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.
Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.
The X32 X3 supports HDR10 content with a quick and seamless switchover. There are no additional HDR modes which greatly simplifies operations. The only option is whether to engage Constant Brightness. You’ll get the best image with it off so that’s how I ran the tests.
HDR Brightness and Contrast
Since the X32 X3 has variable brightness, I measured a 25% window pattern and saw a peak of almost 459 nits, slightly higher than the bottom three. The Asus screens push harder and manage to top 700 nits. They will deliver brighter highlights than the others and that is a point in favor of the PG32UCDP. That monitor costs around $200 more at this writing. Regardless of which one you choose; you’ll see perfect blacks and infinite contrast.
Grayscale, EOTF and Color
The X32 X3 has visually perfect HDR grayscale tracking with no errors over 1dE. This is excellent performance. The EOTF is a bit less than straight, with low values between zero and 40% brightness and high numbers from 40% to the tone map transition point at 65%. It isn’t too far off the mark, but some deep shadows might be hard to see. In-game tweaks can easily compensate for this.
In the color test, the X32 X3 fully covers DCI-P3 with general oversaturation of the points between zero and 80%. This is typical performance for the OLED panels I’ve tested and does not reflect negatively on image quality. Magenta and yellow are slightly off hue as well. In the BT.2020 test, you see the same oversaturation of inner points. The X32 X3 runs out of color at 85% red, 70% green and 95% blue. This is expected performance for a non-Quantum Dot monitor.
Test Takeaway: The X32 X3 has excellent HDR color accuracy with just a bit of oversaturation but nothing that negatively impacts the image which is stunning. There is plenty of brightness available for small highlights, and the image takes on a realistic texture. There are no additional modes or adjustments for HDR but that means the X32 X3 is less complicated to operate. It’s an excellent HDR display in every respect.
MORE: Best Gaming Monitors
MORE: How We Test PC Monitors
MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor
