In today’s hybrid work environment, a monitor is more than just a display – it becomes a central component of your productivity and entertainment. A nice monitor with a big and sharp display helps get your work done without having to squint your eyes and catch up on your favourite shows and movies when you need a break from work. The BenQ GW2786TC positions itself as that versatile option with features like a 100Hz refresh rate, USB-C connectivity, and an 27-inch Full HD IPS panel – all priced at Rs 17,990 (the 23-inch variant is priced at Rs 14,998). But does it deliver on its promises? Let’s find out.
Table of Contents
Design and setup
Assembling the GW2786TC is pretty straightforward, with components that fit together seamlessly without the need for tools. The monitor boasts a minimalist design with a white finish that complements contemporary home office aesthetics. Its 27-inch IPS panel offers wide 178-degree viewing angles and consistent colour accuracy, suitable for both work tasks and media consumption.
However, the design does have some drawback: the power adapter utilizes a Type M plug, which is relatively bulky and may necessitate a converter if your setup lacks the corresponding socket or required space.
The bigger issue I have with this monitor is the size of the base stand, which took up more than half of my study table. My table is about 45 cm (17.7 inches) in width while the rectangular monitor stand takes up about 23.5 cm of that width, leaving me with less than half of the space for my MacBook. Now, if you were to use the monitor with a Mac mini, keyboard and mouse setup, you might have more space to work with.
Connectivity and ports
A standout feature of the GW2786TC is its USB-C port, which supports 65W power delivery and data transfer, enabling you to connect and charge compatible laptops with a single cable—effectively reducing desk clutter. The monitor also includes two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A downstream ports (5 Gbps) with 4.5W power charging, facilitating easy connection of peripherals like a mouse or keyboard.
In addition to USB-C, the monitor offers HDMI 1.4 and DisplayPort 1.2 inputs. It also supports daisy-chaining via DisplayPort out (MST), allowing for a multi-monitor setup to expand your workspace. However, the absence of newer HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4 standards may limit support for higher resolutions and refresh rates.
Display performance
The GW2786TC features a Full HD (1920×1080) resolution with a 100Hz refresh rate, providing smoother visuals that benefit tasks like scrolling through documents and casual gaming. The IPS panel ensures 99% sRGB color gamut coverage, delivering accurate and vibrant colors suitable for general content creation and media viewing.
Brightness levels peak at 250 nits, which is adequate for typical indoor environments but may be insufficient in brightly lit rooms. BenQ’s Brightness Intelligence Gen2 (B.I. Gen2) technology automatically adjusts screen brightness based on ambient lighting and on-screen content to enhance viewing comfort. While this feature is beneficial, its responsiveness can occasionally be inconsistent, particularly in rapidly changing lighting conditions.
Ergonomics and usability
The GW2786TC is really flexible, offering adjustments for tilt, swivel, pivot, and height (up to 130mm). This range of motion allows users to customise the monitor’s position for optimal comfort during prolonged use. Since I was using the monitor with my laptop, I had to adjust the height to the top to ensure the laptop’s screen was not in the way of the monitor’s display.
Now, you can tilt the monitor to a vertical angle which is useful for reading books or articles, doing so is a pretty cumbersome process as you need to remember to change the display orientation via the laptop’s setting’s to 90-degree before turning the monitor’s screen. After that, you’ll need to swivel the display upward and then tilt to ensure the edges don’t hit the base. The 23-inch variant would be easier to tilt the display as needed. Because the process is so painstaking, I hardly used the vertical orientation.
However, the stand exhibits slight wobbling when extended to its limits, suggesting that a more robust design could improve stability.
On-screen display (OSD) settings provide various customisation options to tailor the viewing experience to your preferences. Although the monitor lacks a dedicated remote control, the intuitive button layout facilitates straightforward navigation through the settings.
Eye comfort features
BenQ integrates several eye-care technologies into the GW2786TC to mitigate eye strain during extended periods of use. These include Flicker-Free technology and Low Blue Light Plus, both certified by TÜV Rheinland, aimed at reducing flicker and minimizing exposure to harmful blue light.
Additionally, the monitor offers specialized modes such as ePaper and Coding, designed to enhance readability for specific tasks. While these features contribute to a more comfortable viewing experience, individual sensitivity to screen exposure varies, and some users may find supplementary measures like blue light filtering glasses beneficial.
Audio quality
The GW2786TC is equipped with dual 2W built-in speakers and a noise-canceling microphone, providing basic audio capabilities suitable for virtual meetings and casual media consumption. However, the speaker output lacks depth and volume, making external speakers or headphones preferable for an enhanced audio experience, especially when engaging with music or movies.
BenQ ScreenBar Halo LED Monitor Lightbar
We also tried the BenQ ScreenBar Halo LED Monitor Lightbar (sold separately) with an impressive 4.8-star rating on Amazon. While it’s not a necessity, the ScreenBar Halo is a smart addition to any workstation, especially if you want wide, uniform lighting across your desk.
In my case, I often work late, and getting the lighting right in a dim setting can be a challenge. A table lamp offers basic coverage, but achieving even, parallel lighting across the work surface is nearly impossible.
The ScreenBar Halo is straightforward to set up, requiring only a wired connection that plugs directly into the monitor’s USB-A port. Its size fits well with a 27-inch monitor, and it includes a round wireless controller that works straight out of the box – no additional setup is needed. Once the ScreenBar Halo is clamped to the monitor, you can easily adjust the brightness and colour temperature (from cool to warm) by rotating the controller. The lightbar and controller feature a minimalist design, though a bit of haptic feedback on the latter would’ve been a dealbreaker.
If that’s not a concern, the ScreenBar Halo, with brightness levels of up to 500 lumens, is one of the best monitor lightbars available. As mentioned, it’s far from essential, considering its steep price of Rs 15,999, making it as costly as a decent monitor such as the BenQ GW2786TC.
Verdict
The BenQ GW2786TC offers a compelling package for those seeking a monitor that balances productivity and entertainment features. Its USB-C connectivity, ergonomic adjustability, and eye-care technologies make it well-suited for home office setups. The 100Hz refresh rate adds a layer of smoothness to everyday tasks and casual gaming.
Nevertheless, certain limitations exist, such as the large base stand which can make it difficult to work with on a study table that’s around 50 cm or smaller in width, modest brightness levels, and average built-in audio quality. Despite these drawbacks, at a starting price of Rs 14,998, the GW2486TC presents solid value for users whose primary needs include office work, web browsing, and streaming content.
So, if you’re in the market for a versatile and user-friendly monitor that addresses the essentials of a home office environment, the BenQ GW2786TC is worth considering, provided you can accommodate its minor shortcomings.
Editor’s rating: 7.5 / 10
Pros:
- 100Hz refresh rate offers smoother visuals for everyday use and casual gaming
- Ergonomic design supports height, swivel, pivot, and tilt adjustments
- Good eye-care features
Cons:
- Bulky base stand occupies a significant portion of compact desks
- Built-in speakers and mic are functional but underwhelming
