BenQ GW2786TC review: A great budget USB-C monitor for your home office

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Finding a budget monitor is both easy and difficult. It’s easy to spot a good deal, but with so many options available for a few hundred bucks or less, deciding which ones are worth your money (and which are better to skip) can be challenging. The BenQ GW2786TC simplifies the decision with multiple useful features alongside good image quality for less than $200.

BenQ GW2786TC specs and features

At a glance, the BenQ GW2786TC’s specifications might not stand out. It features a 27-inch widescreen IPS panel with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1920×1080—specs that are incredibly common for monitors under $200. In fact, many 27-inch 1080p monitors dip closer to $100 when on sale.

• Display size: 27-inch 16:9 widescreen
• Native resolution: 1920×1080
• Panel type: IPS
• Refresh rate: 100Hz
• Adaptive sync: No
• HDR: No
• Ports: 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x DisplayPort-out (MST), 1x USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and 65 watts USB Power Delivery, 2x USB-3.2 Gen 1 downstream with 5Gbps data, 4.5-watt charging
• VESA mount: 100x100mm
• Audio: 2x 2-watt speakers, noise-cancelling microphone
• Extra features: Ambient light sensor
• Price: $199.99

However, BenQ packs in extra features that help the GW2786TC step ahead of the pack. Its video connectivity includes a USB-C port with 65 watts of Power Delivery, along with two downstream USB-A ports and a DisplayPort output for daisy-chaining a second display. It also features a refresh rate of up to 100Hz, an ergonomic stand, built-in speakers, a noise-canceling microphone, and an ambient light sensor. (See our roundup of the best USB-C monitors for a comparison.)

Shoppers should keep in mind that BenQ has a similar monitor with 2560×1440 resolution, the BenQ GW2790T, priced at $250. The GW2790T is a good pick if you need a sharper image, but the GW2786TC provides many of the same features for less.

BenQ GW2786TC design

The BenQ GW2786TC makes a strong first impression straight out of the box. It features a bright white color scheme, with nearly every surface aside from the display bezels on the top and sides sporting a clean, modern look.

While the monitor is made primarily of plastic, it feels durable and looks attractive on a desk. BenQ markets the monitor as a companion for Apple Mac laptops like the MacBook Air, but it pairs just as well with Windows or Linux machines.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The GW2786TC has a high-quality stand that offers significant ergonomic adjustment. It tilts 25 degrees, swivels 45 degrees left and right, pivots 90 degrees for portrait orientation, and has 130 millimeters of height adjustment. This range of movement is better than what’s typical for monitors in this price range (some don’t pivot, for example). The stand’s base is large yet flat, meaning it doesn’t take up unnecessary desk space, and it feels stable.

For those who prefer a different setup, the monitor also supports a 100x100mm VESA mount, allowing for easy attachment to a third-party monitor arm or stand.

BenQ GW2786TC connectivity

You have three options for connecting video inputs to the BenQ GW2786TC: HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode. That provides a total of three video inputs, which is typical for an inexpensive monitor.

However, there’s an unusual addition—a DisplayPort output, which allows you to daisy-chain a second monitor. This feature helps reduce cable clutter since you can connect your laptop to the first monitor and then link the first monitor to a second display, rather than running separate video cables to each monitor. It’s uncommon to find on a budget-friendly monitor.

The monitor also provides USB-C with up to 65 watts of power delivery, meaning it can power and charge most mid-range laptops over USB-C. Again, BenQ is targeting Mac users here, specifically the MacBook Air, which appears in the company’s marketing materials. But budget Windows, ChromeOS, and Linux laptops that support USB-C charging also benefit from this feature. If you use the USB-C port, you’ll also get data connectivity to two USB-A downstream ports.

BenQ GW2786TC features

The BenQ GW2786TC’s image quality settings are controlled by a set of buttons on the lower right-hand side of the monitor. This is somewhat unusual in 2025, as most monitors have switched to a joystick-style control, which tends to be quicker and more intuitive. The buttons work fine, but navigating the menu is cumbersome.

BenQ provides a standard range of image quality controls for a budget monitor. There are several preset image modes, as well as adjustments for color temperature and gamma. However, the color temperature and gamma adjustments don’t target specific values and are instead vaguely labeled.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

One unusual and appreciated feature is the inclusion of an ambient light sensor, which is activated through a setting called Brightness Intelligence. It automatically adjusts the monitor’s brightness based on room lighting conditions, so you don’t have to tweak it manually. This is a rare feature in a budget monitor and useful if the lighting in your room changes throughout the day (which is true for many home offices).

The monitor also has built-in speakers and a noise-canceling microphone, though neither is impressive. The speakers are fine for podcasts and video calls but weak in volume and lack bass. The noise-canceling microphone captures usable audio and does reduce some background noise, but a decent standalone webcam microphone will be better quality. Since the monitor doesn’t include a webcam, most users taking video calls will likely have a webcam connected anyway.

