I dont need a monitor, nor do i have a PC at all. And i dont understand most of the technical stuff but nevertheless i watch the video because it is so informative and well made. Thx
I get mixed statements about the 10-bit display. at 5:15 you say True 10-bit, but other sites reference the panel as a LG LM315WR1-SSB1 and say it is 8-bit + FRC (10 bit through dithering). When BenQ replied to me, they only said 10-bit panel, but not True 10-bit panel.
Teoh, can you say what your setup is, i.e. which graphics card, computer model, and did you connect via HDMI, display port, Thunderbolt, etc.? That would be helpful to know. I have a 27” BENQ and it’s good but not great. I’m using HDMI.
@@teohyc im using a Macbook Pro Medio 2015 15 inch model, could i use this computer effectively with the BenQ PD3220U? specs are: 2.5GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of 1600MHz DDR3L RAM. Intel Iris Pro and AMD Radeon R9M370X w/ 2GB of RAM graphics cards.15.4-inch 2880 x 1800 Retina display. thanks a lot, great content!
Thank you Teoh. Have you realized the delay of the KVM switch in relation to Dell monitors (2-3 seconds to change the source)? Has the BenQ a more direct response time?
Great review! Question. Can you connect 2 USB C devices and use the KVM to switch between both? I have a work computer and personal MAC I’d like to switch between.
If I were to buy one today, I will go with the Dell because I don't feel it's worth a few hundreds $ more just to get the Thunderbolt 3 port. Quality for both monitors should be very similar.
Heyy First up. It's great to see such a detailed review by a designer. I am looking for a BenQ monitor. Confused between the PD2725u and the PD2705u. Do you reckon there is a major difference? Because there is a significant price difference. Thanks
I love the display so much! Congratulations!!! I LOVE that it goes vertical as well!!!!!!!!!!! So awesome!!!! That would be a feature I want so much!!!!! I almost only prefer to use an iPad in vertical mode for how much more text you can get on the screen! It’s also a beautiful anti glare display. I am wondering, do you find the display being anti glare, if it still as clear to see? Or is it more like on iPad where once you put a screen protector to make it matte it becomes less clear?
The anti glare on this monitor does not affect the sharpness unlike the matte screen protector on iPad. I've used matte screen monitors for almost two decades and have always been very satisfied with the sharpness.
If you need Thunderbolt 3, get the PD3220. If not the PD3200U is much cheaper. These are sRGB monitors so they are good for work that goes onto screens. For print design, if you don't compare printed proofs, you can also go with sRGB monitors. But if you need absolute colour accuracy, go for the BenQ's SW series of the Dell UP series. For those monitors, a 27-inch 2560x1440 resolution monitor would be more reasonable in price.
Teoh Yi Chie - thanks for the quick response. I’d really like to stick with a 4K screen for my MBP 16”. This is a tough one because I’m a generalist and need a monitor that can bridge both spaces. I was also looking at Dells US 3216Q. I have a budget up $1300. Thoughts?
@@VforVolusia If you're using the MBP 16, get the PD3220U. The Thunderbolt 3 capabilities are incredibly convenient. High data transfer speed, daisy chain, display output, 85W power delivery. You can also use TB3 to fast charge any USB-C devices
how do you rate the 300 nits brightness? I feel like the whites are more dull at this brightness level. and do you think 300 nits is displayed differently on older VA or TN panels as compared to IPS panels?
@@teohyc So there is actually no difference At all between those two Panels. Only the Port selection is different ? If thats true ill be going with the Dell because its 400 Euro less
Thanks Teoh, informative no nonsense review. More please :) Question: as a video editor, mainly shooting/editing in 4K for web, I’m deliberating over the SW and PV range but confused as there seems little difference re colour space?
SW and PV colour spaces are quite similar. PV has some extra features for video production, eg 72Hz display. My advice is to buy for the work you create. If you're going to put your work online and in print, the SW series is more than good enough.
Hi Teoh, thank you for your work. I want to buy either this monitor or the DELL U3219Q. You tested both, so what is your advice? I am graphic designer, but to check the colors I have an EIZO Color Edge, so this is not that important for my decision. The only advantage of the BenQ is the Daisy Chaining as far as I can see. Of course that would be nice, but I am not sure if this is worth paying 300 Euros more. What do you think?
@@teohyc Thank you. My laptop is the Dell XPS 15 9560 (thunderbolt 3) with a battery of 97 wats. Dell monitor without thunderbolt 3 offers 90 wats charging and the benq with thunderbolt 3 'only' 85 wats. So actually the dell monitor would be better for my laptop - or am I wrong?
@@7000dalex 97 vs 85 watts isn't much of a difference. The real question is whether you're using all 97 watts from your Dell laptop. If that's the case, then 85 watts will not charge that laptop fast enough. Generally speaking, laptops that use that much power will be running the processors long and hard, eg fans will be blowing all the time. So if that's not your use case, then 85 watts is still sufficient for charging and use at the same time. With TB3, you can output video signal with the TB3 cable so you don't need an extra display cable.
Great review, I see that your computer is a late (2013) MacPro like mine, I need another display I think this one is the best. How were you able to use the thunderbolt 3 to connect with your computer. can you run MacOs Big Sur and Mac Apps with your MacPro connected, HOW????
I used HDMI on the Mac Pro to connect. 4K is not going to be smooth with the Mac Pro 2013. A 1440P monitor will run smoother. Otherwise, you'll be tempted to upgrade your Mac Pro after using the 4K display. Oh, another important point. 4K on a 32-inch is not the best combination for MacOS. 5K or 1440P on 27-inch is better combo for MacOS.
Hi Teoh, After reading and watching a lot of reviews I am totally confused between buying PD3200U ($600), PD2700U ($430), Dell U3219Q ($850), Dell U2720Q ($600) or Dell P2721Q ($440). All models have same 3 year warranty here in India. I spend about 10 hours a day in front of the screen and need my monitor for productivity apps like Power BI, Excel, G-suite and text, browsing, reading. I prefer 4k over 2k for better smoothness of font (after scaling). Color accuracy is of no concern to me and I use f.lux to reduce blue light even at daytime and sometimes even convert the screen to greyscale. At 47 years I have presbyopia and so will be keeping the monitor at about 3 feet+ distance. I normally prefer to work under low-lights. I will use the monitor both portrait and landscape (mainly landscape). I use both Mac and Windows and am also looking at a way to use them parallelly on a single monitor ( I don't know if KVM feature is of any help). Though I would like a USB-C but I don't mind a few extra wires if the cost difference is huge to get a USC-C port (available in dell models). My main requirement is eye-comfort and text clarity. I am inclined to use 32" for the size benefit at 3-feet distance but maybe the text smoothness might be lesser than 27 inch due to lesser PPI. (I got spoilt for text clarity using Macbook Retina display for 8 years.) I am inclined to go for PD3200U but have read lots of bad reviews about its flickering issues and maybe faulty AUO panel, bleeding issues etc. If I was to choose 27 inch, then PD2700U features look more attractive than P2721Q for same price point. But I dont know if any of the PD2700U marketed features like eye-comfort etc are better than P2721Q of dell which happens to be the latest model too. Dell is known for better warranty servicing here in India (on paper both Dell and Benq commit same warranty) and I have used dell before but Benq would be a totally new product line. I have no place to go an check these monitors as they get ordered online and are not available on stores. Therefore checking before buying is out of question. Please provide your valuable suggestions so that I can choose one with ease. ( any other model than these ? Please suggest) Thanks!
MacOS does not work well with 4K 32-inch monitor because to use the true 4K resolution at 1-1 scaling, UI elements will be small. Text, icons, buttons all will be small. MacOS works well with 27-inch 1440P monitors and 27-inch 5K monitor (e.g. LG Ultrafine) and 24 inch 4K. So you're pretty much limited to choosing 27-inch 1440P monitor. Since you mention Dell has good warranty coverage in your country, you can just go with Dell. I recommend the Dell U series monitor. USB C is nice if you have USB devices. But if it is too expensive, it's not worth the money. What monitor are you using now?
@@teohyc I was using My Macbook Pro's 13.3" retina + dell P2214H combined since quite a few years. I never liked the text on my P2214 as retina display was a wrong company to it but still used it as screen real estate. I am replacing this with Latitude 7400 (in shipment) and will be buying a Mac Mini M1 sometime soon. For now am using iMac 27" 5K borrowed from a friend till my Latitude arrives. I am using the 5K scaled to 4K on both the Windows bootcamp as well as MacOS with 150% scale factor on windows. Safari on Mac at 200%.
@@teohyc So I think from your recommendation, both 32" are out and then what it comes to is Dell U2720Q. Called up the area sales manager of Benq and got an assurance of dell-like warranty. Now with this equation being equal, where does PD2700U stand compared to U2720Q. (btw PD2700U is about $170 cheaper). I am now planning to get two 27" - one sooner and one a little later when the Mac M1 mini is ordered. With so many youtube review videos on PD2700U it has been made to appear like a magical buy at a bargain with all the features like reading mode, darkroom, dual-mode and overall feel conveyed by reviewers!. So if i was to use the first buy for windows and price diff was not to be considered would you recommend the Dell U2720Q or the PD2700U ? BTW do the display panel models matter ? The PD2700U uses a panel LM270WR3-SSA1 from Q4'2015 , (5 years old !!) but i couldn't get similar info about U2720Q.
