The Rise of 32-Inch QD-OLEDs 240Hz – AW3225QF vs PG32UCDM vs MPG 321URX
Table of Contents
Introduction
If you’re looking for a new monitor to upgrade your gaming or streaming experience, you might have heard of the latest trend in display technology: QD-OLEDs. These are quantum dot organic light-emitting diodes, which combine the best of both worlds: the vibrant colors and contrast of OLEDs, and the brightness and efficiency of quantum dots.
Three 32-inch QD-OLEDs have entered the market, and they couldn’t be more similar. Well, not quite. The three monitors I am referring to are the Alienware 32 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor – AW3225QF, ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM, and MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED. All three of these monitors seem to be using the same exact panel (unconfirmed) based off the specs of the panel itself. Namely, the panel type, size, display area, pixel pitch viewing angle; you get the picture.
There are some key differences between the three monitors that are worth noting and, then there are some clear choices to be made if you are considering purchasing a 32-inch QD-OLED. Below is our comparisons and Pro/Cons for the monitors. Full Disclosure: I have not tested any of these monitors yet and none of the three companies have paid me to do this review.
Okay, let’s get started.
Winner of the Three: Alienware AW3225QF
After researching the specs for all three of the monitors (see table below), the Alienware AW3225QF is the best of the three. IT is the only monitor out of the three that comes with Dolby Vision (12 Bit HDR), Dolby Atmos, eARC and an amazing Next-Day replacement warranty. Let’s check out the Pros and Cons.
UPDATE 02/16/2024: User are reporting several issues with the AW3225QF. The main conderns are with DSC problems and issues with Dolby Vision/HDR. You can read more about user HDR issues with the AW3225QF here. Also, you can read ratings.com review of the AW322QF here, that mentions issues with Dolby Vision and eARC as well.
Dell’s Alienware QD-OLED AW3225QF
Pros
- Dobly Vision (HDR) – This is the only monitor that ships ready to go with Dolby Vision (12bit color).
- ASUS’s PG32UCDM says they are going to incorporate Dolby Vision in a future firmware update. However, I wouldn’t expect ASUS to follow through with the firmware update flawlessly. I am speaking from experience with the PG42UQ. I also question why this wasn’t incorporated before release. It all seems very sketchy to me at best.
- Perfect Curve – Slightly curved panel at 1700R. The higher the “R”, the less curvature of the surface. At this curve, you could still achieve a nice double or triple monitor setup.
- eARC & Dolby Atmos Support – The AW3225QF is the only monitor offering this support. This is great for console players.
- 3 Year Warranty – Excellent customer service and burn-in protection.
- Premium Panel Exchange – Free panel replacement after remote diagnosis, shipped out the next day. WOW!
Cons
- USB-C – The USB-C connection does not offer display capabilities. You can use a USB-C to HDMI adapter to work around this issue without losing any quality or features.
- No KVM Switch – The AW3225QF does not offer KVM like the other two competitors. For Windows 11 PCs, you can work around this issue with Microsoft Powertoys – Mouse Without Borders (Free).
- White Exterior – The AW3225QF only comes in white. When facing the monitor, the only white you can see is the bottom of the monitor stand.
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 – The AW3225QF only offers USB 3.2 Gen 1 (x 3), compared to the PG32UCD that offers 3.2 Gen 2 (x 3).
- Contrast Ratio – The contrast ratio is 500,000 lower than the other two offerings. However, I don’t think this will be a noticeable difference when viewing these monitors side by side.
