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Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1496181
don't have built-in cameras or mics. The DesignView has speakers, but the sound is more voice- than music-quality. The cables plug in vertically from the bottom and covered by a snap-on shield. If you have the space (and a slightly longer Thunderbolt cable than BenQ provides), it's not a problem to rotate the display to get access to the cable panel. However, we wish the company at least provided clearer labels visible from the rear of the unit and not just embossed on the black shell. The 27-inch DesignView PD2725U provides a litany of ports including Thunderbolt 3 offering 65W of power, USB (A and C) and DisplayPort (full size). What is really unique is how it manages having two different computers plugged in at the same time. Not only can the monitor switch easily between sources, you can view that second source side-by-side with your main computer’s display or as a picture-in picture. Our display didn’t even care when we closed up our M1 MacBook Air and slid it out of the way. It’s desktop was still visible. In one of those great, “but wait there’s more!” moments, plug your keyboard and mouse into the display’s USB ports and the BenQ will serve as a KVM, switching control between the two connected systems. The image quality is magnificently accurate, with 3840x2160 maximum resolution, 100% Rec. 709, 100% sRGB and 95% P3 gamut. This is great for all-around use for a designer. If this isn’t enough, BenQ also has a line of 4K PhotoView Monitors that will cover 99% of AdobeRGB gamut and meeting the HDR10 high dynamic range standard with some high-end models that will meet the broadcast Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) specs. The latter starts at $1,599.99 for the 27" model and $1999.99 for 32". (BenQ’s product line still includes high-end gaming displays as well as a very affordable series for standard home and office use. Most importantly, the PD2725U supports the P3 color space that is now Apple’s standard, giving you the same look on your Macs and MacBooks. BenQ’s AQCOLOR Technology is behind the factory calibration, with the resulting report included with each monitor.BenQ’s displays also offer something for those hours you spend doing things that don’t relate to manipulating images: three low blue light mode tailored for multimedia, web, and office applications. While there’s still not a lot of evidence that the blue tones emitted by displays cause any damage, what is known that it does impact your circadian rhythms and can really mess up your sleep if you spend time at your computer before bed. Low Blue Light mode, easily accessible via the HotKey Puck, will let you quickly and easily sacrifice true color accuracy for a good night’s sleep. For the same reason, switching it back on in the morning will actually assist your waking up. BenQ is Your Display Pilot Normally, this barrage of numbers and acronyms would wrap up a typical monitor review. But BenQ does not produce “typical” monitors. Their displays and drivers ship with a unique collection of software and firmware tools that let these panels do things that no other can. And they’re not just cute gimmicks. They can become essential elements of your production workflow. BenQ’s Display Pilot software, recently updated to be Apple Silicon native, adds access to a whole slew of features, both built into the display’s firmware and generated by the software. It does so though a beautifully designed GUI that manages to make sense of a potentially confusing array of tools. Many of the functions mirror the rich feature set built into the monitor, such as selectable color mode, picture-in-picture, and input assignments. Some, like the