15.6 4k lcd panel hdr 10bit price
Typical LCDs are edge-lit by a strip of white LEDs. The 2D backlighting system in Pro Display XDR is unlike any other. It uses a superbright array of 576 blue LEDs that allows for unmatched light control compared with white LEDs. Twelve controllers rapidly modulate each LED so that areas of the screen can be incredibly bright while other areas are incredibly dark. All of this produces an extraordinary contrast that’s the foundation for XDR.
With a massive amount of processing power, the timing controller (TCON) chip utilizes an algorithm specifically created to analyze and reproduce images. It controls LEDs at over 10 times the refresh rate of the LCD itself, reducing latency and blooming. It’s capable of multiple refresh rates for amazingly smooth playback. Managing both the LED array and LCD pixels, the TCON precisely directs light and color to bring your work to life with stunning accuracy.
ASUS ProArt PA32UCX-P is a 32-inch 4K HDR monitor designed for discerning content creators, including videographers, cinematographers and colorists. When multiple content creators work together on the same screen, it is necessary that everyone sees the same color and contrast level. With new Off-Axis Contrast Optimization (OCO) technology that reduces halo effects when viewing the screen from a wide angle, ProArt PA32UCX-P features ensures on-screen content is displayed accurately to all viewers. ProArt PA32UCX-P features a peak brightness of 1,200 nits and mini-LED backlighting, enabling 1,152 zones of local dimming control and support for multiple HDR formats, including Dolby Vision™, HLG and HDR-10. With true 10-bit color and quantum dot technology, support for the DCI-P3, Rec. 709, Rec. 2020 and Adobe RGB color spaces, together with a rich selection of connectivity, ProArt PA32UCX-P delivers an exceptional image that takes the viewing experience to the next level.
The Studio Display – Apple"s new 27-inch, 5K monitor that was released alongside the new Mac Studio desktop – is one of the most difficult displays I"ve had to review. On the one hand, the price tag is sky-high for a 27-inch 5K panel that "only" promises coverage of the DCI-P3 gamut and is basically incompatible with Widows. On the other hand, it"s extremely color accurate, color uniformity is excellent, and if you doown a Mac, it offers a seamless experience previously only available on the muchmore expensive Pro Display XDR.
I have a hard time praising the Studio Display because it"s not the "baby Pro Display XDR" that I was hoping Apple would release. I"d much rather Apple had budgeted the $1,600 differently by swapping the webcam, speakers, and microphones for a miniLED backlight and a true 10-bit panel that covers 98%+ of bothDCI-P3 and AdobeRGB. That"s what I consider a "Studio" quality display.
All of the variations use the same 5K 27-inch 60Hz IPS LCD panel that promises full coverage of the Display P3 color gamut (DCI-P3 with a D65 white point), for a base price of $1,600. That will get you the standard glass version with either a tilt-adjustable stand or a VESA mount. Spend an extra $400, and you can upgrade to a nicer stand with a height adjustment mechanism similar to the one you found on the Pro Display XDR, albeit without any rotation. And if you want to go all out, you can spend another$300 for the Nano-texture glass.
If you"re using an NVIDIA-powered device, you are able to control basic display parameters like color format and bit depth from the NVIDIA Control Panel, and we can confirm that this works. Changing from 8 bits per channel (bpc) to 10 bpc in the control panel actually made the change at the hardware level. But settings like Brightness, Contrast and Gamma won"t work properly if you adjust them at the level of the GPU.
If you have an NVIDIA-powered PC, you can control a few settings from the NVIDIA Control Panel app. Things like resolution, color format, and bit depth.
The panel at the heart of this display is, spec wise, identical to the panels used in the 5K iMac and the 5K LG UltraFine display that Apple has been selling for several years, but it is not the same panel. Apple confirmed to me that this is a new panel specially designed for this new thin-bezel monitor.
