Asus PB328Q 32-inch AMVA QHD Monitor Review

Today we're evaluating one of the most accurate and best-performing monitors we've tested: the 32-inch AMVA QHD Asus PB328Q. Let's see how it compares to the tough competition.

Early Verdict

There aren't many displays that do everything this well and cost so little. Users looking for a jumbo screen are unlikely to find a better monitor anywhere right now. With sufficient cred for professionals, gamers and pretty much anyone who uses a computer, Asus' PB328Q should be on a lot of wish lists. Only a few displays earn our Editors' Choice Award and this one did it handily.

Pros

  • +

    Contrast

  • +

    Black levels

  • +

    Color-accuracy

  • +

    Screen uniformity

  • +

    Calibration not required

  • +

    Responsive panel

  • +

    Low input lag

  • +

    Solid build

  • +

    OSD joystick

  • +

    Low price

Cons

  • -

    None

Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Introduction

What makes a monitor great? That is a question that most shoppers ask when looking for a new display. And that's why we're constantly evaluating new monitors, especially if they include advances in new technology.

Obviously there is no single list of attributes that propels a screen into the best category, as that depends on the required application. Gamers will want speed and advanced video processing. Photographers will want color accuracy and a wide gamut. But the majority of users are looking for a screen that does everything well and, most importantly, doesn't cost a lot.

We review a lot of high-end monitors mainly because that's where the latest technologies are found. But if a display offers a lot for the money, we'll highlight that too. We haven't found perfection yet, but today one of the best-performing screens we've ever seen is in our lab for evaluation: Asus' PB328Q. This 32-inch QHD AMVA panel quite simply does everything well.

Specifications

We've touted the virtues of VA panels in previous reviews of the BenQ BL3200PT and most recently in the BenQ XR3501,Philips BDM4065UC and HP Envy 34c. VA's big advantage over IPS and TN is contrast; in some cases five times the contrast to be exact. The one and only reason for this is lower black levels. VA isn't any brighter but the blacks are super-deep thanks to a sub-pixel structure that blocks the backlight more effectively. We like to call them "better valves."

But the PB328Q isn't just about contrast. It's very accurate too as you'll see in our tests. It isn't billed as a professional display, but it performs just as well as one. It's also not aimed at gamers, but that 75Hz refresh rate in the spec table is the real deal. It also has a native 10-bit color depth, which we were able to utilize through Windows with a GeForce GTX Titan X video card. And all of this comes at less than $600.

This is a significant price drop for the 32-inch screen size. Economies of scale have dictated high prices for jumbo panels simply because they aren't all that popular. Screen sizes have slowly inched up from 15 to 19 to 22 to 24, and now 27 inches seems to be a sweet spot. 32 inches demands a lot of desktop space but the benefits can be substantial.

When we reviewed the BenQ BL3200PT we loved its QHD resolution. A pixel density of 92ppi means ideal sizing of fonts and objects without any dpi scaling in Windows. Gaming is extra immersive and graphics work becomes a pleasure when your photos approach poster-size.

The PB328Q looks fantastic on paper and as we began our tests we knew we were looking at something exceptional. Is it the perfect display? Let's take a look.

MORE: Best Computer MonitorsMORE: Display Calibration 101
MORE: The Science Behind Tuning Your Monitor
MORE: All Monitor Content

Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.

  • King Kii
    price?
    Reply
  • King Kii
    price?
    for some reason it wasnt loading the price under your spec sheet, but i just checked the amazon link. $ 599.
    Reply
  • sburgess
    I would love if we could get some insider information about Asus' quality control issues. We can't all get press samples.
    Reply
  • Poozle
    I would get it but... ASUS has so many quality control issues. Never buying their products until they fix that.
    Reply
  • Xorak
    Good thing it doesn't have Freesync, or I'd be seriously tempted to pick this up and move my MG279Q to the secondary PC...
    Reply
  • jonbonwolf
    $469 at Newegg!
    Reply
  • DookieDraws
    ^^ SHHHHHHHH! I'm still trying to decide if I should get it or not. :)
    Reply
  • ohim
    Why VGA port on such a product ? At this point a monitor like this should have DP 1.3 and HDMI 2.0 only.. since these are the future from what it seems.

    As a gamer and video editor i really want a monitor that can combine both worlds but for now it seems you have to choose, get high refresh rates but TN panels or good IPS / VA with low refresh rates.
    Reply
  • ericgl
    I'm still waiting for a UHD display with 120Hz/144Hz refresh rate, 10bit color (1.07b colors), 100% AdobeRGB coverage, 85%+ rec2020 coverage. Am I too unrealistic?
    Reply
  • JonDol
    Yeah, I'm waiting for that too. With G-Sync or FreeSync and the latest HDMI (2.0 ?) and DP (1.3 ?).

    17424970 said:
    I'm still waiting for a UHD display with 120Hz/144Hz refresh rate, 10bit color (1.07b colors), 100% AdobeRGB coverage, 85%+ rec2020 coverage. Am I too unrealistic?

    Reply