BenQ MA270S overview: Studio Show specs for an entire lot much less

At a look

Professional’s Score

Execs

• Nice picture and textual content high quality
• Top-adjustable stand is customary
• A number of connectivity choices

Cons

• No built-in webcam
• 70Hz max refresh price might not be excessive sufficient for avid gamers

Our Verdict

In the event you’ve been holding out for a 5K 27-inch show, check out the BenQ MA270S. It’s a great various to the Apple Studio Show with wonderful picture high quality and extra various connection choices.

Worth When Reviewed

This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined

Greatest Pricing Right this moment

Worth When Reviewed

$999

Greatest Costs Right this moment: MA270S

BenQ has been doing an awesome job with its shows geared in direction of Mac customers. I’ve reviewed the MA270U and the MA270UP and suggest them. However these 27-inch shows do have one particular function that could be a no-go for some clients: They’re 4K shows, not 5K just like the Apple Studio Show. Most individuals might be tremendous with 4K, however for others, that’s a deal breaker.

Excellent news: BenQ now has a 5K providing, the brand new MA270S. It principally appears the identical because the others, besides it’s now a direct competitor to the high-resolution Studio Show. Extra excellent news: the MA270S lives as much as the usual set by its two predecessors, with an awesome mixture of picture high quality, options, and worth.

Specs

BenQ MA270S: Design and construct

The MA270S takes its design cues from its 4K brethren. It’s virtually precisely like these two shows, with a plastic case and bezels which might be lower than 1mm. The one main distinction is that BenQ moved the Visible Optimizer Sensor to the decrease left of the entrance of the show. Whereas it disrupts the beforehand clear line, it doesn’t stand out. You see it, however it’s not distracting.

Foundry

The Visible Optimizer Sensor routinely adjusts the show’s brightness based mostly on the room’s lighting. Putting it on the entrance permits the brightness to be nearer in tune with what the person perceives. It’s a considerate change.

Just a few months in the past, BenQ launched the MA270UP, which implements the corporate’s Nano Gloss Panel. The MA270S additionally makes use of the identical panel, so it’s a shiny show and never out there in matte. Apple’s Studio Show can also be shiny, however it has a Nano-texture glass (matte) choice that will increase the value by $300.

I didn’t expertise any glare or eye fatigue whereas utilizing the MA270S, points that may happen whereas utilizing a shiny show. Shiny is most popular by customers who need colours which might be vivid and black copy that’s deep–some could say a matte display, by comparability, has a washed-out look.

BenQ MA270S: Ports

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MacBooks can hook up with the show through HDMI, USB-C, or Thunderbolt, and I used all three sorts with none points. Nonetheless, in the event you join through HDMI, your MacBook doesn’t cost whereas related–HDMI connections don’t present energy. If you wish to use the show as a hub, it’s essential join the MacBook to USB-C or Thunderbolt.

BenQ MA270S: Picture high quality

The MA270S produces pleasing photos of nice high quality, and the textual content appears sharp. Within the Macworld workplace, I normally use a 4.5K iMac to supply the Macworld Podcast within the studio, and once I switched to a MacBook Professional related to the BenQ show, I might simply see the improve in high quality. The blacks are richer, colours are wealthy, and textual content appears crisp. This show, like the opposite MA270 shows, is spectacular.

One small improve that the MA270S presents over the opposite BenQ shows is a 70Hz refresh price, barely greater than the usual 60Hz (which Studio Show makes use of). I didn’t discover a distinction generally on a regular basis use, however these with a extra discerning eye may discover the distinction over different screens when scrolling or watching movies. The MA270S’s refresh price is mounted at 70Hz, so if you’d like a sooner price (90Hz or 120Hz), you’ll have to look elsewhere.

BenQ MA270S: Worth

The MA270S is priced at $999, and the corporate is providing a particular deal the place in the event you purchase two shows, the second show is 20 % off. This provide is sweet in the course of the March pre-order interval. At $999, it’s considerably cheaper than the Apple Studio Show. Remember the fact that if you’d like a height-adjustable stand with Apple’s show, it’s important to pay an additional $400–a function that’s customary on BenQ’s show–which doubles the value. The MA270S tilts, swivels, and pivots 90 levels, although you gained’t get a webcam or Spatial Audio audio system.

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Do you have to purchase the BenQ MA270S?

In the event you’ve been holding out for a 5K 27-inch show, check out the BenQ MA270S. It’s a great various to the Apple Studio Show; the MA270S matches its picture high quality, whereas providing extra choices as a connection hub. One clear benefit the Studio Show has is a built-in webcam, which is lacking from the MA270S, however the Studio Show is prohibitively dearer in the event you want a height-adjustable stand.

Apple launched the 2nd-gen Studio Show in March 2026, and it’s not all that completely different than the earlier mannequin. It nonetheless prices $1,599, and the upgrades are minor: Thunderbolt 5 and a greater digital camera. It makes use of the identical 5K, 60Hz panel as earlier than, so until you desire a built-in webcam or Thunderbolt 5, there’s no purpose to decide on it over the MA270S.

Now learn: Greatest Mac screens: The Mac suitable shows we suggest