BenQ 34-Inch Ultra-Wide 2K Monitor Review: Perfect for Universal Control

The BenQ PD3420Q is an excellent ultrawide monitor

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Apple has set the bar high for displays, making pairing a MacBook Pro quite difficult with a monitor. Fortunately, it can make the choice easier if you eliminate monitors without Mac-specific features.

The BenQ PD3420Q is an ultra-wide monitor built with Apple users in mind. The expansive 2K display can connect via USB-C and reproduce colors similar to a Mac, thanks to P3 and HDR support. It even has a Mac-specific color setting.

The 21:9 aspect ratio also enables a unique set of features associated with picture-in-picture modes. This monitor allows users to unify their workflows across devices into a single product without complicated KVM setup or additional monitors.

This monitor requires a lot of configuration, but once it’s all up and running, it can work wonders within Apple’s hardware ecosystem. We’ve tested the monitor in a variety of setups and show you how each works below.

The BenQ PD3420Q is a 34-inch monitor of 3440 pixels by 1440 pixels with a brightness of 350 nits. It supports P3 color gamut and is rated HDR10, VESA DisplayHDR 400.

Due to the wider aspect ratio than usual, it supports frame-by-frame modes with one input in a 16:9 format and another in 5:9. It’s not possible to select a 16:9 setting from the monitor unless it’s in PBP mode, so some input will be stretched to fit the 21:9 aspect ratio.

HDR can be enabled, but it can be higher quality. Images usually appear darker when HDR is enabled and the mode only works in single input mode. We used the monitor with HDR turned off.

The HotKey Puck G2 gets its own USB-B port, plus there are two HDMI 2.0 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4 port, a 65W USB-C DisplayPort alt port, and a USB-B upstream with two USB-A ports. The monitor also has a USB-A port, USB-C port and a headphone jack on the side for easy connection of accessories.

The back has a power button, a joystick button for menu movement and selection, and two buttons for input control and switching between color modes.

The included HotKey Puck G2 makes operating the monitor menus a breeze. Once everything was up and running, we configured the button to control the volume.

The ultra-wide aspect ratio in the BenQ PD3420Q monitor allows users to set up two inputs side by side. One takes up the usual 16:9 space and the other uses a 5:9 space. There is also a picture-in-picture mode.

The key to mastering the BenQ PD3420Q is understanding which of your devices can adapt to aspect ratios. If you plan on using frame-by-frame mode, a Mac or PC will fit best in the 5:9 side, as they have the most control over their output.

We tried it frame by frame with a 14-inch MacBook Pro set in the 5:9 space and a iPad Pro set in the 16:9 space. The MacBook was connected via USB-C for its DisplayPort alt input, and the iPad was connected via a dock to HDMI.

This setup made perfect use of Apple’s Universal control feature. After placing the iPad monitor through the MacBook monitor in settings, the cursor would move between the two screens as if they were the same computer.

This setup alone sold us on the BenQ monitor, although it has its sore points. Getting the MacBook to behave in a 5:9 aspect ratio took a few minutes of switching between display settings and switching between inputs, but it worked fine in the end.

The MacBook Pro had only one viable resolution option: 880 x 1440. This made some icons look small and text in some titles truncated, but everything worked as expected.

We think this setup is ideal for someone who wants to work from an iPad but needs access to some things on macOS.

Of course, this setup could work with a Mac and PC connected this way, and the HotKey Puck G2 acts as a KVM switch for accessories connected through the display.

We also tested the monitor with a Apple TV 4K and a MacBook to try PiP mode. The BenQ monitor offers numerous options for users to create their perfect setup.

The BenQ PD3420Q has 11 color presets and a user adjustable color. These can be easily switched using the HotKey Puck G2 or buttons on the back of the monitor.

Presets include DCI-P3, Display P3, HDR, sRGB, REC. 709, CAD/CAM, Animation, Low Blue-Light, Darkroom, M-book and DICOM. The M-book setting aims to calibrate the display close to Apple’s, and it was our go-to option.

You cannot enable HDR while frame-by-frame mode is in use. HDR only works in full screen mode and is not preferred even then. Colors may look washed out depending on the content being viewed.

The monitor has built-in speakers, but like most monitors, we don’t recommend using them. You want a dedicated set of speakers or headphones.

One saving grace of the BenQ monitor is the ability to use DisplayPilot. Instead of dealing with cumbersome display menus, users can adjust settings from this application when a Mac or PC is connected to the monitor.

It provides all the basic controls for setting frame-by-frame or selecting color modes. Users can also configure different color modes that are used automatically when certain applications are in the foreground.

There are even options to arrange windows in different patterns using desktop partitions. Once a partition is set up, apps dragged into that partition are automatically resized to fit that space.

If you’re looking for a quality monitor that won’t break the bank, the BenQ PD3420Q is an excellent option. It is especially useful for those who want to use multiple products connected to the same monitor.

The possibilities for combinations are endless – run an iPad and Mac, PS5 and PC, or throw in one AppleTV at. The various display and layout options give users a lot of control.

Setup may take some trial and error, and the speakers don’t sound great, but these are the only complaints we can make about a monitor at this price point.

If you’re looking for a monitor that would only be used with a single product, the BenQ PD3420Q will still work, but be aware of some limitations. For example, an Apple TV 4K will be stretched to fit the 21:9 aspect ratio if used in full screen mode, and there’s no way to fix this without activating frame-by-frame.

We highly recommend this product for anyone looking to increase their Universal Control enjoyment and use an iPad and a Mac at the same time. Please note, however, that the iPad will not display correctly in the 5:9 portion of the screen and only M-series iPads have external display support.

• A monitor with a wide range of settings that’s a fraction of the cost of Apple’s Studio Display
• Special Mac setting for high color accuracy
• HotKey Puck G2 makes navigating monitor settings easy
• Picture-by-picture is great, especially for Universal Control
• Minimal bezels, adjustable height and decent cable management

• Setup may take a while to figure out
• HDR might as well not be there
• Speakers are weak but better than nothing
• 4K resolution doesn’t quite meet Apple’s Retina standards

Although it has come to an end now, we really enjoyed our time with the BenQ PD3420Q. It is an excellent monitor that can meet many usage scenarios.

If you’re looking for Retina-rated resolution, double the price of this monitor. The frame-by-frame setting that maintains a 16:9 aspect ratio for one of the windows is our favorite feature.

Customers can purchase the BenQ PD3420Q from the BenQ website for $799.99. It is also listed on Amazon for $799.99 and qualifies for Amazon Prime free shipping.