The BenQ GW2485TC USB-C: Two-minute review

There are monitors made to impress with large display sizes and excellent specs, while others like the BenQ GW2485TC USB-C are meant for everyday users who need a reliable work monitor without all the frills. And this particular monitor has features that are meant to solely benefit those who are staring at its screen for eight hours a day while working on spreadsheets and documents, streaming videos, and being on conference calls.

With its ergonomic and lightweight design, maximized screen real estate, tools that enhance vocal performance, eye care features, and more, this is a contender for best monitor through and through and would be even better with the best cheap monitor deals.

As the BenQ GW2485TC USB-C monitor itself, the packaging was simple and nearly effortless to unbox. There was only the foam and single plastic wrap around the monitor to contend with, and that was easily removable with only a single person doing it. The power cable and USB Type-C cable were included at the bottom and wrapped up as well.

Assembling the monitor itself is just as easy, with only three major components to worry about connecting. And no tools are required either, the pieces all slot in perfectly and stay connected even when you’re lugging it around the home or work office. Only the bottom piece for the support bases needs to be screwed in, and it already has the handle built-in to hand screw it.

The only quibble I have is that the monitor supports both HDMI and DVI inputs but only comes with the HDMI cable. Luckily I had both on hand to test them out with, but in 2023 it should have at least the DVI cable included in the box if it supports the output.

The monitor has a 1080p HD display with 16.7 million display colors, a PPI of 93, 72% NTSC color gamut, and a brightness of 250 nits, with no options for HDR. This makes the display more than adequate for any productivity work but not well-suited for precise creative projects. You can adjust the settings through the color management option in Windows 11, but there’s no quick access to changing any of these settings built into the monitor.

The thin bezels on the monitor help to maximize the screen real estate as well, so you can get nearly the full 23.8 inches of display. There’s also a healthy port selection including an HDMI 1.4 port, DisplayPort 1.2, a USB Type-C port, and Daisy Chain Technology for linking multiple monitors and even a laptop to the BenQ GW2485TC USB-C.

The BenQ GW2485TC USB-C monitor has a solid and well-constructed build quality, impressive for its weight of only 6.2 kg (including the base). It also has an excellent suite of ergonomic options including a -5˚ to 20˚ tilt, a 45˚/ 45˚ swivel, a 90˚ pivot, and 130 mm height adjustment. The monitor itself takes up very little desk space, making it flexible for a wide variety of setups and space real estate. The only downside is that you’ll need to use zip ties to keep all the cables organized, which is a common issue for most monitors that don’t use a hub style like the Dell U2723QE.

In the back support of the monitor, there’s a small black button that, when pressed and held down, allows you to adjust the monitor to sit either in landscape or portrait modes. It’s a handy feature but a little clunky in practice as it takes a bit of effort to rotate the screen while keeping the button pressed down.

I found the BenQ GW2485TC USB-C monitor to be quite effective at what it does. Its plain black color and simple design blend it into the sea of other office monitors, but the ergonomic options put it above a lot of the other best budget monitor options out there, especially with how easy it is to maneuver around without compromising stability.

This is a 1080p HD non-curved monitor with a refresh rate of 75Hz and 5ms response time, not to mention the color gamut being only 72% NTSC, so it’s best not to expect a drop-dead gorgeous picture quality or the most accurate color accuracy. If you need a monitor for such a specialized function, it’s best to look elsewhere. But for daily use in an office setting, the display quality is quite good and you’re guaranteed some solid visuals and brightness that won’t let you down when editing basic images and layouts in Photoshop or Indesign.

The best feature of this monitor by far, however, is its suite of eye-comfort options. It comes with several modes like Care Mode, Reading Mode, and Coding Mode. The first lower brightness and color saturation for sensitive eyes, the second filters out harmful blue light, and the third pops out the code’s colors for easy readability and coding efficiency. There are plenty of other options like brightness adjustment depending on the lighting, and a flicker-free display to avoid eye strain.

As someone with a host of eye problems myself, I noticed the lack of strain on my eyes while using this monitor for several hours at a time. And with a brightness of 250 nits, it was well-lit enough for my office without glaring a ton of light into my eyes, which I really appreciated.