Comparison Chart
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the AW3225QF, PG32UCDM and the MPG 321URX. Notable differences between the monitors are highlighted in Red.
| AW3225QF | PG32UCDM | MPG 321URX | ||
| Price (US Dollars) | $1,199.99 | $1,299.00 | $949.99 | |
| Panel | Panel Type | QD-OLED | QD-OLED | QD-OLED |
| Panel Size | 31.6″ | 31.5 | 31.5″ | |
| Active Display Area | 699.48mm x 394.73mm | 699.48mm x 394.73mm | 699.48mm x 394.73mm | |
| Max Resolution | 3840 x 2160 (UHD) | 3840 x 2160 (UHD) | 3840 x 2160 (UHD) | |
| Pixel Pitch | 0.1814(H) x 0.1814(V) | 0.182mm | 0.1814(H) x 0.1814(V) | |
| Viewing Angle | 178° V / 178° H | 178° V / 178° H | 178° V / 178° H | |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 | |
| Curvature | 1700R | Flat | Flat | |
| Panel Coating | Anti- Reflection | Anti- Reflection | Anti- Reflection | |
| Performance | ||||
| Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 240Hz | 240Hz | |
| Response Time | 0.03ms (gtg) | 0.03ms (gtg) | 0.03ms (gtg) | |
| DSC | Yes | Yes | No | |
| Brightness | ||||
| Peak Brightness (SDR) | Not Provided | 450cd/㎡ | 400cd/㎡ | |
| Avg Brightness (SDR) | Not Provided | 250cd/㎡ | 250cd/㎡ | |
| Peak Brightness (HDR) | 1000 cd/m2 | 1000 cd/m2 | 1000 cd/m2 | |
| Contrast Ratio | 1 million: 1 (SDR and HDR) | 1,500,000:1 | 1,500,000:1 | |
| HDR | ||||
| Dolby Vision | Yes | To Be Deployed | No | |
| HDR10 Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| DisplayHDR Certification | VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 | VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 | VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 | |
| Display Colors | 1.07 Billion colors (10bit) | 1.07 Billion colors (10bit) | 1.07 Billion colors (10bit) | |
| Color Accuracy | DCI-P3 99% | DCI-P3 99% | DCI-P3 99% | |
| I/O | ||||
| DisplayPort | 1x DP 1.4 (HDCP 1.4 & 2.3) | 1 x DP 1.4 (HDCP 2.2) | 1 x DP 1.4 | |
| HDMI | 2 x HDMI 2.1 (HDCP 1.4 & 2.3)(1x eARC, Dolby Atmos) | 2 x HDMI 2.1 (HDCP 2.2) | 2 x HDMI 2.1 | |
| USB-C | 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 PD (5 Gbps, PD ?W) | 1 x USB (DP Alt Mode & USB 3.2, PD 90W) | 1 x USB (DP Alt Mode & USB, PD 90W) | |
| USB-A | 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) | 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) | 2 x USB 2.0 | |
| USB-B | 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) | No | 1 x USB 2.0 | |
| KVM | No | Yes | Yes | |
| USB Hub | Yes | Yes | Yes (USB 2.0) | |
| Other | ||||
| Burn-In Protection | Excellent Warranty & Customer Support | Monitor Software /Weak Customer Support | Monitor Software | |
| Adaptive Sync | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| FreeSync Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| G-Sync Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Power Consumption | 42.5-190W 0.5W (Stby) | 42W-? 0.5W (Stby) | Not Provided |
A Distant 2nd Place: ASUS ROG Swift QD-OLED PG32UCDM
While the PG32UCDM looks great on paper (see my review here: Amazing ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM: Overview, Release Date & Price), when you compare it to the AW3225QF it really does not hold a candle to it. The PG32UCDM does have better USB 3.2 ports, a USB-C display port but, that is about where the benefits stop.
The biggest factor between all three of the monitors is, Dolby Vision support. Dolby Vision is much better than HDR10 and, the AW3225QF is the only monitor that currently supports it. While ASUS says they will release firmware to “Add” Dolby Vision, I just can’t seem to trust that they will execute it properly. I would wait for performance metrics after Dolby Vision is implemented before even thinking about purchasing the PG32UCDM.
