BenQ Display Pilot 2 software now has a Linux version
BenQ Display Pilot 2 software now has a Linux version
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2026/03/benq-display-pilot-2-linux
Publish Date: 2026-03-21 22:27:00
Source Domain: www.omgubuntu.co.uk
BenQ released a Linux version of its Display Pilot 2 software at the end of 2025, but I only heard about this week when reading about the launch of the company’s latest coding monitor.
Priced at $699/£599, the BenQ RD280UG is a 28-inch, 3:2 monitor with ‘nano matte’ panel. It runs a 4K+ (3840×2560) resolution at a 120 Hz refresh rate. Also available are a number of monitor-level features controlled by the official Display Pilot 2 software.
BenQ RD280U, RD280UA and RD280UG: what’s different?
All three are 28-inch monitors in the ‘programmer’ series, but there are differences to note.
RD280U is the original; RD280UA is the original packaged with an ‘ergo’ arm instead of a regular stand.
The new RD280UG is a spec bump: 120Hz with VRR (up from 60Hz); 2000:1 contrast ratio (up from 1200:1); higher peak brightness; and built-in 3W speakers (previously 2W).
Input is HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4 or USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode with 90W Power Delivery, plus 1 USB-C with DisplayPort MST and up to 15W PD (for daisy-chaining monitors). There is also 1x USB-C with 7.5W PD and 2x USB type-A ports.
Display Pilot 2 has been available on Windows and macOS for a while – on macOS it allows keyboard brightness keys to control the monitor too – so to find out it’s now available for Linux was a nice surprise.
However, the Display Pilot 2 Linux app only supports BenQ’s RD-series monitors, whereas the Windows and macOS versions support other ranges too.
Per the official software spec page, Linux support is ‘exclusively’ for its 24-inch RD240Q; 28-inch RD280U, RD280UA and RD280UG; and the 32-inch RD320U and RD320UA.
Catchy names, eh?
On Linux, the software lets users assign the monitor’s coding and browser shortcut buttons to take actions without interrupting their flow.
They can also adjust the ‘MoonHalo’ rear bias lighting, including brightness, colour temperature…
