- Overall
The BenQ PD3200U is a feature-packed professional monitor that delivers excellent images with fabulous color and grayscale results. The 32 inches of viewing space coupled with a 3840 x 2160 native resolution is perfect for multitasking and a crisp, clear view of your content. The BenQ PD3200U sits at an enticing price point at the time of this review, and let’s see if it haves what it takes to earn a top spot in the professional segment. You may not have heard of BenQ, but it’s an excellent company with a great track record.
BenQ PD3200U Specifications
- Screen Size: 32 Inches
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160 4K UHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 60hz
- Response Time: 4ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
- Brightness: 350 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 5 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes (5.9 Inches)
- Stand: Tilt – Yes (-5°/+20°)
- Stand: Swivel – Yes (-45°/+45°)
- Stand: Pivot – Yes (90°)
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, Mini DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2, USB 3.0 x 4, Card Reader x 1, 3.5mm Jacks
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 29.15″ x 24.20″ x 8.40″
- Weight: 18.74lbs
Design and Features
The BenQ PD3200U employs the same design formula which has worked well for the BenQ BL3201PH. The cabinet has a matte black finish while bezels are reasonably thin at half an inch each. This model looks as clean as any standard monitor, and we think that’s a good thing since those working as creators would probably like fewer distractions.
This designer screen is well-equipped with ports to suit your needs since it includes a DisplayPort, mini DisplayPort, two HDMI 2.0 slots and four USB 3.0 receptacles. Although, it is interesting that BenQ decided to place the I/O panel on the right in a horizontal orientation, similar to how HDTVs are designed. This layout is ideal for wall mounting, but it could be trouble for those who have their full tower workstations on the floor or the opposite side of the cabinet.
The convenience outlet which includes two USB ports and the included card reader for your portable memory sit closer to the edge, so users can quickly reach in and connect thumb drives or other peripherals. The rest of the USB 3.0 slots are in a down firing position below the bulge, and right beside them are two USB 3.0 upstream ports for your devices.
One of these upstream slots is meant for the included HotKey puck which allows users to switch between modes and filters. Much like the S-Switch Arc on BenQ Zowie’s XL series of gaming monitors, there are customizable buttons to suit your preference. The BenQ PD3200U also includes an internal KVM switch so you can swap between inputs from two computers while using only a single keyboard and mouse. While it is a convenient feature, some might find it confusing to utilize it during work.
The BenQ PD3200U also includes a pair of powerful speakers which are surprisingly good for a built-in pair. Even if each has only 5 Watts of power, bass response is sufficient for personal media enjoyment and background music. Although, once compared to the Harman Kardon set found on one of Dell’s premium products, the UP2715K, these would seem so ordinary.
Finally, the included stand is fantastic in both form and function, since it provides an excellent range of ergonomics such as height, tilt, swivel, and pivot. There is also a cable tidy hole big enough for a myriad of wires, plus a cradle for the HotKey puck on the rectangular base. The BenQ PD3200U is enormous and cumbersome, but we are pleased to report that the mechanism stands firm on a desk while allowing users to adjust the massive cabinet smoothly.
Display and Features
The BenQ PD3200U utilizes a 32-inch IPS panel with a 4K native resolution, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 60Hz refresh rate, and 4ms response time. These are standard numbers for the technology, but what makes the module on this model special is its color capabilities made possible by its 10-bit interface.
BenQ advertises that this designer display is capable of 100% coverage of the sRGB and REC.709 gamuts, and we have little reason to doubt these specs. Out of the box, the color performance has a Delta E of around 1.1, which is excellent and expected from a premium designer monitor, and missing on so many products.
Toying with the settings and trying out the sRGB mode netted a Delta E of 1.2, so we recommend users just to forget everything else except setting a comfortable brightness level. Contrast and grayscale are also excellent, with the BenQ PD3200U clocking a 1030:1 ratio at minimum brightness. Even if that result is way below what VA panels can do, it certainly is an excellent result, and our test images did have rich blacks, and every gray shade was correctly displayed.
There are other image filters included, such as Rec.709, CAD/CAM, Animation, Standard, Darkroom, and a Low Blue Light filter. We reckon most would be satisfied with the User Defined mode since it allows brightness adjustment, and you can get better mileage on these monitors if you use your settings. As mentioned, the BenQ PD3200U has a superb display output out of the box, and leaving the settings the way they are is ideal.
Since the BenQ PD3200U is an IPS panel, we suspected that it might have some issues in uniformity and backlight bleeding. While the review unit did not have any deal-breaking leaks on the sides, we did notice some variance on the corners, with differences ranging from 10% to 15% from the center. These minor misgivings aren’t a concern, given our experience with BenQ’s excellent build quality and reputation.
Although gaming on a 32-inch 4K behemoth is an experience by itself, the BenQ PD3200U isn’t a model designed for that type of Use. This gadget does not include FreeSync or G-Sync, so if your frames stutter or tear, there isn’t anything much you can do. However, in our Battlefield 1 test, we only saw interlacing and ghosting if we looked hard enough.
Input lag was reasonable as it was measured to sit at slightly less than 11ms, which is quite close to some of the gaming models available out there. So for your enjoyment after a hard day’s work of designing plans and 3D models on the BenQ PD3200U, we don’t see any reason for you not to use this excellent monitor for some fun. Imagine, you can utilize this model’s multi-input layout and KVM feature to attach a monster gaming rig, and an all-business workstation, and conveniently switch in between.
Thoughts
The BenQ PD3200U is one hell of a 4K monitor due to its impressive features and capabilities. If you are looking for a display for your content creation, CAD/CAM, or photo and video editing work, this is a solid performer worthy of consideration. Although it does not have a wider gamut coverage which includes Adobe RGB, we think its vibrancy and accuracy is top-notched as far as similar products go.
Not to mention, you can enjoy AAA titles right after putting in all the work on your designs. Although you don’t get a VRR solution with this model, we think that as long as you have enough graphics power, you will mostly be fine. At the time of this review, the BenQ PD3200U sells for around $900, and yet we still think that it’s fairly priced, considering what it can do.
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