A gaming monitor of the highest quality at an affordable price.
BenQ Mobiuz EX270QM might appear odd at first. It’s a 27-inch 1440p, 240Hz display equipped with an IPS panel. It costs $799.99 just a few hundred dollars more than other alternatives. BenQ can justify the price with the addition of HDMI 2.1 and top built-in speakers that offer an appealing market appeal.
BenQ EX270QM – Design
The appearance and feel of the BenQ Mobiuz monitors are always far ahead of the majority of rivals in the market for monitors. From the front the EX270QM is simple, yet it has with a luxurious feel due to its large, impressive stand and a bottom bezel that is textured. The back showcases the stand’s thick neck as well as its faux-metal appearance. All of this adds up to a luxurious appearance and feel that even though it’s not quite as good as Alienware’s finest but is better than the majority of competitors.
The EX270QM is made of sturdy plastic that feels tight and won’t shift or move when used. A solid, sturdy stand ensures that the monitor stays in place and steady even if the desk it’s set on shakes. It’s a good idea if you like me, to have an incredibly cheap IKEA desk with questionable stability.
Although the stand is robust its legs that are wedge-shaped make up a significant amount of area on a desk and can make the desk unusable. Gaming monitors typically use stands like the EX270QM however I’d rather have flat legs such as the one available on other models, like those from the Dell Gaming and Asus TUF Gaming line.
The LED lighting can be controlled by the monitor. It offers nine different colors as well as six modes that flash in various patterns. The lighting is obvious in a dimly lit room and is perfect for the dark gaming area. The brightness of the lighting can’t be altered but what you see is the result you’ll see.
BenQ EX270QM – Features & Menu
Video connectivity is fantastic with just one DisplayPort 1.4 port, and 2 HDMI 2.1 ports, which gives a total of three inputs for video each of which is able to accommodate the monitor’s highest resolution and maximum refresh rate. This is an essential feature for gamers looking to connect multiple devices – for example, two PCs as well as a current generation console – to enjoy high-refresh gaming as well as via HDMI. The monitors with 240Hz performance are compatible with HDMI 2.0 and don’t provide 240Hz support when connected to HDMI.
USB connectivity is less robust since there’s no USB-C port. This is typical among gaming monitors and is somewhat frustrating because A USB-C port is able to carry DisplayPort and can handle the highest refresh rate. The monitor does have the USB-B upstream port, which connects 2 ports, both USB-A 3.0 ports.
There are buttons that on the screen aren’t exactly what you would expect because the main button as well as the menu joysticks are placed close to one another while the power switch is a bit like a joystick when it is touched. I often turned the monitor off in order to access the menu.
This issue can be prevented, however, by using BenQ’s remote control that is included. This feature, which isn’t common for monitors, provides an excellent method of controlling a monitor. It’s easy to use and doesn’t require you to hunch around to find the buttons on the screen.
The menus are easy to navigate since the menu options are clearly labeled, and it is simple to understand the text. The menu responds rapidly to the remote control or joystick input. I find it odd that certain functions are only available in the quick menu and not on the main menu and I’m of the opinion that BenQ could reconsider their choice. However, it’s fantastic overall.
There’s one last feature worth mentioning which is the speakers. The BenQ Mobiuz line is distinctive by offering two-watt stereo speakers as well as an amplifier that can produce five watts. It’s a powerful crisp sound that is able to be used to replace a low-end set-up for your desktop speakers. It adds value to the monitor and helps keep your desk clutter-free.
BenQ EX270QM – Gaming Performance
The BenQ Mobiuz EX270QM gives an impressive first impression even with the default settings. It’s bright however, it isn’t overly bright and has the maximal SDR luminosity of 360 nits, which surprisingly, can be adjusted to a lower setting when the monitor is in its normal game modes.