@@ramnikbansal7308 It's great that you have the 5K 27-inch iMac because you can do the following test: in MacOS System Preferences - Display - Resolution - Scaled - Best (Retina) "Looks like 2560 x 1440". That is the size of the UI on a 27-inch 1440P monitor. But on the 5K iMac, the text will be sharp but on the 1440P monitor, you can see pixelation
@@ramnikbansal7308 Main difference between PD2700U and U2720Q is the resolution, 1440P vs 4K. 4K doesn't work well with MacOS. There's a specific reason why Apple iMac are 5K 27-inch but not 4K 27-inch. If you really want 4K, 32-inch is good but UI is going to be smaller. Using your Macbook Pro 13, go to MacOS System Preference - Display - Resolution - Change scaling to "more space". That's the size of UI, text, you will see on a 4K 32-inch monitor. If you are okay with this UI size, you can get 4K 32-inch monitor. If you want to get two 27-inch monitor. Compare the price with one LG Ultrafine 5K monitor. Unless you really want more desktop space then go with two 27-inch. There's also the Dell U2520D which is a 1440P 25-inch monitor. There will be less pixelation compared to 1440P 27-inch since the pixel density is higher. This is also a good option. Size and resolution combination is good. And if you get two, they won't take up too much table space.
@@teohyc Thanks, so maybe its fixed. On PD3200U the flickering was very random and short - it occurred maybe once in every 5 minutes and lasted for a few milliseconds. Sometimes entire screen went blank, but sometimes some areas got corrupted as if on a malfunctioning GPU. Lots of reports on Amazon and Reddit on different monitors with AOC panels.
Have you experienced image sticking? Many users complain that if a static image is displayed on the monitor for 20 minutes or more, then it remains visible on other images for some time.
Main difference is this BenQ has Thunderbolt. If you don’t need that, you can save a lot of money. So it’s between PD3200 and the Dell. Both are good so choose the one that looks good to you or have better warranty
I do like the detailed review which you publish in your channel. I am planning to purchase a new 32-inch 4K monitor & would like to get your opinion. Can you tell me should I go with BenQ PD3220U or Dell U3219Q ?
Great review again Teoh. I've watched a few of your reviews and was looking at an older monitor the Dell UltraSharp UP2716D 27" which you reviewed. Do you still think this is a good monitor or are monitors such as this BenQ PD3230U significantly better? Work mainly in print and web design. colour accuracy is of importance. Look forward to any recommendations. Thanks
If you work with print, get the BenQ SW series that support AdobeRGB. PD series support sRGB which is for web. SRGB is colour range is smaller than AdobeRGB
@@teohyc Thanks for this review - i've been doing successful photo work on a non AdobeRGB monitor for years, do you think this will really matter if this has been my norm?
Hello! Great Review! If you were to daisy chain another thunderbolt 3 monitor, would that monitor also require 110V power? Or can you simply use another single thunderbolt 3 cable?
Thanks for the video, What do you think about LG's LG32Un880-B? is Photoshop also good for photo editing? or the designer BENQ 3220U? is heard much much better?
That LG specs mention support for 1b+ colours which means it's an AdobeRGB monitor, but the price very low for a 32-inch 4K AdobeRGB monitor. So it's very likely just a sRGB monitor with FRC to get the 1b colours. Anyway, sRGB monitors are good enough for graphic design work. AdobeRGB is for designers who work mostly with print or those who need more critical colour accuracy. BenQ PD series are sRGB monitors. 3220U is expensive because it has TB3 support. If you don't need Thunderbolt, you can save a lot of money buy going with monitors that don't have Thunderbolt. E.g. BenQ's earlier models. Or Dell U series monitor. Also, don't get 32-inch 4K if you're using Mac. If you use Mac, get monitor sizes that Apple are using for their laptops and iMacs.
@@teohyc Thank you for very great and detailed feedback. I use macbook pro 13 and I wear glasses, so for this reason I am looking for a monitor that is very sharp and very suitable for my eyes. You talked about DEll and BENQ, which Dell or BENQ up to a maximum of 700-800 euros is best for me? I mean which B or D series? I would be grateful for your feedback.
Thanks Teoh for the informative review. Not sure if you would know but would you rate this better than the BenQ PD3200U? Am deciding which one to buy but liked the bonus SD card reader option in the latter. By the way, what scanner do you have? I am looking for one too for my watercolor sketches :) Any recommendations?
Main selling point here is Thunderbolt 3. If you don’t need that, you can save a lot with the previous model. As for scanner, I’m using the Canon Lide 210
Excellent review! I'm in the market for a new monitor and am eyeing the PD-3220u. I have a mid-2014 MacBook Pro and I know the MBP can do 4K at 60Hz (using Display Port, not HDMI) and I'd prefer to set the display to its default resolution, but do you think it would be able to handle pumping out a 3840x2160 image without the fans kicking in?
@Teoh Yi Chie, the UI of your Photoshop seems a little smaller on your Monitor then the native 4K resolution. Almost like you'd have a 5k screen. When I screen capture your video and open it in Photoshop on a 4K display, your Photoshop UI is definitely smaller than what Photoshop is on 4k. Did you set the resolution of your BenQ to something different than the native 4K to have that much more content showing? Although I don't even think you can actually set it to "More Space" (like you can with an iMac or a MacBook) in the System Settings for this monitor, am I right?
Photoshop UI (and other apps) will look small on a 32-inch 4K monitor. I've set the scaling to 1:1, aka no scaling. With 32-inch 4K monitor, you can scale up MacOS UI to be larger but you'll lose some of the 4K "features". E.g. 100% zoom of a 4K photo will not fill the 4K monitor. With 5K monitor, you can scale up MacOS UI and still retain all 4K goodness. There's a very specific reason why Apple makes 5K displays for their iMac and not 4K. Scaling issues. What monitor/display are you using?
@@teohyc Actually, it's when I screen capture your Photoshop and superimpose it on a capture of this guy's Photoshop: th-cam.com/video/Ij4ImjJITpw/w-d-xo.html, which uses the exact same monitor. Your UI is a bit smaller (the tool bar is smaller, the panels, etc). Your Photoshop UI seems about the same size as Photoshop on my iMac 5K, but it should be a bit bigger because your display is 4K. You should have the same screen real estate as a 1920x1080 full HD Display, but with double the detail, because everything is displayed at 2x (Retina). However, it seems you have a bit more screen real estate in Photoshop. If everything were to displayed at 1:1 then I assume everything (not only Photoshop) would be even smaller than what you have. So it can't be that (?). I'm puzzled!
@@vincentroy5093 Your iMac 5K is using the 1440P UI size on a 27-inch and will appear larger than the 4K UI size on a 32-inch. MacOS scaling is confusing. Apple and LG made 5K (27-inch) monitors precisely so that people can scale the UI to 1440P equivalent.
@@teohyc Let me rephrase, it doesn't look like you use fractional scaling because the desktop UI seems very small (140ish ppi at default scaling). Is this true, do you find that with any fractional scaling you see an impact in apps that use GPU?
@@jrbling25 MacOS does not work well with certain resolution and size combo. E.g. MacOS does not work well with 27-inch 4K and 32-inch 4K. 32-inch 4K is still usable at native resolution without scaling but Ui may be considered small. It's the same scaling when Macbook Pros are used at their smallest UI scaling. If you scale the UI with MacOS, the visuals will appear slightly fuzzy due to the tech that MacOS uses for UI scaling. Windows does not have problems with UI scaling so you can use whichever Ui that's confortable for your eyes.
I'm torn between this monitor and the Dell U3219Q 4K IPS. This monitor is a little more expensive but seems very similar - I'm a professional designer working across print and digital so i'm looking for the best monitor regardless of price. What would you recommend?
Hey Teoh, thank you for the review. I am torn between this and the older PD3200 model. I will be using it for photo editing and video editing. Having T3 is not important as it can't fully charge my laptop anyway, and for future laptops, it'll be less sufficient so there will always be 2 cords connecting to the laptop. I was curious if that was the case, does not having DCI-P3 really worth it? Does having M-mode worth it? for the extra $500 is actually almost twice as much. I do want to somewhat future proof this monitor for the next 5 years or so.
TB3 is not necessary. There are USB C displays too, and some can charge up to 90w too. My general recommendation is to choose based on the work you want to create. If you’re creating work that’s going to the web, sRGB is good enough. DCI P3 is good for video editors. AdobeRGB for print design. Anyway, just get a display with USB C will be good for future proofing. Display technology has matured many years ago. Personally I would go with a display with USB C, displayPort and HDMI. But I’m still using the BenQ sw2700pt from many years ago. Between pd3200 and pd3220, the cheaper one is more worth the money. Image quality is the same. Ports are different, but that should justify that huge price difference
@@teohyc thank you for answering my questions. I am fairly new to the monitor world. I feel like I am in a mixed world - my images will be used for the web, and some will be printed (wedding). I also create videos. The only thing I think that's keeping me from getting the 3200 over the 3220 is the P3 color space. Isn't that's where everything is going with phone and all? I feel like I am not too concerned with the connectives because I'd just get a hub if needed.
