi - of all the specs enumerated in this review, do you not feel the >35% less text sharpness is worth mentioning?

[IgnitionBikeShow]

I am looking for a portable multi screen for my MacBook Pro, as I travelled a lot. Do you have any recommendations?

[JimBowieMack]

Thanks Mark, I found this very helpful and I’ll actually be purchasing one soon. I have a 5k iMac but looking to put together a second desk setup, and was already eyeing up the Ben Q, so I appreciated this video!