I am impressed by the monitor’s broad color spectrum, which covers between 97 percent DCI-P3 and 90% of Adobe RGB. It’s a remarkable performance and is only beaten by monitors using the OLED panel or one that uses Quantum Dot technology. For gamers, a broad spectrum of colors creates a hyper-saturated appearance which is amazing in games with an appealing, vibrant display like Overwatch 2 or Apex Legends.
Contrast is, however, limited to the highest contrast ratio measured at 990:1. The BenQ EX270QM monitor is an IPS-based monitor that is afflicted by the higher black levels that are common to this kind of technology. Scenes that ought to be dark can instead appear somewhat blurred. This is particularly evident when playing in dark rooms as well as when playing games that have dark backgrounds like Diablo II Resurrected. It’s fair to say, the EX270QM’s performance in terms of contrast is typical for the IPS monitor.
The maximum resolution of 1440p offers a pixel density of approximately the equivalent of 108 pixels for every inch. This isn’t as good as a monitor with a 4K resolution similar to the size, which has the equivalent of 163 pixels for every inch however it is high enough to give adequate clarity in the majority of circumstances. I only saw the resolution’s limitations noticeable when looking at fine fonts or smaller interface elements that show hints of pixels.
However, 1440p is a benefit in terms of performance, as it requires less GPU as opposed to 4K. The EX270QM monitor is 240Hz that is, it’s designed to run games at the highest refresh rate. From a technical standpoint, 1440p is the ideal resolution.
I believe that the majority of PC gamers will be pleased with the quality of images produced by the EX270QM. Games appear bright, vibrant sharp, and clear. It is also able to attain high frame rates on low-end hardware. But, the EX270QM isn’t the first to do this and a variety of rivals offer the same images of the same quality. These include less expensive models such as HyperX Armada 27 and Gigabyte M27Q X. HyperX Armada 27 and Gigabyte M27Q X.
BenQ EX270QM – HDR Performance
The BenQ Mobiuz supports HDR10 and recognizes the HDR signal (as tested using the Windows PC and Xbox Series X). HDR mode is automatically activated and appears good with the default settings.
This monitor has VESA DisplayHDR 600 accreditation. But, in my tests, the monitor has a max full-screen HDR luminance of only 360 nits. That is very low. This brightness level isn’t enough to provide the eye-catching sparkle of a stunning HDR. Although the monitor is able to allow local dimming, however, it’s only edge-lit as well. The IPS panel’s contrast ratio is below the minimum required to provide a high-quality HDR experience.
It’s not an issue or (relative to the competition) an issue. The fact is this the best HDR can only be found in the Mini-LED as well as OLED monitors and these monitors are still priced above the $1,000 mark.
The BenQ EX270QM offers the best of what it can utilize. The tone mapping of the monitor appears solid, and the default settings provide a sensation of increased brightness without affecting the detail of shadows or areas near white.
I would rather play with SDR on a screen like this, however HDR gaming is fine. Strangely enough, the low brightness is logical: HDR disables monitor brightness controls and low-end HDR monitors are prone to be too bright and smudged. The EX270QM’s display provides a nice middle ground.
BenQ EX270QM – Motion Performance
It’s the performance of motion and not image quality that is the basis for the Mobius Mobius EX270QM from BenQ. This monitor is 1440 p resolution that has a 240Hz refresh rate and a reported gray-to-gray reaction time of 1 millisecond. The 240Hz refresh speed is the top rate possible on a 1440p screen.
Motion clarity is great at speeds of 240Hz. Health bars, enemy units, and names are clear while scrolling across the battlefield on the battlefield in League of Legends. Health bars and enemy units are visible on a 144Hz or even 165Hz monitor, however, names aren’t. The EX270QM maintained a lot of details in the blur Busters UFO test in addition, it has almost all the elements of the hilarious small alien visible apart from the three eyes that blurred into a pair of eyes.
I also observed that the screen’s motion clarity is excellent when 120 frames are being played per second but it’s not bad with 60 frames per second. Beware: the motion clarity is considerably less clear at lower frame rates however it’s still acceptable. This is good news if are looking to play rapid, high-framerate titles and more demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Metro Exodus.
