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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.
Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level
To see the X34 X0’s max brightness in SDR mode, you must turn on the Max Brightness option; otherwise, you’ll be limited to around 300 nits. At full honk, 426 nits deliver a very bright picture that is more than enough for any indoor environment. You could use this monitor at an outdoor location shoot if you wished. All the monitors are VA, so black levels are much lower than an IPS screen would be. Though the X34 X0 has decent native contrast of 2,792.8:1, its dynamic range is a bit smaller than the other screens. If you turn on the local dimming though, black levels become too low to measure.
After Calibration to 200 nits
The X34 X0 retains the same contrast ratio after calibration as before, just under 2,800:1. That’s respectable but not as impressive as the others. But engage the local dimming, and it goes to another level with black levels approaching OLED caliber. This isn’t a big factor for SDR, but when we get to the HDR tests on page five, you’ll see the full impact of the FALD Mini LED backlight.
ANSI contrast is a consistent 2,654.3:1 which means the X34 X0’s grid polarizer and quality control are excellent. This is solid overall performance.
Test Takeaway: The X34 X0 won’t break any records for native contrast with a ratio that’s a little lower than the competition. But when the local dimming is engaged, all bets are off. Then it has broader dynamic range than nearly all other LCD-based ultra-wides, and more brightness too.
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