Pixel density is something Apple pays far more attention to than most PC builders. Problem is, achieving Apple's signature "Retina" display experience with one of the brand's own monitors is very pricey. But you can now get the very same 27-inch 5K form factor from the Philips 27E3U7903 for not far off half the price.
Up front and centre, this monitor matches the Apple Studio Display's 5K resolution and 218DPI pixel density. It's similar to the Apple panel in other ways, too. There's a comparable feature set with excellent connectivity including Thunderbolt 4, plus an integrated webcam and microphone array.
This Philips even apes Apple with its boxy, metallic chassis aesthetic, and flat-wide base and stand. What's more it even outstrips the Apple display by some measures. Philips has used the latest IPS Black panel tech to offer 2,000:1 static contrast, notably higher than the 1,200:1 ratio of the Studio Display.
Add in VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification, broad colour support and other features aimed at creative pros and you have a super strong on-paper package. The one catch is that while the Philips 27E3U7903 is much cheaper than the Apple Studio Display, there are some very good 4K monitors available at a significant discount among our pick of the best monitors for MacBook Pro. You're going to have to really want that 5K thing to justify this new Philips panel.
It's obvious from the get go that the Philips 27E3U7903 is aimed squarely at the Apple Studio Display. That extends well beyond the basic 27-inch 5K form factor. The boxy, metallic-looking chassis and flat, wide stand and base, and glass screen cover all scream "Studio Display." Even the way the fixed power cable sticks out of the rear is awfully Appley.
Where Philips can't quite match Apple is for perceived quality. The 27E3U7903 is mostly plastic where the Apple monitor uses actual metal. So, it doesn't feel nearly as expensive.
The Philip's particularly chunky bezel also separates it slightly from the marginally slimmer Studio Display. To be clear it doesn't feel cheap, either. But to at least some extent, you can see where the extra money goes on the Apple alternative.
Connectivity is both another strong point and another overlap with Apple. Philips has given this monitor Thunderbolt 4 with 96W of power delivery, plus Thunderbolt out for display daisy chaining, another three USB-C ports, USB-A, HDMI and ethernet.
That's all tied together with full KVM switch functionality, picture-in-picture support and the aforementioned display daisy chaining. So, if you have multiple PCs, Mac, laptops, whatever, this display has you covered.
Next up, there's a webcam with AI-enhanced autoframing and a microphone array, which again is redolent of the Studio Display's Center Stage camera, plus stereo speakers.
For creators, there are features like a wide range of preset colour spaces including Apple's favoured Display P3 support, 99% coverage of the DCI P3 gamut, support for Calman Ready automatic calibration.
The Philips 27E3U7903 is also VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified. That level of HDR certification requires some level of local dimming. Philips doesn't quote the number of zones. But as we'll see this monitor almost certainly is limited to a very small number of edge-lit zones, as opposed to full-array local dimming.
Philips 27E3U7903: Performance
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(Image credit: Philips // Future)
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(Image credit: Philips // Future)
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(Image credit: Philips // Future)
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(Image credit: Philips // Future)
Crispy 5K visuals
Very punchy backlight
Limited HDR capability
For 5K neophites, the first question is whether the upgrade in terms of pixel density compared to a 4K 27-inch monitor is obvious. And the simple answer is no, it's not an immediately apparent and dramatic improvement in subjective, experiential terms.
No question, fonts and text are that little bit crisper and clearer. But 4K on a 27-inch panel is pretty good in that regard too. So, the benefits of 4K are a touch more subtle than that. One benefit, for instance, is that the 3,008 x 1,692 virtual resolution option in MacOS works particularly well.
For some creative workflows, it's also very handy to be able to display a full 3,840 by 2,160 pixel 4K video stream in a window with space to spare for toolbars and controls.
But these are relatively niche upsides. For most users, it's questionable whether the price premium versus numerous cheaper 4K monitors is worth it purely for 5K, and I say that as someone who really appreciates high pixel density in computing displays.
With that in mind, the Philips 27E3U7903 needs to justify itself in broader terms. For starters, it's certainly very punchy. The maximum brightness in SDR mode is well beyond what most users will ever want to dial up.
However, it's good to have some brightness in hand, especially if you want to use this display in a setting with lots of ambient light. You'll have no problem burning that off with the Philips 27E3U7903.
That said, in that context you'll also have to contend with a fair bit of reflectivity from the glassy screen cover. That's a very Apple feature and something you either like or dislike. But it certainly adds to a sense of heightened contrast.
On that note, this is an IPS Black panel with getting on for double the static contrast performance compared to most IPS monitors. From that spec alone, you might expect a dramatic improvement in black levels. The reality is much more marginal. This monitor still has more light bleed than a VA monitor, let alone an OLED panel with perfect per-pixel lighting.
That's relevant for HDR performance, a notable weak point for this display. It has VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification and basic local dimming. But while Philips doesn't quote the number of zones, it's very likely to be around 16 edge-lit zones.
You can toggle the level of local dimming in the OSD. But in all honesty, this type of local dimming is barely any different from a dynamic backlight. Ultimately, this is not a true HDR monitor, even if it is pretty bright.
As for broader accuracy and factory calibration, that's a slight weak point. It's most noticeable when using an Apple laptop where the sRGB preset is actually a better visual match for Apple laptop than the Apple-default Display P3 colour space. To be clear, this is not a poorly calibrated display. But given the lofty price tag, it could be a touch better.
Finally, the integrated webcam is superior to a typical laptop camera, but not truly comparable to the Center Stage camera in the Apple Studio Display.
Philips 27E3U7903: Final verdict
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(Image credit: Philips // Future)
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(Image credit: Philips // Future)
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(Image credit: Philips // Future)
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(Image credit: Philips // Future)
If you're a tech enthusiast, the very notion of 5K computing is pretty exciting. 5K has to be better than 4K, right? Yes it is, but the difference on a 27-inch display isn't hugely dramatic.
There are advantages, such as slightly crisper fonts and the ability to view 4K content with screen real estate to spare for toolbars and other interface elements. But the benefits are relatively marginal. And I say that as something of a high-DPI aficionado.
With all that in mind, the Philips 27E3U7903 needs to be absolutely excellent in broad terms to justify its premium pricing and not just by virtue of delivering that Apple Studio Display-style 5K experience.
Well, it certainly is excellent in terms of connectivity thanks to a plethora of ports, plus KVM switch and daisy chaining support. Elsewhere, the Philips 27E3U7903 is certainly good, but arguably not exceptional.
The IPS Black panel is certainly nice, with vibrant colours and a very powerful backlight. But the subjective experience doesn't quite deliver on the expectations raised by the on-paper 2,000:1 contrast spec. Likewise, as with most, perhaps even all, HDR 600 monitors, the HDR experience is limited.
Slightly harder to forgive is the factory calibration. This is not a poorly calibrated display. But it's not as excellent as you might expect at this price point, albeit for the most demanding workflows, you'll be calibrating this monitor yourself, something for which it provides good support.
All of which means the Philips 27E3U7903 is ultimately a niche offering. If you're tempted by Apple's Studio Display but don't fancy the price, this is a very appealing and effective alternative. If you want the absolute best possible pixel density, then likewise. But for most users, there's better value to be had from a wide range of 27-inch 4K displays.
The Hisense 116UX is the brand’s flagship 4K TV, and it introduces RGB mini-LED technology to the world in a 116-inch screen size. Some elements of its picture rival the best TVs, and it has a wide array of features, but its appeal is limited by key shortcomings.
With a launch price of $29,999 / £24,999 / AU$39,999, the Hisense 116UX is an expensive TV that will exceed most budgets. And while it features exciting new RGB mini-LED tech, Hisense will also be introducing RGB mini-LED in 100- and 85-inch models in the future, and more buyers are likely to gravitate to those.
The 116UX’s bold, vibrant colors take mini-LED to the next level. Textures are crisp, and the high brightness gives pictures a strong level of punch. Contrast and black levels are mostly good, but backlight blooming and inconsistent backlight control lead to a clouding effect in some dark scenes that hamper what would otherwise be a remarkable picture. Even with the TV’s large size, viewing angles are limited, with pictures losing contrast when viewed from off-center seats .
A 6.2.2-channel sound system delivers mostly solid performance, with immersive effects, impressive accuracy and clear dialogue. Bass has good impact, but the 116UX’s soundstage isn’t as wide as I’d hoped for. A screen this size deserves one of the best soundbars to match, ideally a premium option like the Samsung HW-Q990F.
The 116UX is great for gaming, with 4K 165Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming all supported across three HDMI 2.1 ports. While its 14.6ms input lag time is higher than the best gaming TVs, its overall gaming performance is good enough for an enjoyable experience on a big screen.
This TV’s high price is hard to ignore, and even though the 116UX features an RGB mini-LED panel and has a gargantuan screen size, you can build a truly great home theater system with some of the best 4K projectors at this price. The 116UX will deliver better value when its price drops, but right now, it’s a big ask.
Hisense 116UX review: Price & release date
(Image credit: Future)
Release date: September 2025
Price: $29,999 / £24,999 / AU$39,999
The Hisense 116UX, Hisense’s flagship 2025 TV, uses a new RGB mini-LED panel. It sits above the Hisense 110UX, U9Q, U8Q, U7Q and U6Q mini-LED TVs and is priced at $29,999 / £24,999 / AU$39,999.
Although the 116UX had only been available for a few weeks at the time I reviewed it, the price has dropped to $24,999 in the US. I expect the TV's price will drop even further over the coming months.
Hisense 116UX review: Specs
Screen type
RGB mini-LED
Refresh rate
Up to 165Hz (4K)
HDR support
Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
Audio support
Dolby Atmos
Smart TV
Google TV (US), VIDAA (UK& Aus)
HDMI ports
3 x HDMI 2.1
Built-in tuner
ATSC 3.0
Hisense 116UX review: Benchmark results
Hisense 116UX review: Features
(Image credit: Future)
RGB mini-LED panel
Hi-View AI Engine X processor
Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ and IMAX Enhanced support
The 116UX features Hisense’s RGB mini-LED panel, which uses RGB mini-LEDs to produce a wider, more refined color gamut. HDR support includes Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+, as well as the HDR10 and HLG formats. It also supports IMAX Enhanced and Filmmaker Mode.
Hisense’s flagship TV comes equipped with a 6.2.2-channel speaker system, totaling 110W in power. It supports Dolby Atmos, but not DTS. Alongside the usual sound presets - Standard, Movie, Sport - it also has AI sound, which adapts the sound and dialogue based on both the content showing onscreen and the viewing environment.
The 116UX’s gaming features include 4K 165Hz, VRR including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM support. All features are supported across the TV’s three HDMI 2.1 ports.
Hisense’s smart TV platform varies by region. Google TV is used in the US, while Hisense’s own VIDAA smart TV platform features in the UK and Australia. I reviewed the UK version, so I used VIDAA, which has access to popular streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video, and also UK apps such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX. If you want a review of the Google TV smart TV platform, check out our Hisense U8Q review.
Features score: 4.5 / 5
Hisense 116UX review: Picture quality
Color is where the Hisense 116UX really shines, thanks to its RGB mini-LED panel (Image credit: Disney / Future)
High brightness and brilliant color
Refined detail
Black uniformity issues
The 116UX’s peak HDR brightness hit 5,441 nits and fullscreen HDR brightness was 1,090 nits, with both measured in Filmmaker Mode. That peak brightness result is over twice what I measured on the Hisense 110UX, a TV that uses a standard mini-LED panel.
The 116UX’s measured HDR color gamut covered 99.3% of the DCI-P3 color space, which is an excellent result for a mini-LED TV. Its BT.2020 color gamut coverage was even more impressive at 92.64%, which is the highest amount we’ve measured on a TV to date.
I first started my testing with some SDR content, beginning with an HD stream of Fight Club on Disney+. I chose Filmmaker Mode but set brightness and local dimming to medium as the picture was too dim at the default settings. I was impressed by the 116UX’s effective upscaling of textures, which gave the picture a crisper look. Even at a 116-inch size, the image was clean. Lower resolution content on YouTube didn’t fare as well, with the image looking blocky on the large screen.
Color is where the 116UX shines – literally. Watching Elemental on Disney Plus in Dolby Vision IQ picture mode, reds and oranges were vibrant and punchy, with the 116UX’s brightness adding real pop in a scene where Ember makes a vase. In Wicked on 4K Blu-ray, pink flowers in a tree in the ‘Wizard & I’ scene had a bold look, as did the greens of the Emerald City.
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The 116UX sometimes handles dark scenes well (1) but struggles with others (2), even in the same movie, as shown here with Alien: Romulus (Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: 20th Century Studios / Future )
As I’ve discovered with most Hisense TVs, motion handling requires a bit of setup. I watched a stream of a soccer game on Prime Video and found that most motion presets worked, but either Standard or Custom, with Blur set to 3 and Judder set to 5, produced the smoothest image. This was also true for movie viewing, as a scene from No Time To Die where a camera pans across a rocky hillside looked much smoother with the above settings.
Textures looked consistently crisp and realistic on the 116UX, with close-up shots of people’s faces showing fine details such as marks or hair. Clothing was also true-to-life and given a 3D look.
Watching black and white scenes from Oppenheimer on the 116UX, whites looked bright and there was a good range of gray tones. Blacks were slightly raised, but they still looked solid. The 116UX also delivered good shadow detail in darker scenes, such as objects against dark walls in a scene where Strauss and Oppenheimer are in an office after their first meeting.
Dark scenes ultimately were a mixed bag on the 116UX. Blacks appeared rich and deep in some instances, such as the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark 4K Blu-ray’s demo footage, but they came across as more of a dark gray in movie scenes from The Batman and Alien: Romulus. While contrast was also strong in these movies, there was a clouding effect across the screen in dark sections of the image. Strangely, one exterior space shot in Alien: Romulus demonstrated good accuracy in the blacks, but another in a dark tunnel revealed the clouding effect at its worst.