Apple also confirmed this is not a true 10-bit panel. There were several mentions of "over 1 billion colors" during the presentation, but it"s an 8-bit panel with temporal dithering (AKA Frame Rate Control) just like the LCD panels in the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros. The only true 10-bit panel is Apple"s lineup is still the Pro Display XDR, and it"s safe to assume that it will stay that way.
Of the 34 test patches, 29 passed recommended tolerance with a Delta E of less than 2, and the remaining 5 were all within nominal tolerance with a maximum Delta E of less than 4. This is exceptional performance that you really only see from high-quality photo- and video-editing displays that put a premium on panel uniformity.
From a performance perspective, this is an excellent panel. My only complaint is the color gamut, which could definitely be wider given the $1,600 price tag. But 99% coverage of DCI-P3 is already great, and when you combine that with the color accuracy and uniformity results above, you"ve got a display that can and should be used for color-critical work.
But while these features, when combined with a color-accurate 5K panel, justify the Studio Display"s $1,600 price tag, I would argue that Apple missed the mark by focusing too much on day-to-day usability and too little on the real-world photo-, video-, and graphic design studios that this display is supposedly meant for. Most studios don"t care about webcams or built in speakers, and some even use PCs in addition to (or instead of) Macs.
During their review of the Apple Studio Display, the Verge noticed that the webcam quality is quite poor. We compared it to the MacBook Pro and the 4K Logitech Brio camera to find out for ourselves.
Earlier today, in their review of the Apple Studio Display, The Verge pointed out that the Studio Display"s webcam image quality left something to be desired. Not properly testing the camera quality was a major oversight on my part, and so I"ve gone back to compare the Studio Display"s built-in webcam against the FaceTime HD camera inside the 14-inch MacBook Pro and a dedicated Logitech Brio 4K webcam.
Finally, the output from the Logitech Brio 4K, which is much higher contrast and (obviously) higher resolution than either of the Apple cameras. The additional resolution almost makes the frame seem over-sharpened by comparison:
The best 4K monitors are now almost essential tools for visual design work. In fact, for those working with video, 4K is almost becoming a minimum now that 8K video is emerging. 4K, also known as Ultra HD (UHD), refers to a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. That"s four times as many pixels as full HD (FHD), and that increased pixel density makes for a much cleaner, sharper image with more detail and texture on any screen from 27 inches and above.
The good news is that the best 4K monitors are a lot more affordable than they were a few years ago. Because UHD has now become more standard, both for media consumption as well as professional use, there are a lot more options on the market today. The flip side of this is that it"s now perhaps harder than ever to work out which is the best 4K monitor for your needs.
To help with that, we"ve made our own pick of the best 4K monitors based on our own reviews, recommendations from working creatives and a full comparison of their specs. We"ve weighed up the pros and cons of each screen and evaluated them for build and ergonomics image quality, features, colour support and accuracy, brightness and connectivity (learn more about how we test and review at Creative Bloq).
We"ve also considered value for money in order to recommend options for different needs and budgets. The best 4K monitors in terms of image quality are still very expensive – demanding professionals with a big enough budget will want to go for the Asus ProArt PA32UC-K or Eizo ColorEdge CG319X, but we haven"t placed these at the very top of our list because their price makes them simply unaffordable for many people. When factoring in value, cheaper 4K monitors like the Dell S3221QS and Samsung U28E590D end up ranking higher since we think they meet most people"s needs and an accessible price.
If you"re looking for the best 4K monitor specifically for video work, see our pick of the best monitors for video editing. And while some of the screens below can support daisy chaining for a dual monitor setup, you might also want to consider one of the best ultrawide monitors if you want more space to work with.
Pro features for under a grand put this at the top of our list of the best 4K monitors. Following in a long tradition of fine displays from Dell, the UltraSharp U3219Q offers full sRGB covering, 95 per cent DCI-P3 and exceptional colour uniformity, making it ideal for all types of creative, including those working in photo and video.
Dell takes second place on our pick of the best 4K monitors too, but this time with a much more affordable display. So OK, perhaps it"s not exactly cheap, but it"s a lot more affordable than most good 4K monitors. It looks stunning too. Dell monitors aren"t known exactly known for their sleek looks, but the curved S3221QS is a lot more elegant than its name, standing out from all those black and grey business monitors with its white back and base.
