HP Z32k G3 USB-C Display Review

The HP Z32k G3 USB-C Display ($839) is a productivity monitor with creative chops, and thanks to its strong color range and accuracy, tasks like video and web-based art work are a breeze. can be processed. It also has better contrast than most IPS monitors. Its extensive port selection includes Thunderbolt 4, putting even a standalone docking station to shame. All of this doesn’t come cheap, but the Z32k’s features and performance earned it our Editors’ Choice as an elite productivity monitor.

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IPS Black, and Thunderbolt 4 too

The Z32k G3 is the first HP monitor with IPS Black. IPS Black is an in-plane switching (IPS) technology that effectively doubles the contrast ratio over standard IPS by rendering much deeper blacks. Only a handful of IPS black monitors have hit the market so far. We have previously verified the effectiveness of this technology with the Dell UltraSharp 27 4K USB-C Hub Monitor (U2723QE). This monitor won our Editors’ Choice Award for Outstanding Productivity Display.

The heart of the Z32k G3 is its 32-inch (measured diagonally) screen. It has a native resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, better known as UHD or 4K, and delivers a high pixel density of 140 pixels per inch (ppi). All else being equal, the higher the pixel density, i.e. the closer the pixels are packed together, the sharper the image and the Z32k G3 is better able to handle small text, complex diagrams, graphics and photos. It doesn’t have the pixel density of its smaller sibling, the Z27k G3 (163 ppi) or other 27 inch 4K panels, but the smaller the screen for a given resolution, the higher the pixel density, but more . It’s more than enough for most tasks creative professionals need.

Like a typical IPS panel, the Z32k G3 offers wide viewing angles, with a rating of up to 178 degrees for both vertical and horizontal viewing. This means that it should maintain reasonably true color, without shift or posterization, even when viewed at extreme angles. , sideways or from above. This proved to be the case in my testing.

(Credit: Kyle Cobian)

Including the stand, the Z32k G3 measures 23.8 x 28.1 x 8.5 inches (HWD) and weighs 19.8 pounds. Around the screen are thin black bezels and an additional thin border on all four sides. The stand supports all ergonomic functions. The monitor height can be adjusted up to 5.9 inches and the top of the panel can be tilted forward up to 5 degrees and forward up to 20 degrees. You can rotate the panel up to 45 degrees in either direction and rotate it from landscape to portrait to back. Not all large productivity monitors can do this. For example, MSI Summit MS321UP does not have a pivot function.

(Credit: Kyle Cobian)

If you want to mount the Z32k G3 on your arm or wall, there is a square pattern of holes spaced 100mm apart where you can attach a VESA bracket.

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Connectivity: Port Sprawl

As with the Z27k G3, the Z32k has plenty of ports. Most notably, Z32k has upgraded the small monitor’s USB-C port to Thunderbolt 4. Thunderbolt 4 uses a USB-C style connector and is backward compatible with previous Thunderbolt versions and all USB standards. This connection not only delivers up to 100 watts of power to your laptop, but also transfers data from your computer over DisplayPort over USB Alternate Mode at up to 40 Gbps (assuming it supports Thunderbolt 4) .

(Credit: Kyle Cobian)

Z32k includes 1 DisplayPort input and 1 DisplayPort output. The latter allows you to daisy chain another 4K monitor into your setup. A hub with four USB 3.2 Type-A ports lets you add a mix of mice, hard drives, and other peripherals. It also has one USB-C and one USB-B port, one HDMI 2.0 port and one audio output jack.

Most ports face down on the back, traditionally awkward places to plug cables, but with the Z32k you can easily access the connectors by simply rotating the monitor to portrait mode. One USB-A port and one USB-C port are on the side for even easier access.

(Credit: Kyle Cobian)

The Z32k also has an RJ-45 jack that supports Gigabit Ethernet, allowing you to connect to your LAN even if your laptop doesn’t have an Ethernet port or Wi-Fi is spotty or non-existent. Network management features supported include PXE boot, LAN/WLAN switching, Wake-on-LAN (WoL), and MAC address passthrough (MAPT). The first (for the Preboot eXecution Environment) allows the computer to boot directly from the network. LAN/WLAN Toggle disables laptop Wi-Fi when monitor is connected to LAN. WoL, on the other hand, allows you to remotely wake up your computer from a low power state. The MAPT feature allows a connected laptop to bypass the monitor/dock’s MAC address so it can be uniquely identified on the network with its own MAC address. The PC that the Z32k is connected to must be in a wake or sleep state, not off, in order to use these features.