In short, the clarity of motion is an absolute highlight and for many people, is the main motive to purchase this monitor. It is possible to get superior results on 360Hz monitors, for sure, however, they are restricted to a 24.5-inch display. The 27-inch, 1440p 240Hz EX270QM is the best choice for those who want to be professional but do not yet have professional status.
BenQ EX270QM – Day-to-Day Performance
The BenQ Mobiuz EX270QM offers the potential to be a multi-purpose monitor, able to be used for hardcore gaming as well as serious professional workflows. It comes with the color spectrum the majority of creators would want and 1440p resolution although not as high as 4K, is an acceptable compromise for many different types of creative content.
The EX270QM isn’t able to perform to the standard because of its poor accuracy in color. Overall, the color accuracy falls behind several competitors, including the Gigabyte M27QX HyperX Armada 27, and Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q to mention some. The differences don’t stand out at a glance, however, I found the colors to be slightly too soft and generally dark.
The default Gamma range of 2.4 and a color temperature of 6000K could cause this. This means that the display is a little darker and warmer than the one you want. BenQ offers gamma mode options which can place the monitor in the gamma range of 2.2 However, no color temperature setting is at the 6500K target. A calibration using software is necessary to increase the accuracy of images.
It is important to note that BenQ does not market the Mobius EX270QM model as professional monitors So these complaints aren’t a surprise. Given its cost, BenQ should hold itself to a higher level of precision in color and control of professional quality. Monitor makers don’t seem to grasp that content creators and gamers are usually the same groups of people. I’ve had similar complaints about other premium Gaming monitors such as that of the Alienware AWS2721DW.
Although the EX270QM’s performance in day-to-day use isn’t as impressive for professionals it’s still great for informal usage. Its bright, solid display and good text clarity, and broad color gamut offer satisfactory results when browsing the internet or browsing YouTube. The speakers in the monitor provide powerful audio that, for certain owners, could make the use of external speakers unnecessary.
BenQ EX270QM The Competition
BenQ’s Mobius EX270QM comes with a variety of competitors, such as those from the Samsung Odyssey 27, Gigabyte M27Q X, Asus ROG Swift PG279QM, Optix MAG274QRX, ViewSonic ELITE XG271QG, and Alienware’s AW2721DW. The monitor from BenQ, which is an upcoming name in the market, retails at a premium MSRP of $799.99 which is the most expensive priced item in the pack.
All of them have identical image quality as they all feature IPS panels that, while not exactly the same all over, are close to what they’re not. That makes the price of the BenQ EX270QM difficult to justify. In terms of image quality you’ll get much more value from Gigabyte’s Gigabyte M27Q X. It gives superior image quality overall at around $500.
But, the Gigabyte M27Q the X, as well as all similar monitors that I could locate are not perfect in comparison to the EX270QM that is they do not support HDMI 2.1. The fact that BenQ has included HDMI 2.1 is not typical for a monitor with 1440p resolution. Gamers looking for the same features in a 27-inch, 1440p 240Hz monitor will discover that an EX270QM is the only option.
Guide to Purchasing
The BenQ Mobiuz EX270QM retails at $799.99 and can be purchased through BenQ. Prices could come down however, it’s a brand-new product and is likely to keep the same price for at most several months. This puts the EX270QM at the top end of the competitive set. However, the price could be worth it if you need a 27-inch 1440p 240Hz display with HDMI 2.1.
Verdict
The BenQ Mobiuz MX270QM is a costly 27-inch, 1440p, 240Hz display that has unique features and high performance in key areas. It is currently the only monitor of its kind equipped with HDMI 2.1 which is crucial if you need to join more than one computer for gaming at 240 Hz. It also offers outstanding motion performance and appears stunning when playing bright, vibrant games, which are typically the games that players of esports who require a 240Hz monitor play most.