The 116UX also demonstrated some backlight blooming around bright objects against dark backgrounds when viewed from off-center. Plus, the clouding issue became more apparent when viewing from more extreme angles.
I reached out to Hisense regarding dark scene viewing and the clouding effect and it said it was aware of and looking into it, but couldn't provide a fix at this time. If there are any updates, I'll be sure to add them to this review.
Picture quality score: 4 / 5
Hisense 116UX review: Sound quality
The 116UX delivers decent built-in sound, but overall a screen like this deserves a soundbar to match (Image credit: Future)
6.2.2-channel speaker array
Clear, expansive, accurate sound
Only average soundstage
The 116UX comes with a built-in 6.2.2-channel, 110W Devialet sound system that supports Dolby Atmos, but not DTS. It has subwoofers built into the rear of the screen, with two speakers running down each side of its frame and height speakers positioned on the top of the TV.
Watching the Batmobile chase scene from The Batman, the 116UX accurately connected the sound to the action on screen. The overall sound was punchy with clear dialogue. The 116UX’s sound was also immersive at times, going beyond the borders of the screen and making Dolby Atmos effects, such as rain in The Batman, feel as if they’re overhead.
While the 116UX’s built-in sound system is good, at times it felt restrained. Bass in particular lacked fullness. And while there was some suggestion of surround effects, I expected a sound system like this to produce a wider soundstage.
Some people will be happy with the 116UX’s sound, but I feel it deserves a sound system to match its gargantuan, cinematic picture.
Sound quality score: 4 / 5
Hisense 116UX review: Design
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The 116UX uses metal feet to support its heavy weight (Image credit: Future)
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But the 116UX is surprisingly thin despite is large size (Image credit: Future)
Sleek, modern design
Weighty and cumbersome
Basic support feet
At 116 inches, the 116UX requires a large space. Its big screen will be too cumbersome for most living rooms and, unlike retractable projector screens of a similar size, it will dominate a space.
Hisense has done its best to make the 116UX appear as sleek as possible while still housing a substantial built-in sound system. Its frame is trim, and it’s made of a premium-looking black metal. As a result, the 116UX is an incredibly weighty 239lbs (108kg), meaning you’ll need to carefully consider installation, although there are two carry handles on the rear. The TV is supported by two metal feet, which, although plain, are expected for a TV this size.
The 116UX comes with Hisense’s solar remote, which is reminiscent of Samsung’s SolarCell remote and can be charged using the rear solar panel or by USB-C. It has a nice design with a burnished steel finish and feels more premium than Hisense’s standard TV remotes.
Design score: 4 / 5
Hisense 116UX review: Smart TV & menus
VIDAA (Hisense's smart TV platform in the UK) has plenty of picture settings and good app access (Image credit: Future)
Google TV (US), VIDAA (UK & Australia)
Good number of picture settings
Performance can lag at times
Like all Hisense TVs, the 116UX’s smart TV platform will be different based on your region. In the US, it uses Google TV, and in the UK and Australia, it uses Hisense’s own VIDAA smart TV platform. I reviewed the 116UX in the UK, so I will be focusing on VIDAA. Check out our Hisense U8Q review to read about a Google TV Hisense model.
VIDAA has access to all major streaming services such as Netflix and Prime Video, and all UK-based streaming services such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX. It also supports Freely, a service in which you can watch live TV over Wi-Fi with no need for an antenna or satellite connection.
There are a good number of picture settings on the 116UX. VIDAA’s overall look is plain and not as user-friendly as LG’s webOS, and the 116UX’s overall performance during navigation suffered from lag on occasion. VIDAA could do with a visual overhaul, as it does look dated in some of its menus.
Smart TV & menus: 4 / 5
Hisense 116UX review: Gaming
The Hisense 116UX has great gaming features and impressive picture quality for gaming (Image credit: Future)
4K 165Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium
14.6ms input lag
Three HDMI 2.1 ports
The 116UX has impressive gaming features, such as 4K 165Hz, VRR including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming, and these are all supported on three HDMI 2.1 ports. There is also a 288Hz game booster mode for PC gaming and a Game Board pop-up menu that displays useful information such as frame rate and VRR, as well as settings that can be adjusted, such as Dark Detail.
Gaming performance on the 116UX is generally smooth and responsive. Playing a demo of Dynasty Warriors: Origins on PlayStation 5, the action felt fast-paced and chaotic as expected at both 60Hz and 120Hz. I noticed during gameplay that the frame rate varied a lot in the 120Hz Performance mode, but I chalked this up to the game itself, due to its rendering of many enemies on screen.
The 116UX’s measured input lag is 14.6ms, which is higher than rivals like Samsung and TCL, but still under the 15ms threshold most gamers look for.
Gaming score: 4.5 / 5
Hisense 116UX review: Value
The Hisense 110UXN comes with Hisense's premium remote, which has both a USB-C port and a solar cell on the bottom rear for charging (Image credit: Future)
Expensive
Similarly priced to big-screen OLED TVs
Much pricier than the 110-inch 110UX
At $29,999 / £24,999 / AU$39,999, the Hisense 116UX is a pricey, premium TV. It may come with an exciting, new RGB mini-LED panel that produces superb brightness and color, but that’s still a lofty price, even for a TV this feature-packed.
At this price range, you can pick up some of the best projectors on the market, such as the JVC DLA-NZ800 ($15,999 / £15,999 / AU$24,999). It won’t have the 116UX’s brightness, but it will still produce an excellent picture. Plus, you can build an entire home theater system around it with the same budget.
The 116UX is also much pricier than the step-down 110UX ($14,999 / £18,999 / AU$24,999), and while it delivers better performance and picture quality, that's still a significant price gap.
Value score: 3 / 5
Should you buy the Hisense 116UX?
The Hisense 110UXN comes at a premium price that most won't be able to afford (Image credit: Future)
Hisense 110UXN
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
RGB mini-LED panel with good amount of smart and gaming features
4.5/5
Picture quality
Superb color reproduction, brightness and realistic textures, but dark scene viewing can be an issue
4/5
Sound quality
Punchy, precise sound system with decent bass, but sound feels narrow at times
4/5
Design
Trim design considering size, and feels sturdy as well
4/5
Smart TV and menus
VIDAA has good number of picture settings and apps, but looks dated
4/5
Gaming
Great array of gaming features including 165Hz and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and 3 HDMI 2.1 ports
4.5/5
Value
An exciting step forward for mini-LED, but expensive price means it remains exclusive
3/5
Buy it if...
You want a cinema-sized screen The Hisense 116UX gives you the experience of a cinema at home, delivering high brightness and vibrant color.
You want a big screen for gaming The 116UX has a great range of gaming features and solid performance to match, but the novelty of gaming on such a large screen is where gamers will be most excited.
Don't buy it if…
You're on a budget The 116UX carries a very premium price tag and although prices will drop over the coming months, it's unlikely to become affordable for 99% of people.
You want a perfect picture The 116UX has screen uniformity issues and struggles with some dark scenes. It struggles even more when these scenes are viewed off-center.
Also consider
Hisense 116UX
Hisense 110UXN
Samsung QN90F (65-inch)
Hisense U8QG (65-inch)
Price
$24,999 / £24,999 / AU$34,999
$14,999 / £19,999 / around AU$24,300
$2,499.99 / £2,499 / AU$3,499
$2,199 / £2,199 / AU$2,999
Screen type
RGB Mini-LED
Mini-LED
Mini-LED
Mini-LED
Refresh rate
120Hz (up to 165Hz)
120Hz (up to 144Hz)
120Hz (up to 144Hz)
120Hz (up to 144HZ)
HDR support
Dolby Vision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
Dolby Vision IQ/HDR10/HLG/HDR10+
HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
Dolby Vision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
Smart TV
Google TV (US), VIDAA (UK/Aus)
Google TV (US/Aus), VIDAA (UK)
Tizen
Google TV (US/Aus), VIDAA (UK)
HDMI ports
3 x HDMI 2.1
4 (2x HDMI 2.1)
4 x HDMI 2.1
3 x HDMI 2.1
Hisense 110UXN The Hisense 110UXN is the step-down model from the 116UX and while its standard mini-LED panel doesn't deliver as vibrant a picture as the 116UX, it does have similar features and is significantly cheaper, while still delivering a big screen experience.
Samsung QN90F Though it lacks the Hisense's RGB mini-LED panel and doesn't hit the same brightness levels as the 116UX, the Samsung QN90F delivers outstanding picture quality and has one of the most complete feature sets on the market, including an effective anti-reflection screen. Plus, it's a lot cheaper.
Hisense U8QG The Hisense U8QG is one of Hisense's flagship TVs at a more affordable price. While it again doesn't deliver the same picture quality as the 116UX, it is excellent value for money and does deliver strong performance and a brilliant set of features for a good price. It's also frequently on sale.
I tested the Hisense 116UX in a light-controlled demo room at Hisense Europe HQ in Leeds, England.
I first established which picture modes I would use for my testing with some casual viewing. For my critical viewing, I used several reference scenes from both SDR (broadcast TV and streaming) and HDR sources (4K Blu-ray and streaming). I tested the 116UX's picture for brightness, color, shadow detail and contrast, screen uniformity, upscaling and motion. I also used these same sources to test the UX116's audio performance. To play 4K Blu-rays, I used the Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player.
I also tested gaming performance and features using a PlayStation 5.
Measurements for the Hisense 116UX were taken by my colleague Matthew Murray, Head of Testing at Future, at a separate event in the US.
These tests included peak (10% window) and fullscreen (100%) SDR and HDR brightness, measured on a white window test pattern.
HDR color gamut was also measured, examining the DCI-P3 and BT.2020 color spaces. Color and grayscal accuracy were measured using Delta-E values (the margin for error between the test pattern signal and what's shown on screen).
Finally, the TV's input lag was measured using a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Input Lag Tester.
The Acer Predator X32 X is not the first 32-inch 4K gaming monitor we've seen using Samsung's QD-OLED panel technology, but it does pack a particularly strong feature set at an awfully punchy price.
As ever, the central appeal here is a stunning 32-inch QD-OLED panel with full 4K resolution and 240Hz refresh. That means you not only have a large, cinematic viewing experience. You also get great pixel density, and therefore super-sharp visuals with oodles of detail.
This isn't the very latest OLED technology, so there are some limitations that I'll come to shortly, but Acer has upped the ante over some of the similarly priced competition. Retailing for $1,199.99 (about £885 / AU$1,800), the Predator X32 X has really strong supporting features, including USB-C connectivity with 65W power delivery and a KVM switch, the latter allowing you to share this monitor with two PCs or maybe a PC and a console.
Just be sure to note that we're talking here about the Acer Predator X32 X and specifically the model with the Xbmiipphuzx suffix. It's distinct from the mere Acer Predator X32 V2bmiiphx, which is similar, but only runs at 165Hz and doesn't offer the USB-C and KVM switch. Oh, and also don't confuse this with the Acer Predator X32 X3, which seems very similar but is actually based on LG's competing WOLED panel tech.
Yes, it's all a bit confusing, and those alpha-numeric jumbles are a branding disgrace, but none of that prevents this monitor from going toe-to-toe with the best gaming monitors on the market right now.
Acer Predator X32 X: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
How much does it cost? $1,199 (about £855/AU$1,800)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US and UK, with Australia availability TBD
While the MSRP on this monitor might be $1,199.99, Acer and other retailers have cut the price of this monitor by 25%, making it an even more attractive value for a 32-inch QD-OLED 4K display. View Deal
At $1,199.99 in the US (about £885/AU$1,800), this isn't the absolute cheapest 32-inch gaming monitor based on Samsung's 4K QD-OLED panel. It's also difficult to find in the UK right now, as some retailers like Amazon and Overclockers will have a listing for the monitor, but list it as unavailable and don't give current pricing. I've reached out to Acer about the stock issues in the UK and will update this review if and when I hear back from the company.
One of the things that makes the UK stock issues frustrating, though, is that the Predator X32 X is one of the most competitive 4K QD-OLED gaming monitors out there.
Few if any comparably priced 32-inch 4K OLEDs include both USB-C with power delivery and full KVM switch capability. If you want to share this monitor across, say, a gaming PC and a laptop, that's just perfect.
Even if you don't, you're paying little to nothing extra for the option to do something like that in the future. That makes this Acer a bit of a no-brainer if you're shopping among the various 32-inch QD-OLED gaming monitor options on the market right now, like the Alienware 32 AW3225QF or MSI MAG 321UPX.
Value: 4.5 / 5
Acer Predator X32 X: Specs
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
Acer Predator X32 X Specifications
Screen size
31.5-inch diagonal
Resolution
3,840x2,160p
Panel technology
Samsung QD-OLED
Refresh rate
240Hz
Response time
0.03ms
Panel curve
1700R
HDR
HDR Black 400
Brightness
250 nits full screen, 1,000 nits in a 3% window
Features
HDMI 2.1 x2, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C hub with 4x USB-A and 1x USB-C with 65W power delivery, USB-A hub, KVM switch
Acer Predator X32 X: Features
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
USB-C with power delivery
KVM switch
Though I've seen plenty of best 4K monitors implement Samsung's QD-OLED panel tech, the Acer Predator X32 X is unusual in implementing a curved panel surface. It's fairly gentle at 1700R, but curved monitors aren't to absolutely everyone's taste.
For the record, it also comes with a glossy panel coating for maximum contrast. Again, there's a degree of personal preference in the whole glossy-versus-matte thing, so whether this is a plus or a minus will depend on which side of that divide you land.
More universally welcome is the excellent connectivity. As you'd expect, there's both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 (two of the former, one of the latter). But the extras start with USB-C with 65W power delivery.
