Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Page 7 of 9:

Viewing Angles, Uniformity, Response & Lag

Viewing Angles

Curved monitors are difficult to share, regardless of their off-axis image quality. The curvature demands that the viewer sit at center-axis to ensure the picture is not geometrically distorted. However, the XR382CQK exhibits the typical results of an IPS panel. From the sides, color shifts to green, and brightness is reduced by at least 50%. The top view is impressive, with no loss of detail and only a slight blue hue. Light reduction is also fairly minor.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, please click here.

Image 1 of 3

We’re impressed that any curved display can render a clean black field. The potential for backlight bleed must be high when rigid materials are forced to bend. All the screens here justify their premium prices by passing stringent quality control. Our XR382CQK sample has only the tiniest flaw in the black field test with a hotspot down the center that is only visible in the darkest of rooms. Once the brightness level goes above zero, there is no perceivable issue. Color uniformity is also exemplary with no visible tint anywhere on the screen.

Pixel Response & Input Lag

Please click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

Image 1 of 2

Obviously, higher refresh rates bring faster screen draw times but few users will perceive the difference between 8 and 14 milliseconds. The XR328CQK has no blur-reduction feature and no overdrive in FreeSync mode, but still manages to maintain high resolution when the on-screen action heats up. That perception is aided by an excellent input lag result that competes favorably with monitors boasting 100Hz refresh, like the Predator X34. Even the 144Hz Asus and AOC displays don’t offer a significant advantage.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: Best Professional Monitors

MORE: How We Test Monitors

MORE: How To Choose A Monitor

MORE: All Monitor Content

Current page: Viewing Angles, Uniformity, Response & Lag

Prev Page Color Gamut & Luminance Next Page Gaming With FreeSync

TOPICS

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.