One of the coolest things to come to the professional monitor genre is the built-in calibrator. These monitors have a tiny sensor that swings up or down from the bezel, and along with internal test patterns, the display literally calibrates itself. While there are plenty of aftermarket software and hardware solutions, such as Portrait Displays’ Calman and the Calibrite line of meters, the convenience of simply clicking a menu option and calibrating your monitor in a few minutes is extremely attractive.

I’ve already covered monitors like this from Dell and Asus, and here, I have one from BenQ, the DesignVue PD2770U. It’s a 27-inch IPS panel with 4K resolution, multiple color modes, integrated color meter, HDR10 and HLG, wide gamut color, and a cool remote control. Let’s take a look.

BenQ DesignVue PD2770U Specs

The PD2770U is first and foremost a professional display. It has no gaming features, no Adaptive-Sync, no overdrive, no fast refresh, and no built-in speakers. But like its competitors, it has color modes that align with industry standards like Adobe RGB, sRGB, BT.709 and both Cinema and Display P3. It also includes support for DICOM (medical imaging), CAD/CAM and M-book. HDR comes in HDR10 and Hybrid Log Gamma variants. Unfortunately, there is no Dolby Vision or HDR10+.

The color gamut is wide, of course; BenQ calls their tech AQColor, and the panel is Nano Matte Black. This ensures that ambient light has a minimal effect on black levels, and it delivers a very wide color gamut. Rather than going for BT.2020 as most pro monitors do, the PD2770U is an Adobe RGB panel. Why is that significant? Because that gamut has considerably more green than P3. I’ve noticed in testing that many of today’s pro monitors come up short in the Adobe RGB test by five or six percent because they are short on green. The PD2770U fills almost 99% of that gamut. It also covers around 96% of P3. Out of the box, it promises less than 1.5dE color error and each sample is calibrated before leaving the factory.

Speaking of calibration, there are several ways to keep the PD2770U in precise tune. The OSD lets you adjust and verify any or all of the color modes in a single step. This procedure can be scheduled so it takes place at regular intervals during off-hours. BenQ also offers Palette Master Ultimate software that can create custom configurations and manage multiple displays. And you can tie in auto calibration with a custom Calman workflow.

To enhance and streamline the creative process, the PD2770U includes some cool extras that are unique in my experience. One is GamutDuo, which lets you compare color settings in a side-by-side display. Two versions of the image are shown, and you can change parameters in the right pane to easily make a visual evaluation. You can calibrate while taking ambient light into account using a front-mounted sensor, and Uniformity Compensation is included.

BenQ has always been a standout in its design of remote controls, and the latest version of the HotKey Puck is my new favorite. It’s wireless and features a large dial on top, which defaults to the brightness adjustment. Changing luminance the way you’d adjust volume is super intuitive. It has programmable buttons that can access monitor functions or open most-used apps through a BenQ utility called DisplayPilot. You can also manage multiple displays through an Ethernet connection. And speaking of ports, they are aplenty with HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C/A, and a headphone jack. These are all conveniently located either facing back or under the bezel in front.

The PD2770U is a decent value among professional screens for $1,700 at this writing. It’s built to BenQ’s usual high standard and, with all its features, makes for a compelling choice if you’re shopping for a color reference monitor.

Assembly and Accessories

The PD2770U comes in fully recyclable packaging with no crumbly foam in evidence. The panel, upright and base are heavy and substantial and form a solid package when assembled, no tools required. The accessory bundle includes a screen cleaning cloth, DisplayPort and two USBs, IEC power, and the HotKey Puck controller. BenQ doesn’t include batteries, so you’ll need to find two AAAs to power it. You also get a nice snap-on light hood lined with light-absorbing material.

Product 360

The PD2770U looks upside down from the front because of its large meter housing at the top. It’s over an inch wide with a bulge in the middle. The rest of the bezel is flush and narrow. Underneath are control keys and an OSD joystick. You’ll never need them once you’ve acquainted yourself with the HotKey Puck. BenQ is better than anyone else at designing remotes and this is my new fave. It’s wireless and features a large dial in the center flanked by five buttons. On one edge is a key to display signal information. The dial adjusts brightness when the menu isn’t showing. Pressing it brings up a quick menu that is programmable. The full OSD is loaded with goodness, which I’ll talk about below.

The side view is slim unless you attach the light hood, which is over eight inches deep. You can see in the photo that there is a cable management loop on the upright, which telescopes through its 4.6-inch range. You also get 5/20 degrees tilt, 15 degrees swivel and a 90-degree portrait mode with OSD auto-rotate if you wish. Movements reflect BenQ’s premium build quality. The PD2770U is clearly built to last.

Facing out the back is a well-stocked input panel. There are two HDMI 2.0, one DisplayPort 1.4 and two USB-Cs. One handles video and provides 96 watts of power and the other is an upstream port for USB hub functions. The PD2770U has two KVM modes that let you bind video and USB ports for control of multiple systems. On the bottom of the bezel are two USB-A ports (v3.2) and a headphone jack. There are no internal speakers.

OSD Features

The PD2770U’s OSD is all business and includes everything needed for calibration and color management. Pressing the puck’s dial brings up a quick menu that is user programmable. Another press opens the full OSD.

The first sub-menu, Display, has an input selector, aspect ratio control and PIP/PBP functions to view two sources at once. That’s followed by the Color menu where you can make manual tweaks to the 12 color modes. Different presets allow different adjustments, in other words, you can’t change gamma or color temp in certain modes. But there is a way to create custom calibrations using the three Custom memories. They connect with BenQ’s Palette Master Ultimate app where you can set up any combination of gamut, gamma, color temp and luminance that you like.

Each preset mode has a choice of screen uniformity or brightness as the priority. Choosing the former limits brightness to around 230 nits. The latter setting bumps that up to 315 nits. I found very good uniformity in my sample, so I turned the compensation off in all modes.

The calibration menu is a simple affair. Just pick one or more modes to adjust, then select execute. Each mode takes around 12 minutes to complete. If you use Palette Master Ultimate, it takes the same amount of time. This menu lets you use the light sensor, or not, and schedule calibrations for any period you wish.

GamutDuo is a cool feature that lets you compare different color parameters side by side. You get two versions of the image, and the toggles change the right pane. You can view differences in color gamut, color temperature and gamma. You can also see the effect of sharpness on the image.

Control of the PD2770U is firmly in the hands of the user, with multiple functions available for the HotKey Puck, monitor keys and OSD joystick. The dial has a quick menu of its own with five adjustable slots. My favorite thing of all is the ability to change brightness with the dial, just like a volume control.

BenQ DesignVue PD2770U Setup And Hands-on

The PD2770U is ready to go out of the box with a factory calibration in place. You’ll see in the tests that it is spot on for gamut tracking, nearly perfect for gamma and just inside the visible error threshold for grayscale. My sample benefited from an initial calibration using the built-in meter. I did this using the OSD and BenQ’s Palette Master Ultimate (PMU) app. Either method takes around 12 minutes per mode. You can create custom configurations, up to three, with PMU. It lets you specify luminance, gamut, color temp and gamma. When finished, it shows you all the data along with reference photos to help you evaluate flesh tones and other familiar things like landscapes and black and white images.

I explored the color modes I would use most: Display and Cinema P3, Adobe RGB, sRGB, and BT.709. They default to specific gamma and color temperature settings, which I’ve listed in the table below.

These are not absolute specs, and in fact, BenQ is a bit different than the Asus ProArt screens I’ve covered here. sRGB gamma has undergone revisions in the past, and its latest spec is closer to 2.4 power. BT.709 is more commonly associated with BT.1886 gamma, though 2.4 power is also correct. I noted that the PD2770U made the correct distinction between Display and Cinema P3 by altering the color temp for Cinema to compensate for the reddish Xenon bulbs used in theater projectors. If you want to change any parameter, run the PMU app and save the result to one of the three Custom modes. To recalibrate any fixed mode, the OSD makes it very easy. And you can do multiple modes in one go, and schedule it for off-hours if you like.

In use, the PD2770U is simply gorgeous to look at. Though it doesn’t have the deep blacks of an OLED, its Nano Matte panel manages ambient light better than most LCDs, which makes the image appear deeper and more realistic. It looks even better with the light hood installed.

My absolute favorite thing here is the HotKey Puck. I know a remote seems like a minor part of the equation, but how I interact with a display is important, especially since most of the pro screens I review are close in performance. Dialing brightness up and down like an old-fashioned volume control is super fun and easy. The dial also makes OSD navigation a snap. It has three buttons that can be set to monitor functions or, through Display Pilot, to open your most-used apps. Press button one and get Photoshop, for example. And viewing signal info with one press is handy.

I’ll talk about this during the test notes later, but I must give BenQ kudos here for making the PD2770U a true Adobe RGB monitor. This standard isn’t common for on-screen graphics or photography, but it is used extensively in the print industry because of its ties to Pantone Matching. The PD2770U is both Pantone and Calman certified. In days of old, when LCD backlights were CCFL tubes, Adobe monitors had a special version of this tube that increased green saturation. Adobe RGB green is a little greener than P3 green. Today’s LED backlights, even with Quantum Dot films, can’t quite get there. BenQ has found that extra color. If you grade content for print, the PD2770U is a class leader.

The only thing I wish for here is something for game content creators. The PD2770U is a 60 Hz display with no Adaptive-Sync or overdrive. It has decent input lag relative to other 60 Hz screens, but fast-motion gaming is just too blurry to be fun. With so much content creation focused on motion, it seems like an unnecessary omission. It’s great for video postproduction, but rendered content needs more than 60fps to be smooth.

Takeaway: If you’re a content creator, the PD2770U is an awesome choice for photography, print, onscreen graphics, video postproduction or any workday task. It has a thoughtfully designed calibration routine that’s equally convenient whether you use the OSD or outboard software. It’s easy to manage with scheduled calibration and multiple display monitoring. It’s also one of the few true Adobe RGB monitors you can buy at any price. It sports premium build quality and can serve as a trusted tool for the long term.

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There won’t be any comparisons for my review of the PD2770U. I tested it in its out-of-box state using the most common picture modes. It’s all about color accuracy so response and lag tests carry less weight given the monitor’s design intent.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

· Response Time Full black to white transition – 8.1ms

· Absolute Input Lag Full black to white transition – 24.4ms

The PD2770U is a 60 Hz monitor without Adaptive-Sync or overdrive. It isn’t suitable for anything but casual gaming but it isn’t the slowest monitor I’ve encountered. In the LDAT test, it drew the one-inch square in 8.1ms from black to white. Though there is motion blur, it isn’t enough to distract in slower-paced games like Myst. Just don’t try to engage in a fragging session; it won’t be pretty. The lag score is surprisingly low at 24.4ms. If you do play a shooter, the PD2770U will respond quickly to control inputs.

Test Takeaway: Gaming content creators might want a monitor with Adaptive-Sync and a faster refresh rate than the PD2770U. But it does a decent job with control inputs thanks to surprisingly low lag.

Viewing Angles

The PD2770U has average off-axis image quality when compared to other IPS monitors. The side view is a bit red in tone with no significant change to brightness or gamma. Though you won’t be likely to share a 27-inch monitor, it can be done if needed. The top view is a tad blue with reduced gamma and brightness.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

· Screen Uniformity Deviation From Center 0% Black Field – 10.18%

To measure the PD2770U’s uniformity, I switched each picture mode to Brightness First. The default is Uniformity First and it reduces brightness by around 30%. Uncompensated, a score of 10.18% is about average for the IPS monitors I’ve tested. The meter noted a hotspot in the lower right corner, but I could not see this in actual content. With compensation turned on, the score dropped to 4.31%, a barely perceptible difference.

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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.

Maximum Backlight Level

· Maximum White Luminance – 315.1176 nits

· Maximum Black Luminance – .3423 nit

· Maximum Contrast Ratio – 920.5:1

· ANSI Contrast – 913.9:1

To see the PD2770U’s maximum brightness in any picture mode, switch the Uniformity setting to Brightness First. If you select Uniformity First, the screen is a tad more uniform, but brightness peaks at around 230 nits. Contrast stays between 900 and 1,000:1 in either case so there is no downside to the compensation option. ANSI contrast is very consistent with the static value at 913.9:1. Calibration does not affect this result in any visible way. I noted that there was no dimming option, either field or local.

Test Takeaway: The PD2770U isn’t super bright, so you might not want it at an outdoor location unless there is some light control. But for any indoor environment, it has more than enough output capability.

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The PD2770U has 12 total fixed color modes plus three custom memories for user calibrations. Each is labeled according to the standard it supports. You get everything currently in use except for BT.2020, along with DICOM, M-book, Animation and CAD/CAM.

I tested the color modes I would use most, Adobe RGB, sRGB, BT.709 and Display and Cinema P3. They default to specific gamma and color temp settings, which I’ve put into the table below.

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 grayscale and gamma runs from the five tested modes are very consistent. Grayscale errors run a bit cool in the brighter steps, and there is a slight dip in gamma at the 10% step, which is too light. Visually, these are minor errors, but I recommend performing an initial calibration of the PD2770U before putting it to work.

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 out-of-the-box color results are impressive, with the highest error recorded in sRGB mode, 1.67dE. All five modes are visually perfect with fully saturated primary and secondary colors. I noted very slight undersaturation in 60 and 80% red in some of the charts. This ties to the gamma dip I mentioned earlier. Running a calibration during initial setup takes care of this issue. I also noted that the PD2770U is the first true Adobe RGB monitor I’ve seen in a long time. This gamut has more green than P3, and few monitors, even Quantum Dot ones, can fully render it. BenQ achieves almost 100% coverage here, which makes it a great tool for the creation of printed content.

Grayscale, Gamma and Color Gamut Test Summary

Below is a table with all the results from the five tested modes. The PD2770U is extremely consistent and will deliver accurate color in any of its presets. I recommend an initial calibration to firm up grayscale and gamma tracking.

Test Takeaway: The PD2770U compares extremely well to the other professional screens I’ve reviewed recently from Asus and Dell. There were some slight errors in grayscale and gamma in my sample, so I recommend that new users run an initial calibration using either the OSD or the Palette Master Ultimate app. It is one of the rare displays to fully cover Adobe RGB which makes it a standout choice for print content creation.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The PD2770U supports HDR10 and HLG signals with an automatic switch. It does not support Dolby Vision or HDR10+.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

· HDR White Luminance – 373.9316 nits

· HDR Black Level – 0.3640 nit

· HDR Sequential Contrast – 1,027.4:1

The PD2770U offers a bit more brightness for HDR content with a measured 374 nits peak. Contrast is just over 1,000:1, which means there is no zone or field dimming happening here. It would be nice to have that option. I noted that brightness, contrast and color saturation remained adjustable in HDR mode.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

Out of the box, the PD2770U is a tad green in steps brighter than 50%. This is similar to what I observed in SDR mode. You can calibrate this mode without an HDR signal if you wish, just select it from the list and click Execute. The EOTF tracks too light above 20% brightness and hits the tone-map transition point at 55% instead of 65%. This is a minor error that is hard to see in actual content.

In the color test, you can see slight oversaturation across the full gamut with excellent coverage of DCI-P3 and BT.2020. That extra green comes in handy here and it visibly enhances HDR images. In the BT.2020 test, the PD2770U runs out of color at 90% red, 85% green and 95% blue. I calculated the 2020 volume at 79.71%, more than any Quantum Dot monitor I’ve reviewed.

Test Takeaway: The PD2770U has superb HDR color but could be brighter overall. With a peak of 374 nits and no dynamic dimming, HDR content is less vivid than other screens. It is extremely colorful though. The gamut coverage is enormous with more green saturation than anything else I’ve tested. It comes closer to BT.2020 than the competition.

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Professional displays are designed and engineered for specific purposes. Comparing them is a bit of an apples-to-oranges affair. And there isn’t one that’s better than others in every aspect. When considering a purchase, make sure you know what you plan to do with it. Will it be for video postproduction? Are you creating web graphics or editing photos for digital display? Or do you need a Pantone monitor for print work? Are you crafting a new game environment? There isn’t a single monitor that dominates all categories.

The BenQ DesignVue PD2770U is nearly all these things but one thing it isn’t is a gaming screen. If you need to play test your latest fragfest, there is no Adaptive-Sync, overdrive or fast refresh. Slow-moving VR worlds? You’re good there. The PD2770U has decent response and low input lag.

But it does have everything else needed to be a reference screen for print, photography, video and digital display. It’s the first true Adobe RGB monitor I’ve seen in a while and it’s Pantone certified. It has tremendous color volume filling nearly 100% of both Cinema and Display P3 gamuts. And it’s reasonably accurate out of the box, but I recommend an initial calibration to firm up gamma and grayscale tracking.

The built-in calibrator is super convenient. Controlled by either software or the OSD, it takes just 12 minutes per mode and can be done hands off when you’re not working. There’s plenty of customization there as well. I also loved the HotKey Puck controller. It’s the coolest and most useful remote I’ve seen, included with any monitor.

For $1,700 at this writing, this monitor is firmly in the premium professional territory but relative to others, it’s a decent value. When you consider the integrated meter and auto calibration, it becomes a bargain. If your work requires accurate color from a flexible reference display, the BenQ DesignVue PD2770U is a great choice. Definitely check it out.

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Is coming late to the party a bad thing? The best OLED gaming monitors have been available in many sizes and shapes for a few years, and you’d think by now that every major manufacturer would be offering them. But who has heard of a BenQ OLED gaming monitor? The answer is no one, until now.

For its first effort, BenQ introduces the Mobiuz EX271UZ. It features a QD-OLED panel with 4K (3840x2160) resolution, 240 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, blur reduction, HDR10, DisplayHDR 400 True Black, wide gamut color, and some unique features. Let’s take a look.

BenQ Mobiuz EX271UZ Specs

BenQ is the last major company to add OLED to available displays, but the EX271UZ is by no means a version 1.0 product. With 4K resolution, a 240 Hz refresh rate, and Quantum Dot color, it incorporates all the latest tech. It goes a bit further with an included handheld remote control, KVM, local contrast enhancement, easy-to-access settings memories, unique styling, and premium build quality.

That 240 Hz refresh rate comes with Adaptive-Sync, which works on both FreeSync and G-Sync platforms. It also includes blur reduction, which you don’t often see in OLED monitors. If you have enough graphics card horsepower to run 4K past 200fps, it isn’t necessary. But at lower frame rates, the black frame insertion eliminates blur. It works instead of Adaptive-Sync.

OLED’s deep contrast is fully represented, and BenQ does something I haven’t seen before outside the Full Array Local Dimming genre. It’s called local contrast, and it does something akin to zone dimming and it has a profound effect on the image.

Also in abundance is color volume. The EX271UZ is a Quantum Dot display and covers over 102% of the DCI-P3 gamut. That’s a bit below average in the QD category but more saturated than a non-QD monitor. There are accurate color modes as well for both Display P3 and sRGB specs, along with interpretive presets like Fantasy and Cinema, more on that later.

The feature list is a long one, with aiming points and a frame counter to enhance gaming. There are plenty of USB ports, including USB-A and USB-C, one of which delivers 90W for charging. One of the two HDMI 2.1 inputs supports Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC), which is rare on computer monitors. It’s very common with televisions and projectors, though. That lets you connect an external soundbar or system that keeps the audio signal entirely digital. You also get DisplayPort 1.4 and a USB-C video input.

Styling is unique, but if you’ve seen BenQ displays before, the EX271UZ will look familiar with its white and black aesthetic. BenQ always takes OSD control to another level, and here, it comes in the form of a handheld remote. While that may seem like overkill for a 27-inch monitor, it’s super handy and quick. The menu is also convenient with four settings memories, and a plethora of options.

The EX271UZ is a premium display in terms of build, performance, and price. $1,000 is required to put one on your desk at this writing, but that is about average for the category.

Assembly and Accessories

The EX271UZ box opens clamshell style to reveal spongy foam, not the annoying crumbly stuff, and the monitor is packed in three parts. The base screws onto the upright with a captive bolt, and the panel snaps on. If you’d rather use an arm, there’s a 100mm VESA mount with fasteners included. The cable bundle comes in its own box and has only HDMI and IEC power, no DisplayPort or USB. You also get a nice microfiber cleaning cloth for that beautiful, shiny screen.

Product 360

BenQ leaves the EX271UZ’s white areas to the stand and back. The bezel surrounding the image is matte black with a thin flush design. Slightly protruding from the bottom is an OSD joystick and a large IR receiver for the remote control. This little handset has one-key access to brightness, color modes, aiming points, and the frame counter. You can also control volume and mute, and you get three IR channels in case the remote inadvertently controls another component.

The side view shows that the panel isn’t especially thin but uses the same design as others, with the OLED grafted onto a component bulge. Check out the label on the side of the stand that says “Pixsoul Engine.” I haven’t seen that one before!

The base is relatively shallow but still large and heavy enough to keep the EX271UZ from moving about. The stand includes a four-inch height adjustment, plus 5/15 degrees tilt and 15 degrees swivel. There is no portrait mode. Movements are smooth and firm with the feeling of high-end quality.

The video input panel is recessed but faces backward for easy access. You get two HDMI 2.1s, one of which has eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel), DisplayPort 1.4, and USB-C. eARC lets you connect a soundbar, AV receiver, or surround processor, which can be a considerable enhancement for gaming and entertainment. The EX271UZ makes an ideal personal TV. At the bottom of the panel is another jack pack with two USB-A ports, a USB-C port, and a headphone jack. In the same photo, you can also see the backlit power key, OSD joystick, and another button that opens the input selector.

OSD Features

The EX271UZ’s user interface is well-designed and super easy to operate with either the joystick or the remote. One button press brings up a quick menu, and a second opens the full OSD.

The first button press opens an info tab at the top with a quick menu at the bottom. Pressing left or right selects the four settings memories named after the first four letters of the NATO alphabet: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta. The memories are completely programmable by the user, with any four parameters of your choice appearing in the quick menu.

A second press opens the EX271UZ’s full menu, which has seven sections. The color modes include interpretive options such as Sci-fi and Fantasy, as well as color standards (Display P3 and sRGB). You also get Custom and three Game modes for a total of 12 choices. If you download BenQ’s Color Shuttle app, it offers another preset called Smart Game Art. Each mode has different options. You can calibrate the interpretive modes while keeping Display P3 and sRGB fixed for color and gamma. HDR signals also get four specific modes.

Calibration settings include gamma presets, three fixed color temps, and a set of RGB sliders. An additional luminance option, called Light Tuner, also adjusts gamma. I encountered some unique challenges when calibrating the EX271UZ, which I’ll detail in the next section.

Audio output can be either the headphone jack or HDMI eARC (HDMI 1). eARC keeps the signal digital until it reaches the audio output device, which can be a sound bar, AV receiver, or surround processor. This is something almost no computer monitor has, but it is a common feature on TVs.

The four settings memories can be assigned to specific inputs, which saves clicking around when changing sources. The EX271UZ also supports HDMI CEC, which lets you control compatible components with a single remote. You could control the monitor with a disc player remote, for example.

For OLED care, BenQ provides pixel refresh, a screen dimmer, logo dimming, and pixel shift. I have yet to observe burn-in on any OLED screen I’ve used or reviewed, which includes my five-year-old LG TV. In the Quick Menu, you can set up the four memories to store any three settings you need quick access to.

Finally, you’ll find the aiming points and frame counter in the System menu. There are dedicated remote buttons for these features, too. The EX271UZ also includes a KVM that binds USB ports to video inputs, allowing control of multiple sources with a single keyboard and mouse.

BenQ Mobiuz EX271UZ Calibration Settings

Calibrating the EX271UZ was challenging. The default mode, Fantasy, is color-accurate but has a very green grayscale and wonky gamma. You’ll see what I mean by wonky on page four. I could dial in grayscale using the RGB sliders, but no combination of gamma presets, and the Light Tuner would give me decent luminance tracking. Luckily, there are fixed modes for sRGB and Display P3, which are spot on. They match the factory calibration data sheet that comes with every EX271UZ. Below are my settings for Custom mode, but I recommend using Display P3 or sRGB for SDR content.

For HDR signals, there are four specific modes, of which Display HDR is the best and most accurate. I’ll talk more about that on page five.

 Gaming and Hands-on

One of the first things I look for when reviewing an OLED is whether it has a variable brightness option. The EX271UZ takes a different approach to this feature. I did not find a specific option for variable or constant brightness in the OSD, but it does have both settings. In the interpretive modes like Fantasy, variable brightness is on. In the accurate modes like Display P3 and sRGB, constant brightness is used. The Local Contrast option is something else altogether. It modulates specific areas to increase intra-image contrast, much like a zone dimming display. Whether this is a good thing or not is up to personal preference. I found it made the picture less vibrant for SDR and HDR content, so I left it off.

The EX271UZ is a great time consumer for gaming. It has that addictive quality that alters your perception of time, so hours seem like minutes. It’s super quick in all situations. I had no trouble keeping the frame rate above 200 fps, so there was no need for the blur reduction. But it works perfectly if you need it for a slower PC or console that’s limited to 120 Hz. Input lag was nonexistent, and motion resolution was perfect. Whether playing twitchy shooters or slow-moving adventures, the image was always rich with detail and texture.

Color and contrast were the best OLED has to offer in SDR and HDR content. I settled on Display P3 for SDR and Display HDR for HDR as the best modes. I noted that there was adjustable HDR brightness, which most monitors don’t offer. Experimenting with the Local Contrast option, I was not a fan of its effect on the image. It was brighter but also a little dull. I left it off when trying the interpretive modes like Fantasy and Sci-fi.

For productivity, the EX271UZ’s picture was a pleasure to look at. It’s super sharp thanks to its very high pixel density of 166 ppi. 27-inch 4K monitors are somewhat rare; 32-inch monitors are more common, but the extra sharpness is noticeable. Size doesn’t always matter.

Interacting with the EX271UZ was super easy thanks to the remote. Though it isn’t common to see remotes with 27-inch monitors, I quickly became spoiled by the excellent handheld remote. BenQ always ups the game when it comes to control, and this is a benchmark for others to aspire to. I noted the lack of internal speakers and LED lighting, but there is something special in the audio department, HDMI eARC. This feature lets you connect a sound bar, AV receive,r or surround processor and keep the signal in the digital domain. It also supports uncompressed formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The EX271UZ is a fully capable entertainment solution for the desktop.

Takeaway: The EX271UZ delivers a stunningly sharp, bright, and colorful image while also being a great gaming monitor with instant control response and no visible motion blur at over 200 fps. It worked flawlessly in my hands-on tests and was a pleasure to look at and use. The included remote is a nice, unique touch, as is the inclusion of HDMI eARC and HDMI CEC for control. This is a seriously flexible and capable display.

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27-inch 4K OLEDs like the EX271UZ are rare,, so I included three 32-inch models in the comparison group. They include Asus’ XG32UCWMG, Dough’s Spectrum Black, and HP’s Omen 32 OLED. At 27 inches are the BenQ, Asus’ PG27UCDM, and Alienware’s AW2725Q. All of them run at 240 Hz.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

Panel response and smoothness are identical for all six monitors. 240 Hz here means 4ms to draw a full white field, and motion patterns run with no visible blur. The EX271UZ includes black frame insertion, which exacts a 40% brightness penalty but eliminates blur at lower frame rates. If you can’t reach 180 fps, it is a good choice.

In the lag test, the EX271UZ comes close to the Asus, scoring 18ms, matching three others. These are all fast monitors, and unless you are a Palpatine or Skywalker, you won’t perceive a difference between them. The BenQ holds its own with the quickest OLEDs available.

Test Takeaway: The EX271UZ showed exemplary video processing and smooth motion in all tests and games. It’s super quick, with instant control response and no hint of motion blur at frame rates over 180 fps. Lower speeds can be smoothed out with the available blur reduction, something not all OLEDs have. Though this is BenQ’s first OLED gaming monitor, it’s on par with the best displays I’ve reviewed.

Viewing Angles

The EX271UZ has nearly perfect off-axis imagery, but you can just see a hint of green in the 45-degree view. That’s an artifact common to Quantum Dot screens since they polarize light more aggressively than non-QD panels. There is no change in brightness or gamma. The top view is solidly bright, with a slight red tint and a minor gamma reduction.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

The EX271UZ is on par with other OLEDs in my uniformity test, where it scores 6.90%, well below the visible threshold. You won’t see any glow or hotspots in the 10% field pattern I measured. This is typical OLED performance, which is to say excellent.

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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

To find the EX271UZ’s brightest possible image, I had to measure several different picture modes. The default one, Fantasy, employs variable brightness so a 25% window measured at just over 400 nits while a full field was 265 nits. In the fixed modes, Display P3 and sRGB, constant brightness is used so 265 nits is the value for window and field patterns. The two Asus screens are a tad brighter but in practice, the difference is minimal. Like all OLEDs, black levels and contrast cannot be measured.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration does not affect black levels or contrast; they still cannot be measured. I settled on Display P3 as the best mode for SDR content because it has the most color-accurate image and is easier on the eyes with constant brightness. The ANSI test also has an unmeasurable result.

Test Takeaway: The EX271UZ shows its brightest image in the default Fantasy mode, but I found better picture quality in Display P3 where it uses constant brightness. I also determined that Local Contrast had no effect on these tests. The EX271UZ is a typical OLED, which means it looks stunning with deep blacks and tremendous dynamic range.

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The EX271UZ presented some unique challenges during testing and calibration. I’ll share the story below.

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.

First up is the EX271UZ’s default mode, Fantasy. It has a purple tint, which isn’t unusual, but the gamma tracking is all over the place. I measured with Local Contrast both on and off and got similar results.

To try and fix this, I first tweaked the RGB sliders, which dialed in grayscale excellently. But no combination of the gamma and Light Tuner would produce a straight line. I got it closer to the reference, but it’s still wonky. This is obviously a choice on BenQ’s part because they certainly know what they’re doing, given my long experience with their displays.

The solution is to pick one of the fixed color modes, either Display P3 for wide gamut or sRGB for the correct SDR color. You can’t change the color temp or gamma, but they track close to the mark. These modes match the factory calibration data sheet that comes in the box.

Comparisons

Fantasy is clearly one of the EX271UZ’s interpretive modes, with a grayscale error of 8.35 dE. This is well above the visible threshold of 3dE. The post-calibration chart shows the result for Display P3, which is much better at 1.32 dE. The best grayscale score I recorded was 0.64 dE, but that was after calibrating Fantasy mode with its wonky gamma, which was not acceptable to me.

The gamma result also reflects Display P3 mode and has a reasonable value range of 0.24 with a 3.18% deviation from 2.2. The actual value was 2.27, a tad dark but completely acceptable.

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.

Surprisingly, the gamma result I spoke of earlier for Fantasy mode did not affect color gamut accuracy too severely. There is slight oversaturation across the board and a magenta hue error. But visually, the EX271UZ’s color looks much better than its skewed gamma would suggest. Fantasy might be fine for some users, but for me, the accuracy of Display P3 looks better.

Display P3 and sRGB are spot-on with no visible errors. The numbers are impressive, with 1.09dE for Display P3 and 0.90dE for sRGB. That’s pro-level accuracy.

Comparisons

All the OLEDs here are very color-accurate, but the EX271UZ stands out with its 1.09dE score because that comes from a fixed mode that the user can’t calibrate. It doesn’t get much better than that. In the volume test, it comes up slightly short of the other Quantum Dot screens but is still more colorful than the non-QD panels, with 102.96% DCI-P3 coverage. sRGB coverage is an ideal 99.75%.

Test Takeaway: The EX271UZ delivers excellent color, grayscale, and gamma accuracy in its two fixed color modes: Display P3 and sRGB. The interpretive modes have decent gamut results, but exhibit significant gamma errors that cannot be corrected. The EX271UZ is a little challenging to set up, but since you’re reading this review, you know how to dial in the best picture.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The EX271UZ carries a VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black certification and supports HDR10 signals with an automatic switch. You get four specific modes, which include some adjustability.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The EX271UZ has average brightness when compared to other DisplayHDR 400 screens. I achieved this result by measuring a 25% window so you can expect small highlights of 3% or less to be closer to 700 nits. I noted that the best mode, Display HDR, allowed changes to peak brightness, something few OLEDs offer. I also noted that Local Contrast was only available in the interpretive modes. This wasn’t an issue for me as I preferred that option turned off.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

Display HDR is by far the most color-accurate HDR mode. Grayscale tracking is better than nearly any other HDR monitor with all errors below 2dE. The EOTF tracks slightly dark, but not enough to obscure fine shadow detail. It makes a smooth transition to tone mapping at 60% brightness, the correct level given the measured white and black levels.

In the color test, there is slight oversaturation, as with nearly all HDR monitors, which gives the image some added punch without a visual penalty. The EX271UZ uses its large gamut to full effect here. In the BT.2020 test, it reaches 90% red, 75% green, and 95% blue. This is excellent performance.

Test Takeaway: The EX271UZ embraces HDR content with terrific contrast, a bright textural picture, and accurate color. There’s plenty of saturation to differentiate HDR from SDR, and you get the bonus of adjustable brightness. This is a standout HDR display.

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It’s hard for any OLED gaming monitor to stand out from the pack because they’re all close in capabilities and performance. They are universally excellent for image quality thanks to their deep contrast and color accuracy. And they provide perfectly smooth motion for gaming that no LCD can match.

Though the Mobiuz EX271UZ is BenQ’s first OLED gaming monitor, it is by no means a version 1.0 product. It performed incredibly well in my tests, especially in the speed department, where it hung with the quickest 4K panels from companies that have far more experience with the technology.

It also matched the very best in picture quality with bright highlights, deep shadow detail and rich color. My only complaint there is that it defaults to an interpretive picture mode with some issues that can’t be calibrated away. But once I selected the fixed modes, Display P3 and sRGB, those problems disappeared. The EX271UZ is very accurate in those modes.

It stood out in a couple of areas. HDR brightness is adjustable, which is something few other monitors offer. But the biggest plus for me was its support for HDMI eARC. This is common in TVs but almost never seen on a monitor. It makes up for the lack of internal speakers by allowing connection to a sound bar, AV receiver, or sound processor, thereby keeping the audio signal digital. You won’t get better sound than when you couple the EX271UZ with a decent sound bar. It elevates the entertainment experience greatly.

At around $1,000, the EX271UZ is expensive but competitively priced. There’s no denying its positive qualities, and aside from some quirks during setup and calibration, it’s a stellar display. If you have the desire for a 4K OLED gaming monitor with extremely high performance and high pixel density, definitely check it out.

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We visited display manufacturer BenQ’s HQ in Taipei, where they showed off their latest monitors, and got hands-on with exclusive demos in the brand-new Color Fidelity lab. As one of the most prolific display manufacturers, the firm holds industry standards to the highest esteem instead of choosing its own ‘flavor’ of color standards. During our time at BenQ, company representatives offered the chance to dive deep into their AQCOLOR tech and how to avoid the pitfalls of mismatched colors between displays.

Along the way, we spoke with the company’s internal display specialists: Senior Color Expert Dr. Chris Bai and BenQ’s Director of Integrated Marketing, David BW Lai. Given the level of access offered to us, which is quite rare among usually secretive tech companies, we’ll walk you through our experience visiting BenQ’s headquarters and share exactly what we saw during our time there.

Towering in Taiwan

BenQ’s headquarters are located in an impressive skyscraper in the Neihu District of Taipei, right beside fellow giant Nvidia, an equally imposing neighbour. Upon arrival, BenQ outlined a brief history of the company. The firm started as a contract manufacturer in 1984, producing products as part of Acer. In 2001, Acer sold BenQ, which became the brand we know today.

But BenQ wasn’t always just about displays. The company also dabbled in other product categories since 2001, including laptops. But in 2025, BenQ’s sole focus was on display products, including monitors and projectors, where it has found success. In 2019, BenQ became the first manufacturer of a Pantone-validated display, a breakthrough for colorists and artists alike.

The talents that BenQ has amassed could be a part of the reason behind the company’s recent success. Dr. Chris Bai, BenQ’s resident Color Expert, holds a doctorate in Color Science awarded by Taiwan’s NTUST (National Taiwan University of Science and Technology). But, as well as his senior position at BenQ, Dr. Bai serves as the Vice Chair of the ICC (International Color Consortium) and is an Expert Member on ISO TC-130. Many of you will inevitably have experience with monitors and printers using ICC profiles, so you will have some grasp on the challenges of color management.

BenQ’s AQCOLOR tech is groundbreaking

One of BenQ's main missions is to deliver "colors you can trust,” and the company seeks to do that with its AQCOLOR monitors for professionals. Dr. Bai explained that the Designer PD series and Photographer SW series stand upon four pillars of quality to achieve this. These are commitments to 10-bit color, user calibratable software (Palette Master Ultimate), industry standards validation, and providing a factory calibration report to users of each product. This is backed up with an out-of-the-box guarantee of color precision, so users won’t have to tweak for hours before getting an accurate color profile.

Beyond the talk of calibration, validation, and monitor hardware and software working together, what was most impressive was BenQ's ability to deliver a consistent color appearance via its Universal Color Communication Platform.

Dr. Bai reasons that ‘color mismatch’ is the biggest problem in the world of displays and content creation. Color mismatch occurs when photos or digital art don't look as intended when they get to a consumer monitor, projector, TV screen, or even print.

As someone who worked in reprographics for several years before writing about tech, seeing such color consistency between the diverse output media was quite eyebrow-raising. It's been years since I was in the business, and happily, the color quality and accuracy of monitors, TVs, printers, and projectors have all been raised significantly in the interim.