@@JohnLe If you want better colours, consider AdobeRGB monitors instead. Go with 27 instead of 32 inch to save money. Then get a colour calibrator with the money saved.
Unfortunately I did not measure the maximum brightness but it does look bright enough for me. I don’t typically run monitors at full brightness because that’s too bright and not good for eyes.
Nice review, thanks!!! I have a question!!! This monitor is a good election if you wanna work with an ipad pro and procreate and you need a good color 2nd monitor to watch the whole art piece while you are drawing on the ipad!? You can see all color modes connecting the ipad pro 2018 with usb type c!? Do you recomend this monitor or SW series if you are a concept artist and visual developer!? Thanks a lot!!!
@@teohyc thank you!!! And you can connect directly with the usb type C cable and work like a second screen with all the features that offer the monitor!? Thanks a lot, you are helping many people to spend money correctly.
Thanks for detailed and informative review. I have this monitor for less than 2 weeks and I love it but I am not sure how to calibrate this monitor properly. This is my first monitor that has dedicated different color space settings for sRGB, Adobe RGB, and other color spaces (I know it does not cover 100% Adobe RGB). My question is, in which of these color settings should I calibrate this monitor? One calibration in User mode is enough, or each mode should calibrated separately? I have i1Profiler for calibration. I will use this monitor mainly for photo editing and occasional printing. Which calibration software did you use to get those results for sRGB and Adobe RGB? Thanks
I’m using Spyder5Pro. Just set the monitor to AdobeRGB and let your calibration software run automatically. It should show 99% sRGB coverage after calibration, or something close
Thx for the video... unfortunately you have forgotton to mention how to connect the monitor to the Computer to make it run. I have connected the monitor via HDMI to the graphic card of the computer but the screen reports "No cable connected "! What is the mistake?
That's exactly how it should be connected. Maybe the connection isn't tight enough. Try disconnecting and connecting again. if you have another monitor, try switching the HDMI cable to see if it's cable fault. Or switch to using the DisplayPort or USB-C cable if you can.
Nice review mate. Subscribed ;) One question though - Gets a bit confusing when you start talking about using the *Monitor (not "Computer"?) with the smartphone and tablet @ 20:00 I feel like I have a pretty good handle on Thunderbolt 3 vs. USB-C capabilities and also the latest iPad Pro (which has USB-C), so just to clarify, what are the capabilities of all the ports? Are you saying if you connect a USB-C cable between your USB-C smartphone/tablet to one specific or either of the TB3 ports on the monitor, that it only provides charge and doesn't allow it to be used as a display for the smartphone/tablet? TB3 here shouldn't really come into it as there's no TB3 smartphones or tablets out there (and not sure there ever will be as USB-C seems to provide enough docking potential for their use-case). Or is it that you already had a computer connected via TB3, thus telling the monitor you've already got a "master" of such connected and utilising the DisplayPort protocol, so any subsequent device plug-ins will be treated as accessories for charging/data synchronisation connection? Funnily enough, just to throw a curve ball, can this be connected to 2x TB3 computers at the same time? If so, what happens? (I'm still yet to test such as thing with my own TB2 dock and 2x TB2 Macs!) lol
These are all the ports 2x HDMI v2 1x DisplayPort v1 1x USB C 1x Thunderbolt 85W 1x Thunderbolt 15W Basically the Thunderbolt ports can do everything the USB C can, but the USB C cannot do what the Thunderbolt can. For some reason, I was able to output iPad Pro visual to the monitor using Thunderbolt but not the USB C. I don't have two TB3 computers to test. But I guess the monitor will only get the video signal from the TB3. When you connect two TB3 computers to each other directly, nothing happens right? If so then adding a monitor in between won't change anything.
@@Bullittphotography You can connect the laptop to the 85W TB3 port for charging. The other TB3 port can go to the iMac. Two connection is possible, but you can only show one computer at a time, unless you do the split screen or Picture-in-picture mode.
If you don't need Thunderbolt 3, then get the Dell. But if both are the same price, then perhaps the BenQ. The Dell with the two side USB ports are quite useful though. Check the warranty periods.
@@teohyc Thank you for your reply, They are not the same price. the BenQ is $1200 and the Dell is $800. looks like they have similar specs, but the Benq looks to have a better built quality especially the stand and comes with that attractive hotkey puck. if those are truly the only differences then perhaps i will invest in the Dell. Thanks again for your recommendations.
Hey Theo I bought the BenQ pd3220u and this is the second day with it, not 100% sure and happy. Image quality is Ok, colos just ok and brightest is not good a bit dark for my preference (this was actually one of the think I was expecting). I'm trying to balance it with the BenQ app I downloaded. by adding a bit of saturation it improve a bit the darkness but this solution makes loss details in the images/designs. Did you use a professional external calibrator to get a decent colour? any suggestions that can help to improve the brightness issue, I'm really thinking to return the monitor :/
I forgot to measure the brightness for this unit and no longer have this to test. The rated brightness should be 300 nits and in real world it should be 200-250 nits. That should be bright enough. I usually don’t run the display at maximum brightness because that would be too bright. If your display is still too dark after adjusting brightness, then it could be a problem. If you cannot adjust brightness, it could mean you’re using some display mode (user, movie, game, etc) that does not allow brightness adjustment. I did use a colour calibrator to calibrate the display. But that is for calibrating colours. For brightness you have to adjust it using the monitor.
They both should have similar colour accuracy. BenQ is more expensive with Thunderbolt so if you don’t need that you can save the money and go with the Dell. Brightness is good. Most desktop monitors have more than adequate brightness
@@MuppetChops Note that monitors don't usually mean the maximum brightness stated. But 300 nits is definitely enough. I usually just run my monitors at around 200 nits. Anything above 250 nits is too bright and very difficult to use at night or under dim lighting. Unfortunately for this review, I did not measure the maximum brightness. But I do remember it's a bright display so definitely no issues with brightness here.
Hi, I just got the PD3220U. Mine seems to be a bit blue on the right-hand side of the screen. Also, the default setting in HDR on, but if I switched to other color mode (which forced me to turn off HDR) such as M-book or SRGB, the color is significantly different, lack of contrast, brightness and saturation. Do you have the same problem? Thank you!
hi Teoh , thanks for the review, now i really think to buy this monitor, but i have one question. i want to use it for programing and for adobe uses (photoshop/illustrator) , so it is important to me that the text sharpens is good, can you tell so?
I am using macbook air m1..now I plan to buy a new monitor...pls suggest between Dell U3219 and BenQ PD3220U, since you've reviewed both of them. Right now are there any issue with mac M1 and 4K monitor?
32-inch with 4K is a good combination. If they are similar in price, the BenQ is better since it has Thunderbolt 3. For print and photo editing, I recommend AdobeRGB displays instead. E.g. Dell UP series or BenQ SW series.
Do you recommend Benq PD3220U or LG 32UL950? They both fall under the same price range. I use the monitor for some photoshop editing, watching movies and a lot of coding.
@@sarathm09 I'll probably go with the BenQ because I can put stuff on the stand's base plate. Oh. Choose one that has the longer warranty period, or one that's easy to send for servicing, you know... just in case.
If you are using a laptop with Thunderbolt 3, or going to buy a laptop with TB3, definitely get the BenQ. The TB3 support is very convenient and useful. If not, you can just save money with the Dell.
@@teohyc Backlight bleeding seems lower on Benq monitor than on U3219Q. Am I right? And what about flicker? I've also read that on Benq monitor you can't set brightness to 0 to be in comfort in the dark room as it is possible on Dell monitor.
@@alttagil Backlight bleeding seems quite similar (intensity and amount) to that of the U3219Q that I reviewed (see photo in the following link). As for flicker, personally I don't notice. But I've read that there are people who may notice flicker from such IPS LCD screens (not specific to this model or brand, just generally speaking). As for 0 brightness, I'm not sure why you would want to do that because if you want to watch movies in a dark room, at 0 brightness, it would be almost impossible to see what's on the screen. If you have a phone with LCD screen, you can turn brightness down to 0 and see what to expect. www.parkablogs.com/picture/artist-review-dell-u3219q-4k-ips-monitor
@@teohyc what about HDR? as dell has 400 nits and Benq only 300 HDR should perform better on Dells but it's quite hard to say anything about it from the images you have in blog (they just different). So what would you say about it?
Not sure about that. But sometimes monitors may not reach the specs they claim. Sometimes it could mean there are settings I set incorrectly which resulted in lower colour support. Anyway 94% isn't too far off 100%
The ASUS PA329C is the better monitor in terms of colour support as it supports 100% AdobeRGB (for print designers). But if you don't need AdobeRGB, you can go with sRGB monitors which are usually cheaper. Actually you can consider older models of the BenQ like the PD3200U which does not have USB-C but is significantly more affordable.
