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You might want to look towards the BenQ PD3205U, and for good reason. The unit I received went first to the “long drawer of gear to review” as I reluctantly unplugged the cables from my perfect setup. Eventually, the PD3205U became my main monitor, and I love using it. Right, enough of my ramblings, let’s dive in and see where it shines and where it falls behind. Build Quality If you’re not using USB-C or want to connect a second device, there are 1 x HDMI 2.0 and 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 ports. The panel is also Calman Verified and Pantone validated, which in layman’s terms means a strict color validation and calibration process by independent third parties to ensure maximum color accuracy. We can talk about fancy KVM switches and USB-C connectivity all day, but what about the actual panel? You know, the thing you’re actually staring at all day? Subjectively, the PD3205U’s colour fidelity is exceptional with nicely smooth gradations, a wide dynamic range and beautifully crisp fine detailing or text. The average screen brightness could, however, be a little on the low side for anybody working in an area that has a lot of natural light.
The price tag is obviously a big attraction of the BenQ PD3205U, especially for a 32-inch 4K UHD display, but it also delivers a lot for the money, especially in terms of its outstanding color accuracy and panel uniformity. For many photographers, making videos is likely to be a higher priority than making prints, in which case the PD3205U is even more of a value-for-money all-rounder. Mount adjustments: -5.0-20 degrees tilt, 15/15 degrees left/right swivel, 90 degrees pivot (for portrait format).It’s mainly aimed towards creative professionals or those looking for a well-rounded monitor for general workflow and enhanced productivity. Can I use the BenQ PD3205U as a gaming monitor? The BenQ PD3205U features a 31.5 inch, IPS panel with a 16:9 aspect ratio. There is also a 27” version – the PD2705U – if you prefer the smaller size. Color accuracy on the BenQ PD3205U is exceptional. You’ll get 99% of both the sRGB and Rec.709 colorspaces. As a daily-use monitor, this screen is brilliant. We could fit so much in and there was plenty of room to move things around. The aforementioned KVM switch helped us stay hyper-productive and tidy at our desks. Once we set up the KVM to three different computers, we could switch between all machines with a button, moving over the keyboard and mouse, any connected storage, and any other device plugged in. We even chose to program the dial to scroll between color profiles. When I switched from editing on a 15” MacBook to a proper monitor, I was over the moon. The colours looked better, the screen was bigger, and I finally could build a proper workstation. As of now, I work off a laptop connected to a monitor. Hopefully, that will change as I look to buy a used M1 Mac Mini. Nonetheless, if you want to get yourself a good present that will make a noticeable change in your workflow, get a monitor.
Out of the box, the PD3205U is pre-calibrated and achieves Pantone SkinTone Validated status which recognises monitors that accurately display real-world colours. It also comes with a slew of preset colour modes for adapting the monitor to different projects. Darkroom Mode adjusts brightness and contrast for work in darker environments, Animation Mode enhances the clarity of dark areas without overexposing brighter regions, and CAD/CAM Mode increase the contrast of lines and shapes for technical illustrations. Other modes include DICPOM, HDR, Low Blue Light, M-Book, Rec.709 and sRGB. Efficient and Effortless DesignThe monitor’s front is very clean and doesn’t have any excess branding. For me, that is a huge benefit, because I like seeing my images, rather than a brand at the bottom. Speaking of looking, the monitor bezzles are thinner than on other monitors, which makes the experience more immersive than ever. It really feels almost like looking into a curved monitor. Rec.709 is traditionally the more popular and industry standard color settings to work in, although, DCI-P3 is starting to become more common, so this monitor is not a good choice if you’re working in the P3 color space. Overall, I am happy with how the monitor is designed and how it looks, as well as the number of ports. This is above and beyond for a monitor priced to be affordable. Performance The PD3205U can tilt up 20 degrees and down 5 degrees, and it can swivel 30 degrees left or right. It is built to a height-adjustable stand. The monitor can also pivot 90 degrees for vertical positioning and viewing. Is the PD3205U suitable for gaming?
The color profiles have been calibrated to your specific panel, which means you may not need to buy an expensive monitor calibrator. Although if you’re a photo or video professional you’ll likely already have this. What this means is that the colors on this monitor are going to be accurate, a process which BenQ calls AQCOLOR technology. It ships pre-calibrated, and if you're familiar with BenQ, you will know that they take it very seriously. The major selling point of BenQ is colour accuracy, which means that you can take the monitor out of the box and get perfect colours right away. It even ships with a calibration chart. Of course, it is advised to use a calibrator from time to time, such as the SpyderX. A calibrated monitor goes a long way in helping you see the true colours.BenQ has to actually ship the display into Pantone for testing and validation. In addition, Pantone has gone another level deeper with an even stricter process called Pantone skin-tone validated. Cable management deserves applause. Most monitors don’t have it and I wish they did. A simple tray to cover all ports and hide excess cable length in. If you like neat cable management, this is a feature for you. It looks very clean. Ports In terms of reproducible colours, the panel delivers 95% of the sRGB colour space and its video equivalent, Rec.709, which is the standard for colour reproduction on transmissive displays, including tablets and smartphones. For video-makers, the PD3205U also handles HDR content via HDR10 support, but unlike the PD3220U, it doesn’t support DCI-P3 which is a cinematographic colour space with a wider gamut. There are also dedicated display modes for CAD/CAM and animation. Let’s talk about performance, as this will be the deciding factor for people. As well-designed as the monitor is, there are certain things about performance that throw people off. Before we talk about what it can’t do, let's talk about what it can, though. For productivity workflows with word documents or web browsing, the brightness will only be an issue if you’re sitting in an extremely bright room with glare from the sun for example.
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