The game developer gambit

But it’s not just professional displays enjoying the new AQCOLOR tech. BenQ is bringing it to the gaming segment with a handful of new monitors from the company’s performance-focused PD series of panels.

Specifically, we were shown the recently-launched BenQ PD2730S and PD3226G. As well as appealing to some of BenQ’s traditional color-accuracy sensitive professional customers like designers and photographers, the new PD series has ramped up resolutions and/or refresh rates.

BenQ has done this in response to seeing an increased demand for its PD series monitors among game designers. These creative professionals also want to ensure that visual assets are communicated to players as they see them. Therefore, developers may be lured in by the accurate, consistent visuals. Other elements, such as improved pixel density and refresh rates, offer not only accurate visuals but smooth-as-butter performance, too.

To get an idea of why game developers are going wild on high-end monitors, I got my hands on one of BenQ’s latest models: the new PD2730S.

Dr. Bai had set up a color test on the monitor, and a 15-inch MacBook Pro (M2 Pro), driven by the device’s Thunderbolt port. We were told to play an odd-one-out color game on each display. However, we weren’t told the purpose of the game.

After completing a fairly simple set of tasks twice, there was a significant score difference in spotting accurate colors on the panel compared to the M2 MacBook Pro’s display. On the PD2730S, the score hit 760, whereas the MacBook Pro’s core was 560 points, meaning that on this (very simple) test, colors were more accurate to the tune of around 30%.

BenQ is also eyeing up the Mac market

BenQ has been pleased with the take-up of its MA Series monitors, which target Apple Mac users. The latest MA Series displays improve on the previous generation’s M-book mode with the more expansive iDevice Color Sync, which was launched in January 2025 and delivers ICC profiles on a per-model basis. Understandably, going from Mac to Mac across models and generations, there is some visual variation, despite Apple's efforts.

Going forward, the new color syncing will deliver fine-tuned profiles to match the subtle color differences of the Apple hardware across models and generations. Thus, your external display will be a much better complement to the built-in one thanks to iDevice Color Sync.

We also saw Display Pilot 2 software for Mac, which makes display and color management, as well as brightness syncing, very easy with a few mouse clicks or keyboard shortcuts. BenQ also teased that it has more new MA Series monitors to come, but has no further details to share publicly yet.

The gaming market has two clear segments

Regular readers will be well aware of BenQ’s gaming-purposed monitor sub-brands: the FPS and esports-focused Zowie line and the AAA and open-world-purposed Mobiuz monitors.

The former still utilizes TN technology displays for high-end eSports performance. We recently reviewed the BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ 400 Hz 25-inch gaming monitor, which has blisteringly-fast refresh rates for those who require it.

Meanwhile, the Mobiuz series of gaming monitors embraces other screen technologies to achieve the best balance of quality and performance, tailored for AAA and open-world gaming. We reviewed the BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX 144 Hz gaming monitor with Mini-LED technology last year, and it fared rather well thanks to its bright and accurate color, low input lag, and contrast enhanced by 1,152 local dimming zones. However, as you will read later in our chats with the BenQ execs, the days of Mini-LED are already numbered, with OLED likely to be the next key technology for this segment.

Inside BenQ’s Color Fidelity lab

In BenQ’s Color Fidelity Lab, we were pleased to see some real-world demonstrations of color management pipelines and the results that can be achieved with vastly different mediums like monitors, TVs, signage, projectors, and print.

Please note that my smartphone camera photos from the lab don't do it justice, due to the smart processing shenanigans that my Asus Zenfone 9 is surely applying to the scenes. Nevertheless, the shots aren't bad at communicating the consistent colors achieved in these demo workflows. Thus, we’ve also used BenQ’s lab photos in our report.

The first lab setup we observed was a purposely complex scene which included a standard Macbeth ColorChecker Chart (center), and a warm-yellow household lamp (also center) to add a bit of natural chaos to the studio lighting. The first image of the two shows the monitor in the scene before the BenQ color consistency technology has been applied. The second image in the sequence has the tech applied, so that the image displayed on the monitor does correspond to the actual scene. In our experience inside the lab, the ColorChecker Chart allowed for easy color comparison vs standards, and the scenes viewed in real life and via the BenQ monitor were impressively consistent.

There was also an additional demo, which showed a professional BenQ monitor and a 4K projector showing uncannily similar imagery. The color characteristics and quality looked very similar between the two devices. This would be a great setup for creative professionals targeting or checking content for projectors.

As someone with a background in the printing industry, I was also pleased to see how similar the countryside scene print was to the image on the monitor. Balancing paper media CMYK output (reflective) to what someone sees on screen (emissive) has been important since the dawn of color digital workflows. So, users today are very lucky to have a wide choice of great devices and support for color management technology.

We also saw a demo in which some non-color-managed displays were compared with several color-matched and calibrated displays. This demo showed that designers could accurately target TVs and signage to communicate their original creative vision, which might also include important color features like properly reproduced brand logos.

The last part of the lab shared a technology BenQ is working on to convey textures more accurately on displays. Getting colors right in eTail environments is important to minimize the return rate of their products. In this use case, the displays showed off accurate carpet sample textures, which could help customers narrow down choices before ordering a small subset of physical samples. The tech could also apply to fabrics, among other product categories.

Q&A with BenQ

We had the chance to sit down with two senior figures at BenQ, Dr. Chris Bai (Senior Color Expert, Color Technology Lab) and Timothy Y Lee (Director of the Work-Tainment Division, covering PC gaming), to quiz them on where they envision monitor panel technology, color accuracy and panel types are going next.

Our first query was about BenQ's plans and observed trends in the highly competitive gaming monitor segment. Lee answered this, saying the gaming market seems to be moving to more color-accurate displays, and a shift of preference to OLED. The firm's gaming monitors should benefit from color accuracy from the R&D done on the professional side of the business.

Gamers are also gravitating toward larger and higher-resolution displays, so we expect BenQ to follow suit.

However, Mini-LED has not and (it seems) will not be a technology that will gain favor at BenQ. Lee mentioned that BenQ has only released a single Mini-LED gaming monitor in 2024, and it didn't have the greatest impact. Dr. Bai commented that inherent Mini-LED display factors like halo effects and uniformity issues meant Mini-LED wasn't much more than a stopgap on the way to OLED.

The BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX 144 Hz gaming monitor with Mini-LED technology garnered some praise in our review, thanks to its bright and accurate color, low input lag, and contrast that’s enhanced by 1,152 local dimming zones. However, with OLED shipments ramping up, quality improving, and prices coming down, it is reasonable to expect that more new Mobiuz gaming displays will adopt this type of screen.

On the topic of favorite products, it was surprising to hear Lee point to the MA Series for Macs. He admitted he wasn't a gamer, but the Zowie and Mobiuz product managers were. His reasons for loving the MA series seem to be simply down to its success and great feedback from the target market. Dr. Bai agreed that the Mac market, in general, was more interested in color-accurate workflows.

Previously, we mentioned the close proximity of BenQ and Nvidia HQs, so we thought it reasonable to ask if there is much collaboration with the neighbors in gaming display tech.

In brief, there are some minor collaborations between the companies, but Nvidia prefers to push its proprietary technologies while BenQ prefers open industry standards. So, while it might be easy to get new BenQ monitors validated for G-Sync compatibility thanks to its neighbor, for example, BenQ prefers to adopt tech like Adaptive Sync, and leaves closer Nvidia gaming display collaboration to rivals like Asus and MSI.

As for where this all leaves the monitor market, BenQ has shown that it’s deadly serious about pushing color accuracy and new panel technologies.With segmentation for just about anyone looking for a new display, it’s clear that BenQ’s not only one of the biggest players in the segment but is also pushing it forward in clear and tangible ways that people connect with.

Many of my recent reviews have included some of the best OLED gaming monitors, and I have found that they universally deliver the best gaming performance available. What I mean is that their video processing creates smooth motion with perfect clarity in moving and static images, and the 240 Hz models have extremely low input lag. They are ideal for competition. But what of those super quick FHD screens, the ones with 360 Hz or faster refresh rates?

They are now the less expensive alternative in the hyperactive gaming monitor genre. If you want smooth motion and low input lag, you can spend $800 to 1,000 on an OLED, or around $650 on a BenQ Zowie XL2566X+. It uses a 25-inch FHD TN panel with 400 Hz, Adaptive-Sync and the best backlight strobe feature I’ve seen to date. I never thought I’d call a monitor like this a bargain, but in the world of bleeding-edge performance, it is.

BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ Specs

The XL2566X+ is indeed FHD 1920x1080 resolution, which might seem old-school, but it is also the best way to achieve high frame rates. I’m talking about 300fps and up. Here, you can go to 400 Hz without overclocking. And you get FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility.

There’s another element to BenQ’s video processing called DyAc2. It is an extremely precise backlight strobe, and while it doesn’t work with Adaptive-Sync like Asus’ ULMB, it eliminates any trace of phasing or ghosting artifacts. It’s the best backlight strobe I’ve seen, and it mounts serious competition for OLED monitors. Motion resolution at speeds over 200fps is perfect in that moving objects retain the same clarity as static ones. When you get over 300fps, it is not difficult in FHD resolution, and the smoothness and response are as good as a 240 Hz OLED.

Now granted, you won’t get the huge color gamut or deep contrast of an OLED from the XL2566X+. It’s a TN screen that looks fine when viewed head-on but has some color and contrast shifts when you get off-center. But its size makes it a one-player display. Your focus is further enhanced by an included image shield that attaches to the sides of the monitor. It blocks some ambient light, which aids in perceived contrast, and it keeps nearby players from seeing what you’re up to.

The XL2566X+’s color gamut is slightly larger than sRGB, so you get a nice level of saturation for SDR gaming. And there’s no HDR support which is a bummer. However, the panel’s native contrast is comfortably over 1,400:1, so it has more image depth than the average LCD. Color accuracy is reasonable, but I found some gamma anomalies that I’ll talk about on page four.

Physically, the XL2566X+ is a solid package with premium build quality and retro styling. When you see the photos below, you’ll know what I mean. In addition to the light shield hardware, you also get a wired OSD controller that makes menu navigation a breeze. The stand has ruler marks so you can easily replicate ergonomic positions when transporting the monitor. And software from BenQ lets you save and share monitor settings with other users.

The XL2566X+ is in every way a gamer’s tool. It’s built for high-performance play with no compromises. And it’s around $350 less expensive than an OLED. Let’s take a look.

Assembly and Accessories

The XL2566X+’s carton is more square than rectanglar, which is unique, and it’s mostly black with red sides. It will surely stand out at your local big box store. The base, upright, and panel are well protected by crumbly foam and can be assembled without tools. The power supply is internal, so you get an IEC cord plus HDMI and DisplayPort cables.

Product 360

Now you see what I mean about the XL2566X+’s styling. I haven’t seen a bezel this wide, or a panel this thick in a while. It reminds me of the NEC enterprise monitors I saw 10 years ago. Whatever you may think of the look, the XL2566X+ is extremely rugged. It will stand up to heavy and long-term use for sure. The side blinders are equally substantial and made from thick plastic. They attach to the panel after you prize out the tiny rubber plugs that cover equally tiny holes. Once in place, they hinge so you can get the angle just right.

There is a pop-out headphone hook in the back, which is the only part of the XL2566X+ that is not super solid. It feels flimsy, so I’d be careful when using it. The red Zowie logo is featured prominently and there’s texturing around the attachment point. If you prefer to use an arm, a 100mm VESA mount is provided with fasteners included.

The stand is not only solid but also smooth. I say this about a lot of monitor stands, but the one included with the XL2566X+ is a cut above. It moves with internal roller bearings and has no play while remaining smooth and precise. There are molded-in markings for swivel and height so you can always find the same position when you set up in different locations. At the top of the upright is an integrated handle. Ergonomics are very generous with 5/35 degrees tilt and 45 degrees swivel. The height range covers 6.3 inches which means you can put the screen at eye level and vertical if you like. There is no portrait mode.

The inputs face backwards for easy access and include three HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 1.4. You also get a 3.5mm headphone jack. There are no USB ports, nor are there internal speakers.

OSD Features

The XL2566X+’s OSD can be navigated by the included S-Switch or with a tiny joystick you’ll find on the back right. It’s flanked by a power toggle and an input selector. The S-Switch has three buttons for quick picture mode changes plus two additional buttons and a scroll wheel that rocks left and right. It plugs into a dedicated port on the input panel.

Pressing any button brings up a handy quick menu that’s very large and easy to read. Left and right selects the field and up and down changes the setting. Clicking on Menu opens the full OSD.

The XL2566X+ has eight picture modes. FPS1 is the default. The three Gamer modes correspond to the three numbered buttons on the S-Switch so once you’ve configured them, they can be selected with a single button press.

Calibration options include five gamma presets, three color temps and a set of RGB sliders. I achieved excellent grayscale tracking but gamma comes with some issues that I’d called “interpretive.” It’s BenQ’s way of enhancing game detail, but it isn’t quite up to standard. You’ll see what I mean on page four.

DyAc2 is the fancy backlight strobe I spoke of earlier. It’s a completely viable alternative to Adaptive-Sync with no downsides. It reduces brightness by less than 10% and it delivers perfect motion resolution with no artifacts. It’s better than any other implementation I’ve seen to date. If you’d rather use overdrive with Adaptive-Sync, it has two fixed settings and a variable option with 20 levels. You can precisely tune it to your average frame rate that way. Very cool.

You can set up the three Game modes, then save them as settings memories. Once you sync the S-Switch, the modes can be summoned by pressing the three number keys. The Quick menu (first photo above) can be customized for quick access to commonly used functions, as can a dedicated key on the S-Switch.

One thing you’ll want to turn off right away is the buzzer. It beeps every time you click a button or joystick directional and is extremely annoying, at least it was to me. Thank you BenQ for providing a choice. The System menu also has the audio volume and mute controls for the headphone jack. LED indicator refers to the power toggle button. The XL2566X+ has no other LED lighting.

BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ Calibration Settings

I’ve found most BenQ monitors to take liberties with established color standards and provide an accurate mode that hits the marks for grayscale, gamma, and gamut. The XL2566X+ is an exception to this. First off, it is not a wide-gamut monitor. But it covers a little more than 112% of sRGB so it is colorful, relative to other SDR monitors. The default grayscale tracking is cool in tone but that is easily fixed with a few tweaks to the RGB sliders. What cannot be set right is gamma. The default setting of 3 is very light though it tracks reasonably straight. The darkest option is 5 which is better but still not at the 2.2 mark. The picture is well-detailed and bright, but I wish there were a 2.2 option. I also had to reduce the sharpness slider one click to remove a bit of edge enhancement. My recommended settings are below.

Gaming and Hands-on

The question I most wanted to answer here is, “Is the XL2566X+ a viable alternative to an OLED?” The answer is yes, with one caveat. On the positive side, its video processing and responsiveness are as good as a 240 or 360 Hz OLED. Input lag is imperceptible, and the moving image is always perfectly clear and smooth. I used the AMA overdrive on the High setting and saw no blur or artifacts. DyAc2 produced the same result. I raised the brightness value a few clicks to compensate for the slight reduction in output, but motion processing looked the same. I was running at 400fps during all my tests and never did I see a frame tear, ghost artifact or phase effect. The XL2566X+’s video processing achieves the same level of perfection as any OLED.

The caveat is in image quality. This is not to say the XL2566X+ looks bad; far from it. It’s bright and it’s colorful. Though I’m used to playing Doom Eternal in HDR mode, it looks awesome in the SDR realm too. But an OLED will be more colorful and deliver deeper contrast. I’ve said many times that no LCD can compete with an OLED’s image quality. That still holds true.

So, the final answer is yes, the XL2566X+ is a viable alternative to an OLED. It represents a decent savings, and you still get the same game performance. If speed and responsiveness are your top priority, it delivers identical speed and smoothness to any OLED I’ve reviewed.

One thing I noted was the lack of aiming points or a frame counter. While plenty of gaming monitors do without USB ports, LED lighting and speakers like the XL2566X+, there’s no reason to skip the frame counter and reticules. Though I don’t use these items in my gaming sessions, the choice should be there.

Moving on to other tasks, the XL2566X+ proved itself capable for the workday with clear rendering of the apps I use most like Photoshop, Word, and Excel. Web browsing showed me clear text and graphics as well. There is more than enough brightness and contrast for any productivity endeavor. I would have liked a darker gamma option though; that was my only complaint. Black levels and dynamic range are good, but the picture would be even better if I could get the number to 2.2. At setting Gamma 5, the value was 1.89, still fairly light in tone. Luckily, the highly saturated color mitigated that a bit. And I didn’t miss the wide gamut too much.

Takeaway: The XL2566X+ is an extremely capable gaming monitor with the same video processing excellence as an OLED. It has perfect motion resolution, easily runs at 400fps and sports the best backlight strobe option I’ve seen to date. It is a less expensive alternative to an OLED gaming monitor if performance is your top priority. My only complaints were its lack of an accurate gamma option and the missing aiming points and frame counter.

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The comparison group is made from monitors running between 280 and 540 Hz. These are the fastest LCD panels currently available for sale. At 280 Hz are two Lenovos, the Y25-30 and R25f-30. At 360 Hz is Alienware’s AW2523HF. The XL2566X+ runs at 400 Hz. At 500 Hz is Alienware’s AW2524HF and the 540 Hz slot belongs to Asus’ PG248QP. All are 25-inch screens with FHD 1920x1080 resolution.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

The Asus has the quickest panel response at 2ms. but the rest aren’t far behind. 360-500 Hz will get you 3ms and 280 Hz takes 4ms to draw a full white field. In all cases, this means perfect motion resolution at full speed. Moving objects retain full clarity of detail.

The input lag scores are equally close. Only 3ms separates the entire group. The XL2566X+ is second from the top at 19ms of total control delay. That’s competition level but so are all the others. In a side-by-side comparison, it will be hard to perceive a difference in feel between any of these monitors. And note that a 280 Hz Lenovo is the top dog here.

Test Takeaway: It’s a safe choice to buy any monitor that runs at 280 Hz or faster. You’ll get perfect motion resolution and the lowest input lag available from a display. The XL2566X+ plays in the sandbox with the very best and like the competition, it represents a less expensive alternative to a premium OLED. You’ll have nothing but a satisfying gameplay experience with this BenQ.

Viewing Angles

TN screens are at a disadvantage when viewed from the sides. The XL2566X+ shows typical performance in this regard. You can see a clear shift to green but in its favor, there is no real light output reduction and gamma stays constant. You’ll see a color shift, but the image detail will remain. The XL2566X+ is better than most TN screens in this test.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

The XL2566X+ does well in my field uniformity test. There are no visible hotspots, nor is there bleed or glow of any kind. A 9.3% score is below the visible threshold. This is solid performance.

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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 XL2566X+ isn’t the brightest of the bunch out of the box but it is more than bright enough. There’s no need for concerns about headroom because there’s no HDR and the backlight strobe barely affects light output. With DyAc2 engaged, you can still peak at around 310 nits, which is plenty bright.

The XL2566X+’s black levels are lower than all but the VA-based R25f-30 so its contrast is above average among TN and IPS panels at an impressive 1,433.7:1.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration adds a few points to the XL2566X+’s contrast ratio, taking it to 1,442.9:1. I would normally call this a wash visually. Still, since I selected a darker gamma preset, the picture is noticeably more dimensional and textured.

The XL2566X+ retains its best-of-the-rest status in the ANSI test with an excellent 1,376:1 score. It is very consistent which speaks to its high component quality and precise grid polarizer. This is excellent performance.

Test Takeaway: If you’re spoiled by OLEDs as I am, these panels won’t seem impressive. However, the XL2566X+ contrast is higher than the average in the IPS and TN categories. And it retains that dynamic range with calibration. It is very consistent and provides as much image depth as possible for this technology. And it’s more than bright enough for SDR gaming with its backlight strobe.

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The XL2566X+ comes set to the FPS1 mode by default. Trying out the other picture modes told me that this was the best starting point for calibration which is required for the best possible image.

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.

In the first chart, you can see the blue tint that comes with the default Normal color temp setting. The errors are visible throughout the brightness range and can be seen in all content. The picture is a bit flat as a result. Gamma is very light which makes the image look bright, but again, it lacks dimension.

The darkest gamma preset is number five, and it is still too light. But it looks a lot better. I got the grayscale error down below the visible threshold, so all white and gray tones are neutral. The image looks much better than when I started but I missed the accurate gamma preset that BenQ usually provides.

Comparisons

The XL2566X+’s default grayscale error of 6.75dE is not up to BenQ’s usual standard. While a blue tone makes the image look brighter, it also reduces overall clarity. Luckily, the RGB sliders are up to the task of removing any visible issues. The final value of 1.30dE is well below the threshold of 3dE.

With no accurate gamma preset, the best I could do was Gamma 5 which is still 14.05% off the 2.2 standard. The actual average value is 1.89 which is quite light in tone. That’s an improvement from the default number of 1.52 at least. I missed BenQ’s usual correct option here.

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 XL2566X+’s color gamut tracking is off the mark as well. By default, you can see a few issues. Generally, color is oversaturated which is a positive here because sRGB is the native spec. Coverage is over 100% which makes the picture a little more vibrant. Before calibration, you can see hue errors in cyan and magenta.

Calibration brings the secondary (cyan, magenta and yellow) hues in line, but the over-saturation remains. In a market filled with wide gamut displays, the XL2566X+ is a little less colorful but not significantly. It is the right choice for SDR games.

Comparisons

From a color error standpoint, the XL2566X+ isn’t in great territory by the numbers but it’s shifted in a good direction. The 7.58dE value is solely due to over-saturation which is forgivable. The monitor is very colorful and since the target points remain linear, there is no loss of clarity. While it would be better if it were closer to 3dE average, I can still call the XL2566X+’s color pleasing.

In the gamut volume test, the XL2566X+ is in fifth place but well above the bottom finishing Alienware. With 112.90% coverage of sRGB, the BenQ is colorful. Though it doesn’t quite have the volume of the top four screens, it isn’t far out of the running.

Test Takeaway: Despite the XL2566X+’s light gamma, it presents a bright and colorful image. Extra color saturation helps here and gamma tracking, though below the 2.2 standard, is relatively linear. Color points are also linear so there is no problem seeing the image’s full detail. BenQ has taken a few liberties here, but the resulting picture is a good one. I just wish there were an accurate gamma option.

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With the proliferation of premium OLED gaming monitors coming across my test bench, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see another 400 Hz monitor again. But all things considered, OLEDs are still expensive and the BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ costs a good bit less. Granted at $650, it isn’t a trivial purchase. However, an OLED with equivalent gaming performance costs around $1,000.

The XL2566X+’s retro styling and solid build make it a competitive gamer’s tool. I noted the useful markings on the premium stand for repeatable positioning. And with its flexibility in setup and the handy S-Switch, you can tote it easily to a LAN party. I liked the inclusion of side blinders so you can isolate yourself from your competitors. And everything about its physical presence exudes quality. You’ll be using this monitor for a long time.

The XL2566X+’s retro styling and solid build make it a competitive gamer’s tool. I noted the useful markings on the premium stand for repeatable positioning. And with its flexibility in setup and the handy S-Switch, you can tote it easily to a LAN party. I liked the inclusion of side blinders so you can isolate yourself from your competitors. And everything about its physical presence exudes quality. You’ll be using this monitor for a long time.

BenQ has created a benchmark with its DyAc2 backlight strobe. This feature is common on fast gaming monitors, and it almost always comes with phasing artifacts that render it barely usable. The XL2566X+’s version is perfect. It only cuts brightness slightly and it renders perfect motion resolution without overdrive. And if you’d rather run Adaptive-Sync, the overdrive is very effective. It also delivers a moving image without blur or artifacts. I have not seen better video processing from any LCD in recent memory.

Though I never expected OLED image quality from the XL2566X+, it did irritate me a little with its lack of a correct gamma option. The darkest setting is still lighter than the 2.2 standard. The picture is good but with the right gamma, it would be even better. And there were no aiming points or frame counters.

If you’re balking at the idea of spending $800-1,000 on an OLED, but you need a high-performance monitor for tournament play, the BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ is definitely worth checking out.

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With all the latest monitor buzz centered around OLED panels, it’s easy to forget that some truly excellent LCD panels can deliver stunning images with color and clarity while offering excellent gaming performance and peak brightness that OLED can’t match. I’m talking about 1,000 nits or more, which is a difficult goal for an OLED but no problem for Mini LED.

BenQ’s MOBIUZ line of gaming monitors includes value prospects and premium displays when it comes to the best 4K gaming monitors. The EX321UX is firmly in the latter category at around $1,200. For that sum, you get a 32-inch IPS Mini LED panel with 4K 3840x2160 resolution, 1,152 dimming zones, wide gamut color, HDR1000, 144 Hz, and Adaptive Sync. It also comes with the latest video inputs, including DisplayPort 2.1 and HDMI 2.1. It’s refreshingly styled and even includes a handy remote control. Let’s take a look.

BenQ MOBIUZ EX321UX Specs

While OLEDs have, in my opinion, the best image quality, thanks to their broad contrast, they aren’t super bright. If you want maximum light output, Mini LED is the tech for you. Most will top 1,000 nits in HDR mode and some, like Samsung’s Neo G8, have cracked 2,000 nits. The EX321UX isn’t quite that bright. It’s certified VESA DisplayHDR 1000 and my sample hit 1,300 nits when measuring a 25% window. Local dimming comes into play with 1,152 zones.

BenQ delivers a lot of color volume with a Quantum Dot film covering 99% of DCI-P3. My sample topped 104%, so plenty of saturation is available for the latest HDR content. Two accurate picture modes promise spot-on DCI-P3 and sRGB gamuts for critical applications. HDR10 is supported with five additional modes that each offer a different look for your favorite games.

The max refresh rate is 144 Hz, which in today’s landscape is about as slow as you’ll want for a gaming monitor. But since the EX321UX is 4K, you’ll need a lot of video card power to hit that frame rate. BenQ has one of the best overdrives I’ve seen, and it’s included here. There’s no backlight strobe, but my tests showed minimal blur and no ghosting artifacts. FreeSync and G-Sync work flawlessly, but the EX321UX has not been certified by Nvidia.

Usually, I comment that monitors with a white finish are unique. But lately, I’ve seen a few, so I’ll update my opinion – it’s nice to see some new designs appearing on the market. Enterprise screens will likely always be black and plain, but gaming monitors are a blank canvas. The EX321UX is black in the front only. Every other surface is a bright white with a few copper accents on the base. It fits in with the latest gaming consoles. Its inputs, DisplayPort 2.1 and HDMI 2.1, also fit into the latest systems. One USB-C port also supports video input, and other USBs support peripherals and charging.

The only things left out here are internal speakers and LED lighting. But the headphone jack supports audio modes, and you get a handheld remote. The OSD is very flexible and includes a multitude of picture presets and settings memories so you can quickly pivot between work and play.

At $1,200 to start, the EX321UX is definitely a major purchase. But it offers excellent image quality, solid gaming and BenQ’s typical high-end build quality.

Assembly and Accessories

The EX321UX comes in a clamshell box packed in molded pulp rather than crumbly foam. It is fully recyclable—kudos to BenQ. The three main bits assemble without tools. The panel has a 100mm VESA mount in the back with fasteners included. An enormous brick serves as the power supply. Cables include HDMI, USB-C/C, and USB-C/A, but oddly, no DisplayPort. You also get a small handheld remote, which, oddly, does not include the necessary CR2032 button battery.

Product 360

The EX321UX is all-screen in the front with a very thin flush bezel. It’s narrower than what’s found on most 32-inch monitors at just eight millimeters wide. The bottom trim is a full inch and has ambient light and IR sensors for the Brightness Intelligence+ feature and for the remote control. Underneath is a tiny joystick for OSD control along with a backlit power key and a single control key for input selection.

The inputs face rearwards and are very easy to access. You get three HDMI 2.1 ports, one of which supports eARC (Audio Return Channel). This makes soundbar and speaker integration very easy. The single DisplayPort is version 2.1. If you are running a GeForce RTX 4090 and are concerned about compatibility (it only supports DP 1.4), don’t worry. The EX321UX switches versions automatically. I had no issues running HDR and G-Sync with 10-bit color at 144 Hz. You can also run video through a USB-C port that mimics DisplayPort functions. A second USB-C provides upstream support for three USB-A downstream jacks, version 3.2. Underneath the panel center is the headphone jack and one each of USB-A and USB-C. The latter supports charging up to 7.5 watts.

There are no internal speakers, but the headphone jack has three different sound modes that provide a decent approximation of surround audio. You can easily control the volume and switch modes with the remote, providing quick access to picture modes, settings memories, brightness, and the heads-up display with signal and frame rate info.

The stand is all white with small copper accents at the front feet and the swivel point. Speaking of ergonomics, there is a four-inch height adjustment plus 15 degrees of swivel and 5/15 degrees of tilt. There is no portrait mode. The stand is fairly solid, but there is some play at the panel’s attachment point.

OSD Features

The EX321UX’s OSD is loaded with options and can be a bit confusing with its large selection of picture and settings memories. It has its own dedicated button on the remote, which is the easiest way to access it.

The first photo shows the heads-up display that appears whenever you open the OSD or press the remote button with the symbol of a gaming controller on it. It shows FreeSync/G-Sync status, HDR, input resolution and the current refresh rate. It will vary when you’re playing games and you can leave it on all the time if you like.

The main menu rises from the bottom of the screen and includes six sub-menus. Each of the 10 SDR picture modes has its own settings that appear to the right. The default one is Fantasy and while it looks decent, its gamma is quite far from standard. I’ll talk more about that on page four. The accurate modes are Display P3 and sRGB, and you can adjust their brightness, but unfortunately, they don’t let you use the Local Dimming feature. It’s there in HDR mode just fine but it’s a bummer that the EX321UX’s two color-accurate modes lock out the local dimming. There is no backlight strobe option in any of the modes, but AMA (overdrive) is always available. It works extremely well at reducing blur without any ghosting artifacts.

The first four modes have an option called Light Tuner. It alters gamma in different parts of the brightness scale but does not have an accurate setting. It is strictly a personal preference adjustment. Some users will prefer the look and some, like me, will not. B.I.+ uses the EX321UX’s front-mounted light sensor to adjust brightness and color temperature according to ambient lighting conditions. You also get color temp options, and the Local Dimming can be toggled on or off. Eye Care options include Low Blue Light and Color Weakness for those with partial color blindness.

eARC is featured on the HDMI 3 input and lets the user integrate a soundbar or speaker system with the EX321UX. If you use headphones, there are three sound modes that expand the feeling of space very effectively.

The Quick Menu appears when you press the joystick. It can be configured to five different scenarios, all programmable by the user. They are titled according to military radio protocol. In the System menu, you can turn on an FPS counter and choose between two red aiming points. Also here are KVM functions and you can defeat the power button LED if you like.

BenQ MOBIUZ EX321UX Calibration Settings

BenQ is well known for always providing a color-accurate picture mode. The default setting, Fantasy, is not that mode. It is bright and colorful but has inaccurate gamma. Despite it providing a full set of calibration controls, there is no way to tame the wild gamma tracking. After measuring every combination of the Gamma and Light Tuner sliders, I turned to the Display P3 mode. It won’t let you change gamma or color temp, but luckily, it is visually free of any errors and its gamma tracks almost perfectly. If you want sRGB, that mode is equally accurate. The only bummer is you can’t use the local dimming in those modes. You can use it for HDR, though, where you get five additional picture modes. Below are brightness values for commonly used output levels in SDR mode. For HDR, I suggest maxing the brightness slider for the most impactful picture. The EX321UX includes uniformity compensation but trust me, you won’t need it. It only serves to reduce contrast anyway.

Gaming and Hands-on

I started with a few rounds of Doom Eternal’s horde mode and was quickly addicted to the EX321UX’s excellent video processing. Though it runs at 144 Hz, the AMA overdrive kept blur from being a factor and there were no artifacts at all. My aim remained true and fine detail in moving objects was always visible. Background detail in fast camera pans did not blur or break up either. It isn’t quite a 240 Hz OLED, but among 144 Hz 4K LCDs, the EX321UX is one of the best I’ve seen. And I didn’t miss the backlight strobe option. You might want it if your system can’t keep the frame rate over 100fps but running at 144 Hz, I was happy with G-Sync and AMA set to level 1.

The HDR options were an interesting mix. In testing, I settled on Display HDR as the best choice. It’s a little dark in the shadow areas, but it has the most accurate color. During gameplay though, I found it a little lacking in verve. The remote has a dedicated HDR button, so I could easily try the other four modes. Some were more cartoonish in their color rendering, but Sci-Fi had the best compromise between vivacity and accuracy. It looked natural and made shadow detail easy to see while maintaining bright highlights. For videos though, I went back to Display HDR. It was a better fit for streamed content from Netflix and YouTube.

On the Windows desktop, I stuck with Display P3 mode for its accurate gamma. I would have liked access to the local dimming, but it isn’t there unless you use one of the other modes. Fantasy is the default, and it has plenty of depth, but its color didn’t look right to me. Your mileage may vary so I suggest trying all the presets to find your favorite. At least I could use local dimming for HDR content.

Using the EX321UX for productivity is a joy. I employ this same size and shape display for daily tasks, and it is ideal. Though an ultra- or mega-wide panel is better for pure gaming, a 32-inch 16:9 screen works in all scenarios. You can easily read two Word documents side-by-side or see large portions of a spreadsheet. Or keep Word and a browser up at the same time. And it’s great for Photoshop if you like to have a lot of toolbars open.

I plugged a pair of Sennheiser headphones in to try out the sound modes. There aren’t any internal speakers but that’s no big deal. The EX321UX’s audio processing is superb. The surround mode was truly spatial and made the sound happen around my head rather than in my head as typical headphones do. I also appreciated the jack being on the bottom instead of in the back. The extra USBs were also handy for plugging in controllers and charging a phone.

Takeaway: Aside from a couple of quirks concerning picture modes, the EX321UX is without flaw. It delivers excellent gaming performance within its 144 Hz limit and has a stunning picture. The HDRi modes aren’t accurate but they are bright and impactful. Video processing is as good as it gets among premium LCD panels and there is more light output available than anyone will need. I also enjoyed vividly saturated color in both SDR and HDR content. My only note is this: all negative comments would be rendered moot if BenQ would add gamma, color temp and local dimming options, to the Display P3 and sRGB picture modes.

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If you’re shopping 4K gaming monitors, note that most of them top out at 144 Hz. The EX321UX is in that category, along with the Corsair 32UHD144, AOC PD32M and Gigabyte M32UC. You can get 160 Hz from Acer’s Predator X32 and at the speedy end of the scale is Samsung’s Odyssey Neo G8 which hits 240 Hz.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

The G8 delivers the smoothest motion processing but you’ll need a top-end video card to even crack 200fps at 3840x2160 pixels. The EX321UX and other 144 Hz UHD monitors will work with a wider variety of systems though you’ll still need some power to maintain 144fps. 7ms is a typical draw time for these monitors. The EX321UX improves on the other three screens with a more precise overdrive that mitigates blur without ghosting.

It also has extremely low input lag and manages to beat the Samsung by 3ms, which is no small feat. The Acer is the best of the lot in that test and is well-suited for pro-level competition. But the EX321UX is qualified too. It doesn’t have a backlight strobe, but the overdrive makes that feature unnecessary.

Test Takeaway: Most pro gamers will sacrifice resolution for higher frame rates, but if you want 4K, the EX321UX is one of the best, thanks to its precise overdrive. OLED is still a better choice for ultimate performance and image quality, but the EX321UX’s Mini LED panel is much brighter than any OLED. If you need 1,200-nit HDR and 4K resolution, it’s one of the best gaming monitors you can get.

Viewing Angles

The EX321UX’s viewing angles are typical of premium IPS panels. You can see a green shift at 45 degrees to the side, but there is no appreciable reduction in light output or gamma, which is a very good thing. The top view is cool in tone with a 40% drop in brightness and washed-out gamma. Overall, though, this is excellent performance for an LCD monitor.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

The EX321UX has a uniformity compensation feature but it is completely unnecessary. I turned it off and measured 2.93% deviation which is one of the lowest scores I’ve ever recorded. Turning UC on only serves to reduce contrast anyway. There was no hint of bleed or glow from my sample. It doesn’t get much better than this.

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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

Light output is what Mini LED is best known for and the EX321UX delivers. You can get over 633 nits in SDR mode which is painfully bright. This monitor would be fine in an outdoor video production setup with its high output and saturated color. This was measured in the Fantasy picture mode with local dimming turned off. If you turn it on, black levels and contrast are unmeasurable.

After Calibration to 200 nits

I found I could not properly calibrate the Fantasy mode, so I switched to Display P3 and dialed the brightness down to 200 nits. The final result is with local dimming off since it is not available in this mode. Contrast is nonetheless a touch higher than default at over 1,200:1.

ANSI contrast remains consistent at 1,166.7:1. Again, this is with local dimming turned off. Note that in all tests, the Samsung G8 posts very impressive results. That is because its dimming option can’t be completely defeated. Even when you turn it off, it operates at a low level to produce artificially high contrast numbers. Native values for VA panels are typically 2,500-3,500:1.

Test Takeaway: The EX321UX has excellent brightness and low black levels but with a couple of caveats. You can use local dimming to get a very punchy image but the modes where it’s available have inaccurate gamma. The Display P3 and sRGB modes are spot-on but also limited by the panel’s native contrast of around 1,200:1. That said, I would still recommend those modes because to my eyes, they look the best. And you can still crank the brightness to over 600 nits if you like.