@@teohyc Thank you for the quick response. I am little worried about low peak brightness on Benq monitors that people over the forums report. If pd3220u has only thunderbolt 3 in comparison to pd3200u it is not worth the 300+$ in price, so PD3200u is much better option for me. Asus has a problem with dead pixels, Dell u3219q has flickering and bad uniformity. Its a nightmare to choose which one is the best :)
Teoh, I am trying to choose between 27 and 32 inch 4k monitor. I am probably gonna have same viewing distance and will probably use 2560 * 1440 scaling ratio which I currently use for my imac 27(default ratio used by imac). Given PD3220U has PPI(density) of 140 vs. PPI 163 on its 27 inch counterpart pd2725u, I feel like 27 is a clear winner to get the near retina like experience like my imac. But I like that extra real estate with 32 inch. do you suggest any 32 inch monitor with bigger PPI than 163 ? so far I can only see apple's pro display xdr which is out of my league.
Pixelation is not really noticeable from one arm distance away from 4K 32-inch. The PPI may suggest pixelation is visible, but in real life it's not that noticeable. Otherwise, you can go with 27-inch 4K which will be sharper.
hi thanks for the video. you always make very clear and great insight reviews. always honest and to the point. keep it up man! my question: I am considering this as secondary monitor for my 2020 Dell XPS 15 7590 for my home desk set up. I am an architect and I use primarily autocad, 3d software like 3dsMax and Rhino and Adobe Creative suite, and I'm doing normal media consumption. Do you suggest a 32 inch 4k monitor like this one - or rather go for a 27 inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) resolution monitor, like the BenQ SW270C ? How about the 4k scaling issues, that things are going to be too small and not compatible with certain software? The Dell XPS 15's graphic card is capable running a 4k monitor without problems, right? And does the graphic card also support/run the true 10 bit color depth on these professional screens? Thank you for your appreciated input and advice! Best regards from Austria.
Since you are using Windows, there should not be much scaling issues or problems. You can get either 4K or 1440P monitors at any sizes. That Dell XPS 2020 should have no problem running 4K. As for 10 bit colours, not sure about that, but shouldn’t be a problem with the BenQ SW270C which is AdobeRGB monitor. 4K AdobeRGB monitors are significantly more expensive.
Teoh Yi Chie Looking for a retina monitor that doesn't have those bleeding problems you mentioned. Ideally it would be 32 inch wide or 34. Can you recommend any?
Thanks for the review! I got PD3220u one and it is great, but I found only on the screen sides the image disappear to black when you look from other angels, do you have the same issue? like you put your mouse curser on the side edge and let me know it fade to black when you shift your head.
@@maxgersh904 After putting it head to head with LG 32UL950-W, Benq wins for sure in both build quality and color accuracy. After 4 months of usage I can say it is my favorite monitor for creative work so far! I use it with desktop and my Wacom MSP monitor and I'm very happy! As for game 60 fbs is more than enough for casual gaming and HDR is a good feature that activities automatically when game or contact is viewed. 3 things I want to indicate: - The sides gray are not a big deal special when position you monitor right. Unless you are very close you wont see it. - It only comes with HDMI cable and when I used a DP the color looked way reacher accurate and vivid. - Extra tip when you get your monitor put it on black wallpaper and turn off all the lights like your watching a movie and pay attention if there is any light bleeding. Mine doesn't has any, but for product in this price you deserve the best for your buck. Please let me know if you need any help 🙂
Thanks so much for all the detail. I am planning on connecting it to my MacBook with one thunderbolt 3 cable. That works with it right? And I was deciding between the BenQ and the Dell UltraSharp U2720Q. If you know anything about the comparison of these monitors it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
@@maxgersh904 Yes, you can use thunder bolt cable, also the monitor comes with one too + you have a color default in the monitor for Mac color space, so you all set. I didn't try Ultra Sharp from Dell, but a friend of mine uses it, you know the wide model and he is happy with the monitor. Tip: DP and Thunder bolt cables are better than HDMI, so your fine!
Ok thank you. And do you know if there is any difference between the 27” and the 32” besides screen size and the chin at the bottom of the 27”? Like any power or inputs that are different?
So a real review by a real designer who really goes into useful detail. Thanks man.
I dont need a monitor, nor do i have a PC at all. And i dont understand most of the technical stuff but nevertheless i watch the video because it is so informative and well made. Thx
Thanks 😁
No wonder why your visual content presentation is always so satisfiying.
most usefull review of this I have seen so far... well done and thank you
This guy has the best monitor reviews on TH-cam hands down
Thank you, for the review clear concise and covered everything I wanted to know
That’s a heck of a review!
Thank you SIR!
Welcome 😁
As always, a wonderful and thorough review Teoh! Thank you.
I was hoping you would review this! Awesome.
I get mixed statements about the 10-bit display. at 5:15 you say True 10-bit, but other sites reference the panel as a LG LM315WR1-SSB1 and say it is 8-bit + FRC (10 bit through dithering). When BenQ replied to me, they only said 10-bit panel, but not True 10-bit panel.
It’s actually 8 bit with FRC to simulate 10 bit colours
The thin bezel makes the screen looks amazing.
Thank you very much for the great review! Greetings from Switzerland to Singapore (a city I really loved when I stayed there some years ago 😀)
That would be my monitor and my TV as well. Computing, movies, and games, it'd be an all in one device for me. 😁
It's too expensive as a TV. With TVs, people typically sit further so having 4K is not that essential.
@@teohyc Oh I'd use it for art and for color matching between hand done art and original. None of that monitor's features would go to waste with me. 😉
BenQ PD3220U Product Page and full specs: bit.ly/2JrcDSl
how does this monitor comepare to the Dell U3219Q that you reviewed in January?
Quality is quite similar as both are sRGB monitors. Main difference comes down to the Thunderbolt 3 support
Is U3219Q not flicker-free?
@@alexantrrr I did not notice any flicker on the unit I tested.
17:59 - Backlight Bleed
In reality - lets skip and talk HDR
IPS, check this: 19:20
@@ANTGPRO Isn't that just a glare/reflection from the room?
Nice review. I ended up getting Lenovo P32u-10 covers wider Adobe RGB with true 10 bit panel.
Great review! Thanks :)
Teoh, can you say what your setup is, i.e. which graphics card, computer model, and did you connect via HDMI, display port, Thunderbolt, etc.? That would be helpful to know. I have a 27” BENQ and it’s good but not great. I’m using HDMI.
I'm running a Mac Pro with Firepro D300. HDMI should work okay. Which monitor are you using? There are issues?
@@teohyc im using a Macbook Pro Medio 2015 15 inch model, could i use this computer effectively with the BenQ PD3220U?
specs are: 2.5GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of 1600MHz DDR3L RAM. Intel Iris Pro and AMD Radeon R9M370X w/ 2GB of RAM graphics cards.15.4-inch 2880 x 1800 Retina display. thanks a lot, great content!
Frederik Mouritsen you can connect either with mini DisplayPort or HDMI
Good night to that monitor you can put a the VESA mount?
Very deep cool review! Thank you!
Hi Teoh, mind If you share your water color box picture from 11:07? Would be awesome for a background in my computer.
That's the Portable Painter. www.parkablogs.com/content/review-portable-painter-watercolour-palette
@@teohyc Thank Teoh, but I forgot to say, would be possible if it is the high resolution photo? Thanks again!
Thank you Teoh. Have you realized the delay of the KVM switch in relation to Dell monitors (2-3 seconds to change the source)? Has the BenQ a more direct response time?
Unfortunately I did not test the KVM switch
Great review! Question. Can you connect 2 USB C devices and use the KVM to switch between both? I have a work computer and personal MAC I’d like to switch between.
Ecellent review! This is made with great care. Thank you
Thanks for your thorough review. I just bought this for my graphic design projects :)
Any feedback? Do you like this monitor?
@@Beyond-30 it’s generally ok but has flickered a few times. I think I prefer my Mac monitor
So better hdr than Dell...recommend this as best 32” 4k monitors? Thanks.
For HDR, the Dell UP2718Q is good
You having reviewed both BenQ PD3220U and Dell Ultrasharp U3219Q, which model do you prefer for graphic design? Tnx!
If I were to buy one today, I will go with the Dell because I don't feel it's worth a few hundreds $ more just to get the Thunderbolt 3 port. Quality for both monitors should be very similar.
Tnx. Ps beautiful paintings 👍
What would be the main differences between the PD3220U and the new PD3205U ?
Thanks for the extensive review. I am looking for a new monitor, mainly for programming and video/photo editing.
Heyy
First up. It's great to see such a detailed review by a designer.
I am looking for a BenQ monitor. Confused between the PD2725u and the PD2705u. Do you reckon there is a major difference? Because there is a significant price difference.
Thanks
Great and very detailed review, much appreciated!!
