Review: Dell 32 Plus QD-OLED

I've been waiting for a monitor like this for a long time. OLED has already taken the PC gaming world by storm, with many gaming monitors finally bringing true high dynamic range (HDR) visuals in a meaningful way. But it hasn't helped much with the lack of HDR content on the internet, primarily because the monitors that professional video editors use are still not HDR-capable.

Dell has finally introduced a non-gaming OLED monitor, the Dell 32 Plus QD-OLED (S3225QC). At $850, the monitor has a 4K resolution with a 120-Hz refresh rate, as well as immersive 3D audio. Finally, a monitor exists under $1,000 that you can properly view and edit HDR video on—the type of display that could change everything.

Goodbye Gamers

Photograph: Luke Larsen

The vibe of the Dell 32 Plus is important. After all, you've been able to buy an impressive OLED monitor for a while now, and they all come with spectacular image quality and loads of high-end features. But they were always billed as gaming displays, and thus, a gamer aesthetic. Jagged vents, aggressive angles, black plastic, and RGB galore.

They aren't all this extreme. The Samsung Odyssey G8 looks pretty modern, but even that might be a bit much in a design studio. I don't mean to sound pretentious—it's just the reality of the situation. And we desperately need more to get more HDR-capable monitors in the hands of editors if we want to see higher-quality video proliferate across the internet (and not just on vertical videos captured on phones, as things currently go). Dell's new design ethos is an all-white exterior, marked with just a splash of dark-gray fabric stretched over the large bottom bezel. It's plastic but has a unique textured feel and rounded corners that give it a simple but distinct look.

Photograph: Luke Larsen

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.

The power button and joystick are located on the far right side of the back of the monitor to bring up the on-screen menu, which is simple and easy to use.

Photograph: Luke Larsen

The Dell 32 Plus QD-OLED is one of my favorite monitors in recent memory. It's built for media first and foremost, whether that's movies or games, as well as content creation. This is the go-to option for video editors, especially if you're interested in making the transition to HDR. The image quality is as good as it gets, and the screen comes to life with HDR content. The speakers are a nice addition, too.

This isn't the right monitor for you if you're a multitasking aficionado. While it'll function fine for daily office work, it's more suited for entertainment and content creators. There's one other 4K OLED non-gaming monitor that leans into this use case even more, the Samsung M90SF, a new entry in Samsung's smart monitor line.

Your home office, though, doesn't need monitors like these. You're better off saving your money or spending it on a monitor with more multitasking features, like a KVM switch or more ports, such as the Dell UltraSharp 32 4K Thunderbolt monitor. But in my house, the Dell 32 Plus QD-OLED is the perfect monitor for our mixed-use office room. By day, it's a competent work monitor, and by night, it transforms into the ultimate entertainment display.