BenQ PD3225U Review

S
SetupScore EditorsUpdated Feb 2026
manage_search 39 Expert Reviews
schedule4 min read
The BenQ PD3225U monitor features a sleek design with improved brightness, perfect for high-resolution media editing and colo
80 / 100
verified Excellent
starstarstarstar star_half
4.4
Amazon Rating 573 reviews

The Bottom Line

The BenQ PD3225U monitor, featuring improved brightness and contrast ratio, is an excellent choice for professionals seeking a wide color gamut and diverse connectivity options, including Thunderbolt 3. However, its 60Hz refresh rate and lack of Adaptive Sync may not be ideal for gamers. This monitor is best suited for creative professionals who prioritize color accuracy and connectivity over gaming performance.

MSRP: $1099.99 $1099.99 at Amazon arrow_outward
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insights

Our Analysis

The BenQ PD3225U is a 32-inch 4K IPS monitor that sits comfortably in the upper echelon of professional displays, particularly for those requiring precise color accuracy and a wide color gamut. What we found in our analysis is that this monitor truly excels in panel quality, with an impressive 98% DCI-P3, 99% sRGB, and Rec.709 color space coverage, as noted by 5 out of 9 sources. This, combined with its excellent brightness and contrast ratio, makes it a strong contender for professionals in creative fields. Moreover, the monitor's diverse connectivity options, including Thunderbolt 3, and the convenient HotKey Puck G2 controller, enhance its versatility and ease of use.

Key Points

What Reviewers Love

  • +

    Improved brightness and contrast ratio

    Cited by 13 sources

  • +

    Excellent brightness and wide color gamut

    Cited by 7 sources

  • +

    Diverse connectivity options including Thunderbolt 3

    Cited by 6 sources

  • +

    HotKey Puck G2 controller for convenient OSD control

    Cited by 5 sources

What To Consider

  • −

    Only 60Hz refresh rate, no Adaptive Sync

    Cited by 4 sources

  • −

    Lack of brightness compared to other screens

    Cited by 3 sources

  • −

    Priced higher than similar IPS Black monitors

    Cited by 2 sources

  • −

    Connectivity options are less than competitors

    Cited by 1 sources

check_circle Best For

  • Design professionals
  • Color-accurate work
  • High-resolution media editing

warning Consider Carefully

  • Gamers needing high refresh rates
  • Budget-conscious shoppers
  • Those requiring Adaptive Sync

Specifications

Display

Aspect ratio
16:9
Brightness
400 nits
Color space coverage
98% DCI-P3, 99% sRGB, 99% Rec.709
Contrast ratio
2000:1
Panel type
10-bit IPS
Pixel density
140 pixels per inch
Refresh rate
60Hz
Resolution
4K UHD (3,840 by 2,160 pixels)
Response time
5 ms
Size
32-inch

Performance

Color accuracy
Support for Delta E < 2.0
Color support
1.07 Billion Colors (10-Bit)
Hdr
Yes, VESA DisplayHDR 400 certified
Hdr compatibility
VESA DisplayHDR 400
Variable refresh technology
Yes

Source Analysis

This review synthesizes insights from 39 independent sources to provide a comprehensive, unbiased assessment.

Expert Reviews (9)

Professional testing labs & tech publications

creativebloq.com

80/100
Verified Source

The BenQ PD3225U is a 32-inch IPS monitor designed for design professionals requiring accurate color reproduction. Factory-calibrated and equipped with an excellent color space, it ensures color accuracy regardless of office conditions or connected computer. The monitor offers Mac-centric features, convenient USB connectivity, and a large, imposing presence on any desk, supported by a sturdy stand.

Ian Evenden Read →
Pros
  • Factory-calibrated for color accuracy
  • Mac-centric features enhance usability
  • Convenient USB connectivity and single-cable solution for Thunderbolt laptops
  • Comes with Hotkey Puck G2 for workflow efficiency
Cons
  • Lack of brightness compared to other screens
  • Priced higher than some alternatives
  • Difficult to unbox due to complex packaging

trustedreviews.com

70/100
Verified Source

The BenQ PD3225U is a productivity-focused monitor with a 32-inch 4K IPS Black panel, offering detailed output and a highly adjustable stand. It boasts excellent color accuracy, making it suitable for design and video editing. However, its brightness and contrast levels are middling compared to competitors, with a peak brightness of 200.9 nits and a contrast ratio of 790:1.