Professional 4K monitors can be massively expensive (just see the stunning Eizo ColorEdge CG319X and the Asus ProArt PA32UC-K below), but there are now some fantastic UHD screens that strike a great balance between specs and price. Our favourite, certainly for photography, is the BenQ SW321C PhotoVue. When we reviewed it, we found it to be the perfect (reasonably) affordable 32in 4K monitor for photo editing for performance and usability.
The Eizo ColourEdge CG319X is the connoisseur’s choice in high-quality displays. Eizo displays are a very familiar sight in professional video and photography studios – and this 31-inch 4K monitor, with a 10-bit display and 24-bit colour look-up table, is a stunner. The CG319X also boasts one feature that sets it apart from competing high-end 4K screens: 4096 x 2160 resolution rather than 3840 x 2160. This reflects the slightly taller 4K standard used in digital video production.
For a more compact 4K monitor, this 28-inch Samsung 4K display follows very closely on the heels of the Dell 4K S3221QS at number 2 on our list of the best 4K monitors above in terms of value. It lacks pro features but there"s still 100 per cent support for the sRGB colour space, a high 300cd/square metre brightness level and support for 60Hz 4K.
The MateView is firmly pitched at working creatives. Its IPS panel is capable of displaying 100 per cent of the sRGB colour gamut, and 98 per cent of the DCI-P3 video colour space. It also has a maximum brightness level of 500 nits, and a 1200:1 contrast ratio. The sleek, slim-bezel design is a nice addition too, and we found the touch-sensitive smart bar to be an ergonomic way to control the monitor. It"s available at a tempting price (although there are some stock issues in the US), and we reckon it"s a solid choice of monitor for creatives.
Compared with some of the pricey high-end colour-accurate Eizo and Asus screens above, the Philips Brilliance 328P (another really catchy name, right?) is an excellent alternative, as it’s great value for money while still offering solid visuals. It’s a 31.5-inch IPS panel with measured 99 per cent sRGB and 73 per cent AdobeRGB coverage, a thin-bezel design and a few extras such as a pop-up webcam that works when the built-in USB hub is connected.
Photographers and videographers who need high resolution may also want to consider this more compact LG option, which offers a 98% DCI-P3 colour gamut, great colour accuracy and typical brightness of 540 nits. The stand is height-and-tilt adjustable so you can find the right position for you, and the Thunderbolt 3 port supports 4K Daisy Chain so you can set this up with another monitor.
Viewsonic has a few colour accurate displays on the market, and the VP2785-4K is the most high-end model in its catalogue. It"s a 27-inch 4K IPS screen, sporting 100 per cent sRGB and quoted 99 per cent AdobeRGB coverage. It’s a bit fiddly to put together, requiring a screwdriver to attach the panel to the stand, but the overall design is extremely svelte, with a thin and light build, near edge-to-edge screen, and only a small bezel at the bottom that accommodates touch-sensitive controls.
With a 14-bit LUT, 700:1 contrast ratio and 375-nit brightness, the picture quality of the VP2785-4K won’t disappoint, although it doesn’t quite deliver the same eye-popping colours of the most high-end 4K displays money can buy.What is a 4K monitor?4K, also known as ultra-high definition or UHD, is a measure of a screen"s resolution. 4K monitors have a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, which compares to a resolution of 1290 x 1080 for full high definition (FHD). This means that it"s almost four times FHD resolution. What that means in practice is that images look sharper and tighter, which is great for viewing HD video and higher quality video game graphics.Do I need a 4K monitor?There are a couple of main reasons that you might benefit from a 4K monitor. Firstly, for your own enjoyment. Even if you"ll be using your screen purely for entertainment purposes rather than for work, 4K offers a notably sharper picture, which can enhance the enjoyment of watching films, series and playing games. That said, when it comes to PC gaming, 4K UHD resolution is very demanding and many will find that the improvement in image quality isn"t worth the drop in performance.
