BenQ has introduced a new professional-grade display aimed at designers. The BenQ DesignVue PD3220U monitor supports virtually all color gamuts currently used by professionals, and can even display images in two different color spaces at the same time in BenQ’s DualView mode. Meanwhile, like many advanced LCDs, the PD3220U features Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, a built-in KVM switch, and a hardware hotkey puck.

The general specifications of BenQ’s DesignVue PD3220U monitor are pretty typical by today’s standards. The display is based on a 31.5-inch 10-bit IPS panel featuring a 3840×2160 resolution, 300 nits typical brightness, 1000:1 static contrast, 5 ms response time, a 60 Hz refresh rate, 178° viewing angles, and an anti-glare coating. BenQ does not disclose the type of backlighting it uses, but it must be professional-grade given positioning of the device.

 

Like virtually all professional LCD panels, the one used by the PD3220U can reproduce 1.07 billion colors, but unlike many competing offerings this monitor can cover the sRGB, Adobe RGB, DCI-P3, and the Display P3 color spaces, hitting 95% on the latter two. Furthermore, the monitor supports HDR10 transport, as well as a specially-tuned Animation Mode (enhances dark areas without overexposing bright areas), Darkroom Mode (for darkened post-processing environments), and CAD/CAM Mode (enhances contrast). One interesting feature the monitor has is ability to display images in two color spaces side by side in DualView mode to speed up productivity. Furthermore, it also has a built-in KVM switch that enables to seamlessly use more than one computer with one or two displays.

 

To ensure maximum accuracy of color reproduction, the display supports BenQ’s proprietary AQColor technology, which BenQ yet has to detail. The DesignVue PD3220U comes factory calibrated, but BenQ does not mention DeltaE accuracy as well as color spaces used for calibration. The company also says nothing about 3D look-up tables (LUTs) for HDR10 as well as blending accuracy, but it is possible that this is because the monitor is yet to be made available and not all details have been finalized. Furthermore, with peak brightness at 300 nits it is unlikely that the monitor will ever be used for post-production of HDR-intensive content.

When it comes to connectivity, the DesignVue PD3220U has two Thunderbolt 3 connectors for daisy chaining (one of the ports supports 85 W power delivery and thus can feed most 15.6-inch class laptops), a DisplayPort 1.4 connector, and two HDMI 2.0 ports. The monitor also has a triple-port USB 3.1 hub (there is a Type-C port too). As an added bonus, the display features two 2W built-in speakers, and a headphone jack.

Specifications of the BenQ DesignVue PD3220U
  DesignVue PD3220U
Panel 31.5" IPS
Native Resolution 3840 × 2160
Maximum Refresh Rate 60 Hz
Response Time 5 ms GtG
Brightness 300 cd/m² (typical)
Contrast 1000:1
Viewing Angles 178°/178° horizontal/vertical
HDR HDR10
Backlighting ?
Pixel Pitch 0.1845 mm²
Pixel Density 138 ppi
Display Colors 1.07 billion
Color Gamut Support sRGB: 100%
DCI-P3: 95%
Display P3: ?
Adobe RGB: ?
Aspect Ratio 16:9
Stand adjustable
Inputs 1 × DisplayPort 1.4
2 × Thunderbolt 3
2 × HDMI 2.0
USB Hub Triple-port USB 3.1 hub
Launch Date Spring 2019

BenQ announced its DesignVue PD3220U fairly recently and it is expected that the product will hit the market in April. In the U.S., the display will cost $1,199.99, which is a pretty much expected price point for a professional-grade monitor.

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Source: BenQ (via Hermitage Akihabara)

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  • bug77 - Wednesday, February 20, 2019 - link

    Creators watch movies in motion less than 10% of their time.
    If you didn't have to compromise, sure, throw in 120Hz. But a monitor with all the feature of this one plus fast refresh is 3-5x more expensive.
  • palladium - Wednesday, February 20, 2019 - link

    And, 2160p 120Hz @ 10bpp isn't achievable with a single DP 1.4 or HDMI 2, which means they would either need to use DSC or chroma subsampling (likely not acceptable to target audience), or to use a dual cable solution (which will add significant costs and driver issues, like the 5K displays back in 2017).
  • SharpEars - Thursday, February 21, 2019 - link

    And I don't get why a $1,100 monitor does not support 100% DCI-P3 and does not offer more than 300 nits of brightness, never mind the 60 Hz.
  • TitovVN1974 - Thursday, February 21, 2019 - link

    When 24fps is needed professional grading systems directly support it.
  • SharpEars - Thursday, February 21, 2019 - link

    Everything sounds good except for only 300 nits of brightness and 60 Hz - well, and the price, given 300 nits of brightness and 60 Hz.
  • Dug - Thursday, February 21, 2019 - link

    Because the two things you mention have no interest to the target audience of this monitor.
  • mode_13h - Friday, February 22, 2019 - link

    Had to lol at "hotkey puck". Man, someone was sure proud of themself for that one.
  • mode_13h - Friday, February 22, 2019 - link

    BTW, I love the built-in KVM. Too bad the refresh rate isn't higher, or I might need to buy one.

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