BenQ RD280U monitor review: It’s hip to be square

Best Prices Today: BenQ RD280U

There’s something strange happening at BenQ. First the company introduced the SW242Q photography monitor, which was the first monitor with a 16:10 aspect ratio to cross our desks in years. Now BenQ is even closer to square with the RD280U, which has a 3:2 aspect ratio. BenQ says it’s ideal for programmers, and they’re right — though this monitor is all work and no play.

BenQ RD280U specs and features

The BenQ RD280U has a 3:2 aspect ratio instead of the more common 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. Because of that, the monitor’s 4K resolution works out to 3840×2560 instead of 3840×2160. That’s 400 additional vertical pixels, which proves useful.

• Display size: 28.2-inch 3:2 aspect ratio
• Native resolution: 3,840 x 2,560
• Panel type: IPS LED backlight
• Refresh rate: Up to 60Hz
• Adaptive sync: None
• HDR: Yes, VESA DisplayHDR 400 Certified
• Ports: 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 2x USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and 90 watts USB Power Delivery, 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 downstream, 1x USB-B 3.2 Gen 1 upstream
• Speakers: Yes, 2x 2-watt speakers
• Price: $599.99

Resolution aside, the RD280U’s specifications are a mixed bag. It lacks features to improve motion clarity, as it has a 60Hz refresh rate and doesn’t support adaptive sync, but it supports HDR and has a wide range of connectivity including USB-C with DisplayPort and Power Delivery. These features come at a steep price of $600, which is more than a similar 27-inch 16:9 monitor like the Dell Ultrasharp U2723QE.

Further reading: See our roundup of the best monitors to learn about competing products.

BenQ RD280U design

The most important aspect of the BenQ RD280U’s design is evident right out of the box. It has a 3:2 aspect ratio, which is taller and closer to square than the more common 16:9 aspect ratio. Because of this, the monitor is much larger than its 28-inch diagonal size might suggest. It’s almost exactly as wide as a 27-inch 16:9 monitor, but its height is comparable to a 32-inch widescreen monitor.

That’s why BenQ markets the RD280U as a monitor for programmers. Programming typically means viewing a lot of text, which generally flows vertically down the screen. A 3:2 aspect ratio allows you to see more code at once, or more easily accommodate several vertically arranged windows. However, the benefits extend beyond programming. Writers, editors, proofreaders, and designers who work with PDF documents are likely to appreciate the 3:2 aspect ratio.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

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    </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Matthew Smith / Foundry</p></div>

BenQ ships the RD280U with a heavy stand that includes a large, flat base. Despite its size, the base allows you to mostly use the space it occupies on your desk. The stand offers the usual ergonomic adjustments, including height, tilt, and swivel, but it does not support pivoting. Cable management is a minor miss, as it’s handled by a leather-like button clip at the base of the stand. It’s a unique touch, but wires clipped into place remain still visible from certain angles.

A 100x100mm VESA mount is included for attaching the monitor to a third-party stand or arm. The RD280U is heavier than most monitors, weighing 16.5 pounds without the stand and almost 23 pounds with it. That’s important to consider if you plan to use a monitor arm. Most quality arms should support the weight, but it’s toward the upper limit for entry-level arms.

BenQ RD280U design connectivity and menus

The 3:2 aspect ratio is the BenQ RD280U’s most noticeable departure from more conventional monitors. However, it also takes a forward-thinking approach to connectivity. The monitor’s HDMI and DisplayPort inputs are joined by a USB-C port with upstream data, DisplayPort Alternate Mode, and USB Power Delivery of up to 90 watts.

The USB-C port is ideal for docking a Windows or Mac laptop, providing both display output and charging capabilities through the monitor. It also delivers data to the three downstream USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports and single USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port. A USB-B upstream port is available, too, for connecting to the downstream ports if your computer lacks USB-C. While the RD280U’s overall connectivity doesn’t match leaders like the Dell U2724DE, which includes Thunderbolt 4 and Ethernet, it offers more ports than usual and can serve as a USB data and charging hub.

BenQ’s on-screen menus are accessed through a joystick found on the lower bezel. It’s quick and intuitive to use, which is good, as the monitor is packed with features and options designed to enhance usability for programmers.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

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    </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Matthew Smith / Foundry</p></div>

One of these is the “MoonHalo” LED light on the rear of the monitor, which provides an ambient glow in dark environments. Aside from adding some visual flair, the MoonHalo is intended to reduce eye strain by reducing the contrast between the monitor and its surroundings. This is similar to the Ambiglow feature found on some Philips monitors. I don’t usually suffer noticeable eye strain, so I can’t comment on the feature’s effectiveness in that area, but I did find the lighting attractive, and the monitor offers a broad range of options to control the lighting’s brightness and color tempera