Reece Bithrey Read →
Pros
  • Large 32-inch 4K IPS Black panel
  • Excellent color accuracy for professional work
  • Highly adjustable stand with tool-less setup
  • Extensive connectivity options including Thunderbolt 3
Cons
  • Middling brightness and contrast compared to competition

pcmag.com

80/100
Verified Source

The BenQ PD3225U is a 32-inch 4K UHD monitor designed for creative professionals, offering improved brightness and contrast ratio over its predecessor. It provides a larger screen and more versatile stand than Apple's Studio Display at a lower cost. The PD3225U uses LG's IPS Black technology, enhancing the contrast ratio to 2,000:1 and delivering deeper blacks. It includes a stand with height, tilt, swivel, and pivot adjustments and a HotKey Puck G2 controller for convenient OSD settings control. The monitor also offers a variety of picture modes and multiple connectivity options, including HDMI, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt 3 ports.

Read →
Pros
  • Improved brightness and contrast ratio
  • Larger screen and more versatile stand than Apple's Studio Display
  • IPS Black technology for deeper blacks
  • Versatile stand with multiple adjustments

Video Reviews (15)

Hands-on demonstrations & setup guides

Terry X
Terry X
  • Suitable for creators requiring color accuracy
  • USB-C and USB-A ports support dock functionality
  • Premium stand with extensive adjustability
Watch on YouTube
Jeremy Mura
Jeremy Mura
  • Ideal for graphic designers, photo editors, and video editors
  • Useful for high-detail image editing and color grading
  • Flexible for use with both Windows and Mac systems
Watch on YouTube
Filming with Alf
Filming with Alf
  • Ideal for graphic design, web design, and video editing
  • Suitable for creative professionals requiring accurate color reproduction
  • Not ideal for high-refresh-rate gaming
Watch on YouTube

Community Discussions (4)

Real owners sharing experiences

u/nikolincami

Comparison

The BenQ PD3225U is a 32-inch 4K monitor designed for professionals in video editing, motion design, photo editing, and graphic design. It features an IPS Black panel with a 2000:1 contrast ratio, 98% DCI-P3 and 100% sRGB color gamut coverage, Thunderbolt 3 with 85W Power Delivery, and a 60Hz refresh rate. The monitor also comes factory calibrated and includes Display Pilot software.

Key Insights:
  • Suitable for professionals requiring accurate color representation and good connectivity
  • Offers a factory calibrated display for color accuracy
  • Thunderbolt 3 support for compatibility with MacBook Pro
Comparison: Compared with: BenQ QC, acer Etalonaje, Dell U3225QE
Limited community engagement
Read →

u/advictoriam5

Setup Showcase
Verified Source
Key Insights:
  • Ideal for users needing a quiet and user-friendly monitor for late-night work.
  • The monitor's integration with Apple devices is a significant advantage for Mac users.
  • Suitable for photo and video editing, offering a good desktop experience after a long absence.
Limited community engagement
Read →

u/GoldtopLP

Comparison
Key Insights:
  • The BenQ PD3225U may have color accuracy issues with video content in certain browsers.
  • The issue does not affect still images, suggesting a possible video processing or browser compatibility problem.
  • The monitor's color calibration does not seem to be the root cause, as the issue persists even after calibration.
Read →

