A number of sizzling new options and improvements have been rocking the PC monitor market lately. For BenQ’s newest giant format and gaming-centric mannequin, subsequently, standing out isn’t going to be straightforward. It’s powerful on the market.
Fortunately, the brand new BenQ EX3203R presents an intriguing mixture of options and capabilities. Highlights embrace 144Hz refresh, a curved panel, USB-C connectivity and adaptive sync help, all wrapped up in a 32-inch package deal.
The kicker, arguably, is VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification. That’s a fairly compelling core proposition and can tick quite a lot of gamer’s containers.These on the lookout for a extra normal objective show may just like the look of that characteristic set, too.
Nonetheless, at this comparatively aggressive worth level – and arguably at virtually any present worth level – you possibly can’t fairly have all the things. Notably, the EX3203R is what you may name a 2.5K reasonably than 4K or UHD monitor.
It additionally lacks help for Nvidia’s specific tackle adaptive syncing and, when you’re a fan of super-wide side ratios, you’re not going to seek out satisfaction right here. Then again, the sub-4K decision could make for a greater match for gaming when it comes to enabling quicker body charges with any given graphics card.
Value and availability
Priced at £499 within the UK, $699 Stateside and $799 in Australia, the BenQ EX3203R is pretty aggressively positioned, if a bit costlier within the US than different territories.
Instantly comparable fashions, akin to AOC’s AG322QCX and the Asus ROG Strix XG32VQ are priced equally however notably lack HDR help. On paper, then, the BenQ has a transparent edge.
Design
The 31.5 inches of panel in a 16:9 format makes for a fairly large, daring bodily presence. Aesthetically, the EX3203R is comparatively restrained by gaming peripheral requirements. However with slim bezels round three sides of the LCD panel and a modern silver stand, it’s an aesthetic affair and feels pretty costly.
That panel, by the way, is VA reasonably than IPS. That helps with distinction and shade saturation, however may be considerably problematic on the subject of viewing angles and pixel response.
That mentioned, BenQ has geared up this monitor with 144Hz refresh functionality and claims 4ms response functionality, so in concept it’s fast. It additionally helps the brand new second technology of AMD’s FreeSync adaptive refresh know-how. That provides help for HDR and wider shade gamuts to the FreeSync characteristic set.
Connectivity-wise, a pair of HDMI 2.zero ports plus DisplayPort ought to guarantee most of your bases are lined. Even higher is the inclusion of USB-C connectivity, enabling single-cable connectivity for all the things from the picture sign to peripherals and even charging for laptops. It’s a fascinating port to have when it comes to future-proofing, too.
HDR help
Which brings us to the EX3203R’s most intriguing engineering aspect, that VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification. HDR is shortly turning into a reasonably bewildering know-how, replete with quite a few requirements.
However is the DisplayHDR 400 commonplace actually true HDR? It requires, as an illustration, a brightness of 400cd/m2 the place many would argue that the total impression of HDR solely arrives at increased peak brightnesses round 1,000cd/m2.
What’s not debatable is that DisplayHDR 400 is the very backside rung of the VESA HDR ladder and the least demanding choice for any given monitor producer. Not solely does DisplayHDR 400 have modest brightness necessities, it additionally doesn’t dictate native dimming and makes much less stringent calls for when it comes to shade copy. BenQ says the EX3203R is sweet for 90% protection of the DCI-P3 profile. Honest to say, then, that DisplayHDR 400 is HDR lite.
Efficiency
Expectations suitably managed, how does the BenQ EX3203R really carry out? Instant impressions definitely tally with the underlying VA panel know-how on supply. Colors are punchy and vibrant, whites are vivid and clear, whereas blacks are deep and inky. The EX3203R’s panel is rated at three,000:1 for static distinction functionality and it seems each bit nearly as good as that. The panel’s mild curve additionally makes for a properly immersive expertise.
What the EX3203R doesn’t clearly seem like – and maybe shouldn’t be a shock given the reasonable limitations of the DisplayHDR 400 commonplace – is a real next-gen HDR show. With the total HDR stack enabled, HDR content material does look fairly stellar. However the EX3203R can’t compete with brighter ‘full’ HDR shows with native dimming on the subject of blowing your socks off with highlighted particulars coming out of darkish scenes.
It’s additionally price noting that HDR stays a problematical know-how when it comes to all the things from making certain it’s enabled each on the show and in Home windows 10 and having content material, be that video games or video, that’s HDR enabled. Enabling HDR globally in Home windows, as an illustration, makes for a reasonably boring search for desktop parts. HDR, briefly, stays difficult and the supporting content material comparatively scarce.
As a normal objective monitor, the EX3203R’s most evident shortcoming is its comparatively modest 2,560 by 1,440 native decision. That makes for pretty huge, coarse pixels when unfold throughout a 32-inch panel. A high-DPI show this most definitely isn’t.
That mentioned, as a gaming machine the decrease decision makes for fairly pleasing outcomes. The VA panel prevents it from being on the leading edge when it comes to response. However inverse ghosting isn’t a significant concern right here and the advantages of that 144Hz refresh when it comes to in-game smoothness are completely simple, even when you’ll want a robust and expensive graphics card to benefit from it regardless of the restrained 2.5K native decision.
Verdict
On paper, the EX3203R makes a robust case for itself by including HDR certification with out an apparent worth premium. In observe, it’s not a real HDR show. However that doesn’t imply it’s not a superb monitor.
Players on the lookout for a giant, daring and exquisite show with excessive refresh charges and adaptive sync help ought to give the EX3203R critical consideration, albeit within the data that this isn’t essentially the most responsive monitor available on the market.
That you just get a bit bit, although not full, HDR goodness thrown in simply sweetens the deal. For these on the lookout for a extra productiveness oriented monitor, there are higher offers elsewhere.