BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U 4K gaming monitor review

Ever since the demand for gaming monitors with HDMI 2.1 skyrocketed due to the 4K@120Hz limits the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and gaming PCs and laptops could reach, the last couple of years has been a booming market for gaming displays (with the correct ports). However, it’s hard to consider any other display available in NZ after using the BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U 4K gaming monitor.

This 32-inch, 4K IPS 144Hz gaming monitor not only excels at being an excellent display for smooth, high-detailed gaming with vibrant colours, but it also makes for a sizeable work companion and screen for watching movies and TV shows.

With HDRi support that auto-optimizes colour details, a 1ms MPRT to make it tear-free and both it’s Light Tuner and Black eQualizer to balance out lighting and dark areas displayed onscreen, the BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U encompasses everything a gamer would want in a modern gaming monitor. Oh, and the quality of its built-in speakers meant I surprisingly didn’t need headphones to get the best sounds.

It’s a shame that its retail price is considerably high and that there’s no KVM switch to make it a true monitor for productivity. HDR could be better, as I found myself squinting in games or shows with dark corridors, especially during the day.

Regardless, when a gaming monitor comes with two HDMI 2.1 ports, a few extra ports to meet your PC needs and a host of display options that includes an ePaper mode (because why not?), it’s hard to settle for anything less – if you have the budget.

BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U Price

The BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U is currently available for NZ$2,099, which is more affordable than what it was initially set at. It’s now on the lower end of some of the best (and priciest) monitors for gaming, including the Sony Inzone M9 or Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85.

Then you get other greats like the Gigabyte M27U and Acer Predator XB283K, which retail for around $500-$700. Sure, these may feature similar specs, but you will find few monitors that bump up to the BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U’s 32-inch size with the same specs. That, and they don’t come with as many fleshed-out features that make it easy just to switch on and play.

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BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U Design and Setup

Right out of the box, the BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U is quite the looker, and it won’t take long to get this shiner set up on your desk, either. BenQ understands the woes of assembling a gaming monitor, so it’s simplified the process with easy-to-read instructions and a “slip ‘n click” type setup. Place the monitor on the stand, make sure it clicks into place and voilà!

A 32-inch screen isn’t small for a desk, so it’s a good idea to make sure you have enough desk real estate. Despite this, the BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U is designed to try at least to take up as little room as possible; the stand legs barely poke out past the display while the stand’s hinge still leaves wiggle room for adjustability and the panel’s thickness measures in at 2.6 inches.

The monitor’s height can be adjusted by 100mm, tilt by -5˚~15˚ and swivel by 15˚~15˚. It’s just enough for me to place the monitor at a slight diagonal at the rear of my desk without it hitting the wall and still see the entire screen with my 16-inch laptop placed in the middle.

For those who enjoy a clean yet stylish desk setup, you’ll be happy to know the BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U looks brilliant. Its white finish on the back makes the monitor look somewhat professional, while the striped orange design on the stand is a nice, subtle touch. It also boasts four LED backlight strips, which you can change to any colour you fancy for a nice background colour effect.

As for the display, it’s surrounded by slim bezels that allow the monitor to make the most of the screen, along with a thick chin that hosts the unique “True Sound by treVolo” soundbar. I never felt that it took away from the display’s sheer size, though.

Just below the display are the OSD menu buttons, including volume control, a joystick to navigate through its settings, a switch to change video inputs and, of course, the power button. Sometimes, the power button didn’t agree to turn off, and I had to press it a few times to make sure it stayed off. Occasionally, the BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U would decide to turn it back on again, which led me to pull out the power adapter — more of a mild annoyance than anything else, as it didn’t happen often.

Speaking of cables, the monitor is great at cable management. All its ports, including the favourable HDMI 2.1, are placed right under the display, which is easy to access. There’s also a hole in the stand, allowing all cables to come from one place rather than just having a mess of wires behind the display.

Ports include two HDMI 2.1, a DisplayPort 1.4, four USB-A ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a Gigabit Ethernet port.

BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U Display

This is a display to behold, both for gaming, productivity and binge-watching. Since I’ve had it, it’s become an essential part of my desk: acting as a second monitor for work during the day and a go-to display for PS5 and PC gaming in the evening.

This 32-inch IPS display comes in 4K (3840 x 2160) with a 16:9 aspect ratio, 120Hz (HDMI) / 144Hz (DisplayPort) refresh rate, 1ms MPRT (response time) and is both FreeSync and G-Sync compatible. Throw in its HDR10 support, VESA DisplayHDR 600 rating, 98% DCI-P3 and 99% AdobeRGB gamut coverage, and you’ve got a gaming monitor bursting with colour accuracy and full of high-quality details.

All this equates to a stunning visual experience when gaming, whether they’re titles made to shine in 4K, like Final Fantasy 16 and Dead Space Remake on PS5 or Cyberpunk 2077 on PC, or more competitive games such as Street Fighter 6 or Overwatch 2. This is thanks to the HDRi, which automatically optimizes settings to match the game you’re playing. There are also different display colour modes dedicated to the type of game you’re playing, such as FPS, Racing, RPG and more. Having the manual options is a bonus, but I generally stuck to Game HDRi, as it brought out the visual sharpness and clarity without me having to lift a finger.

Speaking of modes, there’s also Display HDRi and Cinema HDRi. Scrolling through different websites with a smooth 4K@120Hz refresh rate and watching shows such as the colour-filled Twisted Metal is a treat. Moreover, if you want to give your eyes a break, there’s even an ePaper mode that balances the text and background. Not something I really used, but many who read all day will appreciate this added feature. Just as a cherry on top, HDRi works with SDR content, scaling it up to make it look fresher than it actually is.

Another highlight to note is the BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U’s True Sound by treVolo. Boasting five sound modes, including FPS, Racing, Pop, Cinema and Sport Game, the 2.1 channel audio is immersive and packs some “oomph” thanks to the 5W woofer placed on the rear of the display. It’s rare for monitors to have speakers that sound this great, and while it can’t match the subtle footsteps of enemies approaching as headphones can, it still creates an excellent sound stage.

BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U Gaming

First and foremost, the BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U sets itself apart from other gaming monitors by delivering adaptive-sync and blur reduction at the same time. This means you’re getting a fast, 1ms response time with no blur effects or tearing, which makes it great for fast-paced gameplay and titles with beautiful scenery to ogle at.

Blur isn’t completely gone, as I played games like The Ascent on PS5 and saw subtle motion blur from my character’s movement in certain areas. Otherwise, I played Cyberpunk 2077 with graphics set to max and ray tracing cranked up and got 4K@120Hz gaming at its finest.

Despite the impressive image, I admit that HDR doesn’t always excel. This may be due to the Light Tuner and Black eQualizer features unique to BenQ, along with the edge LED backlight. Made to correct overly darkened or extremely bright areas of content being played, they generally do a good job balancing areas overexposed to light or way too dark to see anything. However, I found places in games like Dead Space or Resident Evil 4 Remake to be way darker than they should be. Not a deal breaker, but I expect to see little details in the dark from technology that “reclaims details” from “incorrectly shown dark sections.”

That said, getting to experience Final Fantasy 16 with excellent colour contrast and lighting that makes its scenic landscape shine and exchanging blows in Street Fighter 6 with pin-perfect precision is a delight I’ve only found on the BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U.

BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U Verdict

Without a doubt, the BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U is a premium gaming monitor in every sense. Packed with specs that ekes out the potential of all modern gaming machines, including HDRi auto-optimization, adaptive-sync and blur reduction, 4K resolution at 120Hz and exceptional built-in audio, this display is exemplary.

Of course, every gaming monitor has a few quirks. The Light Tuner and Black eQualizer may not always work as intended, and the power button on my unit was a tad particular about turning off.

But these are easy to ignore when a beautiful 32-inch display plays games at their finest. It’s a monitor to invest in, but those after modern, enthralling visuals from their PC, PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S will be more than happy to place the BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U on their desk permanently.