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
You can get USB-C interfaces with over 90 watts of power. But a high performance gaming laptop needs plenty more still. Few, if any, monitors can keep a true gaming laptop fully juiced. So, this Acer's USB-C interface still delivers on the premise of single-cable connectivity for a thin-and-light portable.
To that you can add a USB-A hub and KVM switch capability. That suits the broader capabilities of this monitor pretty handily. As a 4K 32-inch monitor, it's ideal for getting serious work done. But the 240Hz refresh and OLED panel tech are also fantastic for gaming.
With the KVM switch, you can attach both a gaming rig and, say, a work laptop, and seamlessly share a keyboard and mouse across both PCs. The Acer Predator X32 X isn't unique in this class to offer those features. But it is one of, if not the cheapest, we've seen to do so, and it's something not many of even the best monitors on the market don't offer.
Features: 4.5 / 5
Acer Predator X32 X: Design
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
Narrow bezels
Good adjustability
Requires a large power adapter
Design considerations are always subjective. But there's no doubting the Acer Predator X32 X is unambiguously aimed at gamers, what with its sharp lines and RGB mood lighting. Minimalist and sleek it ain't.
That said, the most gamery design flourishes including the RGB lighting are at the rear. The front of the monitor is relatively low key with slim bezels on all four sides of the QD-OLED panel.
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
Likewise, the "Predator" branding on the lower bezel is pretty small. So, it wouldn't actually look that out of place in a work environment.
It's also nicely engineered and has height, tilt and swivel adjustment. Overall, it feels well built and worthy of the relatively elevated price tag. Ergonomically, our only significant complaint is the massive external power brick. Integrated PSUs are just that little bit slicker and neater.
Design: 3.5 / 5
Acer Predator X32 X: Performance
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
Perfect per-pixel lighting
Incredible fluid and responsive gameplay
Full-screen brightness can be somewhat muted
The Acer Predator X32 X doesn't throw up any huge surprises, performance-wise. For the most part, that's good news. I've seen lots of these 32-inch 4K gaming monitors using Samsung's QD-OLED technology, and they are pretty incredible, and that's just as true here as the rest of them.
The obvious upsides include perfect per-pixel lighting for infinite contrast and the spectacle of both very bright and very dark objects rendered with incredible precision on the screen at the same time. It's a trick that no LCD panel, even with local dimming, can pull off. Once you're used to the stunning HDR sizzle displays like this are capable of, it's hard to go back to even a really good IPS monitor.
To all that, you can add the advantages of full 4K resolution. That brings a fairly high pixel density of over 140DPI and means that the non-standard triangular RGB subpixel arrangement of QD-OLED technology is no longer a problem when it comes to clear text rendering. This thing is crispy.
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
It's also incredibly detailed in games. Combine the aforementioned HDR thrills with 4K image detail and precision, plus the 240Hz refresh and ridiculously fast pixel response performance of all QD-OLED panels, and, well, it's an incredible experience. But not a perfect experience.
This isn't the very latest OLED panel tech, so full-screen brightness is limited to 250 nits. That's not terrible, but it does mean that brighter outdoor gaming scenes can look a little dull. This monitor only looks at its absolute best when it's showing a mix of brighter and darker image elements. Light up the whole screen, and the panel dimming algorithms kick in and reduce overall brightness.
Of course, that's true of all monitors based on Samsung's QD-OLED technology, as is the slight problem with how the panel performs in bright ambient conditions. Long story short, if you use this monitor in a really bright room, the panel itself can reflect a lot of light, which impacts perceived black levels and contrast.
It won't be a problem for most users. But it is worth bearing in mind, depending on where you're planning to use a monitor like this.
Performance: 4 / 5
Should you buy the Acer Predator X32 X?
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
Acer Predator X32 X scorecard
Value
This isn't the absolute cheapest 4K 32-inch OLED we've seen. But it does have the best feature set yet at this attractive price point.
4.5 / 5
Design
The Acer Predator X32 X's slightly gamery design vibe won't be to all tastes. The external power brick is clumsy, too. But it's certainly well built.
3.5 / 5
Features
With plenty of ports, downstream USB power delivery, and KVM switching, there are a lot of things to like about this monitor besides the display itself.
4.5 / 5
Performance
This isn't the very latest QD-OLED technology. And some limitations remain. But the combination of HDR sizzle with 4K precision is still very special.
4 / 5
Final score
The very latest OLED tech is slightly superior. But it hasn't hit the 32-inch 4K segment yet and of the currently available options, this Acer might just be the best value.
4.13 / 5
Buy the Acer Predator X32 X if...
You want a 4K OLED experience Early OLED monitors had disappointing pixel density. But not this 4K beauty. It's sharp and precise with loads of image detail and super crispy font rendering.
You love HDR visuals When it comes to HDR thrills, you simply cannot beat the perfect per-pixel lighting of OLED technology. No LCD monitor even comes close.
Don't buy it if...
You want maximum full-screen brightness Full-screen brightness is still a relative OLED weakness, and this Acer is no different, maxing out at a relatively modest 250 nits.
You prefer flat monitor panels The Acer Predator X32 X is only gently curved with a 1700R radius. But if you prefer absolutely flat, there are lots of alternatives.
Acer Predator X32 X: Also consider
If my Acer Predator X32 X review has you considering other options, here are a few other monitors to consider...
Alienware AW3225QF This 32-inch 4K QD-OLED is almost identical, right down to its curved panel and USB-C port. But it's just that little bit more expensive.
MSI MPG 491CQP If you want to max-out your OLED screen size for similarl money, try this massive 49-inch QD-OLED monster. Just remember the pixel density is much, much lower.
I played all my favourite games on the Acer Predator X32 X. That includes everything from ray-traced graphics fests like Cyberpunk 2077 to online shooters including Counter-Strike 2.
I wanted to get a feel for everything from HDR performance, to pixel speed and responsiveness. Of course, this monitor is also great for getting serious stuff done, so I used it as my daily driver for a week, including work, web browsing and ye olde YouTube.
The QD-OLED panel tech used by Acer is familiar. I've reviewed at least five other 32-inch 4K monitors with the same panel, plus several with LG's competing WOLED tech. The Acer Predator X32 X didn't throw up any surprises. But that's mostly a good thing because it means the competitive pricing is especially appealing when you factor in the excellent connectivity.
Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide gaming monitor: Three-minute review
(Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)
Having used an OLED ultrawide for years now, specifically the Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED (a mouthful, I know), I've been curious about a switch to mini-LED. The idea of higher brightness while gaming is intriguing, to say the least, and in came the Mobile Pixels 34-inch curved mini-LED ultrawide gaming monitor.
This monitor left me impressed with its quality while gaming or watching content built for high brightness – so much so that I didn't miss using my main OLED monitor. For the first time ever, I've been able to push brightness very high in games and enjoy fascinating visuals, and most importantly, without too much exposure.
Images don't really do it much justice, as it will mostly seem too bright to view in images below. However, believe me when I say it's a treat to view in person – and it comes down to its HDR1000 VESA certification (allowing 1000 nits of peak brightness), and 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio producing incredible deep black levels.
With an 180Hz refresh rate, which is higher than what you might find on some of the best ultrawide gaming monitors, I was able to enjoy my favorite games easily.
(Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)
It's important to note, though, that it's not all great. Dark level smearing (especially when reading white text against dark backgrounds) and ghosting in games are noticeable, and while that's to be expected for a VA panel, it will be bothersome for those who are accustomed to faster displays.
While it didn't completely spoil my gaming or movie viewing experiences, it was a lot more evident for me when playing fast-paced games, especially when using Frame Generation against darker backgrounds in-game. It gets worse (as expected) when enabling any of the overdrive settings via the monitor OSD menu – which I must add, is very finicky, as it sometimes won't save settings or simply undo them randomly.
The biggest examples for me were using path tracing in Cyberpunk 2077, and notably path tracing mods in Capcom's Dragon's Dogma 2, which comes with a lot of ghosting already and lacks a denoiser (but served as an easier way for me to notice the difference). When in lighter backgrounds, ghosting was noticeable, but it wasn't too extreme. When stepping into darker areas, the ghosting and smearing were seriously bad.
Perhaps it's a bit unfair coming from using an OLED to a VA mini-LED, but its price is in the same region as other OLED monitors that don't have this issue. It would have worked in Mobile Pixels' favor to use an IPS panel instead of VA for better response times, but that would potentially be a drawback on the great contrast available here.
Notice the ghosting is worse on the darker background? (Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)
In terms of blooming, it's kept to a minimum when sitting directly in front of the monitor. Bear in mind, what you're seeing below isn't the best representation of how well the haloing effect is kept to a minimum, due to different lighting conditions.
There's a 'Halo Control' setting in the OSD menu, but I found that adjustments weren't very necessary. I was quite happy with how well this monitor handles bloom. Compared to my mini-LED TV (specifically the TCL 55QM8B), which has 300+ full-array local dimming zones, I'd say the results were fairly similar.
I must reiterate that this is a VA panel, so viewing angles are narrow. Essentially, blooming is significantly worse when viewing from either side, but I've never used my ultrawide monitors when sitting away from my desk (unless it's a 32:9 display).
HDR is enabled here... (Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)
Lining this up with an OLED display, again, is pretty unfair, since the AW3423DWF is night and day ahead, but it gave me a good impression of how good the deep black levels are on the Mobile Pixels 34-inch ultrawide. If you've been using a regular LED display, mini-LED will still blow you away – and in my eyes, it's the best alternative to OLED.
And the comparison below is proof of that. The OLED's deep black levels are genuinely phenomenal, and while the mini-LED strays far behind due to blooming, it was still great enough for me to enjoy content – and that's even better when you throw in the benefit of very high brightness.
It's also worth noting that there's no worry of burn-in, unlike OLED monitors. It's been a breath of fresh air not to baby my Alienware display with OLED care and pixel refreshes. In some ways, you can almost say that makes mini-LED the better choice, as you're getting the best of the 'brightness world', while still taking some benefits of great contrast – and with an OLED, you're mostly getting the best of the latter.
Yes, multiple OLED monitors like the AW3423DWF can utilize HDR1000, and OLEDs are about to get brighter with True Black HDR1000 VESA certifications. However, my display has a very aggressive Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL), which kicks in when trying to use HDR1000, and I've not had to deal with that on the Mobile Pixels ultrawide.
It's taught me to respect mini-LED monitors, which I once saw as too low of a step down from OLED, and I'd very much consider using one in a multi-display setup.
Top monitor is OLED, bottom is mini-LED (Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)
I'm very pleased with Mobile Pixels' decision to place the ports of the monitor directly on its rear, instead of the underside like most monitors do. I get that this is done to avoid strain on cables standing upright and prevent any damage, but it's so easy and convenient to reach if you need to unplug or plug any of them – and it's super beneficial if you have a cramped desktop setup like me.
The 90W USB-C reverse charging port is a welcome addition, and I could use it to charge other devices – and I really saw the benefit of this since I have tons of devices occupying power sockets.
It features 4-array microphones with DNC noise reduction, but no matter what I tried, I couldn't my PC wouldn't recognize this, so I had no luck with testing there.
(Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)
The RGB lighting is decent enough, but not bright enough to appreciate. I won't knock the monitor down for this, though. Most monitors I've used don't have RGB lighting that stands out, except for the Philips Evnia displays that have a special Ambilight feature to sync content on the screen to its RGB lights.
Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide gaming monitor: Price & Availability
How much does it cost? $899.99 / around £660 / AU$1,370 without import costs
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia (shipping from the US)
The Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide monitor retails at $899.99 / around £660 / AU$1,730, and while this display's high brightness and contrast ratio have left me impressed, I think it should be much cheaper. Some OLED ultrawide monitors are currently cheaper and don't have issues like dark level smearing or ghosting.
It's not a bad monitor despite some of its issues, but I'd have been more fond of it if it didn't cost this much. Import fees will also bump up the cost if you're outside of the US, which makes its potential total price even more unappealing.
Fortunately, it gets a lot right, specifically within the region of HDR brightness and contrast; there's hardly any loss of detail when looking at bright scenery in movies or games when at maximum brightness, so it's something to consider if you're looking to get your hands on it.
(Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)
Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide gaming monitor: Specs
Screen Size
34-inch
Aspect Ratio
21:9
Resolution
3440x1440
Brightness
450 nits (Min) 1000 nits (Max)
Contrast Ratio
1,000,000:1
Refresh Rate
180Hz
Color Accuracy
99% sRGB | 94% DCI-P3 | 99% Adobe RGB
Speakers
2x 5W Midrange, 1x 12W Bass
Microphone
4-array microphones with DSC noise reduction
Weight
18.51 lbs
Wall Mountable (VESA)
100 x 100 mm
FreeSync Premium technology
Yes
Power Consumption
Typ. 65W, Max. 270W
Panel Type
VA
Connections
2 × USB-A 3.0
1 × USB-C 3.1
2 × HDMI 2.0
1 × DP 1.4
1 × 3.5mm Audio out
Should you buy the Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide gaming monitor?
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
Plenty of high brightness to enjoy across movies, TV shows, and games, but could benefit from a slightly cheaper price tag.
3 / 5
Design
Bogged down by the mediocre speakers on the bottom of monitor, but is adequate in other areas.
3.5 / 5
Performance
Besides dark level smearing and ghosting, the high brightness with HDR 1000, significantly enhances visual experiences, standing as a great alternative to OLED.
4 / 5
Features
OSD needs an improvement, but a 180Hz refresh rate and USB-C 90W reverse charging port are a very welcome addition.
4 / 5
Average rating
The Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide would be much better with a lower retail price, repositioning of the speakers, and an IPS panel for less ghosting and smearing, but excels at high brightness for immersion, making it a good option for PC gamers.
3.5 / 5
Buy it if...
