Although still in its early days, consumer 4K UHD is hither. While 720p and 1080p are destined to become anachronisms akin to 8-tracks and punch cards, our present day is the bad-mannered transitional period between these old and newly evolving high definition standards.

No stranger to the business organisation of high-end displays, long-time monitor manufacturer Dell has lunged into the UHD market with some solid offerings. The company has released two UltraSharp displays capable of ultra high-definition: a 24-inch at $1,299 and a 32-inch for $3,499. Dell has also been teasing us with a third 4K UHD-capable 28-inch model, but this in-betweener is worlds cheaper at $699. Besides good to exist truthful? Indeed. This aggressively priced display has the "same quality" panel equally its more than expensive cousins, merely its refresh rate is express to just 30Hz. Yuck.

For this review though, we'll be taking a look at Dell's monstrous 32-inch flagship, the UltraSharp UP3214Q.

Dell UltraSharp 32 UP3214Q - $3500

  • Viewable Size: 31.five" diagonal (xvi:9)
  • Panel: IGZO LCD IPS, anti-glare with hard glaze 3H, LED backlit
  • Optimal resolution: 3840 x 2160
  • Contrast Ratio: 1000: 1 (typical), two One thousand thousand:i (Max Dynamic)
  • Brightness: 350 cd/m2 (typical)
  • Response Time: 8 ms (gray to gray)
  • Viewing Angle: 176° vertical / 176° horizontal
  • Color Gamut: Adobe RGB 99%, sRGB 100%
  • Colors: i.074 Billion colors (10 Bits)
  • Pixel Pitch/PPI: 0.182 mm / 140

  • Connectivity:
  • 1x HDMI, 1x Mini DisplayPort, 1x DisplayPort (i.2a), 4x USB three.0 ports downstream, 1x USB 3.0 upstream, 1x media card reader

  • Physical Specifications:
  • Dimensions (with stand):
    19.0-22.5" x 29.5" 10 8.4"
  • Dimensions (brandish only):
    17.5" 10 29.5" 10 2.0"
  • Weight (with stand/without): 25.3/xx.3 lbs
  • Height-adjustable stand up, tilt, swivel and built in cable-management, VESA mount capable

Knowing the reputation (and price) the UltraSharp moniker commands, there would ordinarily exist piffling more than to say than "immense IPS brandish", "slap-up image" but "prosumer price tag". However, the UP3214Q'due south defining feature isn't its enormity, IPS panel, nor certainly the $3,500 sticker price. Rather, its nigh distinct feature is a glorious spread of 3840 x 2160 pixels which is, ironically, likewise the source of its biggest bug. More on that shortly.

Consider this easily-on to be as much a review of early on-gen UHD monitors as the UP3214Q itself. Hopefully, the experiences outlined here will answer questions you may accept regarding the value, compatibility, performance and practicality of this display and displays like it.

Unboxing and Accessories

Fifty-fifty for such a big monitor, the box was quite hefty at only past 35 pounds. Like many of its monitors, Dell shipped the UP3214Q in packaging made entirely from corrugated cardboard -- no cream here. Avoiding the use of foam (extruded or otherwise) is part of Dell's eco-friendly strategy.

Inside the box lives a sturdy, rotating aluminum stand equipped with Dell'due south prototypical screwless VESA mount pattern. Dell also included the following cables: DisplayPort (mini to standard), USB 3.0 (A to B) and a C13 power (standard PC desktop) cable. HDMI is notably missing. Additionally, owners will observe a colour calibration report. Similar certain other UltraSharp offerings, each UP3214Q is mill-calibrated to reproduce colors as accurately equally possible (Delta Due east < two) out of the box. No complaints here.

First Impressions

I'll cutting to the chase: the UP3214Q is impressive to behold. The screen is expansive, the picture is bright, the color is rich and everything about it appears well-designed. The monitor itself (without the stand up) weighs a hefty 20 pounds -- that doesn't include the aluminum stand which adds a expert 5 pounds.

There'south picayune question this is a premium brandish. Considering its retail price ($3,500) though, I'thou certain consumers won't tolerate anything less than perfection.

