In recent years, 4K gaming has become far more accessible with top HDMI 2.1 monitors becoming some of the most desirable displays for next-gen gaming.
The BenQ MOBIUZ EX3210U promises to deliver the 'ultimate gaming experience' and 'total immersion'...a tall order, but does it rise to the task?
Well, I had the chance to give test out this monitor and see how it performs with a trusty PS5. Here's how I got on and whether the BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U is worth it...
BenQ MOBIUZ EX3210U Review
First Impressions
The first thing I noticed when setting up this display was the substantial weight of both the stand and the screen.
This is one beefy monitor, and while 32" sounds on the smaller side, once I hoisted it onto my (albeit small) desk, I was quite taken back by just how massive it looked.
The screen slots into the stand easy enough, and after this, I had the slightly tricky job of accessing the ports for my cables. After a bit of fumbling around, I accomplished my mission and could sit back and take a proper look at this beast...
Design
click to enlarge
+ 3Now BenQ has never really blown me away with design, but that's not a bad thing. In fact, for people like me who prefer something a little more understated, I thought this monitor struck a great balance.
The modern-day marmite, RGB, features here, but in a way that didn't turn my room into a spaceship interior.
In fact, I actually quite liked it, and I felt like this monitor may look a little plain without.
The 'legs' are a little...thick. And while that's probably a good thing for stability, it does look like someone hit 'CTRL-B' on them. This is slightly at odds with the thin bezels of the screen itself, at least in my eyes.
But again, if you like it, you like it! I did...sort of.
Performance
click to enlarge + 3| Display Size | 32-inch |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 4K (3840 x 2160p) |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Panel Type | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 144Hz |
| Response Time | 1ms |
| Ports | HDMI 2.1 x 2, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-A x 4, 3.5mm Jack |
| Adaptive Sync | AMD FreeSync Premium Pro |
| Built-in Speakers | Yes |
| Stand Adjustments | Height, Tilt, Swivel |
| VESA Compatible | Yes |
Okay, so enough of me blabbing on as if I know something about design...how does this monitor actually perform?
Well, it's HDMI 2.1, with a solid 144hz, and it's 4K. It also packs DisplayHDR 600, which I was quite excited to see in person.
I tested this out on PS5 on a few different games, including Elden Ring, Lego Star Wars; Skywalker Sega, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Call of Duty: Warzone and more.
The first thing you notice are the colours. I mean, they're amazing, and while I wasn't expecting anything less with its Display HDR600 rating I was still taken back by the sheer beauty of games like Elden Ring on PS5.
I tested out a few games which allowed for 4K/120hz too, just so I could see how it handled them, and I'm pleased to say that it did well.
One game was Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga at 4K/120fps, which was incredibly smooth.
I even gave Warzone a try and was impressed with the monitor's performance...unlike my own.
On the audio side of things, this display features a pair of 2-watt speakers alongside a 5-watt subwoofer. While the audio produced may not match up to the best speakers around, I have to say I was impressed.
They offer a powerful, immersive listening experience, and when turned up to full volume are easily loud enough for medium-sized/small rooms.
Plus, not only along with the speakers, there are also a ton of different Audio modes including RPG, FPS, Cinema and more options.
That's a surprising amount of effort for a feature which some monitors even do away with completely. And that's not the only place BenQ has applied some extra care to...
Special Features
click to enlarge + 3As mentioned, one of the standout features of this display is its HDR rating, but there's a bit more to it than I thought.
There are three HDR options to choose from which include Game HDRi, Cinema HDRi and Display HDR. I find myself most drawn to using the 'Display HDR' option as this produces bold hues for practically any purpose.
The display also features three separate gaming modes which include 'FPS, RPG and Racing Games'.
These various display modes give you a lot to work with and allow you to easily adapt to your desired setting.
This can be done via the small, yet enormously handy remote control that comes with the display, which makes switching between modes simple.
This remote allows you to adjust everything you'd usually have to take a contortion class to do with most monitors, which is very handy when you're switching between films and games like I am.
It's also got eye care solutions too, which automatically adjusts the brightness to the ambient light in the room.
Not bad if you find yourself in front of a screen all day.