You desire an ultrawide with high brightness
The Mobile Pixels mini-LED monitor is ideal for those who crave bright and lively gaming experiences, with HDR1000 blending well with the 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. It's best used in titles that are built for HDR.View Deal
You want to avoid burn-in care
While OLED is an easy choice at an affordable price, it's not for everyone, as there's always a risk of burn-in. OLED burn-in care has advanced, but not having to worry about the possibility at all with this mini-LED monitor is a big win.View Deal
You're upgrading from a regular LED monitor
The jump from a regular LED display to Mobile Pixels' mini-LED, is significant, and while it suffers a total loss to OLED deep black levels, it comes close enough while getting the best of brightness. View Deal
Don't buy if...
You're looking for a budget monitor
This monitor's biggest issue is its price, especially compared to OLEDs that are at the same price range or less expensive. It retails at $899.99, which is too high considering the issues it has with ghosting and smearing.View Deal
You prefer the best deep black levels
Like other mini-LED displays, the Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide gaming monitor does a great job with contrast, but it doesn't match up to OLED, which remains undefeated at producing the best contrast.View Deal
You find ghosting and smearing frustrating
If you're a competitive gamer or simply happen to notice dark level smearing and ghosting easily, you might want to reconsider purchasing this monitor. It's using a VA panel, so viewing angles and the response time aren't the best.View Deal
Also consider
Acer Predator X32QFS
If dark level smearing and ghosting are a big issue for you, and you don't mind a 4K mini-LED instead of an ultrawide, then the Acer Predator X32QFS should be on your radar. This features a mini-LED IPS panel, which handles ghosting much better, and compatibility for both PS5 and PC with HDMI 2.1.
1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A, 1 x audio jack
Color gamut
99% Adobe RGB, 99% DCI-P3
Display colors
1.07 billion
Warranty
2-years
How I tested the Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide
Two weeks of usage on movies, TV shows, and games, notably titles that implement HDR well
Some examples are Assassin's Creed Shadows, Street Fighter 6, Dragon's Dogma 2, Resident Evil 4 remake, and Cyberpunk 2077
Multiple contrast tests and comparisons with Alienware AW3423DWF OLED ultrawide monitor
Throughout my two weeks of testing, especially when gaming, I had plenty of fun with the Mobile Pixels 34-inch monitor, and put my OLED monitor aside as a secondary display. Despite the drawbacks of blooming and ghosting, it was easy to enjoy bright content without losing much detail.
Testing Stellar Blade, Assassin's Creed Shadows, and Cyberpunk 2077 first left great initial impressions, specifically in Cyberpunk 2077, where neon lights and vivid streets provide exceptional visuals on any display, but it took things up a notch. The ghosting issues became far more noticeable when using Frame Generation in Cyberpunk 2077 and Dragon's Dogma 2, and even more so in fast-paced FPS games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Placing this next to Dell's Alienware OLED monitor, allowed me to point out the mini-LED monitor's drawbacks more easily. However, in terms of deep black levels, I was impressed with the Mobile Pixels 34-inch display, with just how close it can get to OLED, albeit still quite far off.
I used it for work and multitasking, which proved to be beneficial, in comparison to OLED, which notoriously has readability issues – and the mini-LED was a breeze to use while deep into productivity.
Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide gaming monitor: Three-minute review
(Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)
Having used an OLED ultrawide for years now, specifically the Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED (a mouthful, I know), I've been curious about a switch to mini-LED. The idea of higher brightness while gaming is intriguing, to say the least, and in came the Mobile Pixels 34-inch curved mini-LED ultrawide gaming monitor.
This monitor left me impressed with its quality while gaming or watching content built for high brightness – so much so that I didn't miss using my main OLED monitor. For the first time ever, I've been able to push brightness very high in games and enjoy fascinating visuals, and most importantly, without too much exposure.
Images don't really do it much justice, as it will mostly seem too bright to view in images below. However, believe me when I say it's a treat to view in person – and it comes down to its HDR1000 VESA certification (allowing 1000 nits of peak brightness), and 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio producing incredible deep black levels.
With an 180Hz refresh rate, which is higher than what you might find on some of the best ultrawide gaming monitors, I was able to enjoy my favorite games easily.
(Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)
It's important to note, though, that it's not all great. Dark level smearing (especially when reading white text against dark backgrounds) and ghosting in games are noticeable, and while that's to be expected for a VA panel, it will be bothersome for those who are accustomed to faster displays.
While it didn't completely spoil my gaming or movie viewing experiences, it was a lot more evident for me when playing fast-paced games, especially when using Frame Generation against darker backgrounds in-game. It gets worse (as expected) when enabling any of the overdrive settings via the monitor OSD menu – which I must add, is very finicky, as it sometimes won't save settings or simply undo them randomly.
The biggest examples for me were using path tracing in Cyberpunk 2077, and notably path tracing mods in Capcom's Dragon's Dogma 2, which comes with a lot of ghosting already and lacks a denoiser (but served as an easier way for me to notice the difference). When in lighter backgrounds, ghosting was noticeable, but it wasn't too extreme. When stepping into darker areas, the ghosting and smearing were seriously bad.
Perhaps it's a bit unfair coming from using an OLED to a VA mini-LED, but its price is in the same region as other OLED monitors that don't have this issue. It would have worked in Mobile Pixels' favor to use an IPS panel instead of VA for better response times, but that would potentially be a drawback on the great contrast available here.
Notice the ghosting is worse on the darker background? (Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)
In terms of blooming, it's kept to a minimum when sitting directly in front of the monitor. Bear in mind, what you're seeing below isn't the best representation of how well the haloing effect is kept to a minimum, due to different lighting conditions.
There's a 'Halo Control' setting in the OSD menu, but I found that adjustments weren't very necessary. I was quite happy with how well this monitor handles bloom. Compared to my mini-LED TV (specifically the TCL 55QM8B), which has 300+ full-array local dimming zones, I'd say the results were fairly similar.
I must reiterate that this is a VA panel, so viewing angles are narrow. Essentially, blooming is significantly worse when viewing from either side, but I've never used my ultrawide monitors when sitting away from my desk (unless it's a 32:9 display).
HDR is enabled here... (Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)
Lining this up with an OLED display, again, is pretty unfair, since the AW3423DWF is night and day ahead, but it gave me a good impression of how good the deep black levels are on the Mobile Pixels 34-inch ultrawide. If you've been using a regular LED display, mini-LED will still blow you away – and in my eyes, it's the best alternative to OLED.
And the comparison below is proof of that. The OLED's deep black levels are genuinely phenomenal, and while the mini-LED strays far behind due to blooming, it was still great enough for me to enjoy content – and that's even better when you throw in the benefit of very high brightness.
It's also worth noting that there's no worry of burn-in, unlike OLED monitors. It's been a breath of fresh air not to baby my Alienware display with OLED care and pixel refreshes. In some ways, you can almost say that makes mini-LED the better choice, as you're getting the best of the 'brightness world', while still taking some benefits of great contrast – and with an OLED, you're mostly getting the best of the latter.
Yes, multiple OLED monitors like the AW3423DWF can utilize HDR1000, and OLEDs are about to get brighter with True Black HDR1000 VESA certifications. However, my display has a very aggressive Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL), which kicks in when trying to use HDR1000, and I've not had to deal with that on the Mobile Pixels ultrawide.
It's taught me to respect mini-LED monitors, which I once saw as too low of a step down from OLED, and I'd very much consider using one in a multi-display setup.
Top monitor is OLED, bottom is mini-LED (Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)
I'm very pleased with Mobile Pixels' decision to place the ports of the monitor directly on its rear, instead of the underside like most monitors do. I get that this is done to avoid strain on cables standing upright and prevent any damage, but it's so easy and convenient to reach if you need to unplug or plug any of them – and it's super beneficial if you have a cramped desktop setup like me.
The 90W USB-C reverse charging port is a welcome addition, and I could use it to charge other devices – and I really saw the benefit of this since I have tons of devices occupying power sockets.
It features 4-array microphones with DNC noise reduction, but no matter what I tried, I couldn't my PC wouldn't recognize this, so I had no luck with testing there.
(Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)
The RGB lighting is decent enough, but not bright enough to appreciate. I won't knock the monitor down for this, though. Most monitors I've used don't have RGB lighting that stands out, except for the Philips Evnia displays that have a special Ambilight feature to sync content on the screen to its RGB lights.
Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide gaming monitor: Price & Availability
How much does it cost? $899.99 / around £660 / AU$1,370 without import costs
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia (shipping from the US)
The Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide monitor retails at $899.99 / around £660 / AU$1,730, and while this display's high brightness and contrast ratio have left me impressed, I think it should be much cheaper. Some OLED ultrawide monitors are currently cheaper and don't have issues like dark level smearing or ghosting.
It's not a bad monitor despite some of its issues, but I'd have been more fond of it if it didn't cost this much. Import fees will also bump up the cost if you're outside of the US, which makes its potential total price even more unappealing.
Fortunately, it gets a lot right, specifically within the region of HDR brightness and contrast; there's hardly any loss of detail when looking at bright scenery in movies or games when at maximum brightness, so it's something to consider if you're looking to get your hands on it.
(Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)
Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide gaming monitor: Specs
Screen Size
34-inch
Aspect Ratio
21:9
Resolution
3440x1440
Brightness
450 nits (Min) 1000 nits (Max)
Contrast Ratio
1,000,000:1
Refresh Rate
180Hz
Color Accuracy
99% sRGB | 94% DCI-P3 | 99% Adobe RGB
Speakers
2x 5W Midrange, 1x 12W Bass
Microphone
4-array microphones with DSC noise reduction
Weight
18.51 lbs
Wall Mountable (VESA)
100 x 100 mm
FreeSync Premium technology
Yes
Power Consumption
Typ. 65W, Max. 270W
Panel Type
VA
Connections
2 × USB-A 3.0
1 × USB-C 3.1
2 × HDMI 2.0
1 × DP 1.4
1 × 3.5mm Audio out
Should you buy the Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide gaming monitor?
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
Plenty of high brightness to enjoy across movies, TV shows, and games, but could benefit from a slightly cheaper price tag.
3 / 5
Design
Bogged down by the mediocre speakers on the bottom of monitor, but is adequate in other areas.
3.5 / 5
Performance
Besides dark level smearing and ghosting, the high brightness with HDR 1000, significantly enhances visual experiences, standing as a great alternative to OLED.
4 / 5
Features
OSD needs an improvement, but a 180Hz refresh rate and USB-C 90W reverse charging port are a very welcome addition.
4 / 5
Average rating
The Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide would be much better with a lower retail price, repositioning of the speakers, and an IPS panel for less ghosting and smearing, but excels at high brightness for immersion, making it a good option for PC gamers.
3.5 / 5
Buy it if...
You desire an ultrawide with high brightness
The Mobile Pixels mini-LED monitor is ideal for those who crave bright and lively gaming experiences, with HDR1000 blending well with the 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. It's best used in titles that are built for HDR.View Deal
You want to avoid burn-in care
While OLED is an easy choice at an affordable price, it's not for everyone, as there's always a risk of burn-in. OLED burn-in care has advanced, but not having to worry about the possibility at all with this mini-LED monitor is a big win.View Deal
You're upgrading from a regular LED monitor
The jump from a regular LED display to Mobile Pixels' mini-LED, is significant, and while it suffers a total loss to OLED deep black levels, it comes close enough while getting the best of brightness. View Deal
Don't buy if...
You're looking for a budget monitor
This monitor's biggest issue is its price, especially compared to OLEDs that are at the same price range or less expensive. It retails at $899.99, which is too high considering the issues it has with ghosting and smearing.View Deal
You prefer the best deep black levels
Like other mini-LED displays, the Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide gaming monitor does a great job with contrast, but it doesn't match up to OLED, which remains undefeated at producing the best contrast.View Deal
You find ghosting and smearing frustrating
If you're a competitive gamer or simply happen to notice dark level smearing and ghosting easily, you might want to reconsider purchasing this monitor. It's using a VA panel, so viewing angles and the response time aren't the best.View Deal
Also consider
Acer Predator X32QFS
If dark level smearing and ghosting are a big issue for you, and you don't mind a 4K mini-LED instead of an ultrawide, then the Acer Predator X32QFS should be on your radar. This features a mini-LED IPS panel, which handles ghosting much better, and compatibility for both PS5 and PC with HDMI 2.1.
1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A, 1 x audio jack
Color gamut
99% Adobe RGB, 99% DCI-P3
Display colors
1.07 billion
Warranty
2-years
How I tested the Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide
Two weeks of usage on movies, TV shows, and games, notably titles that implement HDR well
Some examples are Assassin's Creed Shadows, Street Fighter 6, Dragon's Dogma 2, Resident Evil 4 remake, and Cyberpunk 2077
Multiple contrast tests and comparisons with Alienware AW3423DWF OLED ultrawide monitor
Throughout my two weeks of testing, especially when gaming, I had plenty of fun with the Mobile Pixels 34-inch monitor, and put my OLED monitor aside as a secondary display. Despite the drawbacks of blooming and ghosting, it was easy to enjoy bright content without losing much detail.
Testing Stellar Blade, Assassin's Creed Shadows, and Cyberpunk 2077 first left great initial impressions, specifically in Cyberpunk 2077, where neon lights and vivid streets provide exceptional visuals on any display, but it took things up a notch. The ghosting issues became far more noticeable when using Frame Generation in Cyberpunk 2077 and Dragon's Dogma 2, and even more so in fast-paced FPS games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Placing this next to Dell's Alienware OLED monitor, allowed me to point out the mini-LED monitor's drawbacks more easily. However, in terms of deep black levels, I was impressed with the Mobile Pixels 34-inch display, with just how close it can get to OLED, albeit still quite far off.
I used it for work and multitasking, which proved to be beneficial, in comparison to OLED, which notoriously has readability issues – and the mini-LED was a breeze to use while deep into productivity.
