Monitors · Head-to-head
BenQ PhotoVue SW272U vs ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV
Two 27-inch 4K creator monitors that both cover 99% Adobe RGB — one adds 16-bit hardware calibration and a nano-matte panel, the other starts at about a third of the reference price.
Quick verdict
Choose the BenQ PhotoVue SW272U if…
Choose the BenQ PhotoVue SW272U if print accuracy is the job — 16-bit 3D LUT hardware calibration and a glare-free nano-matte finish alongside 99% Adobe RGB and 99% DCI-P3 coverage.
Choose the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV if…
Choose the ASUS ProArt PA279CRV if you want that same 99% Adobe RGB and 99% DCI-P3 coverage with factory calibration and 96 W USB-C charging, for a fraction of the reference price.
What you'll actually notice
The differences that change which one you should buy, rather than every difference there is.
Hardware calibration
Decides itBoth panels cover 99% Adobe RGB, so gamut is not what separates them. The SW272U adds 16-bit 3D LUT hardware calibration, which writes a correction into the monitor itself rather than relying on a profile on the computer — that is the part of a colour workflow the ProArt's factory calibration does not replace.
Screen finish
Decides itBoth are IPS panels, but only the BenQ PhotoVue SW272U records an anti-glare treatment (IPS (Nano-Matte)). That is a room question rather than a quality one — it matters if you work opposite a window or under bright lights.
Speakers
Only the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV has built-in speakers (2 × 2W), which saves a cable on a simple desk and will not replace dedicated audio.
What the price difference means
The BenQ PhotoVue SW272U sits several times above it on reference price ($1,099–$1,549 (varies by bundle/retailer) against $399–$470 for the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV). That premium is buying specific capabilities rather than a generally better product.
Reference prices are our own editorial figures for a typical street price, not live retailer quotes.
Paying more for the BenQ PhotoVue SW272U buys
- Hardware calibration
- Screen finish
What it does not buy
- Speakers — the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV leads here
Key differences
The specifications that meaningfully differ between the two. A highlighted value is the stronger figure where it can be compared objectively.
| Specification | BenQ PhotoVue SW272U | ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV |
|---|---|---|
| Panel Type | IPS (Nano-Matte) | IPS |
| Brightness | 400 nits (peak, HDR) | 400 nits (peak) |
| HDR | HDR10 / HLG (DisplayHDR 400) | VESA DisplayHDR 400 |
| USB-C | Yes (DP Alt, 90W) | Yes (DP Alt, 96W) |
| USB-C Power Delivery | 90 W | 96 W |
| HDMI | 1 × HDMI 2.0 | 2 × HDMI 2.0 |
| DisplayPort | 1 × DP 1.4 | 1 × DP 1.4 (+ DP-out daisy-chain) |
| Speakers | No | 2 × 2W |
Full side-by-side specs
| Specification | BenQ PhotoVue SW272U | ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 27" | 27" |
| Resolution | 3840 × 2160 (4K UHD) | 3840 × 2160 (4K UHD) |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Panel Type | IPS (Nano-Matte) | IPS |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Response Time | 5 ms (GtG) | 5 ms (GtG) |
| Brightness | 400 nits (peak, HDR) | 400 nits (peak) |
| HDR | HDR10 / HLG (DisplayHDR 400) | VESA DisplayHDR 400 |
| Color Coverage | 99% Adobe RGB / 99% DCI-P3 | 99% Adobe RGB / 99% DCI-P3 |
| USB-C | Yes (DP Alt, 90W) | Yes (DP Alt, 96W) |
| USB-C Power Delivery | 90 W | 96 W |
| Thunderbolt | No | No |
| HDMI | 1 × HDMI 2.0 | 2 × HDMI 2.0 |
| DisplayPort | 1 × DP 1.4 | 1 × DP 1.4 (+ DP-out daisy-chain) |
| VESA Mount | 100 × 100 | 100 × 100 |
| Speakers | No | 2 × 2W |
| Height Adjustable | Yes | Yes |
Who should buy each one
BenQ PhotoVue SW272U
Photo and print professionals who need hardware-calibrated wide-gamut accuracy and glare-free viewing.
- Expensive (price varies by bundle)
- 60Hz, not for gaming
ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV
Photographers, video editors and designers — especially on Mac — who want accurate wide-gamut color and USB-C charging affordably.
- 60Hz (not for gaming)
- DisplayHDR 400 only
Final verdict
There is no single winner here — the right choice depends on what you need.
Better for color-critical print and photo work.
Read the full BenQ PhotoVue SW272U reviewBetter value for wide-gamut creative work.
Read the full ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV reviewThe BenQ PhotoVue SW272U scores higher overall (9.0 against 8.6), but that is an editorial judgement across five criteria rather than a formula, and it does not override the trade-offs above — how we score.
Keep exploring
Want to line these up against other options, or get a tailored recommendation?