Dell S3225QC 32-inch 4K QD-OLED Monitor Review: Compelling gaming value

The Dell S3225QC is a 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitor with 120 Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Adaptive-Sync, wide gamut color, and spatial audio.

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Dell S3225QC
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120 Hz 4K OLEDs aren’t a common sight, at least in my test database, so I had to round up data from my most recent reviews that all turned out to be 240 Hz. So, the speed comparisons here are a bit unfair. The group includes Asus’ PG27UCDM and PA32UCDM, Dough’s Spectrum Black, Acer’s X32 X3, and HP’s Omen 32 OLED.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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Dell S3225QC
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The response test shows how smooth a monitor will be when rendering fast-moving objects. Motion resolution from the S3225QC is lower than that of the 240 Hz screens, and that is purely a function of refresh rate. 120 Hz is below the point where a gaming monitor is suitable for the best players. Rapid movements are a tad smeary, though Adaptive-Sync ensures there are no frame tears.

Input lag also ties to refresh rate, and there, the S3225QC doesn’t do too badly. Though it’s 9ms behind the Dough and 11ms out of first, it’s still quick to translate control inputs into action. For shooters, most players of my skill level (average) won’t have an issue. For less frenetic games, the S3225QC dazzles with its beautiful image and excellent audio.

Test Takeaway: The S3225QC is the wrong choice for competition gaming but for most users, it will provide a smooth-enough experience with reasonably low input lag. It should also be noted that it costs less than its 240 Hz competitors, by as much as $300.

Viewing Angles

Dell S3225QC

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

I’ve found QD OLEDs to show a barely visible green tint at 45 degrees to the sides due to the polarizing effect of the QD layer. The S3225QC has this trait, but you really have to look hard. In content, you’d never see a problem. It is a very shareable monitor. Gamma and output stay constant at all angles and even the top view is good with barely any change to brightness or color.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

Dell S3225QC

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

My S3225QC sample aced the uniformity test with a super low 2.41% score. That’s among the lowest I’ve recorded out of the 438 monitors in my database. It truly doesn’t get much better than that.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

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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.

4 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Pemalite
    I think a 4k panel needs to be a little bigger than 32" for me to bite... Currently using a LG 1440P, 32" 144hz VA panel for the last 7~ years and been super happy with it.

    Hoping my next display will be 36-42", 120hz+, 2160P VA or OLED once they reach a price I am happy with...
    Reply
  • truerock
    I hate speakers inside of monitors.

    Of all the places to put speakers... why would you put them inside your monitor?
    Reply
  • Mr Majestyk
    Pemalite said:
    I think a 4k panel needs to be a little bigger than 32" for me to bite... Currently using a LG 1440P, 32" 144hz VA panel for the last 7~ years and been super happy with it.

    Hoping my next display will be 36-42", 120hz+, 2160P VA or OLED once they reach a price I am happy with...
    I disagree, perfect size for 4K, but for 5K, which is my next monitor, it needs to be about 38-39" for the same pixel density of ~ 140dpi. 32" for 1440p is madness IMO. 27" 1440p has a pathetic 108dpi already, 32" has a breathtakingly bad 91dpi
    Reply
  • traktör
    truerock said:
    I hate speakers inside of monitors.

    Of all the places to put speakers... why would you put them inside your monitor?
    Space I imagine. Usually the problem is that they sound tinny and nigh unusable. This monitor does look to be a step up from that.

    It seems like a very interesting monitor for photo editing as well as gaming, I don't need faster than 120Hz (I'm currently at 60Hz on a 4k 32" with less color chops and non oled). Linux and HDMI doesn't go very hand in hand, at least not with an AMD card, it may well be the same with Nvidia and Intel but dp 1.4 via usb-c alt mode is at least theoretically good for 120hz at 4k (with no loss of iq if I understand things correctly)
    Reply