Of course, the overall value of what you get directly dependent on the price. If I could get the PG32UCDM for a couple hundred dollars less than the AW3225QF, it might be worth considering it even without Dolby Vision. At the time this article was written, ASUS hasn’t released a price for the PG32UCDM. However, I believe it will be equal to or a couple hundred US dollars more than the AW3225QF. The PG32UCDM is selling on Newegg.com and retails for $1,299.00.
ASUS’s ROG Swift QD-OLED PG32UCDM
Pros
- Sleek Design – If you haven’t seen the reviews for the PG32UCDM on Youtube, it is beautiful. I love the RGB on this monitor, it looks great.
- USB 3.2 Gen 2 Hub – The PG32UCDM is the only monitor that offers 10gb USB ports.
- USB-C Monitor Support
- Built-in KVM
- Embedded Burn-in Protection Software – ASUS QD-OLED Care
Cons
- No Dolby Vision Support Yet – Dolby Vision has not been implemented. However, a firmware update will be offered in the future to add support for Dolby Vision.
- Dolby Vision Support as an Afterthought – I am not sure why Dolby Vision wasn’t implemented before launch. Leads me to believe they are having issues. This is based on my past experience with the PG42UQ firmware issues. The PG42UQ still has a firmware issue and there is no fix in sight and I will leave it at that.
- Customer Service – ASUS has a track record for putting profit ahead of the customer. Reddit forums are full of customer complaints.
- Poor Build Quality/Bezel Flex – If you view this video after the 1:43 mark, you’ll encounter unsettling images showing the monitor bezel detaching effortlessly from the panel under minimal pressure. I tried to recreate this with my PG42UQ, and this is not an issue whatsoever.
- Does Not support eARC HDMI
Honorable 3rd Place: MSI’s QD-OLED MPG 321URX
While MSI’s MPG 321URX has the least number of features compared to the other two offerings, it is considerably less expensive than the AW3225QF: $250.00 US Dollars to be exact. It also offers much of the same experience as the other QD-OLED monitors; color accuracy, brightness, viewing angle, HDR10, KVM and more.
In fact, depending on the price of ASUS’s ROG Swift QD-OLED PG32UCDM (TBA), the MPG321URX could easily jump to 2nd place. This will definitely be the case, if ASUS doesn’t implement Dolby Vision flawlessly if/when their new firmware is released.
MSI’s QD-OLED MPG 321URX
Pros
- Price – The QD-OLED MPG 321URX is the lowest priced 32-inch QD-OLED on the market coming in at $949.99 US Dollars
- Embedded Burn-in Protection Software – MSI OLED Care 2.0
- 3-Year QD-OLED & Burin-In Warranty
- USB-C Monitor Support
- Built-in KVM
Cons
- Lack of Dolby Vision Support
- Does Not support eARC HDMI
- USB-A/B 2.0
Conclusion
While the AW3235QF, PG32UCDM and MPG 321URX all sport a 32in QD-OLED panel 240Hz, the 3 QD-OLED monitors are quite different. The features really make or break the value of the monitors. The monitor price and Dolby Vision are the two big factors when considering these 3 monitors. If you are willing to do without Dolby Vision, you can easily save yourself $250.00 dollars and go with the QD-OLED MPG 321URX. It really is the best low-priced option.
The real question is, would I pay $250.00 more for the Alienware AW3225QF features? The answer to that is, heck yes! The Dolby Vision, eARC support, customer service, warranty and slightly curved screen is well worth an extra $250 bucks to me. The only way I would even consider ASUS’s PG32UCDM is if it was priced a couple hundred dollars below the AW3225QF and, had a solidly working Dolby Vision support. I doubt ASUS will create the conditions for those stars to align, however. Only time will tell.
Thank you for taking the time to read my comparison review. Please consider joining my email list to offer you more in-depth reviews of the latest technology. See you next time!
READ MORE: Amazing ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM: Overview, Release Date & Price, ASUS ROG Swift PG34WCDM – Specs & Release Date, ASUS OLED PG42UQ V40 Firmware Best HDR & SDR Settings Guide
Responses