Tested: the BenQ PD3226G is a 4K monitor that delivers for creatives

BenQ has, at least according to me, a very clear strategy. I first noticed it when I reviewed the BenQ MA270U and it continues with the BenQ PD3226G monitor I’m writing about today. The MA27 was the perfect monitor for MacBook users, which naturally included a lot of Photoshop creatives. The only problem with it was that it totally alienated anyone with a PC!

BenQ are addressing this with the PD3226G. Offering 4K resolution, professional colour accuracy, and a respectable refresh rate, the latest 32-inch monitor from BenQ has a lot to commend itself to creative professionals. The occasional on-the-side gamer will also find a monitor that serves in that domain as well.

The PD3226G has enough about it to compete at the top of the best monitors for graphic artists guide and might even make it into our list of the best 4K monitors. Read on to see how it fares in real-world creative workflows and whether it has all the smarts for you.

BenQ PD3226G: Key specifications

Design and build

• A good-looking monitor
• Reflection-free display
• Fantastic connectivity

The PD3226G looks fantastic. As part of BenQ’s Designer series, the monitor is not only dedicated to serving creatives, but it also looks the part. In reality, it would complement any high-end design studio thanks to its silver metallic finish and designer-led touches. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t look as good as the iMac design, but it’s not far off.

The display is a Nano Matte Panel that is TÜV certified to be reflection-free. Reflections are the bane of many creatives' lives, but all of that is eliminated through this technology. It also has the added benefit of delivering a comfortable viewing experience over long periods of time. As someone who has seen the monitor up close, it really does look fantastic.

The display is supported by a modern-looking stand that has ergonomic adjustments, including height, swivel, tilt, and pivot. The fact that it has pivot capabilities is a win, as that functionality isn’t often available with this size of monitor. As well as boasting a minimalist design, the stand provides cable management thanks to a clip that attaches on.

When you flip the monitor around, you’ll find all the regular ports, including HDMI and DisplayPort. What sets the PD3226G apart is its all-in-one Thunderbolt 4 connection. Not only can it transfer a lot of data quickly, but it also serves up 90W of power. With both functions carried out through a single cable, you can keep your laptop charged and data transferring with no trouble at all.

The port selection allows users to connect either two 4K monitors or one 8K monitor. The only word of warning here is that if you’re running a device that has an Apple Silicon M1 or M2 chip, then this daisy-chaining won’t work. It will work on Apple Silicon Pro, Max, and Ultra-based devices, though.

Design and build score: 4.5/5

Features

• High refresh rate
• Industry-trusted colours
• Wireless Hotkey Puck

High refresh rate

At 144Hz, the PD3226G is a win for gamers, but that’s not primarily who this monitor is designed for. We need to turn our attention to video editors and animators instead. Delivering exceptional motion clarity and ultra-smooth visuals, artists get the feedback they need. With such fine margins between believability and distraction, you’ll need a monitor that makes the difference, and I’d say BenQ has nailed it here.

The refresh rate is also compatible with drawing tablets and iPads, which is ideal for character designers, concept artists, and VFX artists. Real-time accuracy is a non-negotiable and can make all the difference in dynamic scenes.

Industry-trusted colours

The PD3226G is known for its accurate colour reproduction, and despite not getting a colourimeter on it, we can testify to how good the colours look. We’ve saved most of our comments on the colours for our performance section, but out of the box you’ll get Delta E ≤ 2, 95% P3 wide colour coverage and corner-to-corner uniformity. You’ll also find Pantone and Pantone SkinTone validation, which is ideal for photo editors and retouchers where authenticity is king.

Wireless Hotkey Puck

Alongside the monitor, BenQ provides a Hotkey Puck that is designed to streamline and simplify controlling the device. The three quick access keys are customisable with options including Colour Mode, Input, DualView, KVM, or app launches. It’s also easy to adjust brightness, contrast, and volume with the easy-to-use rotation dial. No more clunky monitor menus!

Features score: 4/5

Performance

• A refresh rate that delivers for animators and gamers
• Impressive colour performance but lacking contrast

Beginning with the 144Hz refresh rate, I fired up Adobe After Effects and began filling my timeline with some rudimentary animated elements. This included moving images, text, and other graphics. I was keen to see whether there would be any noticeable difference between more common 60Hz office monitors, and unsurprisingly, there was.

Delivering excellent motion clarity, I didn’t experience a single moment of ghosting or blurring beyond the obvious motion blur that is desired. I had the same positive experience when playing Code of War. Fast character movement and quick-moving objects were handled with ease, making the PD3226G ideal for long gaming or creative sessions.

Moving on to colour performance. Despite not using a colourimeter on this monitor, I was confident in the accompanying calibration report, which demonstrated the display’s colour credentials. From a purely subjective point of view, I was impressed by the uniformity of colour throughout the whole display. With no bleeding or distortion around the edges, the PD3226G is a monitor that can be trusted no matter where your app windows are located. It annoys me when top menus are displayed poorly or when the edges of applications struggle for clarity. No such problems with the PD3226G.

To test the colour gamut and reproduction qualities of the monitor, I opened up a wide range of images in Photoshop and Lightroom. These included people of different skin colours, images with high contrast, and a lot with vibrant colours across the spectrum. Despite excellent performance that would definitely serve me well as a photo editor, I definitely found myself craving more contrast and dynamic range.

Performance score: 4/5

Price

The BenQ PD3226G costs an eye-watering £1,099.99. Wowsers. Only more serious hobbyists and successful professionals could justify this sort of price. The money will afford you a range of features and specs that are hard to beat, but you’ll need pretty deep pockets, or your company will.

A more affordable alternative, especially for Mac users, would be the BenQ MA270U. It is slightly smaller, but at £449.99, it has a lot going for it, and if you just have to have more screen real estate, then the 32-inch alternative only costs £50 more.

Scorecard

Who's it for?

• A monitor primarily for creatives but you could use it for gaming too

Throughout my testing of the PD3226G from BenQ, I’ve been tempted to label this as a monitor for both creatives and gamers but I think that would do a disservice to how good it really is in the creative realm. Exceptional resolution, colour accuracy, and far-reaching connectivity will have creative professionals drooling. It just so happens that these specs also make it a more than capable gaming monitor. I might be wrong but I don’t think that is what BenQ set out to create when they embarked on designing the PD3226G. This monitor is for creative professionals; first, second, third, and maybe only the fourth is it a monitor for gamers.

Buy it if

• You want 4K resolution
• You need colour accuracy for professional reasons
• You value good connectivity options

Don't buy it if

• You’re on a budget
• You’re not a professional creative
• You’re primarily a gamer