BenQ’s New $1,100 Monitor Features Thunderbolt and LG’s IPS Black Panel

BenQ’s new PD3225U “design monitor” features Thunderbolt 3, 98% coverage of the P3 color space, and Pantone validation through LG’s IPS Black panel technology.

IPS Black, which was developed by LG and announced at CES in 2022, is perhaps best known for its 6K implementation in Dell’s UltraSharp 32-inch monitor that came out last year. The panel promises 35% deeper blacks than those seen through traditional IPS displays and that doubles the contrast ratio.

IPS panels, which stands for in-plane switching, use liquid aligned in parallel to produce colors and are therefore defined by the shifting patterns in those liquid crystals. The liquid crystal’s ability to shift horizontally results in better viewing angles and IPS monitors are also used to best show accurate color consistently. One major downside is weaker overall contrast, which LG says it addresses through the IPS Black technology which minimizes light leakage, changing and improving liquid crystal array so colors are more vibrant and contrast is richer.

While it doesn’t hold a candle to OLED contrast, it is a lot more affordable and BenQ says that its new $1,099.99 PD3225U features a 2,000:1 contrast ratio and is designed to be the “perfect companion for Mac users in need of color accuracy and connectivity.”

The screen maxes out at 400 nits of peak brightness which is only enough for HDR400 (which is technically HDR, but the effects of HDR aren’t really visible until at least HDR600), but the 4K resolution at 60p refresh rate mixed with the promise of 98% coverage of the P3 color space, 99% Rec.709, and 99% sRGB makes it a solid photo editing monitor at its $1,000 price.

The PD3225U features two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, one Thunderbolt 3 port that supports power delivery at up to 85W, and one other Thunderbolt 3 port that supports 15W charging (this second port is designed mainly to allow daisy chaining). The monitor also has a headphone jack, one USB Type B upstream, and one each of USB-C and USB 3.2 downstream ports.

BenQ also says the new monitor offers Color Match for Mac devices with its M-book Mode as well as certifications such as Calman Verified, Pantone Validation, and Pantone SkinTone Validation. It also says editors can expect corner-to-corner color and consistent luminance thanks to its Uniformity Technology. It can also match colors between the monitor and an attached MacBook Pro without a calibrator.

The company says the PD3225U is also eco-friendly, with 85% of the monitor made with post-consumer recycled materials that are then packaged in fully recyclable cardboard for minimal environmental impact. The monitor also features Auto Power Off, which shuts down the screen after 10, 20, or 30 minutes of inactivity to conserve energy.

BenQ’s new $1,099.99 monitor is expected to become available on March 21.