Updated at: 26-06-2023 - By: Leo Hall

The BenQ EL2870U is one of the best, if not the best, budget 4K gaming monitors on the market right now thanks to its fast and good-looking 4K TN panel and its low price.

The Pros:

  • Price-effectiveness for a 4K screen
  • Full-spectrum colors on a TN display
  • Quick reaction time of the pixels
  • Facilitation of HDR
  • AMD FreeSync compatibility

The Cons:

  • HDR fails to shine because of inadequate light and contrast.
  • A lack of FreeSync 2
  • Bare-bones support

There is a wide variety of monitors on the market, each with its own unique specifications. However, the Acer Predator X27 and other cutting-edge displays aren’t the only criteria for a quality monitor.

The BenQ EL2870U strives to provide excellent value for its price, which is why it has earned our recommendation.

BenQ EL2870U Review - RTINGS.com

It’s notable for being one of the few TN monitors to support HDR, but its low price and high quality 4K resolution are also noteworthy.

The Design

In terms of aesthetics, the BenQ EL2870U is impressive. The combination of black and gray works well, creating a design that is unobtrusive without looking boring or unimaginative.

The stand looks somewhat cheap due to its blocky design. The overall look that BenQ appears to be going for also complements this design and the rectangular base. The stand can only be tilted, but it is sturdy and serves its intended purpose.

This is par for the course for cheaper monitors, and it works with any standard 100 x 100 VESA wall mount or stand.

So, if you ever want to upgrade from the stock stand to something more flexible or snazzier, you won’t have to go through too much hassle.

Although some may not like the relatively thick bezels or the large stand, we think the design is strong overall. However, it is more noticeable than other 4K gaming monitors in this price range and can be used in a variety of configurations.

The Panel

The BenQ EL2870U is a 28-inch, 16:9 monitor with a 4K TN panel, 60 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms gray-to-gray response time, and HDR10 compatibility.

The majority of people agree that a 28-inch 4K gaming monitor (or a QHD) is the sweet spot between being too big to use at a desk and being too small to do the resolution justice.

Performance-wise, it is exactly what we’d expect to see in a TN monitor, boasting a speedy 1ms response time; however, this is still only a 60 Hz monitor, which is not surprising given that we have not yet seen any reasonably priced 144 Hz 4K options.

Moreover, the monitor supports AMD FreeSync, making it a good V-Sync replacement if you find yourself unable to keep a constant 60 frames per second in 4K (as is likely the case with many games) due to the monitor’s low refresh rate.

True High Dynamic Range (HDR) is supported by the screen. However, 300 cd/m2 of brightness is not the optimal HDR solution. However, with a 96% sRGB color gamut, the color reproduction is impressive for a TN panel.

BenQ EL2870U Review | RelaxedTech

Even though professionals should stick with an IPS panel, this one is better than the average TN panel when it comes to gaming.

Aspect Ratio 27.9in
Panel TN
Resolution 3840×2160
Brightness 300 cd/m2
Contrast 1000:1
Update Frequency 60 Hz
Reaction Time 1ms GtG
Range of Colors Color gamut: 96% sRGB/72% NTSC
Amplified Voices 2x2W
Connectors HDMI 2.0b x 2
Single Link DVI-I
One 3.5mm jack for headphones

Specifications

The BenQ EL2870U works great for watching movies and doing light computing. It’s not the best 4K gaming monitor, but it holds its own with FreeSync games. However, competitive players will benefit from a quicker display.

HDR works fine, but the panel’s capabilities are constrained by its low native contrast. And without DCI-P3 color, it won’t be much of an upgrade from standard dynamic range.

This monitor offers excellent value for its price tag of less than $500. This monitor has never been cheaper than its current $250 price thanks to Black Friday sales on technology. However, if you require top-tier functionality, you’ll need to look elsewhere and be prepared to spend significantly more money.

Price: $299/£230
Panel Depth: 28-inch
Indigenous Resolve: 3840x2160p
Type of Panel: TN
The Ultimate Reboot: 60Hz
Response: 1ms
Contrast: 1,000:1
Video Feedback:HDMI 2.0 and DP 1.4 (two)
Connectivity: None
VESA Clamp: Yes
Warranty:Duration: 3 yrs

Additional Features

AMD FreeSync

The monitor is compatible with AMD’s adaptive sync technology, FreeSync. And what good does it do you on a 60Hz display?

Well, we must remember that adaptive sync’s goal is to eliminate screen tearing brought on by the frame rate (FPS) not keeping up with the refresh rate (FR).

Adaptive sync accomplishes this by constantly adjusting the refresh rate to the framerate, keeping them in sync despite the inevitable FPS fluctuations, whereas V-Sync achieves this by imposing a hard cap on how many frames a monitor can display per second (typically 30 or 60 FPS).

It’s easy to see why 144 Hz and 240 Hz monitors would benefit from this feature, but even though it’s not usually included in 60 Hz displays, it’s useful in this case. Specifically, even with a reasonably powerful GPU, you will notice frame rate drops due to how demanding 4K still is.

According to AMD’s website, this model is compatible with FreeSync only between 40 and 60 frames per second. Unfortunately, since this isn’t FreeSync 2, you can’t use both FreeSync and HDR simultaneously.

Speakers

Speakers are one of those accessories that some people really need but others can get by without. One thing is for sure, though: speakers shouldn’t play a major role in picking out a monitor.

Why?

Simply put, monitor speakers are intended to be used in abad. This is because games and the vast majority of multimedia content will always sound subpar due to the low RMS and small drivers. Having them as a backup option for things like watching YouTube videos is fine, but you shouldn’t rely on them for anything more important.

As an added bonus, there is a wide selection of high-quality desktop speakers available for a reasonable price that can outperform the audio quality of most built-in monitor speakers.

However, the BenQ EL2870U’s speakers don’t do much to impress with their meager 2-watt RMS, but this is par for the course when it comes to monitors. Therefore, it is not recommended to base your decision on whether or not a monitor has speakers.

Brightness Intelligence Plus

To activate the helpful Brightness Intelligence Plus Technology, or B.I. , all you have to do is push a button.

It does what, exactly?

A built-in light sensor evaluates the room’s lighting conditions and adjusts the display’s white balance and brightness accordingly. While not a must-have, this is a nice addition for those who experience eye strain during late-night gaming sessions.

BenQ EL2870U 28" Ultra HD HDR FreeSync Monitor Review: Can't-Beat Price |  Tom's Hardware

FAQS:

Is it sensible to buy a BenQ EL2870U?

It’s the BenQ EL2870U, a 28-inch LED monitor.acceptable 4K display. Support for FreeSync, a quick response time, and very low input lag are just a few of the gaming features that set it apart. In addition, it is highly precise right out of the box.

Conclusion:

The BenQ EL2870U finds itself in a difficult position.

On the one hand, it’s an HDR- and FreeSync-ready 4K monitor with a great TN panel that seems like a great option for gamers on a tight budget.

However, the HDR does not look as good as it does on most IPS and VA monitors or TVs due to the screen’s lower brightness and contrast levels.

The implementation of FreeSync also leaves something to be desired. As was previously mentioned, the 40-60 FPS range is somewhat constrained, and given that the monitor already supports HDR, FreeSync 2 would have been a welcome addition.

However, if you can find it at a discount, this is still one of the best low-cost 4K gaming monitors on the market right now.

It’s well worth the price, thanks to its sturdy build, tasteful aesthetic, and TN panel that provides superior color reproduction compared to standard TN panels.

After all, it is not an attempt to create the world’s most advanced monitor, but rather a cheap one.