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Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

The EX321UX defaults to its Fantasy picture mode. It offers high contrast and brightness with very saturated color. It’s a good look but there are some issues that I’ll talk about now.

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

No amount of tweaking in Fantasy mode would fix the problematic gamma. It is affected by two sliders, Light Tuner and Gamma. Every combination I tried was off the mark. I went for Display P3 and there, I found happiness. Gamma is almost perfectly on the reference and grayscale tracking is without significant visible error. The sRGB mode is similar with even tighter gamma

In the Fantasy mode, grayscale tracking is reasonably close to spec with a little warmth showing up at 60% brightness and higher. This is excusable because it’s barely visible. What is more troubling is the wild gamma tracking. From 0 to 60%, it’s quite dark which will obscure some shadow detail and make mid-tones murky. Then it leaps even higher at 80 and 90% which makes highlights less impactful. There’s plenty of color saturation here but the picture doesn’t look quite right.

Comparisons

The grayscale error of 3.28dE in the EX321UX’s Fantasy mode isn’t too bad. The gamma tracking brooks more complaint. Switching to Display P3 brings the average error down to 2.64dE which is fine. Gamma tracking improves to a 0.19 range of values and a deviation of 2.73%. The actual value is 2.26. This is decent performance but there is room for improvement. A correct gamma mode for the other picture presets would be welcome.

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 EX321UX’s Fantasy mode uses the full native gamut, which goes visibly beyond DCI-P3. You can see that the green primary tracks more toward Rec.2020 in hue, while it and all other colors are over-saturated. This gives the image good impact, but it is not accurate. It is a matter of personal preference.

Display P3 mode has no calibration options but hits the gamut targets to perfection. There are no visible errors and only a tiny hue aberration can be seen in the magenta secondary. This is excellent performance, as is the sRGB mode, which has an equally invisible average error of just 1.36dE.

Comparisons

In the EX321UX’s Display P3 mode, it bests the other monitors at 1.41dE. It’s a bummer that you can’t use the local dimming though. The other monitors will have more contrast in their accurate modes because they leave it available. So, the EX321UX is very color accurate but with a catch.

The Quantum Dot film expands the EX321UX’s color gamut to over 104% coverage of DCI-P3. While impressive, the AOC, Corsair and Acer have even greater volume. If you want the most colorful monitor available, the Acer X32 is it with a highly saturated red primary. If accuracy is your goal though, the BenQ is the better choice. It hits DCI-P3 and sRGB volumes much more closely which makes it better suited for color critical work.

Test Takeaway: BenQ always offers a correct picture mode and in the EX321UX’s case, you get two, Display P3 and sRGB. The only negative is that neither have local dimming available. For that, you must accept some gamma issues in one of the other picture modes. Though accuracy is always a good thing, the EX321UX has room for improvement. If it were to add a correct gamma option for the adjustable picture modes, that would be a homerun.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

Despite its quirks in SDR mode, the EX321UX delivers excellent HDR. It’s very bright and reasonably accurate in its Display HDR preset. Applying an HDR10 signal makes the switch automatically.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The EX321UX is one of the rare HDR monitors that lets you adjust brightness in all its HDR presets. The default is Display HDR and that is the most accurate choice. Maxing the slider takes a 25% window pattern to a hair shy of 1,300 nits, well above the DisplayHDR 1000 certification. While that is impressively bright, there are brighter monitors available if you get the PD32M or Neo G8, which tops 2,000 nits. How much difference does that make? Almost none because you’ll only ever see those lofty output levels in the smallest highlights, and only here and there. The EX321UX is plenty bright. Black levels are measurable because the backlight doesn’t shut off completely, so I calculated an HDR contrast ratio of 42,785:1. In a side-by-side comparison with the top three panels, you cannot tell a difference in image quality.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The EX321UX nails the grayscale portion of the HDR color tests, but the EOTF is a bit too dark and below 45% brightness. I had to make a few tweaks in the Doom Eternal menu to bring out shadow detail. This is a minor issue that is easily compensated for. In the gamut tests, there is general over-saturation which is typical of HDR displays. The EX321UX has lots of punch with vivid color saturation. Because the targets track linearly, no detail is obscured. It also covers a goodly portion of the Rec.2020 gamut thanks to those Quantum Dots. The primary colors all top out at around 85% with inner points slightly over-saturated. This is excellent performance.

Test Takeaway: The EX321UX delivers HDR quality and accuracy on par with other premium Mini LED displays. It’s plenty bright though there are a few screens with more output capability. It matches the competition in color accuracy and saturation with vivid hues and strong detail rendering. If you want the best HDR short of an OLED, the EX321UX has it.

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With OLEDs coming to the fore in the gaming monitor genre, it’s harder to recommend Mini LED unless you need a lot of light output. In that category, OLED is lacking with peak levels topping out at around 600 nits. Mini LED will net you at least 1,000 nits with some screens like the Samsung Neo G8 breaking the 2,000-nit barrier. But if 1,200 nits are enough for you, consider the BenQ MOBIUZ EX321UX. It’s very bright, it has great contrast, it has a huge color gamut, and it has one of the best overdrives out there.

The EX321UX fits snugly among other premium 32-inch 4K Mini LED panels. Its video processing stands out for sure. Though there is no backlight strobe, it manages blur very well with no artifacts. Gameplay is smooth and responsive with its very low input lag. You’ll want enough video card power to run at the full 144fps though.

The only complaint I had was its management of picture modes. In typical BenQ fashion, you get accurate modes, here called Display P3 and sRGB. They are spot-on in every way. But you can’t use the local dimming, which leaves that extra Mini LED contrast out of the picture. The upside is that you can select an accurate HDR mode, Display HDR, and use local dimming there for almost 43,000:1 contrast. And color is highly saturated with a measured 104% coverage of DCI-P3 and a solid attempt at Rec.2020.

Also of positive note are the wide variety of inputs, all latest versions, DisplayPort 2.1, HDMI 2.1 and USB-C. And there’s KVM with more USB ports for charging and peripherals. And though there are no internal speakers, the audio quality through the headphone jack is exceptional with its simulated surround option.

The BenQ MOBIUX EX321UX has a lot to offer with premium game performance and a bright colorful image. It has a few quirks but matches its competition in ability and price. If you’re looking for a large 4K monitor, it’s definitely worth checking out.

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BenQ has announced its new RD Programming Series of monitors. These coder-friendly screens offer standard features like a 16:10 ratio display, Advanced Coding Modes, eye care protection for working at night and "Brightness Intelligence" auto-dimming, anti-glare screen coatings, and ergonomic stands. 

The first in the series is the new RD240Q, a 24.1-inch model with a 2,560 x 1,600 pixels IPS panel.

The new RD Programming Series is the world’s first designed to cater to the specific needs of programmers, reckons BenQ. But before we pick over those special coder-friendly features, we shall look at the basic tech specs of the new RD240Q to see how it stands up on a hardware level.

Based on a 24.1-inch IPS screen, the BenQ RD240Q is pretty small by trending monitor sizes in 2024. However, it offers extra useful verticality by employing 2,560 x 1,600 pixels, and delivers a pixel density of 125ppi. Moreover, at least some of BenQ’s promo materials envision coders using two or three of these displays.

Benq’s RD240Q goes up to 300 nits of brightness, offers a typical 1000:1 contrast, and covers 95% of the DCI-P3 gamut. In terms of performance, we are looking at a max refresh rate of 60 Hz and a response time of 5 ms. These specs are very ordinary. If this was a monitor aimed at casual PC users, only the resolution offered would stand out and we would expect it to be a value-targeted monitor.

So, what has BenQ done to make this a worthwhile choice for programmers? Much of the special coder sauce is in the firmware, offering modes like Coding - Dark Theme, Coding - Light Theme, ePaper, HDR, M-Book, and Cinema. Also, BenQ claims the coding modes offer “crystal clear fonts and improved code differentiation.” We would like to see these claims put to the test in a third-party review.

As part of its MoonHalo experience, BenQ says the RD240Q offers some eye-soothing features that are meant to limit your exposure to blue light and Brightness Intelligence Gen2 auto-dimming of the display to match your environment. A rear LED ring provides adjustable environmental lighting. Flicker-free technology is present too. The anti-glare and anti-reflective features here also sound appealing to for spending a long time concentrating on the screen.

BenQ provides a stand that offers tilt (-5 degrees - 20 degrees), swivel (15 degrees/ 15 degrees), pivot, and height (110 mm) adjustments. If you pivot the display it is smart enough to auto-rotate. If you don’t like or need the stand, the monitor comes with 100 x 100 VESA mounting holes. Display Pilot 2 software is also provided for display adjustments and management.

The port selection seems adequate. Users get one each of HDMI 2.0, DP 1.4, and USB -C (daisy chainable). As well as offering display connectivity the USB-C can provide power and data transfer. BenQ’s RD240Q can provide three USB-A outs and one USB-C out, offering hub functionality. There is a headphone jack and a pair of 2W built-in speakers.

We don’t have BenQ RD240Q pricing and retail availability details at the time of writing. Coming soon to the RD Programming Series will be a pair of larger screen options, specifically the 28-inch 4K+ RD280U/UA, and 31/5-inch 4K+ RD320U/UA.

BenQ's Zowie sub-brand has been a long-time provider of monitors for eSports players. The latest announcement of a new Fast TN panel with a yet-newer version of DyAc should catch the eye of current and prospective eSports pros. The BenQ Zowie XL2586X is far from BenQ's first high refresh rate 24.1-inch Fast TN monitor, but it's their best so far since it's able to push a full 540 Hz with yet better motion clarity thanks to DyAc 2 — more on DyAc in a bit.

For now, let's examine the main specifications for the BenQ Zowie XL2586X, as available on BenQ's official page. The BenQ Zowie XL2586X will begin shipping on May 20th, and the current pre-order pricing is $999.99.

BenQ Zowie XL2586X Specifications

• Monitor Size: 24.1 inches
• Monitor Resolution and Estimated Pixels Per Inch (PPI): 1920 x 1080, roughly 91 PPI
• Monitor Panel Type: Fast TN
• Monitor Refresh Rate: 540 Hz
• Monitor Response Time: .5 ms (G2G)
• Monitor Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) Support: Yes, but not while DyAC is active
• Monitor I/O: 3 HDMI 2.1 ports, 1 DisplayPort 1.4 port, 1 3.5mm headphone jack
• Monitor Adjustment Support: Yes, includes height, swivel, and tilt adjustment
• Other Monitor Features: DyAc 2

While DyAc (short for dynamic accuracy) seems like some ill-defined marketing speak, it refers to a hardware feature seen in BenQ displays that tangibly improves motion clarity, according to eSports pros and various testers. On the high end, it can be difficult to tell the difference between DyAc on and off—particularly on monitors that already have great refresh rate and pixel response time—but that difference is well-documented and should still matter to modern pros.

In any case, it seems that DyAc 2 (compared to the original and DyAc+ we've seen in prior BenQ monitors) further improves BenQ's motion clarity at these stupendously high refresh rates. The addition of a vivid color film (which supposedly boosts color performance by 35%—up to ~95% DCI-P3 coverage based on prior displays) also helps offset some of the visual losses that otherwise come with TN. 

Of course, OLED and Mini LED IPS monitors are still likely your best choices for pure image quality, but for eSports pros and gaming enthusiasts, CRT displays and BenQ TN panels aren't going anywhere. If "ball is life" for basketball fans and players, low display lag is life for competitive gamers everywhere, pro or not.

BenQ has launched a new flagship 4K HDR gaming projector to its X-series. The new BenQ X3100i can project gamescapes up to 150-inches and boasts impressive specs. As well as 4K and HDR support, the 4LED high-brightness projection system is claimed to reproduce 100% of the DCI-P3 color space. Gaming modes, high performance, built-in Google Android TV, and 7.1-channel and Dolby Atmos audio add further appeal to this US$2,399 projector.

As you might expect, Image quality is at the forefront of the projector's design, with HDR tone mapping and SSI Dynamic Black technology. Moreover, a 4LED array delivers “high brightness, vibrant hues, and 100% of the DCI-P3 color space,” according to the projector maker. Specifically, the 4LED system is said to provide 3300 ANSI lumens of brightness.

The tailored gaming abilities of the BenQ X3100i are central to its appeal. It has a selection of game modes users can switch between (RPG, SPG, FPS, and RCG), as well as an Auto mode for consoles. Another of the modes mentioned is BenQ’s version of the popular FPS crosshair, which some find helpful for targeting clarity in shooters.

Another important thing for gamers is that BenQ has put effort into making sure gamers don’t feel that projector gaming is a lower-performance experience than using a modern monitor. Games projected at 1080p can run at 240 Hz and 4 ms low latency. However, cranking up the detail to 4K means 60 Hz max refresh rate and 16 ms latency.

BenQ also highlights its CinematicSound for increasing gaming immersion. It says that its “dedicated Bongiovi DPS enhances audio dynamically to craft a 3D audio realm filled with depth and distance.” Additionally, support for the more well-known 7.1-channel and Dolby Atmos audio standards is provided.

There are a few projector-specific stats to be aware of with the BenQ X3100i. BenQ boasts of its projector’s flexibility with regard to positioning. Its throw ratio of 1.15-1.5 and 1.3x zoom means that it can project a 100-inch screen from just 2.5m (8.2 feet). It also offers a 40%-60% vertical lens shift for installation choice flexibility without sacrificing image quality. It's also quite compact, as 4K projectors go, at 10.7 x 8.4 x 10.2 inches.

The BenQ X3100i has an MSRP of $2,399 and is expected to become available starting next month.

Like any other computer peripheral, monitors are a tool designed for specific purposes. Gamers need speed and smoothness. Enterprises need reliability and an image that doesn’t tire the user. Photographers and graphics pros need color accuracy above all. That last category comes with a price consideration. Most monitors billed as professional are expensive. It’s not difficult to find 27-inch pro screens selling for four figures. But some examples deliver a far better price-to-performance ratio.

BenQ has always been a staunch advocate of color accuracy across all its display lines. The DesignVue series, which starts with a PD designation, is loaded with precise monitors that bring professional-level image fidelity at enterprise prices. I’ll be focusing here on the PD2706UA. It’s a 27-inch 4K IPS panel with wide gamut color, DisplayHDR 400 and premium build quality for only $650 at this writing. Let’s take a look. 

BenQ DesignVue PD2706UA Specs

The PD2706UA starts with an IPS panel running at 60Hz in 4K (3840x2160) resolution. There is no Adaptive-Sync, and the refresh rate is fixed. There is overdrive available, but even with it engaged, I saw enough motion blur that I would not recommend this display for fast-paced gameplay. It’s okay for more leisurely adventures because its image is very accurate.

Color comes in a native gamut of DCI-P3, which my sample covered over 95% of with no visible errors right out of the box. You can choose between DCI and sRGB/Rec.709, and there are Dicom and low blue light modes as well. Everything is factory calibrated, so you won’t need to adjust anything except brightness. Of course, being BenQ, precise controls are included that take the PD2706UA to a very high standard. 

Contrast is high for IPS at around 1,200:1 native. HDR signals get a nice boost thanks to a field-dimming backlight which ups the ratio to over 5,300:1. It’s not an OLED or Mini LED by any means, but it costs significantly less than those technologies.

Physically, the PD2706UA is built for work. Rather than a stand, it comes with a beefy and overbuilt monitor arm that feels like it could support much more weight. This display is rugged and ready. BenQ has included yet another new control puck design for the OSD, which is my favorite so far. It has a dial that can adjust brightness as easily as one would change the volume on their stereo. You also get KVM functionality that lets you control multiple systems with a single keyboard, mouse and screen. There are side USB ports and USB-C as well.

The PD2706UA is an impressive package that delivers professional-grade accuracy and performance for an enterprise price. Though it won’t be seen at an esports competition, it will make a lot of working professionals happy.

Assembly and Accessories

A clamshell box opens to reveal the PD2706UA’s panel and arm securely packed in crumbly foam. Just clamp the arm to your desk’s edge and snap the panel in place. Wiring goes through a channel in the back, so you won’t see cables cluttering the desktop. The power supply is internal and connected with an IEC cord. You also get HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C and USB-A/B cables. A plastic cover snaps on the back to hide the jack panel.

Product 360

The PD2706UA’s styling is simple and functional. The arm clamps onto desks up to three inches thick. You can temporarily detach the bottom half if you need to put it through a hole or slot. I quickly had it firmly attached to my test bench. A scissor assembly extends from the vertical upright and lets the panel swing through more than 180 degrees to either side. You can move it fore and aft between 10.5 and 18.5 inches from the wall. The height adjustment is a generous 5.9 inches. Movements are firm and smooth, with no play at all. The panel stays exactly where you put it but is easy to adjust.

On the right side are USB-B and C ports along with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Underneath are DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI inputs, one each, and another USB-C, which is a video connection. You also get one upstream and two downstream USB 3.2 ports. I’d have liked to see another HDMI port, but with three total video inputs, the PD2706UA’s KVM feature has plenty of flexibility.

The screen delivers a super sharp image, no wonder, given the 163ppi pixel density. You can’t see the pixel structure, and the effective anti-glare layer does not impart any grain. Clarity is as good as it gets. The bezel is flush with just eight millimeters at the top and sides and a 20mm silver trim strip across the bottom. You can see a small white power LED on the right side, which can be turned off in the OSD. Behind that is an OSD joystick and three control keys.

The PD2706UA’s coolest physical feature by far is the Hotkey Puck. It plugs into a dedicated port underneath and can control all monitor functions with five buttons and a click dial. By default, the dial controls brightness like a volume knob. This is super handy when grading photos and graphics. The numbered keys can be programmed for various functions and the top two buttons are return and color modes. BenQ has always been a leader in this area, and this latest Hotkey Puck is their best controller yet.

OSD Features

There is a lot going on in the PD2706UA’s OSD, but it’s well organized and intuitive. It’s divided into six sub-menus and called forth with a press of the puck dial or the joystick on the panel’s backside.

The Display menu has input selection and PIP/PBP functions. You can display two sources simultaneously, side-by-side or windowed. Aspect ratio options include full-screen or 1:1 pixel mapping.

There are 12 color modes corresponding to different color standards or task-specific options like CAD or animation. A low blue light mode works well for long reading sessions. The User mode is fully adjustable for gamma, color temp and gamut. My only wish is for independent color temp memories for each gamut mode. If you want to compare color standards, a DualView option displays two picture modes side-by-side.

The 6500K color temp is visually error-free, but User Define allows calibration to a very high standard. My test results were near perfect after a few tweaks. You can choose color gamuts within the user mode in the Advanced sub-menu. The Uniformity option is of particular note. By default, it’s turned on and reduces contrast by half with an elevated black level. You’ll want to turn that off to see the PD2706UA’s full dynamic range. Backlight Control is a field dimming option that works only for HDR content. It raises the contrast ratio of that material to just over 5,300:1.

The user can program two of the panel’s control keys and three more on the Hotkey Puck. Dial rotation can be brightness, contrast or audio volume. You’ll find the overdrive, AMA, in the System menu, which isn’t all that effective. Its highest setting causes ghosting and lower settings do little to reduce fast motion blur.

BenQ DesignVue PD2706UA Calibration Settings 

The PD2706UA comes with a factory calibration data sheet I could verify in testing. The labeled color modes, Rec.709, sRGB and DCI-P3, all conform to their indicated standards. Higher accuracy is possible in the User mode with adjustable gamma, color temp and gamut. The color temp changes slightly when switching gamuts and you can’t create multiple RGB memories. But this is a minor point. The errors are still invisible to the naked eye. I set up my sample for DCI-P3 color with a 2.2 gamma and 6500K color temp and got near-perfect results in testing. My instrument-derived settings are below.

There are no picture options in HDR mode, but like SDR, the color temp, luminance tracking and gamut is very accurate. The only thing you’ll need to turn on is Backlight Control which engages a field dimming option to raise HDR contrast to around 5,300:1.

Gaming and Hands-on

Reviewing any enterprise or professional monitor comes with the caveat that it isn’t designed for gaming. But that doesn’t mean one cannot play games on the PD2706UA and have a good time. Though there is no Adaptive-Sync, and the refresh rate tops out at 60 Hz, I spent some quality time in Doom Eternal’s Horde mode and explored the caves and jungles of Tomb Raider. I’m spoiled by speedy screens that have now hit an incredible 500 Hz, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well the PD2706UA acquitted itself.

If you can maintain 60fps, there are almost no visible frame tears and motion blur is only a small distraction. The PD2706UA’s overdrive made a weak showing in Blur Buster’s UFO test patterns but in gameplay, the loss of motion resolution was acceptable. My aim in first-person shooters overshot the mark a bit as the reticle didn’t quite stop where I intended. Distant objects were hard to resolve when moving but were easy to see in sniping situations. The control response was slightly behind my thought process, but I adapted quickly.

The image was stunning, even though the PD2706UA doesn’t have zone or edge dimming for HDR content. The extra contrast afforded by its field-dimming feature worked well by providing a warm glow with bright highlights and solid black levels. Near-perfect luminance tracking and color accuracy helped there. Over 95% coverage of DCI-P3 delivered high color saturation that added to the 3D effect.

When playtime was over, the PD2706UA proved to be a superb graphics and document editing tool. There is more than enough contrast to resolve small text in Word and Excel. High pixel density (163ppi) meant there were no jaggies or anti-aliasing. Using the Hotkey Puck’s dial to tweak brightness was something I had not experienced before. Usually, I don’t change the setting once I’ve calibrated, but since I had the ability, I made small adjustments for different video content, Photoshop, or web browsing. This is a feature I’d like to see on every monitor; the ability to change brightness as easily as one would change the volume.

The PD2706UA’s bundled monitor arm deserves special mention. Many users benefit from an arm like this as it affords more flexibility than any stand is capable of. I’ve experienced many stands, but a good arm is always better. You can move the screen into any position, and it stays put. BenQ’s build quality is among the industry's best and extends to this arm. It’s as good or better than any aftermarket solution.

The PD2706UA is extremely well-suited for professional users thanks to its accurate picture modes. You get some task-specific options, but when editing graphics, you want easy access to color gamuts, white points and gamma presets. You can choose a gamut mode, or calibrate the User mode and easily switch parameters within it. I tested the possible combinations and found all the labels to be accurate. 6500K is 6500K, 2.2 is 2.2, DCI-P3 is DCI-P3, and so on. For BenQ to deliver a truly professional-grade display for $650 is impressive.

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I rounded up a group of 60 Hz monitors to compare the PD2706UA’s performance. Most of these are premium pro displays with four-figure price tags. While Mini LED screens deliver higher contrast, they aren’t any more color-accurate or colorful than the BenQ. The group is Asus’ PA32UCG and PA32UCX, Acer’s CM3271K, MSI’s MAG321CURV and LG’s 28MQ780.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

The PD2706UA responds like a typical 60 Hz panel but has relatively low input lag. Control response is fine for casual gaming, but you’ll see some motion blur in fast-moving action sequences. There is no Adaptive-Sync, so there are occasional frame tears. They aren’t as noticeable when paired with a video card capable of maintaining 60fps. The overdrive reduces blur a little on its first setting, but gaming is best kept to slower-paced play where you want to enjoy the virtual environment rather than ripping through hordes of enemies.

Viewing Angles

The PD2706UA offers viewing angles typical of premium IPS panels. The side photo shows almost no light falloff and a green tint. Shadow and highlight details remain clear thanks to consistent gamma. The top view goes cool with a 40% reduction in brightness. Though most users won’t be sharing a 27-inch monitor, this one can be enjoyed by two people who don’t mind sitting cozily together.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

The PD2706UA comes with its uniformity compensation turned on. This reduces contrast by half and raises the black level. I turned it off and recorded an excellent 6.68% test result. This is well below the visible threshold. I could not see any bleed or glow in a completely dark room. The PD2706UA is built to a very high standard.

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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

I measure monitors in their out-of-box state in the default picture mode with the brightness maxed. The PD2706UA comes with uniformity compensation engaged which reduces contrast by half so I turned that off. I also found more light output in the User Define mode, a maximum value of 380 nits. Black levels are respectable among IPS panels so I measured a native contrast ratio of 1,107.4:1. You can’t use the backlight dimming in SDR to increase contrast which is a bummer. It works fine for HDR, though, which is very good performance.

After Calibration to 200 nits

After calibration of the color temp and setting the peak white level to 200 nits, contrast is unchanged. In the IPS category, it doesn’t get much better.

The PD2706UA’s high ANSI score shows excellent quality control and component selection, particularly the screen’s grid polarizer. Intra-image contrast is deep and well delineated, especially in brighter material where extra color saturation enhances the picture.

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The PD2706UA ships with a calibration data sheet specific to each example. It covers the Display P3 picture mode with a 2.2 gamma and 6500K color temp. My tests showed it to be accurate. You do not need to calibrate this monitor.

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.

Right out of the gate, the PD2706UA impresses. There are no visible grayscale errors at all. In the gamma trace, only 10% brightness showed a slight dip (too bright). This error was hard to spot in actual content. By calibrating the User mode, grayscale tracking is even better, and gamma matches the reference perfectly. It truly doesn’t get better than this.

If you want to use the sRGB gamut, the easiest option is to choose that color mode. You can also change gamuts in User mode and get about the same level of grayscale and gamma accuracy.

Comparisons

The PD2706UA offers better than average out-of-box grayscale accuracy than most monitors. With a 2.15dE value, it has no visible errors and does not need calibration. However, with adjustment, it achieves a very high standard, one worthy of any professional’s workspace. And it does so for a lot less money.

The best reason for calibration is to fix the slight gamma error I noted earlier. With a tiny 0.04 range of values and a perfect 2.2 average, it can’t get any better.

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 PD2706UA aced my color gamut tests. I noted slight under-saturation in some red and blue points in the default chart. But these errors are invisible. A 1.53dE average is about as good as it gets. Calibration takes that down to 0.95, which is an excellent result. Only a handful of monitors can score lower than 1.00dE here. sRGB color tracking is similarly free of visible error with a 0.99dE result. 

In sRGB mode, there is no visible color error, but red is slightly under-saturated on the chart. This mode is accurate enough for critical work if you need a smaller gamut.

Comparisons

One monitor in the group managed to outdo the PD2706UA, Asus’ PA32UCX. You can pick up that fractional improvement for $2,395 at this writing or a difference of $1,745. BenQ is offering stupendous value with a monitor as accurate as the best screens I’ve tested.

Color volume is an equally important metric in the pro monitor genre and the PD2706UA delivers there too. With over 95% coverage of DCI-P3, it is hard to see a difference between it and a screen that covers 100%. The BenQ comes up the tiniest bit short in the blue primary only. All other colors are fully rendered. Again, this is super impressive for a $650 display. The PD2706UA is qualified for color-critical work.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The PD2706UA supports HDR10 signals with an automatic switchover. You’ll only have to turn on the dimming feature (Backlight Control) the first time to realize the full dynamic range. No picture controls are available, but my tests show they are unnecessary.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The PD2706UA is rated for DisplayHDR 400, and it sails past that level with 520 nits of peak output. The backlight control was turned on to achieve this result. Black levels are relatively low, eclipsed only by the Mini LED screens, so contrast is a respectable 5,308:1. HDR definitely has more pop than SDR but if you want the ultimate image, only a Mini LED or OLED will do. But HDR is perfectly enjoyable on the PD2706UA.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The PD2706UA continues its color-accurate ways in HDR mode with a visually flawless grayscale and EOTF chart. There are no visible color errors and the Electro-Optical Transfer Function (EOTF), HDR’s version of gamma, is almost perfectly in line with the reference. The field dimming backlight makes shadow areas a tad dark with a slight bump as the tone-map transition point is reached at 65% brightness. This is excellent performance.

The HDR gamut charts show general over-saturation at the inner points with nearly full coverage of DCI-P3. HDR color looks very saturated but avoids becoming over-blown. Detail is sharp and delineated. The Rec.2020 chart shows similar behavior. Hue tracking is solid with only slight aberrations as the saturation level increases. 

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The professional monitor category is really two genres. There are panels with every bell and whistle that have supremely accurate color and tons of options that sell for high prices. And some displays deliver the same accuracy with fewer peripheral features that cost less. If you have the budget, spending over $2,000 on a 27-inch 4K monitor with Mini LED or OLED technology and high precision is easy. Or you can budget $650 and get BenQ’s DesignVue PD2706UA.

The PD2706UA has color accuracy equal to the best pro screens I’ve tested. It doesn’t need calibration for its gamut modes, DCI-P3, sRGB or Rec.709. If you want to take it to a higher standard, though, precise RGB controls with gamma and gamut presets deliver exactly what their labels indicate. Ultimately, pros need a monitor that can be easily adjusted to different color standards without much fuss. And if you’ve never experienced the convenient ability to change panel brightness with a dial, BenQ’s Hotkey Puck makes that a cool reality.

Gaming isn’t the PD2706UA’s forte, but though it showed me some motion blur in test patterns, the play experience was OK. By locking the frame rate at 60 Hz, frame tears were rare and motion resolution was good enough for my casual skills. Esports competitors will want to shop for a speedier panel, but if you want to blow off a little steam during lunch by liquidating monsters in Doom Eternal, the PD2706UA serves that purpose.

Most of all, it delivers a superb image. With SDR contrast around 1,200:1 and HDR topping 5,300:1, plenty of dynamic range ensures true blacks, bright highlights, and a deeply saturated image. Even without fancy tech, the PD2706UA has a wider color gamut than many high-end monitors.

Taken as a value display, the BenQ DesignVue PD2706UA has few, if any, equals. With premium build quality, a rock-solid monitor arm in the box, and near-perfect color, it should make quite a few users’ shortlists. Unless you need Adaptive-Sync and fast refresh, it’s definitely worth checking out.

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Mini LED, like any bleeding-edge display technology, is part of the premium backlight category. And as such, it commands a higher cost of admission, but that is starting to change. With more and more panels including this high-performance backlight, prices are creeping downwards.

Mini LED is the next step in full-array local dimming where, rather than having a bank of LEDs arrayed at one or two sides of the screen, they are arranged behind the TFT layer in a grid. First, there were 384-zone monitors like Asus’ PG27UQ, and they were awesome. But today, one can spend less money and get a Philips Evnia 34M2C7600. It’s a 34-inch ultra-wide curved VA panel with 1,152 dimming zones. Let’s take a look at this new contender among the best gaming monitors. 

Philips Evnia 34M2C7600 Specs

The name of the game is contrast, and since LCDs have their backlights on all the time, dimming zones are the key to dynamic range. IPS natively delivers around 1,000:1, and VA can muster 3,000:1. But contrast can be theoretically infinite when you selectively dim or shut off individual bits of the screen.

The 34M2C7600 is a curved ultra-wide VA panel with all the features needed in a good gaming monitor. 1,152 dimming zones and a 1,400-nit full-array backlight mean killer HDR. Add an extended color gamut covering almost 97% of DCI-P3, and you have a superlative image for both SDR and HDR content. Accuracy is included, with multiple picture presets that come very close to the mark with no calibration required.

Even without Mini LED trickery, contrast is high at nearly 4,000:1 in my tests. Resolution is WQHD (3440x1440), so pixel density is a tight 109ppi. The curve is 1500R which strikes a nice balance between immersion and image distortion at this size and shape. In other words, there is none of the latter and plenty of the former.

Gaming feel is enhanced by Adaptive-Sync, which works on both FreeSync and G-Sync platforms. The 34M2C7600 has not yet been certified by Nvidia, but AS works over a 48 to 165 Hz range. There is no blur reduction via backlight strobe, but you get a three-level overdrive and reasonably low input lag. In my tests, panel response was on par with other 165 Hz screens. You also get a set of aiming points to help novice players in their favorite shooters.

A feature unique to Philips monitors is Ambiglow. On the surface, it might seem like just an LED lighting effect, but it is so much more. Rather than focus on graphics or projected patterns, Ambiglow throws light onto the surface behind the 34M2C7600 to enhance what’s happening on the screen. You can have several preset effects and colors or let the light shift along with content in real-time. My favorite use of Ambiglow is as a bias light. That’s when you project a white glow behind the monitor that’s around 10% as bright as the set peak white level. There is science behind this which makes a perceptual difference in image quality. More on that later.

The 34M2C7600 is an attractive package, physically and feature-wise, priced around $1,300 at this writing. That’s still premium, but as I indicated earlier, it’s the beginning of a downward creep in cost. Compared to other Mini LED screens, it’s competitive on multiple levels.

Assembly and Accessories

The 34M2C7600’s carton stands out for its lavender color and attractive white graphics. That’s a preview of what’s to come because the monitor is also white. Once the parts are extracted from the crumbly foam, the base bolts onto the upright, then snaps onto the panel. The attachment point is a bit wobbly, but it is robust enough to hold things together securely. The included cables and external power supply are all white. You get USB-A/B, USB-C, HDMI and DisplayPort, one of each. A stamped steel adapter with fasteners is also included for use with aftermarket monitor arms or brackets.

Product 360

Admittedly, I’m a sucker for a white monitor. It’s a nice change from black, and it stands out in a good way. The 34M2C7600 adds silver accents on the panel’s bottom trim and the stand. The base has a flecked finish on its plastic cover, which hides a metal core. The upright exposes its aluminum construction and is very solid. The only weak point is how the panel attaches. Rather than a snap-on plate, it uses a plastic tongue that engages the stand. As a result, it’s a little wobbly though I had no problems with ergonomic adjustments. There’s 150mm (5.9 inches) of height plus 20 degrees swivel each way and 5/20 degrees tilt.

The panel cover in the back has a sculpted grid, which I haven’t seen before, dotted by the Ambiglow LEDs. The only style to the lighting comes in a thin vertical strip down the center. The other LEDs are purely there to cast light onto whatever surface is behind the monitor. If you want to use the bias light as I do, the monitor should be within a foot or two of a neutrally colored wall. Choose a white static light that’s around 10% as bright as the monitor’s peak output level. This will close your eyes’ pupils slightly and increase the perception of both sharpness and contrast. It sounds hard to believe. Give it a week, and you will likely be converted. I use bias lights for my television and projection screen at home.

The 34M2C7600’s bottom face includes more Ambiglow LEDs along with a stocked input panel and two grills for the five-watt speakers. They include eq, sound modes and better-than-average audio quality. Inputs are all the latest: two HDMI 2.1, one DisplayPort 1.4 and USB-C. A KVM feature is supported by five USB 3.2 ports, one upstream and four down.

OSD Features

The OSD is accessed by the 34M2C7600’s single control, a tiny joystick/button that also toggles the power. The menu is well stocked, but as you’ll see in a moment, there is one surprising omission.

The OSD has a gaming look with its polygonal shape and status information across the bottom. It’s divided into seven sub-menus, starting with SmartImage. This is Philips’ name for the 11 picture modes. The default is SmartUniformity and it does indeed apply uniformity compensation to the image. My sample was fine without it, and I recommend selecting any other picture mode because SmartUniformity reduces contrast by raising the black level and lowering the white level. In Game 1, the mode I used for testing, contrast is nearly 4,000:1, and the peak white level is nearly 750 nits.

Each mode includes calibration options like color temps and gamma presets, but there is one thing missing – RGB controls. You can specify the white point by Kelvin value or choose options called Preset and Native. Luckily, grayscale tracking is pretty good out of the box, although I would have liked the ability to tweak it. You’ll also notice an sRGB option in this menu. It does not reduce the color gamut size. It’s DCI-P3 for all content, like it or not.

Game Mode features an aiming crosshair with a super cool feature. Turning Smart Crosshair on changes the reticle’s color to ensure it stays in contrast with the background. The transition is instantaneous, so you’ll always be able to see it no matter what. This menu also has a three-level overdrive, which is one of the 34M2C7600’s weaknesses. Every setting causes some ghosting. Too slow, and you get black trails; too fast and they’re white. I found myself using different settings for different games. Your mileage may vary.

SmartFrame creates a window on the screen where you can change its brightness and contrast independently from the rest of the image. In addition, it can be sized and positioned anywhere you wish.

The Ambiglow menu is extensive and has options for color and effect, plus the ability of the LEDs to follow on-screen content in real-time. The possibilities are infinite, or you can turn it off.

Philips has paid attention to audio quality with two five-watt internal speakers. They sound better than average and include five modes and a multi-band equalizer. The modes alter frequency response and phase to create various effects. I could clearly hear the differences, and it was fun to experiment with them.

In the System menu, you can set the HDMI ports to 120 or 165 Hz. 120 is the right choice for consoles. USB Setting includes the KVM options to bind video inputs to USB outputs. You’ll also notice the Local Dimming option. Unfortunately, it is only available in HDR mode where it is very effective. It’s a bummer you can’t also use it for SDR content. At least there’s 4,000:1 native contrast to compensate partially.

Philips Evnia 34M2C7600 Calibration Settings

The 34M2C7600 ships in its SmartUniformity picture mode. It’s fairly accurate, but peak white and contrast are both limited. The panel is perfectly uniform without compensation, so I used Game 1 for my testing and gameplay. It delivers around 4,000:1 contrast for SDR content and peaks at almost 750 nits. The default gamma setting is 2.2, but that proved a tad light. 2.4 is the better choice. For color temp, the Native, Preset and 6500K options are functionally identical. Preset has slightly better gamma so I chose that. Below are my SDR settings derived from instrumented tests.

HDR signals reveal five more picture modes. HDR Game is the default, and it is quite far off the mark for color and grayscale. DisplayHDR 1400 is the better choice. If you want control of peak brightness, there’s an option called Personal that lets you dial down the white level.

The other missing item here is an sRGB mode. There’s an sRGB option in the SmartImage menu, but it doesn’t reduce the gamut volume.