The other reason you might want one of the best 4K monitors is for work. If you work in any visual creative area, a 4K screen can improve your experience by allowing you to see your work in more definition. If you work in video, you"ll almost certainly need at least a 4K monitor since 4K video has almost become the norm. If you"re producing 4K video for a client, then you really need to be able to view it in 4K while you work.Is a 4K monitor worth it?Today, for most professionals it"s almost certainly worth investing one of the best 4K monitors. They"re still more expensive than 1080p displays, but they have come down in price a lot as they become standard, and they"re now so much more affordable than they were that it"s no longer such a big decision.
While 4K doesn"t make a lot of sense for a small monitor, from 27-inches and up, it makes a huge difference from FHD that will be immediately apparent to anyone. Gary Heiting, an optometrist and senior editor of the website AllAboutVision, even says that the increased screen resolution can reduce the risk of eye strain, so working in 4K over long sessions can be more comfortable even if you don"t need to produce 4K video.Is my computer compatible with a 4K monitor?You might hope that buying one of the best 4K monitors will automatically improve your viewing experience, but it"s important to know that not every laptop or PC can support 4K. Most recent PCs or Macs should have no problem displaying 4K resolution, but it"s a good idea to check your screen"s recommended display resolution before you buy a new screen. We have a guide to screen resolution that may help.
To check your device, Right-click your desktop and select “Screen Resolution”. Under display settings, you"ll find a range of screen recommendations. If 3840×2160 is listed, you can be confident that your computer will indeed support a 4K monitor. If not, then you"ll need to upgrade your computer as well as your monitor if you want to enjoy 4K video rendering.
There"s also the issue of ports. You’ll need to make sure your PC has either an HDMI 2.0 port or DisplayPort 1.4 port that can support 4K since earlier versions of these ports do not. Your CPU And GPU also have an impact on your device"s ability to run 4K, because 4K is more demanding.
If your device uses Intel integrated graphics, you"ll want to have at least a 4th generation (Haswell) processor core processor. If you have Ivy Bridge or earlier, you"ll need to have a recent graphics card installed (if you"re unsure, you can check your processor at ark.intel.com to find out what the motherboard or integrated CPU graphics is capable of.How do I choose the best 4K monitor?You can now go 4K without spending a fortune, but the best 4K monitors can still be very expensive if you want pro-level calibration and the best colour accuracy. If you"re going to be using your screen for any kind of colour work, then you want precise colour accuracy. Most entry-level 4K monitors actually do a fairly decent job, but the best 4K monitors for designers will have full coverage of the AdobeRGB or DCI-P3 colour space.
After colour, size is obviously another major factor in choosing the best 4K monitor for you. The most popular choice is usually 27-inches but 32-inch screens are becoming more common. If you"re looking for a display specifically for image editing then make sure you see our roundup of the best monitors for photo editing for more options.
You"ll also want to check what ports a monitor has before you buy it. The two cheapest options in our list of the best 4K monitors don"t have a USB-C connection, something that many creatives will want for hooking up devices quickly and easily. Most monitors have DisplayPort and HDMI ports, but this can"t be taken as given either – the LG Ultrafine 24MD4KL is well kitted out with USB-C and the faster Thunderbolt 3 ports, but skips the older ports.
– The 32″ 4K OLED monitor, the 27BP95E and 32BP95E variants with a built-in calibration sensor and included shading hood; all the other features and specifications are identical.
January 2021: Added more information about the LG 32EP950; it will have a maximum refresh rate of 60Hz and have VESA’s DisplayHDR 400 True Black certification.
January 2020: Acer announced the Predator CG552K, which will use the same OLED panel as the AW5520HF. Viewsonic announced their model as well, the ViewSonic Elite XG550.
The ASUS PG42UQ is one of the best displays based on LG’s W-OLED panel thanks to its 42″ screen size that’s much more usable for desktop use than the 48″ models and its heatsink implementation, which allows for higher brightness.
