On paper, BenQ’s EX3203R looks like an ideal “sweet spot” for a large format monitor: 32” size, 1440p resolution, and 144Hz speed, and USB-C capability. But corners cut in the overall package and some poor ergonomic choices, plus low value, mean it’s a tough sell.
The monitor’s basic design and features are perfectly competent. And the combination of very specific hardware means that it might be ideal for a subset of users who want a big, fast display that also works with a USB-C-only laptop. But anyone not in this cross-section of users would be better served by a competing model.
Covering The Basics
The EX3203R is a big, stylish monitor, combining a 32-inch VA panel with a 2560×1440 resolution. This size and density are ideal for a lot of people: it’s as big as you can fit on a normal computer desktop without veering into the more demanding (and expensive) range of ultra-wide designs.
The 144Hz refresh rate and 4ms response time are very much intended to woo gamers hoping for a display that gives them a speed advantage, with more general users and media-focused creators being secondary markets.
The monitor features double HDMI ports, DisplayPort, two standard USB 3.1 A-format ports, and audio out, but its headline specification is compatibility with USB-C. That port can handle Thunderbolt video at the monitor’s maximum resolution and refresh rates, as well as carry data (though less of it with the video maxed out) and enough power to charge up laptops like the MacBook. The spec sheet reads like an ideal display for a desktop gamer with an ultraportable machine on the side.
Other highlights of the design include a matte anti-glare screen with an 1800R curve, slim bezels of about a quarter-inch, and compatibility with AMD’s FreeSync 2. BenQ is quick to note support for HDR video and game playback and a strain-reducing mode that lowers the output of blue light.
All of these points are positive, but the execution is lacking, at least when the $700 price point is taken into consideration. For that much money, you can get every feature listed above, minus the native USB-C connection, with a much more appealing and comfortable display.
Ergonomic Shortcomings
The EX3203R makes a striking impression at first, with its roomy panel, thin bezels, and surprisingly small case. But the positive initial reaction gives way to frustration upon setup. The first ding on the design is its use of an external power converter, adding a sizeable and heavy plastic brick to the crowded rear of my desk. No other monitor I’ve used in this size class needed anything except a standard PC power cable.
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Source : BenQ EX3203R Monitor Review: Small Problems Drag Down This Display