Gaming and Hands-on 

I’ve already talked about the 34M2C7600’s overdrive feature. I use Blur Busters test patterns to find the right video processing settings for all gaming monitor reviews and, in this case, I couldn’t arrive at an ideal configuration. There is no backlight strobe option available, which isn’t a big deal, but it might be a better alternative here. There are three OD (SmartResponse) levels, and the right setting is in the virtual space between Fast and Faster. I used both in different games. Fast creates faint black trails behind moving objects and Faster makes white ones. For dark titles like Tomb Raider, Fast works better to hide the artifact. In the brightly lit arenas of Doom Eternal’s Horde mode, Faster is the right choice. It also depends on how bright you run the monitor.

Ultimately, the 34M2C7600’s stunning image took over my perceptions, and after my initial tweaks, I settled in for many hours of fun. There is more than enough pixel density to produce a sharp image viewed from two to three feet back. The panel’s curve is right in the sweet spot where you can keep everything in focus from edge to edge without any barrel distortion to spoil the suspension of disbelief.

Input lag is low enough that I could not perceive any delay, regardless of how fast the action was. I turned on the smart crosshair for a while and though the color changes ensured I could always see it; it was extremely bright in HDR mode. In fact, I focused on it too much at the expense of situational awareness to the sides. Admittedly, I’m not a frequent user of aiming points.

I set up the Ambiglow feature to deliver a neutral white light on the wall behind the 34M2C7600. There are three intensity settings, so you can tailor it to your room. The middle option worked best in my sunlit office. As a bias light user, I am used to its effect. It makes the image appear sharper and deeper, especially when playing HDR material. I also tried the follow mode, which changes the color and effect to match what’s happening on the screen. It’s a cool gadget, but I found it a little distracting. It will certainly impress your friends.

I was impressed by the image quality throughout my gaming sessions, especially in HDR mode. A 1400-nit peak coupled with 1,152 dimming zones delivers a wide dynamic range. Only an OLED can truly compete with the 34M2C7600’s picture. Color saturation was excellent, bold and rich but never overblown. For SDR content, color is more saturated than the standard, but it was only an issue when editing photos. There, a usable sRGB mode would be welcome but the sRGB option in the OSD doesn’t reduce the gamut size.

For work tasks, the 34M2C7600 is very useful. With 109ppi pixel density, it’s like having two 27-inch QHD screens without the dividing line. Opening multiple documents is what 21:9 screens are made for and it’s easy to work on something while running video or leaving a message window open on the side. It’s super handy in Photoshop to have more toolbars on the screen while working.

There is nothing the 34M2C7600 isn’t good at. Though I noted a few flaws, it proved to be a very flexible and capable display for both gaming and productivity. With an sRGB mode and a better overdrive, it would be a homerun.

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To compare the 34M2C7600, I’ve rounded up a selection of 34-inch ultra-wide VA panels. Not all are Mini LED, but they are all speedy with refresh rates between 144 and 200 Hz. There’s BenQ’s EX3410R, AOC’s CU34G3S, ViewSonic’s XG341C-2K, ASRock’s PG34WQ and the Monoprice 42772.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

The 34M2C7600 delivers typical performance for the category. Its overdrive isn’t the best, with no ideal setting. Set it too weak, and you get black trails behind moving objects. Too fast, and the trails turn white. I used different settings for different games to mitigate the artifact.

The Philips has reasonably low input lag, again at an average level for the category. 31ms is fast enough for all but the most skilled gamers. It worked fine for me as I mowed through monsters in Doom Eternal. If you want the quickest possible experience, the ViewSonic delivers it at 200 Hz, but without Adaptive-Sync.

Viewing Angles

No VA panel has great off-axis image quality, and the 34M2C7600 is similar to its competition. At 45 degrees, the picture gets hazy with a slight green shift and a reduction in gamma. All steps remain visible, but the image is less sharp. The top view is similar, with a 40% reduction in brightness and poor gamma.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

With the 34M2C7600’s uniformity compensation turned on, I measured 4.03%, but in a better picture mode like Game 1, it’s still well within the realm of visual perfection at 8.51%. It’s not worth the reduction in contrast to fix an invisible issue. This is excellent performance.

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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

I modified my test procedure in the 34M2C7600’s case to show its full potential. Out of the box in SmartImage mode, it peaks at just under 500 nits with a respectable 2,727.5:1 contrast. But in Game 1 mode, with the brightness maxed and no other adjustments, the peak is much higher at 740 nits with contrast at nearly 4,000:1. This is a much better state of affairs thanks to the lower black level.

After Calibration to 200 nits

I couldn’t calibrate the RGB sliders because there aren’t any. But I changed the gamma to 2.4 and chose the Preset color temp to get a slightly higher contrast. You can see that all the panels have excellent native contrast. It’s a bummer you can’t use the 34M2C7600’s local dimming because it would add a lot of punch to SDR content.

Quality control is excellent, which is indicated by the Philips’ high ANSI contrast value of 3,315.9:1. Despite the lack of an SDR zone dimming option, the monitor looks fantastic with deep blacks, bright whites and plenty of color.

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I’ve already mentioned the 34M2C7600’s lack of RGB sliders. Luckily, three of the color temp presets are close to the mark. There is a little upward potential, but by and large, this is an accurate monitor.

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 RGB level chart shows only slight errors at 70% brightness and higher. Since it’s my business to nitpick monitors, I would like to adjust this issue away, but I can’t. However, for most users, there is no visual problem. The grayscale looks neutral, with only a slight warmth. Gamma is a tad light, but it is close enough to the mark for most users’ satisfaction.

Raising the setting to 2.4 improves the gamma and raises the blue levels a tad. Visually, the difference is tiny. It may seem that I’ve taken a step backward with a higher grayscale error, but in practice, anyone, including myself, would be hard-pressed to see a color shift in a side-by-side comparison of actual content. The better gamma is worth a slight compromise in grayscale accuracy.

Comparisons

The 34M2C7600 starts in third place before calibration but slips to last after adjustment, thanks to the lack of RGB controls. This is unusual for Philips; I’ve always found adjustments in their other displays that delivered an improvement. But in the end, I was satisfied with the image. High color saturation and deep contrast more than account for a slight weakness in grayscale accuracy. Gamma performance is very good, with a slight advantage in image quality when the preset is on 2.4. So it compares well with the competition in that test.

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.

Color is an area where I have no complaints about the 34M2C7600’s performance. It covers a huge gamut with bonus red and almost the entire green primary, which is a rarity among wide gamut displays. Accuracy is high, with an average error of just 2.50dE. Calibration changes that to 2.66dE, which is an invisible difference. But I could just see the slight increase in red saturation, definitely a good thing.

As stated earlier, though the OSD has an sRGB option, it doesn’t render that gamut. You’ll be viewing the 34M2C7600’s full native color space for all content, SDR and HDR.

Comparisons

The 34M2C7600’s color accuracy is comparable to the other monitors. There is no visual difference in color accuracy, but you will notice the Philips’ extra color when compared to the AOC, BenQ and ASRock screens. Kudos to Monoprice for delivering high saturation without a premium backlight, but there’s no denying the advantage of the Mini LEDs in the Philips and ViewSonic panels. There is color aplenty here.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The one place where the 34M2C7600, and its Mini LED counterparts, runs away from the competition is peak brightness. DisplayHDR 1400 is the order of the day and that, along with 1,152 dimming zones, makes a huge difference in image quality.

HDR Brightness annd Contrast

When measuring a full field, the 34M2C7600 renders around 1,100 nits, so I reduced the pattern to 25% coverage and got almost 1,500 nits. Small highlights are extremely bright and really help the image pop. Philips has engineered its local dimming very well here. I couldn’t measure the black levels as all unused LEDs are shut off, so the contrast is also unmeasurable. Though the ASRock effectively extends its dynamic range to an excellent 16,907:1, it doesn’t hold a candle, or a diode, to the Mini LED screens. Only a good OLED like Asus’ PG27AQDM can deliver a deeper image than this.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

There are five HDR picture modes, but the only one remotely close to color accurate is DisplayHDR 1400. The default one, Game HDR is extremely red in tone, and the others don’t deliver the proper luminance tracking for optimal performance. You can see visually perfect grayscale tracking from bottom to top and an EOTF that is flawed only in its darkest steps. The 34M2C7600 rises too slowly from black, which means some shadow detail may be hard to see in some games. It’s too bad you can’t use the Shadow Boost feature to fix this, but it is grayed out. Most HDR games have luminance tweaks in their menus, so I turned to dial in the image on a per-title basis.

HDR color is rich and vibrant with excellent saturation tracking. Most points are on target or a little over-saturated which is forgivable. Hues are spot-on, which means the image is always natural and pleasing. The DCI-P3 and Rec.2020 charts exhibit the same performance, which is a good thing. Most HDR content is mastered in the Rec.2020 gamut and the 34M2C7600 comes close to covering it. Thanks to accurate grayscale, luminance tracking and a very wide color gamut, the 34M2C7600 is one of the better HDR monitors out there. It truly does justice to the format.

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Though the idea, and execution of desktop OLED monitors is a good one, we will likely be using LCD panels for the foreseeable future. With their greater brightness and better resistance to image retention, they are a more suitable tool for both productivity and desktop entertainment.

The best way to coax more contrast and better imagery from them is with a full-array backlight with as many dimming zones as possible. Once, 384 was a lot. Today, Mini LED gives us over 1,000. And yes, it’s a lot better. As a premium technology, it’s still costly, but that is changing. Philips looks pretty good with its Evnia 34M2C7600.

If you’re in the market for a 21:9 screen, the 34M2C7600 checks all the right boxes. It’s the right size and curve at 34 inches and 1500R. It’s the right resolution at WQHD, AKA 3440x1440, with 109ppi density. While some users may wish for Ultra HD, there are frame rates to consider. Many affordable video cards can run at 165fps. The only flaw in the 34M2C7600’s video processing is an imprecise overdrive. I wished for a setting between Fast and Fastest to try and mitigate the ghosting artifacts I saw. However, by changing the setting per game, I was able to largely ignore it.

The star is, of course, image quality. With an easily exceeded DisplayHDR 1400 certification, the 34M2C7600 has a stunning HDR image. Its local dimming feature delivered infinite HDR contrast with deep blacks and whites that popped. That kind of dynamic range made the picture look very sharp and detailed. I only wish the local dimming were available for SDR content. The lack of a usable sRGB mode wasn’t a huge problem for gaming but I’d have liked to use it for photo editing.

I also have to mention sound quality one more time. Few monitors’ built-in speakers are more than an afterthought, but the 34M2C7600 delivers leveled-up audio with multiple modes, decent frequency response and a wide soundstage.

Lastly, there is value in Philips’ Ambiglow feature. It’s a beneficial lighting enhancement that goes far beyond the light show included with most gaming monitors. Used as a bias light, it makes the picture look sharper and deeper. And you won’t find it anywhere else.

The Philips Evnia 34M2C7600 brings Mini LED to a slightly better price point and delivers a stunning image with solid gaming performance. It’s built well and attractively styled and includes truly useful LED lighting. If you’re shopping for a 21:9 curved screen and your budget can accommodate a $1,300 monitor, it should be on your radar.

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There was a time when I considered 144 Hz the starting point for a serious eSports gaming monitor. Frame rate is everything in today’s twitchy titles, and fast response is the key to victory. But in the past two years, that benchmark has increased to 240 Hz. Plenty of FHD resolution screens run at 240 Hz and don’t cost a lot. But if you have a decent video card, QHD delivers a much better balance of speed and clarity.

I’ve reviewed some 240 Hz QHD monitors already, but when I was rounding up the test numbers on my latest subject, BenQ’s Mobiuz EX270QM, I was surprised to find only a few such displays in my database. They are still something of a rarity, and they sit at the premium price level. There is a lot of attention being focused on the best 4K gaming monitors right now but if you want the best possible gaming experience, 240 Hz will beat 144 Hz every day and twice on Sunday. The EX270QM delivers superb video processing, low input lag, HDR, extended color and Adaptive-Sync. Let’s take a look.

BenQ Mobiuz EX270QM Specs

The native contrast for the EX270QM is around 1,000:1 like nearly all IPS screens. But BenQ has added an effective dimming feature to the EX270QM that increases HDR contrast to over 9,000:1. That’s a step up from its previous panels that only offered a little more dynamic range for the latest HDR games and video content. The color gamut is also larger than previous BenQ models, covering nearly 95% of DCI-P3 in my tests. Accuracy is assured as well; I found it pretty close to the mark right out of the box.

BenQ includes a VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification with the EX270QM, but I couldn’t achieve that output. My sample topped out at 474 nits which is still plenty bright. And black levels are very low thanks to the dimming I mentioned earlier. BenQ is also one of the only companies to offer HDR emulation for SDR content courtesy of an HDRi button on the front. However, the final output depends on the content being modified. It’s nice to have that choice and it’s easy to switch back and forth to find your personal preference.

The main focus here is gaming, where the EX270QM truly delivers. Among 240 Hz monitors, this is the quickest one I’ve tested to date. Input lag and panel response are extremely low. Overdrive is super clean, and you can run the blur reduction in concert with Adaptive-Sync, something very few monitors are capable of. I ran both FreeSync and G-Sync between 48 and 240 Hz without issue; however, the EX270QM has not been certified by Nvidia.

BenQ hasn’t skimped on premium features; you get a nice lighting feature with softly glowing LED strips in the back. The menu system has many enhancements and modes that give the user tons of flexibility. And there’s even a tiny remote that you seldom see included with a 27-inch monitor. You can also engage BenQ’s Brightness Intelligence Plus to let the image dim or brighten with changes in room lighting. And the EX270QM is TUV Rheinland certified with a low blue light mode and options for different kinds of color blindness.

For $750 at this writing, the EX270QM isn’t exactly a bargain, but serious enthusiasts and professional gamers will appreciate its feature set, build quality, and performance. It’s clearly meant for hardcore play.

Assembly and Accessories

The EX270QM comes well protected in blocks of crumbly foam in three main parts, base, upright and panel. They assemble without tools to form a solid chassis that’s built to last. An external power supply provides the AC, and you get DisplayPort, HDMI and USB cables. A tiny remote also tumbled out of the carton, which was an unexpected and pleasant surprise.

Product 360

BenQ’s styling is a nice compromise between enterprise and gaming. The EX270QM doesn’t draw attention to itself but still has some cues like the red trim on the base and the silver back. There are four LED strips arranged in an X pattern on the back that can light up with various effects and in all colors of the rainbow. The OSD controls the light show.

You rarely find a remote control included with any computer monitor, much less one that’s just 27 inches, but BenQ doesn’t do things like everyone else. It’s super convenient to click the remote rather than manipulate buttons or joysticks, even in a desktop environment. The handset includes menu navigation, HDRi, game enhancements, an input selector, sound modes and a brightness key.

Audio quality is also something BenQ excels at and the EX270QM is no exception. There are two internal speakers plus a larger driver that delivers decent bass through a grill in the back. It’s called treVolo, and it truly is better than just about any other integrated monitor speakers I’ve heard. Five different sound modes deliver effects like cinema or live theater.

The stand is rock solid and includes a four-inch (100mm) height adjustment plus -5/15 degrees tilt and 15 degrees swivel. There is no portrait mode. Behind the stand’s attachment point is a 100mm VESA mount with included fasteners.

The input panel includes two HDMI 2.1 ports along with a single DisplayPort 1.4 and USB 3.0, one up and two downstream jacks. A 3.5mm input supports headphones or powered speakers. A cover snaps into place once you’ve made your connections, and you can thread your wires through a hole in the stand to keep things tidy.

OSD Features

Pressing the EX270QM’s joystick or the center remote button brings up a convenient quick menu. It’s programmable, so you can have quick access to often-used features. The full menu is a couple more clicks away and includes just about everything one could want for gaming and image control.

The quick menu makes switching picture modes or adjusting other functions easy. It changes with user programming or with scenarios, which is something BenQ adds on top of a large set of picture modes. I find it confusing and after some trial and error, I turned the Scenario feature off from the Input menu and just used the default RPG picture mode. I’ll get into more detail about that on page four.

The quick menu, shown in the first photo, can be customized for quick access to things like brightness, sound volume and other picture or video processing parameters.

There are ten color modes in total; RPG is the default. If you want to calibrate, Custom opens up all image controls. You can also set the sRGB color gamut in the sRGB mode. It’s accurate enough for color-critical work and allows brightness adjustment.

The Light Tuner is a gamma adjustment that tweaks the low and high parts of the brightness range. I spent much time trying to straighten out the EX270QM’s gamma using this and the actual gamma slider. You can see my results on page four.

AMA is BenQ’s overdrive, which is very effective on setting 1. There is no ghosting and moving objects are razor-sharp. If you prefer a backlight strobe, turn on Blur Reduction. It dims the image by about 50%, but you can increase the brightness slider to compensate. And unlike most monitors, it doesn’t require you to turn off Adaptive-Sync. It’s one of the best implementations I’ve seen because it virtually eliminates the phasing artifact common to this feature. The EX270QM’s video processing is among the very best.

TUV Rheinland certification includes red and green filters for color blindness and a low blue light mode. Also in this menu is the Brightness Intelligence Plus (BI+) which alters the image brightness and color temp when room lighting changes. It uses a sensor on the bottom front bezel to accomplish this.

You won’t find audio modes on too many monitors, but BenQ takes sound more seriously than others. The modes do actually sound different, and the treVolo-tuned speakers deliver good volume and a surprising amount of bass energy.

The LED lighting can display five different effects and change color too. It’s found in back, emanating from four strips in an X pattern. It isn’t too bright, so the effect doesn’t distract even in darkness.

BenQ Mobiuz EX270QM Calibration Settings

Calibrating the EX270QM requires a few compromises. Color and grayscale are accurate enough out of the box in RPG mode that you don’t need to change anything. But gamma is a bit wonky, with highlights that are too dark. Adjusting the gamma slider doesn’t completely fix the issue, but an excellent picture can be achieved with a few tweaks to the Light Tuner. If you want to get grayscale to near perfection, use the Custom mode and adjust the RGB sliders as I did. In either case, you’ll watch SDR content in the full DCI-P3 gamut unless you choose the sRGB mode, which accurately renders the smaller color space. I found it easier to dial things in with Scenario turned off. My SDR settings for Custom are below. If you stay in RPG mode, turn the Light Tuner down to -2 for better gamma.

HDR locks out all picture controls except for brightness. You get three additional modes, DisplayHDR, Game and Cinema. DisplayHDR is the best choice there. HDRi is an HDR emulation usable with SDR content. That one is up to user preference. And its effect is dependent on content. I advise trying it out and seeing if it works for you by using the button on the front.

Gaming and Hands-on

I already knew the EX270QM had some of the best video processing I’ve seen, so I went straight into a few rounds of Doom Eternal’s Horde mode. I liken gaming monitors to sports cars; the best ones go exactly where you point them. When motion is this smooth and clear, precise aim is easier to achieve. Couple that with no perceptible input lag, and you have an esports tool. The EX270QM is a monitor sure to be a hit with pros and skilled players. And those with more casual skills like me will benefit too. I ripped through six maps before I realized the time. Playing in QHD at 220-230fps is the ticket to victory.

The HDR image had a lot of punch and depth with deep shadows and bright highlights. Though I could not measure 600 nits, I could see that some tiny areas were extremely bright. There is plenty of dynamic range here, for sure. With over 9,000:1 HDR contrast available, the EX270QM is a standout.

Color was also above average both in saturation and accuracy. Objects and textures in Call of Duty WWII were completely realistic, from skin tones to the color of metal, dirt and grass. There is a lot of color, but it’s never overblown.

Video processing is the real star. Both FreeSync and G-Sync work without issue, and it was nice to have the option of blur reduction just a couple of clicks away. No need to turn off Adaptive-Sync, but I had to turn up the brightness to compensate for the backlight strobe. It was very effective and didn’t have the phasing artifact I so commonly see. BenQ really stands above just about every other company in this area. Only a high-end Asus like the PG279QM comes close to the motion quality I saw here.

For workday tasks, a 27-inch QHD screen is almost ideal. Though 4K will make fonts a bit sharper, there is nothing to complain about when the pixel density is 109ppi. I had to drop the sharpness setting from 5 to 3 to eliminate all visible edge enhancement. Otherwise, Windows apps like Word and Excel are very easy on the eyes. There’s enough contrast to make small text easy to read, and there is no grain from the anti-glare layer.

I was very impressed with the EX270QM’s sound quality. BenQ’s treVolo brand ups the ante for built-in monitor speakers with that extra woofer and exceptional clarity. There was no audible distortion, even at full volume. And there was plenty of loudness available. For close viewing, the volume was fine at around 30 out of 50 clicks. The sound modes were noticeably different from one another. I preferred the Pop/Live setting for gaming and Cinema for videos.

Using the remote to navigate the OSD was a pleasure. You rarely see remotes included with any monitor, especially one this small, but it’s a nice bonus. It just ups the EX270QM’s value quotient. It’s a premium purchase, but you get a lot for the money.

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I had to go back a bit to find enough 240 Hz QHD monitors to compare the EX270QM. I didn’t have enough, so I included 165 and 170 Hz models too. They are Galax’s VI-01 and Gigabyte’s M27QP. The 240 Hz screens are AOC’s AG274QG, Gigabyte’s M27QX and Asus’ PG279QM. All are IPS panels.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

The EX270QM is an absolute rock star in video processing. Not only does it allow blur reduction and Adaptive-Sync to be on at the same time, but the overdrive is superb with clean ghost-free motion. It also has the lowest input lag of the bunch at 22ms total. Panel response is 4ms which is on par with the rest. You can see the advantage of 240 Hz over 165 or 170. And it’s a difference that is clearly visible, provided you have a video card that can keep frame rates over 200fps.

Viewing Angles

The EX270QM is a typical IPS panel with decent off-axis image quality. At 45 degrees, there is a green color shift, but light falloff is negligible. Shadow and highlight detail remain well rendered with no visible change in gamma. The vertical plane at 45 degrees turns blue with a more washed-out appearance and a 40% light reduction.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My EX270QM sample was a little hot in the lower third of the screen, with a slight glow in all-black test patterns. It was only visible with all room lights off, and it didn’t affect the actual content. There were no blobs or distracting hot spots. Color uniformity was without visible flaws, and gray test patterns were smooth-toned from edge to edge.

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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

BenQ claims 400 nits for SDR and the EX270QM easily delivers. There is more than enough light output here for any environment including outdoor settings like a video production tent. The downside to this is that minimum brightness is around 70 nits which is a little much for dark room gameplay.

Black levels are typical of an IPS panel, so contrast is also typical at just over 1,000:1. There is no dynamic dimming feature available for SDR content, only HDR enjoys that option.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Contrast remains consistent after calibration at just over 1,000:1. This means you can switch between the Custom and RPG modes and see a similar picture. The difference will be in the gamma tracking, which I’ll discuss on the next page. Overall, the image is satisfying out of the box, and you can simply leave it in RPG mode and adjust the brightness to taste if you wish.

The EX270QM’s ANSI contrast performance is consistent, with only a slight drop from the static value. This is excellent performance that speaks of BenQ’s solid build and quality control.

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As I explored the EX270QM’s OSD and picture options, I found a few quirks that prompted some trial and error. In a nutshell, color and grayscale accuracy are on point, but gamma is not. But with the right tweaks, an excellent picture can be achieved.

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.

You can see in the first chart that grayscale is without visual error in the default RPG mode. The only issue is gamma which makes a major spike at 90% brightness. That indicates a dark highlight I could see in content and test patterns. I removed most of this by reducing the light tuner.

In the Custom mode, gamma is yet another interpretation that makes shadow detail a bit too light. You can see everything, but blacks are less satisfying, and the picture looks flat. After some experimentation, I returned to RPG with the Light Tuner set to -2. That was the best compromise. I wish BenQ would offer an accurate gamma option. Users can always tweak from there, but it’s best to have that choice.

If you want the smaller sRGB gamut for SDR accuracy, the EX270QM provides a perfectly usable mode for that purpose. Gamma is a tad light, but grayscale is error-free and the picture is solid, just slightly less colorful than RPG mode.

Comparisons

With a default grayscale value of 1.69dE, the EX270QM doesn’t need calibration. However, I strongly suggest lowering the Light Tuner to -2 to improve depth and contrast. This tweak also improves perceived color saturation. If you calibrate the Custom mode, grayscale is even closer to perfection with an average error of just 0.76dE.

Gamma stays reasonably close to a 2.2 average with an actual value of 2.3 (4.54% deviation). But the range number is much higher than the others thanks to the dips and spikes shown above on the Calman charts. The Light Tuner improves highlight detail but ultimately, there is no option that delivers perfect gamma.

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.

I was concerned that the gamma anomalies might hurt color gamut accuracy. Luckily, those concerns were unfounded. Out of the box, the average error is just 1.89dE which is an above-average result. There is slight under-saturation in the red primary, but other colors are on target. You can see that the color volume is quite large, with nearly full coverage of green, something only a few extended color panels can boast.

Calibration keeps color without visual error, but the average value is a bit higher due to a slight under-saturation in green. To the naked eye, there is no difference. Gamma is the metric that needs help and for that, you must tweak the Light Tuner, as I mentioned above.

In sRGB mode, there is no visible color error, but red is slightly under-saturated on the chart. This mode is accurate enough for critical work if you need a smaller gamut.

Comparisons

I’ve charted the EX270QM’s RPG and Custom (calibrated) modes here. Both are without visible error, but you might want to choose RPG for the sake of convenience because it requires less tweaking. Just change the Light Tuner to -2 and adjust the brightness to taste. Either way, color accuracy in the DCI-P3 and sRGB realms is exemplary relative to the competition.

BenQ has upped its color volume with nearly 95% coverage of DCI-P3, higher than average. Though three of the monitors have greater volume, only the Asus will look significantly different; it’s an over-achiever. However, the EX270QM is very colorful and delivers similar performance in sRGB mode. There is nothing to complain about here.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The EX270QM has three HDR picture modes, DisplayHDR, Game and Cinema. They work with HDR10 signals, and the monitor automatically switches over without user intervention. You can also emulate HDR with SDR content using the HDRi feature.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

BenQ includes a DisplayHDR 600 certification, but I could not verify this white level with either full field or window patterns. It might be possible for extremely small highlights to hit 600 nits, but I could not measure this with my pattern generator. I hit 473 nits on both full fields and windows, so the EX270QM’s backlight has plenty of juice behind it. Despite this, BenQ has significantly upped its HDR contrast game with dynamic dimming. It’s a full-field feature, so the entire screen dims and brightens with changes in content. Black levels are very low, which delivers a contrast ratio of 9,627.6:1. It’s not quite as high as the Asus and AOC, but it’s significantly better looking than the bottom three screens, which have no dynamic feature. This is excellent performance.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The EX270QM’s DisplayHDR mode is by far the best choice with spot-on grayscale, EOTF and color tracking. Grayscale is visually perfect across the board. The EOTF starts a bit dark but meets the reference line at 40% brightness. It makes the tone-map transition correctly at 65% with a slightly soft knee. HDR contrast is excellent, with deep blacks, excellent shadow detail and highlights that pop.

HDR color is generally over-saturated, though not by too much. You won’t have any trouble discerning HDR from SDR and among similarly priced screens, the EX270QM stands out as very colorful. That it covers almost all of DCI-P3 is a nice bonus. I observed similar behavior in the Rec.2020 test with some over-saturation until the display ran out of color at around 85%. No matter what kind of HDR content you view, the EX270QM will do it justice.

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Gamers and esports pros looking for the best possible monitor will consider speed and video processing quality over everything else. Nothing slower than 240 Hz will do. But picture quality, color, accuracy and contrast are important too. With so many screens vying for attention, the differences come down to tiny things. A few milliseconds of input lag or a slight overdrive artifact can be enough to dissuade buyers.

Luckily, the BenQ Mobiuz EX270QM has no dealbreaking flaws. It has a huge color gamut which is accurate out of the box. Calibration is not required to see an excellent picture. However, the best part is the video processing. Not only is the overdrive spot-on, but it allows the use of blur reduction and Adaptive-Sync at the same time. And that blur reduction is free of the phasing artifact seen in many other monitors.

The only wish I have is for an accurate gamma option. BenQ takes a bit of license to create its own interpretation, and that’s fine. But there should be a setting that renders perfect gamma. I also found the Scenario and picture modes confusing. It’s easy for a user to get into the weeds with settings and the only way out is a factory reset. I advise turning Scenario off, leaving the EX270QM in RPG mode and reducing the Light Tuner to -2. Then set brightness to taste and enjoy one of the quickest and most responsive 240 Hz screens out there. Oh, and don’t forget the treVolo audio. It’s among the best that built-in speakers have to offer.

The EX270QM has few, if any, equals in the speed department. Picture quality is superb in HDR mode, and the wide color gamut will satisfy all users. It’s a premium purchase but there is so much here for the money that it’s clearly a good value. If $750 is within your budget, you should definitely check it out.

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When new technologies saturate the marketplace, prices inevitably go down. It took a few years, but some of the best gaming monitors feature curved ultra-wide panels at reasonable prices. 34-inch WQHD (3440x1440) gaming screens run fast and deliver solid gaming performance for less than $500.

Known mainly for its PC hardware, ASRock introduced a line of monitors branded Phantom Gaming in 2022. The curved entry, and my review subject, is the PG34WQ15R2B, hereafter known as the PG34WQ. It’s a WQHD VA panel with a 1500R curve, 165 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR 400, and extended color.

Specifications

The PG34WQ gets off to a great start with a VA panel boasting a native contrast ratio of 3,000:1. The LED backlight has a field dimming feature that extends dynamic range for SDR and HDR content. In HDR mode, it’s always active and, in my tests, delivered nearly 17,000:1. There’s plenty of light output, with just shy of 500 nits peak. SDR mode tops out at just over 300 nits.

A wide color gamut covers about 85% of DCI-P3, which is average for the category. ASRock engineered the gamut to strike a good compromise between sRGB and P3. This makes it well suited for SDR content mastered in the smaller color space. You can see the extra color without going too far past the mark.

The PG32WQ is a great value at $430 with just about everything a gamer could want without added bells and whistles. You get Adaptive-Sync which works equally well on Nvidia and AMD platforms. The 165 Hz refresh rate is achieved without overclocking. And tweakers will appreciate the inclusion of MPRT, also known as a backlight strobe, to reduce motion blur.

You won’t find things like aiming points, timers or frame counters. And there’s no LED lighting, so you’ll have to relegate any pyrotechnics to your PC and other peripherals. But there are a few interesting and unique things here that set the PG34WQ apart.

Assembly and Accessories

The first thing that caught my attention when unpacking the PG34WQ were two slim coax cables. After turning to the quick start guide, I discovered that ASRock integrated Wi-Fi antennae into the stand. The cables run between the monitor and the coax connections on your PC. That’s a first, in my experience. You also get HDMI and DisplayPort cables with an IEC cord for the internal power supply. The stand and base couple with a captive bolt, and the panel snaps in place for a solid fit. 

Product 360

The PG34WQ’s 1500R curve is neither subtle nor overt. It hits the balance point between immersion and image distortion, with a good deal of the former and none of the latter. The anti-glare layer is aggressive but not grainy, and the image is sharp without any edge enhancement to reduce resolution. Pixel density is 109ppi, the same as a 27-inch 16:9 flat panel. The bezel is thin at 8mm and flush; you’ll barely notice it when viewing content.

The bottom trim strip features a Phantom Gaming logo and little else save a tiny blue LED to indicate power status. You’ll find an OSD joystick in the back, two control keys and a power toggle. ASRock announces itself in polished lettering set under a thin grill that vents heat near the top of the panel.

The two Wi-Fi antenna ports are at the bottom of the upright so that the cables won’t intrude once connected. The stand is solid with firm movements that include -7/20 degrees tilt, 20 degrees swivel and a 100mm height adjustment. The Phantom Gaming logo is featured in the front and in the back. A small hole helps tidy any wiring. Under the panel mount is a 100mm VESA pattern with fasteners included.

Inputs are sparse, with just two HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 1.4. For 165 Hz operation, you must use DisplayPort. The HDMI inputs only go up to 100 Hz. If you’d like to use headphones instead of listening to the tiny two-watt internal speakers, a 3.5mm jack is provided.

OSD Features

The PG34WQ’s OSD is one of the most efficient I’ve ever seen, with just four sub-menus and only the most necessary features needed for high-performance gaming. Pressing the joystick brings it up. The keys take the user straight to the brightness slider or picture modes. Click the joystick left to change inputs or right to adjust the audio volume.

The PG34WQ has six picture modes, all of which are fixed except the default Standard preset. That one allows adjustment of luminance and color temperature. The only thing missing from the calibration suite is gamma, which is unfortunate because this monitor looks and measures too light. Gamma is off by almost 10%, which makes the picture a bit washed out and lacking in saturation. DCR is an effective dynamic contrast option that enhances picture quality and has no apparent downside. I recommend using it for SDR content. It’s locked on for HDR. MPRT delivers a backlight strobe that reduces blur but causes a very visible phasing artifact.

The Image Setup menu lets you change aspect ratios, toggle the overdrive & Adaptive-Sync, and set HDR to Auto mode. The overdrive has just one setting, which didn’t make a difference. I saw slight black ghosting in test patterns, but most gaming content ran smoothly with minimal blur.

The Color Temp menu has four fixed options plus an adjustable user mode with RGB sliders. They can be used to dial in the PG34WQ precisely with accurate grayscale tracking. You can improve the image by selecting the sRGB setting if you don't calibrate. I’ll explain why below.

The final menu has an auto setting for the input selector, DDC/CI toggle, and a factory reset option. At the bottom is input signal information.

ASRock PG34WQ15R2B Calibration Settings

I discovered a few interesting things when calibrating the PG34WQ. In the default mode, the picture is cool, and gamma is light, reducing depth and color saturation. I calibrated the user color temp and saw a significant improvement without gamma presets. However, turning down the contrast slider from 50 to 35 increased static contrast, which shouldn’t happen, but my test results don’t lie. ASRock should add gamma options in a future firmware update for sure; this monitor sorely needs them. Here are the settings I used.

If you don’t calibrate, I recommend setting the color temp to sRGB. This fixes the grayscale errors and improves gamma slightly. You can improve the image further by turning on DCR. Unlike most monitors, the PG34WQ makes good use of its field-dimming feature in SDR mode. The only downside to this approach is that the brightness slider is grayed out. Without DCR, peak brightness is around 150 nits. With DCR, it’s 210 nits.

HDR mode comes up automatically when an HDR10 signal is applied. Color accuracy is excellent there, with dynamic contrast of nearly 17,000:1. HDR content looks excellent here, better than most sub-$500 screens I’ve tested.

Gaming and Hands-on 

Right off the bat, I enjoyed the PG34WQ’s ideal curvature. I’ve tried monitors ranging from 2300R to 1300R and in the 34-inch 21:9 size, 1500R is my favorite. There was no image distortion in apps like spreadsheets or word processors, but I felt a sense of immersion in games because I didn’t have to turn my head quite as far to keep peripheral objects in view.

I tried out a few different configurations to get the best possible SDR picture from the PG34WQ. The Standard picture mode out of the box is not the best choice. The light gamma and cool color temp put a damper on any sense of dimension. The detail was less sharp, and the color was less saturated.

My tests revealed a couple of fixes. The easy one is to set sRGB in the color temp menu and turn on DCR. That makes a huge difference with better detail and more color. The only downside is that brightness is fixed. You’ll see around 150 nits with DCR off and 210 nits with it on. I went for the latter in games but turned it off in Windows to quell the extra brightness when browsing the web.

The best choice is calibration, and if you don’t have the means, try my settings shown above. That allows you to dial in brightness to taste and delivers the best color of all. The gamut compromises between sRGB and DCI-P3 for all content, and ASRock did a good job here.

The PG34WQ’s strongest attribute is its HDR image quality. The DCR option is locked, which ups the contrast ratio to almost 17,000:1. Highlights are much brighter, almost 500 nits, which in turn pumps up color saturation and depth. In the sub-$500 category, this is one of the best HDR monitors I’ve seen.

Video processing options are basic, which is fine because they work. Overdrive can be on or off, but I didn’t see a difference either way. Blur is minimal, and on par with most other 165 Hz monitors I’ve tested. I saw some slight phasing in vertical lines, not frame tears since Adaptive-Sync works just fine. But there was an occasional doubling of thin lines as I panned quickly from side to side. It wasn’t a distraction, and my success in familiar games like Doom Eternal and Tomb Raider was equal to monitors with better overdrives. 

MPRT, or backlight strobing, does not work well here. It cancels out Adaptive-Sync, which at 165 Hz is a questionable choice. It also causes phasing, like most monitors with the feature. I found it distracting, though it doesn’t reduce brightness too much. I still preferred to stick with AS and overdrive. And I had equal success with both FreeSync and G-Sync platforms.

Over my time with the PG34WQ, I found it capable in all areas, work and play. It performed comfortably above its price class with excellent HDR and a solid gaming experience.

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To compare the PG34WQ’s performance, I’ve created a group that includes Monoprice’s 42772, AOC’s CU34G3S and MSI’s MPG343CQR to represent 165 Hz. BenQ’s EX3415R and EX3410R are here to cover 144 Hz, but you’ll soon see that 144 Hz isn’t necessarily a disadvantage.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

The BenQ EX3415R manages to draw a full white field in 6ms despite running at 144 Hz instead of 165 Hz. And it takes first place in the overall lag contest with 27ms. But the PG34WQ is close behind at 7 and 30ms. For all but a world-class player, that’s an imperceptible difference. The ASRock is quick to be sure. Its overdrive isn’t the best I’ve seen, but it delivers smoothness that’s on par with the competition. Gamers of average skill will see little difference in video processing performance between any of the six screens.