Customer Reviews Amazon

What buyers are saying

starstarstarstar star_half
4.4

573 reviews

Recently Added Reviews

star star star star star

Amazing

amadams • March 26, 2023
TL/DR: Amazing monitor. Great picture, Great Features. HotKey Puck - the accessory I didn’t know I needed, but can’t live without! Wish it had 1 or 2 more USB ports & Ethernet port.I shopped for a monitor for months. I have used dual 27" monitors for at least a decade. I’ve recently started to have trouble with vision - more than just my eyes getting old, but they are too. I thought getting a slightly larger monitor would be nice. Then my docking station for 2 laptops (built-in KVM) started to fail - and it had been discontinued and there were no replacements available. I had 2 choices, buy 2 docks, plus a KVM and all of the extra cables, or reevaluate my entire setup and consider a monitor with a built-in KVM. Frankly, it was a really tough decision. Lots of monitors with built-in KVM - not many that also have daisy-chain capability. And without daisy-chain capability, I’m back to needing 2 laptop docks and all the cables that would require.This monitor from BenQ was the only one that also let me take advantage of the Thunderbolt connection on my laptop. Another key requirement was 4K resolution capability.The Good:The picture quality is really good and the features are fantastic. The display is plenty bright, without being too bright. It is flicker-free and has settings to minimize blue light. The color calibration is far more than I need. All the various color settings and features are interesting and cool. I don’t really use them but did find them interesting enough to check out. There is also a boatload of software that you can download, including eye care software that reminds you periodically to look away from the monitor etc. All good things to help preserve eye health.The Freakin’ AWESOMEThe most exciting feature of the monitor is the hot-key puck. With other monitors that have a built-in KVM switch, the switch to changing computers is usually on the monitor itself - not always convenient or easy to reach. The hot-key puck has a 3–4-foot cord and allows you to navigate the on-screen menu without needing to reach the monitor. You can even customize the buttons (hotkeys). This handy-dandy device allows me to change the computer with a click of a button on the hot-key puck. While the cord is plenty long to be within reach without stretching, I do wish it was a tad bit longer or could use an extension cable, so that I could run the cord under my desk to minimize cord clutter. But that’s a really petty complaint for a spectacular feature.The monitor stand is an outstanding feature with a well-thought design. The stand has quite a bit of heft to it - it’s downright heavy. It has a flat plate that sits on the desk. It’s suitable to place any number of small items you want to place below your monitor. It’s almost large enough for my 13" Ultrabook to set on top of, but not quite. The monitor connects to the stand with a quick-release type of connection giving the back of the monitor a very finished look. Putting it together is a one-person job.The mehThere is a single headphone jack on the side of the monitor. I made sure to get a right-angle plug to minimize the impact on the monitor alignment on my dual-monitor setup.Most of the connections are on the back of the monitor but facing upward - meaning it’s impossible to see the connections with the monitor standing upright. It is much easier to plug everything in, then attach the monitor to the stand. I keep my user guide handy so that I can find the connection diagram if I need to unplug or reconnect anything.The Could-Be-BettersThere is no ethernet port. You can certainly use one of those ethernet-to-USB adapters and plug that into a USB port. I found that to be slower than when I plugged the ethernet adapter directly into my laptop. It also uses a USB port. Which leads to….There are only 4 USB 3.1 ports (3 USB-A, 1 USB-C) for peripherals. 2 of these ports (1 USB-A & 1 USB-C) are on the side of the monitor. Those are easy to reach, but when in use, they prevent smooth alignment with another monitor for multi-monitor set-ups. 4 USB ports are typical of many, if not most, KVM switches, but fewer than I need. I have a USB hub connected to one of the ports on my monitor.I do wish that there were an option for a monitor arm that was compatible with the quick-release feature. It is so easy for one person to attach, and it looks very finished. (One of the new BenQ monitors has an arm like another brand’s arm that does fit. I haven’t tried the other brand’s arm long-term because there isn’t enough room for all the cables with the monitor’s KVM switch). I do wish that the new BenQ monitor arm was compatible and available to purchase without the new monitor. I would buy it in a second.Prior to researching for a new monitor, I had never heard of BenQ. Given my experience with this product though, they have moved to the top of my list for future monitor purchases.
star star star star star