Features, Adjustments and OSD

The aluminum stand up offers some bones adjustments including elevation, tilt and horizontal hinge; notwithstanding, the display cannot exist vertically rotated (i.eastward. no portrait mode). The UP3214Q's screen can be adjusted one.75 to v.25 inches high, tilted 20 degrees astern and rotated 45-degrees left and correct. All adjustments feel solid and smooth; nonetheless, horizontal rotation is very strong and the stand up will move unless you hold it downward.

There are few connectivity options (DisplayPort 1.two, mini-DP and HDMI 1.4), merely the inclusion of four x USB 3.0 ports and a nine-in-1 media carte du jour reader are welcome accoutrements. Of the iv USB ports, three are located at the bottom rear alongside HDMI and DP inputs. This area is difficult to admission and isn't practical for USB drives. The fourth USB port is located in evidently sight on the rear of the display.

The OSD (on-screen display) "buttons" are located forth the bottom correct edge. Quotes are necessary here considering the controls -- except the power button -- are actually touch-sensitive and non old school button buttons. The menus and controls are intuitive and simple to navigate. Nearly people won't spend much time here, which manufacturers know, then they often load primitive-looking, painful-to-utilize OSDs -- a common sighting amongst bargain monitors. The UP3214Q's OSD though is pleasant and very like to other UltraSharp displays.

Image Quality and Operation

As with most larger IPS monitors, the screen is matte with non-reflective blanket. It's thoroughly matte and non somewhere between, like satin or semi-gloss. This is particularly good for brightly lit office environments where evenly distributed fluorescent lighting is the norm.

Subjectively, the UP3214Q'southward blanket is unobtrusive. Very occasionally manufacturers apply matte finishes that are then aggressive though, they become distracting (e.k. Dell's 4-year former UltraSharp U2711). Anti-glare coatings are groovy for reducing reflections, but intense ones create a grainy upshot -- sometimes perceived as "shimmering" -- which is especially noticeable for bright images. The visibility of this shimmer can vary widely, but the UP3214Q seems very middle of the pack: not very noticeable but not quite invisible either. As a point of reference, it fares far better than the U2711 (prominent shimmer), but isn't as transparent as Dell's own U2713HM (hardly noticeable).

The UP3214Q'south image is bright, rich and compatible. Subjectively, it lives up to its impressive specs and it definitely compares well to Dell's other high-terminate IPS offerings. Additionally, the 140 PPI density (~50-percent higher than many common displays) actually lends itself to sharply rendered text and a smooth epitome overall.

Ane noticeable imperfection on our unit of measurement is a very slight yellow tinge effectually the edges of the panel. When I say slight, I do mean barely perceptible. I was unable to capture this with a camera and is simply somewhat noticeable on a 100% white groundwork.

"IPS glow" is nowadays, but definitely with an acceptable range and certainly not unique to the UP3214Q. In fact, all large panels I've seen (including TN and PVA) showroom a similar "glow", so as commonly as this term gets thrown around, I consider it a misnomer. This glowing effect is most visible when a black epitome spans the screen, but the UP3214Q performs similarly to other high-stop IPS panels.

The UP3214Q's advertised 8ms (greyness to gray) is adequately typical with larger IPS these days. Bigger G2G values tend to signal more "ghosting", an undesirable phenomenon where fast-moving elements leave ghostly remnants of past frames due to slow pixel refresh times. As with many IPS-based displays, a detectable corporeality of ghosting is present. Subjectively though, this was a not-effect during gaming sessions and only became obvious during constructed tests. The UP3214Q provides a solid gaming experience in this regard.

Input lag is the delay between the output of your graphics carte du jour and the image which appears on your screen. I attempted to objectively capture input lag by cloning a digital timer across two displays: the Dell UP3214Q and a TN-based LG Flatron E2771. I enabled "Thru-mode" (a.thou.a. game mode) on the E2771 which finer eliminates input lag. The event? The Dell showed near 20ms of input lag. Okay -- that'due south non phenomenal. Yet, enabling "Gaming Mode" completely eliminated input lag. Visually speaking, the trade-off for gaming way was a slight alter in color reproduction. Gaming style did not affect ghosting.

Oh, and backlight haemorrhage? Non an result here.