Updated at: 13-06-2022 - By: Leo Hall

Even though the BenQ EX3501R isn’t the cheapest monitor on the market, it does come with a lot of pleasant extras, such a good curve and a wide screen.

The monitor’s design is superb, yet it isn’t overly flashy, so it will last for a long time.

It’s a solid option that we’d suggest.

The Pros:

  • Design that makes the most efficient use of available space
  • A 35-inch ultrawide panel with 1800R curvature
  • High quality
  • HDR (High Dynamic Range) support
  • FreeSync by AMD
  • EyeCare™️

The Cons:

  • Only a little amount of leeway in height
  • Display buttons are difficult to use.
  • HDR experience has some limitations.
  • Extensive external power supply

The BenQ EX3501R ultrawide curved monitor gets us a step closer to jumping straight into our favorite games. This slender abomination measures in at a whopping 35 inches.

BenQ EX3501R Review | PCMag

To be sure, larger doesn’t always equate to superiority. However, when combined with its wide 1800r curvature, this monitor looks like a great option for gamers who want to immerse themselves in the action.

But it’s not just about the physical attributes of a person’s body. Among the many notable features of the EX3501R are support for HDR, EyeCare, and a 100Hz refresh rate.

Image Quality

The static contrast ratio of the BenQ EX3501R monitor, which uses an AU Optronics VA panel, is higher than that of other panel technologies like IPS and TN.

Its 2,500:1 contrast ratio ensures that the blacks on the screen are deep and distinct, and that the darkest and lightest colors are more clearly related.

In addition, the monitor provides 8-bit color depth and covers 100% of the sRGB color space.

When seen from certain angles, the display’s 178-degree viewing angle will result in small fluctuations in contrast and brightness.

An impressive 106 pixels per inch is achieved thanks to the 35-inch screen’s UWQHD resolution.

As a result, the image will take up the largest amount of screen real estate while maintaining the highest level of quality possible.

Specifications

Screen Size & Aspect Ratio 35″ / 21:9
Curve Radius – 1800mm
Panel AMVA / W-LED
Resolution 3440×1440
Brightness 350 nits
Contrast 2500:1
Refresh Rate 100Hz
Response Time 4ms
Colour Gamut 8-bit / sRGB+ HDR10
Integrated Speakers None
Connectors 1x DisplayPort 1.4
2x HDMI 2.0
2x USB 3.0
1x USB-C
3.5mm headphone output

When it comes to PC gaming, video viewing and editing, and everyday PC use, curved panels appear to be the holy grail. But if you want that curve, you’ll have to fork over a few more dollars.

Is BenQ’s EX3501R a good combination of interesting features and reasonable price? Let’s check it out.

Unboxing & Desig

It’s a joy to open this monitor’s box. As far as plug and play goes, the EX3501R is practically ready to go out of the box.

Cables, software, and an installation instructions are all provided, including HDMI, display port, and USB type C. This monitor goes from the box to the desk in a matter of milliseconds.

The EX3501R’s compact, low-profile stand and sleek design make it feel surprisingly spacious on your desk for a device of its size.

While the monitor is wrapped in silver and black textured plastic, the stand is adorned with chrome. Another nice feature is the circular cutout in the stand, which makes it easy to keep tangled cables at bay..

A 0.4″ bezel has been preserved on all but the lower bezel of the EX3501R (which is a little broader at 1″), thus it’s not a frameless display.

Controls for the on-screen display are housed in this thicker, lower bezel. Even though the buttons are well-hidden, they can be a bit of a hassle until you get used to them.

BenQ has also thought of everything in terms of ports. Additionally, you’ll discover two HDMI 2.0 connectors, one Display Port 1.4, and two USB type A ports as well as a single USB Type C port for connecting a laptop.

As a result, this monitor is ideal for those who like a clean, clipped appearance, thanks to a backplate that hides the ports.

BenQ EX3501R Review | PCMag

Despite its streamlined design, the monitor’s power supply is still in the form of a power brick rather than integrated into the device itself. The EX3501R has an external power brick that is somewhat large.

Both the tilt and the height of the screen are user-adjustable. It’s important to note, however, that the screen’s eyeline and screen height may only be adjusted so high on this model’s chair.

A workaround for the screen’s lack of height adjustment is provided by the Vesa wall mounting system, which can be used instead.

The Panel

You can enjoy HDR movies and games on the EX3501R thanks to its HDR functionality, which is one of its primary selling factors.

The EX3501R does not use quantum dot technology for brightness like some other displays (looking at you, Samsung 32CHG70).

As a result, the brightness level of 300 nits achieved by this monitor is adequate but not extraordinary. This, together with the 8-bit color depth, implies that the EX3501R is not bright enough to deliver a full HDR experience..

As a result, while this monitor does have HDR, it may not be the best option for gamers who are searching for the best possible HDR gaming experience.

If you’re a fan of immersive, wraparound experiences, the EX3501R’s 1800r curvature and 2500:1 contrast ratio make it an excellent choice.