Viewing Angles

The PG34WQ looks better than most VA panels I’ve photographed at 45 degrees off-center. The image is dimmer and more washed out, but the color shift is only slightly to red. The vertical plane shows much of the same behavior with slightly less light output. Few people would want to share a 34-inch ultra-wide monitor, but if you do, an IPS model will serve better.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

In general, VA panels have slightly weaker uniformity than IPS. You’ll see the occasional glow in one corner or a center hotspot. My PG34WQ sample had the former with a bit of extra light in the upper right. I could only see it in a full black field, not in actual content. There were no aberrations in color field patterns or neutral patterns of higher intensity.

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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 PG34WQ hits about 305 nits in SDR mode, which is plenty of light for any work or gaming application in an indoor environment. There’s more output available for HDR content, nearly 500 nits, so the headroom is there.

The default black level is great compared to an IPS monitor but a bit below average among VA panels. That limits contrast to 2,219.3:1.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibrating the RGB sliders and turning down the contrast slider from 50 to 35 makes a huge difference in image quality. I still wished for darker gamma, but the contrast increases to almost 3,100:1, which helps with depth and color saturation.

ANSI contrast stays consistent at 2,886.4:1, a solid result. Though the other VA monitors score higher in the contrast tests, the PG34WQ delivers decent quality. A darker gamma would move it up the rankings.

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The PG34WQ comes from the box in its Standard mode, which looks too cool and is a bit washed out overall. Luckily, it only takes a few tweaks to make things better.

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 PG34WQ’s white point is cool with visible blue errors from 30% and higher. It isn’t a huge problem, but there is room for improvement. Some adjustment is needed. Gamma is light at around 2.00, making the image a bit hazy.

Changing the color temp to sRGB makes a big difference. Now, there are no visible errors, while gamma remains the same. You can enjoy the PG34WQ this way, with the only limitation being that the brightness slider is grayed out. Peak output is around 150 nits, or 210 if you turn on DCR, which I recommend doing.

If you’d rather have finer control of brightness, calibrate the user color temp as I did. Then, you can set any output level you want and have the best possible grayscale tracking. There’s still no help for gamma, though. Regardless of your path, turn on DCR; you’ll be glad you did.

Comparisons

The PG34WQ starts a bit down the order, but with calibration, it takes second place for grayscale accuracy. If you just select sRGB from the color temp options, it would finish fourth, still respectable.

In the gamma test, it tracks straight with a very narrow value range which is a good thing. But with an actual value of 1.99, it’s off the spec by almost 10%. ASRock, please add gamma presets to the OSD. It would make such a difference.

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.

When testing a monitor, I usually know going in its intended color gamut. Most of the latest screens use DCI-P3 and often advertise their coverage of that gamut on the box. The PG34WQ makes no such claims, but I can see that it is a DCI-P3 monitor. It takes a different approach than most to provide balanced color that works well for SDR content while still adding saturation.

The first chart above shows the default gamut when graphed against DCI-P3. Notice that inner points (20-80%) are under-saturated while the 100% target almost gets there. There’s a broader gap between 80 and 100% than the other points.

The second chart shows the same test graphed against sRGB. The inner points are closer to the targets now and indeed, the Delta E error is lower.

The third chart shows what happens when you select the sRGB color temp. The PG34WQ still hits most of DCI-P3, but the inner points are right on the sRGB spec (and the error is lower). This is the right choice for most users, as further calibration isn’t required.

The last chart shows the result of a grayscale calibration. It’s nearly identical to the sRGB-only chart. So, you get the same accuracy level but with adjustable brightness if you change the RGB sliders. Use my settings if you want to do this without instruments.

Comparisons

The PG34WQ compares well in either sRGB mode or with calibration. With only the AOC showing slightly better numbers, this is excellent performance. I can’t fault the color accuracy here. And I like the concept of balance between sRGB and DCI-P3. It looks great with all types of content. The light gamma is a bummer but other than that, ASRock has done well.

The PG34WQ is about average for the category in the gamut volume calculation. For less than $500, you won’t find much more color than this. You’ll need a software profile to use any of these screens for color-critical applications. But for gaming, they all provide plenty of color.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

HDR is where the PG34WQ truly shines. It has effective dynamic contrast and accurate color that hits most targets in the DCI-P3 and Rec.2020 gamuts. Switching between SDR and HDR signals is automatic. You won’t find any adjustments for HDR content but as I discovered, they aren’t necessary.

HDR Brightness and Contrast 

ASRock’s website claims 550 nits peak, but the PG34WQ is rated for VESA DisplayHDR 400, and it comfortably exceeds that metric. At just under 500 nits, it’s plenty bright. With a best-in-group black level, it goes well beyond the HDR contrast capabilities of most budget screens with nearly 17,000:1. Only the MSI shows better. The Monoprice, BenQ and AOC monitors have no dynamic option, and it shows. ASRock has put its efforts into HDR here and it clearly pays off.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The PG34WQ’s excellent HDR performance extends to color too. Grayscale tracking is without visual error. That’s a good thing since there are no adjustments available. The field dimming feature is a little too aggressive at the dark end of the scale, as you can see in the EOTF chart. Though shadow detail is still visible, it’s hard to see in the heat of battle. Users should tweak their in-game settings to compensate for this. In most areas of the picture, detail is solid and pops well. The tone-map transition point is spot-on at 65%.

In the color tests, the PG34WQ is reasonably close to the targets for DCI-P3 and Rec.2020. Saturation is very good and better than SDR, with no visible hue errors. This is an HDR monitor for sure and looks its best when showing that material.

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Now that curved ultra-wide monitors have become a de facto standard for gaming, there are many product choices and that has translated to lower prices. What used to be a $1,000 purchase is now easy to find for less than $500, and that’s progress.

Another thing that is commonplace among budget screens is high refresh rates. While I am spoiled enough to consider 240 Hz a starting point, there is a lot of fun gaming to be had at 144 and 165 Hz. A wide variety of affordable hardware is available to power a monitor to 165fps at QHD and WQHD resolutions.

In this crowded market, the PG34WQ15R2B is an excellent first effort from ASRock. It delivers on its promises with solid performance, low input lag and accurate color. There is the light gamma issue which is something that could be fixed with a firmware update. But if you engage the sRGB color temp, or calibrate, and turn on DCR (dynamic contrast), the SDR image is pretty good. And its 1500R curve is ideal for any application.

HDR is the star with bright highlights approaching 500 nits and well-saturated color. HDR black levels are low, meaning almost 17,000:1 contrast, one of the best in class. The PG34WQ looks better in HDR mode than most of its budget-friendly competition.

Video processing is solid as well. Though the overdrive is a bit weak, it reduces blur enough for decent motion resolution. Adaptive-Sync works perfectly with either Nvidia or AMD hardware. And input lag is lower than average, making the PG34WQ a very capable gaming display.

At less than $500, it’s hard to find fault. I enjoyed my time playing and working with the PG34WQ. If you have a mid-tier gaming PC or console, it’s a great choice. Definitely check it out.

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There are plenty of gently curved monitors available for people who don’t want an extreme wraparound effect. Since radii tighter than about 1300R can produce image distortion, that’s understandable. But for hardcore gamers who want to replicate VR goggles without hanging a bunch of bulky tech on their heads, 1000R ultra-wide screens do an excellent job of filling one’s peripheral vision and surrounding the player with the virtual environment.

The AOC CU34G3S is one such monitor. It features a 34 inches diagonal with a VA panel that delivers over 3,000:1 contrast. It has HDR and wide gamut color for a punchy and realistic image. In addition, gaming performance is enhanced with Adaptive-Sync and a 165 Hz refresh rate. The best part is the price – just $430 at this writing – makes it a great contender to join the ranks of the best gaming monitors.

AOC CU34G3S Specs

With a high contrast VA panel, the CU34G3S brings plenty of dynamic range to the party. Though it doesn’t have a dimming feature for HDR, it still has more image depth than any IPS panel can boast. Vivid color is assured by a wide gamut that covers nearly 87% of DCI-P3. And for purists, there’s an accurate sRGB mode hidden in the color temp options. The color is quite accurate, and I found no need for calibration in either mode.

To keep games running smoothly, AOC includes both flavors of Adaptive-Sync. AMD FreeSync is the native tech, operating over a 48 to 165 Hz range. Nvidia G-Sync works fine, as confirmed by my tests, although the CU34G3S has not been certified by Nvidia. For play aids, you get an aiming point, frame counter and a backlight strobe for blur reduction if you prefer that instead of Adaptive-Sync. Also included is an effective three-level overdrive.

AOC has left out LED lighting, which doesn’t detract from the CU34G3S’s functionality. There are internal speakers and a plethora of USB 3.2 ports, one upstream and four down, to support your peripherals. With a solid and adjustable stand completing the package, this looks like a good deal for users looking to curve their images to the max.

Assembly and Accessories

The CU34G3S comes well-protected in a large carton with its three pieces surrounded by crumbly foam. After mating the base and upright using a captive bolt, the panel snaps in place. Under the attachment point is a 100 mm VESA mount that works with aftermarket arms and brackets. Bundled cables include HDMI and DisplayPort but not USB. The power supply is internal though unusually, the interface is IEC C5-6, commonly seen in power bricks. This is a first for me; I’m more accustomed to seeing IEC C13-14. No matter, with everything hooked up, the CU34G3S worked just fine.

Product 360

A thin flush bezel surrounds the image with an eight-millimeter border around the top and sides and 22 mm across the bottom. Red trim is featured here and on the base’s cable hole. There’s more red on the back where they offset the stand and the small grills on either side. The AOC logo is displayed on the front and back in silver. The base is also silver in color with a matte finish. It looks like solid metal but is actually a plastic shell over a cast metal core.

The stand is a solid piece with -5/22 degrees tilt, 30 degrees swivel and a 130 mm height adjustment. Movements are firm, but there is some wobble where the panel attaches to the stand. The screen may shake a bit if you pound on your desk while playing.

The side view shows how the component bulge is angled upwards so you can easily access the USB ports. They’re on the side opposite the one in the photo above. The inputs are closer to center and include two DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0. You also get a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The control buttons are also visible here, a power key plus four controls for menu navigation. The internal speakers boast five watts of power and do indeed play loudly. Distortion is minimal, but there isn’t much in the way of bass or lower midrange frequencies. Players who want good sound are better served by headphones plugged into the 3.5 mm audio jack.

OSD Features

The CU34G3S has four buttons to navigate the OSD rather than a joystick. It’s a bit old-school by today’s standards, but it gets the job done. The menu is AOC’s familiar ribbon-style graphic that appears in the bottom center of the screen.

The seven sub-menus begin with Luminance, including brightness & contrast, plus gamma, dynamic contrast (SDR only) and the HDR modes. There are also eight picture modes, called Eco, focused on specific tasks or game types. Standard is the best place to be and is also the default mode. Coupled with the Game modes detailed below, changing Eco modes can be confusing. And as it turns out, there’s no benefit to tweaking the CU34G3S’s image settings. There is no improvement to be found by calibration, but luckily, the default image is quite accurate.

In Color Setup, you can choose between five presets, one of which is sRGB. This is the way to go if you prefer the correct setting for SDR content. Other options use the monitor’s full native gamut, which covers 87% of DCI-P3. The default option, Warm, is very accurate and cannot be improved.

Picture Boost is unique to AOC monitors. It lets the user create a frame in the center of the screen that’s brighter or dimmer than the surrounding image. Within the frame, you can adjust brightness and contrast along with size and position. Hidden in the OSD Setting menu, you’ll find a DisplayPort version option and a break reminder setting.

Ultra-wide displays are great for viewing multiple sources, and the CU34G3S lets you have two images up simultaneously. It’s picture-in-picture, so you can size the secondary window and change its position.

In Game Setting, you can choose between multiple game modes which alter image and video processing parameters. They get confusing when combined with the Eco modes. I suggest leaving Game Mode off and setting the overdrive to your preference. Strong works fine with no ghosting, but I saw a slight black trail behind moving objects in test patterns, a symptom of undershoot. You can turn on a frame counter here and set up a backlight strobe too. It has 20 levels which provide more blur reduction as the picture darkens.

AOC CU34G3S Setup and Calibration

The CU34G3S is quite accurate out of the box in its Standard mode and Warm color temp with Game Mode turned off. Trying various settings, including the User color temp, produced no gains in performance. It is best to leave the monitor on its default settings and set brightness to taste. I’ve provided the settings for commonly used levels below. If you want the sRGB color gamut, there’s an option for SDR content among the color temp settings. It renders that smaller gamut to near perfection.

In HDR mode, the default option is DisplayHDR which comes closest to the mark. Other settings include Game, Picture and Movie. Those three add edge enhancement which reduces picture quality. Stick with DisplayHDR for the best image with HDR content.

Brightness Settings

• 200 – 91
• 120 – 45
• 100 – 31
• 80 – 18 (min. 54 nits)

Gaming and Hands-on

If you’ve never used a curved monitor, or the one you’ve been using is gently curved, it would be wise for you to check out a 1000R ultra-wide screen before committing. This is the tightest curve currently available, and it is extreme. Thanks to that tight curve, spreadsheets and text documents will have a pincushion effect. It’s unavoidable, but it isn’t necessarily a problem. Once you get used to it, you’ll barely notice it unless you have flat screens nearby. And that’s another consideration. If you plan to have multiple monitors, they all should have the same curve and size. Three CU34G3S’s make an excellent cockpit for driving and flight simulators. Two screens are ideal for first-person shooters.

Shape aside, the CU34G3S provides plenty of screen area for work. Putting windows side by side is a natural state of affairs, as you’re essentially looking at two 27-inch QHD monitors. Pixel density is the same at 109 ppi, so the image will have the same sharpness.

Color and contrast are pleasing, with true blacks and sharp delineation of dark objects against light backgrounds. Black text on a white field renders cleanly without visible jaggies or anti-aliasing. Just avoid the additional HDR modes if you use HDR in Windows. Only DisplayHDR shows without edge enhancement.

Gaming proved to be an extreme pleasure. The CU34G3S has balanced performance with smooth motion and very low input lag. Though it didn’t blow my tests away (it was solidly average in response and lag scores), it matched my play rhythm with no perceivable lag and no loss of detail in fast-moving sequences. I always go straight to Doom Eternal’s Horde Mode and in this case, I ripped through the first few arenas in seemingly record time. The extra peripheral information certainly helped, and having it closer to my eye was a plus.

Games where I had more time to explore the environment, like Tomb Raider, further showed the value of a 21:9 screen. There is no better way to game than with an ultra-wide. The best 16:9 panel can’t match the extra width and the AOC’s tight curve accentuates the effect.

If you’re willing to accommodate some image distortion in workday tasks, it’s hard to top the gameplay experience offered by a monitor like the CU34G3S.

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All monitors in this comparison group are 34-inch ultra-wide screens, mostly VA, with one IPS panel. In addition to the CU34G3S, we have Cooler Master’s GM34-CW, BenQ’s EX3415R and EX3410R, and the Monoprice 42772. Speeds are either 144 or 165 Hz.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

Higher refresh rates deliver smoother motion and lower input lag. But for most players, smoothness is the thing that most impacts the experience. 144 and 165 Hz deliver roughly the same look to the moving image. The top two panels will be slightly better at keeping motion resolution high. But all the displays look solid as long as frame rates stay high. The AOC has the same panel response as most 144 Hz monitors.

In the input lag test, the CU34G3S is in last place with a 32 ms total score. This performance is by no means poor, as anyone with moderate to good skills will find the monitor snappy and eager to play. The top three monitors are over-achievers with low lag despite their 144 Hz maximums. However, the 165 Hz screens aren’t far behind. Again, it comes down to frame rates. If your system can keep the action at 140 fps or higher, you’ll enjoy a great play experience. Professional players may prefer the lower input lag, however.

Viewing Angles

The CU34G3S’s viewing angles are weakened by its extreme curve and VA panel. The green shift I usually see from VA monitors is there and brightness drops by around 40%. Though there is plenty of width here, I don’t recommend sharing. The curve would distort the image for anyone not sitting at the center. The top view is equally poor, with the same green shift and light reduction. On the upside, detail remains visible in the brightest and darkest parts of the image.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My CU34G3S sample showed very good uniformity except for slightly visible hotspots in the upper left and lower right corners. These issues couldn’t be seen in anything but a black field pattern. Shadowed areas in graphical content looked smooth-toned. Color and white uniformity were visually perfect.

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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

AOC rates the CU34G3S at 300 nits, but I could not find that value in any of the Eco or game modes. This isn’t the brightest monitor out there, but it is bright enough. Large screens like this don’t need a ton of light output for SDR content. The only bummer is that there isn’t any more brightness for HDR material.

With deep blacks, the CU34G3S delivers excellent contrast of over 3,300:1. That’s good enough for third place here though, in the larger picture, it is higher than average among all the VA panels I’ve tested.

After Calibration to 200 nits

I didn’t calibrate the CU34G3S; a change in brightness to 200 nits was the only adjustment I made. The other monitors had their RGB sliders tweaked to remove grayscale errors. That slightly levels the playing field but still puts the AOC in a strong position. Obviously, the IPS-based BenQ is at a disadvantage here.

The CU34G3S’s ANSI contrast score stays over 3,100:1, which is excellent performance. Though it is a value-priced display, it doesn’t skimp on component selection or quality control. The image has lots of depth, true blacks with strong highlight and shadow detail, and well-saturated color.

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The CU34G3S is one of the few monitors I could not improve with calibration. That is of little matter because it’s spot-on out of the box.

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 default Eco mode is Standard with Game mode turned off. That delivers grayscale tracking that’s nearly perfect. Only two tiny errors at 90 and 100% can be seen in test patterns. You’re unlikely to see an issue in actual content. Gamma is also a tad dark at the 80 and 90% levels, but this too is a tiny error. I attempted to calibrate the User color temp but had no success. It’s best to just leave the preset on Warm with Gamma 1 and set brightness to your preference.

The CU34G3S is a rare gaming monitor with an accurate sRGB mode. You’ll find it hidden in the color temp options. It leaves the Brightness control available, which is also a rarity. If you’re a color purist and want the correct gamut for SDR content, that is the option to choose. It has no visual errors and only a dip in gamma at 10% brightness to mar an otherwise perfect chart.

Comparisons

The CU34G3S wins the out-of-box contest with a 1.73dE score. That’s definitely above average for the category. Since I couldn’t improve that performance, it slipped to fifth place. However, none of the displays have visual grayscale errors, so the comparison is a wash. All the screens perform well.

Gamma tracking is mid-pack with a reasonably small 0.18 range of values and a 2.27% deviation from spec. The actual gamma value is 2.25.

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 CU34G3S’s color gamut accuracy is exemplary. It’s visually without error and only shows a slight red under-saturation in the chart. Green is also a tad under, typical of all wide gamut screens. While the monitor doesn’t cover the entire DCI-P3 gamut, it comes close.

The sRGB gamut is worthy of a professional display. There are no visual errors, and every point is no more than 1.5dE off its target. With a 1.35dE average, it doesn’t get much better. Remember that to use the sRGB option, select it in the color temp menu.

Comparisons

Noting that all the other monitors are calibrated makes the CU34G3S’s performance more impressive. Plenty of displays can’t hit 2.10dE with adjustment. That AOC delivers it out of the box just adds to its value quotient.

In the volume calculation, the CU34G3S is about average for the category, covering almost 87% of DCI-P3. Green is the main weakness, typical of the genre. The Cooler Master and Monoprice definitely have more visible color, but they don’t have sRGB modes. The AOC covers both equally well.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The CU34G3S supports HDR10 content with four HDR modes. The default is DisplayHDR, which follows the standard more closely than the others. The remaining ones are Movie, Game and Picture. However, they were a non-starter for me because they added edge enhancement. All this does is reduce resolution; it does not make the image sharper.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The CU34G3S leaves some performance under the table in two areas. First, there is no more brightness available in HDR mode. It tops out at around the same 234-241 nits. Second, there is no dynamic dimming feature. SDR content gets a dynamic contrast option, but that setting is grayed out in HDR mode. Though the VA panel manages almost 3,400:1 contrast, it could be much better with a dimming option. Though I found that HDR content looked vivid and saturated, it didn’t look much different than SDR.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The CU34G3S retains its color accuracy in HDR mode. There are slight blue errors in the brighter steps, but these issues don’t impact actual content much at all. The EOTF curve shows a gradual transition to tone mapping, meaning some highlights will be a tad muted. Again, this is a minor error. The other HDR modes aren’t as precise with their luminance tracking which in practice, obscures some detail. DisplayHDR is the best choice.

HDR color tracking is quite good with just a slight under-saturation in red and magenta. The saturation points are arranged linearly so the picture is loaded with detail. For Rec.2020 mastered content, the CU34G3S tries to match the saturation points but comes up a bit short. This contributes to the observation that SDR and HDR look similar. There is some untapped potential here, but HDR performance is adequate.

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With so many different kinds of gaming monitors available, it can be hard to choose. There is no single category that gets everything right. And there is user preference to consider. What works for one player may not work for another.

After trying monitors in every conceivable shape, size, speed and resolution, I can say that curved screens are the most fun for me. They provide a great view of the action, and most have balanced performance and quick response. So, if you’ve decided you want a curved display, the question becomes, "how curved should it be?"

The curviest screens are 1000R or 1000 mm radius like the AOC CU34G3S. In the 21:9 aspect ratio, this gives you the most impactful wraparound effect. Aside from VR goggles, you’re not going to find a more immersive experience. Luckily, the CU34G3S delivers a lot of features and performance for a relatively low price.

With color that’s visually perfect out of the box, no tweaking is needed. That is good since I could not improve the picture with calibration. The VA panel delivers over 3,100:1 contrast which is about triple that of the average IPS screen. That’s a lot of dynamic range with really deep and realistic blacks. The wide color gamut is a great asset as well. You can use the CU34G3S’s nearly 87% coverage of DCI-P3 for all content or switch on the very accurate sRGB mode if you wish.

I found the video processing to be equally impressive. With WQHD resolution and 165 Hz, I was able to max the frame rates and enjoy super smooth movement with no blur and very fast control response. Though there are some monitors that are slightly quicker like the Cooler Master GM34-CW, the visual difference is pretty small. I spent many hours playing games on the CU34G3S and enjoyed every minute.

At this writing, the AOC CU34G3S is selling for around $430. That’s a great value considering its feature set and performance. And those things are wrapped up in a great-looking screen with an immersive feel. If you’re looking to take your curve to the max, definitely check it out.

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BenQ just announced two additions to its Morbiuz family of gaming monitors, and they look like feature-packed entries that should be appealing to eSports enthusiasts. Both monitors feature a 27-inch IPS panel, and they are the first from BenQ to support a fast 240 Hz refresh rate.

The EX270M features a Full-HD (1920 x 1080) resolution with a 1ms response time. BenQ is pushing a 400 nits (peak) panel here, with HDR10 support and a native contrast ratio of 1,000:1, which is kind of so-so for an IPS panel. In addition, the company says that the EX270M features an 8-bit display (16.7 million colors) with 99 percent coverage of the sRGB color space. 

The second monitor announced today is the EX270QM, which sports a higher QHD (2560 x 1440) resolution. Whereas the EX270M uses a traditional LED backlight, the EX270QM supports local dimming. Interestingly, despite the local dimming, the rated contrast remains unchanged at 1,000:1. However, typical brightness is 400 nits, while peak HDR brightness extends to 600 nits. You’ll also find a 1ms gray-to-gray response time, HDR10 support and DisplayHDR 600 certification. The EX270QM also meets 98 percent of the P3 color gamut, according to BenQ. 

As these are gaming monitors at heart, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro Adaptive-Sync support is included, although there’s no word on Nvidia G-Sync compatibility. Both monitors support HDMI 2.1 (two ports), DisplayPort 1.4, one USB Type-B (upstream) and two USB 3.0 Type-A (downstream).

BenQ is known for putting punchy audio systems in its gaming monitors, and that’s no different here. Each monitor has a 2.1-channel audio setup with two treVolo 2-watt speakers and a 5-watt subwoofer. If you prefer to keep your tunes to yourself, there’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack to support the best gaming headsets. 

We should also mention that both monitors support 100mm of height adjustment, tilt (from -5 to 15 degrees) and 15 degrees of swivel. 

The BenQ EX270M is available directly from the manufacturer with a price tag of $399, while the EX270QM doubles that price to $799. Additionally, the monitors come from the factory with a 3-year limited warranty. Stay tuned for a full review of these new entries from BenQ as we find out if they earn a spot among the best gaming monitors on the market.

If you’re a fan of HP’s HyperX gaming peripherals lineup, it now includes two of the best gaming monitors, the Armada 25 and Armada 27. I recently looked at the Armada 25 and found it to be a very capable and responsive display with everything a gamer needs for high performance, fast frame rates and smooth video processing.

The other panel in HyperX’s line, the Armada 27, is on my test bench for this review. It’s not just a bigger screen; it also adds a wide color gamut, HDR and QHD resolution. The max refresh is 165 Hz, so it won’t quite deliver the super smooth motion of its smaller stablemate. But with 109ppi pixel density, this $499 display will render a sharper image. And it ships with the same cool mounting arm setup as the Armada 25. Let’s take a look.

HyperX Armada 27 Specs

A 27-inch QHD monitor is the sweet spot of price versus performance. This is a hot and crowded category, with many displays coming in under $600. Indeed, the Armada 27 is out the door at $500, which is only $50 more than the Armada 25. You get greater pixel density, a larger screen, HDR, and a wide color gamut for that extra money. The only thing you give up is speed, 165 Hz, versus the 240 Hz of the 25-inch model. If that sounds appealing, read on because I found a lot to like here.

The Armada 27 comes with the same high-quality mounting arm in place of a traditional stand. This is certainly unusual, but the arm is very convenient. It includes a beefy clamp and hardware for desks with holes already in them. An arm lets you put the panel just about anywhere, at any angle, in portrait mode and any height within a 12-inch range. It’s much more flexible than a traditional stand.

The panel is IPS, but its similarity to the Armada 25 ends there. QHD resolution delivers an ideal 109ppi, so you see a sharper picture immediately. According to my measurements, you also get HDR with 400 nits peak brightness and a wide color gamut that covers over 91% of DCI-P3. I also discovered during testing that you could calibrate for sRGB and DCI-P3 independently and save your settings when you switch modes. That lets you use the extended gamut for SDR content without compromising sRGB accuracy. And in HDR mode, there’s a dimming feature in place that effectively doubles contrast.

Video processing equals the excellent motion quality I found in the Armada 25. Though the frame rate is lower at 165 Hz, it’s relatively smooth thanks to a well-engineered overdrive and Adaptive-Sync. The Armada 27 is G-Sync certified by Nvidia and FreeSync compatible from 48 to 165 Hz. You also get a backlight strobe if you prefer that feature.

With so much extra included for just $50 more, it’s hard to choose between the 25- or 27-inch models. Speed will be the deciding factor for most users. 240 Hz is compelling, but the Armada 27’s 165 Hz and QHD are too.

Assembly and Accessories of HyperX Armada 27

HyperX packs the Armada 27 in a fully recyclable carton with engineered cardboard to secure the contents. The arm and column are easy to assemble without tools; then, the panel snaps in place. I simply replaced the Armada 25 with the 27 using the same mounting bits for my purposes. Each arm is rated for 20 pounds, so you can easily attach two monitors to a single column. HyperX sells the extra arms for $80 each. There are two clamps in the box, one for table/desk edges and one for pre-drilled holes. Extra-long DisplayPort and HDMI cables are included, along with an IEC cord for the internal power supply. The DP cable is red, which is a nice touch.

Product 360: HyperX Armada 27 

Aside from its extra size, the Armada 27 looks exactly like the Armada 25. The bezel is very narrow at 8mm on the top and sides and 19mm across the bottom, where you’ll see a tiny HyperX logo. A larger graphic appears on the back, which is also set off by a large X finished in polished black. Also in back is a power toggle key and a tiny joystick that controls all monitor functions.

The arm allows for a huge range of movement and positioning. Each joint is firm and smooth, with no play whatsoever. The arm slips over the column and is retained by a quick-release ring that can be raised and lowered. The panel fulcrum can be tilted from -20 to +60 degrees, rotated 90 degrees for portrait mode, and swiveled 90 degrees to either side. The arm can swivel 180 degrees as well. The lift range is 12.5 inches, and the arm can sit in a 10-inch window on the column. Each arm can hold up to 20 pounds and works with 100mm and 75mm VESA bolt patterns. The desk needs to be between 0.6 and 2 inches thick for edge mounting. A hole mount should be between 0.6 and 2.4 inches. The column and single arm weight is just over 10 pounds. It is clearly well-built and extremely flexible. You can position the panel just about anywhere you like.

The input panel just includes video access, two HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 1.4. There is no audio jack, nor is there USB. While these omissions are not grave, they force the user to use the connected system for peripheral support. Also missing are internal speakers.

OSD Features: HyperX Armada 27

The Armada 27’s OSD is nearly identical to the one I explored in the Armada 25 but with one important difference, a wide gamut color mode. You also get the ability to create separate calibrations for each picture preset, something which very few monitors can do.

Gaming options include a five-level overdrive. Level 3 provides smooth motion with no ghosting. Higher settings create white trails behind moving objects. If you prefer a backlight strobe instead of Adaptive-Sync, turn on MPRT. It has five options that get progressively dimmer as you go up in value. Level 3 is the sweet spot. It’ll cost you about 25% brightness, but it delivers smooth operation with no visible phasing. Also in this sub-menu is a frame counter and a slick crosshair editor that lets you build your own aiming point from the four available shapes. You can pick one of eight colors and place it anywhere you like on the screen.

The picture modes are different from what I saw in the Armada 25. The Armada 27 lets you tweak the RGB Gains independently for each preset. Standard uses the sRGB gamut while Native is the wide gamut option. Not only are the RGB values mode-specific, but brightness is too. That way, you can have two calibrated picture modes that differ only in gamut volume, very cool.

In the Menu section, you get the ability to program the joystick directions for quick access to four different functions. This makes it easy to change picture modes or adjust brightness for example.

HyperX Armada 27 Calibration Settings

The Armada 27 looks great right out of the box with no need for calibration in its Standard mode. But if you make a few adjustments, it’s possible to not only achieve a better image, but to calibrate two different color gamut modes. This is something only a tiny handful of monitors can do. 

In Standard, the gamut is sRGB which is appropriate for SDR content. Use the values left of the slash from the table below. The Native mode uses the full gamut which covers 91.5% of DCI-P3. There, use the settings right of the slash. You can then switch freely between them without changing any values. They are remembered for each picture mode. HDR has no image options but is accurate enough to not require them.

Gaming and Hands-on with HyperX Armada 27

As with the Armada 25, I loved using the mounting arm that comes with the Armada 27. Okay, I used the same arm, but both monitors ship with the same parts. It truly is the best arm I’ve tried, bar none. It holds position without play or wobble and moves with a sureness that inspires confidence. Once clamped in place, the Armada 27 becomes part of your desk.

For workday tasks, it excels. Pixel density is quite high (109ppi), so I couldn’t see any pixel structure unless I got uncomfortably close to the screen. I had no trouble reading tiny text on web pages or seeing the fine details in photos and graphics. Color was exemplary, and I enjoyed switching between the Standard and Native modes for different applications. Most users will likely prefer the extra saturation of Native, but I am a stickler for accuracy, so I used Standard for most things.

With work complete, it was time for a few rounds of Doom Eternal’s Horde mode. I could switch freely between SDR and HDR, and the difference was noticeable. SDR looked washed out by comparison, and that doesn’t mean it looked bad. It popped nicely in the Native picture mode, which bumped up the color saturation. But HDR clearly had better contrast and depth. It was easier to see distant enemies against the background and color was more vivid.

Game performance was top-notch, easily equal to what I experienced with the Armada 25. The difference in frame rates wasn’t as apparent, thanks to the Armada 27’s superb video processing. G-Sync worked without a hitch and the overdrive kept motion smooth with no artifacts in evidence. In Tomb Raider, I spent some time comparing Adaptive-Sync to MPRT and found the backlight strobe to be one of the best I’ve tried.

Many monitors show a phasing artifact when using this feature that reduces motion resolution, but the Armada 27 didn’t have this issue. I was drawn to the hair detail in Lara’s on-screen avatar. You could see individual hairs blowing in the wind and varying in sheen as she moved. This effect remained clear even when I moved the mouse quickly. And it wasn’t reduced when using dynamic contrast in SDR mode. The picture was a little more three-dimensional and retained its full detail.

After several hours of gaming, I was nothing but impressed with the Armada 27’s performance. It delivers a premium experience and punches well above its price point.

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To compare the Armada 27’s performance, I’ve included Cooler Master’s GM27-FQS, BenQ’s EX2710R & EX2710Q, NZXT’s Canvas 32Q and the Monoprice 43548. The Canvas 32Q and EX2710R are VA, while the rest use IPS panels. All run QHD resolution at 165 Hz.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

Most 165 Hz monitors fill the screen in 6ms but some need 7ms. The difference is small but visible. The Armada 27 is in the faster category and is as smooth as the best 165 Hz monitor can be. 

An excellent overdrive adds to that quality with a better implementation than the others. Input lag is also lower than the rest with 27ms total control latency. That’s not far behind the 240 Hz crowd. While 240 Hz will retain motion resolution a little better, the gaming feel won’t be much different. The Armada 27 is one of the better QHD/165 Hz screens I’ve used.

Viewing Angles

HyperX uses a similarly high-quality panel in the Armada 27 as it does in the Armada 25. The color shifts slightly blue at 45 degrees to the side, and light is reduced by around 20%. Detail stays clear in the darkest steps, which means it retains shadow detail. From the top, you get a green tint, 40% light reduction and less definition due to the drop in gamma.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My Armada 27 sample exhibited excellent screen uniformity with no visible variation in a black field pattern. I couldn’t see any bleed or glow when viewing in a darkened room. Color fields were equally smooth and free of aberration. There is no question that quality parts are in use here.

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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 Armada 27 is rated for 400 nits, but when I measured Standard mode at the default settings with the brightness maxed, I got only 360 nits. It turns out the Native mode is where the light is. It measures over 422 nits peak and boasts a wider color gamut too.

The Armada 27 finishes last in the black level comparison because it’s the brightest panel of the bunch. Its contrast ratio is a respectable 1047.3:1. The Armada 25 has a slightly greater dynamic range but less light output and a smaller gamut. In this group, the VA panels easily win the contrast contest with over 3,000:1.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration cost me a bit of dynamic range, which put the Armada 27 equal to average IPS panels. Again, the Armada 25 will deliver a slightly deeper image if you’re willing to accept its sRGB-only color gamut. You can increase contrast to around 2,000:1 by turning on Dynamic Contrast in the OSD. It works reasonably well without clipping detail, but then you can’t adjust the brightness control. User preference will be the decider on that score.

Thanks to good components and quality control, the ANSI contrast value is slightly higher than the static. The Armada 27 remains at the average level, but that’s not a deal-breaker. The picture is nicely saturated and if you want more color, just change to the Native mode. Overall, this is very good performance.

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The Armada 27 has solid out-of-box color accuracy. Calibration is not required but the effort pays off in multiple ways. Not only can one improve picture quality, but it’s also possible to independently calibrate multiple image modes. Only a few monitors have this ability.

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.

Starting with Standard mode, you can see that grayscale tracking is quite good with only the 90 and 100% steps cracking the 3dE line. That’s the point where errors become visible to the naked eye. In actual content, few users would see a problem. Gamma also tracks to near perfection at the reference line.

Native mode is a bit cool before calibration with more visible errors above the 60% brightness point. If you want the wide gamut it offers, calibration should be performed. Or you can use the settings I detailed earlier.

With adjustments in place, both Standard and Native show reference-level grayscale and gamma tracking. Only Native mode shows a slightly lighter gamma. But the values are still within a tight range, which means it’ll be hard to see any issues. Note that you’ll need different RGB and brightness values to achieve the same result. It’s all in the table I put on page two. This is excellent performance.

Comparisons

For the comparison, I’ve charted the Armada 27’s Standard mode. The values aren’t vastly different in Native, but Standard produces the lowest error levels. 2.40dE out of the box means you don’t need to calibrate. But adjustment brings that number down to 1.20dE, which is a visible improvement.

In every case, gamma tracking is exemplary, with only a 0.07 range of values and little deviation from the 2.2 reference. It doesn’t get much better than that.

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.

As stated, Standard mode uses the sRGB gamut while Native expands to DCI-P3. Before calibration, the errors are minuscule, with no visible issues. Saturation and hue points are all on target, with only a slight hue deviation in the cyan secondary. RGB adjustments fix that neatly and take the average error to an extremely low level. This is pro-monitor territory.

The Native mode is much the same, with no visible errors before or after calibration. Like most wide gamut screens, the Armada 27 is a bit under-saturated in the green primary. And it backs off in red to create a usable compromise when viewing SDR content in the extended gamut. Though Standard (sRGB) is the more accurate mode for SDR, most users will likely prefer the extra color offered by Native (DCI-P3). By under-saturating red, it avoids looking overblown or cartoonish.

Comparisons

Again, I have charted the Standard mode for the comparison. The Armada 27 delivers reference quality performance with a tiny average error of 0.87dE. The value for Native mode is slightly higher at 1.61dE. Neither mode will have visible issues. It truly doesn’t get better than this, especially for $500.

