BenQ Programming Monitor (RD320UA) Review: The Ultimate Workspace Upgrade For Developers?

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Monitors built for programmers and developers are rare, but BenQ is one of the few brands that has accepted this challenge seriously. The BenQ RD320UA is not just another 4K monitor: it’s a purpose-built tool that’s designed to make the long, hectic hours of coding more comfortable for professionals. With a matte-textured display, features like DualView Plus, and the unique MoonHalo backlight, the BenQ RD320UA targets buyers who prioritize clarity, ergonomics, and eye comfort over everything else. But does it deliver on its promise, or is it just another monitor with gimmicky features? Let’s find out.

BenQ (RD320UA) Monitor: Price & Availability

The BenQ (RD320UA) Programming Monitor is available on Amazon for Rs. 65,711.

Pros

  • Nano Matte screen for minimal reflection
  • IPS panel with excellent viewing angles
  • Ergo-Arm unlocks exceptional flexibility
  • MoonHalo bias for low-lit environments
  • Display Pilot 2 provides unique software experiences
  • 10 I/O ports for easy connectivity
  • Dedicated eye care features
  • BenQ provides four cables in the box
  • Works with native keyboard controls

Cons

  • IPS panel with 2000:1 contrast ratio
  • Not the best HDR performance in the segment
  • 60Hz refresh rate
  • Setting it up could be a tad difficult
  • Might be expensive for some buyers

BenQ (RD320UA) Monitor Review: Unboxing & First Impression

Given that the monitor and its accessories (such as the Ergo-Arm) carry some weight, the product needs to reach its customers in secure packaging — and BenQ does exactly that. The RD320UA comes in one of the most modular and robust cardboard boxes I’ve ever unboxed, featuring snug compartments for all the various items included in the box, as listed below.

  • Monitor
  • Ergo Arm (with cable management)
  • USB-C to USB-C cable
  • 16A power cable
  • HDMI (v2.0) cable
  • USB 3.2 cable
  • Documentation
BenQ Programming Monitor RD320UA Review

Moreover, features like slim bezels, a matte display, a textured back panel, and the sturdy Ergo Arm give the monitor a sleek, minimalist look that can elevate any workspace. While adjusting the Ergo Arm for height, tilt, swivel, or rotation according to my seating position, I didn’t notice any unusual sounds coming from the assembly, which is another plus point.

  • Screen Size: 31.5-inch
  • Dimensions: 71.4 x 60.1 x 47.7 cm
  • Item Weight: 11 kg (with the stand), 7.3 kg (without the stand)
  • Tilt (down/up): -5° to +30°
  • Swivel (left/right): +/- 275°

BenQ also mentions that the monitor’s housing is built with 85% post-consumer recycled materials, making a significant contribution to the environment. However, ensure that the desk you wish to mount the Ergo Arm clamp to has a thickness between 2 and 6 centimeters.

For those wondering about the Ergo Arm, it is a heavy-duty yet flexible mounting system that replaces a traditional monitor. Built with solid construction, it attaches to the desk using a clamp mechanism and can comfortably hold the monitor’s weight without any wobble. Interestingly, the arm also integrated cable management channels, helping you route the power and data cables. It’s a pretty nifty solution for keeping your setup clean and clutter-free.

Moreover, the monitor strikes a balance between aesthetic minimalism and ergonomics. The setup could be a bit tedious for some users, but the usual manual and online tutorials have got you covered.

BenQ (RD320UA) Monitor Review: Display

When measured diagonally, the BenQ RD320UA has a 31.5-inch 4K (3840 x 2160) display. Unlike regular monitors, this one has a Nano Matte finish on the panel — with a two-layer design — that cuts reflections and reduces glare from high-mounted ceiling lights, windows, or other ambient light sources that often cause distraction, especially when you’re trying to figure out the coding error between the lines, or simply focusing on what you’re doing; the paper-like look enhances readability.

With 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 color and HDR10 support (DisplayHDR 400 compliant), the panel produces pleasant colors and dynamic range for general usage and media consumption. The native tuning of the display leans more toward comfort and clarity for coding workflows, and not for color-critical tasks. Supported color modes include sRGB, ePaper, and Cinema.

The monitor supports 60Hz, which is more than sufficient for its target audience (although not ideal for gamers or content creators). Given that the monitor uses an IPS panel, you shouldn’t expect the rich contrast (or relatively deeper blacks) of a mini-LED or OLED, or the elevated dynamic range that comes with local array dimming.

  • Peak Brightness: 400 nits
  • Contrast Ratio: 2000:1
  • Gray to Gray Response Time: 5ms

On the positive side, the panel has decent viewing angles, with minimal color shift when swiveling or using portrait orientation.

Along with the display, the monitor also features two built-in speakers (2 x 3W), which are sufficient for alerts and notifications, but you may need external speakers for multimedia consumption.

BenQ (RD320UA) Monitor Review: Display Pilot 2 & MoonHalo

With capable hardware, the BenQ RD320UA also comes with an all-inclusive companion app, Display Pilot 2, which allows you to explore and control display-related features.

For coders and programmers who spend hours at their desks, the BenQ monitor offers dedicated Coding Modes, which include a set of display presets tuned to make text more legible and reduce fatigue. Whether you’re a dark or a light mode user, the monitor adjusts the overall gamma, contrast, and luminance to emphasize the characters and code blocks on the screen, keeping the fonts crisp, and remembers your preference for a particular app.