But what are you going to gain by doing that? In general, this monitor’s black levels are deeper and the color contrast is better than with many of its competitors.

As with any display technology, there are advantages and disadvantages to both VA and TN panels. EX3501R has a solid 4ms gray-to-gray response time and decent color accuracy that covers 100% of the sRGB and 83% of the Adobe RGB color gamut, respectively.

What’s the big deal? The bottom line here is that this display is a fantastic choice for a variety of multimedia tasks, including video editing and movie watching as well as gaming.

Watch out for pillar boxing on either side of the picture when playing movies or videos that aren’t 21×9.

BenQ’s XR3501 has a refresh rate of 140Hz; the EX3501R reduces that to 100Hz and adds AMD Freesync to the mix. The EX3501R has a resolution of 3440 x 1440, which is a significant improvement over the previous model.

In what way is this relevant to the discussion? Overall, this resolution is excellent for the monitor’s size, resulting in a more immersive gaming experience with better resolution.

There is, however, a price to pay for all of these new features. This monitor will set you back roughly $750 (or around £650).

Additional Features

AMD Freesync

The EX3501R supports AMD Freesync, as previously stated. A significant benefit of this useful tool is that it avoids the screen from becoming pixelated and stuttering. However, only AMD graphics cards will benefit from this.

Eye-Care™️ Technology

Inspect the monitor’s lower bezel closely for a tiny sensor. The Eye-CareTM technology is included into this light sensor. Reduces blue light and eye strain by detecting outside light levels and decreasing the screen’s brightness accordingly.

The Night Shift feature on the iPhone is a great addition to a PC monitor. However, if desired, the function can be disabled.

Features

The BenQ EX3501R has a lot more tricks up its sleeve than the usual adjustments and functions, such as brightness/contrast, gamma, color settings, and the Picture in Picture and Picture by Picture modes.

Brightness and color temperature are automatically adjusted using the Brightness Intelligence Plus technology, which has a built-in sensor.

Customizable settings allow the user to adjust the sensor’s sensitivity level. As an example, you can lower the screen’s brightness gradually while you work.

For those who are sensitive to screen flicker, the BenQ EX3501R VA monitor’s low blue light filter and flicker-free display are a welcome additions.

There are many pre-calibrated picture presets and three customisable Gamer profiles in the OSD (On-Screen Display) menu.

Photo, Standard, two standard custom profiles, M-Book, and HDR are all included in the presets. Finally, native video formats (24p, 25p, and 30p) are available in Cinema mode for a judder-free movie watching experience.

FreeSync & HDR

It is possible to completely remove tearing and stuttering by syncing the refresh rate of your display to the frame rate of your AMD FreeSync-compatible graphics card.

Using both DisplayPort and HDMI, the BenQ EX3501R FreeSync range is 48-100Hz.

However, even if your FPS drops below 48, the LFC (Low Framerate Compensation) technology kicks in to smooth out the performance by doubling the frames (47FPS->94Hz).

NVIDIA G-SYNC graphics cards are also compatible with FreeSync.

Tearing and flickering can occur at 100FPS (which can be fixed by setting the frame rate to 1-2 frames below 100), and flickering below 48FPS (when LFC is activated) can be reduced by raising the VRR range via CRU (depending on your model).

The BenQ EX3501R claims HDR (High Dynamic Range) capability, but HDR content will only modestly benefit from the lack of display capabilities required for a significant improvement in image quality.

In comparison to more powerful HDR displays, this model’s software-enabled HDR support offers only modest improvements in terms of brightness and color accuracy. It also only supports the sRGB color space.

BenQ EX3501R review: An impressive curved HDR monitor | Expert Reviews

FAQS:

What is emulated HDR?

For SDR content, emulation of HDR creates a virtual HDR effect. Even if your content doesn’t employ HDR, using an emulated version of HDR can make it more enjoyable for you to watch it. HDR mode can be activated using the OSD.

HDR is automatically activated when the display detects non-HDR content.

Why can’t I use USB-C to charge my Windows laptop or MacBook Pro?

Please accept our apologies; this monitor’s specifications do not include power delivery for USB-C video and data transmission.

This is applicable to the following models: EW3270U, EX2780Q, EX3203R, EX3501R, SW271.

Conclusion:

Overall, the BenQEX3501R ultrawide curved display is a solid performer in the market. The high-spec panel gives it the extra oomph it needs without detracting from the clean appearance.

However, despite some minor flaws, this monitor’s many advantages outweigh any tiny flaws in design.

An immersive experience is made possible by this monitor’s eye-catching curve, but the price tag reflects this fact. However, when you consider all the benefits it offers, the price is well worth it.

The BenQ EX3501R offers fluid graphics, an ideal screen-to-resolution ratio, and, of course, HDR – albeit not at the highest level available on the market, but nonetheless outstanding all things considered.

You get a lot of bang for your buck with this monitor, which is fantastic for both gaming and everyday use.