The Armada 27 doesn’t have the largest color gamut of the bunch but it’s pretty close to the top. I’ve measured a few screens that crack 100% of DCI-P3 but most are at the same level or below. With near total coverage of both sRGB and DCI-P3, the Armada 27 can be used for critical apps since its errors are so low.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The Armada 27 supports HDR10 signals by switching automatically to HDR mode. There are no picture options available, but I found decent contrast thanks to a dimming feature and solid color accuracy, enough to say its HDR image looks better than the SDR version.

HDR Brightness & Contrast

The Armada 27 is certified for DisplayHDR 400, and it is indeed the brightest screen here with over 487 nits peak. That ensures that highlights will pop against mid-toned and dark backgrounds which enhances the perception of dynamic range. 

Black levels are respectable enough to double the effective contrast to 2,164.7:1. While that isn’t quite in the NZXT’s territory, it’s a little better than the VA-based BenQ which only manages 2009.9:1. This is very good performance and puts the Armada 27 above the many monitors which have no extra contrast available for HDR content.

Grayscale, EOTF & Color

Aside from a slight warm tone, the Armada 27’s HDR grayscale tracking is solid. The error is barely visible and, in my experience, did not detract from the HDR effect. The EOTF tracks almost perfectly, with only tiny variations from the reference line. The tone-map transition point is at 65% which is a good thing. Though there are no picture adjustments available, HyperX has clearly set up the monitor correctly.

Color tracking shows a bit of over-saturation in red and blue, which is not unusual in the HDR monitors I’ve tested. This helps pump up the presentation without masking fine detail in the mid-tones. Hues are on target, so HDR color looks natural and correct. For Rec.2020-mastered content, the Armada 27 slightly exceeds the saturation targets until it runs out of color at around 90% saturation. This is the right way for an HDR monitor to present as much of the gamut as possible.

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When exploring the extremes of gaming monitor performance, there is always a compromise. High resolution means a lower frame rate. High frame rates mean lower resolution. High frame rates and high resolution mean a higher price. The QHD/165 Hz category is still the balance point where you can get sharp imagery and excellent motion resolution for a reasonable sum. The deciding factor then becomes video processing quality, and, in that area, the HyperX Armada 27 excels.

It has one of the best overdrive implementations I’ve seen with a high degree of blur reduction and no ghosting. It has a useful backlight strobe that reduces blur to nothing while avoiding the phasing artifacts often seen in lesser displays. And it has very low input lag putting it on par with many faster screens.

There is plenty to like about its image quality too. Contrast is about average, but a dimming feature effectively doubles the dynamic range with no downside. And HDR contrast is better than many inexpensive IPS panels can boast.

The best bit, though, is the Armada 27’s ability to save calibration settings in multiple picture modes. That means you can use either sRGB or DCI-P3 color for SDR content with equalized brightness, identical white points and consistent gamma. This is something rarely seen in any monitor, including the professional genre, where you often get just one user-configurable preset.

I also must give kudos to the mounting arm. Though it’s unusual for a monitor to come without a stand, the arm is of such high quality you’ll want to use it. And the ability to attach two panels to a single column is cool. The HyperX Armada 27, like its 25-inch stablemate, sets itself apart from the crowd. If you’re looking for high performance, premium image quality and good value, you should definitely check it out.

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If you’re looking for a value-priced gaming monitor under $200, FHD resolution is almost a certainty. However, that doesn’t mean you have to give up image quality or performance. Dell’s S2422HG is a perfect example of how much you can get for the money. It includes a 165 Hz refresh rate, a 24-inch high-contrast VA panel, wide gamut color and Adaptive-Sync. 

It’s also slightly curved, which gives it an advantage over flat panels. Though subtle, that curve will deliver just a tad more immersion as the picture fills the user’s peripheral vision and puts the S2422HG into contention with the best gaming monitors available.

Dell S2422HG Specs

The only thing missing here are built-in speakers and USB, but the Dell S2422HG has everything a gamer could want for $170 at this writing. Let’s take a look.

The S2422HG is a straightforward gaming monitor with smooth and responsive gameplay and plenty of color and contrast to make the image pop. The VA panel is good for around 3,000:1, which is triple the dynamic range of an IPS screen. Though it has FHD resolution, pixel density is a reasonable 93ppi, enough to keep jagged lines from distracting the view at a two- to three-foot seating distance.

It is one of the few small FHD panels to offer an extended color gamut. Dell doesn’t mention this in its marketing, putting on the side of the box “99% sRGB” as the claimed volume. It’s actually 125% or 88.5% of DCI-P3, giving it a visible boost in color saturation. There is no sRGB mode which is becoming a lesser concern as most users prefer more color to less, regardless of whether they are viewing SDR or HDR content. The S2422HG doesn’t include HDR, but with such a high contrast ratio, it does a great job with all SDR material.

Gamers will find all the necessary video processing options and enhancements to elevate their play experience. Adaptive-Sync operates from 48-165 Hz and the S2422HG is G-Sync compatible, according to my tests. The Dell S2422HG isn’t currently certified by Nvidia, but its predecessor, the S2421HGF, is. So it seems likely that the new model will soon be added to the list.

Assembly and Accessories for Dell S2422HG

Dell continues its tradition of recyclable packaging using molded cardboard pulp to protect the S2422HG during shipping. The panel, upright and base assemble without the need for tools into a lightweight but sturdy package. The power supply is internal, so you get an IEC cord for that, and a DisplayPort cable is also included.

Product 360: Dell S2422HG

The Dell S2422HG’s curve radius is a subtle 1500R, so from the front, you can barely perceive it. There is no hint of image distortion, and you get a slight wrap effect. In my experience, a small 16:9 curved screen like this neither enhances nor detracts from the experience. Your mileage will vary, but I have played games on some extremely curved monitors.

Styling is simple and to the point, with no real visible cues from the front as to the S2422HG’s gaming intent. In the back, you’ll find the now-familiar 1970s Cylon-shaped grill that vents heat from the panel’s internals. Also in the back are four control keys and a joystick to navigate the OSD. The power switch is on the bottom as a white LED. You can turn the light off to avoid distractions in the dark.

The stand is very high in quality, with a small but stable base. You get -5/21 degrees of tilt and a 3.9-inch height adjustment. Movements give the feel of a more expensive monitor. This is typical of Dell’s build quality – light but solid.

The input panel is basic, with two HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 1.2. All are of sufficient bandwidth to run at 165 Hz with Adaptive-Sync. You also get a 3.5mm audio port. There is no USB, built-in speakers or lighting effects.

OSD Features of Dell S2422HG

The S2422HG’s OSD doesn’t skimp on features with multiple color modes, gaming enhancements and video processing options.

The Game menu is presented first and foremost; this is where you’ll spend the most time. You can choose from 12 color modes, all of which employ the monitor’s full gamut which covers 125% of sRGB. The three Game modes let you create individual sets of video processing options, while Custom Color includes two-point white balance plus color hue & saturation. There are no gamma presets, but I found luminance tracking to be on point in testing.

Game Enhance Mode is where you’ll find countdown timers, a frame rate indicator and display alignment marks to help install multiple panels precisely. The Response Time sub-menu has two overdrive speeds which looked the same in the test patterns I ran. It also includes MPRT, which is a backlight strobe that replaces Adaptive-Sync. It cuts brightness by around 30% and causes a slight phasing effect which was distracting in more finely detailed games. If you’re having trouble seeing in dark areas, Dark Stabilizer can bump up the black levels to make enemies lurking in the shadows easier to spot.

The Personalize menu lets the user program three control keys for quick access to monitor functions. You can also turn off the power LED if you wish.

Calibration Settings for Dell S2422HG

In the Dell S2422HG’s default mode, Standard, you’ll find decent color accuracy and grayscale that’s slightly purple in the brighter steps above 60%. Custom Color is a better choice since it allows both gain and offset adjustments. I tweaked both to achieve a more precise and natural image. Gamma runs right on the 2.2 reference line which is good because there are no means to adjust it. Try my instrument-derived settings below to optimize your S2422HG.

Gaming and Hands-on with Dell S2422HG

The Dell S2422HG proved to be a smooth performer in games paced both slow and fast. Rapid movements like those required in Doom Eternal’s Horde mode showed a slightly weak overdrive. Though motion resolution was good, it wasn’t quite up to what I’d seen from other 165 Hz monitors like the BenQ EX2510S. Test patterns showed an undershoot condition where thin black outlines trail moving objects. You don’t see the black trails in actual game content most of the time, but there is a slight softness when moving quickly. This was partially mitigated by the high frame rate. I was pegged at 165 fps almost all the time.

Adaptive-Sync worked flawlessly with no frame tears in evidence on either FreeSync or G-Sync platforms. The MPRT backlight strobe was less successful in maintaining motion resolution because it has the phasing issue typical of most gaming monitors with this feature. Only a few displays have managed to stamp this out, the Dough Spectrum series being the most notable.

I seem to be picking nits here, but in reality, I had a solid experience gaming on the Dell S2422HG. I can’t fault the performance it delivers for the money. It is super responsive with no perceptible input lag. I kept my aim true and accurate during the most fast-paced battles. And the image had a nicely saturated look thanks to high contrast and the wide color gamut. Picture-wise, there is no fault here.

That quality carried over to work tasks which were easily and comfortably accomplished. At 24 inches, the pixel density is 93ppi, so FHD resolution isn’t a hindrance. As I’ve already said, it contributes to a consistently high frame rate for gaming. Small black text was easy to read against white backgrounds, and if I sat back around three feet, there were no visible jaggies. Closer inspection will reveal them if you work on detailed photos or video, but for the most part, there was no lack of clarity.

Color proved accurate and vivid when watching videos or viewing still photos. Though you have to use the wide gamut for all content, it isn’t significantly over-saturated. More importantly, it’s balanced so you’ll only find the monitor more colorful without thinking it’s too much. Given all the S2422HG’s image and video processing attributes, it is a display that can do everything well.

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The comparison group is all FHD screens ranging in size from 24 to 32 inches. The S2422HG and its stablemate S3222HG are VA panels, while the Gigabyte G27F2, Monoprice 42771, Viotek GFI24CBA and BenQ EX2510S are IPS. Refresh rates run from 144 to 170 Hz.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

While 165 or 170 Hz offers a slight advantage over 144 Hz, the difference in motion resolution is subtle. The S2422HG matches the lone 144 Hz screen here at 7ms for a full screen draw. I found it was a little hampered by a weak overdrive which showed thin black trails behind moving objects in test patterns. This is a symptom of undershoot. Dell could improve this monitor with a more aggressive option. MPRT (backlight strobe) removes the black outline but adds in a phasing artifact that I see in most gaming monitors with the feature. The best picture is when Adaptive-Sync is turned on and Response Time is set to Fastest.

The S2422HG has very low input lag, which makes it a good choice for the twitchier players among us. It proved to be more than enough monitor for my average skills. If you play at a high level, you’ll want to consider something running at 240 Hz or faster. But for $170, this Dell delivers plenty of usable performance.

Viewing Angles

The viewing angles of VA monitors are never stellar, but the S2422HG does a decent job when seen at 45 degrees off-axis. You can see a red/green tint and a 30% brightness reduction, but detail is still clearly rendered throughout the image’s luminance range. The top view is very washed out with a green tint. Sharing is probably not the best use for any 24-inch monitor. However, it’s fine for a single user with no shifts in image quality when viewed from two to four feet away.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My S2422HG sample had excellent screen uniformity except for the lower-right corner zone, which was a tad brighter than the rest. This did not affect gaming content, and you won’t see the anomaly in anything but the darkest material, which is good performance for the price.

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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 S2422HG has plenty of light output to compete favorably with its peers. It’s rated for 350 nits which I couldn’t quite reach in the default Standard mode. But that consideration becomes secondary when looking at black levels. This is where VA shines and the Dell screens are well ahead of the others. Though the Monoprice is an exceptional IPS panel, it still has less than half the dynamic range of the top two displays. This translates into a visible improvement in image depth and color saturation.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration doesn’t change the results much, which is as it should be. The S2422HG’s 3,261.8:1 contrast ratio is better than most LCDs can boast. It’s well ahead of any IPS panels and it beats many VA monitors as well.

The ANSI, or intra-image contrast, is only slightly lower at 2,924.8:1. This is a great indication of the S2422HG’s build quality and component selection. Only a well-fitted grid polarizer can deliver such a high ANSI result. In a side-by-side comparison, the two Dells will easily outpace their IPS competition with more vivid color and deeper blacks.

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The S2422HG can be enjoyed in its Standard mode without calibration, but you will see a slight purple tint in gray and white shades above the mid-range. Luckily, it includes a Custom Color mode like most Dell monitors, which delivers a more precise result.

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.

In the default chart, the S2422HG is perfectly neutral in the darker parts of the image but lets a little purple creep into the highlight areas. Gamma tracks almost perfectly with the 2.2 reference, which is good performance.

Calibration of the Custom Color mode brings grayscale tracking down to a series of invisible errors with all steps under 2dE and most under 1dE. Gamma introduces a slight hump (too dark) at 90% brightness, but you won’t see an error that small with the naked eye.

Comparisons

Though the S2422HG’s 3.31dE default measurement is about average among gaming monitors, it’s good enough to take the win here by a nose. However, calibration is worth the effort with a nice gain to 1.07dE, a difference you can easily see. Though that takes it from first to last, it’s still an invisible error, so the final comparison is a very close result.

The S2422HG certainly doesn’t need help in the gamma department. There aren’t any options for lighter or darker luminance tracking, but since it nails 2.2 almost perfectly, there’s no complaint. Not only does that ensure full-detail rendering, but it also makes the large color gamut look even more saturated.

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.

Not all FHD monitors include a wide gamut, but the S2422HG does, and it tracks DCI-P3 with excellent precision. Out of the box, it has an average error of 2.13dE, which is excellent by any standard. Red, yellow, blue and magenta are fully covered, while green and cyan are only a tad short of the top.

Calibration reduces the error to 1.65dE though the visual difference is relatively small. The grayscale calibration is responsible for this and is worth doing to make gray shades more neutral.

Comparisons

The S2422HG ranks among the best in the gaming category for color accuracy. That it covers 88.49% of DCI-P3 is a nice bonus. Only the Gigabyte has a better dE value, and it isn’t low enough to make a visible difference. No one will be dissatisfied with the Dell unit’s color quality.

Though the Monoprice and Gigabyte screens have a tad more color volume, it’s an infinitesimal amount. It would be hard to spot a difference between the top four monitors here. Though the BenQ and Viotek exceed sRGB, they are visibly less colorful than the S2422HG. This is an impressive performance for a $170 display.

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Choosing the right gaming monitor is a balancing act. You want the highest possible resolution, but you also want fast frame rates. Getting these two in the same display means an expensive video card, like the GeForce RTX 4090. To run Ultra HD at 144 Hz, you need a lot of processing power. But it is possible to have just as much fun for less money if you go with an FHD monitor. There are plenty of choices that run at 144 Hz or 165 Hz and deliver good color and video processing. At $170, the Dell S2422HG is one of the standouts.

With its slightly curved VA panel, the S2422HG delivers an immersive visual experience. VA means high contrast with deep blacks and this Dell is one of the very best in that regard. FHD often means sRGB color, but Dell has quietly upped that metric with a wide gamut that covers 125% of sRGB or 88.5% of DCI-P3. And with a few simple tweaks, that color is very accurate with a balanced and saturated palette. There’s no HDR, speakers or USB, but honestly, those omissions did not lessen the gaming experience.

Video processing was solid in nearly every respect. Only a slightly weak overdrive detracted from otherwise smooth gameplay. A backlight strobe is provided, which is a nice bonus at this price point, but I found it didn’t improve the situation. However, in most gaming content, only a slight softness was noticeable. I still spent many enjoyable hours mowing through monsters and mutants in Doom Eternal with no attention paid to those flaws. High frame rates and low input lag contribute to an excellent gaming experience. And the S2422HG’s build quality means it will last for the long haul.

If you have a modest gaming system, the Dell S2422HG is an ideal display with all the right attributes. It’s equally suited for work or play and will satisfy those looking for value. If your budget for a gaming monitor is $200 or less, this could be your best choice.

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Boutique gaming system and component maker NZXT has added high-performance displays to its product lineup with 27- and 32-inch screens. The Canvas line includes the 27Q (flat) and 32Q (curved) monitor, the latter of which I’ll review here. It runs at 165 Hz in QHD resolution and features a high-contrast VA panel with Adaptive-Sync, HDR, and a wide color gamut. You can get it in multiple combinations of white and black with either a stand or monitor arm. And the pricing is competitive with other established brands. Will it perform well enough to make it onto our Best Gaming Monitors page? Let’s take a look.

NZXT Canvas 32Q Specs

With so many fast IPS screens coming out, I’m seeing fewer VA panels used in gaming monitors. This is unfortunate because they offer all the color and about three times the contrast of the best IPS monitors. NZXT uses a VA part in the Canvas 32Q, delivering nearly 4,000:1, which is higher than any IPS and many of the VA displays I’ve tested. This adds a lot of impact to both SDR and HDR content. The Canvas 32Q accepts HDR10 signals, though it does not use dynamic contrast or a high output backlight. But its HDR quality is still superior to rank-and-file IPS monitors that can muster 1,000:1 at best.

The color gamut covers around 88% of DCI-P3, which is average among value-priced screens. Like most wide gamut displays, it comes up a tad short in the green primary. Blue and red are well saturated, and the Canvas 32Q is very colorful in all types of content. It’s accurate enough out of the box that calibration is unnecessary. I found it only needed a gamma tweak to deliver a good picture.

Gaming performance is assured by a 165 Hz refresh rate, which is easy to meet in QHD resolution when driven by a mid- to upper-tier video card. Though pixel density is 93ppi, it renders a sharp image that works equally well for gaming or productivity. Its high contrast helps make fine detail and shades of color pop.

The screen’s curve radius of 1,500mm is right in the middle, where there is no image distortion, but the curve is useful enough to immerse the viewer. And at 32 inches diagonal, there is a lot of height and width to fill one’s peripheral vision.

The Canvas 32Q clearly has a gaming intent, though it saves the buyer a bit of money by leaving out speakers and LED lighting. However, solid build quality and reliable performance make it a decent value.

Assembly and Accessories

When you buy the Canvas 32Q directly from NZXT’s website, you can choose between a stand or an arm. The panel and stand come in black or white, so you can choose between four possible combinations. The stand adds $50, while the arm is $100 for a single and $170 for a dual model. The panel alone costs $400 in white or $380 in black. NZXT shipped me everything in black, along with a stand and an arm. All components assemble easily and quickly without the need for tools. The generous cable bundle includes HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, standard USB and an external power supply.

Product 360

The Canvas 32Q’s styling is simple and functional. The upright looks a bit like the flash suppressor from a machine gun with its rows of holes. Though slender, it is rock solid, with a thick metal plate serving as the base. Ergonomics include a 120mm height adjustment, 20 degrees swivel and 5/20 degrees tilt. There is no portrait mode. The back includes a 100mm VESA mount for whatever solution you choose. Also seen in the back is an OSD joystick and the NZXT logo proudly displayed at the top.

The top view shows the 1500R curvature. It’s right between subtle and extreme, the perfect balance between immersion and image quality. There is no visible distortion, so you’ll be comfortable working on documents and spreadsheets with the Canvas 32Q’s large screen area. You can see the ample cooling grill that keeps internal temps to just above ambient. A little clip attaches to the stand for cable management.

From the side, you can see the panel’s profile is thinner at the top. This portion is covered by a metal plate which further aids cooling. There are no speakers or side USB ports, but the Canvas 32Q does not skimp on connectivity. You get two HDMI 2.0, one DisplayPort 1.2, a USB-C serving as a video input and USB upstream connection. There are also a USB-B upstream and two USB-A downstream ports. You can connect headphones or powered speakers to the 3.5mm audio jack.

OSD Features

The Canvas 32Q’s OSD is super simple which I greatly appreciate. It only has four sub-menus plus a signal information screen.

All picture and game settings are packed into the Image menu. The first section has eight picture modes and brightness/contrast/sharpness along with three color temps, RGB sliders, three gamma presets and color saturation. The second half includes overdrive, a frame rate counter, MPRT (blur reduction via backlight strobe), low blue light and a black equalizer to make shadow detail more visible. My only beef here is the lack of numerical values for settings like brightness and contrast, RGB or volume. You can see the slider move up or down, but there’s no number there for later reference. I counted the clicks, and each slider has 100 steps making the center point 50. Other options like sharpness, saturation, low blue light and black equalizer have 10 steps. It’s unusual, but I got used to it after a time.

In Other Setting, you’ll find the FreeSync toggle. This should be together with MPRT, but it’s not. Turning MPRT on cancels Adaptive-Sync as it does on most monitors. The backlight strobe has no fine-tuning available. It reduces brightness by around 25% and produces some slight phasing artifacts. The overdrive is very subtle in its operation, with no obvious ghosting. It reduces blur reasonably well.

NZXT Canvas 32Q Calibration Settings

The Canvas 32Q is accurate enough by default not to require calibration. I saw some slight green errors in the grayscale patterns I viewed, but the actual content looked very good, with natural color and tone. Gamma is too light on the default 2.2 setting, so I upped it to 2.4 for a visible improvement in depth and dimension. I could not improve the white point accuracy using the RGB sliders because they don’t act equally on all the brightness steps. My calibration consisted only of the change in gamma. Below are the brightness settings I used for commonly chosen output levels.

HDR signals automatically switch the Canvas 32Q into HDR mode where I measured good accuracy for color and EOTF tracking. There are no picture adjustments available for HDR content, so you’ll have to confine your tweaks to any in-game options that are available.

Gaming and Hands-on

The first thing I always see when booting up Windows is the beach scene wallpaper, which is part of Windows 10’s default set of graphics. It has a brilliant blue sky reflected in the water, orange sandy rocks in the background, and a lone figure running along the beach. I always look at the color first, and the Canvas 32Q impresses with its bold and vivid hues. The extra contrast was obvious as I looked at the gentle waves that were clearly in the foreground, well ahead of the rocks behind. And the running lady is almost a silhouette, but some subtle details can be seen. For example, I could tell she was wearing three-quarter-length pants.

The picture looks a tad soft with a pixel density of 93ppi if you like to sit very close to the screen. But the large screen is best used from three to four feet back. Then, you won’t see the pixel structure. The anti-glare layer does its job invisibly without causing any distortion or grain. The image is very sharp, with no apparent edge enhancement as long as the sharpness slider is left at 50%.

Productivity apps look solid, with clear type and good contrast between black text and white backgrounds. Photo editing was easy enough, but since there's no sRGB mode available, I had to use a software LUT when that gamut was needed. Watching video was a smooth experience, with no apparent stutter or cadence issue in YouTube content.

I started my game time with Doom Eternal’s horde mode, which keeps the action moving non-stop. The overdrive did a reasonable job of maintaining motion resolution, but it could have been a little more aggressive. Even on its highest setting, it didn’t clean up the picture completely. The MPRT backlight strobe does a good job of keeping fine detail solid during rapid movement, but some phasing artifacts are present. I could compensate for the light reduction by turning up the brightness slider. But ultimately, I preferred to keep Adaptive-Sync on instead. Frame rate management was flawless on both G-Sync and FreeSync systems.

Shadow areas in Call of Duty WWII were nice and dark thanks to the Canvas 32Q’s accurate EOTF tracking in HDR mode. I could still see detail clearly, and that true black made the image look three-dimensional. Color also had extra pop, which further distinguished HDR from SDR. Highlights were a little flat relative to brighter monitors, but I’d still call the Canvas 32Q a good HDR display relative to its value price point.

The Canvas 32Q is a solid first effort for NZXT that delivers a solid gaming experience and good picture quality in all areas of productivity and entertainment. 

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I’ve managed to find a few other VA QHD 165 Hz panels in my test database to compare the Canvas 32Q. They are Monoprice’s 42891, Viotek’s GNV32DBE and BenQ’s EX2710R. To fill out the group, I’ve included the IPS-based Cooler Master GM32-FQ and Corsair 32QHD165.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

165 Hz will give you a response time between six and seven milliseconds. The Canvas 32Q is in the 7ms category, giving it the same level of motion blur as a 144 Hz monitor. Its overdrive helps some, and if you want even more reduction, you’ll have to forgo Adaptive-Sync and use the MPRT backlight strobe. Overall motion resolution quality, in either case, is on par with other 165 Hz QHD screens.

For overall lag, the Canvas 32Q is one of the quicker 165 Hz monitors I’ve tested, coming in a total time of 31ms. That’s very responsive from a casual gamer’s standpoint like mine. Very skilled players will want to consider a 240 Hz screen, but most enthusiasts will have no problems racking up frags on the Canvas 32Q.

Viewing Angles

VA screens aren’t known for great viewing angles, but the Canvas 32Q does a respectable job. Light is reduced by around 30% at 45 degrees off-center and the color shifts to green, like an IPS monitor. From the top, you can see green and red shifts, a 50% light reduction, and washed-out detail.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My Canvas 32Q sample was a tad hot in the upper left and center zones, while the rest of the screen had an even tone. Brighter gray and color patterns showed no issues. I could not see any problems with actual content during dark scenes. Bright highlights also looked white and neutral in tone.

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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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The Canvas 32Q has good accuracy out of the box in its Standard picture mode. The other presets vary color and brightness to suit different game types or tasks. Standard is the most natural-looking mode for all content.

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.

Looking at the default grayscale chart, one would say it’s pretty good with room for improvement. Only the 10% and 20% steps have any visible error with their slight coolness. Gamma runs too light for the labeled 2.2 setting. It’s tracking closer to 2.0, which makes the picture a bit washed out, not befitting a VA panel.

Unfortunately, I could make no headway with the RGB sliders. They simply would not fix the entire brightness range, only one step at a time. I eventually went back to the default Normal color temp preset and changed gamma to 2.4, which made a noticeable improvement. Aside from the slight dip at 10%, gamma is on-point.

Comparisons

Though the Canvas 32Q’s before and after grayscale numbers are different, it’s not enough to make a visual impact. Both values are below the visible threshold, so I rate its performance here as acceptable. If the RGB controls behaved properly, this result could be improved.

Luckily, gamma correctly tracks once you change the preset to 2.4. With a reasonably tight 0.23 range of values and only a 0.45% deviation from 2.2 (actual value 2.19), I can’t complain about the Canvas 32Q’s gamma performance. That has a positive impact on color saturation which I’ll show you below.

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 Canvas 32Q’s default color chart shows good hue results but there is a slight under-saturation across the board. This is due to the light gamma. The second chart shows the effect of changing the preset from 2.2 to 2.4. Red is still a bit under but it’s much closer and it hits the 100% saturation point, which is a good thing. Only magenta is slightly off hue, but that is a minimal issue. The final average error is quite low.

Comparisons

When a monitor can achieve such a low color error by changing a gamma preset, that’s excellent performance. I’ve measured all the monitors here against the DCI-P3 standard, and they all come very close to the reference level. The Canvas 32Q has one of the more accurate gamuts out there.

DCI-P3 coverage is about average among value-oriented displays. The Corsair is extremely colorful thanks to its Quantum Dot film but also costs around $250 more. Since there is no sRGB mode, the Canvas 32Q will need a software LUT if you plan any color-critical work. But for gaming and entertainment, the extra saturation is a good thing.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The Canvas 32Q doesn’t add any contrast in HDR mode as it has no dynamic option. That said, it still does a good job with HDR material, thanks to its high native contrast. It outpaces any value-priced IPS monitor in this regard.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The Canvas 32Q’s peak HDR brightness is around 333 nits which deliver bright, if not super sparkly, highlights. The best way to enjoy it is with the room lights turned down or off because it has excellent black levels and shadow detail. With just shy of 4,000:1 contrast for HDR, it does justice to the standard. If it had a dimming backlight, it would be even better. But if you’re looking for budget HDR, the NZXT, Viotek and Monoprice all deliver a solid image. Even the BenQ beats the two IPS screens by enough to make a visible difference.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

Though there is no means to calibrate the Canvas 32Q’s HDR mode, it offers good grayscale tracking, EOTF and gamut accuracy. The white point is a tad blue though only the mid-shadow areas show any visible error. The EOTF tracks almost perfectly with a tone-map transition point at 60%. This means all detail present in the original material will be clearly visible. Shadows are deep and dark but full of fine shading. Highlights exhibit the same behavior.

HDR color tracking is similar to what I saw in the SDR tests. The primaries are slightly under-saturated, and magenta is a little off hue. The Canvas 32Q’s contrast will add a lot of vibrance and pop to the HDR image. Measured against Rec.2020, it hits all the targets until it reaches its gamut limit at around 87%, which is as it should be. When content is mastered in Rec.2020, that doesn’t mean the display must be 100% saturated all the time. Tracking like this will deliver the most accurate representation of the original material. Though the Canvas 32Q doesn’t quite have the HDR contrast of premium screens with zone dimming, it is better than most budget monitors.

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The QHD, 165 Hz category is still the best bang for the buck in gaming monitors. For $400-500, you get a capable screen with Adaptive-Sync, HDR and extended color. And it can maintain higher frame rates than an Ultra HD (4K) display that has the visual effect of higher resolution when things are moving quickly across the screen. And you can save a bit of money on the video card. You won’t need a bleeding edge board to top 150fps at QHD resolution.

Adding to the QHD performance advantage is the availability of VA panels, which has yet to proliferate in the Ultra HD realm. VA delivers at least three times the contrast of IPS, thanks to its superior black levels. This makes the picture more colorful and more three-dimensional. Many of the monitors in this category are VA, and I’m glad that NZXT has chosen this route.

The Canvas 32Q is a solid performer. Though its overdrive could be a little more aggressive, it has good motion resolution, flawless Adaptive-Sync and low input lag. It is one of the quicker budget monitors I’ve tested and will deliver an excellent experience for most gamers. The backlight strobe effectively reduces motion blur, but like most monitors with this feature, there is a bit of phasing involved and a reduction in brightness. One thing that would help there is a pulse width adjustment.

Though I could not calibrate the Canvas 32Q effectively, its color accuracy is decent enough. Aside from some minor green errors in the grayscale tracking, all that needs to be done is to change the gamma preset to 2.4. The gamut is nearly perfect, and I recorded a very low average error in that test. DCI-P3 coverage is about average, which is to say very good at just over 87%. This is aided perceptually by the panel’s superb contrast of nearly 4,000:1.

It appears that at the moment, the only way to buy a Canvas 32Q is from NZXT’s website. It’s unfortunate that you can’t audition one before purchase, but other manufacturers are in the same situation, like Monoprice and Dough (formerly Eve), who also make some very good displays. But in my testing and experience, the Canvas 32Q is a monitor that would make nearly anyone happy and is highly recommended.

In today’s gaming market, where relatively inexpensive consoles are delivering Ultra HD graphics at 120 Hz and 4K televisions are coming down in price, FHD monitors are getting less attention than they deserve. However, when you’re shopping for a desktop display, they can still perform at a high level while representing a small part of your system budget. For just over $200, you can get a well-made high-performance gaming monitor with 170 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR and a wide color gamut.

The Gigabyte G27F2 is the second iteration of the G27F I reviewed two years ago. Upgrades include 170 Hz instead of a 144 Hz refresh rate, the addition of HDR, and better overall performance. The best part is that the price is a tad lower than before. At this writing, the new G27F2 is selling for $210, about $25 less than its predecessor, making it a good candidate to rank among the best gaming monitors.

Gigabyte G27F2 Specs

If you’re shopping in the FHD category, you won’t always find a wide gamut or HDR but the G27F2 has both. Its IPS panel covers just over 91% of DCI-P3 according to my measurements and beats most other IPS monitors in native contrast with nearly 1,400:1. While not quite in VA territory, it is visually superior to most of its competition. HDR has also been added where the original G27F didn’t support it. There’s no dynamic contrast, so you won’t see a significant difference between SDR and HDR. However, light output is a hair shy of 400 nits, meaning slightly brighter highlights and more vivid color.

Video processing has been improved, with a 170 Hz refresh rate. This gives the G27F2 a slight advantage over its 165 Hz competition. In fact, it is one of the more responsive displays I’ve tested at this price point, with a very low input lag score and a ghost-free overdrive. You also get a backlight strobe option which Gigabyte calls Aim Stabilizer. It works instead of Adaptive-Sync. Speaking of Adaptive-Sync, you can run FreeSync from 48-170 Hz and G-Sync from 1-170 Hz. Keep in mind, though, that the G27F2 has not been certified by Nvidia.

Gigabyte’s full suite of gaming enhancements is included with aiming points, timers, a frame counter and the info-rich dashboard, which monitors CPU and GPU stats in real-time. With the OSD Sidekick app, available as a free download, you can control the G27F2 from the Windows desktop and even create custom aiming reticles. The only things missing here are an LED lighting feature and internal speakers. It is otherwise a complete and full-featured gaming monitor that performs well above its price point.

Assembly and Accessories

The G27F2’s panel and stand are already assembled for you out of the box, though you can easily unsnap the panel if you’d rather use the 100 mm VESA mount for an aftermarket solution. The base attaches with a captive bolt. The resulting package is light but solid and free of extraneous play. HDMI and DisplayPort cables are included, and a small external power supply provides the juice.

Product 360

Styling is simple and to the point, with a thin flush bezel around the top and sides and a wider strip at the bottom. Only a Gigabyte logo adorns the front, and there’s another one in the back printed on a glossy area. You can also see the model number in shiny text down one side of the back panel. A few molded-in shapes signal the G27F2’s gaming intent, but nothing here draws too much attention. A tiny joystick is the only control. It navigates the OSD efficiently and doubles as a power toggle. In front, a white LED indicates power status, steady for on and flashing for standby. It can be defeated if you wish.

The stand offers a 130mm height adjustment and 5/20 degrees tilt. There is no swivel or portrait mode. The monitor is light enough that it can easily be turned by sliding the stand. The footprint is relatively small, and the base is just large enough to keep everything stable.

The input panel is up and underneath the left side and includes two HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 1.2. In the middle is a 3.5mm headphone jack, then you get USB 3.2 ports, one upstream and two downstream. There are no built-in speakers.

OSD Features

The G27F2’s OSD is more full-featured than one would expect from a $210 monitor. You get everything required for image calibration, game performance and convenience.

The Gaming menu packs a lot of functionality, including the Aim Stabilizer, also known as backlight strobe for blur reduction. It reduces light output by around 20% and creates a slight phasing artifact. This is a common issue with the backlight strobes I’ve experienced, but Gigabyte controls theirs a bit better. I could see it faintly in test patterns but only occasionally in games. It works instead of Adaptive-Sync.

Super Resolution should be left off as it creates obvious edge enhancement in areas of high contrast. The G27F2 is sharp enough without help. The Overdrive has three speed options plus one called Smart OD that varies the overshoot with frame rate. It is extremely effective at reducing blur and has no downside. There were no ghosting artifacts in either Smart OD or Picture Quality modes. It’s one of the best overdrives I’ve experienced in any gaming monitor.

In the Picture menu, you’ll find six preset picture modes and three custom memories. The default is Standard and can be calibrated with the full set of controls, color temp and gamma. Speaking of gamma, it tracks perfectly at each preset. If you choose 2.2, you get 2.2. The User Define color temp is very precise and rewarded me with pro-level accuracy during testing. Among the picture modes is an sRGB option which delivers that gamut.

Other Settings has a few convenience options, including one that turns off the front LED. You can also set the USB ports to charge devices if you wish. When you’ve tweaked the G27F2 to your liking, save the settings in one of the three memory slots.

If you press the joystick, then click left, it opens the Dashboard. When you have a USB connection along with the OSD Sidekick app running, you can monitor all sorts of CPU and GPU information in real-time. Gigabyte is the only company that has this feature to my knowledge.

Pressing the joystick and clicking right opens GameAssist which includes a set of timers, a frame rate counter and aiming points. A green cross is included, and you can load up to three more custom shapes from OSD Sidekick.

Gigabyte G27F2 Calibration Settings

The G27F2 can be enjoyed without calibration in its Standard mode, but its default grayscale is right on the edge of being too blue. That is easily remedied with the RGB sliders and no matter which way you go, gamma is spot-on with the best tracking I’ve seen from any monitor at any price. Color gamut accuracy is also quite good. Below are the settings I derived from my calibration. HDR signals gray out all picture options, but color is solid there as well.

Gaming and Hands-on

No matter what I did on the G27F2, it gave the distinct impression that it should cost more than $210. I barely noticed the FHD resolution because contrast and color are so good. With perfect gamma, the contrast is enhanced further with a truly textural feel to the image. The only place I wished for a bit more pixel density was when working with small fonts, mainly on websites or spreadsheets. With plenty of screen real estate to play with, it was easy to make Word documents big enough to read easily. Editing photos wasn’t a problem either.

I tried various combinations of Aim Stabilizer, Adaptive-Sync and overdrive to find the best and smoothest motion processing for games. The Smart OD option varies the amount of overshoot to best match the current frame rate. For the most part, I was running games in full detail at 170fps but there were occasional drops to 160fps. The Smart OD kept edges sharp and blur to a minimum. With the Aim Stabilizer, I saw a few frame tears as AS was turned off. I also saw slight phasing artifacts in areas of high contrast, such as the outline of a dark object against a bright sky. Interiors looked fine with no evidence of phasing. For competition, some users may prefer Aim Stabilizer as it provides the greatest amount of blur reduction. I preferred Adaptive-Sync for my gaming sessions.

