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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 P2712V gets off to a great start with nearly perfect grayscale tracking and gamma that tracks with little deviation from the reference. All gray errors are below 2dE, and the gamma average is 2.16, with the only error being a slight dip at 90%. It doesn’t get much better than this for out-of-the-box performance, especially at this price point. I attempted a calibration but could not improve upon what you see above.
In the sRGB test, grayscale tracking is even better with a 0.78dE average. That’s pro-level performance. Gamma is right on the reference line except for 10% brightness, which renders a bit light. This makes shadow detail clearer but also less dark than it should be. It’s a minor issue at best. I have no complaints.
Comparisons




At default settings, the P2712V beats all comers, except the XG27UCS, which shows exceptional grayscale tracking. 1.21dE is an excellent score. Once the other screens are calibrated, they draw ahead, but visually, there’s no difference between the top and bottom monitors. This is excellent performance.
The P2712V’s gamma test result is very good, but the others are a bit better. The light number I measured at 90% brightness is the main culprit. It contributes to a 0.13 range of values and a 1.82% deviation from the 2.2 reference. The actual value is 2.16. Again, I have no complaint.
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 P2712V’s gamut results are equally impressive. Magenta and blue show a tiny bit of undersaturation, while the other colors are nearly perfect. Green is a tad under as well, but there is more to that primary than I typically see from other non-Quantum Dot displays. Hue values are also spot-on.
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The sRGB gamut chart looks like it came from an expensive professional display. Aside from a tiny undersaturation at 90% red, it is pretty much perfect. A 0.80dE average error is something you rarely find in a $325 monitor.
Comparisons


None of the monitors have significant color errors; they are all exemplary. The P2712V sits in fifth with 1.79dE, but that is still well below the visible threshold of 3dE. Though I didn’t show the sRGB values, the P2712V has a lower error in that gamut than the other screens.
Value displays rarely pass 90% coverage of DCI-P3, but the P2712V manages a solid result of 92.98%. It comes up the tiniest bit short in green, blue and magenta, but I’m definitely picking nits there. It is very colorful, and you won’t see any deficiencies in practice. This is excellent performance.
Test Takeaway: The P2712V is a very colorful monitor, especially when its low price is considered. It’s also more accurate than most value screens and manages to outperform more expensive monitors. You don’t need to calibrate it and in fact, the available adjustments provide no benefit. It also has a very accurate sRGB mode, which is something rarely found in any budget screen. For $325, it’s hard to beat.
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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.