The Samsung QN80F is the mid-range model in the company’s 2025 4K Neo QLED mini-LED TV lineup. It is available in 50-100-inch sizes (with the 50-inch only available in the UK and the 100-inch only available in the US and Australia) and carries a stacked feature set.
The QN80F uses the same NQ4 AI Gen2 processor as its predecessor, the Samsung QN85D. While not as effective as the step-up Gen3 processor, it still delivers useful picture and audio enhancements.
Picture quality is mixed on the QN80F. Its vibrant yet natural colors are up there with the best TVs, and it also delivers refined details and solid contrast. While brightness is lacking compared to cheaper rivals such as the TCL QM7K (and even the TCL C7K in the UK), it can still give pictures a nice boost. Black levels, while raised at times, are also generally respectable. Where the QN80F struggles is with its highly reflective screen and inconsistent motion handling, particularly with sports – something its more premium counterpart, the Samsung QN90F, has no issue with.
Sound quality is average on the QN80F. Speech is clear and sound placement is accurate, with a good sense of direction, but bass is lacking, and the narrow soundstage never extends beyond the screen’s threshold. Movie fans will definitely want to invest in one of the best soundbars for this TV.
Gaming is a strong area for the QN80F, which has a near-full list of gaming features, including 4K 120Hz, FreeSync Premium Pro and ALLM across four HDMI 2.1 ports. Plus, Samsung's Gaming Hub is an excellent portal for cloud-based gaming apps. Pair all this with an ultra-low 9.9ms input lag time, and the QN80F competes with the best gaming TVs.
Samsung’s own Tizen 9.0 smart TV platform serves as the QN80F’s smart interface. With smooth performance, tons of picture settings, a customizable home page, several ‘hubs’, and a useful quick menu, Tizen 9.0 is the best iteration of Samsung’s smart TV platform to date. Some settings are buried deep in menus, but this is one of my only gripes.
While the QN80F does have a strong feature list and generally solid performance, its value is a tough category to score. At $1,299 / £1,399 for the 55-inch model I tested, there are cheaper mini-LEDs from Hisense and TCL that deliver very similar features and performance for a lower price. The QN80F is still a good option, but one that you should look for during major sales events.
Samsung QN80F review: Price and release date
The Samsung QN80F demonstrates decent contrast but minor backlight blooming (Image credit: Future)
Release date: May 2025
50-inch: $N/A / £1,099
55-inch: $1,299.99 / £1,399 (roughly AU$1,991)
65-inch: $1,799.99 / £1,699 (roughly AU$2,757)
75-inch: $2,299.99 / £2,599 (roughly AU$3,524)
85-inch: $3,499.99 / £3,699 (roughly AU$5,363)
100-inch: $5,999.99 / £N/A (roughly AU$9,196)
The Samsung QN80F is the mid-range model in Samsung’s 2025 4K Neo QLED (mini-LED) lineup, sitting above the Samsung QN70F and below the Samsung QN85F and the flagship Samsung QN90F. The QN80F is not available in Australia. For the 55-inch model I tested, its May 2025 launch prices were $1,299.99 / £1,399(roughly AU$1,990).
Since its launch, there have been discounts across the entire lineup. The 55-inch price remains unchanged in the US, but in the UK, its price has dropped to £1,199.
Samsung QN80F review: Specs
Screen type:
QLED with mini-LED
Refresh rate:
120Hz
HDR support:
HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
Audio support:
Dolby Atmos
Smart TV:
Tizen
HDMI ports:
4 x HDMI 2.1
Built-in tuner:
ATSC 3.0 (USA)
Samsung QN80F review: Benchmark results
Samsung QN80F review: Features
The QN80F has four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz support (Image credit: Future)
NQ4 AI Gen 2 Processor
HDR10+ HDR support
Four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz for gaming
The Samsung QN80F uses a mini-LED backlight and has a standard gloss screen rather than the Glare Free screen used in the step-up Samsung QN90F mini-LED TV. It features Samsung’s QN4 AI Gen2 Processor, a step-down from the Gen3 processor used in the QN90F, that supports 4K AI upscaling and Real Depth Enhancer.
Like all Samsung TVs, the QN80F supports the HDR10+ High Dynamic Range format, but not Dolby Vision.
The QN80F’s four-channel, 30W sound system supports Dolby Atmos. There are also AI-based tools such as Active Voice Amplifier and Adaptive Sound, both of which analyze the content on screen and adapt the sound accordingly.
Gaming features include 4K 120Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium Pro included) and ALLM, with all supported on four HDMI 2.1 ports. There is also Samsung’s Gaming Hub, which provides access to cloud-based gaming apps including Xbox and Luna.
The QN80F uses Samsung’s Tizen 9.0 as its smart TV platform. Along with the AI-based picture and sound enhancement tools mentioned above, the TV provides AI content recommendations based on viewing history. It has access to all major streaming apps such as Netflix and Prime Video, and there is built-in voice assistant support from Alexa and Bixby. The QN80F also supports the Samsung Art Store feature previously exclusive to Samsung’s The Frame TVs, which lets you display artworks when the TV is in standby mode.
Features Score: 5/5
Samsung QN80F review: Picture quality
The QN80F's strength lies in its color reproduction, which is punchy and accurate (Image credit: Future)
Bold, vibrant colors
Generally good contrast
Screen reflections
I measured the QN80F in its Standard and Movie picture modes. I did find that Filmmaker Mode was the more accurate picture preset overall, but Movie provided a brightness boost (in default settings) that allowed the QN80F to better show off its picture quality strengths.
Peak brightness (measured on a 10% HDR white window pattern) hit 1,106 nits in Movie mode and 975 nits in Standard. That is a big drop from its step-up sibling, the QN90F, which registered 2,086 nits in Movie and 1,987 nits in Standard. It’s even less than the cheaper mid-range TCL QM7K, which hit 1,733 nits in Filmmaker mode (the UK equivalent TCL C7K hit 1,706 nits). This is quite a disappointing result for the QN80F.
Fullscreen HDR brightness, however, was significantly higher, with the QN80F hitting 754 nits in Movie mode and a mammoth 869 nits in Standard, which should make Samsung’s mid-range mini-LED TV great for daytime viewing in brighter rooms.
This does, however, bring me to the elephant in the room: the QN80F’s reflective screen. I found that I could see objects reflected on the TV’s screen when watching dark scenes, even in dim room lighting conditions.
The QN80F does an effective job upscaling non-4K movies and TV shows. An HD stream of Fight Club viewed on Disney Plus benefited from an uplift in sharpness, giving textures a cleaner look, and contrast was also stronger. But upscaling wasn’t as effective with lower-resolution content. The TV’s Auto Remastering HDR setting is an option here, but I found it gave pictures a too-sharp look.
Color reproduction is the QN80F’s main strength. A scene from Elemental (on Disney Plus) where Ember makes a red and orange glass vase showcased the TV’s vibrant, punchy color display. Watching a 4K Blu-ray of Wicked, a scene where Elphaba sings under pink flowers showcased the QN80F’s ability to deliver more natural hues, giving the flowers and Elphaba’s green skin a realistic yet dynamic look.
When I measured the QN80F’s HDR color gamut coverage, it yielded results of 70.3% for BT.2020 and 93.05% for UHDA-P3. These are surprisingly low results for a mini-LED in this range, but also not far off the QN90F’s numbers, which hit 76.3% and 93.6%, respectively, for the same color gamuts.
Black levels are surprisingly deep on the QN80F, but can also sometimes take on a raised gray tone (Image credit: Future)
The QN80F’s black levels were generally quite good. As Hutler made his way to Orlock’s castle in Nosferatu, blacks looked pretty deep, although they did take on a slightly raised gray tone at times. Contrast was solid, with light sources such as torch and lamplight contrasting well with the dark surroundings in both Nosferatu and The Batman. The QN80F also showcased good local dimming with very few instances of backlight blooming.
Viewed from an angle, the QN80F’s screen took on a gray wash in darker areas, but its contrast wasn’t as bad as what I’ve seen on some older or cheaper mini-LED TVs.
Watching the black and white scenes in Oppenheimer, the QN80F had a good range of gray tones, and while screen uniformity wasn’t as good as what you’d find on more premium mini-LED and OLED TVs, it was still solid.
Textures and details throughout my viewing were rich and lifelike, with the right level of sharpness. Faces looked detailed, and the QN80F’s solid contrast helped to give objects and textures definition and depth.
Motion handling was an area the QN80F struggled with. Setting motion and judder reduction to between 3 and 5 seemed to be the sweet spot for movies, depending on how ‘smooth’ a picture you’re looking for. With these settings active, a scene in No Time To Die where a camera pans across a cliff face was smooth without any of the dreaded soap opera effects.
Using the same settings, sports never looked quite right, however. There always seemed to be motion artifacts, regardless of the settings I used. While football games on both YouTube and Prime Video were watchable, the action wasn’t as smooth as on other TVs I’ve tested, such as the Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED.
Picture quality score: 4/5
Samsung QN80F review: Sound quality
The QN80F delivers clear speech and accurate sound placement, but struggles in every other aspect with its sound quality (Image credit: Future)
Four-channel, 30W speaker system
Direct sound
Narrow soundstage and limited bass
The QN80F has a four-channel, 30W speaker system that supports Dolby Atmos. It has two preset sound modes, Standard and Amplify, as well as AI sound enhancement tools such as Active Voice Amplifier Pro (to enhance speech volume) and Adaptive Sound Pro (analyzes the content on screen to optimize the sound).
The QN80F’s built-in speakers delivered direct, clear sound throughout my viewing, with speech coming through with good clarity in most movies. Active Voice Amplifier Pro and Adaptive Sound Pro, found in the TV’s AI Mode in Advanced Settings, worked very well for sports by amplifying the commentary. Sound was also accurately connected to the action on screen, as demonstrated by the swerving traffic in The Batman’s Batmobile chase scene.
Unfortunately, the QN80F falls short elsewhere. In the same Batmobile scene, the soundstage was very narrow, and there was no sense of Dolby Atmos height or surround effects. Bass was also lacking, making the rumble of the Batmobile’s engine feel limited and flat. The balance between the vocals and score in Wicked was effective, but it didn’t have the same weight or dynamic quality I’d experienced with other TVs I've recently tested, such as the TCL C7K.
Bottom line: QN80F’s sound is fine for day-to-day viewing, but I’d recommend using it with a soundbar.
Sound quality score: 3.5/5
Samsung QN80F review: Design
The QN80F's plain, but sturdy pedestal stand (Image credit: Future)
Central pedestal stand
Sturdy build quality
Bulkier and plainer design than other Samsung TVs
The QN80F’s design plays it safe. It has a slightly bulkier depth than more premium mini-LED TVs and a plain-looking rear panel, though its glossy, silver metal frame does give it a more premium look than other mid-range TVs from Hisense and TCL.
The TV features a central pedestal stand, and due to its placement, it will make it difficult to place a soundbar underneath easily. The stand itself is made of a similar plastic to that used on the TCL C7K, but it still suits the QN80F’s design.
The QN80F uses Samsung’s SolarCell remote, a slim, compact remote control with minimal buttons. It can be charged using USB-C or the solar panel on the rear, eliminating the need for any batteries. In the UK, a second remote with numbered buttons is also included in the box.
Design score: 4/5
Samsung QN80F review: Smart TV and menus
The QN80F uses Tizen 9.0, the best iteration to date of Samsung's smart TV platform (Image credit: Future)
Samsung Tizen 9.0 interface
Home, Game, Daily+ and Art hubs
Some settings difficult to find
The QN80F uses Samsung’s Tizen smart TV platform, now in version 9.0. The Home screen’s default layout is the For You page, which presents recommendations based on your viewing history, along with a row of customizable apps. There is a large sponsored ad at the top of the screen, but this is not as invasive as the one found on Google TV.
Tizen 9.0 is the most advanced version of Samsung’s smart TV platform to date. A useful Quick Menu provides easy access to major settings categories, and it even remembers your most visited settings for quick navigation. There are four major hubs: Home, Game (a portal for all things gaming), Daily+ (for health and office-based apps) and the Art Store (where artworks can be purchased to display as a screensaver).
There are plenty of picture settings in the menus for those who like to tweak, but this is also one area where Tizen 9.0 falls short. Some settings are buried in several submenus and can be very difficult to find. Still, performance is snappy enough that navigation is easy, though I did find the QN80F to be a bit slower than its more premium counterparts.
Smart TV & menus score: 4.5/5
Samsung QN80F review: Gaming
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The QN80F with Battlefield V and game menu (1) and Samsung's Gaming Hub (2) displayed (Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
Four HDMI 2.1 ports
4K 120Hz, AMD Freesync Premium Pro support
9.9ms input lag time
The QN80F has a stacked feature list for gaming. It supports 4K 120Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM and HDR10+ gaming, all featured on four HDMI 2.1 ports. Samsung’s Gaming Hub continues as an excellent portal for everything gaming-related, including access to cloud-based apps from Xbox, Luna and more.
Performance is responsive and snappy, even during fast-paced gameplay. In Battlefield V, the most chaotic of battles felt smooth, and targeting enemies was easy. This is helped by the QN80F’s ultra-low 9.9ms input lag time, which is up there with the best 120Hz TVs.
The QN80F’s Game picture mode delivers superb color and contrast with a nice hit of brightness. Textures are sharp, and motion is smooth and well-handled.
Gaming score: 5/5
Samsung QN80F review: Value
The QN80F's compact SolarCell remote control (Image credit: Future)
Good feature set for the price
Cheaper rivals available
Price drops help value
Value is a difficult area to score for Samsung’s Neo QLED TVs. That was something we discovered in our Samsung QN90F review, and the same holds true for the Samsung QN80F.
The 55-inch model I tested is available for $1,299 / £1,199 at the time of writing. In the US, you can get the Hisense U8Q (the company’s flagship mini-LED TV) for $848, and the TCL QM7K mini-LED TV for $749, a $4-500 price difference from the QN80F. Yes, the QN80F has more features, but both those TVs are significantly brighter.