While there’s never a storage of premium monitors with excellent color gamut, refresh rates, 4K resolution, large display sizes, and more, the average office is most likely looking for something like the BenQ GW2485TC USB-C monitor. Something that’s easily assembled and portable, that looks professional enough for any office setting, and that features a wide variety of ergonomic options for just as many uses.

The crown jewel of this particular monitor is the eye comfort features that range from brightness and color contrast adjustment to blue light reduction and more. It’s truly a monitor made for the average person, with a solid price point to boot. For anyone wanting a high-quality monitor without all the fancy extras at a pretty affordable price, the BenQ GW2485TC USB-C is a solid bet.

The BenQ GW2485TC USB-C: Price & availability

• How much does it cost? $229.99 / £209.99 / AU$339
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The BenQ GW2485TC USB-C monitor is currently priced at a very reasonable $229.99 / £209.99 / AU$339, which is right in line for those needing a simpler display. And even better is that it's available in the US, UK, and Australia for equally reasonable pricing through the BenQ online stores and third-party retailers.

• Value: 5 / 5

The BenQ GW2485TC USB-C: Specs

Should you buy the The BenQ GW2485TC USB-C?

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The BenQ GW2485TC USB-C: Also consider

How I tested the The BenQ GW2485TC USB-C

• I tested this monitor for a week in an office setting
• I tested it during normal work days for several hours per session
• I used it with a variety of work programs as well as gaming and creative work.

As soon as I was unboxing this monitor, I paid attention to the ease of unpacking and setup, as well as its weight, build quality, and stability once it was set up in my office space. Then I tested it every day for a week under normal work conditions for several hours per day.

This is primarily meant as a work monitor, meaning it would be used for productivity work, basic editing and creative projects under Photoshop and Indesign, and conference calls. It can also be used for low-end gaming that doesn't require a high refresh rate or response time.

Not only do I have prior experience reviewing PC monitors, I constantly use a wide variety of them and understand what makes a quality one work and why a low-quality one doesn't.

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained — regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed April 2023

The Purple Harmony Pillow is an unusual pillow that includes a gel flex grid. This stretchable material allows the pillow to mold into the user’s unique shape, providing a soft yet supportive experience. However, the pillow springs back to its original shape when not in use. It’s also a cool pillow as the result of the inner latex -which is ventilated - combined with an airy honeycomb grid, and a mesh cover that wicks moisture away from the body. The choice of a low, medium, or tall height allows the pillow to work for stomach, side, and back sleepers. See how it fares against the rest of the best pillows on the market. 

And if you’re looking for ways to really boost your sleep comfort, take a look at our guide to this year's best mattresses for all budgets. 

Purple Harmony Pillow review in brief

Initially, I really didn’t know how I would feel about the Purple Harmony Pillow. It’s a ridiculously squiggly pillow, and felt more like a child’s toy than a pillow. It’s also a relatively heavy pillow, not the type you’d be having pillow fights with. However, I was pleasantly surprised that I got some of the best sleep of my life with the Purple Harmony Pillow.

It’s admittedly an expensive choice, but the pillow delivers in spades. In addition to being ridiculously squiggly, it’s also ridiculously comfortable and ridiculously supportive. And every morning when I woke up and got out of the bed, I looked at the pillow, which always regained its original shape without any help from me, and wondered how this squiggly item could deliver such impressive results.

The GelFlex Grid moves when I do, so whether I’m shifting positions, or rolling around the bed, it adapts to my body. And since it’s not memory foam, there’s no buildup of body heat, which means the pillow stays cool – and keeps me cool - at night. The moisture-wicking cover also contributes to a cool sleep experience. 

I tested the medium height pillow, which is great for side and combination sleepers. However, it also comes in a low height for stomach and back sleepers, as well as a tall height for side or combination sleepers. 

Purple Harmony Pillow review: price and deals

The Purple Harmony Pillow is the top of the line offering from the Purple company, which also makes two other types of GelFlex Grid Pillows. The original Purple Pillow is $134/Sale $120, and the Kid’s Purple Pillow is $79/Sale $63.