I love the display so much! Congratulations!!! I LOVE that it goes vertical as well!!!!!!!!!!! So awesome!!!! That would be a feature I want so much!!!!! I almost only prefer to use an iPad in vertical mode for how much more text you can get on the screen! It’s also a beautiful anti glare display. I am wondering, do you find the display being anti glare, if it still as clear to see? Or is it more like on iPad where once you put a screen protector to make it matte it becomes less clear?
The anti glare on this monitor does not affect the sharpness unlike the matte screen protector on iPad. I've used matte screen monitors for almost two decades and have always been very satisfied with the sharpness.
Is the backlight bleeding worse than Dell U3219Q ? Which one do you prefer?
Not quire sure understand....can you connect with IPAD or not? The monitor has Thunderbolt. Thanks.
You can.
@@teohyc Thanks.
Great review. From your experience of using both the BenQ PD3220U & PD3200U which would you recommend for stock trading? Thanks
PD3200U or PD3220U - which one would you recommend for digital and print design?
If you need Thunderbolt 3, get the PD3220. If not the PD3200U is much cheaper. These are sRGB monitors so they are good for work that goes onto screens. For print design, if you don't compare printed proofs, you can also go with sRGB monitors. But if you need absolute colour accuracy, go for the BenQ's SW series of the Dell UP series. For those monitors, a 27-inch 2560x1440 resolution monitor would be more reasonable in price.
Teoh Yi Chie - thanks for the quick response. I’d really like to stick with a 4K screen for my MBP 16”. This is a tough one because I’m a generalist and need a monitor that can bridge both spaces. I was also looking at Dells US 3216Q. I have a budget up $1300. Thoughts?
@@VforVolusia If you're using the MBP 16, get the PD3220U. The Thunderbolt 3 capabilities are incredibly convenient. High data transfer speed, daisy chain, display output, 85W power delivery. You can also use TB3 to fast charge any USB-C devices
how do you rate the 300 nits brightness?
I feel like the whites are more dull at this brightness level.
and do you think 300 nits is displayed differently on older VA or TN panels as compared to IPS panels?
VA and TN panels have colour shift so one area may be white but another area the colour may shift. This problem is more obvious on larger screens
Teoh Yi Chie thanks for the reply. I am going to buy Benz pd3220u. So just want to make sure brightness is sharp enough.
Hi, great video, would oyu recommend this monitor of the Dell Ultrasharp U3219Q for Photo and Video editing ?
They have the same image quality. Main difference is whether you need the USB C available on the BenQ
@@teohyc So there is actually no difference At all between those two Panels. Only the Port selection is different ? If thats true ill be going with the Dell because its 400 Euro less
Machmut Doener Get the one that is cheaper
Thank you very much, you helped me a lot
that was the same thing whichwi wathinking
Thanks Teoh, informative no nonsense review. More please :) Question: as a video editor, mainly shooting/editing in 4K for web, I’m deliberating over the SW and PV range but confused as there seems little difference re colour space?
SW and PV colour spaces are quite similar. PV has some extra features for video production, eg 72Hz display. My advice is to buy for the work you create. If you're going to put your work online and in print, the SW series is more than good enough.
Hi Teoh, thank you for your work. I want to buy either this monitor or the DELL U3219Q. You tested both, so what is your advice? I am graphic designer, but to check the colors I have an EIZO Color Edge, so this is not that important for my decision. The only advantage of the BenQ is the Daisy Chaining as far as I can see. Of course that would be nice, but I am not sure if this is worth paying 300 Euros more. What do you think?
Both are sRGB monitors. So the ultimate question is do you need Thunderbolt 3? That's the main difference here.
@@teohyc Thank you. My laptop is the Dell XPS 15 9560 (thunderbolt 3) with a battery of 97 wats. Dell monitor without thunderbolt 3 offers 90 wats charging and the benq with thunderbolt 3 'only' 85 wats. So actually the dell monitor would be better for my laptop - or am I wrong?
@@7000dalex 97 vs 85 watts isn't much of a difference. The real question is whether you're using all 97 watts from your Dell laptop. If that's the case, then 85 watts will not charge that laptop fast enough. Generally speaking, laptops that use that much power will be running the processors long and hard, eg fans will be blowing all the time. So if that's not your use case, then 85 watts is still sufficient for charging and use at the same time. With TB3, you can output video signal with the TB3 cable so you don't need an extra display cable.
Anyone knows why the 27 version has contrast of 1:1300 compared to the 32 with 1:1000? Does it matter?
HI Teoh, I have a question. Can I refill my Brush sign pen artist with ecoline
ink?
You can
Teoh Yi Chie Big thanks , master
Great review, I see that your computer is a late (2013) MacPro like mine, I need another display I think this one is the best. How were you able to use the thunderbolt 3 to connect with your computer. can you run MacOs Big Sur and Mac Apps with your MacPro connected, HOW????
I used HDMI on the Mac Pro to connect. 4K is not going to be smooth with the Mac Pro 2013. A 1440P monitor will run smoother. Otherwise, you'll be tempted to upgrade your Mac Pro after using the 4K display.
Oh, another important point. 4K on a 32-inch is not the best combination for MacOS. 5K or 1440P on 27-inch is better combo for MacOS.
Thanks Teoh !.. 👍 💖 🕊
Hi Teoh,
After reading and watching a lot of reviews I am totally confused between buying PD3200U ($600), PD2700U ($430), Dell U3219Q ($850), Dell U2720Q ($600) or Dell P2721Q ($440). All models have same 3 year warranty here in India. I spend about 10 hours a day in front of the screen and need my monitor for productivity apps like Power BI, Excel, G-suite and text, browsing, reading. I prefer 4k over 2k for better smoothness of font (after scaling). Color accuracy is of no concern to me and I use f.lux to reduce blue light even at daytime and sometimes even convert the screen to greyscale. At 47 years I have presbyopia and so will be keeping the monitor at about 3 feet+ distance. I normally prefer to work under low-lights. I will use the monitor both portrait and landscape (mainly landscape). I use both Mac and Windows and am also looking at a way to use them parallelly on a single monitor ( I don't know if KVM feature is of any help). Though I would like a USB-C but I don't mind a few extra wires if the cost difference is huge to get a USC-C port (available in dell models). My main requirement is eye-comfort and text clarity.
I am inclined to use 32" for the size benefit at 3-feet distance but maybe the text smoothness might be lesser than 27 inch due to lesser PPI. (I got spoilt for text clarity using Macbook Retina display for 8 years.) I am inclined to go for PD3200U but have read lots of bad reviews about its flickering issues and maybe faulty AUO panel, bleeding issues etc. If I was to choose 27 inch, then PD2700U features look more attractive than P2721Q for same price point. But I dont know if any of the PD2700U marketed features like eye-comfort etc are better than P2721Q of dell which happens to be the latest model too. Dell is known for better warranty servicing here in India (on paper both Dell and Benq commit same warranty) and I have used dell before but Benq would be a totally new product line. I have no place to go an check these monitors as they get ordered online and are not available on stores. Therefore checking before buying is out of question.
Please provide your valuable suggestions so that I can choose one with ease. ( any other model than these ? Please suggest)
Thanks!
MacOS does not work well with 4K 32-inch monitor because to use the true 4K resolution at 1-1 scaling, UI elements will be small. Text, icons, buttons all will be small.
MacOS works well with 27-inch 1440P monitors and 27-inch 5K monitor (e.g. LG Ultrafine) and 24 inch 4K. So you're pretty much limited to choosing 27-inch 1440P monitor. Since you mention Dell has good warranty coverage in your country, you can just go with Dell. I recommend the Dell U series monitor.
USB C is nice if you have USB devices. But if it is too expensive, it's not worth the money.
What monitor are you using now?
@@teohyc I was using My Macbook Pro's 13.3" retina + dell P2214H combined since quite a few years. I never liked the text on my P2214 as retina display was a wrong company to it but still used it as screen real estate. I am replacing this with Latitude 7400 (in shipment) and will be buying a Mac Mini M1 sometime soon. For now am using iMac 27" 5K borrowed from a friend till my Latitude arrives. I am using the 5K scaled to 4K on both the Windows bootcamp as well as MacOS with 150% scale factor on windows. Safari on Mac at 200%.
@@teohyc So I think from your recommendation, both 32" are out and then what it comes to is Dell U2720Q. Called up the area sales manager of Benq and got an assurance of dell-like warranty. Now with this equation being equal, where does PD2700U stand compared to U2720Q. (btw PD2700U is about $170 cheaper). I am now planning to get two 27" - one sooner and one a little later when the Mac M1 mini is ordered. With so many youtube review videos on PD2700U it has been made to appear like a magical buy at a bargain with all the features like reading mode, darkroom, dual-mode and overall feel conveyed by reviewers!. So if i was to use the first buy for windows and price diff was not to be considered would you recommend the Dell U2720Q or the PD2700U ? BTW do the display panel models matter ? The PD2700U uses a panel LM270WR3-SSA1 from Q4'2015 , (5 years old !!) but i couldn't get similar info about U2720Q.
@@ramnikbansal7308 It's great that you have the 5K 27-inch iMac because you can do the following test:
in MacOS System Preferences - Display - Resolution - Scaled - Best (Retina) "Looks like 2560 x 1440".