BenQ Programming Monitor RD320UA Review

Then, using the DualView Plus feature, you can set different color modes (light/dark). We believe this could be a highly sought-after feature for developers working on the front-end and back-end (or full-stack developers). They can set one-half of the screen to light mode (for viewing visual changes to the user interface) and the other half to dark mode (for a clear code review), instead of using two different monitors for the same purpose.

By using FloW, you can set up a group of display settings tailored to your daily scenarios and switch between them manually or schedule a time to automatically trigger the settings. The RD programming series also features a couple of exclusive additions, including Shortcuts, which allows you to trigger commonly used functions using hotkeys, and Direct Search, which automatically launches your preferred browser.

BenQ Programming Monitor RD320UA Review

Furthermore, there are Picture-in-Picture (PIP) and Picture-by-Picture (PBP) modes that allow you to view multiple windows simultaneously, ideal for situations where you want to cover a relatively smaller portion of the screen. Moreover, the coding modes, along with the DualView Plus and Picture-in-Picture (PIP), can help you improve multitasking.

By using FloW, you can set up a group of display settings tailored to your daily scenarios and switch between them manually or schedule a time to automatically trigger the settings. The RD programming series also features a couple of exclusive additions, including Shortcuts, which allows you to trigger commonly used functions using hotkeys, and Direct Search, which automatically launches your preferred browser.

Additional features include software-based brightness dimming, Brightness Intelligence, Circadian Mode, and Night Hours Protection, all of which help minimize eye strain.

Besides all the software-based features, the BenQ RD320UA features the MoonHalo backlight (a circular light built into the monitor’s back panel), which provides enough supplementary light for low-lit environments (useful for the late-night coders). You can also adjust its brightness (10 levels) and color temperature (7 levels), set it to 270° or 360° light mode, or leave it on continuously.

The light also supports auto dimming for optimal eye protection. So, even when you don’t want to disturb someone else in the room, or want the lights to be dim to gather all your focus and concentration, the MoonHalo baklight is a great addition.

BenQ (RD320UA) Monitor Review: Function Bar & Connectivity

BenQ Programming Monitor RD320UA Review

Toward the base of the screen, the BenQ programming monitor features the Function Bar, which contains several keys with dedicated purposes. First up, the one with the company’s logo (toward the front) is the Coding HotKey, which lets you transition between various color modes at a touch. In this menu, or in any other menu, you can use the 5-way controller (at the base of the module) to navigate through and select options.

Pressing the Function Key opens the general display settings menu, which includes options such as input, Coding Booster, Eye Care, Color Mode, Audio, Custom, and System. All the different features, such as Low Blue Light Plus, B.I. Gen2 and Night Hours Protection have dedicated LED indicators on the Function Bar. Pressing the 5-way controller also opens the MoonHalo menu.

BenQ Programming Monitor RD320UA Review

Regarding connectivity, the BenQ programming monitor offers exceptional versatility, featuring a total of 10 ports, as listed below.

  • HDMI 2.0 x 2 (4K60 input, KVM)
  • DisplayPort 1.4 (4K60 input, KVM with USB B)
  • USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-B
  • USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (PD90W, DP Alt Mode, Data, KVM)
  • USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (downstream, KVM) x 2
  • USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
  • AC power inlet

The monitor also supports Daisy Chaining, a feature that allows you to connect two BenQ monitors using the USB Type-C port. As mentioned on the official website, the monitor supports Daisy Chaining via a 90W USB Type-C port, which carries images and videos. For this, your device should have either a DisplayPort or Thunderbolt port.

However, if you own a MacBook, you can only connect a single external display using a Mac device. Another key feature, the KVM Switch (keyboard, video, and mouse), lets you connect two computers to the monitor, and then connect the input devices to the monitor, to finally use the input devices with both computers. Follow the instructions here to use the feature.

Review Verdict: Should You Buy The BenQ (RD320UA) Monitor Review?

The BenQ (RD320UA) is a thoughtfully designed programming monitor, and it claims what it does. Its crisp 4K panel, Nano Matte display finish, ergonomic Ergo Arm, and software features make it a multitasking and productivity powerhouse. While the built-in speakers and 60Hz refresh rate may not impress content creators or gamers, the monitor is targeted toward a specific audience, offering all-day comfort, clarity, and flexibility in daily workflows. If you’re among them, you need a no-nonsense monitor for programming — the monitor won’t disappoint you.

BenQ Programming Monitor RD320UA Review

Smartprix ⭐ Rating: 8.17/10

  • Unboxing Experience: 8/10
  • Build Quality: 8/10
  • Ease of Setup: 7.5/10
  • Ease of Use: 8.5/10
  • Ergo Arm: 9/10
  • Display Quality: 8.5/10
  • Built-In Speakers: 7/10
  • Software: 8/10
  • Connectivity: 9/10

First reviewed in August 2025.


Shikhar MehrotraShikhar Mehrotra
Shikhar Mehrotra is a seasoned technology writer and reviewer with over five years of experience covering consumer tech across India and global markets. At Smartprix, he has authored more than 1,700 articles, including news stories, features, comparisons, and product reviews spanning automobiles, smartphones, chipsets, wearables, laptops, home appliances, and operating systems. Shikhar has reviewed flagship devices such as the iPhone 16, Galaxy S25+, and Sennheiser HD 505 Open-Ear headphones. He also contributes regularly to Smartprix’s growing automotive section.

With a deep understanding of both iOS and Android ecosystems, Shikhar specializes in daily tech news, how-to explainers, product comparisons, and in-depth reviews. His DSLR photography in product reviews is recognized as among the best on the team.

Before joining Smartprix, Shikhar wrote for leading publications including Forbes Advisor India, Republic World, and ScreenRant. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University, Lucknow.

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