Purple also makes two Down-Alternative Pillows: the Purple Cloud Pillow for $59/Sale $53, and the Purple TwinCloud Pillow for $99/Sale $89.

The price point for the Purple Harmony Pillow puts it in the luxury pillow category. In fact, it’s at the very top – and to date, it’s the most expensive pillow that I’ve ever tested.   

The Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow is a significantly less expensive alternative ($89/Sale $66) that also has a Talalay latex core. It’s soft and supportive, and regulates temperature as well to provide a cooling experience. In addition, the pillow also has a washable cover, and is available in two different lofts (low and high), but not a mid loft. In addition, the pillow isn’t quite as springy as the Purple Harmony Pillow and needs to be plumped to retain its shape. It’s available in queen and king sizes. 

If you’re looking for a more luxurious, squishy option that’s still considerably less expensive, the Casper Hybrid Pillow ($99/Sale $84) combines ultra-soft foam and moldable fiber for a marshmallowy feel that’s also supportive. The pillow springs back without the need for fluffing, and is probably the closest competitor for squishiness. Casper doesn’t claim that the pillow regulates temperatures, but it doesn’t trap heat either, which results in a cool, comfortable experience. In addition, the cover is removable, and the pillow is available in standard and king sizes, and mid or low lofts – but not a high loft. 

Purple Harmony Pillow review: design and materials

• Adapts to user’s movements and springs back
• Breathable and temperature regulating
• Choice of three lofts

Talalay latex is at the core of the Purple Harmony Pillow. This latex foam is lightweight and creates the feeling of floating on the pillow, which helps to provide pressure relief. The Talalay latex is also hypoallergenic, and it’s ventilated to be breathable. The latex is covered by a GelFlex grid made of hyper-elastic polymer, a stretchy material that is hypoallergenic and CertiPUR-US certified and also has a CleanAir GOLD certification. This honeycombed layer continuously adapts to the head and neck to cradle and support it, without generating heat. 

The moisture wicking cover also helps to create a cool pillow, and the cover can be laundered in the machine (separately) and then air dried. However, the pillow itself should only be spot-cleaned.  

Purple Harmony Pillow review: performance

• Supports back, neck, and stomach sleepers
• Temperature regulating
• Squishy/spongy softness

For over two weeks, I slept on a Purple Harmony Pillow to see how it fared in performance, testing for setup, comfort, support, and temperature regulation. I also slept on side, back, and stomach positions to see if the performance was the same. Here’s how I got on...

Setup 

5 out of 5 stars

The Purple Harmony Pillow arrived in a badly-battered Purple-branded shipping box. Thankfully, the pillow itself was completely and securely enclosed in plastic. Set up was as simple as removing the pillow from the plastic bag and placing it on my bed. Unlike some pillows that need to decompress, the Purple Harmony Pillow arrived uncompressed, so that step was unnecessary. 

Fortunately, I did not experience any off-gassing either during the set-up process or afterwards.

Temperature regulation 

5 out of 5 stars

The Purple Harmony Pillow does an excellent job of regulating heat. That’s because the Talalay latex core has air channels to keep heat from getting trapped. The core is surrounded by the tapered grid, and according to Purple, the grid has over hundreds of air zones.

In addition, the mesh cover is moisture-wicking, which keeps the pillow dry. Purple notes that the cover is cool to the touch, although I didn’t notice a specific coolness (as with the Casper Hybrid Pillow). However, the cover was never warm to the touch. The combination of the Talalay latex core, Grid hex technology, and breathable mesh cover all combined to indeed keep me cool while sleeping.

Firmness and support 

5 out of 5 stars

It was a complete joy to sleep on the Purple Harmony Pillow. After initially being skeptical because it felt so squishy when taking it out of the box, this quickly became one of my favorite pillows.  The Talalax latex provided a feeling of buoyancy and did a great job of providing pressure relief. Meanwhile the Grid immediately adapted to my body movements, and as soon as I moved to another side of the pillow, I could feel that mold regaining its original shape, while a new mold formed to accommodate my new position. Honestly, it actually took a while to get used to the pillow being so responsive, since I’d never experienced such a quick reaction time. 