That is the size of the UI on a 27-inch 1440P monitor.
But on the 5K iMac, the text will be sharp but on the 1440P monitor, you can see pixelation
@@ramnikbansal7308 Main difference between PD2700U and U2720Q is the resolution, 1440P vs 4K.
4K doesn't work well with MacOS. There's a specific reason why Apple iMac are 5K 27-inch but not 4K 27-inch.
If you really want 4K, 32-inch is good but UI is going to be smaller.
Using your Macbook Pro 13, go to MacOS System Preference - Display - Resolution - Change scaling to "more space". That's the size of UI, text, you will see on a 4K 32-inch monitor. If you are okay with this UI size, you can get 4K 32-inch monitor.
If you want to get two 27-inch monitor. Compare the price with one LG Ultrafine 5K monitor.
Unless you really want more desktop space then go with two 27-inch.
There's also the Dell U2520D which is a 1440P 25-inch monitor. There will be less pixelation compared to 1440P 27-inch since the pixel density is higher. This is also a good option. Size and resolution combination is good. And if you get two, they won't take up too much table space.
Did they fix the flickering & image corruption issue that plagued their older model PD3200U and many other AOC panel based models?
I did not notice any flickering on this unit though
@@teohyc Thanks, so maybe its fixed. On PD3200U the flickering was very random and short - it occurred maybe once in every 5 minutes and lasted for a few milliseconds. Sometimes entire screen went blank, but sometimes some areas got corrupted as if on a malfunctioning GPU. Lots of reports on Amazon and Reddit on different monitors with AOC panels.
Have you experienced image sticking? Many users complain that if a static image is displayed on the monitor for 20 minutes or more, then it remains visible on other images for some time.
Image sticking with LCD displays is quite rare. I don't see that with this unit.
Any traces of image sticking is an instant deal breaker.
How would you compare this monitor to the Dell U3219Q? You reviewed them both, but which would you prefer from your perspective.
Main difference is this BenQ has Thunderbolt. If you don’t need that, you can save a lot of money. So it’s between PD3200 and the Dell. Both are good so choose the one that looks good to you or have better warranty
I do like the detailed review which you publish in your channel. I am planning to purchase a new 32-inch 4K monitor & would like to get your opinion.
Can you tell me should I go with BenQ PD3220U or Dell U3219Q ?
Great review again Teoh. I've watched a few of your reviews and was looking at an older monitor the Dell UltraSharp UP2716D 27" which you reviewed. Do you still think this is a good monitor or are monitors such as this BenQ PD3230U significantly better? Work mainly in print and web design. colour accuracy is of importance. Look forward to any recommendations. Thanks
If you work with print, get the BenQ SW series that support AdobeRGB. PD series support sRGB which is for web. SRGB is colour range is smaller than AdobeRGB
@@teohyc Thanks for this review - i've been doing successful photo work on a non AdobeRGB monitor for years, do you think this will really matter if this has been my norm?
@@jrbling25 If you have to compare prints to digital (monitor), AdobeRGB is recommended, otherwise probably not.
Hello! Great Review! If you were to daisy chain another thunderbolt 3 monitor, would that monitor also require 110V power? Or can you simply use another single thunderbolt 3 cable?
TB3 does not provide enough power. As far as I know, all desktop monitor require wall power.
Great content, great review.
Can someone please show and review web pages, text, youtube, and video?
Do you use the Bose Soundlink 2 as your primary speaker for your computer? If so, how do you like it?
It has lots of bass. Quality is alright.
This one vs the lg 4k 32ul950?
Which is better?
Great video! Quick question, is there a screen protector when it comes in that you have to remove?
Yes, it's those white foam protector
@@teohyc awesome no thank you, I was thinking it comes with a clear film screen protector that you have to peel off
Hello.
Can you review some Eizo Monitor?
Thanks for the video, What do you think about LG's LG32Un880-B? is Photoshop also good for photo editing? or the designer BENQ 3220U? is heard much much better?
That LG specs mention support for 1b+ colours which means it's an AdobeRGB monitor, but the price very low for a 32-inch 4K AdobeRGB monitor. So it's very likely just a sRGB monitor with FRC to get the 1b colours.
Anyway, sRGB monitors are good enough for graphic design work. AdobeRGB is for designers who work mostly with print or those who need more critical colour accuracy.
BenQ PD series are sRGB monitors. 3220U is expensive because it has TB3 support. If you don't need Thunderbolt, you can save a lot of money buy going with monitors that don't have Thunderbolt. E.g. BenQ's earlier models. Or Dell U series monitor.
Also, don't get 32-inch 4K if you're using Mac. If you use Mac, get monitor sizes that Apple are using for their laptops and iMacs.
@@teohyc Thank you for very great and detailed feedback. I use macbook pro 13 and I wear glasses, so for this reason I am looking for a monitor that is very sharp and very suitable for my eyes.
You talked about DEll and BENQ, which Dell or BENQ up to a maximum of 700-800 euros is best for me? I mean which B or D series? I would be grateful for your feedback.
Thanks Teoh for the informative review. Not sure if you would know but would you rate this better than the BenQ PD3200U? Am deciding which one to buy but liked the bonus SD card reader option in the latter.
By the way, what scanner do you have? I am looking for one too for my watercolor sketches :) Any recommendations?
Main selling point here is Thunderbolt 3. If you don’t need that, you can save a lot with the previous model.
As for scanner, I’m using the Canon Lide 210
Excellent review! I'm in the market for a new monitor and am eyeing the PD-3220u. I have a mid-2014 MacBook Pro and I know the MBP can do 4K at 60Hz (using Display Port, not HDMI) and I'd prefer to set the display to its default resolution, but do you think it would be able to handle pumping out a 3840x2160 image without the fans kicking in?
Not sure about the fans but they should not turn. I can't confirm though.
Hello ! What’s the thickness? 😁
Thanks - a great review!
You already reviewed Dell U3219Q, So which one is better Dell U3219Q or BenQ PD3220U.
I am planning to buy one of them.Please give your suggestion.
PD3220U if you need Thunderbolt 3.
@Teoh Yi Chie, the UI of your Photoshop seems a little smaller on your Monitor then the native 4K resolution. Almost like you'd have a 5k screen. When I screen capture your video and open it in Photoshop on a 4K display, your Photoshop UI is definitely smaller than what Photoshop is on 4k. Did you set the resolution of your BenQ to something different than the native 4K to have that much more content showing? Although I don't even think you can actually set it to "More Space" (like you can with an iMac or a MacBook) in the System Settings for this monitor, am I right?
Photoshop UI (and other apps) will look small on a 32-inch 4K monitor. I've set the scaling to 1:1, aka no scaling.
With 32-inch 4K monitor, you can scale up MacOS UI to be larger but you'll lose some of the 4K "features". E.g. 100% zoom of a 4K photo will not fill the 4K monitor.
With 5K monitor, you can scale up MacOS UI and still retain all 4K goodness. There's a very specific reason why Apple makes 5K displays for their iMac and not 4K. Scaling issues.
What monitor/display are you using?
@@teohyc Actually, it's when I screen capture your Photoshop and superimpose it on a capture of this guy's Photoshop: th-cam.com/video/Ij4ImjJITpw/w-d-xo.html, which uses the exact same monitor. Your UI is a bit smaller (the tool bar is smaller, the panels, etc). Your Photoshop UI seems about the same size as Photoshop on my iMac 5K, but it should be a bit bigger because your display is 4K. You should have the same screen real estate as a 1920x1080 full HD Display, but with double the detail, because everything is displayed at 2x (Retina). However, it seems you have a bit more screen real estate in Photoshop. If everything were to displayed at 1:1 then I assume everything (not only Photoshop) would be even smaller than what you have. So it can't be that (?). I'm puzzled!
@@vincentroy5093 Your iMac 5K is using the 1440P UI size on a 27-inch and will appear larger than the 4K UI size on a 32-inch.
MacOS scaling is confusing. Apple and LG made 5K (27-inch) monitors precisely so that people can scale the UI to 1440P equivalent.
@@teohyc Hum. So why is the Photoshop UI (from the link I shared) bigger than yours?
I just noticed he's on Windows, which handles the scaling differently.
It doesn't appear that you use fractional scaling, is there a reason for or against this?
What does not appear?
@@teohyc Let me rephrase, it doesn't look like you use fractional scaling because the desktop UI seems very small (140ish ppi at default scaling). Is this true, do you find that with any fractional scaling you see an impact in apps that use GPU?
@@jrbling25 MacOS does not work well with certain resolution and size combo. E.g. MacOS does not work well with 27-inch 4K and 32-inch 4K.
32-inch 4K is still usable at native resolution without scaling but Ui may be considered small. It's the same scaling when Macbook Pros are used at their smallest UI scaling.
If you scale the UI with MacOS, the visuals will appear slightly fuzzy due to the tech that MacOS uses for UI scaling.
Windows does not have problems with UI scaling so you can use whichever Ui that's confortable for your eyes.
