Asus PB328Q 32-inch AMVA QHD Monitor Review
Today we're evaluating one of the most accurate and best-performing monitors we've tested: the 32-inch AMVA QHD Asus PB328Q. Let's see how it compares to the tough competition.
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Conclusion
The PB328Q is part of Asus' professional line but its PB designation puts it below the ProArt series. Basically what you're giving up is the factory calibration and a wide gamut option. But everything else a pro could want is there. And yet the low pricing brings it down to the realm of the general user—someone who wants a great image, accurate color, speed for gaming and most-importantly, good value.
If your work is graphics-heavy, this is an ideal display for you. It won't render the Adobe RGB color gamut but it nails the targets for sRGB and offers a native 10-bit color depth. Gamers may wish for FreeSync or G-Sync but if you'd rather go big, this is the only 32-inch screen to break through the 60Hz refresh rate barrier. 75Hz is supported with no overclocking required and rock-solid all-day stability. And don't forget the quick panel response and low input lag. Short of a 144Hz screen, the PB328Q has few equals.
And what of its fantastic contrast? That's something that every user should lust for regardless of application. There is no time when one needs less contrast. We still maintain that dynamic range is the single most important factor in image quality. Obviously color accuracy, saturation and resolution are important but without high contrast those other elements are lost in a washed-out flat-looking picture.
Considering the quality we've found in the few VA panels reviewed here, it's a little surprising there aren't more options. A quick scan of available LCD parts shows hundreds of TN and IPS screens but only a handful of VA products. At least Asus has managed to bring this all-too-rare technology to the desktop in a jumbo size for such a low price.
And Asus didn't cut any corners that we could see. Build quality is equal to the best products we've worked with and the feature list has no missing parts worthy of mention. If you want greater resolution there are 32-inch Ultra HD panels out there but they'll cost you more than twice as much as this one. For gaming and general use there is probably no better choice in this size.
We doubt a truly perfect display will ever exist but the Asus PB328Q has come awfully close thanks to fantastic contrast, excellent color accuracy, quick panel response, low input lag and great value. For these reasons and its lack of any real flaws we're giving it our Tom's Hardware Editors' Choice Award.
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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.
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King Kii price?
for some reason it wasnt loading the price under your spec sheet, but i just checked the amazon link. $ 599. -
sburgess I would love if we could get some insider information about Asus' quality control issues. We can't all get press samples.Reply -
Poozle I would get it but... ASUS has so many quality control issues. Never buying their products until they fix that.Reply -
Xorak Good thing it doesn't have Freesync, or I'd be seriously tempted to pick this up and move my MG279Q to the secondary PC...Reply -
ohim Why VGA port on such a product ? At this point a monitor like this should have DP 1.3 and HDMI 2.0 only.. since these are the future from what it seems.Reply
As a gamer and video editor i really want a monitor that can combine both worlds but for now it seems you have to choose, get high refresh rates but TN panels or good IPS / VA with low refresh rates. -
ericgl I'm still waiting for a UHD display with 120Hz/144Hz refresh rate, 10bit color (1.07b colors), 100% AdobeRGB coverage, 85%+ rec2020 coverage. Am I too unrealistic?Reply -
JonDol Yeah, I'm waiting for that too. With G-Sync or FreeSync and the latest HDMI (2.0 ?) and DP (1.3 ?).Reply
17424970 said:I'm still waiting for a UHD display with 120Hz/144Hz refresh rate, 10bit color (1.07b colors), 100% AdobeRGB coverage, 85%+ rec2020 coverage. Am I too unrealistic?