BenQ PD3225U vs Lenovo ThinkVision P27u-20
The Lenovo ThinkVision P27u-20 is 9 pixels per degree sharper at a desk distance — 68 against 59, and that is the line between sharp and retina-class. Every other published specification for both is in the table, with the rows where they differ tinted.
BenQ
BenQ PD3225U
59ppd · sharpAccepts an HDR signal~$1,100
The panel here is the IPS Black generation, which is where the 2000:1 native contrast comes from — roughly twice what a conventional IPS manages, and the single most visible difference between this and BenQ's cheaper 32-inch designer panels.
Best for: Mac-based photo and video work that needs deep blacks and a Thunderbolt dock in one box
- 2×HDMI 2.0· full speed at 8-bit
- DisplayPort 1.4· full speed
- Thunderbolt (DP 1.4)· full speed
Lenovo
Lenovo ThinkVision P27u-20
68ppd · retina-classAccepts an HDR signal~$884
Thunderbolt 4 in, Thunderbolt 4 out, gigabit Ethernet and 100 W of charging make this a dock that happens to have a screen attached.
Best for: Photo and print work off a single laptop cable
- 2×HDMI 2.1· full speed
- DisplayPort 1.2· full speed at 8-bit
- Thunderbolt (DP 1.4)· full speed
| Specification | BenQ PD3225U | Lenovo ThinkVision P27u-20 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$1,100 | ~$884 |
| Type | 4K/5K creator | 4K/5K creator |
| Screen size | 31.5 in | 27 in |
| Resolution | 3840×2160 | 3840×2160 |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Pixels per degree | 59 — sharp | 68 — retina-class |
| Pixels per inch | 140 | 163 |
| Panel | IPS | IPS |
| Finish | matte | matte |
| Curvature | Flat | Flat |
| Max refresh | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Response time | 5 ms GtG | 4 ms GtG |
| VRR | None | None |
| HDR tier | Accepts an HDR signal | Accepts an HDR signal |
| HDR certification | DisplayHDR 400 | DisplayHDR 400 |
| Peak brightness | 400 nits claimed | 450 nits claimed |
| SDR brightness | 400 nits | 400 nits |
| Local dimming | — | None |
| Static contrast | 2,000:1 | 1,000:1 |
| Colour gamut | 98% DCI-P3 | 99.1% DCI-P3 |
| Colour depth | 10-bit | 8-bit+FRC |
| HDMI | 2 × HDMI 2.0 | 2 × HDMI 2.1 |
| DisplayPort | 1 × DisplayPort 1.4 | 1 × DisplayPort 1.2 |
| DSC | Not supported | Not supported |
| Port speed | 2 of 3 inputs at full speed | 2 of 3 inputs at full speed |
| USB-C | Video in over USB-C | Video in over USB-C |
| USB-C power | 85 W — 14-inch class laptop | 100 W — 14-inch class laptop |
| Thunderbolt | Yes | Yes |
| KVM | Built in | Built in |
| USB hub | 4 ports | 4 ports |
| Speakers | Built in | Built in |
| Stand | height, tilt, swivel, pivot | height, tilt, swivel, pivot |
| VESA | 100x100 | 100x100 |
| Weight | 20.2 lb | 17.6 lb |
| Released | 2024 | 2021 |
| $ per inch | $35 | $33 |
| $ per megapixel | $133 | $107 |
BenQ PD3225U: what it gives up
- 60 Hz, and its HDMI ports are 2.0, so this is a work monitor that will feel stiff for anything else
- DisplayHDR 400 with an edge-lit backlight — HDR content will play, but not with any real highlight punch
- 85 W is short of what a maxed-out 16-inch laptop draws under sustained load
- At around eleven hundred dollars it costs roughly twice the 27-inch model for 4.5 more inches and better contrast
Lenovo ThinkVision P27u-20: what it gives up
- 60 Hz — this panel was never meant for games, and it will feel slow next to anything here
- DisplayPort is 1.2 and HDR is DisplayHDR 400 with no dimming zones, so highlights stay flat
- 1000:1 contrast is ordinary IPS, and no calibration fixes black level
- Around $880 buys a 4K 144 Hz gaming panel elsewhere in this catalog if colour accuracy is not the job
- No adaptive sync of any kind
Full specifications: BenQ PD3225U · Lenovo ThinkVision P27u-20