The monitor also has a decent peak brightness of ~800-nits for HDR content, while the brightness under SDR amounts goes up to 200-nits for a 100% white window.
100% White Window Max Brightness (SDR)100% White Window Max Brightness (HDR)10% White Window Max Brightness (HDR)1 - 3% White Window Max Brightness (HDR)
As it’s based on the same panel, the LG OLED42C2 is also worth considering. It has a glossy screen surface and a bit lower brightness, so it’s better suited for dark rooms. Further, it has built-in smart TV features and Dolby Vision support.
Philips also announced a monitor based on the same panel, the Philips Evnia 42M2N8900 with USB-C 90W PD and a more ergonomic stand. However, it’s going to be a lot more expensive at €1960. It should be available mid-January 2023.
The Dell Alienware AW3423DWF is based on Samsung’s OLED panel that’s enhanced with quantum dots (QD-OLED), which improves upon various aspects of LG’s OLED.
While the 3440×1440 resolution is lower than 4K UHD, it actually provides a higher pixel density on 34″ sized displays at roughly 110 PPI (pixels per inch), in comparison to 92 PPI of 48″ 4K and 106 PPI of 42″ 4K displays.
So, you’ll get more screen space and sharper details, as well as an extended horizontal field of view due to the ultrawide resolution. Unlike LG’s OLED panels that use WRGB subpixel layout, QD-OLEDs have regular RGB subpixels, but in a triangular layout, so there’s still some minor fringing on small text that can be alleviated via ClearType.
Samsung, MSI and Philips announced their models based on the same panel, the Philips Evnia 34M2C8600; however, there’s no word on pricing and availability.
This is the combination of specs many gamers have been waiting for, and while some users might have preferred a 4K model, 1440p will still look rather sharp and crisp on the monitor’s 26.5″ viewable screen with 110.8 PPI (pixels per inch).
Another advantage of 1440p is that it’s significantly less demanding to drive than 4K UHD, allowing you to maintain higher frame rates, while the difference in image quality between the two resolutions is not that noticeable in games and videos.
Other specifications include instantaneous pixel response time and infinite contrast ratio thanks to the OLED panel, as well as a high 1,000-nit peak brightness and a wide 99% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage.
If you’re not interested in any of the above-mentioned OLED displays, here you’ll find all the information about all other OLED monitors and announced panels. However, most of them are discontinued, overpriced, or have very little information available.
However, we don’t recommend these models as they’re terribly overpriced (~$3,000) and don’t even support HDR. You can get a 55″ OLED TV at half the price with better image quality and just as good performance.
BOE revealed a 32:9 ultrawide curved gaming monitor with an OLED panel. It boasts a 49″ 3840×1080 240Hz screen with a wide 95% DCI-P3 color gamut and a 500-nit peak brightness (150nits typical).
It boasted a wide color gamut with 100% Adobe RGB, 97.5% DCI-P3 and 85.8% Rec2020 coverage. However, it was very expensive at ~$3,500, it didn’t support HDR, and had a low 300-nit peak brightness.
4K UHD resolution on such a small display provides you with an incredible pixel density of 204 PPI (pixels per inch), which guarantees stunning detail clarity.
It also boasts a wide 99% DCI-P3 color gamut with true 10-bit depth, a 330-nit peak brightness, it’s factory-calibrated at Delta E ≤ 2, and supports HDR (HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision).
In comparison to the ASUS PQ22UC, the PU15-PRE is based on a smaller 15.6″ screen, which results in an even higher pixel density of 282 PPI! So, the screen is smaller, but the details are sharper. It also has a higher 400-nit peak brightness.
There’s the 13.3″ MQ13AH and the 15.6″ MQ16AH. On such small screens, even 1080p resolution results in a high pixel density of 166 PPI and 141 PPI, respectively.
4K portable monitor can provide sharp, clear, and vibrant images and videos. 4K portable touch screen monitor comes with an intelligent display and sound system along with large, high resolution, wide color gamut, and wide viewing angle.