I tested the medium height pillow (6.5 inches), which worked very well for me, since I tend to be a side sleeper – and I also sleep on my stomach. This height is ideal for both side and combination sleepers. Although the pillow is insanely soft, both my head and neck were supported when sleeping on my side, stomach, and back. 

However, there’s also a low height pillow, which is 5.5 inches, and would probably be a better choice for stomach and back sleepers – or anyone who prefers a lower height (I don’t, which is why the medium loft was quite comfortable). There’s also a tall height pillow, which is 7.5 inches, and might be a more suitable pick for side or combination sleepers as well (I’m sure this probably would have been my favorite).  

Purple Harmony Pillow review: user reviews

At the time of publication, the Purple Harmony Pillow had 2,915 customer reviews with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Customers raved over the pillow’s performance, and the general consensus is that it was worth the money. Some buyers called it life changing for relieving neck pain – some mentioned relief from back and shoulder pain as well. There were also a handful of people who felt the pillow was not worth the price, was too soft, and didn’t hold its shape. 

On the Purple site, the pillow also has 4.4 out of 5 stars with 12,476 reviews. Comments were similar to those on Amazon: perfect pillow, best pillow ever. Among the handful of customers who did not like the pillow, comments ranged from it being too thick to being too thin. It appears that the most negative comments were related to the high loft pillow not being as high as expected or not retaining that height.

Should you buy the Purple Harmony Pillow?

If you like squishy pillows that adapt to support your movements, while providing support, and keeping you cool, the Purple Harmony Pillow may be the right choice for you. Admittedly, the spongy-like feeling probably isn’t for everyone. With a choice of low, mid, and high lofts, there’s a choice to accommodate back, side, and stomach sleepers. And the 100-night trial period and 1 year warranty provide enough time to test it yourself. 

However, in terms of price, the Purple Harmony Pillow is at the very top. One less expensive option that also has a Talalay latex core is the Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow.  It’s not quite as springy as the Purple Harmony Pillow and needs to be plumped to retain its shape. However, the pillow is soft and supportive, and regulates temperature as well to provide a cooling experience.  

For a less expensive and squishier option, the Casper Hybrid Pillow has a marshmallowy feel and is also supportive. In addition, the pillow springs back without the need for fluffing. But keep in mind that while the pillow is cool, Casper doesn’t claim that it regulates temperatures. 

Unsplash started its life as a twenty-dollar Tumblr theme back in 2013, with its first photos being hosted on Dropbox. From such humble beginnings, the online service grew to becoming one of the best free stock photo sites, hosting over 3 million free high resolution images, supplied by a host of contributors the world over.  

Unsplash: Interface

• An easy to use interface, simple to navigate, with a powerful search field to help you find the right images 

As an online service, there’s no need to login, register, supply your email address, or credit card details. The main service is instantly accessible and free to use.

You’ll find the interface pretty simple to operate: top left is a search field, which you’ll find replicated in the centre of the home page as well). There are quick links at the top to common keywords, such as Nature, Animals, Athletics, and Current Events.

Click on one of these to see a selection. The thumbnails operate on an endless scroll concept: keep scrolling down, and Unsplash will present you with more and more thumbnails until you find the one you like.

If those common searches don’t do it for you, click on the search field. You can of course type in as many keywords as you need to locate what you’re looking for, or select one of the ‘trending searches’, ‘trending topics’ or ‘trending collections’ instead. 

Once you’ve typed in keywords, the results will appear instantly. Don’t scroll too fast though as you might inadvertently start looking through the iStock Photo collection - which although nice to see from within the Unsplash service, these images aren’t free - although you do get a 20% discount though should you choose to buy some. We also found some results tagged as ‘Unsplash+’. Those can only be downloaded if you subscribe to the premium service.

• Interface: 4/5  

Unsplash: Visual Search

• A very clever concept, helping you find images similar to those you already have in your possession, or have a link to 

There is another element of the Unsplash search capability that’s worth exploring further: Visual Search. You access it by clicking on the camera lens icon to the right of the search field.

