Dell UltraSharp U3226Q 4K 32-inch QD-OLED monitor review: Pro-grade with reference-level color

Dell delivers a reference display with the UltraSharp U3226Q.

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Dell UltraSharp U3226Q
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(Image credit: © Tom's Hardware)

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Once upon a time, professional monitors were the most accurate displays you could buy and less expensive genres like gaming would require a good deal of tweaking to even get close. Today, most monitors I review are qualified for professional use, some in their default states. They deliver correct color, grayscale and gamma and some offer multiple color modes.

The newest pro screens trend towards innovation and convenience so they can stand out from the rank and file. When you spend $2,600 for a 32-inch 4K OLED, you expect the latest tech and maximum flexibility and capability. The Dell UltraSharp U3226Q delivers all those things.

Dell U3226Q

(Image credit: Dell)

4K resolution is a given. No content creator would want less. Quantum Dot color brings over 100% coverage of DCI-P3, almost 109% in the U3226Q’s case. Out-of-the-box accuracy is a must. Dell delivers that with seven factory-calibrated modes plus six more user memories. It is the most accurate out-of-the-box professional screen I’ve reviewed.

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Where it truly stands out is its flexibility. The built-in calibrator isn’t the first of its kind I’ve seen, but it is the easiest to use. Just pick an existing mode, or create your own, and say “go.” I set up multiple picture modes and verified the existing ones in a very short time.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

It also supports every color and HDR standard currently in use except for HDR10+. Dolby Vision is still a rarity, but it’s here in Bright and Dark modes. And you get Hybrid Log Gamma too, another one that’s rare on the PC desktop.

I can’t wrap up without lauding the U3226Q’s gaming prowess. Not only does it offer 120 Hz, but it also has flawless Adaptive-Sync and input lag on par with the best speedy screens. The 16.6ms I recorded is equal to a good 240 Hz QHD display.

While clearly aimed at creatives, the Dell UltraSharp U3226Q would make any user happy. It’s beautiful to look at, and there is little it cannot do. It is equally comfortable as a professional tool or as a luxury monitor for a high-end PC. If you have the means, definitely check it out.

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Christian Eberle
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.

3 Comments Comment from the forums
  • wakuwaku
    No ULMB option
    We all know now that even this "veteran" reviewer now uses AI!
    Why? Because AI says OLEDs have ULMB, which obviously they don't. Backlight strobing cannot exist on a display that does not use a backlight.... OLEDs use BFI or black frame insertion. And BFI is pointless on a creator or productivity monitor. Why do you want to increase costs for creators to get their gear?
    Reply
  • BillyBuerger
    Above it, on the bezel, are three touch-sensitive buttons that light up when your hand gets close. I enjoyed waving at the screen like Harry Potter to make them appear.
    Oh gawd no. I thought Dell finally stopped with the terrible touch buttons on their monitors.I'm still using some old Dell U2415 monitors which are still great, but the touch buttons are such a terrible interface. Especially for the power button. This is similar to using touch buttons for the function row on the XPS laptops. It's especially terrible for the Escape key. Buttons need to have a tactile feel so you can tell where they are and when you've pushed them. Touch buttons have none of this and are super awkward to use.
    Reply
  • Dementoss
    Why criticise the 120Hz max refresh rate, when this monitor is not aimed at gamers?
    Reply