Another day, another 27-inch high refresh 1440p gaming panel. Today's muse is the BenQ Mobiuz EX270QM, which is superficially similar to the recently introduced Alienware AW2723DF (opens in new tab).

Both have premium 27" IPS panels with 1ms response time and DisplayHDR 600 certification. The main difference is that the Alienware is 280 Hz while the BenQ is 240 Hz.

Well, that and the price. The BenQ is actually the more expensive of the two, currently around $700. Both are fairly new models, with perhaps shiny premium features. Prices haven't fully settled down yet, but I suspect the two will be quite competitive in the long run.

Anyway, aside from these highlights, the BenQ Mobiuz EX270QM has a peak brightness of 600 nits and is said to cover 98% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which is pretty impressive.

Oh, local dimming is in the feature set, but it is edge-lit; BenQ has not disclosed the number of zones, but we would be very surprised if it is not exactly the same 16 zones as the Alienware panel.

In other words, we are not talking about true HDR capability with proper full array local dimming. This is more like a checkbox feature to enable HDR 600 certification than a useful technique to improve HDR performance. The same goes for the current HDR certification. Frankly, the first few rungs of the ladder are not truly HDR compatible.

As for connectivity, there are two DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.1 sockets. The latter two are another differentiator from Alienware in that they support up to 240 Hz refresh of the panel. Alienware's HDMI 2.0 connection is capped at 144Hz, so if you want the full 280Hz experience, you need to stick with DP.

Other features include a form-fitting RGB light on the back of the chassis and a built-in 2.1-channel speaker system with a 5W subwoofer. The same goes for the included IR remote control. This remote control is a distinctive feature of the BenQ and may help a bit to justify the relatively high price tag. But only a little.

When it comes to the casing, it adheres to the same design ethic that BenQ has favored with its Mobiuz panels for some time now. The back of the panel enclosure looks quite sleek, but from the front, it has a rather heavy chin and looks outdated. Indeed, the Alienware AW2723DF looks more modern and feels more expensive, despite its lower actual cost.

So can this BenQ justify its price tag in terms of image quality and gaming experience? It is very similar to the Alienware in most respects, but offers a clean white color with a slight punch. Right out of the box, it calibrates very nicely.

Like the Alienware, this monitor renders SDR content very well when running in DisplayHDR 600 mode. Until recently, most monitors made an absolute mess of SDR content in HDR mode, forcing you to switch back and forth between modes depending on whether you were browsing the web or playing an HDR game, for example.

This is a world-first problem. However, having a monitor that correctly renders both SDR and HDR content in one mode is no longer beyond the reach of human intelligence. Fortunately, both Alienware's panels and BenQ's competitors do just that.

Of course, with IPS panels and some edge-lit dimming zones, the HDR experience is not absolutely authentic. When you run HDR-enabled games such as The Witcher 3 or Cyberpunk 2077, the bright highlights do indeed sizzle and shine. The problem is that the panel leaks light at the other end, washing out the black tones and making them rather flat and gray.

One has to wonder if a glossier anti-glare coating, similar to Alienware, would improve perceived contrast and reduce the sense of washed out black tones. However, the HDR experience is reasonably good on this type of display.

The 2,560 x 1,440 resolution is, of course, a major highlight; it is much more detailed than 1080p, but at the same time does not beat the frame rate of 4K. Surprisingly, 1,440p is still something of a sweet spot in 2023.

Speaking of frame rates, 240Hz refresh is the biggest draw. I honestly can't see any difference between 240Hz and Alienware's competing 280Hz. Both panels feel hyper-responsive to me.

One quirk of the BenQ when it comes to speed is the pixel overdrive. I tried to find it, but could not find a user-configurable pixel overdrive setting. Usually, the panel's response time spec (1ms in this case) is associated with the fastest overdrive mode. Regardless, it is super fast for an IPS monitor, and there is very little blurring, even when swinging the mouse around in my favorite shooter game. Overshoot is also virtually non-existent. Indeed, OLED monitors are even faster. But it is the lighting control, contrast, and black levels that really make the difference with OLED technology. The difference in pixel response and blurriness between these quick IPS monitors and OLED gaming panels is relatively subtle, subjectively speaking.

For what it's worth, a 2.1 audio system with a 5W subwoofer certainly sounds better than the puny, pathetic excuse for speakers that most monitors offer. That said, volume levels and dynamic range are quite limited. If sound quality is a concern, it is still better to use a decent can or get a dedicated speaker system.

So, how would you rate the BenQ Mobiuz EX270QM? It is an excellent monitor of this type. If anything, I slightly prefer its calibration to the Alienware AW2723DF, but that is a very, very close call. Both are excellent gaming panels, fast, sharp, and punchy.

Then the problem with this BenQ is the price; it is more expensive than the Alienware, but offers little in return. Especially if the IR remote and speakers don't appeal to you. In fact, at this price point, the non-G-Sync version of Alienware's 34-inch OLED monitor (opens in new tab) seems worryingly close to $900.

Of course, you can get a decent 1440p monitor that runs at 144Hz instead of 240Hz for half the price as well. Ultimately, if refresh is important to you, you'll choose the Alienware 280Hz 1440p option, even though this BenQ panel is superior; the Alienware is cheaper, but offers essentially the same gaming experience. However, if you adjust for price, the BenQ Mobiuz EX270QM is definitely worth considering. It's a great gaming panel. However, the current price is a bit too high.