A portable 4K gaming monitor comes with built-in speakers capable of providing an audiovisual experience in your workplace. No matter you are working at the office, at home, or during your business trip. UPERFECT will always be your perfect partner on the go.
[UHD OLED 4K Portable Monitor] The Virzen 4K OLED touchscreen portable monitor adopts a 3840 x 2160 IPS A-grade OLED screen. The UHD monitor delivers a vivid image, clear motion and details with 100000:1 contrast ratio and HDR features. With 100% Adobe RGB color gamut, 60Hz refresh rate, Blue Eye Care tech, and 400Nits high brightness it brings transparent color performance and bright highlight details showcasing. With a response time 1ms.
In early March, BenQ announced the PhotoVue SW271C 4K HDR monitor, the successor to the SW271. The new monitor comes equipped with numerous updates to features and performance, but it also comes with a $500 price increase. At $1,600, the BenQ SW271C is an expensive 27" IPS monitor. That said, after spending the last couple of months using the display, it"s obvious that it offers excellent build quality, performance, and an impressive array of features. But is it worth its steep asking price? Let"s find out.
While BenQ markets the SW271C monitor as an HDR display, it"s a bit more complicated than that. The display has a maximum brightness of only 300 cd/m2 (referred to as nits from now on), which is not HDR territory. An HDR television, for example, could have a maximum brightness eclipsing 1,000 nits. At 300 nits, you"re not going to get an accurate picture of HDR video on the SW271C compared to a bright HDR TV. You can"t see the same brightness on this BenQ display, even in HDR, as you would see on an HDR TV, and it would be very hard to edit an HDR video without access to a larger chunk of the tonal range of HDR formats.
I asked BenQ about the display"s HDR capabilities, and BenQ said the following, "The monitor is able to support HDR Curve (PG/ HLG), but it is not an HDR reference monitor. What we"re trying to deliver to the users is the color accuracy, uniformity, graphic quality. High Brightness may impact the performance of the items I mentioned. Therefore, we stick to deliver what"s most important to our main target audience, photographers. Take EIZO CG319X as [an example], it"s an HDR video editing and color-accurate photo display but the brightness is 350nits as well."
Here we see a BenQ illustration showing the difference between 10-bit (left) and 8-bit (right). It"s an exaggerated example, to some extent, and the monitor itself isn"t a true 10-bit panel. That said, the monitor does a fantastic job rendering colors. I witnessed no banding whatsoever.
I reached out to BenQ to clarify how the SW271C displays 10-bit color, which is 1.07B colors. I also asked about using an 8-bit + FRC panel rather than a true 10-bit panel. There are multiple ways a monitor can display 10-bit color, including through being a true 10-bit panel (but it"s costly) and using 8-bit + FRC. The SW271C uses the latter approach because it"s more cost-effective and difficult to see any difference between 8-bit + FRC versus true 10-bit except for in very limited situations. Compared to an 8-bit panel without FRC, the SW271C promises eight times the color display capabilities and reduced banding issues. Further, a true 10-bit panel may sacrifice in other areas to achieve its color performance, including light uniformity and gamut coverage ratio. After evaluating its panel options, BenQ opted to use 8-bit + FRC.
Although marketing claims of 10-bit color and HDR performance may not tell the entire story, the monitor delivers on its promise of excellent color gamut coverage, accuracy, and Delta E. It"s a very accurate display with excellent performance.
The monitor includes built-in Uniformity Technology, which works very well. If you"re editing HDR video, you"ll want to disable this feature, at least temporarily, but for editing SDR video and photos, it"s well worth using. There are hundreds of sub-regions on the display, which are regularly measured and adjusted using algorithmic software to ensure a consistent image across the display. You can learn more about this technology here.
To sum this section up, the BenQ SW271C is an excellent monitor for photographers, even those who work with video, although an HDR-heavy workflow will require a different monitor. The monitor is sharp, vivid, and displays great colors. It"s easy to calibrate to your specific workflow, as well, which is important to me.