(Credit: Kyle Cobian)

In the lower left corner on the back is a 4-way rocker switch with a central button that allows you to access and control the Z32k’s On-Screen Display (OSD). It resembles the mini joystick controller found on many gaming and professional monitors and is easy to learn. This kind of switch is better than the multiple control buttons still found on many monitors, especially low-end models.

(Credit: Kyle Cobian)

HP backs the Z32k with a 3-year standard warranty. This is typical of high-end productivity monitors. The Dell P3222QE and MSI MS321UP also come with a 3 year warranty. Philips does even better by warranting his 329P1H for a full four years.

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Z32k G3 Test: Aces in Brightness, Contrast and Color Coverage

We tested the Z32k G3’s brightness, contrast ratio, and color accuracy using a Klein K-80 colorimeter(opens in new window) Calman software for portrait display. The charts in this section were generated with Calman.

HP rates the Z32k G3 at 400 nits (candelas per square meter) of brightness, but our tests scored 432 nits, which it beat easily.As an IPS black monitor, its contrast ratio is It’s rated at 2,000:1 and was pretty close at 1,890:1 in our testing. (Standard IPS monitors are rated at 1,000:1 and are rarely tested beyond 1,200:1.)

According to HP, the Z32k G3 covers up to 100% of sRGB, covering the color gamut for web-based art and many other applications. In my tests, it had a perfect 100% coverage of that color space. See the chromaticity (color coverage) chart below.

(Credit: Portrait Display)

The panel is also rated to cover 98% of DCI-P3, the color space used for digital video. Our test unit did better, covering 99.9% (see chart below).

(Credit: Portrait Display)

HP does not provide numbers for the Adobe RGB space. Our tests covered 87.1%. The Z32k G3’s excellent sRGB and DCI-P3 color coverage is great for web-based art and video work, but if you’re processing photos and art for print using the Adobe RGB space, it’s not. We recommend looking for a professional graphic arts monitor. as the ViewSonic VP2785-4K which offers more complete Adobe RGB coverage. (Learn more about how to test your monitor.)

Delta E (dE for short) is a measure of color accuracy, the difference between the hue of a displayed color and the color input your monitor receives. The dE number shown in monitor specifications is the average of many individual color readings across the spectrum. The lower the value, the more accurate the colors. Many professional monitors boast a dE of less than 2 in various color spaces. HP doesn’t list the claimed Delta E in the monitor’s specs, but the Z32k G3 scored below 2 in both the sRGB (1.8) and DCI-P3 (1.94) tests. (See chart of sRGB results below.)

(Credit: Portrait Display)

I also did a hands-on test by viewing a few film clips and a series of test photos, and the results were excellent on both counts: vivid colors and strong contrast, both bright and dark. Detail is well preserved. .

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Verdict: Far Beyond General Productivity

When I reviewed the Z27k G3 almost two years ago, I was impressed with its color coverage, numerous ports, and ergonomic excellence. The Z32k has a larger screen, upgrades the previous model’s USB-C port to Thunderbolt 4, and the IPS black panel offers significantly higher contrast than his Z27k G3. As you can imagine, the Z32k sells for significantly more than its already expensive 27-inch cousin.

One thing the Z32k lacks is the video conferencing features found in many modern business monitors such as the Philips 329P1H (webcam, powerful speakers, dual mics, etc.). All of these can improve your online meeting experience, but most laptops are at least good enough for conference calls. recommends choosing a different monitor.

(Credit: Kyle Cobian)

The Z32k’s standout feature is its extensive port selection among so-called docking station monitors. The addition of Thunderbolt 4 adds both speed and power delivery to your system, especially if your laptop supports that standard. Editor’s Choice The Philips 329P1H offers a lot of features at a relatively low price, including excellent sRGB and DCI-P3 coverage, but with a more modest selection of ports than the Z32k.

The HP Z32k G3 USB-C Display is the latest Editors’ Choice high-end product for its excellent IPS Black-enhanced contrast, mastery of sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces, ergonomic design, and extensive port selection. It is Productivity monitor. Ideal for workers who spend a lot of time processing videos and photos for the web.