BenQ Mobiuz EX2710 Review

BenQ recently announced its new lineup of gaming monitor series – the MOBIUZ EX2710 and EX2510. It’s edge-to-edge IPS panel is designed for gamers with a high refresh rate of 144Hz, 1ms MPRT, BenQ’s proprietary HDRi technology. Aside from FreeSync Premium, the EX2710 also supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR).

The BenQ Mobiuz EX2710 (our review model) is the larger of the two devices, with a 27 inch 16:9 IPS FHD HDR display, while the EX2510 is a slightly smaller 24.5-inch display with the same gaming features of the former.

BenQ’s MOBIUZ monitors also include proprietary display tech like Black eQualizer to brighten dark corners and shadows and Light Tuner with 20 optimization settings.

These monitors are also equipped with two 2.5W speakers and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) with three customized sound modes.

Specifications

Our review model is the BenQ Mobiuz EX2710

Design & Connectivity

The monitor comes in a MOBIUS branded black carboard packaging. It features a large shot of the monitor on the front with all the branding and specifications on either sides and back. The overall packaging is sturdy and goes well with the overall aesthetic of the monitor itself.

Inside the packaging, all the components are well protected by foam. It contains designated pockets that safely packs all the parts and accessories. Packaged between the foam is the monitor itself.

The packaging includes:

• The BenQ MOBIUZ EX2710
• The base & stand
• An I/O cover plate
• Power Cable
• User guide

The BenQ EX2710 is entirely made of plastic and has a premium finish. The build quality is good and the frame feels durable and study.

The monitor comes in a dark grey color while the base has a lighter gray metallic finish with an orange rubber strip. Overall, it has a minimalist look and the choice of colors along with the angular cut base makes it look modern.

For wall or other types of mounting, the stand is detachable and the display has a 100x100mm VESA mount.

The EX2710 has narrow bezels, just 2 mm wide at the top and both sides. The lower edge bezel is larger at 20 mm and houses a sensor that detects ambient light levels and then automatically adjust the image on screen.

All the ports are located at the back and all the cables can be hidden using the included plastic I/O cover. Once the monitor is attached to the base, it can tilt from -5˚ – 20˚ and swivel 20˚ each side. The height can be adjusted via a slide system up to 130 mm. There is no pivot function

In terms of connectivity, there are two HDMI 2.0 inputs and one DisplayPort 1.2 interface at the back with support for FreeSync up to 144Hz at 1920×1080. There is a 3.5 mm jack connection for headphones. There are no USB passthroughs.

OSD & Features

The OSD menu is controlled via an analog button and a 5-way joystick. The power button is located under the joystick. On top of the joystick key is another button to quickly switch between the video inputs .These buttons are located behind the screen on the right and are easy to reach.

On the front bottom-right corner there is just one button to switch between different HDRi profiles.

The inital OSD menu allows you to quickly adjust the settings and a detailed main menu can be opened by selecting the last item “Menu”. The layout is initially confusing and can take some time getting used to.

The monitor can also automatically adjust the screen brightness via a sensor located on the lower frame and is activated via the OSD menu. Brightness Intelligence detects the light around you and adjusts brightness and color temperature for longer, more comfortable viewing. The EX2710 also includes different blue light filters

Overall, the OSD menu offers plenty of configuration options, and the 5-way joystick is convenient to navigate with.

The BenQ MOBIUZ EX2510 supports AMD FreeSync with a variable refresh rate up to 144FPS, eliminating screen tearing and stuttering when used with a compatible graphics card.

While the monitor is not officially certified as G-SYNC Compatible, FreeSync works without issues with compatible NVIDIA cards as long as you use the DisplayPort slot.

Display

The BenQ EX2710 has a 27″ IPS panel with a 400-nit peak brightness, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 99% sRGB color gamut and wide viewing angles at 178°.

Color reproduction and image quality is great for gaming, watching videos and general use, the brightness is good enough for most conditions. The FHD resolution with 144Hz refresh rate lets you enjoy fast-paced gaming even with a budget PC.

To help with motion blur reduction, there are four response time overdrive modes labeled as ‘AMA’ (Advanced Motion Accelerator) ranging from 0 to 3.

The BenQ Mobiuz EX2710 is a HDRi monitor, the HDR image is constantly analysed and tweaked to deliver the best results. However, it is not DisplayHDR-400 certified and does not offer true HDR performance. HDR on this monitor is software-emulated and it adds a virtual HDR visual effect to your content.

Finally, there are some BenQ-exclusive features present here too, and that makes a worthwhile addition to the EX2710. They come in the form of the flicker-free technology, low blue light settings, and the Brightness Intelligence Plus (B.I.+). The latter is geared to automatically adapting and augmenting the on-screen picture, brightness and color warmth, depending on what is being displayed but also based on your real-life surroundings.

HDRI

With the EX2710, BenQ is using what it calls HDRi technology. Essentially, HDRi is the extended range of colors and contrast HDR offers, mixed with some intelligence BenQ has built into the display to adjust the image based on your ambient lighting. According to BenQ, this results in less eye strain and, ultimately, a clearer picture that tones down overexposed areas of the screen and helps you pick out more detail in shadows. While HDR improves the contrast and dynamic range of a scene, HDRi seeks to further enhance HDR images. It has both hardware and software components.

A sensor on the monitor’s bottom bezel measures ambient light, letting the EX2710 adjust its screen brightness in response to changing conditions. In addition, HDRi generally brightens dark regions without overexposing bright areas, resulting in a more balanced image. It also automatically tweaks color balance and saturation, depending on the displayed content.

There are also several different emulated HDR modes for things like cinema and games, giving you a fair amount of control over how it looks. The emulated HDR certainly didn’t work flawlessly with every bit of content. However, it definitely made a lot of standard definition content much more vivid and engaging to watch. I even found myself leaving it on while working and enjoying the way it adapted to my normal workday.

Audio

The monitor has two 2.5 watt speakers, designed by the treVolo audio, which are located in the lower frame. Different sound profiles can be selected in the OSD menu.

While the sound quality is good enough for small-medium sized rooms, there is a lack of bass, but it works great for gaming.

Verdict

Thanks to the high refresh rate of 144 Hz and 1ms response time, The BenQ Mobiuz EX2710 is a good to option for those looking for an affordable, high refresh rate 1080p monitor with gaming features.

The display is great for fast-paced gaming, entertainment and causal use. This is made better with the built-in HDRi, Motion Blur Reduction and Eye Care features. Additionally, cable management and speakers should satisfy gamers and help keep your desk clear.

While BenQ’s HDRi feature seems to have its pros and cons, there’s no doubt that HDR content looked beautiful on this IPS panel.