BenQRD280U 28.2" 4K+ 3840x2560 Programming Monitor with 3:2 Ratio, Nano Matte Panel, Coding Modes, MoonHalo Backlight, 90W USB-C, Night Hours Protection, Ergonomic Design, Eye-Care Solution

I'm a full time software developer. I was using a 25" 1440p Dell (nice, but discontinued) and needed to get a second monitor for another location.I initially picked 25" over 27" on purpose, having read Nick Janetakis's article on the ideal screen size for developers (long, but worth a read). I find text on a 24" to be just as legible as my 16:9 25", but appreciate the extra height of 16:10. I also prefer the colours and contrast on the BenQ, and its ability to adjust itself to the ambient lighting conditions is superb.So in all respects, I prefer this BenQ to my Dell. I'm still using the Dell, but on a different desk. No need to buy stuff we don't need, right?I was also 28" curious, and did try the 28" version. It's got a very nice image, but (as a tiling window manager user) I found that I was turning my head left and right a lot, and rarely looking at things in front of me. It's tall too, so a lot of stuff I'd need to read would be near desk level, which has a fairly negative impact on my posture.Conclusion: I'm far better off when my windows (which fill my screen) are on a display whose edges aren't so difficult for me to see.This is also why I prefer a single screen. I usually put code on one workspace, documentation on another, and switch between them with a keystroke more quickly than I could turn my head to look at another screen. Occasionally I need docs and code side by side, in which case I'll put a browser next to my editor. That works great too. Often I'm working on an app, and will put the app's UI next to the editor so I can see the impact of my changes in real time. Also great. And if I need to see two different files, they're visible side by side in a full screen editor.End result: I'm pretty confident I've got the best monitor on the market for tiling window manager users who don't want to be turning their head a lot, looking up/down too much, etc.Also, on looking up/down, beware a monitor that's so tall that you need to read things above eye level. It requires your eye to be wider open than normal, which increases the rate at which the lens dries out. Combined with our tendency not to blink when looking at a screen, this can increase your chances of getting dry eye disease. I'm now an eye drop user, and I think it's because I used to position a monitor a bit high. So that's another reason not to get a bigger one.

I work from home and decided I needed a new monitor to help me deal with eye strain and headaches that I sometimes get after long days at work. I have a decent 1440p high refresh gaming monitor which looks fantastic for gaming and videos, but wasn't ideal for what I actually do 95% of the time I am at the computer i.e reading text.I decided I wanted a 4k monitor for increased text sharpness, it also needed a KVM switch for easy switching between my personal PC, USB-C power delivery and display port for easy connection to my work laptop, and daisy chaining for easily connecting a second display. These conditions limit the options somewhat, Dell do a good USB-C hub monitor that meets the criteria but I opted for this because I was intrigued by the 3:2 aspect ratio, the eye care features, and the focus on displaying text well.So far I absolutely love this monitor! It's much more comfortable on the eyes than my previous setup, text looks super sharp and I can read whilst sitting farther away. I keep it in dark mode most of the time but can switch easily to a brighter mode for photos/videos with the function button. KVM / Daisy chain / power delivery all work just as I hoped allowing me to massively declutter my work area. I think how much you value the 3:2 aspect ratio will depend on your workflow but I find it hugely beneficial. I'm never going back to 16:9, in fact even though I got this specifically because it could daisy chain a second monitor, so far I haven't even needed one and am back to a single monitor setup. The light sensor and backlight are terrific ideas, it allows the monitor to adjust to the light levels automatically without you having to fiddle in menus, this gives comfortable viewing night or day.Overall I'm delighted with it, but I have some nit picks / things you may want to be aware of.* 3 USB ports isn't enough for a hub monitor I don't think, and there should be some on the back for better cable management. The Dell monitor had 6, even my gaming monitor had 4.* Although light sensor is great, but the screen flashes up a notification when it is changing the brightness which is unnecessary and can't be turned off. I don't need to see a pop-up on my monitor when I open the curtains.* When the monitor goes to sleep it powers down the USB ports, which might cause issues for waking PC from keyboard or other features.Overall I'm not knocking of a star because the image quality, eye care features and 3:2 aspect ratio are real game changers for me. I'm a programmer but would recommend this to anyone who's work primarily involves reading/writing text all day.

Great

As a lifelong software engineer I've used a lot of monitors. More recently the Apple Studio display (which is top of my leaderboard still). The Asus ProArt which is amazing for content creation (Photoshop, Premiere Pro) but alas they are all wide, very wide. When I first saw this "coding" monitor I thought it was a gimmick but after watching a lot of reviews and reading their literature I realised this is what I needed all along. Rear halo light aside, the ability to have a tall high resolution screen that at the tap of a switch change the display modes on was and is just a god send. I can now how modes that look terrible for content and surfing but awesome for the contrast of my pages of code and with a simple switch change back to normal mode. Brilliant idea for a product. You might have issues with some games but that's what my 16:9 display is for. As for ports again another great selection. Latest display port, HDMI and two USB-C one and a KVM feature to stop swapping mouse and keyboard connections! Perfect when you have a PC and Mac you switch development between! The speakers aren't great as is with most monitors display hence the 4 stars I would've given 4.5 stars but couldn't!