To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.
Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level
VA panels aren’t known for their high brightness, but they have more than enough light for their intended uses. NZXT rates the Canvas 32Q at 300 nits, and my sample beat that. If you want searing whites, IPS can deliver that for you.
What VA does better than other technologies is black levels and the Canvas 32Q one of the very best examples. Its native contrast ratio of 3863.8:1 is one of the highest I’ve recorded. It’s only pipped here by the Viotek.
After Calibration to 200 nits
Calibration increases the Canvas 32Q’s contrast a bit to 3953.5:1. It’s still well ahead of the other VA panels (except the Viotek, which is an over-achiever for sure), and it leaves any IPS monitor in the proverbial dust. You won’t get better native contrast in a computer monitor unless it’s an OLED.
The Canvas 32Q shows some weakness in the ANSI contrast test. Though it is still quite high at 2594.5:1, it slips to fourth place in a tight field. And the IPS monitors are still bringing up the rear. You won’t get a better picture than what a VA display provides at this price point.
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MORE: How We Test PC Monitors