This is where you get to drag one of your own photos for Unsplash to analyse and view similar-looking alternatives from its own library. You’re also allowed to paste in a URL, but it appears that this function is limited to Unsplash’s own content. Any URL we tried outside of it - such as Instagram, Pexels, even iStock - resulted in an ‘invalid’ error.

In our tests, we found the results to be pretty good. You’re also offered a series of keywords that you can add to the search to further narrow down results.

• Visual search: 4.5/5 

Unsplash: Image selection

• An easy way to get additional information about the image you’re viewing, and to download it quickly and for free 

Once you’ve found a photo you’re interested in, click on it to reveal a larger preview, as well as additional information, including the creator’s name with a link to their Unsplash portfolio and contact details.

Lower left, you’ll find stats such as how many times this photo has been viewed and downloaded. That same data is represented in bar form through the Info button. You can share the link via Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, email, or just copy the URL.

However, common commands for most users are located top right, where you can ‘like’ the image, add it to a collection if you’re logged in, or download a copy. Clicking on Download Free will get you a version in its original dimensions, but selecting the chevron to its right offers small, medium, and large file sizes. 

• Image selection: 4.5/5 

Unsplash: Contribute

• Share your images with the world, and let the world use your work without even needing to mention you… there’s got to be a plus side to this, right? 

Finding photos is one thing, contributing to Unsplash is another. Now, you might wonder why you’d want to upload your own photos to this service. After all, you won’t get paid for your efforts, people can use and modify your photos however they wish without even having to attribute you - although some do, which is appreciated.

Those perks are useful for businesses in need of stock photos, but exactly what’s in it for the photographers and content creators? The fact so many do contribute shows there is value to be found. Perhaps the ability for photographers to use the platform as an online portfolio or photo storage and sharing site, complete with contact details for commissions, might make up for it. Still, it’s worth being fully aware of what you’re getting yourself into when sharing your photos with Unsplash. 

Sharing images is as easy as dragging and dropping. As long as you own the rights to them, they’re of sufficiently high quality, and don’t contain subject matter Unsplash bans (such as violence and nudity), the process is incredibly easy to navigate through. There might be an additional monetary upside too, thanks to the newly revealed Unsplash+.

• Contribute: 2.5/5  

Unsplash: Unsplash+ subscription

• A subscription service that grants access to exclusive images and extra legal protection, plus contributors can get paid for their photos 

Every service seems to be adding a ‘+’ to their name these days, Apple+, Disney+, Paramount+, and now the free stock photo site is joining the party with Unsplash+.

This is a premium paid-for addition to the service. You’ll get access to exclusive images, and enhanced legal protection for any commercial project.

As this is a new service, there’s a big discount available to get you to subscribe. As part of the new launch, a monthly subscription currently costs $12 / £10. A yearly subscription, which is discounted further, costs $84 / £72. Expect these costs to rise once the novelty wears off. 

Creators also benefit from the new service. Some photos available exclusively on Unsplash+ will offer photographers remuneration when their work is accepted. It’s not an automatic joining process though, you need to apply and fulfil certain criteria.

Payment is based on how complex the specific brief is. These are set by Unsplash themselves, and they release new requests on a regular basis. Unsplash gives the following example as an illustration: if the brief sets a price of $10 per photo, and you provide 100 of them, all of which are accepted, you would get paid $1,000 for your work within 30 days. It’s a one-off payment, and not a proportion based on downloads. Still, it’s better than nothing, which is what regular Unsplash offers.

•  Unsplash+ subscription: 4/5 

Unsplash: Scorecard

Should I try?

Try it if...

You’re looking for royalty-free images for any purpose, or like to subscribe to a service for exclusive assets. 

If you’re a contributor, you get exposure, or some monetary compensation if you’re welcomed into Unsplash+. 

Don't try it if...

You want exclusive images that only you can use, or would like to get paid more for images you produce. 

Unsplash: Alternatives

If you're looking for an alternative stock photo library or stock video site, we recommend checking out Pexels, Adobe Stock, Pixabay, Getty Images, and iStock. 

For more advice, see our guide, How to try Adobe Stock for free or with Creative Cloud.