Response and control lag were non-existent in my experience. I could mow through enemies at will with quick and efficient movements of the mouse. The G27F2 responded to my every wish and whim. Though the very best players will likely benefit from a 240 Hz or faster screen, 170 Hz is plenty of speed for the rest of us.

With such tight gamma, the G27F2 makes the most of its wide color gamut in both SDR and HDR content. Though HDR doesn’t offer any more contrast, it does have better punch and brighter highlights. Color also pops a bit more. I didn’t notice any performance penalty when playing Doom Eternal or Call of Duty WWII in HDR mode and the picture was more vivid and engaging. At this price point, the G27F2 stands out compared to other inexpensive HDR screens.

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I had to go back in time a bit to find enough 165 Hz FHD monitors to compare the G27F2’s performance. The group includes HP’s Omen 27i, Monoprice’s 42771, BenQ’s EX2710S, Dell’s S3222HG and Pixio’s PXC325. All represent the budget category, but the Gigabyte is the second least expensive. The bargain winner here is the Monoprice for $170.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

165 Hz monitors typically draw a full screen in six or seven milliseconds. If you want to guarantee 6 ms, run at 170 Hz like the Gigabyte. It is ever so slightly smoother than the others. It sits in a three-way tie for first in the overall lag contest, but for the money, it is the quickest screen of the bunch. Coupled with a best-in-class overdrive, it is my favorite, thanks to its super smooth and blur-free operation.

Viewing Angles

The G27F2 delivers a top-quality IPS panel for that low price with excellent viewing angles. To the sides, color shifts to green, but there is almost no light reduction, 5% at most. Details remain clear, with every step still visible. The top view is dimmer for sure, but there is virtually no change in color and the picture doesn’t wash out as severely as most panels do. This is much better than average performance, in my experience.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My G27F2 review sample was an exceptionally uniform panel with no visible bleed or glow. With only tiny variations in brightness, only the meter can detect any difference in the nine measured zones. It doesn’t get much better than this, even in the professional display category.

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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

Gigabyte rates the G27F2 at 400 nits but that refers to its HDR output. The SDR maximum is just over 335 nits which is plenty of light for any indoor environment. The black level is lower than most IPS panels can boast which gives it over 1,300:1 contrast, well above average. Only the Monoprice is better in this group. The two VA panels are in another league, but you’ll have to be content with low pixel density if you want to run a 32-inch monitor at FHD resolution.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration keeps the order the same, but the G27F2 has picked up a bit of dynamic range. This result, coupled with superb gamma tracking, which I’ll show you on the next page, means the picture is super detailed, textured and saturated.

The order is unchanged in the ANSI contrast test. 1,204.2:1 is a superb result for any IPS monitor. The G27F2 benefits from good component selection and quality control.

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The G27F2 and the Monoprice 42771 were close in the contrast tests, but the gap widens in favor of Gigabyte when the grayscale, gamma and color results are considered.

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 G27F2’s Standard mode delivers decent grayscale tracking that’s just a tad cool in tone. The error is subtle enough that one could enjoy the monitor without calibration. The most impressive thing is the gamma tracking. Rarely do I see such tight adherence to the standard. It rides the 2.2 line almost perfectly.

The RGB sliders are very precise and allowed me to achieve a pro-level calibration with all but one brightness step below 1dE. It doesn’t get much better than that. Gamma is still right on the money. This is phenomenal performance, especially at this price point.

If you want to use the sRGB mode, it has good gamut accuracy, but its grayscale is too cool. The error isn’t huge, but it is more pronounced than the Standard mode, which uses the wider gamut. If you plan any color-critical tasks with the G27F2, a software LUT will be required.

Comparisons

At 3.76dE, the G27F2’s default grayscale error is about average for the category. It’s right on the edge of the calibrate-or-not decision. It will ultimately come down to user preference. If you can make the adjustments, the gain is worth it for a low 0.68dE result. All the monitors except the Pixio make it under 1dE, which is impressive considering all of them cost less than $300.

The best test result is gamma which is about as close to perfect as any monitor can boast. The range of values covers a mere 0.04 and the average is a perfect 2.2. That is the way for a display to make the most of its native contrast. Even though the G27F2 has less dynamic range than a VA screen, it looks nearly as good because every single bit of detail is correctly and clearly rendered, no matter what the output level.

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 G27F2’s default color gamut is so close to standard that it probably doesn’t need calibration. The only issue I see here is the under-saturated red primary. This is unusual in wide gamut monitors as they are more often deficient in green. The G27F2 covers green amply and is slightly over-saturated in blue. The secondaries are only a tad off-hue, but that is fixed with a grayscale calibration which provides a visible gain in color quality.

The sRGB gamut is good too at 2.68dE average error. Red is slightly under the mark with cyan and magenta off their hue targets due to the cool grayscale tracking. It’s a shame that the RGB sliders are unavailable in this mode because they would provide an easy fix.

Comparisons

The G27F2 takes the color accuracy contest with a 1.28dE calibrated score. That’s on par with some professional monitors that cost many times the price. That you can get this kind of color from a $210 display is impressive. Though the Monoprice is a little less expensive, it won’t deliver the same accuracy.

Color gamut volume is also impressive at 91.71% coverage of DCI-P3. Though red is under-saturated, the G27F2 fully covers the green and blue primaries. I would still recommend a software LUT profile for color-critical work in either DCI-P3 or sRGB modes. Both are more than adequate for gaming and general use though.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The G27F2 supports HDR10 signals by switching automatically when one is detected. All picture controls are locked out, and light output goes up by 16%.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The G27F2 doesn’t offer any more contrast for HDR content, but there is visibly greater brightness. With 16% more light available, highlight areas have a little more punch and color looks slightly richer. The difference between SDR and HDR isn’t significant, but HDR is a little better. The Pixio’s VA panel offers greater native contrast, but the HP delivers the biggest improvement with over 9,500:1 contrast for HDR content.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

Despite the lack of HDR picture adjustments, the G27F2 has good color and grayscale accuracy. Grayscale tracking is a tad cool, but the error is hard to spot in content. The EOTF tracks perfectly except for the darkest part of the image, which is too light. That makes shadow detail more visible at the expense of true blacks. With a tone-map transition at 65%, there is plenty of bright highlight detail that adds a little extra pop to the image.

For DCI-P3 HDR content, the G27F2 is well suited. It hits all the saturation targets except 100% red which is a little under. Blue is generally over-saturated but not so much that detail is obscured. There is also plenty of green, which is better than most wide-gamut monitors can boast. For Rec.2020 material, the G27F2 hits the inner saturation points until it runs out of color between 80 and 90% saturation. Color stays on the proper hue trajectory, which again is better than more expensive wide gamut monitors in my experience. While the G27F2’s HDR won’t bowl you over with its contrast, it is very color accurate and makes excellent use of its attributes.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor: A 2022 Guide

MORE: How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor

There are plenty of gaming monitors that can deliver high resolution, lots of color and good speed. But those extra pixels will cost you money and performance. Ultra HD is great, but even with a super-quick video card, frame rates will struggle to top 100fps. For better motion resolution and control response, it pays to reduce your resolution. QHD is a good price/performance choice, but for the best value of all, FHD is completely viable. For between $200 and $250, you can run at a sustainable 150 fps and enjoy HDR with wide-gamut color.

For $210 at this writing, the Gigabyte G27F2 is one of the best values I’ve seen. It has all the features of premium gaming screens with 170 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, effective blur reduction and a top-notch overdrive. Its motion processing is as good or better than most displays that cost three or four times as much.

It’s also one of the few FHD monitors with extended color and HDR. Though it doesn’t offer greater dynamic range in HDR mode, it is a little brighter and with that comes more saturated color and punchier highlights. The G27F2’s color gamut covers over 91% of DCI-P3, which also puts it above like-priced competitors. And it delivers solid build quality with a bulletproof stand and thoughtful component selection.

If you’re looking for a straightforward gaming monitor that doesn’t cost a lot and won’t require a high-horsepower PC to run at fast frame rates, the Gigabyte G27F2 is a great choice. With superb picture quality and a premium gaming experience, it’s well worth checking out.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor: A 2022 Guide

MORE: How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor

When shopping for a gaming monitor based on specs, it’s easy to assume that products from the same maker, in the same line, with the same specs that differ only in screen size will perform the same. But I’ve reviewed several products from our best gaming monitor roster that share a lot of DNA that are not just smaller or larger versions of one another.

Case in point: two new monitors from Cooler Master. I recently reviewed the GM27-FQS and found it offered solid gaming performance and accurate color. I received its larger cousin, the GM32-FQ, at the same time, and though the two screens look the same and have mostly the same specs, they are different in more ways than just size.

The GM32-FQ features an IPS panel with QHD resolution, 165 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR and extended color. It differs from the GM27-FQS in a few ways that can only be discovered by testing and hands-on gameplay.

Cooler Master GM32-FQ Specs

The GM32-FQ features a relatively new variant of IPS technology – Advanced Dimension Switch or ADS. It’s the same as Samsung’s PLS (Plane-Line Switching) in that the liquid crystals are laid along the same plane to admit more of the backlight’s output through to the TFT layer. In theory, this should provide greater brightness and better contrast. In practice, the GM32-FQ has a higher output than the GM27-FQS and is therefore certified VESA DisplayHDR 400, a figure I verified in testing. It also has higher contrast though not by much. I measured close to 1,200:1 versus the 27’s 950:1, a nice gain that can be seen with the naked eye.

Other image-related specs are the same. I measured the same 92% coverage of DCI-P3 and similar levels of color accuracy. But the GM32-FQ requires exactly zero adjustments to provide reference-level color, grayscale and gamma tracking, whereas the 27 needs a slight tweak.

Gaming performance has the same degree of promise. Both screens run at 165 Hz without overclock and include Adaptive-Sync and blur reduction via backlight strobe. The GM32-FQ has not been certified by Nvidia, but it runs G-Sync with no problems.

Perhaps the most compelling thing is pricing; the GM32-FQ is only around $70 more than the GM27-FQS at this writing. So, you can get the same game performance, a little more contrast, a larger screen, and the same cool thin-panel styling with a metal backplate and quality stand for an extra seventy bucks. That’s a win by any definition.

Assembly and Accessories

The GM32-FQ’s carton is just a larger version of the GM27-FQS’s, slim and efficient. The three parts come out of their crumbly foam and will require the included Phillips-head screwdriver for assembly. Once complete, the package is solid and secure. In addition to an external power brick, you get HDMI and DisplayPort cables plus a little clip to keep wiring tidy.

Product 360

Cooler Master created a nice minimalist look for the GM32-FQ that is visually identical to the GM27-FQS. One advantage of the ADS/IPS screen is that it’s a bit more rigid. This allows for the thin upper panel portion, which is just seven millimeters deep. Components are packed into a bulge in the lower half that is 18 millimeters, still much thinner than the average 32-inch or 27-inch monitor. The bolt pattern is 100 mm VESA, so you can use an arm if you wish.

The stand is all metal and finished in gray satin that exudes quality. Corners and edges are nicely softened while maintaining the dramatic angles necessary for contemporary styling. The height adjustment is 110 mm (4.3 inches) with a 15 degree swivel and 5/20 degree tilt. There is no portrait mode. Movements are smooth and firm with no play.

The GM32-FQ eschews any sort of LED lighting feature. You’ll remember that the GM27-FQS has lights in its base for a neat ring effect, but the 32-inch display is all business. The screen has the same near-invisible bezel of 7 mm with an 18 mm strip across the bottom adorned by a tiny Cooler Master Logo. The control keys are around the back right and again devoid of a joystick. Also in the back is a larger logo and a grill housing two speakers. The GM27-FQS was soundless, but the 32-inch delivers decent sound with clear highs and good volume.

Video inputs include two HDMI 2.0, one DisplayPort 1.2 and a USB-C port. Peripherals can be connected to two USB 3.0 downstream jacks, and there’s an upstream port for connecting to your PC.

OSD Features

I expected the GM32-FQ’s OSD to be the same as what I found in the GM27-FQS, but there are a few differences worth mentioning.

The GM32-FQ offers eight picture modes and includes an sRGB preset among its choices. Each mode has different settings, like Black Stabilization to brighten shadow areas and dynamic contrast for SDR content only. The sRGB mode provides that color gamut, but I found better accuracy when choosing BT709 in the Color Space sub-menu, under Color Adjust. I’ll talk about that in more detail later. The Game mode has another six presets, which change gamma to best suit different game types. The Response Time (overdrive) feature has four levels, but anything over the lowest creates visible ghosting.

In the Color Adjust menu, you’ll find the same color temps, 6-axis sliders and color space options as the GM27-FQS but no gamma presets. That’s OK, because the GM32-FQ has better gamma tracking than its smaller sibling. If you want the smaller gamut, choose BT709 rather than the sRGB picture mode, it’s much closer to spec. For the full extended gamut, stick with Auto; it provides professional-level color.

Video processing options reside in the Setup Menu, where you can toggle Adaptive-Sync or turn on the backlight strobe, which Cooler Master calls Motion Clearness. The strobe works well and only exacts around 30% of the light output at the highest of four settings. Though there is a Crosshair option in the menu, I could not find a way to activate it. It remained grayed out in all picture modes.

Cooler Master GM32-FQ Calibration Settings

The GM32-FQ is one of the rare displays that comes calibrated to perfection out of the box. I didn’t have to do a thing to measure color, grayscale and gamma that rivaled the best professional screens. The native gamut covers 92% of DCI-P3 and if you want sRGB, set the Color Space option to BT709. In all cases, it’s best to leave the color temp on Native. There are no gamma presets, but tracking is nearly perfect if 2.2 is your preference.

HDR signals activate three additional picture modes, Movie, Game and Custom. The latter has RGB sliders as well as black and white level threshold controls. In all three HDR modes, you can adjust the backlight’s output, which very few HDR monitors allow.

Gaming and Hands-on

I am partial to 32-inch monitors easy to put two documents up side by side when writing in Word and spreadsheets can be viewed with a minimum of scrolling. Web pages can also be seen with very little use of the mouse wheel. And I can keep a page up next to a document when I need to refer to information found online.

My only comment concerning the GM32-FQ is the same one I’d make about any 32-inch QHD monitor – pixel density. While 93ppi is enough to read small text clearly and render fine detail in graphics, it’s not Ultra HD, a resolution I’ve become accustomed to. Extended color helps with video and photo editing because the extra color saturation adds to the perception of sharpness. I use an sRGB monitor in my daily work, and it’s easy to see the Cooler Master’s extra punch and hue.

Gaming is another story. Motion resolution becomes the critical factor, and, in that metric, QHD at 165 Hz is equal to, if not superior to, Ultra HD at 144 Hz. The realistic frame rates I see from a GeForce RTX 3090 video card are 150-165 fps in QHD and 100-110 fps in Ultra HD. That’s more than enough to make a visual difference. QHD is still the best balance between resolution and speed.

The GM32-FQ has no problems with the input lag. I could perceive its quicker control response compared to an Ultra HD screen. My aim was more accurate, evidenced by higher frag rates in Doom Eternal’s Horde mode. I’m not a very skilled player, but some monitors are better suited to my abilities than others. The GM32-FQ helped me play better.

HDR was something of a mixed bag. The GM32-FQ has a better HDR image than the GM27-FQS, but you have to take an extra step to get there. The brightness control not only remains active in HDR mode, but it also inherits the same SDR setting. So, when I fire up Call of Duty WWII, I have to raise the brightness to maximum to get the full effect. There’s no more contrast there, but the picture pops more than it does when set to 200 nits peak. HDR color is excellent in every respect. Detail is well-rendered without any need to tweak the in-game HDR settings. Reds are particularly strong, but greens and blues shine too.

Video processing is mostly fine, but I noticed a bit of softness when moving the mouse quickly. This is thanks to a weak overdrive. I could only use it at the lowest setting; anything higher produced resolution-robbing ghosting. The low setting barely applies any compensation, so motion blur is visible. It wasn’t enough to detract from my personal gaming experience, but if you’re a more advanced player, I recommend you try it before you buy.

I’ve rounded up five recently reviewed QHD/165 Hz monitors to compare the GM32-FQ’s performance. Included here are Cooler Master’s GM27-FQS, BenQ’s EX2710R and EX3210R, Corsair’s 32QHD165 and the Monoprice Dark Matter 43548.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

All screens save the Monoprice can draw a full white field in 6 ms. The Monoprice shows the tiniest bit of extra motion blur in test patterns and fast-moving games. This is fast enough to keep motion resolution at its highest when frame rates stay over 150fps. QHD resolution makes that possible with a mid- to upper-tier video card.

The GM32-FQ is a standout in the overall lag test. I’ve tested a few 165 Hz monitors that can break the 30ms barrier, but the 32-inch Cooler Master is one of the quickest. While my skills can’t detect a real-world difference between 30 and 28ms, it might be a factor for competitive gamers. Whichever way you slice it, this is a very fast and responsive gaming display.

Viewing Angles

The GM32-FQ’s ADS panel looks very good in the viewing angle photos. The side view has a barely noticeable blue shift, but the light output is almost the same as the head-on image. The difference is 5% at best. The top shot shows a green shift, but there is a minimal reduction in light output. And detail is not as washed out as most IPS screens look from this angle. This is exceptional performance for sure.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My GM32-FQ sample showed a bit of extra glow in the upper left and lower right corners. I observed similar corner artifacts when measuring the GM27-FQS. It is possible that the panel’s thin form factor contributes to this issue. In actual content, the anomaly is only visible in the darkest content when room lights are turned off, which is a minor issue.

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 GM32-FQ’s ADS panel certainly gives it healthy light output, but it isn’t quite as bright as the Corsair 32QHD165, which uses a conventional IPS part. The backlight is a factor here, so it shouldn’t be assumed that ADS panels will automatically be brighter. But 387 nits is plenty of power for any indoor environment.

With a respectable black level of 0.3258 nits, the GM32-FQ has a slight contrast advantage over most IPS monitors, though a few like the Monoprice have more dynamic range. More notably, though, it has better contrast than the GM27-FQS, which could be the deciding factor in a purchase decision.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Since I didn’t calibrate the GM32-FQ, its final contrast result is nearly the same. I only dropped the brightness slider to 200 nits to create a level playing field. Its advantage over the GM27-FQS is now a little smaller, but I still consider that a win. The Monoprice is an over-achiever among IPS monitors and should be considered exceptional. And VA technology will deliver even more contrast.

With a few noted issues in the uniformity test, the GM32-FQ’s intra-image contrast measures a bit lower. It still retains its position relative to the other screens and another example could score higher in this test. But this is decent performance for an IPS display.

The GM32-FQ, like its GM27-FQS stablemate, impressed me with its color accuracy. And even more so because it needs absolutely nothing to achieve some superlative test results.

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.

Grayscale tracking charts don’t get much better than this even when a monitor has been calibrated. The GM32-FQ manages this feat right out of the box. There are no visible errors, and all values are under 1dE except 40 and 100% which just crack the 2dE line. Gamma is pretty much spot-on as well, with only a slight rise at 20 and 30%, which means those values are a bit under the mark. This is something only a meter can detect, not the naked eye.

In the Rec.709 (BT709) gamut mode, grayscale tracking has a few barely visible errors. The color temp presets are grayed out, so you can’t make any changes here. 80 and 90% brightness show the most obvious issue with a slight blue deficiency. Gamma is also light at 90%. These are minor errors but visible, nonetheless.

Comparisons

I attempted to calibrate the GM32-FQ and could not improve upon its default grayscale error of 0.67dE. Therefore, I’m showing the same number for the before and after comparisons. It is the clear winner in the out-of-box contest and finishes a close third when the other screens are adjusted. This is great performance, which is made even more impressive by near-perfect gamma tracking. A 0.11 range of values and 0.45% deviation is about as low as it gets.

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 GM32-FQ is again a winner out of the gate. Very few monitors have color this accurate after calibration, much less by default. Aside from a slight over-saturation in red, all points are on-target. I’ve also included the Rec.709 and Rec.2020 charts to show those color presets. 709 is also over-saturated in red but not enough to affect the image negatively. Rec.2020 is not a useful preset because none of the colors reach their targets. The whole gamut is under-saturated. This isn’t a bad thing as virtually no monitor can pass this test. But don’t assume that a mode marked “BT2020” will deliver that gamut.

Comparisons

There isn’t much more to say other than that the GM32-FQ is one of the most color-accurate monitors I’ve ever tested. That it achieves this with no adjustment is amazing. Though its advantage over the GM27-FQS is slight, I’d still go for the larger screen for this reason, along with its higher contrast and brightness.

Clearly, the two Cooler Master monitors are on the same level for gamut volume. 91.96% is higher than average though a few screens I’ve tested cover more than 100% of DCI-P3. The G32-FQ has a larger sRGB volume than its 27-inch cousin which could be a factor for users needing greater accuracy for photo editing.

Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

Applying an HDR signal to the GM32-FQ switches it over automatically and opens up three additional picture modes. They look similar to one another, and one of them, Custom, allows RGB, black level and white level adjustments. All modes leave the brightness slider enabled so you can dial in the backlight to your preference. This is a nice touch found in very few HDR monitors.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The GM32-FQ is a good deal brighter than its 27-inch cousin. That alone is a reason to choose it since it only costs a little more. HDR contrast is slightly higher too, at 1,234.1:1. Like the GM27-FQS though, it does not have dynamic contrast available in HDR mode. None of the screens in this group have the feature but the two VA panels have better native contrast which makes their HDR images pop more. The GM32-FQ adds a bit of color saturation but not more range or deeper blacks.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

When I measured the GM32-FQ’s three HDR modes, they all exhibited the same grayscale tracking with slight blue errors. The principal difference was in the EOTF traces. Movie comes closest to spec with some dark areas in the 10-40% range. Custom and Game were much darker in these areas, enough that some detail was clipped and therefore invisible. The most detailed HDR image is in the Movie mode, which is what you’ll want for quality gaming.

HDR color tracks much the same as other HDR monitors with over-saturation at the inner points in both the DCI-P3 and Rec.2020 gamuts. Content mastered to either standard will look natural with a little extra red, not a bad thing. Hue targets are on-point, and the saturation targets are distributed evenly. This ensures that all color detail will remain visible. This is very good performance. If there were more contrast, it would be excellent.

Though 27 inches is the most popular gaming monitor size today, there is no task or game that wouldn’t be enhanced by more screen area. 32 inches is an ideal size for working and playing, and it doesn’t take up much more room on the desktop. And it isn’t quite as overwhelming as a 43-inch jumbo display. While many users would look hard at an Ultra HD panel, QHD is a good deal less expensive and provides arguably better and smoother gaming performance.

The GM32-FQ delivers some of the best out-of-box color accuracy I’ve ever measured and has very low input lag. Coupled with the terrific build quality and superb value, it’s not just a great early effort; it’s a serious competitor to established gaming monitor brands.

Like every QHD 165 Hz monitor I’ve played games on, the GM32-FQ strikes a perfect balance between speed and resolution. I maintain that motion resolution is better on one of these than on an Ultra HD/144 Hz screen. My only wish here is for a more effective overdrive. Cooler Master’s implementation here is a bit weak. But with such low input lag, much of that issue was erased.

Picture quality is superb thanks to spot-on color accuracy that needs no calibration or adjustment. I’ve only measured a handful of monitors as precise as this one. But it needs some sort of dynamic contrast for HDR content. The GM32-FQ and its cousin, the GM27-FQS, would really benefit from additional dynamic range to make HDR truly better.

At just $70 more, the choice between Cooler Master’s GM32-FQ and GM27-FQS is an easy one. You get excellent performance and color with both screens, and when is a little more size not a good thing?

The QHD 165 Hz category is filled with capable gaming monitors that deliver a lot of performance for the money. They represent the sweet spot of value and performance with snappy response, smooth motion and high frame rates. And with fewer pixels to move around than an Ultra HD screen, they don’t require a high-end video card to drive them to their full potential.

Cooler Master is a bit off the beaten path when it comes to display brands, but their monitors have proven capable with solid build quality, color accuracy and high performance. I’ll be looking at its latest 27-inch QHD screen – the GM27-FQS. It runs at 165 Hz with Adaptive-Sync, HDR10 and extended color. It also offers selectable color gamuts (a rarity) and a slick lighting feature that stands out from the competition among the best gaming monitors.

Cooler Master GM27-FQS Specs

The GM27-FQS starts with a quick IPS panel capable of a 1ms MPRT response time. Adaptive-Sync works on both FreeSync and G-Sync platforms over a 48-165 Hz range. This monitor has not been certified by Nvidia, but I saw no issues during testing with either Radeon or GeForce video cards. It also includes a backlight strobe option for blur reduction that works instead of Adaptive-Sync.

Image quality is assured by a wide color gamut that covers just under 92% of DCI-P3, according to my measurements. That puts it slightly above average for the category and adds to the value factor. Color is very accurate as well. I discovered that calibration is completely unnecessary. Even when I tried a few tweaks, I could not make the picture any better. I also found selectable color gamuts for all the major standards from sRGB to Rec.2020. Their performance varies a bit; I’ll show you more about that on page four.

The GM27-FQS has unique styling elements starting with a panel with an upper portion that is just seven millimeters thick. There’s a component bulge at the bottom, but this particular aesthetic more often seen in OLED displays.

The LED lighting feature is something I haven’t seen before. Cooler Master calls it the Halo Stand, and it indeed looks like a halo. A soft glow of multiple colors emanates from the base which is shaped like the Cooler Master logo. Its effects can be controlled with a desktop app.

The GM27-FQS looks to be a very capable gaming monitor equally adept at work or play. At $410 at this writing, it looks like a good value as well. Let’s take a look.

Assembly & Accessories

The GM27-FQS comes well-protected in a carton filled with crumbly foam. The base attaches to the upright with a captive bolt. Find the four fasteners and the included Phillips-head screwdriver to mate the panel to the stand. Once complete, the package is fairly light in weight but rock solid. Bundled accessories include an external power supply, USB-C lighting cable for the base, DisplayPort and HDMI.

Product 360

The GM27-FQS is all about appearing thin. The upper portion of the panel is very slim, just 7 mm thick. The bezel is also 7 mm wide and flush around the top and sides. The bottom trim is a little wider at 13 mm, but it too is barely there. Only a minuscule Cooler Master logo is molded into it. The screen’s anti-glare layer is similar to what’s found on nearly every computer monitor and provides a sharp and grain-free image with no glare.

The Halo LED comes from the base, where you’ll see an opaque diffusion cover that emits a rainbow of colors. There aren’t any controls for it in the OSD, but if you download the MasterPlus app from Cooler Master, you can alter the light show. A USB-C cable is required to power it, which comes in the box. It can be connected to the panel’s USB output or to a wall wart if you have one available. Running the cable between the panel and the base is a bit clunky, so I connected it to a spare charging brick I had lying around.

The side view shows how thin the upper part of the GM27-FQS is. This styling is more commonly seen in OLED panels, though I’ve seen a few other LCDs like this. Not only does it look cool, but it puts the stand mounting point lower on the panel, so it sits higher. With the stand at full extension, the center of the screen is at eye level, so I can keep the monitor perfectly vertical. The height adjustment range is 110mm or around 4.4 inches. You also get 5/20 degrees tilt, 15 degrees swivel and a 90-degree portrait mode. Movements are smooth and firm with no play.

The input panel is up and under but fairly easy to access. Two HDMI 2.0, one DisplayPort 1.2 and one USB-C port make up the video connections. You also get a 3.5 mm headphone jack. There are no built-in speakers. USB is version 3.0, and there are two downstream ports and one upstream.

OSD Features

The GM27-FQS’ OSD is controlled by five buttons around the back right. The lowest key is a power toggle. The buttons click with a quality feel, though I missed having a joystick. I’ve been spoiled for sure.

The OSD packs a lot into just a few sub-menus. There are eight task-specific picture modes, including one for users needing compensation for color blindness. Each mode has different options like a black stabilizer to control the black level, dynamic contrast and a blue light filter. Standard is the best mode because it opens up all the image controls.

Color Adjust has many things not commonly seen outside the professional genre. In addition to color temp and gamma presets, you can select the color gamut. I tested all the presets and found sRGB and DCI-P3 to follow their standards closely, but Adobe RGB and BT.2020 were off the mark. The GM27-FQS is accurate when compared to DCI-P3, but the gamut does not get larger than that.

The gaming options are found in the Setup Menu. A four-level overdrive is included, but settings above Normal cause too much ghosting around moving objects. Motion Clearness is an effective backlight strobe with three levels. You have to turn off Adaptive-Sync, but the strobe does increase motion resolution. The highest level is the smoothest and cuts light output by around 30%.

Cooler Master GM27-FQS Calibration Settings

In the GM27-FQS’ Standard mode, you can go with factory default settings and see good color accuracy with a slightly warm white point. The easiest fix is to select the DCI-P3 color gamut in the Color Space sub-menu. No further calibration is required, and in fact, adjusting the User color temp won’t make any visible improvement. This is a very accurate monitor. I noted that selecting any Color Space options besides Auto locked out the color temp presets. I’ll show you charts from all the different modes on page four. If you want the lowest possible error values, try my settings below.

In HDR mode, you can calibrate grayscale and adjust brightness and contrast if you wish. This is something very few HDR monitors allow. That mode is also pretty accurate and doesn’t require any adjustment for a good image.

Gaming and Hands-on

Cooler Master bills the GM27-FQS as a versatile monitor and in that category, it delivers. With 109ppi pixel density, it’s well suited to just about any work task, whether text or graphics-based. It has a bright and colorful image that’s not over-saturated or harsh in any way. The anti-glare layer is tightly fit, which makes the picture very sharp and detailed. Contrast is about average for an IPS panel, but I had no complaints when working in Photoshop, browsing the web or watching video content. There are no built-in speakers, so I had to plug in a pair of headphones to watch YouTube.

HDR has little impact on the Windows desktop and doesn’t add much more to gaming. Color is a bit more saturated which is a good thing, but there is no more contrast than SDR. Blacks are slightly deeper, but some shadow detail is hard to see as a result. The GM27-FQS purposely rides a little dark in its HDR shadow and mid-tone areas to increase perceived contrast. Of the three HDR modes, Movie looked the best. I could increase dark detail by using the Standard mode’s Lightness slider, but this made the image look flat.

Continuing my quest through the blood-soaked worlds of Doom Eternal, I enjoyed the super-saturated red hues that were a bit bolder in their HDR versions. I had to tweak the game’s HDR settings to bring shadow detail out more. This reduced contrast a little, but the alternative is to be more often surprised by enemies lurking in dark spaces.

Video processing is nicely implemented here. The GM27-FQS is one of the quicker 165 Hz screens I’ve tested, and it showed in a higher frag count when I played Doom Eternal’s horde mode. This monitor category is still the king of the price/performance ratio with near-competition level response for a reasonable cost. I could play with equal precision on both FreeSync and G-Sync PCs with frame rates at or near the maximum of 165 fps.

Cooler Master includes a backlight strobe for blur reduction as an alternative to Adaptive-Sync. It is effective at its intended task and doesn’t cut light output too much. I only needed the Low setting to achieve smoother motion with almost no cost in brightness. I saw a few frame tears with AS turned off, but the strobe is a viable and useful feature for those who prefer it. The overdrive is also effective on its lowest setting of the four available. Higher options caused visible ghosting which reduced motion resolution. The GM27-FQS is indeed a versatile monitor that serves well for work, gaming or entertainment.

All the monitors in the GM27-FQS comparison are QHD/165 Hz screens in either 27 or 32-inch sizes. We recently reviewed BenQ's EX2710Q and EX2710R. Also here are Dell’s S272DGM, Corsair’s 32QHD165 and Monoprice’s product 43548.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

165 Hz nearly always means a screen draw time of 6ms though the Monoprice is just a hair slower at 7ms, the same as a 144 Hz monitor. 21 Hz does make a subtle difference when objects move quickly across the screen or the camera pans from side to side. I’ve never heard anyone complain about a frame rate that’s too high.

In the overall lag test, the Cooler Master comes out on top at 29 ms. Only a 240 Hz display can go faster than this. When gaming action is frantic, you’ll get better motion resolution from a QHD/165 Hz monitor than a UHD/144 Hz one. And you’ll get by with a less expensive video card in the process.

Viewing Angles

The GM27-FQS uses the AHVA variant of IPS technology which means it has superior off-axis image quality to a typical IPS part. You can see that clearly in the photo above. There is only a slight blue shift and a 5-10% drop in brightness when viewed from 45 degrees to the side. The darkest steps remain visible, so there’s no reduction in shadow detail. From above, you can see a green shift, but light output is only about 30% lower. Among LCD panels, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My GM27-FQS sample showed a slight glow in the upper corners of the screen. It was visible in a black field test pattern but not as obvious in actual content. This could be due to the panel’s extreme thinness at its top half. There were no color variations, and brighter content looked perfectly uniform.

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

Cooler Master rates the GM27-FQS at 300 nits typical, and my sample came close with 276 nits peak output in SDR mode. There is a little more brightness available for HDR content, which I’ll talk about on page five. The black level is about average for the panel’s backlight intensity, so contrast is also average at 946:1. You can increase dynamic range by turning DCR on, which lowers the black level noticeably. The ratio goes up to around 3,000:1 as a result but some fine shadow detail is clipped in the process.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Whether you calibrate as I did or simply choose the DCI-P3 color space, adjustment increases contrast a bit to 1,039:1. This is a subtly visible gain in image depth which also improves color saturation. I recommend using the settings shown on page one or just switching to the DCI-P3 color space and leaving the remaining options at their defaults.

Hot spots at the top of the screen reduce the ANSI contrast score to 828.9:1. The rest of the screen shows decent pop and depth, so this result doesn’t indicate a significant reduction in image quality. Other GM27-FQS samples may post higher ANSI scores depending on their screen uniformity.

The GM27-FQS showed some unique (in a good way) behavior thanks to its myriad of color and image options. Out of the box, it needs just one tweak: to change the Color Space option from Auto to DCI-P3. I’ll explain below.

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.

With no adjustments, the GM27-FQS is a tad warm in tone. Slight red errors can be seen in steps higher than 60%. You can enjoy the monitor this way, but if you simply change the Color Space option from Auto to DCI-P3, the grayscale tracking becomes free of visible errors. All values are under 2dE, which is professional-level performance. If you calibrate the User color temp, the error is even lower, but only the meter can tell the difference.

There is an sRGB option in the Color Space menu, but it has more visible grayscale errors that manifest as a red push. Unusually, 100% brightness is fine but steps 20-90% are quite warm. In all cases, gamma runs a tad dark, but this error doesn’t negatively affect real-world content.

Comparisons

The GM27-FQS’ initial grayscale measurements aren’t impressive, but the fix is so simple that I must applaud the monitor’s accuracy. With one change in the Color Space menu, tracking goes from average to excellent. If you calibrate the RGB sliders as I did, the error is even lower, but that difference can’t be seen with the naked eye. If I only changed the Color Space option, the monitor would be in third place here.

Gamma tracking in all cases is exemplary. With a 0.07 range of values and a 4.54% deviation from 2.2 (actual value 2.30), detail is crisp and clear at all brightness levels and in all content. There is nothing to complain about.

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.

Though the GM27-FQS’ grayscale tracking isn’t amazing at the factory default settings, color tracking is spot-on. In the initial chart, you can see that all points are in contact with their target boxes which indicate 1dE. An average of 2.34dE is one of the best default numbers I’ve recorded for any monitor.

Changing only the Color Space option takes the error down to 1.64dE. You can see now that all points are inside their target boxes. In the third chart, my calibration has almost no effect. In fact, magenta’s hue is a little off by comparison. Given all the results I’ve recorded, I’d say the DCI-P3 gamut mode is the best choice. There’s no need to calibrate further.

The sRGB mode has more significant errors. Red is about 10% over-saturated. And magenta is visibly off-hue. Other colors’ hue errors are less obvious, but this mode is generally less accurate than DCI-P3.

Comparisons

The GM27-FQS bests its competitors in the color gamut accuracy test. A 1.7dE result is about as good as it gets, especially for a monitor in this price range.

Cooler Master claims 90% coverage of DCI-P3 and the GM27-FQS delivers just under 92%. This is a little above average though some recently reviewed screens have gone beyond 100% coverage like the Corsair shown here. sRGB volume is down slightly thanks to an under-saturated blue primary. However, this isn’t significant in terms of usability. I would not recommend this monitor for color-critical work in the sRGB realm, but it is more than qualified for tasks requiring DCI-P3.

Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The GM27-FQS gives the user a few more options in HDR mode than most monitors. There are three picture modes: Game, Movie and Standard. All three let you adjust brightness and contrast, and Standard adds black level, white level and RGB sliders.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The default HDR mode is Movie, and it has very accurate grayscale tracking with no visible errors. EOTF luminance tracking is a little dark, and I noticed some slight clipping of shadow detail. The Game mode measures identically. The Standard mode looks the same but adds some adjustments. A control called Lightness raises the black level, and it is possible to adjust it to where the EOTF tracks perfectly. But this flattens the picture because there is no dynamic contrast in operation. You can see that though there is output over 325 nits, contrast is exactly the same as it is for SDR content. I don’t recommend adjusting the Standard HDR mode for this reason. It actually looks better in Movie or Game with slightly darker blacks which increase perceived contrast.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The first chart shows what I’m talking about concerning the Movie mode’s EOTF. With darker levels up to the 55% tone-map transition, the low and mid-tone shades are indeed darker, but this is a good thing, given that the GM27-FQS has no dynamic contrast. Some detail might be a little harder to see, but most content looks fine. However, it isn’t significantly different from SDR.