I'm torn between this monitor and the Dell U3219Q 4K IPS. This monitor is a little more expensive but seems very similar - I'm a professional designer working across print and digital so i'm looking for the best monitor regardless of price. What would you recommend?
If you don't need Thunderbolt 3, you can save a lot of money.
Hey Teoh, thank you for the review. I am torn between this and the older PD3200 model. I will be using it for photo editing and video editing. Having T3 is not important as it can't fully charge my laptop anyway, and for future laptops, it'll be less sufficient so there will always be 2 cords connecting to the laptop. I was curious if that was the case, does not having DCI-P3 really worth it? Does having M-mode worth it? for the extra $500 is actually almost twice as much. I do want to somewhat future proof this monitor for the next 5 years or so.
TB3 is not necessary. There are USB C displays too, and some can charge up to 90w too.
My general recommendation is to choose based on the work you want to create. If you’re creating work that’s going to the web, sRGB is good enough. DCI P3 is good for video editors. AdobeRGB for print design.
Anyway, just get a display with USB C will be good for future proofing. Display technology has matured many years ago. Personally I would go with a display with USB C, displayPort and HDMI. But I’m still using the BenQ sw2700pt from many years ago.
Between pd3200 and pd3220, the cheaper one is more worth the money. Image quality is the same. Ports are different, but that should justify that huge price difference
@@teohyc thank you for answering my questions. I am fairly new to the monitor world. I feel like I am in a mixed world - my images will be used for the web, and some will be printed (wedding). I also create videos. The only thing I think that's keeping me from getting the 3200 over the 3220 is the P3 color space. Isn't that's where everything is going with phone and all? I feel like I am not too concerned with the connectives because I'd just get a hub if needed.
@@JohnLe If you want better colours, consider AdobeRGB monitors instead. Go with 27 instead of 32 inch to save money. Then get a colour calibrator with the money saved.
Teoh Hi, Could you please advise me which 31.5” 4K monitor (viewing area ~40cm x 7 cm) will work well with G-Sync (Gigabyte 2080 TI)?
just worried about its max brightness might be a bit low. what do you think compared to a macbook's brightness?
Unfortunately I did not measure the maximum brightness but it does look bright enough for me. I don’t typically run monitors at full brightness because that’s too bright and not good for eyes.
Nice review, thanks!!! I have a question!!! This monitor is a good election if you wanna work with an ipad pro and procreate and you need a good color 2nd monitor to watch the whole art piece while you are drawing on the ipad!? You can see all color modes connecting the ipad pro 2018 with usb type c!? Do you recomend this monitor or SW series if you are a concept artist and visual developer!? Thanks a lot!!!
If you are just going to show your work only, PD series monitor is good enough. SW series are AdobeRGB monitors and and significantly more expensive
@@teohyc thank you!!! And you can connect directly with the usb type C cable and work like a second screen with all the features that offer the monitor!? Thanks a lot, you are helping many people to spend money correctly.
@@danielnovillolosada5179 You can
Thanks for detailed and informative review. I have this monitor for less than 2 weeks and I love it but I am not sure how to calibrate this monitor properly. This is my first monitor that has dedicated different color space settings for sRGB, Adobe RGB, and other color spaces (I know it does not cover 100% Adobe RGB). My question is, in which of these color settings should I calibrate this monitor? One calibration in User mode is enough, or each mode should calibrated separately? I have i1Profiler for calibration. I will use this monitor mainly for photo editing and occasional printing. Which calibration software did you use to get those results for sRGB and Adobe RGB? Thanks
I’m using Spyder5Pro. Just set the monitor to AdobeRGB and let your calibration software run automatically. It should show 99% sRGB coverage after calibration, or something close
Thx for the video... unfortunately you have forgotton to mention how to connect the monitor to the Computer to make it run.
I have connected the monitor via HDMI to the graphic card of the computer but the screen reports "No cable connected "!
What is the mistake?
That's exactly how it should be connected. Maybe the connection isn't tight enough. Try disconnecting and connecting again. if you have another monitor, try switching the HDMI cable to see if it's cable fault. Or switch to using the DisplayPort or USB-C cable if you can.
@@teohyc... Thx very much, now it works!!
Nice review mate. Subscribed ;)
One question though - Gets a bit confusing when you start talking about using the *Monitor (not "Computer"?) with the smartphone and tablet @ 20:00
I feel like I have a pretty good handle on Thunderbolt 3 vs. USB-C capabilities and also the latest iPad Pro (which has USB-C), so just to clarify, what are the capabilities of all the ports?
Are you saying if you connect a USB-C cable between your USB-C smartphone/tablet to one specific or either of the TB3 ports on the monitor, that it only provides charge and doesn't allow it to be used as a display for the smartphone/tablet? TB3 here shouldn't really come into it as there's no TB3 smartphones or tablets out there (and not sure there ever will be as USB-C seems to provide enough docking potential for their use-case). Or is it that you already had a computer connected via TB3, thus telling the monitor you've already got a "master" of such connected and utilising the DisplayPort protocol, so any subsequent device plug-ins will be treated as accessories for charging/data synchronisation connection?
Funnily enough, just to throw a curve ball, can this be connected to 2x TB3 computers at the same time? If so, what happens? (I'm still yet to test such as thing with my own TB2 dock and 2x TB2 Macs!) lol
These are all the ports
2x HDMI v2
1x DisplayPort v1
1x USB C
1x Thunderbolt 85W
1x Thunderbolt 15W
Basically the Thunderbolt ports can do everything the USB C can, but the USB C cannot do what the Thunderbolt can.
For some reason, I was able to output iPad Pro visual to the monitor using Thunderbolt but not the USB C.
I don't have two TB3 computers to test. But I guess the monitor will only get the video signal from the TB3. When you connect two TB3 computers to each other directly, nothing happens right? If so then adding a monitor in between won't change anything.
can you connect 1 TB3 (15w) to an iMac and use it as a 2nd display, while the 85W TB3 connects to a Macbook/DellXPS????
You can’t use iMac as second display
@@teohyc I ment, use this BenQ as 2nd display for the iMac
@@Bullittphotography You can connect the laptop to the 85W TB3 port for charging. The other TB3 port can go to the iMac. Two connection is possible, but you can only show one computer at a time, unless you do the split screen or Picture-in-picture mode.
I have narrowed it down to this BenQ monitor or the Dell U3219Q. Ive seen both of your reviews and still cant decide. Which would you buy?
If you don't need Thunderbolt 3, then get the Dell. But if both are the same price, then perhaps the BenQ. The Dell with the two side USB ports are quite useful though. Check the warranty periods.
@@teohyc Thank you for your reply, They are not the same price. the BenQ is $1200 and the Dell is $800. looks like they have similar specs, but the Benq looks to have a better built quality especially the stand and comes with that attractive hotkey puck. if those are truly the only differences then perhaps i will invest in the Dell. Thanks again for your recommendations.
Hey Theo I bought the BenQ pd3220u and this is the second day with it, not 100% sure and happy. Image quality is Ok, colos just ok and brightest is not good a bit dark for my preference (this was actually one of the think I was expecting). I'm trying to balance it with the BenQ app I downloaded. by adding a bit of saturation it improve a bit the darkness but this solution makes loss details in the images/designs. Did you use a professional external calibrator to get a decent colour? any suggestions that can help to improve the brightness issue, I'm really thinking to return the monitor :/
I forgot to measure the brightness for this unit and no longer have this to test. The rated brightness should be 300 nits and in real world it should be 200-250 nits. That should be bright enough. I usually don’t run the display at maximum brightness because that would be too bright.
If your display is still too dark after adjusting brightness, then it could be a problem. If you cannot adjust brightness, it could mean you’re using some display mode (user, movie, game, etc) that does not allow brightness adjustment.
I did use a colour calibrator to calibrate the display. But that is for calibrating colours. For brightness you have to adjust it using the monitor.
Hi, did you find shading hood for this model monitor? Thank you so much for your review!
There’s no shading hood for the PD series monitors.
@@teohyc great :(
Thank you!
Benq or Dell 32 please which one for 4K video and design photography work. You have tried both
They will have same performance if they have same specs
Would you recommend this or the dell u3219q for general office use (windows) and photo editing (Lightroom on Mac).
How do the brightness compare?
They both should have similar colour accuracy. BenQ is more expensive with Thunderbolt so if you don’t need that you can save the money and go with the Dell. Brightness is good. Most desktop monitors have more than adequate brightness
@@teohyc thanks.
I’m coming from a MacBook Pro. I want a more permanent desk setup.
I’m worried about dim monitors. Is 300nits bright enough?
@@MuppetChops Note that monitors don't usually mean the maximum brightness stated. But 300 nits is definitely enough. I usually just run my monitors at around 200 nits. Anything above 250 nits is too bright and very difficult to use at night or under dim lighting.
Unfortunately for this review, I did not measure the maximum brightness. But I do remember it's a bright display so definitely no issues with brightness here.
Hi, I just got the PD3220U. Mine seems to be a bit blue on the right-hand side of the screen.
