Review: BenQ PD3200Q Designer Monitor

If you’re a creative type who uses a computer to design, animate or edit images and video, then you spend a lot of your day sitting with your eyes glued to a screen. And, you know that the quality, sharpness and colour response of your computer screen are massively important factors, and directly connected to the quality of your finished work. So, it kind of goes without saying that you need the best computer monitor possible in order to produce the best work possible. The new 32-inch BenQ PD3200Q monitor may just be the ideal designer-focused computer screen you’re been coveting. Here’s my review.

Designed for Designers

The BenQ PD3200Q computer monitor is quite aptly called a “designer” monitor. That’s because this screen has been produced with designers and content-creators in mind. First off, it is nice and big at 32-inches. Size does matter when it comes to using a computer for designing and creating video or graphic assets. You want a huge high-def monitor, so you can see every detail in crystal clarity.

And, the BenQ PD3200Q does indeed boast some nice real estate for you to work upon. The screen offers a pleasing modern design, with a really modest two-centimetre bezel, white LED power button on the bottom right, and not much else in the way of extra ornamentation. It features a strong and sturdy metal stand which is infinitely adjustable. You can rotate the screen and use it in portrait mode, adjust height and angle, and swivel it any way you like.

Ports, Ports and More Ports

The BenQ PD3200Q offers the full meal deal when it comes to giving you all sorts of useful ports.

On the side of the monitor you’ll find full-sized and mini DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI, as well as two USB ports, an SD card slot and a headphone jack.

Switch Modes with the BenQ Hockey Puck

In addition to all those other ports, the monitor also features a micro USB port that allows you to plug in the included “hockey puck” which lets you switch between different modes easily with the simple click of a button. You can also customize the puck’s buttons, so you can map other modes or settings such as brightness and contrast.

BenQ PD3200Q Features

The 32-inch BenQ PD3200Q 2K QHD monitor is Technicolour Colour Certified, so it delivers consistent and accurate colour performance. In addition, the monitor offers a Darkroom Mode, CAD/CAM Mode, and Animation Mode. The Darkroom Mode adjusts the brightness and contrast of images giving clarity and sharpness to details, creating the optimal setting for work in darker post-processing environments. CAD/CAM Mode offers superior contrast on lines and shapes of technical illustrations, bringing out the smallest details to view. And, the innovative Animation Mode allows animators to control and perfect every movement by lightening image areas to better visualize the details hiding in dark shadows.

The BenQ monitor also features a Keyboard Video Mouse (KVM) switch, which allows users to display and control the contents from two different PC systems on one screen using just one set of keyboard and mouse to save space and boost work efficiency. Or, use the DualView function to showcase designs in two modes (e.g. sRGB and CAD/CAM) side-by-side without the need for two screens. Finally, the PD3200Q helps you work all those long hours creating content in comfort, thanks to flicker-free technology that prevents the harmful effects of flickering from tiring or damaging the eyes, plus BenQ’s Low Blue Light Technology, designed to filter out harmful blue light, effectively diminishing eye fatigue and irritation.

BenQ PD3200Q Performance

I had the PD3200Q for about a week at my home to test out. During that time, I used the monitor for a couple of creative projects, watching movies, and playing games. Now, I know this is a designer-focused monitor, however what gamer could resist blasting enemies on a 32-inch screen with awesome colour fidelity? C’mon. I’m only human.

On the creative side, I found the PD3200Q to be quite good for video and photo editing. My daughter had to produce a Powerpoint presentation at school about an imaginary trip to Paris, so I Iet her make good use of the BenQ monitor’s ample real estate. Originally, she had started the project using my 17-inch laptop, and in the side-by-side images you can see there is just no comparison. My daughter said she found it infinitely easier to work on the project, and fine-tune the images, thanks to the size of the screen. Colour and brightness-wise, the BenQ monitor also outperformed and outshone my laptop’s screen. As promised, the colour fidelity was really nice, with very crisp and bright colours, and dark blacks. Running the same Powerpoint presentation through both monitors side by side really showed off the difference in vibrancy and clarity.

Likewise, films and TV shows look great with nice contrast and beautiful colours. I really can’t find any complaints about how this monitor performed. I even dug up some 4K content, and it looked great (despite this not being a 4K monitor) and better than 1080p thanks to the in-between 1440p resolution.

On the gaming side, I had an awesome time blasting enemies in Destiny 2 at 2560 x 1440 at 60Hz at high graphical settings. Sure, a higher refresh rate is indeed more desireable, however I still had a lot of fun pumping digital lead into enemies.

The Final Word

The BenQ PD3200Q is a top-of-the-line computer monitor that is a solid choice for creatives looking for that bigger screen with a bunch of cool extras—and at a decent price point. It has great colour accuracy and brightness, and all the little extras—ports, SD card reader, different modes, etc—make this a desirable monitor for designers of all types who want a versatile monitor both for work and play.