BenQ EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor Review

BenQ sent over the new EX3203R so that I can give my honest review about this monitor. In this review you will be able to read about both the pros and cons of this product. They have been producing monitors since 2003 so they are definitely not new to the monitor market, but can they keep up with the latest technology? They sure can! 

Features

The BenQ EX2303R is a curved monitor with a 31.5” display, 16:9 aspect ratio, 2560 x 1440 resolution, 144Hz, 4ms, and has HDR (High Dynamic Range) support. This monitor has everything for both PC Master Race Gamers and console gamers. 

The 1800R curved VA panel makes the colors in every game and movie pop due to the great contrast VA panels provide. As a matter of fact, this monitor promises a 90% DCI-P3 coverage with a contrast ratio of 3000:1 which results in rich and vivid colors and deeper blacks which helps the colors pop even more.

Screen Size	31.5”
Resolution	2560 x 1440
Refresh Rate	144Hz
Response Time	4ms
Brightness	400 nits (HDR)
Native Contrast	3000:1
Display Colors	16.7 million colors
Curvature	1800R
Eye Care	Flicker-Free TechnologyLow Blue LightBrightness Intelligence Plus (B.I.+)
Connectivity	2x HDMIDisplayPort 1.4USB Type-C2x USB Type-A 3.0

Design

The BenQ EX3203R features a beautiful 31.5 inches VA panel with a curvature of 1800R and ultra-slim bezels which makes the cinematic and gaming experience extremely immersive. Apart from having ultra-slim bezels, the monitor features a simple and modern minimalist design which makes it even more aesthetically pleasing and perfect for those clean setups. 

This huge monitor sits on a silver chrome dual-prong stand which allows the monitor to tilt 5 – 20 degrees and also adjust the height up to 60mm. Something which is not found in a lot of monitors is the cutout in the stand which can be used for cable management.

When it comes to connectivity, this monitor provides a decent selection of ports, including two HDMI 2.0, one DisplayPort 1.4, one USB Type-C, and two USB Type-A 3.0 ports. Although this monitor doesn’t come with built-in speakers, it does have a 3.5mm audio jack at the back.

Eye Care Technology

One of the most important features in the BenQ EX3203R is the Eye Care Technology that comes included. Most people spend so much time in front of a monitor due to work, school, gaming, etc. that they end up damaging their eyes. That’s why BenQ includes three important features that help to take care of your eyes; Flicker-Free Technology, Low Blue Light, and Brightness Intelligence Plus (B.I.+).

Many people using a monitor without Flicker-Free Technology may not notice any flickering and it will lead to eye fatigue without them even knowing. BenQ made sure to include Flicker-Free Technology with the EX3203R so as to reduce eye strain and fatigue.

Another feature to reduce eye fatigue is the Low Blue Light Technology which removes blue light emitted by monitors to reduce the damage done to the eyes and helps preserve the eyesight.

Last but not least is the Brightness Intelligence Plus (B.I.+) Technology which can only be found in BenQ monitors. The BenQ EX3203R has a built-in light sensor at the bottom of the monitor which is used by the Brightness Intelligence Plus (B.I.+) Technology to adjust the brightness and colors of the monitor depending on the ambient light. A strong difference between the light in the room and the light from the monitor can cause eye strain. This is because your eyes need to work harder to focus. I always have the Brightness Intelligence Plus (B.I.+) feature turned on since it helps reduce eye fatigue and is extremely comfortable. 

HDR

The BenQ EX3203R with a brightness of 400 nits is a VESA-certified DisplayHDR 400 monitor. 400 nits is the absolute minimal number of nits that a monitor must have in order to be VESA-certified HDR and some may argue that a VESA-certified HDR 1000 is needed to actually make a visible difference in the colors. Although this monitor only features a DisplayHDR 400, it still helps to give a more immersive gaming and movie watching experience. It is obviously not as beautiful as a TV with HDR 1000, but it certainly does make a difference.

HDR with B.I.+

While HDR sharpens the colors and makes them look amazing, B.I.+ can still be used in combination with the HDR to also protect your eyesight at the same time! I watched quite a few movies and played quite a few games with this combination and it is an extremely amazing experience.  

FreeSync 2.0

Ever since the launch of FreeSync, numerous monitors on the market have adapted the use of this adaptive sync technology. This amazing technology puts an end to choppy gameplay and screen tearing, and it definitely makes a huge difference.

Bottom Line

I have tested out this monitor for several months now, and I can assure you that this monitor is amazing when playing games such as The Witcher, Assassin’s Creed and Tomb Raider due to the popping colors it produces. It does have a slightly expensive price point but it is completely worth it since it creates immersive experiences while preserving your eyesight.