For the second time this month, I had the opportunity to go hands-on with a BenQ MOBIUZ gaming monitor. Actually, this time around it was a pair of monitors. The previous time was the mighty BenQ MOBIUZ 32” 4K gaming monitor with RGB lighting. You can read that review here. On tap today are the BenQ MOBIUZ EX2510S and MOBIUZ EX2710S.
These are more affordable and compact options. They’re still part of the BenQ MOBIUZ family, which means they are packed with features that PC and console gamers want, such as a fast 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms MRTP response, and AMD FreeSync Premium support for smooth motion with no frame tearing. Here’s what you need to know about the BenQ MOBIUZ EX2510S and MOBIUZ EX2710S gaming monitors.
These monitors are well-packaged to survive shipping, but relatively easy to unpack.
BenQ included a hand-hold in the clamshell foam that makes it pretty easy to pull the monitors out of their boxes. Assembly couldn’t get much easier. The two-piece stand securely bolts together using an integrated thumbscrew, then snaps into place on the back of the monitor. That’s it. No tools and no small parts to lose.
In a nice touch, BenQ includes both HDMI and DVI cables in the box.
I’m really liking the stands BenQ uses for its MOBIUZ series gaming monitors. They are sturdy, provide a high degree of flexibility, and they also add some visual flair. The stand on these monitors isn’t exactly the same as the BenQ MOBIUZ 32” 4K’s, but the functionality and family resemblance are clearly there.
The stands allow the display to be raised or lowered to just a few centimetres above desk level with a push of the hand. The motion is effortless. You can also tilt the display a total of 25 degrees, and swivel it 20 degrees in either direction. This flexible approach means you can always find the optimal viewing position for your monitor’s location.
Speaking of location, the choice of sizes means that even if you have a gaming system set up in tight quarters, you still have space for a good gaming monitor. With everyone going big, there aren’t many options like the MOBIUZ EX2510S out there.
The big push for gaming monitors these days is HDMI 2.1 support, but these monitors aren’t 4K, they’re 1080p. So they are equipped with a pair of HDMI 2.0 ports along with a single DVI 1.2 port. I would have liked to see USB-C input, but HDMI is the most common connectivity method between consoles and PC gaming systems. If you’re going to limit connections to keep costs down, HDMI is the port to go with … There is no USB input, so you can’t use these monitors as a USB hub.
One of the strong points of BenQ’s MOBIUZ series is the degree of adjustability in the picture. There’s HDR10 support, along with BenQ’s own HDRi (which uses an ambient light sensor to optimize the content on the fly), but also a huge range of options once you start drilling into the onscreen menus. There’s a small joystick at the back on the lower right side for navigating menus, by the way.
There are multiple game modes (including FPS, RPG and Racing), colour modes, a black level equalizer, you name it. There are fast wins like picking a gaming mode, but also the ability to fine-tune your experience to a very high degree.
The monitors hit a maximum of 400 nits brightness, they’re treated to be anti-glare, they offer 99% sRGB colour coverage, and they have wide viewing angles. The combination of all these features is a picture that looked bright and colourful even in a sunny room. Reflections weren’t an issue.
For those sessions where you are enjoying an extended gaming session, your eyes are protected by low blue light emission and flicker-free content.
These monitors have multiple video inputs, so they could be shared between a game console and a PC. Or they could be connected to a gaming PC that also sees use for non-gaming tasks. How well-suited are these monitors to non-gaming PC use?
The limiting factor really is the 1080p resolution. On the smaller MOBIUZ EX2510S, the pixel density is 90 PPI. The larger MOBIUZ EX2710S has an 82 PPI pixel density. What that means is that with the smaller monitor, PC content including text and images looks reasonably sharp. However, on the larger monitor, you’ll definitely notice that it’s not 4K or 1440p—especially if you sit reasonably close. It’s not that it looks terrible, it’s definitely passable. But it will feel like a downgrade if you’re accustomed to working with the higher resolutions, which are pretty much standard for 27-inch productivity monitors these days.
It’s worth noting that BenQ includes its treVolo audio, in the form of a pair of 2.5W speakers. This system provides multiple sound modes optimized for different content like games or pop music. It’s not at the same level as the MOBIUZ 32” 4K’s 2.1 channel audio with an integrated subwoofer, but it’s good enough that you can game without needing an external sound system or headphones.
Many gaming monitors don’t come with speakers at all these days, so it’s a nice option to have.
The bottom line is that if you are looking for a capable gaming monitor that won’t break the bank, the BenQ MOBIUZ EX2510S and MOBIUZ EX2710S are nice options with some very attractive features. So as long as you don’t need 4K resolution, you can enjoy a solid gaming experience and save your money to build up that videogame library.