Also, the default setting in HDR on, but if I switched to other color mode (which forced me to turn off HDR) such as M-book or SRGB, the color is significantly different, lack of contrast, brightness and saturation.
Do you have the same problem?
Thank you!
Hi I'm looking for a monitor with good colour accuracy for photoshop. What would you recommend ? Okay this monitor is also good. What the cost $ ?
are the 4 Bezel identical or is the bottom 1.5-2 mm larger?
hi Teoh , thanks for the review, now i really think to buy this monitor, but i have one question.
i want to use it for programing and for adobe uses (photoshop/illustrator) ,
so it is important to me that the text sharpens is good, can you tell so?
Text is very sharp. No pixelation at all. Note that this monitor is good for Windows, but not for Mac due to the 4K + 32inch combination.
@@teohyc thanks!
I am using macbook air m1..now I plan to buy a new monitor...pls suggest between Dell U3219 and BenQ PD3220U, since you've reviewed both of them.
Right now are there any issue with mac M1 and 4K monitor?
My main job is printing and photo editing..thank you.
32-inch with 4K is a good combination. If they are similar in price, the BenQ is better since it has Thunderbolt 3. For print and photo editing, I recommend AdobeRGB displays instead. E.g. Dell UP series or BenQ SW series.
Noticed magenta-to-green horizontal gradient across display
Do you recommend Benq PD3220U or LG 32UL950? They both fall under the same price range. I use the monitor for some photoshop editing, watching movies and a lot of coding.
That looks like a good display too
@@teohyc which would you recommend among these two?
@@sarathm09 I'll probably go with the BenQ because I can put stuff on the stand's base plate. Oh. Choose one that has the longer warranty period, or one that's easy to send for servicing, you know... just in case.
@@teohyc sure, thanks a lot for the quick reply 😊
What cable did you use to connect the mac pro 6,1 (trashcan)?
MiniDisplay
Can we use vga cable with it does it have vga port
No VGA. Only HDMI, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3
Could you compare it with Dell U3219Q ?
I see you answered this question already. What monitor you would choose between Dell and Benq ?
If you are using a laptop with Thunderbolt 3, or going to buy a laptop with TB3, definitely get the BenQ. The TB3 support is very convenient and useful. If not, you can just save money with the Dell.
@@teohyc Backlight bleeding seems lower on Benq monitor than on U3219Q. Am I right? And what about flicker? I've also read that on Benq monitor you can't set brightness to 0 to be in comfort in the dark room as it is possible on Dell monitor.
@@alttagil Backlight bleeding seems quite similar (intensity and amount) to that of the U3219Q that I reviewed (see photo in the following link). As for flicker, personally I don't notice. But I've read that there are people who may notice flicker from such IPS LCD screens (not specific to this model or brand, just generally speaking). As for 0 brightness, I'm not sure why you would want to do that because if you want to watch movies in a dark room, at 0 brightness, it would be almost impossible to see what's on the screen. If you have a phone with LCD screen, you can turn brightness down to 0 and see what to expect. www.parkablogs.com/picture/artist-review-dell-u3219q-4k-ips-monitor
@@teohyc what about HDR? as dell has 400 nits and Benq only 300 HDR should perform better on Dells but it's quite hard to say anything about it from the images you have in blog (they just different). So what would you say about it?
Thank you for making this great review. But I'm confused, you measured only 94% of sRGB? What happened to the 100% sRGB claim?
Not sure about that. But sometimes monitors may not reach the specs they claim. Sometimes it could mean there are settings I set incorrectly which resulted in lower colour support. Anyway 94% isn't too far off 100%
@@teohyc Thank you for the reply. I guess that's certainly possible.
Can you tell me if this monitor has a cooling fan. How silent do you find the display?
There's no fan so it's silent.
@Teoh Yi Chie
Do you prefer this monitor over Asus Proart pa329c? I need 32" inch 4k monitor for illustrator and photoshop? Thank you
The ASUS PA329C is the better monitor in terms of colour support as it supports 100% AdobeRGB (for print designers).
But if you don't need AdobeRGB, you can go with sRGB monitors which are usually cheaper.
Actually you can consider older models of the BenQ like the PD3200U which does not have USB-C but is significantly more affordable.
@@teohyc Thank you for the quick response. I am little worried about low peak brightness on Benq monitors that people over the forums report. If pd3220u has only thunderbolt 3 in comparison to pd3200u it is not worth the 300+$ in price, so PD3200u is much better option for me. Asus has a problem with dead pixels, Dell u3219q has flickering and bad uniformity. Its a nightmare to choose which one is the best :)
Awesome & Thanks :)
Teoh, I am trying to choose between 27 and 32 inch 4k monitor. I am probably gonna have same viewing distance and will probably use 2560 * 1440 scaling ratio which I currently use for my imac 27(default ratio used by imac). Given PD3220U has PPI(density) of 140 vs. PPI 163 on its 27 inch counterpart pd2725u, I feel like 27 is a clear winner to get the near retina like experience like my imac. But I like that extra real estate with 32 inch. do you suggest any 32 inch monitor with bigger PPI than 163 ? so far I can only see apple's pro display xdr which is out of my league.
Pixelation is not really noticeable from one arm distance away from 4K 32-inch. The PPI may suggest pixelation is visible, but in real life it's not that noticeable. Otherwise, you can go with 27-inch 4K which will be sharper.
@@teohyc Thank you very much for the reply. makes sense.
Thanks!
hi thanks for the video. you always make very clear and great insight reviews. always honest and to the point. keep it up man!
my question:
I am considering this as secondary monitor for my 2020 Dell XPS 15 7590 for my home desk set up. I am an architect and I use primarily autocad, 3d software like 3dsMax and Rhino and Adobe Creative suite, and I'm doing normal media consumption.
Do you suggest a 32 inch 4k monitor
like this one - or rather go for a 27 inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) resolution monitor,
like the BenQ SW270C ?
How about the 4k scaling issues, that things are going to be too small and not compatible with certain software?
The Dell XPS 15's graphic card is capable running a 4k monitor without problems, right?
And does the graphic card also support/run the true 10 bit color depth on these professional screens?
Thank you for your appreciated input and advice!
Best regards from Austria.
Since you are using Windows, there should not be much scaling issues or problems. You can get either 4K or 1440P monitors at any sizes.
That Dell XPS 2020 should have no problem running 4K. As for 10 bit colours, not sure about that, but shouldn’t be a problem with the BenQ SW270C which is AdobeRGB monitor. 4K AdobeRGB monitors are significantly more expensive.
@@teohyc thank you. i think i go for 27 inch with 2560x1440 resolution,
rather than 4k
Is there one that doesn't have those issues at 32/34 inch? I'm looking for something close to the MBP's retina display but in a ultra wide format.
You can use ultrawide monitors with MBP. What's wrong?
Teoh Yi Chie Looking for a retina monitor that doesn't have those bleeding problems you mentioned. Ideally it would be 32 inch wide or 34. Can you recommend any?
How is your bottom frame gap? Is your model ok?
Looks fine to me
@@teohyc thank you! my one is www.dropbox.com/s/bjlpfywq0ghdfn0/close%20up.jpg?dl=0 : (
Thanks for the review! I got PD3220u one and it is great, but I found only on the screen sides the image disappear to black when you look from other angels, do you have the same issue? like you put your mouse curser on the side edge and let me know it fade to black when you shift your head.
After 4 months how has the monitor been. I’m thinking about buying
@@maxgersh904 After putting it head to head with LG 32UL950-W, Benq wins for sure in both build quality and color accuracy. After 4 months of usage I can say it is my favorite monitor for creative work so far! I use it with desktop and my Wacom MSP monitor and I'm very happy! As for game 60 fbs is more than enough for casual gaming and HDR is a good feature that activities automatically when game or contact is viewed.
3 things I want to indicate:
- The sides gray are not a big deal special when position you monitor right. Unless you are very close you wont see it.
- It only comes with HDMI cable and when I used a DP the color looked way reacher accurate and vivid.
- Extra tip when you get your monitor put it on black wallpaper and turn off all the lights like your watching a movie and pay attention if there is any light bleeding. Mine doesn't has any, but for product in this price you deserve the best for your buck.
Please let me know if you need any help 🙂
Thanks so much for all the detail. I am planning on connecting it to my MacBook with one thunderbolt 3 cable. That works with it right? And I was deciding between the BenQ and the Dell UltraSharp U2720Q. If you know anything about the comparison of these monitors it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
@@maxgersh904 Yes, you can use thunder bolt cable, also the monitor comes with one too + you have a color default in the monitor for Mac color space, so you all set. I didn't try Ultra Sharp from Dell, but a friend of mine uses it, you know the wide model and he is happy with the monitor.
Tip: DP and Thunder bolt cables are better than HDMI, so your fine!
Ok thank you. And do you know if there is any difference between the 27” and the 32” besides screen size and the chin at the bottom of the 27”? Like any power or inputs that are different?
Hello, I am wondering if there are any compatible monitor arms for this screen?
Any 10x10cm VESA arm will work. There are many on Amazon