The Tools tab allows for configuring options such as mouse pointer speed, and power and sleep settings. You can also project the screen externally or use the monitor as a remote display for your smartphone or tablet. The BenQEX Mobiuz EX270QM supports HDR10 and detects an HDR signal (as tested with a Windows PC and Xbox Series X). HDR mode is engaged automatically and looks good at default settings.

MSI Optix MAG274QRX – Accurate Display. Ultimate Victory

Windows 11 already offers extensive split window functions, but Split Window tab offers even more possibilities. There's a hidden macro key towards the bottom left of the panel, which invokes the Gaming Intelligence app by default but can also be configured for other functions. The monitor comes with picture-in-picture (PIP) and picture-by-picture (PBP) modes for simultaneously viewing video from multiple sources. KVM 2.0 is available as well. Motion clarity is excellent at 240Hz. Enemy units, health bars, and names remain legible when scrolling across the field of battle in League of Legends. Enemy units and health bars are legible on a 144Hz or 165Hz monitor, but names aren’t. The EX270QM retained significant detail in the Blur Busters’ UFO test, as well, with almost all elements of the funny little alien visible aside from his trio of eyes, which blurred into a pair of peepers.

Power Consumption: Economical with MPRT Sync enabled

All the expected ports for a monitor in this price segment are present, but the HDMI port is still based on the 2.0 standard which limits the maximum refresh rate to 144 Hz. Response times are good for a gaming monitor, though it is not OLED-level. It is possible to further reduce response times, but that comes at the expense of overshoot and ghosting. Enabling MPRT Sync can reduce the ghosting effects to a large extent, but it also reduces display brightness significantly. MSI has launched the Optix MAG274QRX 27-inch WQHD gaming liquid crystal display, which features a 240Hz refresh rate. While the EX270QM’s day-to-day performance doesn’t hold up for professionals, it remains attractive in casual use. The monitor’s solid brightness, good text clarity, and wide color gamut provide good results when browsing the web or viewing YouTube. The monitor’s superior built-in speakers are another plus, offering strong sound that, for some owners, will make external speakers unnecessary. BenQ EX270QM – The Competition

MSI Optix MAG274QRX – Accurate Display. Ultimate Victory MSI Optix MAG274QRX – Accurate Display. Ultimate Victory

The monitor’s maximum resolution of 1440p provides a pixel density of about 108 pixels per inch. This isn’t as high as a 4K monitor of the same size, which provides 163 pixels per inch, but high enough to offer good clarity in most situations. I only found the resolution’s limits noticeable when viewing fine fonts or small interface elements, which display hints of pixelation. When the NIS function is enabled on PC, then the NIS will select 4K resolution to output on 1440p monitors. Resulting in the loss of NIS benefits, and limiting FPS because you are running games on 4K resolution. The highest refresh rate at 4K is only 60Hz.

TAILORED FOR THE PERFECT FIT

The BenQ Mobiuz EX270QM makes a good first impression at default settings. It’s bright, but not too bright, with a maximum SDR brightness of 360 nits which, surprisingly, is adjusted down to a more comfortable setting in the monitor’s default game mode. On the other hand, 1440p offers an advantage in performance, since it demands far less of a GPU than 4K resolution. The EX270QM is a 240Hz monitor, which implies it’s meant for playing games at a high refresh rate. From that perspective, 1440p is an ideal resolution. Video connectivity is great with one DisplayPort 1.4 port and two HDMI 2.1 ports for a total of three video inputs, all of which can handle the monitor’s maximum display resolution and refresh rate. This is a key feature for gamers who want to connect multiple sources – like both a PC and one or more current-gen console – for high-refresh gaming, including over HDMI. Competing 240Hz monitors use HDMI 2.0 and do not support 240Hz when connected via HDMI.