BenQ RD320U review: Best monitor for coders?

BenQ RD320U programming monitor is designed for people who spend hours in front of a screen coding. The priority for coders and programmers, as well as for the BenQ RD320U, is a screen that is comfortable for the eyes. BenQ further tries to appeal to the target audience with connectivity options that hardcore developers would need, along with other custom hardware and software solutions like a function bar with a coding hotkey, PIP/PBP modes for multiple inputs, MoonHalo backlight to create a soothing work environment and more. But how much of a difference do these extras make? Do these features justify the high-end price? Let’s try to answer that question and more in our BenQ RD320U review.  

BenQ RD320U review: Specs

• Display: 31.5-inch, 4K UHD (3840 x 2160), 16:9, IPS Black, Matte finish, 60Hz
• Design: Tilt: -5˚ – +20˚; Swivel – 15˚/15˚; Pivot  +90˚; Height Adjustment – 110mm
• VESA mount: 100 x 100mm supported
• Connectivity – 2x HDMI 2.0, Display Port 1.4, USB 3.2 Gen2 USB C (90W power delivery), USB 3.2 Gen2 USB C (MST), 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type B, Headphone Jack
• Supported Colour modes: Coding Dark theme, Coding Light theme, M-book, Cinema, Game, HDR, ePaper, sRGB, User
• Certification – TÜV Certification (eye-care comfort)
• Price: Rs. 61,498 (Buy)

BenQ RD320U Video Review

BenQ RD320U review: Display Quality and Colour Modes 

To start with the RD320U uses an IPS Black panel. This means you get the advantages of IPS displays like wide viewing angles along with higher contrast. The display has an anti-reflective Nano Matte finish panel that minimises glare and makes the display comfortable to use for long hours.  

Another highlight of the monitor is the Coding Modes and a Coding Hotkey to quickly switch between them. There is a dark theme suited for coding editors most of which come with a black background. Blacks in the Dark Coding Theme are extremely deep which is achieved by adapting an aggressive tone curve. 

If you use this mode to watch movies and other content, you will notice that shadow details are crushed. There is also a light coding theme. Apart from blacks, the mode also enables sharper fonts and improved code differentiation to be easy on the eyes.

Coding Light theme also undertracks the gamma curve but has a warmer white point and is more suitable for programmers who prefer a Light theme or more whites. 

Similarly, there is a Mbook mode for colour consistency with Apple Macbooks and a warm, monochrome Epaper mode that is easy on the eyes for readers.

The most colour-accurate mode is the sRGB mode where we recorded the maximum contrast of 1952:1 and an average white point close to standard D65. 

This monitor is not meant to be highly colour-accurate out of the box, but the colour credentials are quite decent. We recorded 100% sRGB and 98.7% DCI-P3 coverage. 

Colour volume which measures the range of colours a display can reproduce at different luminance levels also turned out better than expected. The display can reproduce 94% of DCI-P3 colour volume and 100% of sRGB colour volume. 

As for colour accuracy, we recorded an average delta error of 2.4. The HDR mode is even more accurate with an average delta error of less than 2. The display has a peak brightness of approximately 300 nits which isn’t high enough for impactful HDR but is still quite decent for a monitor. 

BenQ RD320U review: Coding Features 

Apart from the Coding Modes that we discussed in the last section, there are several other features that should perhaps make the monitor appealing to coders and programmers.

The primary highlight and differentiation factor is the Function Bar which includes a Coding Hotkey, a customizable Function key and a set of three LED indicators. 

The Coding Hotkey is a touch button to toggle Coding colour modes on the monitor. The customisable Function Key can be assigned to functions such as colour mode, Signal input and more. 

There is also an Eye Reminder feature that uses an IR sensor to detect how long you have been sitting in front of the screen. It pushes a notification in the right corner after a set time when it’s time to take a break. The notification is easy to miss if you use the RD320U as an extended monitor. 

The monitor also includes a suite of eye care features, including Low Blue Light Plus, Brightness Intelligence or B.I. Gen2, and Night Hours Protection. These can adjust blue light and screen brightness based on user preference and ambient light. 

BenQ’s Night Hours Protection is designed for nocturnal programmers and uses minimum brightness technology to safeguard eyes in low-light settings. It is useful for coding late at night, but also supports all-day use, helping maintain focus and comfort as the lighting changes. 

Programmers also get to benefit from a decent set of connectivity options, including a KVM Switch, two HDMI Input ports, A display port for daisy chaining, and two USB Type-C ports on the back with support for 90W power delivery. There are also two USB A 3.2 ports, an audio jack and USB Type C ports towards the front to connect accessories. 

You can take inputs from two sources simultaneously and watch them in Picture-in-Picture (PIP)  or Picture-by-Picture (PBP) mode. These features could help improve debugging and testing by enabling real-time monitoring of different environments. It also supports learning by allowing

programmers to follow tutorials while coding.

The DualView Plus allows users to work with two different colour modes in two halves. This could be helpful when you have plugged two different sources in PBP mode or if you just want to compare two colour settings before you decide the best one for your needs. 

Finally, the DisplayPilot software allows you to easily access all the OSD menu options from your PC instead of toggling back and forth using the joystick. The app is well-designed and works like a charm. 

BenQ RD320U review: Design and Build

RD320U offers a height-adjustment stand that can be customised for height, tilt, and swivel to fit a wide range of user requirements. The monitor is well-built and sturdy but there is a bit of wobble whenever we press the hard buttons. Details like the height-adjustment scale on the column and a leather-like cable management loop can feel superfluous. 

What makes a difference is the MoonHalo backlight, which creates an immersive work atmosphere during late-night sessions. This backlight was reminiscent of BenQ ScreenBar, which I also found to be quite useful. You can quickly toggle it on by flicking the joystick button. There are options to adjust brightness, and colour temperature and choose between 270-degree and 360-degree modes. There is also an auto-dimming mode for self-adjustment

BenQ RD320U review: Verdict 

The BenQ RD320U monitor is an exciting monitor tailored for developers and programmers. At the same time, its premium price tag raises questions about its value proposition and we can’t shake the feeling that RD320U is trying too hard. Despite its solid performance, the monitor might appeal primarily to a niche audience willing to invest in these unique capabilities.

The primary focus has been to make the screen as easy on the eyes as possible and to that extent, BenQ has succeeded.  Its IPS Black panel ensures deep contrast and wide viewing angles, while the Nano Matte finish minimises glare, making it suitable for long hours of coding. Unique features like dedicated Coding Modes, a customisable Function Bar, and the DualView Plus mode are thoughtful additions. The monitor also integrates robust eye-care solutions, a moon halo light for the feelgood factor, and a great set of connectivity options.  

For developers willing to pay the premium for an eye-safe monitor, we can recommend the BenQ RD230U as an option. However, for users prioritising value over specialisation, this monitor might feel like a luxury rather than a necessity.

Pros

• Coding modes should be appealing to programmers
• Useful eye-care features
• Great colour accuracy in sRGB and HDR modes
• Wide viewing angles
• Robust connectivity options
• Premium design with MoonHalo backlight

Cons

• Steep price tag
• Limited brightness for HDR