BenQ GW2786TC image quality

The BenQ GW2786TC is exactly the kind of monitor where image quality is less of a priority. While it would be great to have an exceptional display, the monitor’s long list of features is likely to be the bigger factor in your buying decision. Fortunately, the GW2786TC still delivers enjoyable image quality across the board. It doesn’t excel in any area but also doesn’t suffer any major weaknesses.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

We start with brightness, where the GW2786TC delivers a maximum sustained SDR brightness of 260 nits. That’s not bright for a modern monitor, but as the data shows, it’s typical among similarly priced competitors.

It should be more than bright enough to look vivid in a typical home office. However, if you’re using it in a space with direct sunlight or large windows, it might appear dim.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Next up is the contrast ratio, which is crucial for providing a good sense of depth and immersion in an image. I was surprised to see the GW2786TC achieve a contrast ratio of 1500:1, which is on the high end for a budget monitor with an IPS panel. As the data shows, most other monitors in this category have a less impressive contrast ratio.

The higher contrast will be most noticeable in dark scenes, where the GW2786TC provides a bit more shadow detail and a stronger distinction between bright and dark areas. That said, it still suffers from IPS glow, which means very dark scenes can take on a grayish-silver tone rather than a true, deep black.

One monitor that stands out is the AOC 27G15, which has a much higher contrast ratio, nearly reaching 6000:1. It achieves that with a VA panel that blocks more light from the backlight, significantly reducing the glow issue seen on IPS monitors. The AOC 27G15 is a better choice if your main priority is gaming or watching movies on a budget display. However, the AOC is a bit dimmer and not quite as sharp, so the BenQ GW2786TC has an edge in productivity.  

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The BenQ GW2786TC provides a mid-tier color gamut that covers 100 percent of sRGB, 84 percent of DCI-P3, and 78 percent of Adobe RGB. These numbers place it in the middle of the pack. It outperforms some budget home office monitors, like the Pixio PX248 Wave, but falls behind models that bridge the gap between gaming and home office use, such as the Gigabyte M27QA ICE.

Despite having a slightly more limited color gamut than some competitors, the GW2786TC still delivers a vivid and colorful image. When viewed on its own, colors appear vibrant, though a direct comparison with higher-gamut monitors may reveal slightly less saturation.   

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The GW2786TC’s color accuracy is solid, though as the data shows, its color error is slightly higher than some competitors. However, all of these budget monitors perform well in this regard, and you’re unlikely to notice much color inaccuracy unless you’re working on color-critical professional tasks—something these monitors aren’t really designed for. Overall, the BenQ GW2786TC’s color appears realistic.

A key contributor to its natural-looking image is its strong gamma and color temperature performance. It achieved our preferred gamma curve of 2.2, meaning content appears as bright as expected. Its measured color temperature of 6600K is only slightly above the ideal 6500K target, making the image just a touch cooler than perfect—but the difference is barely noticeable. Thanks to these good out-of-the-box results, the monitor’s image feels well-tuned for general use.

Sharpness is a downside. With a resolution of 1920×1080 on a 27-inch screen, the pixel density comes out to about 81.6 pixels per inch. That’s not high for a monitor sold in 2025. Video content can appear soft and small fonts may show some pixelation. Still, this is acceptable for a monitor priced under $200. A 1440p monitor with similar features will cost at least $50 more.

The BenQ GW2786TC’s image quality can be summarized in one word: adequate. It’s not amazing, but it’s fine. I found the image looked good right out of the box and I had no major complaints while using it. Just keep your expectations in check—this is a budget monitor selling for under $200, and monitors priced $50 to $100 more will deliver a noticeable improvement to image quality.

BenQ GW2786TC HDR image quality

The BenQ GW2786TC doesn’t support HDR. That might seem like a flaw, as many inexpensive monitors claim HDR support. In truth, though, all monitors below $200 lack the brightness and color gamut to properly support HDR, and those that claim HDR support fail to offer a quality HDR image.

BenQ GW2786TC motion performance

BenQ boosts the GW2786TC’s refresh rate from the 60Hz standard to 100Hz. It’s possible to find gaming monitors with a higher refresh rate under $200, but they lack the GW2786TC’s features. The 100Hz refresh rate provides a noticeable improvement to motion clarity which, though not best-in-class, is appreciated.

Adaptive Sync support is not included, however, so the monitor can’t sync the refresh rate to the output frame rate of the game you’re enjoying. That means you’ll have to rely on V-Sync or allow an uncapped frame rate—both options degrade motion fluidity. Because of that, the GW2786TC isn’t a great choice for gamers.

Should you buy the BenQ GW2786TC?

BenQ’s GW2786TC is a good pick if you need a home office or general-use monitor that pairs well with a laptop that has USB-C, but you don’t want to spend more than $200. It offers features rarely found at this price point, like USB-C Power Delivery and DisplayPort-out, alongside acceptable image quality, and ambient light sensor, and an enhanced 100Hz refresh rate.