Why you can trust Tom's Hardware
OLEDs are consistently accurate out of the box and the 34WQHD240-C is no exception. It can be used in its Standard mode without adjustment. It also has an equally accurate sRGB mode if you need that smaller color gamut.
Grayscale and Gamma Tracking
Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.
The 34WQHD240-C nails the out-of-box grayscale test with no visible errors and all values under 2dE except 90% brightness which just cracks the line. Gamma isn’t quite perfect though with a slight rise at 10% and a drop in values at 80 and 90%. This means some highlights will be a tad too bright. I doubt many users will complain.
Calibration lowers the grayscale error by more than half. You won’t see this difference in actual content, but it gives users more cred when bragging about their new OLED monitor. Gamma is unchanged. Though it would be best if the line were on the reference at all points, the shift at 90% is a minor anomaly.
The sRGB mode has no visible grayscale errors and the same gamma tracking with some too-bright highlights. It is possible to calibrate this mode, but those values will carry over to the other picture modes.
Comparisons
The 34WQHD240-C delivers accurate grayscale tracking whether you calibrate or not. This is as it should be for this price segment. A few tweaks take the value from 1.53 to 0.62dE, excellent performance. Gamma is less st,ellar with a 0.48 range of values and a 2.27% deviation from 2.2. This is a minor issue but if you’re super picky, it should be considered.
Color Gamut Accuracy
Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.
The effect of the 34WQHD240-C’s Quantum Dot layer is apparent in the gamut test. There is extra color on all sides of the triangle with red being the boldest shade. The saturation points progress linearly so there is no loss of clarity as the picture becomes more vivid. Anyone will be perfectly happy to use the monitor this way for all SDR content. Calibration lowers the error value slightly, but there is no visible change here.
The sRGB mode is spot-on in every respect. If you need the 34WQHD240-C for color grading and post-production, it is fully qualified. And unlike most monitors, sRGB grayscale can be calibrated, and its brightness can be adjusted.
Comparisons
It’s impressive that this class of monitors is so accurate. That the 34WQHD240-C comes in last with a color accuracy score of 1.82dE means that none of them are even close to putting a foot wrong. Of course, it should be this way when you’re paying $1,000 or more, but I’m happy, nonetheless.
The 34WQHD240-C just squeaks by the Gigabyte to become the most colorful 34-inch OLED I’ve yet tested. With 110.95% coverage of DCI-P3, it is beautifully saturated for both SDR and HDR content. The sRGB calculation is 105% which comes from a slight bit of bonus red. It’s not enough to cause issues for critical applications. This is excellent performance.
Test Takeaway: The 34WQHD240-C is extremely colorful and accurate with or without calibration. Even out of the box, it’s a pro-level display that can be used for post-production and photo editing. You can employ an accurate sRGB mode when needed, which is an extra point for flexibility. The only nit-pick was a gamma anomaly which makes some highlights a tad too bright. This issue is hard to spot in real-world content.
MORE: Best Gaming Monitors
MORE: How We Test PC Monitors
MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor
Current page: Grayscale, Gamma and Color
Prev Page Brightness and Contrast Next Page HDR PerformanceChristian 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.
-
das_stig So once again TH takes no notice of forum comments from previous monitor reviews, just be ignorant !Reply
Cons-
No internal speakers or LED lighting
Incorrect, to me and probably a large percentage of buyers, this is a Pro, stop being bias ! -
Dieter Binst Regarding the comparison of input lag, on which firmware we're the screens tested? I don't know for all screens, but input lag on the Alienware, has been reduced with firmware upgrades.Reply -
thestryker The pixel layout on the earlier panel caused some text issues (it either bothered you or not) so it would be good to note if it's the same (it was on MSI's 240hz so I assume it is here too).Reply
Still not sold on going OLED longevity wise, but there are no good alternatives in the ultrawide space so I may end up there just the same. -
Jame5
This honestly is one of the main things I'm looking for in a new monitor. I have an older 34" Alienware model, and I'm just waiting for one of the new QD-OLED models (Alienware or otherwise) to be the "One monitor to rule them all." My office is where my gaming setup is, but it's also where I do work. I would love to have a USB-C + PD connection for my work laptop when it's in use, and a DP 2.0/HDMI 2.1 connection for my desktop when it's time to relax.strobolt said:Is there power delivery included in the USB-C video port and how many watts?
Part of me wonders if the 100w power supply would push the heat limits inside the chassis to the point where they would require active cooling on the monitor? -
8086 I wish this monitor had Gsync Ultimate but not instead of Freesync Premium Pro. I would love to see more monitors that are certified for both.Reply