The BenQ PD3225U is a pricey yet reasonable alternative to Apple’s venerable Studio display when it comes to sought-after specifications. It’s a 4K monitor with an IPS Black panel similar to the Dell U3223QE, meaning it already has established competitors that are vying for a slice of the Apple display pie. Let’s take a closer look at this beautiful monitor to see if it’s the top dog and worth the investment.
BenQ PD3225U Specifications
- Screen Size: 32 Inches
- Resolution:3840 x 2160 4K UHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS Black)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 5ms
- Contrast Ratio: 2000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 400 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 2 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes 100 x 100
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2, USB-C TB3 PD90W x 1, USB-C TB3 Out x 1, USB-C Data x 1, USB 3.2 x 4, 3.5mm Audio Jack x 1
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 28.14 x 18.84” x 10.07″
Design and Features
The BenQ PD3225U uses the same simple yet elegant design used on most of the DesignVue prosumer models. The monitor has a silver stand and a matte black chassis, so it looks clean and sophisticated but not dull. The screen has a bezel-free design, but it still has inner borders like any monitor.
It’s larger than your average business display at 32 inches, so scoping out your desk space might be necessary before pulling the trigger. The device needs over 28 inches of width and 10.07 inches of depth, so it may offset some large peripherals. Its also quite heavy due to the size and reinforced build quality, so extra care will be necessary in moving it around.
Build quality is still impressive and comparable with most of BenQ’s premium releases in the past. The plastics used are thick and sturdy, plus there were no cosmetic defects on any of its parts. The included stand is firm and stable, but it can still wobble if you nudge the screen accidentally.
The BenQ PD3225U has an OSD joystick, but what stands out is its hotkey puck, which gives you quicker access to settings and presets. It’s a nice upgrade for the monitor’s intended audience since it basically makes calibration quicker and painless in most instances. Add-ons like this typically affect pricing, but we’re okay with that if it adds value to the monitor’s functionality.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. It feels weird to position this monitor in portrait mode since it is so big, but the capability is there if you want to. You can still use VESA mounts, but those only become necessary in select instances.
One of the highlights of the BenQ PD3225U is its connectivity layout, which essentially turns it into a Thunderbolt 3 hub. It has DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI ports, and a 90-watt Thunderbolt 3 port with DP alt mode. There is also a second TB3 output for daisy-chaining, a USB hub with a type-C connector, and three 3.2 Gen2 ports for peripherals.
You can utilize these ports and create a dual-purpose setup since the monitor has KVM which makes it even more flexible. The only letdown in the physical specs is the very limited speakers since they only have 2 watts of power. We wish BenQ implemented their more specialized audio sets here, but you’ll live without them.
Display and Performance
The BenQ PD3225U sports a 27-inch IPS Black panel with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a 5ms response time. The backlight has a 400 cd/m2 max output, while the contrast is listed at 2000:1. This model is HDR 400-certified, but we all know how limited that is when it comes to producing true HDR effects.
4K is best viewed on a 32-inch screen for desktop use since it is not too sharp or crisp like the 27-inch models are. Its easier to read off of it, and you can get a sense of the larger display area better since the viewing area is larger. You will need a more powerful PC to make the most out of this, but even business laptops with iGPUs can now handle a 4K screen for most uses.
The BenQ PD3225U covers 100% of SRGBV and 98% of DCI-P3 for stunning color in any application. Its default accuracy had a deltaE average of 1.39, so it’s already accurate as soon as you plug it in. BenQ does excellent factory calibration so you don’t have to do it right away, so it makes this monitor suitable for beginners as well.
Calibrating it reduced the dE average to an excellent 0.73, making it comparable with most prosumer monitors in the market. The downside is that you will need a colorimeter to achieve and maintain these results. It is worth it if you will use the monitor for color-critical work, but it is impractical otherwise.
The BenQ PD3225U’s backlight reached 389 cd/m2 at peak, while its contrast reached an excellent 1944:1. Black or dark images look noticeably better on this monitor thanks to the properties of its special IPS panel. It can’t produce HDR-grade contrast, but that’s expected since it doesn’t have special backlighting features.
Its panel uniformity wasn’t perfect, but there were no massive issues like noticeable backlight bleeding. There is some clouding near the edges in dark scenes, but they aren’t that substantial. Note that this can change with every monitor made due to tolerances, so there are better and worse units out there.
The BenQ PD3225U isn’t the fastest monitor out there when it comes to motion clarity. However, it is pretty decent for the right games, so blurring won’t be too big of an issue to deter you from enjoying your favorites. It’s not an E-Sports monitor, but it’s still serviceable for casual instances.
The BenQ PD3225U doesn’t have FreeSync or G-Sync compatibility, but that’s understandable, considering that it’s a prosumer monitor. VRR is handy for 4K, but we imagine that those who need it will choose a gaming variant instead. Its input lag sits at 10ms at 60Hz, so it’s still snappy compared to older prosumer models, which had twice as much delay.
Thoughts on the BenQ PD3225U
The BenQ PD3225U is an excellent choice for editing photos and videos as a hobby or for business use. Its panel offers superb image quality, and it surpasses some of Apple’s monitors in essential aspects, such as pricing. It’s built well and armed to the teeth, so it’s more flexible than the Studio Display, which only has USB-C for connectivity.
It is not the absolute best out there, but we think that it’s very competitive if we consider its extensive feature list. It’s cheaper than the Studio Display, but it is considerably more expensive than the Dell U3223QE. It’s more accurate, but that price difference will be a huge factor for most of us when shopping for an upgrade.
Pros:
- Excellent Color and Contrast
- Plenty of Connectors, Including USB-C TB3
- Attractive and Functional Design
- Better Price
Cons:
- Expensive
About the Author: Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
Leave a Reply