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Head-to-head · Best 4K Monitors

Apple Studio Display vs BenQ PD3220U

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

BenQ PD3220U comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.7 vs 3.5). BenQ PD3220U is best for: Multi-computer users needing a KVM switch and Thunderbolt 3. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Apple Studio Display
Ranked #4 in Best 4K Monitors
Apple Studio Display
2 sources$1,599as of Oct 16

The 2026 Studio Display keeps the 27-inch 5K, 60Hz, non-HDR panel of the 2022 model and adds two Thunderbolt 5 ports, a much better 12MP Center Stage webcam and slightly stronger speakers. Reviewers agree the panel is accurate and bright and disagree about whether that is enough at $1,599: Macworld rated it 3 out of 5 and called it 'a bad deal', Six Colors called the changes 'meager upgrades' and pointed to the half-price Asus ProArt PA27JCV, while CGMagazine scored it 8.5 for one-cable simplicity with a MacBook.

Strengths
  • — 5K (5120 x 2880) panel with excellent color accuracy and good brightness uniformity, per Macworld
  • — Two Thunderbolt 5 ports - one charges a MacBook at up to 96W, the other daisy-chains more displays, per Macworld and Six Colors
  • — New 12MP Center Stage webcam is a big step up; Six Colors says it 'looks much better' in head-to-head comparisons
Watch-outs
  • — Same panel as the 2022 model: 60Hz, no HDR, no adaptive refresh, with poor motion clarity per Macworld
  • — Thunderbolt is the only input - no HDMI or DisplayPort, and settings are adjusted only through macOS, per Macworld
  • — Power cable is permanently attached, per CGMagazine
$1,599 · Buy at apple.comFull review →
BenQ PD3220U
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best 4K Monitors
BenQ PD3220U
3 sources$400as of May 8

Aimed at creative professionals, the BenQ PD3220U is a 32-inch 4K display with excellent picture performance, a deep set of inputs including Thunderbolt 3, and a KVM switch built in. The design and build quality are a step above. Weak points: the built-in speakers, and brightness that is only adequate for HDR.

Strengths
  • — Excellent display performance with 4K resolution, high pixel density, and HDR capability
  • — Wide range of connectivity options including Thunderbolt 3, HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C
  • — Built-in KVM switch for easy control of multiple computers, as TechRadar notes
Watch-outs
  • — Built-in speakers are not great
  • — Brightness is only 350 cd/m2, which is not ideal for HDR content
$400 · Buy at benq.comFull review →

How they stack up

Apple Studio Display

Where the BenQ PD3220U brings KVM and Thunderbolt 3 to a 32-inch 4K canvas and the Dell U2723QE wins on hub flexibility and IPS Black contrast, the Apple Studio Display trades feature breadth for higher pixel density (218 PPI vs. ~140 PPI on the BenQ/Dell) and a tightly Mac-integrated experience. It is the only pick here with built-in studio-quality speakers and a webcam, but lacks HDR, KVM, and the open OS support of the Dell.

BenQ PD3220U

The BenQ PD3220U pairs a built-in KVM switch with Thunderbolt 3 on a 31.5-inch panel, larger than the 27-inch Dell U2723QE. Its Thunderbolt 3 port delivers 85W, against 140W from the Thunderbolt 4 hub on the similarly sized Dell UltraSharp U3225QE. The Apple Studio Display has a higher-resolution 5K panel but offers Thunderbolt as its only input, where the BenQ also has HDMI and DisplayPort.

Specs side-by-side

SpecApple Studio DisplayBenQ PD3220U
Panel Type27-inch IPS LCD31.5" IPS
Resolution5120 x 2880 (5K, 218 PPI)3840x2160
Refresh Rate60 Hz60Hz
HDR SupportNone (SDR only)HDR10
Color GamutDCI-P3 wide color, factory calibrated95% DCI-P3, 100% sRGB
Connectivity2x Thunderbolt 5 (1 upstream host port with 96W charging, 1 downstream), 2x USB-C (10Gb/s)Thunderbolt 3 (85W), HDMI 2.0, DP 1.4
Brightness600 nits typical (no HDR)350 cd/m2
Dimensions1.22 x 14.25 x 24.53 inches—
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