In the UK, the QN80F is a more tempting option. Priced at £1,199, it's cheaper than the Hisense U7Q Pro (the U75Q equivalent for the UK), which is priced at £1,499. But the rival TCL C7K 55-inch is priced at £849, so again cheaper rivals exist.
The QN80F’s stacked feature list and generally solid performance make it a more premium option than its rivals, but ultimately, the Hisense and TCL alternatives deliver nearly the same performance at a lower price.
Value score: 3.5/5
Should I buy the Samsung QN90F?
(Image credit: Future)
Samsung QN98F
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
A full suite of gaming features and AI-based enhancement settings
5/5
Picture quality
Punchy colors and contrast and refined textures but motion is hit-and-miss and the reflective screen can be very distracting in bright rooms
4/5
Sound quality
Clear speech and accurate placement but lacking bass and narrow soundstage
3.5/5
Design
Plain design with slightly bulky depth but solid and sturdy with central stand
4/5
Smart TV and menus
Snappier navigation and a 'hub' design make this the best version of Tizen yet, but some settings still buried in menus
4.5/5
Gaming
An strong list of gaming features, with a responsive performance to match
5/5
Value
More expensive than much of the competition and best sought out at a discounted price
3.5/5
Buy it if...
You want a punchy, colorful picture The QN80F's main strength lies in its colors, which are bold, yet natural-looking.
You want a great TV for gaming The QN80F carries a near-full suite of gaming features, including 4K 120Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM, HDR10+ gaming, across four HDMI 2.1 ports, and it also delivers smooth, responsive performance.
You want a smooth user experience Tizen 9.0 is the best version of Samsung's smart TV software to date, with a useful quick menu, mostly smooth navigation and an intuitive hub layout.
Don't buy it if…
You want Dolby Vision HDR: As with all Samsung TVs, the QN80F doesn't support the Dolby Vision HDR format used for 4K Blu-ray and by streaming services. It does support HDR10+, however.
You want the best value mini-LED TV The QN80F faces stiff competition from cheaper rivals that deliver equally strong performance and features for a lower price.
You have a very bright room The QN80F's reflective screen resulted in mirror-like reflections during my testing in brighter conditions. View Deal
Samsung QN90F: Also consider...
Samsung QN80F
Samsung QN90F
Hisense U8QG
TCL QM7K/TCL C7K
Price (55-inch)
$1,299.99 / £1,399 (roughly AU$1,991)
$2,499.99 / £2,499 (roughly AU$3,786)
$999 / £1,799 (roughly AU$1,513)
$749 / £849 / AU$1,395
Screen type
QLED w/ mini-LED
QLED w/ mini-LED
QLED w/ mini-LED
QLED w/ mini-LED
Refresh rate
120Hz
165Hz
165Hz
144Hz
HDR support
HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
DolbyVision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
DolbyVision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
Smart TV
Tizen
Tizen
Google TV / VIDAA
Google TV
HDMI ports
4 x HDMI 2.1
4 x HDMI 2.1
3x HDMI 2.1
4 (2x HDMI 2.1)
Hisense U8QG
The U8QQ is Hisense’s top mini-LED for 2025, and its picture quality is brilliant for the price. Although it struggles in similar areas to the QN80F (such as sound quality) it's arguably overall better value for money (in the US at least).
The step-up sibling to the QN80F, the Samsung QN90F offers superior picture and sound quality, plus its Glare-Free screen makes it better for bright room viewing. It is a significant price increase over the QN80F, but the QN90F is a big quality increase as well.
TCL’s mid-range mini-LED model (QM7K in the US, C7K in the UK) delivers higher brightness, better overall sound and impressive gaming performance again for cheaper than the QN80F. But, the QN80F does offer more as an overall package.
Measurements taken using Calman calibration software
Tested in varying lighting conditions in our testing lab
Before conducting my subjective and objective tests, I did some casual viewing of the QN80F to determine its best picture mode, deciding on Movie mode due to its added brightness. Filmmaker Mode is a good alternative as it provides a more accurate picture but it lacks the visual punch of Movie mode.
For my subjective tests, I used reference scenes from a variety of HDR (4K Blu-ray and 4K streaming) and SDR (broadcast TV and lower-resolution formats such as DVD) sources to test the QN80F's picture quality, focusing on color, contrast, detail, motion handling and upscaling. I used some of these same scenes to analyze the QN80F's built-in speakers as well.
I took several measurements of the QN80F using a colorimeter, test pattern generator and Portrait Displays Calman Color Calibration software. Brightness was measured using 1-100% white window patterns in both SDR and HDR, with results presented for peak (10%) and fullscreen (100%) brightness.
I also measured the QN80F's grayscale and color accuracy, recording its Delta-E results (the margin of error between the test pattern and what's displayed on screen).
I also measured HDR color gamut coverage for the BT.2020 and DCI-P3 color spaces.
If patience is a virtue, the reward for digital creatives is the arrival of the first relatively affordable monitors based on OLED technology. Enter the new 32-inch 4K Asus ProArt PA32UCDM.
At $1,899 or £1,599, this is far from a cheap display. But it's still much more affordable than, say, Apple's Pro Display XDR, which starts at $4,999 without a stand and makes do with inferior—by some measures, at least—LCD panel tech.
In some ways, that's not surprising. The Asus ProArt PA32UCDM uses the same 32-inch 4K QD-OLED panel sourced from Samsung that first appeared in gaming monitors over a year ago, including Asus's own Asus ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM. Those monitors can now be bought for under $800.
What they don't offer, of course, is the full suite of professional-friendly features. And that's exactly what the Asus ProArt PA32UCDM delivers, features like a comprehensive list of colour space presets, Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, hardware calibration, 10-bit colour and more.
Such is the capability of the latest QD-OLED gaming monitors, it's tempting to snag one for productivity work. One reason you might not is garish design. Gaming panels tend to have a slightly adolescent whiff. So, the slick, minimalist and professional aesthetic of the Asus ProArt PA32UCDM is an immediate win.
Some aspects of the design are reminiscent of Apple displays, including the hinge on rear, the sliding support and the neutral colour scheme. Speaking of Apple, while build quality is decent by most standards, the mix of metal and plastic definitely isn't as pleasing as the Apple Studio Display, let alone the much more expensive Apple Pro Display XDR.
For the record, this monitor offers height, tilt and rotation into portrait mode in terms of physical adjustment, but lacks swivel, which is a small pity. Elsewhere, the connectivity on offer is a bit of a mixed bag. On the upside, you get dual Thunderbolt 4 ports with support for display daisy chaining and 96W of power delivery, plus an HDMI 2.1 port with the full 48Gbps bandwidth.
However, the USB hub only offers a single USB-A and USB-C port, and Asus has fitted this display with neither a DisplayPort input nor a headphone jack. The former is arguably catered for courtesy of DisplayPort Alt Mode over the Thunderbolt interface. But for some setups, an actual DisplayPort socket would be handy. Likewise the absent headphone output.
Along with the broader display capabilities and specs, you get 10-bit per channel colour, Dolby Vision support, hardware calibration and a full suite of OLED panel protection features including a proximity sensor for automatically dimming the display when not in use. In the comprehensive OSD menu you can choose between four, eight and 12-hour panel refresh cycles.
Asus ProArt PA32UCDM: Performance
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Stunning HDR highs
Limited full-screen brightness
Needs calibration for demanding workflows
On paper, this display has so much going for it. It starts with the basic proposition of 4K resolution on a 32-inch display, which is obviously ideal for many pro workflows, provides plenty of working space and bodes well for aspects like font rendering.
To that you can add the various upsides of OLED technology, which is only now beginning to enter the pro display market. Notably, that includes perfect per-pixel lighting the likes of which no LCD monitor can replicate, ditto the exceptional pixel speed and near-perfect viewing angles. Oh and outstanding colour extension, particularly from Samsung's OLED tech, which benefits from colour-enhancing quantum dot technology, hence the "QD-OLED" moniker.
Combine that with the aforementioned 4K image detail and precision and, well, what a recipe. For the most part, what an experience, too. At its best, this is an exceptional display. Bright highlights in HDR video content, for instance, absolutely zing. The colour vibrancy is fantastic, too, and a clear step above LG's WOLED panels, which are the main alternative to Samsung QD-OLED. All of this is heightened by the glossy panel coating, which really lets the OLED technology sing.
This is not, however, a perfect display. For starters, It suffers the same limitations as all OLED panels, primarily limited brightness when large sections of the panel are being lit up. Asus provides a uniform brightness mode for SDR content. That allows for a maximum of 250 nits. For many uses and applications, that's enough.
However, it's a little less than you might want in bright ambient conditions. However, where the limited brightness performance is really apparent is with HDR content. The claimed peak 1,000 nit HDR capability is only available across 3% of the panel. Light up 10% of the panel and the brightness dips to 400 nits.
The consequence is that this monitor, like all existing OLEDs, can look utterly stellar when displaying a mostly dark image with small, super-bright highlights. But it can lack a little pop when rendering brighter scenes. Moreover, if you run the screen in HDR mode on the Windows or Mac desktop, there's significant brightness variation, when, for instance, you resize a mainly white application window.
For the record, the image detail and font rendering isn't as good as displays with greater pixel density, such as various 27-inch 5K2K panels and Apple's 6K Pro Display XDR. What's more, Asus's factory calibration does leave a tiny bit to be desired. It's a little over saturated out of the box and also very slightly crushes some shadow details.
Of course, if your workflows require the ultimate in accuracy, you'll be calibrating this monitor in any case and that eventuality is well catered for courtesy of a hardware 3D LUT, Asus's own ProArt calibration and support for third party calibration tools including CalMAN Autocal.
It's also worth noting that this is a very, very fast display. It supports 240 Hz refresh and offers a claimed 0.1ms response. This isn't a monitor aimed at gaming, but it's pretty much as good as gaming-centric monitors based on the same panel.
Finally, the Asus ProArt PA32UCDM does have a cooling fan that runs in max brightness HDR mode. But it's barely audible.
Asus ProArt PA32UCDM: Final verdict
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The transition of OLED into monitors aimed at digital creatives and other pros has taken a little longer than expected. But it's now happening and this Asus display is an excellent showcase of what the technology brings.
Thanks to the perfect per-pixel lighting, at its best the HDR performance totally blows away any LCD-based monitor, even one with mini-LED full-array dimming. The colours are explosive, in a good way, the viewing angles pretty much perfect. Combine that with the 4K pixel grid and features like Thunderbolt 4 with daisy chaining support you have a very compelling display for creative tasks.
The brightness limitations of current OLED tech, however, mean that this isn't a cheap alternative for authoring pro-grade HDR content. Like all other OLEDs, it simply can't sustain sufficient brightness across enough of the panel. Slightly patchy factory calibration is another weakness, though only slight and mitigated by excellent calibration support.
All told, this is a very welcome addition to the pro monitor market. It's not perfect, but it does bring some genuinely new abilities to the class. Mini-LED monitors still rule for full-screen brightness. And for now, there aren't very many format and resolution options available with OLED panels in the pro market. But this is almost certainly just the beginning for OLED technology aimed at creative pros.
The Nebula X1 is the latest projector from Anker, a company that built its projector reputation by releasing the Capsule and Mars series, some of the most consistent, well-performing 1080p portable projectors available. A few years ago, Anker dipped its toes into the best 4K projectors category with the Nebula Cosmos Max, an oval-shaped, pixel-shifting LED projector designed to live on a shelf or ceiling mount. Since then, Anker upgraded from an LED light source to a laser one, and leaned back into the portable idea with the 2,200-ANSI lumen Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K, which has a carrying handle and rectangular shape.
Now, Anker has stepped things up again. The new Nebula X1 is a 3,500-lumen triple laser 4K DLP projector with its 14-element all-glass lens on a unique motorized gimbal, which is designed to ease setup in virtually any situation while delivering a sharp, properly aligned image. Built-in liquid cooling keeps temps down without excessive fan noise. It also has Dolby Vision HDR support, is ISF certified, and uses the Google TV smart TV platform.
The X1 includes a retractable handle for portability and has four built-in speakers (a 15W full-range woofer and 5W tweeter on each side) with a front-firing passive radiator. For improved sonic performance, two wireless speakers can be paired with the projector, and wireless microphones can turn a movie night into a karaoke night.
All of this performance and flexibility comes with a price, though, as the X1 on its own is $2,999, with the optional external speakers and microphones adding to that base price (not to mention a projection screen). But for movie nights, both inside and outside, the Nebula X1 delivers an excellent experience with an effortless, consistent setup process that will have you watching movies within minutes.
Nebula X1 review: price and release date
First available: May 2025
Price: $2,999 / £2,999 / around AU$4,500
At 3.500 ANSI lumens, the Nebula X1 is incredibly bright for a portable projector (Image credit: Future)
The Nebula X1 is available now for$2,999 / £2,999 / around AU$4,500 through the Nebula website or Amazon. The external speakers, sold in a pair, cost $699. An accessory pack is available that includes two speakers, two microphones, and a carrying case that holds all of it for $999.
There aren’t any projectors at the same price point that offer the same type of performance and portability. The triple laser Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 is the most similar, although it is more suitable as a single-room home theater projector rather than a portable one. Other triple laser projectors around its price are of the ultra short throw (UST) type, while other, less expensive portable laser projectors use a single laser.
