Sharon Harding
Today Dell announced a beefed up monitor to expand the limited options available to creative professionals who want more pixels. With a resolution of 6144×3456, the Dell UltraSharp 32 6K Monitor (U3224KB) sits firmly in the professional category, right next to the likes of Apple’s 6K. Pro XDR display. We briefly checked out the U3224KB in person in New York, and it showed strong contrast thanks to IPS Black technology, along with several built-in extras that help it stand out. And we’re not just talking about the complimentary stand.
6K resolution
Dell’s U3224KB is a 31.5-inch monitor with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and a refresh rate of 60Hz. When we saw it at a press event, a spokesperson for the company said the monitor form factor was based on power users’ preference for 220 to 260 pixels per inch (ppi) in high-end laptops. Dell wanted to pack that same level of pixel density into a 32-inch class display, a popular size among its users.
The U3224KB has a pixel density of 223.79ppi, to be precise, making it significantly more pixel dense than a 31.5-inch, 4K (3840×2160) monitor like the Dell UltraSharp U3223QZ (139.87ppi). The Dell monitor also gives you more pixels per inch than a 27-inch, 5K (5120 x 2880) monitor like Apple’s Studio screen (217.57 ppi), and even the Pro Display XDR monitor. Apple’s display is a hair larger, at 32-inches, with a slightly lower resolution of 6016 x 3384, giving you 215.7 ppi.
Sharon Harding
With 21,233,664 pixels, the U3224KB occupies an elite class of UltraSharps that goes beyond the typical appeal of Dell’s monitor line of sleek designs and a solid selection of ports, including USB connectivity. -VS. Offering 44% more screen real estate than a 5K monitor like the Studio Display, Dell says this monitor is aimed at creators, such as designers and engineers. Vendor sees professionals using the monitor for tasks like creating fine detail in artwork and UI or working with high-resolution photos or video while having pixels left over for additional windows and tools .
This niche category means things like image quality and accuracy are of the utmost importance, and it also means the U3224KB faces stiff competition at the benchmark level.
Betting on IPS Black
And to meet this challenge, Dell is betting on IPS Black, a type of LG screen with IPS technology introduced in early 2022. Black IPS differs from standard IPS LCD claiming 35% deeper black levels. As such, the U3224KB is claimed to have twice the contrast of an average IPS monitor, at 2,000:1. It also claims a peak brightness of 500 nits with SDR content.
So far, IPS Black has done relatively well in delivering noticeably improved contrast and image quality compared to a quality monitor using traditional IPS. We’ve already tested two IPS Black monitors, also from Dell. the UltraSharp U3223QZ showed 1860:1 contrast at maximum brightness and default settings, and the smallest UltraSharp U2723QE achieved 1,873:1. Higher contrast on these 4K monitors made content like movies and photos appear to have more depth while looking more detailed and lifelike, especially in darker areas. Dark scenes in 4K movies, for example, showed more variation in shades of gray, and we also saw vivid skin tones.
For comparison, we recorded 1040:1 contrast with the 5K Studio Display set to 200 nits versus 1504:1 for the U3223QZ and 1760:1 for the U2723QE.
But while the IPS Black contrast is impressive for IPS, there are consumer monitors that offer even higher levels of contrast. In comparison, PCMag reported an SDR contrast of 12,460:1 when testing the Pro Display XDR in SDR mode, and MonitorNerds reported that the monitor exceeded 10,000:1. And you can find VA monitors that offer contrast in the range of 3,000:1.
Targeting professional workers, the bar for the U3224KB is set even higher than for Dell’s other IPS Black, UltraSharp monitors. In other specs, Dell claims the U3224KB covers 99% of DCI-P3 and Apple Display P3, 100% of sRGB, and 100% of Rec. 709. However, the company has yet to provide color accuracy claims for the monitor, and that will be essential for many creatives.
Convenient
Our time with the 6K monitor was brief, but we quickly noticed vibrant colors and ample brightness in a properly lit room. This includes when viewing the display from different side angles. Dell’s blog post on the U3224KB today claimed that the monitor’s IPS Black panel has a contrast ratio 1.4 times greater than standard IPS when viewed from a 45-degree angle.
The blog also claimed that the IPS Black monitors – citing the 4K U3223QZ as an example, rather than the 6K U3224KB – have up to 41% deeper black levels at a horizontal viewing angle of 45 degrees compared to a competitor. 31.5 inch using standard IPS. monitor. According to Dell, an IPS Black monitor could also have up to 1.2 times better color accuracy than a regular IPS monitor at this angle, “especially when displaying low grayscale.”
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