Speaking of that bottom bezel, you’ll notice the camera dead center below the screen—normally a very odd place for a webcam. But that’s because this camera isn’t for Zoom calls. Instead, it’s for tracking your head in 3D space to create the monitor’s claims of “spatial audio.” Using beamforming technology, the speakers can create virtual surround sound in compatible games and movies. It’s not perfect, but it can add an extra immersive element. (It only works with one person at a time.)
While the extra camera and speakers make for a thick bottom bezel, almost resembling a modern iMac, the five-speaker sound system produces some decent standard audio too. It gets loud enough to fill a room, which is important since this monitor is meant for entertainment. The audio isn’t as rich and full as Apple’s Studio Display, but these speakers are better than almost every other monitor I’ve tested.
The OLED Difference
Photograph: Luke Larsen
The 32 Plus has a sharp screen, with its 3840 x 2160-pixel resolution stretched across a 32-inch panel for a pixel density of 138 pixels per inch. It also comes with a 120-Hz refresh rate that’s useful for gaming, as is the lower input delay intrinsic with OLED.
But it’s the image quality that really makes this stand out. Because each pixel is individually backlit, each can be individually shut off, creating the incredible contrast that typical IPS displays can’t compete with. That contrast helps deliver a stunning HDR effect once you turn it on (which isn’t on by default, as is the case on many OLED monitors). Games and videos do look fantastic, bringing out those deep blacks and highlights. Dell claims it can hit up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness, and I measured a high of 946 nits in a 4 percent window. That’s nowhere near as bright as high-end OLED TVs in HDR, but it’s enough to create a noticeable HDR effect.
The colors are extremely vibrant and crisp, too, which I verified with my Spyder colorimeter. That makes it a great display for video editors and graphic designers, especially if you’re willing to calibrate your screen. That said, SDR brightness is the one issue I have with the panel quality. I measured it at just 227 nits, which could be a problem if your desk is positioned next to a window. Unlike TVs, the majority of what you do on a PC monitor isn’t in HDR, so I would have liked to see it hit at least 300 nits in SDR, but that’s a common problem with this generation of OLED monitors.
Short on Ports
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Until this point, OLED monitors designed for creators and video editors were thousands of dollars, like the Asus ProArt OLED PA32DC. If you’re wondering how Dell managed to squeeze in all this tech for under $1,000, there’s at least one compromise: ports. This is the smallest array of ports I’ve seen on a high-end monitor in a long time. At the back, you’ve got the bare minimum—HDMI for your desktop or USB-C for your laptop. There’s no DisplayPort to be found. The USB-C port can do video and power up to 90 watts over one cable. You’ll find one other USB-C port in the back for other accessories.
Well, almost. There’s one secret port up this monitor’s sleeve—a hidden forward-facing USB-C port on the left side of the display that can be popped down. This has been on other Dell monitors, and it’s one of my favorite features. Reaching behind your monitor to access the ports is hugely inconvenient, especially if you need to charge your phone or insert an SD card. Still, this isn’t a monitor that’s designed to function as a USB hub for all your peripherals.