Nebula X1 review: Specs
Connections include two HDMI ports (Image credit: Future)
Screen sizes supported:
up to a 200-inch diagonal
Brightness (specified):
3,500 ANSI lumens
HDR support:
Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
Optical technology:
Triple laser DLP
Smart TV:
Google TV
Connections:
2 x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), USB-A, USB-C, optical audio out
Dimensions (W x H x D):
11.1 x 7.3 x 9.7 inches (H x W x D)
Weight:
13.7 pounds
Nebula X1 review: design and features
Basic controls are provided on the Nebula X1's top surface (Image credit: Future)
Incredibly easy and accurate setup
Quiet operation thanks to liquid cooling
Innovative motorized gimbal for optical engine
The shape of the Nebula X1 is similar to the Cosmos 4K and Cosmos 4K SE projectors in the Nebula line — a tall rectangular box with a handle. The X1, though, is larger than its cheaper cousins, and its handle can be hidden in its body, out of view, by pressing it down (it can be just as easily extended by pressing on it again). When powered on, the X1 illuminates a Cylon-esque red line on its top, and capacitive volume, auto adjustment, and back buttons appear around the tactile navigation toggle.
Some projectors, such as the Hisense C2 and JMGO N1S 4K, have a gimbal stand to manually position the projector image toward the screen from a lower vantage point. The Nebula X1 takes it to a whole new level by having the built-in gimbal motorized and attached to the optical engine itself, thereby angling just the optics and not the entire projector.
On startup, the X1 scans the wall for a projection screen or unobstructed space for the image by moving the gimbal up and down across its full 25-degree range. When a screen is detected, the Nebula’s Intelligent Environment Adaptation tools adjust the image to fit the screen size and aspect ratio. If, for some reason, the auto setup didn’t properly adjust the image, there’s a button at the top of the remote (and on the projector) that will run spatial adaptation again.
In my weeks with the projector, I only needed to do this a couple times, and all but one of those was because I didn’t have the projector situated far back enough for the scan to cover the entirety of my 100-inch Elite Screens CineTension 3, resulting in the screen space not being filled properly. Scooting the projector back a few inches and running the setup process again fixed the user-error issue. The image fit isn’t totally pristine and can extend into a screen’s masking or frame by a few centimeters, but that’s still mightily impressive for an automated system, and, quite honestly, about as good as you’ll get doing it on your own.
While the usable image is sized well to the screen, there is some dim light bleed to the borders of the unaltered projected image size (that is, the full size before taking any auto setup into account). It’s only noticeable when the adjusted picture goes to black, or if you’re specifically looking for it while watching content. And if you’re projecting onto a freestanding screen outside, it’s of no consequence, because that light bleed disappears into the space around the screen.
It’s important to note that if you simply short-press the power button to turn off the Nebula X1 when you’re done, the gimbal will not immediately return to its default position — a short press puts the projector in standby mode. In fact, it will take close to 30 minutes for it to return, and if you unplug the projector to put it away, the gimbal will stay in that position until you turn it back on. You need to long-press the power button and select Power Off, which will shut down the projector and cause the gimbal to move into its vertical, default position within six seconds. The projector is then ready to be unplugged and put away safely. The instructions point this out when discussing the power button on the projector, but not when using the remote, so it’s easy to miss.
Instead of relying solely on fans to keep the internals cool, the X1 has a liquid cooling system — touted as an industry first — to keep things running at an optimum temperature, with a large fan exhausting the heat out the back of the projector. The liquid cooling makes the X1 one of the quietest projectors I’ve come across. Be aware that if you plan to sit directly behind the projector, you’re in for a warm evening.
On either side of the projector, behind the built-in grilles, are two speakers — a 15W woofer and a 5W tweeter — with a single passive radiator at the front. When paired with the two optional wireless speakers, the projector acts as the subwoofer in the 4.1.2 configuration.
The IR remote control is small and light, with backlit buttons that glow when the remote is picked up. There’s a built-in mic for use with Google that can be activated with a microphone button. The most prominent button is the four-way nav with the select button in the middle. Below it is the home button flanked by volume (up and down), settings, and the back button. Just below those are four quick buttons for YouTube, Netflix, and Prime Video, and volume mute.
The up and down volume buttons are laid out horizontally (with down on the left side and up on the right), instead of being oriented vertically, as is the setup on most remotes I come across. It’s a minor gripe, but I found myself hitting the back button (which is located directly above the volume down button) on numerous occasions when I intended to raise the volume.
Design and features score: 4.5/5
Nebula X1 review: picture and sound quality
The Nebula X1 has a sturdy carrying handle for toting it outside (Image credit: Future)
Incredible detail from the 14-element, all-glass lens
Accurate colors in Movie mode
Gaming requires careful projector setup
The Nebula X1 has nine different picture modes – NebulaMaster, Standard, Vivid, Sport, Movie, Game (with two sub modes I’ll talk about below), Conference, ISF Day, and ISF Night.
As might be expected, Movie and the two ISF modes are the most accurate. I measured peak HDR brightness on a 10% white window pattern at 188 nits in both modes. The Nebula X1's native contrast ratio in the same was 1,656:1, and its dynamic contrast was 11,482:1.
What was not expected is that every mode, including the ISF modes, has some degree of MEMC (Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation), commonly referred to as motion smoothing or the ‘soap opera effect.’ With some content, the motion smoothing introduced artifacts when set at Middle or High. Low was more acceptable and could be beneficial when watching sports, but in general, I suggest you turn it off immediately.
NebulaMaster mode, according to information on the Nebula X1 site, dynamically adapts the image based on projection size and ambient lighting, while also using decontouring algorithms to reduce posterization artifacts (also known as banding). In my room, the image in this mode leaned heavily blue in both SDR and HDR, which was confirmed by my measurements. Some prefer an image with a cooler color balance, but for my taste, it was a bit too much. The mode also tended to slightly boost black levels in darker images.
Out of the box, Movie and the ISF picture modes were my preferred picture modes for all of my viewing. Colors, particularly skin tones, were far more accurate. Grayscale and colors could be dialed in even further in Movie mode with 11-point white balance correction, and a color management system for adjusting hue, saturation, and color brightness (luminance), plus offset and gain. (An ISF calibrator can unlock these options for the ISF picture modes, as well.)
The X1 performed admirably in dark scene torture tests from Dune and the opening scenes at Sapper Morton’s home in Blade Runner 2049, with some detail being visible in the dark shadows on the little home’s walls near the piano and in the kitchen. The X1 also delivers a good amount of brightness that allows the image to still have some pop while viewing in a backyard where there’s uncontrollable light pollution. Just wait until the sun goes down for the best experience.
But perhaps the most impressive performance aspect of the X1 was its detail. The 14-element, all-glass lens produces a gorgeously detailed 4K image, even with the picture adjustment processing to fit the image to the screen, which can introduce clarity issues towards the edge of the image. The X1’s picture looked crisp from corner to corner.
There was one issue I encountered during testing with the eARC port (HDMI2). I planned to watch a Blu-ray on my disc player connected to HDMI2, but the projector would only recognize the disc player as an audio source, and the video would default back to Google TV. When I contacted Anker about this, they said, “We are aware of this issue and will optimize this functionality in future software updates.”
When it comes to any gaming that requires a decent reaction time (which includes the vast majority of games), the projector needs to be in the Game picture mode with the Extreme setting active. This disables the keystone correction and delivers the best input lag, which I measured at 18.3 ms. But as you can imagine from that sentence, if you’ve been relying on the auto-adjust features to watch movies and TV shows, the moment you put it in this mode, the image becomes skewed and no longer fits your screen. If you use Game mode with the Standard setting, the keystone correction stays on, but the input lag shoots up to 142.1 ms with a 4K/60 signal, far too high for any serious gaming.
This scenario requires you to do a proper setup without the use of one of the best parts of the Nebula X1 – the auto adjustment. The lens needs to be level with the bottom of your screen, and it will take some time to play around with positioning to get the image to square up with your screen.
The built-in speakers can play impressively loud, although audible distortion can be heard from around 90 percent and above. But I wouldn’t recommend listening at that level anyway. As I listened in my living room, the maximum volume I set was between 50 and 60 percent, and usually lower. Dialogue was clear, and while it’s not the fullest and most robust sound I’ve heard (these are small woofers, after all), it was plenty to deliver a nice experience.
Adding the wireless speakers brings the sound performance to another level. The left speaker connected quickly, while I needed to turn the right speaker on and off several times before the connection happened. Naturally, having the ability to widely set a left and right channel with side-firing speakers increased the soundstage with a convincing phantom center, and the projector becomes the subwoofer. The upfiring Atmos speakers do a bit to add some height to the sound, but it’s not a convincing Atmos canopy with sounds flying overhead like you get from the best Dolby Atmos soundbars or discrete speakers with DSP. And if you use them outside, without a ceiling to bounce the sound off of, the effect is minimized.
Still, for a more immersive experience, I recommend getting the wireless speakers. Their relative ease of use, setup flexibility, and solid performance are a welcome addition to the Nebula X1. And if you purchase the accessory pack, they fit nicely in the carrying case along with the projector, remote, power supply, and (presumably) microphones. (I did not have the microphones on hand to test them.)
Picture quality score: 4.5/5
Nebula X1 review: value
The Nebula X1 remote control (Image credit: Future)
Top-of-the-line portable projector
More expensive than competitors
Best experience requires additional speakers
When compared to other portable projectors, or even those that aren’t as portable, the Nebula X1 delivers incredible performance and, more importantly, a great movie-watching experience no matter where you set it up. There’s no need to take 10 minutes getting its height or angle perfectly correct for a squared-up image. Just put it down, point it towards your screen, and in a few dozen seconds it’s set to go. With the addition of the wireless speakers, the sound performance greatly improves without needing to set up (and plug in) a separate sound bar.
The $2,999 price tag, though, puts it hundreds of dollars above the portable competition, and more in line with lifestyle home theater projectors such as the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 and UST projectors like Samsung’s The Premiere 7 and the Hisense PX2-PRO. And then the accessory pack adds another $999.
That said, the performance and versatility of the Nebula X1 make it a top choice for a movie enthusiast's backyard projector, and one with the flexibility to serve as an indoor everyday projector as well.
Value score: 3.5/5
Nebula X1 projector
Notes
Rating
Features & Design
Automatic picture calibration and wireless speakers option; sturdy design with carrying handle
4.5/5
Picture quality
Exceptional brightness for a portable projector and crisp 4K picture
4.5/5
Value
Pricey, especially with wireless speaker option, but exceptional picture quality for a portable projector
3.5/5
Should I buy the Nebula X1?
The Nebula X1 with its optional wireless speakers (Image credit: Future)
Buy it if...
You want a top-end outdoor projector The Nebula X1 is easily transportable thanks to its retractable handle and accessory pack that includes a padded carrying case, and it projects a beautifully crisp and accurate picture in the proper picture modes.
You want a projector that’s easy to setup The automated setup process takes only a few seconds and is consistently very accurate in finding and filling your projection screen.
You want a bright projector with a great smart TV platform For its price, the X1 has one of the brightest images currently available and runs on the Google TV OS, which supports all of the popular streaming apps and runs quickly and smoothly.
Don’t buy it if…
You’re looking for a “sometimes” projector The Nebula X1 is expensive for the portable projector market. When spending $3,000 on anything, you want to be sure you’ll get as much use out of it as possible. If you only want a projector for an occasional summer movie night, this might not be the best one to get.
You plan to use it mostly for gaming Can you game on the X1? Absolutely. But since all of the auto setup features add significantly to the input lag time, it requires a more careful and time-consuming setup to get the image framed correctly without the use of keystone correction and auto zoom.
You want the option to use eARC for video sources As it stands at the time of review, the eARC port (HDMI2) only recognizes connected sources as audio playback devices. So if you have a Blu-ray player or console connected via HDMI2, the video currently defaults to Google TV instead of what’s playing from the source.
Also consider...
Comparison: 4K UST projectors
Nebula X1
BenQ X3100i
Nebula Mars 3
Price:
$2,999 / £2,999 / around AU$4,500
$2,399 (around £1,900 / AU$3,690)
$1,099 (around £850 / AU$1,645)
Screen sizes supported:
up to 200 inches
60 to 200 inches
30-200 inches
Brightness (specified):
3,500 lumens
3,300 ANSI Lumens
1,000 lumens
HDR support
Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
HDR10, HLG
N/A
Optical technology:
Triple laser DLP
4LED, DLP
LED DLP
Smart TV:
Google TV
Android TV
Android TV
Connections:
2 x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), USB-A, USB-C, optical audio out
Another portable 4K projector with high brightness capability, the X3100i is designed specifically for gaming and features solid built-in speakers. It costs a bit less than the Nebula X1, but is a better option for someone more focused on gaming than movies.
Nebula Mars 3 The Nebula Mars 3 is also made by Anker and is a portable model with a built-in rechargeable battery. At 1,000 lumens, its picture is not nearly as bright as the Nebula X1's, and its picture tops out at 1080p resolution, but at around $1,000, it's a much cheaper portable projector option.
I primarily tested the Nebula X1 in my living room on a 100-inch Elite Screen CineTension 3 ISF-certified retractable screen with a 1.1 gain screen material. I also briefly brought it outside and projected it on my garage door to test brightness after the sun had set. To test grayscale and color accuracy, I used an X-rite i1 Pro 3 spectrophotometer, Murideo Seven-G 8K pattern generator, and Calman calibration software by Portrait Displays. Input lag testing was done with a Leo Bodnar 4K lag tester.
Subjective testing included watching hours of content through the Google TV streaming platform using the Disney+, Hulu, and Max apps, as well as 4K Blu-ray discs played on an Oppo UDP-203 disc player. Games were played with an Xbox One X console.
I’ve been testing and reviewing projectors, TVs, and other displays for a couple of decades, and am an ISF Level III certified calibrator.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch: Two-minute review
I have been begging Apple to release a purple MacBook for a few years now and have been repeatedly disappointed year after year, so when I found out that the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch was going to sport a pastel purple colorway, it really was Microsoft's game to lose here.
And while it doesn't quite come close enough to dethroning the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch, performance-wise, it's a very solid everyday laptop that looks undeniably superior to Apple's rather boring MacBook Air design over the past couple of years.
