BenQ has expanded its already extensive range of high quality monitors for photo editing and video editing with this, the SW271C.
The SW271C joins two existing 27-inch screens in BenQ’s PhotoVue range: the SW271 and SW270C. The latter is a 2560 x 1440 panel, but the differences between the new SW271C the older SW271 are more subtle, as both are very similar 4K screens.
BenQ SW271 full review • BenQ SW270C full review
Specifications
- Panel Type: IPS LED
- Panel Size: 27" (16:9)
- Display Area: 596.16 x 335.34mm
- Max. Resolution: 3840x2160
- Pixel Pitch (mm): 0.15525
- Brightness (Typ.): 350 nits
- Contrast Ratio (Typ.): 1000:1
- Viewing Angle (H/V): 178/178 degrees
- Display Colors: 1.07 Billion
- Response Time: 12 ms (Tr+Tf)
- GtG response Time: 5 ms
- Color Gamut: Adobe RGB 99%, sRGB 100%, P3 90%
The primary enhancement over the old SW271 is BenQ’s third-generation color Uniformity Technology, which fine-tunes the color and brightness of sub-regions across the screen for a more consistent viewing experience. The SW271C is also a USB-C monitor, with up to 60W Power Delivery – and handy boost compared to the 10W USB-C PD rating of the SW271.
Elsewhere, the new SW271C mostly matches the specifications of the older SW271. Both are 4K (3840 x 2160) displays, and both boast superb color space coverage, with the wide-gamut 16-bit panel delivering 99% Adobe RGB, 100% sRGB/Rec.709, and 90% DCI-P3/Display P3 coverage. Hardware color calibration ensures a high color accuracy of Delta E ≤ 2 for Adobe RGB and sRGB content, and the monitor boasts Pantone and CalMAN validation, with support for standalone monitor calibrators. The SW271C also supports two HDR formats - HDR10 and HLG - making it suitable for video editing and color grading.
And it’s not just the screen spec that could make this a future candidate for our best monitors for photographers list. The monitor comes with BenQ’s 2nd-generation Hotkey Puck remote control dial for faster and more efficient on-screen-display navigation, plus it enables easier switching between different color spaces for a side-by-side comparison.
Also included with the monitor is a full hood shade to ensure ambient light and reflections won’t interfere with the display’s precise color and contrast.
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The hood will also be beneficial when using the included Paper Color Sync software, which automatically adjusts the color and contrast of an on-screen image preview to match that of the final print.
The BenQ SW271C is available to pre-order now from B&H, priced at $1,599.99. That’s a hefty increase over the similarly specced $1099 SW271 - we’ll await a review sample to see if the difference is worth the extra outlay.
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