Color tracks its hue targets well in both DCI-P3 and Rec.2020-mastered content. Red and blue is a little over-saturated but not to the point where detail is obscured. Magenta is a little off in hue as well. Despite the promise of the Rec.2020 mode in the Color Space menu, the GM27-FQS is a DCI-P3 monitor. It tracks the 2020 targets properly until it hits the color limits around 80%. This is very good performance.

In every computer hardware category, there is a balance point where you get 99% of the best possible performance for a reasonable sum. Reaching the absolute bleeding edge costs a lot more. In other words, that last one percent might double the price.

For monitors, that point is QHD resolution at 165 Hz. There are a large number of screens, IPS and VA based, in 27- and 32-inch sizes, that provide excellent performance and image quality for gaming and productivity. Cooler Master’s GM27-FQS is the latest addition to this genre.

It stands out from the competition in a couple of ways. It is one of the more color-accurate examples I’ve reviewed, requiring only a single setting change to deliver reference-level numbers in the grayscale, gamma and gamut tests. It’s one of the faster 165 Hz monitors I’ve tested with less than 30 milliseconds of total input lag. Effective overdrive and a useful backlight strobe blur reduction option mean it can be tailored to the needs of gamers at all skill levels. And it pairs equally well with FreeSync and G-Sync PCs. The only thing it doesn’t have is HDMI 2.1; though with QHD resolution, it’s still compatible with the latest consoles.

My only complaint about the image was a lack of extra HDR contrast. Like many of its competitors, the GM27-FQS does not offer dynamic contrast in HDR mode. This means there is no more depth in the HDR image over the SDR version. Color is a bit more saturated and hits the marks in color testing, but if you want impactful HDR, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Cooler Master’s GM27-FQS delivers value as its primary asset. You get excellent gaming performance, cool styling with unique lighting, solid build quality and a good all-around image that’s well suited for gaming, video or productivity. If cost is a primary consideration, you should definitely check it out.

4K monitors are getting a lot of attention these days thanks to console gaming and the frame rates made possible by powerful video cards. But an equally hot category is QHD, mainly because of its terrific value and ideal price/performance balance. I’ve checked out quite a few 27 and 32-inch QHD monitors that run at 165 Hz. That bit of extra speed is something you can see when moving quickly through an action-oriented game. A combination of high refresh rate and high resolution is key to a believable experience and success against your opponents in melee competition.

I recently reviewed BenQ’s Mobiuz EX2710Q, a 27-inch QHD/IPS screen with 165 Hz. My first reaction to the EX2710R, which I’m covering here, was, “What’s different besides a single letter?” Several key things, actually. It’s a 27-inch screen with 165 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR and extended color, the same as the Q. But the R sports a curved VA panel, which significantly affects the image. The R has easily three times the contrast of the Q. And the curve? That’s something that has only a minor impact on a 27-inch 16:9 screen. But it too affects the play experience. But are these changes enough to allow the Mobiuz EX2710R to rank among the best gaming monitors?

BenQ Mobiuz EX2710R Specs

Most fast gaming monitors today are IPS based and while this is a good thing if you’re concerned about viewing angles, it is not a good thing if you’re looking for high contrast. The best IPS monitors can hit 1,200:1, but VA is just getting started at 2,000:1. That’s a major visual difference that can easily be seen in a side-by-side comparison. VA is under-represented in the speedy high-res categories, but that may be about to change. Samsung recently announced a VA-based 4K monitor running at 240 Hz. Now that is a revolution!

The Mobiuz EX2710R is a VA panel with a native contrast of over 3,200:1, according to my test results. That’s a huge upgrade from the EX2710Q, which struggled to hit 1,000:1. The R has an extended color gamut that is a bit smaller than the Q. I measured 86% DCI-P3 coverage for the R versus 94% for the Q. But the extra contrast largely makes up for that in visual perception. With terrific black levels, the R’s image just pops off the screen. It’s also very accurate out of the box. Like the Q, no calibration was required.

Gaming performance between the two panels is similar. Both run at 165 Hz with Adaptive-Sync and Blur Reduction that can be used together. Few monitors have this ability, but BenQ has maintained that feature throughout its Mobiuz line. The other carryover is the treVolo sound system with three integrated speakers. They deliver excellent sound that is much better than other monitors can boast. With DSP sound modes, you can tailor the audio to your liking.

The curve is something that may factor into a purchase decision. Curved monitors are at their best in a wider 21:9 aspect ratio, but many 16:9 models exist. In my experience, the curve neither enhances nor detracts from the image. The EX2710R has a fairly tight 1000R radius, so there is visible screen wrap. But the image is not distorted so it’s fine for work or play. And of course, BenQ always delivers excellent build quality. This is a well-made screen.

Assembly and Accessories

The EX2710R’s three component parts go together precisely, without tools, to form a solid package. The clamshell box protects the contents with crumbly foam. The power supply is external, and you get one each of DisplayPort, HDMI and USB cables. A snap-on cover is provided to tidy up the input panel.

Product 360

1000R is a relatively tight curve and you’ll notice it from all angles. It doesn’t distort the image, but there is a slightly greater sense of immersion when playing games or watching videos. The front bezel is flush and thin, just 8mm around the top and sides. The bottom trim is wider, nearly a full inch, but houses two of the three speakers behind a molded grill. On the right is BenQ’s HDRi button, which engages three different HDR emulation modes for SDR content. Under the panel is a power toggle with LED, OSD joystick and a key for input selection. You can also control the monitor with a handheld remote.

Styling is in keeping with the entire Mobiuz line. The base is silver with red trim, while the upright and panel front are finished in black. The back is a medium gray that tapers smoothly from side to side. You can see the LED lighting here in its familiar X pattern. Color and effect are controlled from the OSD. Also here is the third speaker, which BenQ bills as a subwoofer. It’s not quite large enough to earn that title, but with five watts of power, it fills in the bass frequencies well. The sound is especially rich in dialog and music content.

The remote is super handy and though one typically sits close enough to a 27-inch monitor to easily reach the OSD joystick, I found myself using the remote exclusively. Its IR receiver is in the center of the panel, so it needs line of sight, but it was very responsive to commands. Also in the center is the sensor for BenQ’s Brightness Intelligence Plus. When engaged, it alters brightness and color temperature to best suit room lighting. It works well though if your room doesn’t change much, but it’s best left off.

The stand is rock-solid like all BenQ stands and offers a 110mm height adjustment with 15 degrees swivel to either side and 5/15 degrees tilt. Movements are of high quality, very firm with no play or wobble. If you’d rather use an aftermarket mounting solution, there are bolts in a 100 mm VESA pattern in the back.

The input panel is tucked well up and under, enough so that thick cable connectors might cause some difficulty. There are two HDMI 2.0 ports along with a single DisplayPort 1.4. USB is version 3.0 and includes one upstream and two downstream ports. A 3.5 mm jack is provided for headphones or powered speakers.

OSD Features

Pressing the remote button marked with three lines, or the panel’s joystick, activates the EX2710R’s OSD. First up is a quick menu that provides access to commonly used functions. The full system has everything needed for gaming, image control and convenience.

The EX2710R’s first sub-menu is an input selector and includes BenQ’s Scenario feature. You can assign three settings memories to each input or turn it off. I find it a bit confusing, so I opt out in favor of the seven SDR and three HDR picture modes. Each scenario can have different functions available in the quick menu.

Each picture mode has some or all of the image options available. RPG is the default and is pretty much spot-on out of the box. It has some gamma issues, which I’ll detail on page four. Of particular interest is Light Tuner. It alters different parts of the gamma curve to bring out shadow, mid-tone or highlight detail. You can see it make changes in actual content so use to find your preference. None of its twenty settings provide measurably correct gamma though.

If you’re looking for the overdrive and Blur Reduction options, they’re on the second screen of picture options. BenQ calls its overdrive AMA and the EX2710R has three settings. I chose 3, the highest option, and saw very little motion blur and no ghosting. In HDR mode, Blur Reduction is grayed out, but AMA is available and equally effective at keeping the action smooth.

Users with color vision issues can employ red or green filters in varying degrees to compensate for their particular weakness. You can also set a low blue light filter in twenty increments. The EX2710R is TUV Rheinland certified thanks to this feature along with Brightness Intelligence Plus (B.I.+), which can adjust brightness and color temp automatically.

There are five DSP audio modes that change the sound stage for different game or entertainment types. Pop/Live was my favorite with its forward presentation, clear dialog and large sound envelope.

The LEDs in back are controlled here with eight colors and six different effects. The lights are soft and won’t intrude, even when reflected off a back wall. It’s one of the more pleasing LED features I’ve seen.

BenQ Mobiuz EX2710R Calibration Settings

The EX2710R does not require calibration in its default RPG picture mode. I was unable to affect an improvement when I adjusted the Custom preset. Grayscale and gamut tracking are visually perfect, but gamma is somewhat interpretive. I call it that because BenQ has chosen a particular kind of luminance tracking to create its own semblance of an ideal image. Ultimately, the picture looks good with strong detail and contrast. But I would like to see a choice of correct 2.2 gamma available in all picture modes. You can get that in the sRGB mode, which accurately renders that gamut. You can also tweak the Light Tuner to enhance different brightness levels. My recommended settings are below.

HDR signals engage the Display HDR mode automatically. If you prefer a different look, there is Game and Cinema HDR. These can also be used with SDR content to emulate HDR. They are an acquired taste that some users will like, and others will not. I count myself in the latter category.

Gaming and Hands-on

If you haven’t used a 16:9 curved monitor before, the idea of it might seem strange but after reviewing several of them, I’ve found they work well for productivity. The curve, even one that’s tight like the EX2710R’s, doesn’t intrude when performing tasks like document editing or graphics work. It neither detracts nor enhances those activities. Web browsing also provides the same experience, whether curved or flat.

Watching video on a 27-inch screen means sitting close, perhaps two feet away, and there, the curve is an asset. I felt just a little more enveloped by the experience when watching shows and movies on Netflix. That is partially due to the EX2710R’s superb audio. I had to remind myself that I was listening to integrated monitor speakers. They really are much better than anything else outside of a jumbo display with a soundbar like the Philips 55M1RYV. The DSP sound modes are different in feel from one another. I liked Pop/Live for just about everything. TV content sounded best on Cinema because it enhances dialog.

Gaming gave me a host of different options to try. I quickly determined that AMA (overdrive) could be set to its highest number, 3, without ghosting. This reduced blur to almost nothing, especially when frame rates were over 150fps. I was able to see these speeds in Doom Eternal, Tomb Raider and Call of Duty WWII. I also engaged the Blur Reduction for Tomb Raider but to use it in the other two titles, I had to play them in SDR mode. It’s a bummer that the backlight strobe isn’t available for HDR games, but it is nice to have it work alongside Adaptive-Sync. Blur is nearly eliminated when it's on. Light output is reduced by around 30% but I could turn up the brightness slider to compensate. The EX2710R’s video processing is a homerun.

Image quality was excellent, thanks to the VA panel. The EX2710R has significantly more contrast than the IPS Mobiuz monitors I’ve reviewed. I was slightly disappointed in HDR mode where bright scenes looked a little pasty. This is due to elevated black levels, which I’ll note in my tests on page five. But color is beautifully saturated and natural. Call of Duty WWII was especially nice with its earth tones and weathered metal textures. Doom Eternal’s Horde mode, which starts off in an icy, snow-covered arena, had a strong blue glow that created a palpable sense of foreboding. Thanks to that excellent video processing, I was able to advance a little further than usual in the game.

I also experimented with the HDRi modes. They are an HDR emulation for SDR content and something you won’t find on too many other monitors. In Tomb Raider, an SDR game, just selecting either Game or Cinema makes the picture very dark. This can be fixed by turning up the Light Tuner control a few clicks. -3 is a good level for Cinema HDRi mode, but I still found some shadow detail hard to see. The HDR effect is also reduced when you raise the Light Tuner. Ultimately, I preferred to stick with SDR picture modes for SDR content and use Display HDR mode for HDR content.

The EX2710R is a great entertainment display and works fine for productivity too. The curve helps a little in gaming and doesn’t distract from more mundane tasks.

Today’s group is a mix of 27 and 32-inch screens, all QHD and 165 Hz except for the Gigabyte M27QX which runs at 240 Hz. The remaining displays are Razer’s Raptor 27, Monoprice’s 43548, BenQ’s EX2710Q and Corsair’s 32QHD165.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

I’ve included the Gigabyte to show what is possible from 240 Hz versus 165 Hz. Those two milliseconds make a visual difference in motion resolution. But with the two BenQ monitors, it is possible to shrink that gap with Blur Reduction, which can be used along with, rather than instead of, Adaptive-Sync. I should also note that QHD/165 Hz screens have visually superior motion resolution to 4K/144 Hz displays.

The EX2710R has slightly more input lag than the rest though my casual gaming skills are not enough to perceive a difference when playing. More adept gamers may notice a change, but most enthusiasts will be satisfied with the R’s responsiveness. I never noticed any stutter or delay.

Viewing Angles

Most VA panels are less than impressive when photographed from the side, but the EX2710R is better than most. You can see a slight pink hue and a 30% light reduction, but detail remains clear, and the shift is hard to detect. This is definitely a shareable monitor. The top view is more pink with a 40% loss in brightness and more muddy detail rendering.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My EX2710R sample showed superb screen uniformity with no visible glow or hot spots. The meter indicated a little extra brightness in the upper left corner, but I could not see it, even with the room totally dark. Color uniformity is visually without issue, and I saw no aberration in any pattern of any brightness level. This is a very high-quality panel.

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 EX2710R addresses the biggest concern I’ve had with BenQ’s Mobiuz monitors, contrast. Its VA panel excels above not only IPS, but many other VA monitors too. Peak brightness is around 268 nits which is enough for any indoor environment. A little more headroom would be welcome but that is a minor point.

The black level is far darker than any IPS monitor can deliver, and that shows clearly in actual content, and in the comparison chart. With over 3,200:1, the EX2710R has more than triple the dynamic range of nearly all IPS displays.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration in the EX2710R’s case was just a matter of setting the backlight to 200 nits. No other adjustments were made, and I used the RPG picture mode. The black level is still two-and-a-half times lower than the best IPS monitor here from Monoprice. 3,263.4:1 is one of the highest native SDR contrast ratios I’ve recorded.

ANSI contrast is only a tad lower at 2,632.9:1. It truly doesn’t get much better than this without enhancements like full-array zone dimming or some sort of dynamic contrast option. The EX2710R delivers a deep, colorful image with rich saturation and realism.

The EX2710R is nearly perfect in its RPG picture mode with no visible color or grayscale errors. There are some gamma anomalies which I’ll explain below.

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 default grayscale measurement run shows no visible errors and all but the 100% step is below 2dE. However, gamma takes a different path. It is generally dark throughout, with a spike at 90%. This mutes some highlight detail a bit, but nothing is completely obscured. The picture is visually solid and this choice by BenQ has the effect of increasing perceived color saturation.

The sRGB mode is also without visible grayscale errors and its gamma is almost perfect. A small dip at 10% indicates slightly elevated shadow areas, but this is a minor issue. My only general complaint is that there is no way to get perfect gamma tracking with the wide color gamut. The picture looks good, but I’d like to see a choice that corrects gamma in the other picture modes.

Comparisons

Since I could not improve the EX2710R with calibration, I’m showing the same error value in the before and after comparison. Out of the box, it beats the other screens. You can see the EX2710Q is very close; that monitor doesn’t need calibration either. The Gigabyte is also very good, but the bottom three need some tweaking for the best possible image.

Measured gamma lags behind the other screens in both range of values and deviation from standard. This is a choice on BenQ’s part, and it doesn’t harm the image. It just looks different. You’ll see in the color test below that gamut accuracy has not been affected.

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.

In the gamut test, the EX2710R shows impressive results. Aside from minor and invisible hue errors in yellow and cyan, color is perfect. The gamut is also quite large, greater than average among extended color screens and only behind a handful of displays.

The sRGB run is even better with all points in their target boxes. It truly can’t get much better. If you want to use sRGB for SDR content, that mode is very useful and has near-perfect gamma as well. It is good enough for color-critical work as well.

Comparisons

Both Mobiuz monitors score well in the gamut test. Remember that they are not calibrated while the other screens are. Any value under 3dE means there are no visible color errors. This is excellent performance.

In the volume test, the EX2710R is behind its counterpart, the EX2710Q. But its extra contrast mitigates the visual difference to where you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference. If total volume is important to you, the Gigabyte and Corsair are over-achievers. All the screens have sufficient sRGB volume for color-critical apps.

Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The extra contrast available in the EX2710R over the EX2710Q makes it a far better HDR screen. Though the difference between HDR and SDR isn’t huge, it still qualifies as better than average.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The EX2710R easily tops its DisplayHDR 400 certification with just over 421 nits. That’s plenty bright and it creates highlights that pop. With a low black level, it delivers decent contrast at around 2009.9:1. I was disappointed to see that score come in lower than the SDR ratio. That puts it on par with other VA monitors that don’t have dynamic contrast features. It is at least better than the other IPS screens here save the Razer, which does have dynamic contrast. If you’re choosing between the EX2710R and EX2710Q, pick the R for its better HDR image.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

In the grayscale test, the EX2710R shows some slightly visible blue errors in the darkest steps. This contributes to its black level, which could be lower. You can also see in the EOTF chart a slight rise in the white line at zero and 5%. This is a luminance tracking error that reduces dynamic range. BenQ could address this with a firmware update, and it would likely raise the HDR contrast ratio to at least 3,000:1. The good part is that tracking from there is nearly perfect. The transition to tone mapping happens smoothly at around 65%, also ideal for a 400-nit monitor.

In the HDR gamut tests, I compared DCI-P3 and Rec.2020. DCI is a bit over-saturated, which isn’t a bad thing. HDR color is definitely more saturated than SDR. The EX2710R nearly fills the gamut but comes up a tad short in green, like most wide-gamut screens. In the Rec.2020 run, it tries to up red and green hues to fill in the missing color. The net effect is positive, with rich hues in all the HDR content I viewed.

Until 4K monitors arrive in speeds faster than 144 Hz, the QHD/165 Hz screens will represent the best balance between resolution and responsiveness. Their high motion resolution means that when playing a fast-paced game, the visual difference between UHD and QHD is erased. And at this time, about halfway through 2022, the QHD monitor will be a little less expensive. That is certainly food for thought.

Faster 4K is certainly on the horizon. Samsung announced a 240 Hz model, which I hope to cover here soon. But it’s initially priced at $1,500, so it will cost you and require some serious processing power to get 4K frame rates to 240 fps. For those of us on a budget, monitors like BenQ’s Mobiuz EX2710R represent a solid and satisfying solution to the problem of maintaining sharp detail in fast-moving games.

The EX2710R has superb picture quality, not only when compared to other Mobiuz monitors but to the 27-inch QHD class in general. Its curved screen is a slight advantage for gaming and doesn’t intrude into the workday. However, the best part is the VA panel. With over 3,200:1 SDR contrast, it beats all the IPS monitors I’ve reviewed (including the Mobiuz EX2710Q), which can hit 1,200:1 at best.

It also delivers superb color, a lot of it, and accurately. In the EX2710R’s RPG mode, you won’t have to calibrate. Just set brightness to taste. HDR content looks best in the accurate Display HDR mode. My only complaint there is that HDR contrast is lower, around 2,000:1. That’s better than average since most IPS monitors don’t offer a dynamic contrast option so they’re delivering about half the dynamic range. So, the EX2710R is still in the upper percentile there.

BenQ should also be lauded for its gaming performance and video processing. The EX2710R, and all Mobiuz monitors, are in the minority for offering Adaptive-Sync and Blur Reduction that works together. Other screens force you to choose one or the other. With effective overdrive in operation, there is no ghosting, stuttering or breakup of fast-moving images. Detail stays sharp no matter how intense the battle gets.

If you’re looking for a solid and colorful image with top-notch gaming performance and you want a curved high-contrast screen that isn’t three feet wide, the BenQ Mobiuz EX2710R is a great choice.

Despite their status as premium and often expensive displays, the 4K category is red hot if you can take the sheer number of product introductions as an indicator. 32-inch monitors are especially popular, with multiple models landing on shelves and desks from every major manufacturer.

Corsair has been around for nearly 30 years, but it's only recent delved into the display market. I’ve already reviewed the Xeneon 32QHD165 and found it fulfilled its promise as a premium gaming monitor, so I went into this review with high expectations.

The Xeneon 32UHD144, as the name indicates shockingly clearly, is a 32-inch 4K monitor that runs at 144 Hz. The Fast IPS Quantum Dot panel sports Adaptive-Sync, HDR600 and a wide color gamut. It also accepts a line of addons like webcams and peripheral controllers that integrate into the stand to create a hardware ecosystem. Let’s take deep dive into its features and tested performance to see if the Xeneon 32UHD144 is a worthy addition to our best 4K gaming monitors list. 

 Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144  Specs

Corsair hasn’t cut any corners with the 32UHD144. It's high-end in every respect. The Fast IPS Quantum Dot panel has a huge color gamut that qualifies as a Rec.2020 display. It covers over 83% of that gamut, which means it exceeds DCI-P3 by a healthy margin. I measured just shy of 117%. This is one colorful monitor.

Accuracy is provided in equal amountse. There are preset modes for Adobe RGB, DCI-P3 and sRGB, all of which aced my color gamut tests. I recorded numbers that rival the best and most expensive professional screens. There’s also plenty of flexibility, as you can calibrate each mode with its own custom color temp settings. That’s something I rarely see in any display.

Picture quality is further enhanced with an edge backlight with 16 dimming zones. You can use the dynamic contrast feature for both SDR and HDR content and see contrast ratios over 10,000:1. The 32UHD144 is also DisplayHDR 600 certified, which I confirmed in my tests.

Of course, gaming performance is important as well. To that end, Corsair provides a dynamic overdrive that varies its operation based on frame rate for more effective blur reduction. You get Adaptive-Sync with both FreeSync and G-Sync operation confirmed in my tests. The 32UHD144 has not been certified by Nvidia. A backlight strobe feature is also included that can be used instead of Adaptive-Sync.

Corsair has kept the same hardware ecosystem I saw in my review of the 32QHD165. The stand has a threaded fitting called Multi Mount that can accept peripherals like webcams or lights using parts from Elgato. Controllers like Stream Deck and iCue Nexus can be used to quickly change settings without visiting the OSD. It also features the latest video interfaces like DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1 and USB-C. 

Assembly and Accessories

The Xeneon 32UHD144 comes in a generous box with plenty of crumbly foam to protect its contents. You’ll have to reach for a Phillips-head screwdriver to attach the panel to the upright. It then mates to the substantial metal base with a captive fastener. The cable management clips are already in place and slide up and down to keep the wiring tidy. The cable bundle includes a large external power supply plus USB-C-to-C and A-to-C, HDMI and DisplayPort. 

Product 360

You’ll be hard pressed to tell the difference between a 32QHD165 and a 32UHD144 when there is no image on the screen. The two monitors are physically identical, both panel and stand. The bezel is a thin, flush-mounted affair with a narrow 9mm frame around the top and sides and 20mm on the bottom. A small Corsair logo, the familiar sail graphic, and the name Corsair on the base are the only visible branding.

The 32UHD144’s stand is one of the best I’ve seen. The base is solid aluminum with a gray satin finish. The upright is mostly metal and rock solid. The entire chassis is monolithic in both look and feel with firm adjustments. You get 110mm of height along with 5/20 degrees tilt and 30 degrees swivel. There is no portrait mode. The panel has a 100mm VESA mount in back if you prefer to use your own hardware. Corsair will sell you the monitor without a stand for a $100 discount.

Peripheral options are something unique to the Xeneon line of Corsair displays. At the top of the stand is a threaded fitting that accepts arms from Elgato, which are sold on Corsair’s website. You can attach anything with a standard tripod thread like webcams, lights or microphones. You can also hook up a Stream Deck or iCue Nexus and create macro buttons to change monitor settings on the fly.

In the back, you’ll find a set of cable clips on the upright that slide up and down to help manage the wiring. Here too, you can see the power button and joystick, which controls all monitor functions. There is no LED lighting, nor are there integrated speakers.

The input panel has all the latest interfaces. Video can feed through a DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.1, or a USB-C connection. A second USB-C upstream port is provided for peripherals, for which there are also two downstream Type-A ports. A 3.5mm headphone jack is provided as well.

OSD Features

The 32UHD144’s OSD is all business with a text-based system divided into six sub-menus. The only graphic is Corsair’s sail logo at the top. It’s summoned with a press of the joystick.

The first menu, Picture, has everything needed for image control and calibration. Standard mode is the default and out of the gate, it’s very accurate. It uses the 32UHD144’s full color gamut, which covers over 116% of DCI-P3. There are eight total modes which include gamut-specific settings for DCI-P3, Adobe RGB and sRGB. They are also extremely accurate.

The Color Temp menu has three presets plus a Custom mode specific to each picture mode. The 32UHD144 is a rare monitor with separate memories for each picture mode. That means you can create a custom calibration for each mode. I’ll explain this in more detail later, but it’s something that even some professional screens don’t offer. You also get three gamma options ranging from 2.0 to 2.4.

The overdrive has three speeds plus a dynamic option which is very effective. It varies the amount of overshoot based on frame rate. I found it cleaned up blur nicely without any ghosting. The fixed settings do create ghosting, so I avoided them. You also get MPRT which is a backlight strobe option. It operates instead of Adaptive-Sync and cuts brightness by around 30%.

The 32UHD144’s backlight is an edge array with 16 dimming zones. You can turn on the dimming for both SDR and HDR content and up the static contrast ratio to around 10,000:1.

Gaming enhancements include a frame rate counter and a set of aiming points that come in red or green with cross, dot or angle shapes.

My only nitpick with the OSD is that to turn on MPRT, you have to go into System Setting and turn off Adaptive-Sync first. This seems like a needless extra step when the AS toggle could have been added to the picture menu. The final Info screen shows resolution, refresh, HDR and Adaptive-Sync status along with the active input and the firmware version. 

Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144 Calibration Settings

There are a number of ways to optimize the 32UHD144’s picture for maximum accuracy. Out of the box, color is very close to the Rec.2020 spec, but grayscale runs slightly warm in tone. Gamma is super tight no matter what options you choose. If you switch to one of the specific gamut modes, Adobe RGB, DCI-P3 or sRGB, you get very high accuracy. The best part is the custom color temp sliders can be set independently for each mode. I’ve done this for you, and my settings are in the table below.

HDR signals lock out all picture controls, but that mode is super precise with excellent grayscale and EOTF tracking. You can see those test results on page five.

Gaming and Hands-on

The Xeneon 32UHD144 is a supremely useful display that serves equally well for work or play. As a productivity tool, it has all the attributes to help power through documents or do research, or do both simultaneously. Or you can keep a news crawl going in a corner while you watch a video. Big monitors like this can be used in a multitude of ways, and the flat panel means no image distortion. 32-inches in the 16:9 aspect is large but not overwhelming. Anything larger like a 43-inch, or wider like a 38-inch 21:9 screen and you’ll have to make some decisions about desktop space.

The picture is razor sharp like any premium 4K screen, but the color stands out. There are a few other 32-inch 4K monitors that have similarly large color gamuts, which I’ll cover in the test comparisons but suffice to say that the 32UHD144 is very colorful. You won’t find a larger gamut in this price range or in the very expensive area occupied by FALD and Mini LED panels.

I saw no benefit to running HDR for Windows productivity apps. Things like Word or Excel don’t look any different. If you want to edit HDR graphics though, it’s an easy switch in Control Panel. Though this is an HDR600 panel and thus very bright, it isn’t too harsh to show pictures in Photoshop or a graphics viewer. HDR streams from Netflix and Paramount+ shine with bright highlights, deep blacks and vibrant color. If you want to watch TV on the 32UHD144, it is more than up to the task.

There is no weakness in gaming performance here. Adaptive-Sync worked perfectly on my FreeSync and G-Sync testbeds with HDR and dynamic overdrive. This feature is one of the things worth buying the 32UHD144 for, and it is not available on many other screens. However, I didn’t see any benefit to the backlight strobe. I had to turn off Adaptive Sync, which at 100-120fps isn’t ideal, and it caused some ringing around moving objects. There were no artifacts when playing with G-Sync and dynamic overdrive, with speeds in Doom Eternal hovering around 120fps.

The 32UHD144’s low input lag definitely made a difference in my personal play experience. I play the same set of games for each review to make fair comparisons between displays and in this case, I had greater success in Doom Eternal’s Horde mode. I also had an easier time dispatching enemies in Call of Duty WWI and Tomb Raider. This is a very addicting display. I expect console gamers will be equally enamored since it’s ready for the 120 Hz VRR with HDR coming from the latest Xbox and PlayStation systems.

The rendered HDR image is stunning. I tweaked Doom’s internal picture controls and was rewarded with a foreboding and hellish landscape that burst with texture. The difference between artificial and natural surfaces was clear. This is an area where 4K is distinctly better than QHD, as long as you don’t move the mouse too quickly. Once the action speeds up, QHD at 165 Hz will look as good or better. However, knowing this did not reduce my enjoyment of the 32UHD144. It is a very capable and amazing-looking gaming screen. 

The comparison group for the Xeneon 32UHD144 is all 32-inch 4K IPS screens running at 144 Hz. We have Philips’ 329M1RV, Dell’s G3223Q, MSI’s MPG321UR-QDX, BenQ’s EX3210U and the Mini LED ViewSonic XG321UG. That last one costs around twice as much as the others. It’s here to provide a frame of reference for what you get when you buy a top-of-the-line 4K monitor. 

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

144 Hz means a 7ms screen draw time in all cases but the MSI. That one has a tiny advantage with slightly less motion blur at full speed. The 32UHD144 is in line with the others for sheer speed. It is the only one with variable overdrive, which helps up motion resolution a bit over a monitor with fixed overdrive.

It is also one of the quickest overall 4K screens I’ve measured. 30ms isn’t too far behind the capabilities of a QHD/165 Hz monitor. Though the 165 Hz screen will have smoother motion, control response and feel will be similar. The 32UHD144 is a very worthy gaming monitor that will satisfy a player’s wish for high pixel density and low input lag.

Viewing Angles

The 32UHD144 has an off-axis image typical of IPS monitors. At 45 degrees to the side, you’ll see a 30% light reduction and a shift to reddish green. The detail in shadow areas will be a little harder to make out. You can see that the 0 and 10% steps look the same in the photos. The top view is washed out with a blue tint and a 40% reduction in brightness. 

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

The 32UHD144 does well in the uniformity test with no visible glow or bleed. The light meter detected a little extra light in the lower left corner, but this wasn’t enough to be seen with the naked eye. This is clearly a quality panel built to a high standard.

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 32UHD144 has no trouble exceeding its brightness spec of 400 nits in SDR mode. There is plenty of light here for any environment, including outdoors. The downside of this is a relatively narrow output range. I couldn’t get the backlight down to 50 nits for dark room gameplay. The minimum is 81 nits which is a little fatiguing if you plan to play for hours in the dark. Native contrast is an IPS average 1,050.3:1. This increases to around 10,000:1 when using the local dimming option in SDR mode.

After Calibration to 200 nits

After calibrating the Standard picture mode, contrast drops slightly to 963:1. There is no visible reduction in picture quality. There is so much color that you almost don’t notice the black levels. The image is richly saturated and detailed.

ANSI contrast is around the same level at 935.5:1. The 32UHD144 is a well-engineered and carefully built monitor with premium components and quality control. 

The 32UHD144 can be optimized in many ways using the preset color gamut modes. Standard uses the full native color space, which is close to Rec.2020. Alternately, you can select Adobe RGB, DCI-P3 or sRGB and calibrate them individually. 

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.

Grayscale tracking is very consistent across all picture modes. Out of the box, the 32UHD144 runs a little warm in tone, but the errors are slight and only visible above 60% brightness. Gamma tracking is about as close to perfect as a monitor can get.

Calibrating the custom color temp removes all visible errors and takes the 32UHD144 to a reference level of accuracy. Gamma gets slightly lighter on the chart, but this change cannot be seen with the naked eye. I was able to achieve the same results in every gamut mode, so I’ve only included a single before and after chart here.

Comparisons

With a default grayscale error of 3.23dE, the 32UHD144 can be enjoyed without calibration. But since there is such upward potential, it makes sense to tweak a bit. I got the average error below 1dE in all gamut modes using independent RGB settings. You’ll find them in the table back on page one. The post-calibration errors for the other modes are DCI-P3 – 0.63dE, Adobe RGB – 0.58dE and sRGB – 1.06dE.

Gamma tracking is among the best in class. The range of values is super tight at only 0.06 from lowest to highest. The average value is 2.16 for a 1.82% deviation, which is also excellent. This holds true in all gamut modes.

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.

I’ve included charts showing all the 32UHD144’s gamut modes. The default measurements for Standard mode, which are set against the Rec.2020 standard, show some hue errors in red and magenta and slight under-saturation overall. Note that this is under-saturation in the Rec.2020 realm, DCI-P3 would show a general over-saturation.

If you pick a specific gamut mode, the 32UHD144 hits the marks right on the nose. You can see that every point is on target for DCI-P3, Adobe RGB and sRGB. It doesn’t get better than this.

Comparisons

I’ve charted the error for Standard mode, which uses the 32UHD144’s full native gamut. The other color modes have even lower values. Adobe RGB is 1.70dE, DCI-P3 is 1.32dE and sRGB is 1.33dE. That result exceeds many professional monitors that cost substantially more.

The 32UHD144’s near-117% coverage of DCI-P3 should be no surprise, given that it covers 83.36% of Rec.2020. That makes it one of the most colorful monitors I’ve tested. You can get similar coverage from the BenQ, MSI and ViewSonic screens with comparable levels of accuracy.

Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The 32UHD144 is a very capable HDR monitor with a zone dimming edge backlight. It has 16 dimming zones, which enhance contrast significantly. An HDR10 signal switches modes automatically. 

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The 32UHD144 is rated for 600 nits in HDR mode, and my sample beat that handily with nearly 700 nits of total output measured using a full-field white pattern. That’s seriously bright. In practice, you’ll only see this level in small highlight areas. Thanks to the effective zone dimming feature, black levels are relatively low, and contrast is above average at 10,875.2:1. The Mini LED ViewSonic achieves high values thanks to its incredibly bright backlight and super low black levels. But that level of performance will cost you about double the price of the Corsair and the other screens.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

I was surprised to see a lack of image control in HDR mode. There is only a single picture mode and no means of changing color. But obviously, that isn’t a problem given the results shown above. The 32UHD144 is one of the most color-accurate HDR monitors I’ve tested. Grayscale tracking is visually perfect. The only flaw is some lightness at the lowest level. This is likely due to the speed in which the zone dimming backlight reacts to changes in picture levels. In practice, the HDR image is very deep with true blacks and very bright highlights.

In the color test, the 32UHD144 is clearly using the Rec.2020 reference for all content, even when mastered to DCI-P3. You can see in the DCI chart how green tracks toward the Rec.2020 points, which means it’s a tad bluer. This will be hard to spot in actual content, but a firmware update might be in order to ensure that color tracks correctly for the content’s reference gamut. Saturation points are linear in progression with slight over-saturation overall, not a bad thing.

In the HDR monitor category, there are three distinct tiers of image quality. Budget screens make do with no dynamic contrast and therefore have images that look much the same whether they’re SDR or HDR. At the high end where prices can top $2,000, we have full-array local dimming backlights, some with Mini LEDs, and potentially over 1,000 dimming zones. They look stunning but their prices are high.

In the middle, for $800-1,000, are monitors like the Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144. They deliver plenty of brightness and zone dimming edge backlights to get HDR contrast over 10,000:1. That’s a significant difference from the IPS typical 1,000:1. And those monitors have color gamuts just as large, if not larger, than their more expensive cousins. They are in the sweet spot of the price/performance ratio.

The 32UHD144 checks all the boxes for a premium 4K screen. Its video processing is excellent thanks to dynamic overdrive, something very few gaming monitors offer. The image is stunning thanks to that Quantum Dot film and the resulting huge color gamut. With nearly 117% coverage of DCI-P3, it qualifies as a Rec.2020 panel. Again, only a few other screens have this much color.

Corsair also heads the class in color accuracy. With preset picture modes for Adobe RGB, DCI-P3 and sRGB that are all spot-on, you can use it for the same color-critical work normally taken on by a much more expensive professional display. The 32UHD144 is a reference-level monitor.

While the price at this writing is $999 ($899 without the stand), it doesn’t cost much more than other comparable products. And its color accuracy, build quality and ability to anchor a hardware ecosystem make it stand out. The Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144 is a monitor anyone looking to go 4K should strongly consider.

Every so often in the monitor sector, perhaps once a decade, the most popular screen size gets a little bigger. In 2012, when I started reviewing displays for Tom’s Hardware, 27-inch screens were just starting to trickle into the mainstream. 27 was the new 24. Now, it seems the shift is going to 32-inch panels. Will 32 be the new 27? If you look at pricing trends, a 32-inch 4K monitor costs about the same as a 27-inch IPS monitor did ten years ago. And for a couple hundred bucks more, you get 144 Hz and Adaptive-Sync.

I’ve seen several of these very capable gaming displays come through my lab lately with Dell's  G3223Q being the latest. Like the best 4K gaming monitors in the $800 to $900 tier, it sports 144 Hz over DisplayPort with 120 Hz over HDMI 2.1 for consoles, plus Adaptive-Sync, HDR and a wide color gamut.

Dell G3223Q Specs