The BenQ EX3501R may not be our #1 choice for the best HDR gaming monitor, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an excellent monitor. With a screen size of 35 inches, HDR support is perfect for viewing a wide range of HDR content, tilt/height adjustment, and Brightness Intelligence Plus, an adaptable eye care system that adjusts to ambient light while reducing blue light (which can cause unnecessary eye strain). To see how this monitor stacks up, you can compare it with our choices for the best computer monitors.
Why We Like It – BenQ 35 LED Curved EX3501R
In this BenQ 35 LED Curved EX3501R review we point out all the things that make this gaming monitor a winner, from the high resolution of the ultrawide curved monitor (3440×1440) to the superior gaming experience it offers thanks to AMD FreeSync technology. Learn more with our review of the curved monitor FreeSync Adaptive XG32VQ.
- Excellent Image Quality
- Wide Viewing Angles
- 4ms Response Time
- Lacks A High Contrast Ratio When Compared To Similar Models
- Backlight Bleed
Ultrawide and curved is what you’ll see as the recommended monitor for most gamers, especially like the one you’ll read about in our review of the Deco Gear 43 curved ultrawide LED gaming monitor, so be sure to check it out.
Performance
No BenQ EX3501R review would be complete without discussing the overall performance, so we’ll go over that first. This monitor has AMD FreeSync to reduce motion blur, HDR mode (which uses HDR10), a rapid refresh rate of 100Hz, & Brightness Intelligence Plus (also found on the BenQ EW3270U PS4 Pro), which is a smart system that helps prevent damage to your eyes during long gaming sessions. It also has a low response time of only 4ms, which is perfect for fast-paced first-person shooters. Since the screen has a 1800R curvature, you will enjoy a truly immersive experience.
Alternatively, you can still get an immersive experience from most curved monitors, like the one you’ll read about in our write-up of the ASUS TUF VG32VQ 32 curved gaming monitor.
Related: If you like this monitor, check out our BENQ 27-inch IPS monitor with speakers review.
Viewing Angle
This monitor offers excellent viewing angles at 178° horizontally & 178° vertically, although you will notice a light falloff around 45°. Still, this is pretty good performance for a VA panel, which generally performs poorly when viewed at different angles (besides right in front of it). The monitor has a 1800R curvature, so you most likely won’t be looking at it from an angle anyway, because the monitor only offers an immersive experience if you’re directly in front of it. Although you can still get an immersive experience in a non-curved monitor, much as you’ll see in our rundown of the AOC G2460PQU 24-inch LED monitor.
Durability
There’s no need to worry about this monitor falling apart, as it is a quality build. The monitor has a thin 10mm bezel on 3 of the 4 sides, which looks very nice although we wish the bottom bezel was thinner. It’s supported by a metal frame that is covered in decorative chrome-plated plastic. You can adjust the monitor by height and tilt, but there are no swivel options available. This is disappointing, but the stand itself offers almost no play, so it serves its purpose well.
Ports & Expandability
With two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, two USB 3.0 ports, a USB C port, and the standard 3.5mm headphone jack. This monitor doesn’t have any built-in speakers (unlike the ViewSonic XG3220, which has two) or digital audio out, but the USB C port can be used as a one-stop-shop for audio and video signals. As previously mentioned, this monitor comes with a stand, but you can also wall-mount the device using a 100×100 VESA wall mount. Also, since this monitor has a wide aspect ratio of 21:9, you won’t need to have an additional monitor; just use this one!
Value
This monitor is fairly affordable by modern standards, costing only $599.99. It’s shipped through Amazon Prime and has both free shipping & free returns, so you don’t have to worry about additional expenses should you decide to return it. There are both 3-year ($57.99) and 4-year ($79.99) protection plans available, but there is no warranty specified. However, this monitor receives generally favorable reviews overall, scoring 4.4 out of 5-stars based on 467 ratings, so reliability & durability don’t appear to be common shortcomings for this device (another great monitor is the Philips 436M6VBPAB).
Related: Also check out our BENQ BL2711U review.
BenQ 35 LED Curved EX3501R Wrap Up
The BenQ 35 LED Curved EX3501R is a great monitor, offering an immersive HD experience with an aspect ratio of 21:9, smooth gameplay thanks to AMD FreeSync, and using Brightness Intelligence Plus to protect your eyes from damage. While the contrast ratio could be higher (and also there’s a minor issue of backlight bleeding), overall we think this is the perfect monitor for the price.
