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
The GNV32DBE falls into the “not that bright, but bright enough” category. 246 nits isn’t impressive but is enough for any indoor environment. My office has a sunlit window, and I had no problems. Larger screens can get away with lower output levels. The downside is that there is no extra overhead for the backlight strobe or for HDR content.
However, black levels and contrast are quite impressive. While VA always beats IPS in this test, the GNV32DBE excels as one of the highest contrast screens I’ve tested. This is a difference you can easily see in a side-by-side comparison.
After Calibration to 200 nits
Since my calibration consisted only of turning down the brightness slider to 200 nits, the GNV32DBE is still in first place. It beats the other two VA screens and leaves the IPS panels in the dust. You can increase the contrast ratio even further, to around 10,000:1, using the DCR feature, but then some black detail is obscured.
I was surprised to see the ANSI score come in much lower than the static result. It’s still the best monitor in dynamic range, but when I measured the checkerboard pattern, the white squares were about 15% dimmer than the 200-nit output level I had set. This isn’t a major issue, and the picture still looks fantastic. But it is an unusual response.
