BenQ MA320U Review: Best monitor for Mac users?

If you’ve ever tried plugging a MacBook into a random external monitor, you know the struggle. The colours may look off, the text probably isn’t as sharp, and the whole experience may just feel wrong. That’s because most monitors aren’t tuned to match Apple’s Display P3 colour profile, and what you see on screen might not be what was intended. The BenQ MA320U with a 32-inch 4K display claims to bridge that gap with Mac-consistent colours, smart software integration, and enough ports to keep your desk clutter-free.

But does it deliver a seamless experience, or is this just marketing fluff? We put the MA320U through its paces to find out. 

BenQ MA320U Video Review

BenQ MA320U review: Specs

• Display: 31.5-inch, 4K UHD (3840 x 2160), 16:9, IPS, Matte finish, 60Hz
• Design: Tilt: -5˚ – +20˚, Swivel – 15˚/15˚; Pivot  +90˚; Height Adjustment – 115 mm
• VESA mount: 100 x 100 mm supported
• Connectivity – 2x HDMI 2.0,USB C(PowerDelivery 90W, DisplayPort Alt Mode, Data), USB 3.2 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen Type-C 
• Supported Colour modes: Coding Dark theme, Coding Light theme, M-book, Cinema, Game, HDR, ePaper, sRGB, User
• Speakers: 3W x 2
• Certification – TÜV Eye Comfort 2.0, Flicker-free, Low Blue light (Software Solution), Reflection Free, VESA DisplayHDR 600
• Price: Rs. 52,500

Why do you need a special monitor for Apple Macbooks?

Most conventional monitors are tuned for sRGB colour space, which is fine because most web content is graded for sRGB. Apple Macbooks seem more vibrant because they adopt a wider Display P3 colour space and because MacOS and MacOS apps have P3 colours sprinkled throughout.   

Display P3 uses DCI-P3 primaries with sRGB tone curve. All applications and content are processed through the ColorSync colour management system. Since most web content is still created in sRGB, macOS needs to ensure that these colours are displayed correctly on the wider-gamut P3 displays. When content is marked for sRGB or lacks a profile, macOS defaults to sRGB, then converts it to the display’s native P3 space using matrix transformations and 3D lookup tables (LUTs).

The bottom line is that with Macbooks, your content will look as intended on a properly tuned Display P3 display.  

The best part is that BenQ has tuned specific colour profiles for all popular MacBook models and these are automatically applied to make the performance even more precise. This is also what differentiates the BenQ MA series from other BenQ monitors in M-book mode. The iDevice Color Sync automatically detects the connected MacBook model and applies the corresponding colour profile for a more accurate match. 

BenQ MA320U review: Display Quality

This monitor uses an IPS LCD panel and BenQ is using a very effective Nano Matte Panel coating on display. This reduces reflective light and makes the MA320U very comfortable for our eyes. This is a 60Hz display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. BenQ has kept the white point cooler than the standard D65 in line with how the greyscale is tuned on Apple Macbooks. 

To test the display quality we used Spectracal C6 HDR2000 colorimeter, Videoforge Pro pattern generator and Calman Ultimate software. 

In our tests, we measured a native contrast of 1218:1. We recorded sRGB gamut of 100%. P3 gamut, which is essentially what the display is tuned for, comes at almost 97%. We recorded a BT2020 coverage of 77% in UV terms which is relevant to HDR. 

The colour volume, or colour coverage at different luminance levels,  for Display P3 came in at 90% and exceeded our expectations.

The monitor also turned out pretty colour-accurate. We recorded an average Delta error of just 2.3 for display P3. Apart from greyscale, the delta error for most colours is less than 2, so your eyes won’t notice the difference. 

HDR performance is even more impressive. The display tracks the PQ EOTF curve close to the reference. This means it can correctly reproduce the range of brightness levels in HDR content. 

We recorded a peak brightness of 660 nits, which is around 10% brighter than what BenQ advertises. Colour accuracy in HDR is also excellent and we recorded a delta error of just 1.9.  

The black levels and contrast will still be better on your MacBook’s native display, so don’t expect this to replicate it exactly. 

But all said and done, this is a pretty impressive and accurate IPS LCD display for a monitor. 

BenQ MA320U review: Design, Speakers and Connectivity 

The MD320U has a minimalistic yet premium look that compliments the Macbook well. The most distinct part is the Rubber Pad on the base which can be used to safely stash your phone, earbuds or other accessories.

The bezels measure 7mm on three sides and 1.5mm at the bottom. The Height Adjustment Stand can be customised for height, tilt, and swivel to fit a wide range of user requirements.

We like BenQ’s approach to the OSD menu where they have kept only the bare few frequently used options for the joystick. This also makes them faster to access. For other controls, you can use the DisplayPiliot 2 software from a connected Macbook 

Connectivity options that most Mac users would need have been included. You get two USB C ports with 90W and 15W power delivery. You can use these to fast charge your Mac and other accessories. There is also an Always On charging option to keep the charging enabled even with the monitor screen turned off. 

You also get two HDMI ports and two USB Type-A ports. There are two 3W speakers that get loud enough for productivity needs. The audio quality and loudness also felt better than what we usually get on monitors.  

BenQ MA320U Review: Software

Display Pilot 2 software is another interesting highlight. This is well-designed software that gives easy access to all options. You can use it to directly control brightness and display from your Macbook or even from your Macbook’s keyboard. 

You may also choose to sync brightness and focus mode between your Macbook and MA320U screen. 

The monitor also includes a suite of eye care features including Low Blue Light Plus, Brightness Intelligence or B.I. Gen2, and Night Hours Protection. These can adjust blue light and screen brightness based on user preference and ambient light.

Verdict: Should you buy it? 

BenQ MA320U delivers on what it promises – which is colour consistency with Macbooks and a thoughtful integrated experience. I for one do appreciate all the effort BenQ puts into getting colours right on all popular Macbook models. 

But, of course, you will have to factor in how much you value colour consistency and also what your work demands before you decide if you are willing to shell out the high-end price. At the time of writing this review, the monitor is priced at Rs. 52,500 which feels a little steep. 

You can of course get a regular monitor calibrated for Display P3 space. But if you don’t want the hassle, monitors with a native Display P3 profile option are rare and no cheaper alternative comes to mind.