Tested: DesignVue PD3220U | Strong enough for pros, good for all

The DesignVue PD3220U monitor, from BenQ, has the 4K resolution and color gamut to satisfy the pros. But with its 10 ports, thoughtful additions and acceptable price, it is recommendable for all users, despite some minor flaws.

WE love

As we are dealing with a monitor whose first task is to broadcast the image of your computer, laptop or desktop, let’s first review the quality of said image. We are dealing here with a 31.5-inch diagonal screen displaying 3840 pixels by 2160, 4K therefore, with a density of 140 points per inch and an average brightness of 250 nits. It offers a contrast of 1000:1 and a refresh rate of 60 Hz, for 1.07 billion colors. Its color reproduction capabilities are 100% for the Rec.709 and sRGB gamuts, and 95% for the P3 gamut. In the latter case, it is the lower limit that is generally attributed to monitors intended for graphics editing.

In plain English, we have here an excellent monitor, above average in some respects and giving rich and bright colors, although we find on the market more expensive screens with more impressive statistics.

For ordinary mortals, however, it is other details that make it stand out. Let’s start with the hookup ports festival. First, two Thunderbolt ports, one of which can deliver up to 85 watts to your laptop as well as image and data transfer. Let’s add two HDMI 2.0 ports, a DisplayPort, three USB 3.1 ports, a USB-C, a USB-B and a headphone jack. It also has anti-flickering technology and an orange mode that blocks out blue light.

Above all, and this is very appreciated in our case, we have a technology called KVM which allows you to use only one keyboard-mouse set for two computers connected to this monitor. The principle is simple: the keyboard and the mouse control the computer whose image we see, a Windows PC and a MacBook Air in our test. And it usually works smoothly.

The other interesting little touch is a fully configurable wired remote control called Hotkey Puck, with a wheel to change the contrast or brightness, for example, and a button to switch from one connected computer to another. It is also possible to provide three image configurations which each have their shortcut on this remote control. All of these controls are also accessible with four buttons placed in the lower right corner, on the back of the screen.

The monitor sits on a large, flat metal stand and has 15 centimeters of vertical play, can be tilted forward 5 degrees or backward 20, and rotates into portrait mode. Finally, there is a mode called DualView which allows you to display two different color configurations side by side.

We love less

The DesignVue PD3220U has two small 2-watt speakers built into it. They can help out if you have a desktop without a speaker, but their quality is poor, below the vast majority of what laptops deliver.

The buttons on the back have the advantage of minimizing the border at the bottom of the screen, but are difficult to identify, since you can’t see them.

We found a bug when turning off one of the two computers: the monitor starts blinking. It is then necessary to unplug it so that it regains its calm.

At 60Hz and 95% of the P3 range, we won’t satisfy graphic designers or demanding video gamers.

One buys ?

We reviewed a technically superior monitor a few weeks ago, the UltraFine Display OLED, from LG, which retails for the staggering price of $5499.99. We come back to earth here with the DesignVue PD3220U, sold three and a half times cheaper, with high-end technical specifications and features that should satisfy the vast majority of users.

A very recommendable purchase, no doubt, a good environment for which you still have to put a substantial price.