Excellent monitor for graphic design and video editing, great value

N. StrumN. Strum • March 25, 2024
I’ve been using a BenQ PD3220U for over a year now (for graphic design and video editing), and liked it so much I bought another to pair with it as a second display. The BenQ compares very favorably to previous monitors I’ve used from NEC and Apple, but for less than half the cost. The color accuracy is excellent, build-quality is superb, and the display’s brightness is more than adequate in my workspace. There’s a good selection of ports, although accessibility to the ones on the back is a bit frustrating if you can’t vertically rotate the monitor (mine sits under a bookshelf).Some of the setup instructions could use better clarification, particularly in regards to daisy-chaining displays and setting up the KVM switch, but BenQ’s customer service has been very responsive to any questions I’ve had.The included Hotkey Puck is a convenient way to access the monitor’s controls, however the icons on the buttons are nearly impossible to see, so I stuck my own P-Touch labels on them for better visibility (see photo).The monitor’s stand is rock-solid and well-built. It’s easily adjustable and has a good range of motion. The base is very flat and low-profile, so you can set things on top of it and it doesn’t intrude on your usable desk space.For an excellent, color-accurate, yet still affordable monitor, I’d highly recommend it.There are three minor complaints I have with it:1) At only 24", the included Thunderbolt 3 cable is effectively useless. If you plan on connecting with Thunderbolt 3, measure where you’ll be installing your system before purchasing, so you can order a cable of the proper length.2) If using more than one of these monitors together, each monitor must have its own dedicated Hotkey Puck. You can’t control two monitors with one Puck (even if the monitors are daisy-chained together). Not a big deal, but it does increase desk clutter. (The Puck isn’t required to use the monitor - there are buttons on the back to access the menus.)3) I use the built-in KVMs to switch both monitors between two Macs. Mostly, it works fine. But there’s an issue where if one of the connected Macs falls asleep, and I attempt to switch over to it, the Mac will not wake up and the monitor’s entire USB bus and everything plugged into it will stop responding - keyboard, mouse, Puck, and all USB ports - and the KVM will get “stuck” on the sleeping Mac. If this happens, there are two fixes: 1) unplug/reconnect the USB (or Thunderbolt 3) cable going to the sleeping Mac, or 2) plug a keyboard directly into the sleeping Mac to wake it up. In either case, once the Mac is awake, the monitor’s USB ports and all connected devices will start working normally again. BenQ customer support says this is a MacOS issue (which I fully believe).
star star star star star

Feature-packed, High-quality Monitor at a Fair Price

Jon DiPietroJon DiPietro • March 24, 2023
While not inexpensive, this monitor’s quality and features make it near-perfect. My workflow includes photo and video editing and the typical productivity tasks. I also switch between a Mac Studio and a custom PC, which makes the KVM feature super-valuable.Quality: After I purchased this monitor, I performed a side-by-side comparison with my Samsung UC3899, and it was no contest. The most striking difference was viewing 4K HDR video. The color accuracy, brightness, and contrast are all great. And while the pixel density isn’t perfect for Mac OS (very few monitors are), the scaling works fine, and the text is crisp and clean.Convenience: My favorite thing about this monitor is the convenience its features deliver. The KVM switch makes it dead simple to switch between computers and have the speakers, microphone, and peripherals follow. The hotkey puck is also great for everyday tasks and adjusting the brightness throughout the day.Construction: This is one of the most solidly-built monitors I’ve ever owned. I planned on attaching it to the VESA arm already on my desk, but the stand is so well-built (and aesthetically pleasing) that I dispensed with the arm. It has greatly simplified my setup and allows me to easily slide the monitor down to expose the mirrorless camera hidden behind it when I need to turn on the webcam (see uploaded images).Value: I feel like this monitor’s quality, features, and build ultimately justify its price tag. I’m very close to giving it five stars, and the refresh rate is the only thing holding me back. If this supported 120 Hz, it would be the perfect monitor (for me).
View all 573 reviews on Amazon

Reviews shown are from Amazon customers and do not reflect our editorial assessment.

The Verdict

The BenQ PD3225U earns its 80/100 score as a capable 32-inch 4K display built squarely for creative professionals. Its near-complete DCI-P3 and sRGB coverage, post-calibration ΔE ≤ 2 accuracy, and Thunderbolt 3 connectivity make it a strong studio workstation monitor. The 60Hz refresh rate and lack of Adaptive Sync rule it out for gaming, and its premium price is harder to justify given competing IPS Black panels at lower cost. If color-critical work is your priority, the PD3225U delivers — just don't expect it to double as a gaming display.

Pricing Reference

Updated Feb 26, 2026

BenQ PD3225U

SetupScore: 80/100 In Stock
$899.99 $1099.99
View on Amazon
All regions
🇺🇸United States $899.99 🇬🇧United Kingdom £899.99 🇩🇪Germany €656.99 🇫🇷France €991.63 🇪🇸Spain €948.44 🇮🇹Italy €948,44
Prices sourced from Amazon.com Affiliate disclosure
39 sources analyzed Updated February 26, 2026
About our review methodology

Score methodology: Weighted median of 8 expert ratings (grade-inflation compressed, confidence-adjusted). Community discussions used for qualitative insights only.

Sources breakdown: 9 expert reviews, 15 video reviews, 4 community discussions

Pipeline v1.0.0

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