The Surface Laptop 13-inch starts at $899.99 / £1,099 / AU$1,699 on Microsoft's website, which is roughly the same price as the MacBook Air 13-inch (which starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699), but its performance, at times, is substantially slower than Apple's best laptop, making it an iffy value proposition for those who could go either way as far as operating systems go.
Had the Surface Laptop 13-inch shipped with an Intel Lunar Lake chip rather than the underpowered Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-core SoC, this would be an entirely different review, as I'd be giving this laptop six-out-of-five stars, because in just about every other way than its performance and minor compatibility issues, this is the best ultrabook I've ever put my hands on.
Aesthetically, it's an upgrade over its larger Surface Laptop 7 sibling that launched last year, with a tighter form factor that is exceptionally lightweight and sleek. It's 3:2 display offers plenty of real estate for a laptop this small, and its keyboard and trackpad are a dream to type on.
Best of all, it comes in purple (technically 'Violet'), though you will pay slightly more for this color option than the base platinum colorway as it is only available on the higher capacity configuration.
Meanwhile, the ARM-based Snapdragon X Plus is an incredibly efficient chip, getting just over 17 hours of battery life on a single charge in my testing, which easily translates into two full workdays or more without recharging, outlasting even the latest MacBook Air 13-inch models.
If all you're looking for is a gorgeous-looking laptop that is great for everyday computing tasks, school work, and general productivity—while liberating you from having to keep a constant eye out for power outlets to recharge day after day—then the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch is one of the best Windows laptops you can buy. It just isn't the knockout blow against the MacBook Air that Windows fans might be hoping for.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
How much does it cost? Starts at $899.99 / £1,039 / AU$1,699
When is it available? It's available now
Where can you get it? You can buy it in the US, UK, and Australia
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch is available now, starting at $899.99 / £899 / AU$1,699 directly from Microsoft or at retail partners. It comes in slightly cheaper than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 in the US and UK, (starting at $1,099.99 and £1,039, respectively). In Australia, however, the larger Surface Laptop 7 13.8-inch starts out cheaper at AU$1,597 (and it comes with more powerful hardware to boot).
The Surface Laptop 7 13.8-inch also features a more powerful Qualcomm chip, a sharper screen, and better port support (though no Violet colorway, you'll have to settle for the equally gorgeous Sapphire option).
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch starts with an 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus SoC, 16GB LPDDR5x RAM, 256GB storage, and a Platinum colorway. You can increase the storage by 256GB for an additional $100, which also gives you the option of picking either the Violet or Ocean colorway.View Deal
Similarly, the Surface Laptop 13-inch is also slightly cheaper than the MacBook Air 13-inch with M4 in the US (starting at $999), while being slightly more expensive in the UK (the base MacBook Air 13-inch start at £999), while there is no difference in starting price between the two in Australia.
Compare this, however, with a similar memory-and-storage-specced Dell 14 Plus, starting at $799.99 / £999 / AU$1,298, but which comes with more powerful x86 processors from AMD and Intel, meaning that you get better performance without any compatibility worries that comes with ARM-based chips.
Granted, none of these competing laptops look anywhere near as good as the Surface Laptop 13-inch, but if your main interest is performance, there are cheaper options that will get you what you want.
All that said, however, this is the best-looking laptop you're going to find at this price, in my opinion, and yes, that includes the entire MacBook lineup. If you want to look good at a cafe while reading emails, or streaming Netflix in an airport lounge while waiting for a flight, this laptop will turn heads (at least in Violet) without totally breaking the bank.
The only real knock I can point to is that the long-term value of the Surface Laptop 13-inch is lower than a MacBook Air 13-inch with M4. The latter is much more performant and it will stay 'current' for a few years longer than the Surface Laptop 13-inch, in all likelihood.
Value: 3.5 / 5
Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch: Specs
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-core SoC
16GB LPDDR5x
The display could be better
There isn't a whole lot of variation in terms of spec configurations for the Surface Laptop 13-inch, with the biggest difference being some extra storage and two additional colorway options.
2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 w/ DP and Power Delivery, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x combo jack
Battery (WHr):
50WHr
Wireless:
WiFi 7, BT 5.4
Camera:
1080p
Weight:
2.7 lbs (1.22 kg)
Dimensions:
11.25 x 8.43 x 0.61 ins | (285.65 x 214.14 x 15.6mm)
For $100 / £100 / AU$200 more, you can upgrade the storage on the Surface Laptop 13-inch to 512GB and get additional Violet and Ocean colorway options, but otherwise the more expensive configuration (which I tested out for this review) is identical to the base configuration.
2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 w/ DP and Power Delivery, 1 x USB Type-A 3.1, 1 x 3.5mm combo jack
Battery (WHr):
50WHr
Wireless:
WiFi 7, BT 5.4
Camera:
1080p
Weight:
2.7 lbs (1.22 kg)
Dimensions:
11.25 x 8.43 x 0.61 ins | (285.65 x 214.14 x 15.6mm)
There's no option to upgrade the memory or storage on any of these models beyond the configuration options at the time of purchase, which does make the longevity of the Surface Laptop 13-inch's specs more limited than laptops like the Dell 14 Plus, where you can at least upgrade the storage if you'd like.
And while the specs on the MacBook Air 13-inch with M4 might not be upgradable either, they are simply better overall for a relatively small increase in price, meaning the long-term value of the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) is superior overall.
Specs: 3.5 / 5
Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch: Design
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Beautiful color options and fantastic aesthetics
Light and portable
Display resolution is only 1280pwith no HDR
The design of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch is simply stunning. There's no other way to describe it. Starting with the exterior aesthetics, the Surface Laptop 13-inch is as close to a MacBook Air for Windows as you're going to find on the market, and in my opinion, it's even better looking thanks to the additional Violet and Ocean colorways alongside the default Platinum look of the base model. You pay extra for the splash of color, but it's a worthwhile investment. The machined aluminum finish of the laptop chassis, along with the pastel-ish hue of the chassis and the darker, more matte color of the keycaps and trackpad.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
The display on the Surface Laptop 13-inch is a step down from the larger 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7 from 2024, which had a maximum resolution of 2,304x1,536p (a PPI of 201, compared to the 1,920x1,280p Surface Laptop 13-inch's 178 PPI) and 120Hz refresh compared to just 60Hz for the Surface Laptop 13-inch.
It also has a lower contrast ratio of 1,000:1 compared to the larger version's 1,400:1. The Surface Laptop 7's display is also made of Corning Gorilla Glass 5. In contrast, the Surface Laptop 13-inch's display is only "Strengthened glass" according to Microsoft's official spec sheet for the Surface Laptop lineup.
The display does max out at 400-nits, though, which is nice and bright enough for most people and situations, but you might struggle to see the screen properly if you're using the laptop outside on a bright sunny day.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
I found that carrying the Surface Laptop 13-inch around was very easy, as it fit in pretty much any bag and was thin and compact enough that I was able to use it sitting in an airplane seat during my 15-hour flight to Computex 2025 last month with almost no issue.
Speaking of using the laptop, the key switches are quiet and have good travel and responsiveness, and everything is well-spaced, so you don't feel cramped despite the laptop's smaller size. The trackpad is likewise responsive and smooth, making navigation and clicking around the desktop a breeze.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
One thing that's not that great is the port selection, which is limited to two USB-C Gen 3.2 ports, a USB-A Gen 3.1 port, and a 3.5mm jack for a headset. It'd have been nice to get some USB4 ports in there like you get with the larger Surface Laptop 7 models, but both USB-C ports do support power delivery and DP 1.4 output (though if you're trying to connect to more than one monitor, you need one port per monitor, rather than being able to daisy-chain them to just a single port).
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
The webcam, meanwhile, is a 1080p Surface Studio Camera that is crisp enough, but unlike the larger Surface Laptop models from last year, it does not support Windows Hello authentication, and it doesn't have a physical privacy shutter, which in 2025 should be pretty much mandatory, so along with the port and display downgrades, I've got to ding what is otherwise a nearly perfect design.
Design: 4.5 / 5
Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch: Performance
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
A performance downgrade from last year's Surface Laptop
Some compatibility issues with ARM architecture still linger
Gaming is functionally a no-go
What holds the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch from really being the fierce MacBook Air competitor that many of us hoped it would be is the 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus SoC.
When I reviewed the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 last year, I was genuinely impressed by the performance of the Snapdragon X Elite chip, despite the compatibility challenges that Windows-on-Arm is still working through. That was a much more powerful chip, though, and even the 10-core Snapdragon X Plus SoC offers noticeably better performance than what the Surface Laptop 13-inch is packing.
The 8-core chip isn't awful, to be clear. It's perfectly good for general computing tasks like streaming, school work, and office productivity, and it's probably one of the best student laptops out there for those who want a little bit of style to go along with their studies.
But if you need this laptop to do anything other than writing up papers and reports, streaming movies, or using web-based cloud software, you will likely be unhappy with what you're getting here for the price.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
The most direct and obvious comparisons I can make with this laptop is the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch with Apple Silicon (starting with the Apple M2), the larger 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7, the recently released Dell 14 Plus, last year's Dell XPS 13 (with both Intel and Qualcomm SoCs), and the Asus Zenbook A14 with the entry-level Snapdragon X SoC.
Only the M2 MacBook Air 13-inch and Dell 14 Plus are cheaper than the Surface Laptop 13-inch (at least at the time of review), and all of these laptops start around the same price, give or take a hundred bucks or so.
The models I've tested and that TechRadar has reviewed in the past vary by spec, so it's not entirely an apples-to-apples comparison laid out in the charts above, as some of the Dell and Apple notebooks' advantages can be easily chalked up to more expensive processors.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
If you go with any of those systems at the same price as the Surface Laptop 13-inch I tested, the performance difference might not be nearly as dramatic on paper, and almost certainly won't be all that noticeable.
Still, it's pretty clear that the Surface Laptop 13-inch either lands somewhere in the middle of its competition, or comes in second or third from the bottom. Add to that some performance issues stemming from Microsoft's Prism software layer that translates x86-architecture-designed programs, which is pretty much every Windows program, to be ARM-compatible.
Generally, this works rather well, but it does introduce system overhead that will slow things down. In short, unless you're running a piece of rare ARM-native software, you will almost never get as good an experience with Windows software on ARM as you would with the x86 architecture powering Intel and AMD chips.
The question really comes down to whether or not the performance is good enough, and I think that for most people, it will be (unless you want to load up Steam and get into PC gaming. The best gaming laptop, this is not).
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Much like the MacBook Air 13-inch, the Surface Laptop 13-inch is more geared toward casual computing needs and productivity work, and it excels at these tasks.
So, even though the MacBook Air 13-inch with M4 gets roughly twice as many FPS as the Surface Laptop 13-inch, the MacBook Air 13-inch still struggles to maintain playable frame rates unless you seriously scale back your graphics settings.
The MacBook's gaming advantage, then, only really looks intimidating as a percentage, but in practice, none of the laptops I tested were suitable for the task of playing, say, Cyberpunk 2077 at max settings and native resolution.
What it really boils down to, then, is whether you're just looking for a new laptop to keep up with friends and family, maybe do some office work, or write that Sci-Fi novel at the local coffee shop that you've been meaning to finally get around to this year.
If those are the boxes that need ticking, any of the laptops listed above will get the job done, but none will look as good as the Violet Surface Laptop 13-inch.
Performance: 3.5 / 5
Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch: Battery Life
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
How long does it last on a single charge? 17 hours and 14 minutes
How long to recharge from empty to full? With the included 45W charger, it takes about two and a half hours to charge to full.
One other key area where the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch shines is its stellar battery life. In my testing, it ran about 17 hours and 14 minutes on average in my battery test, thanks to the super efficient ARM architecture. This puts it in fourth place overall in my 10 laptop test group, but it does outlast all three MacBook Air 13-inch models in the group by an hour or more.
So even though it's not officially in the battery life winner's circle, you can't ask for much more from a laptop this thin and light.
Battery Life: 5 / 5
Should you buy the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch?
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Microsoft Surface Laptop 13 Scorecard
Category
Notes
Rating
Value
While not as cheap as something like the Dell 14 Plus, it is on par or cheaper than similar offerings from Dell and Apple.
3.5 / 5
Specs
There aren't a whole lot of configuration options, and the lack of USB4 is unfortunate.
3.5 / 5
Design
It's simply gorgeous and a joy to type on. If it had a physical camera privacy shutter, better ports, and a better display, it'd be a 6 out of 5.
4.5 / 5
Performance
For a casual use notebook, it's in line with similarly specced Windows laptops, but the MacBook Air 13-inch with M4 runs circles around it.
3.5 / 5
Battery Life
At just over 17 hours of battery life in my testing, this is one of the longest lasting Windows laptops around.
5 / 5
Final Score
It's not perfect, and had Microsoft flexed some muscle to get a 10-core chip in this laptop without raising its price, it'd truly be the Windows MacBook Air we've been waiting for, but it'll be more than close enough for most people and looks better than anything Apple has put out in years.
4 / 5
Buy the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch if...
You want a truly eye-catching laptop This is the look we should have gotten on the M2 MacBook Air redesign, rather than the dull, uninteresting colors we got. Apple's mistep is Microsoft's advantage.
You want an all-day laptop At 17+ hours of battery life in my testing—including using it throughout an almost 15-hour flight to Taipei—this laptop has the juice.
Don't buy it if...
You want a high-performance laptop If you want a laptop for serious professional workloads like video editing or for PC gaming, you're going to want to opt for a beefier device.
You want worry-free app compatibility While most Windows apps will work on this device thanks to Microsoft's Prism compatibility layer, you will still occasionally run into some apps that won't work on ARM devices.
Also consider
If my Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch review has you looking at other options, here are three other laptops you should consider instead...
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) The most recent Apple MacBook Air 13-inch offers substantially better performance than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13, making it a much better value.
Dell XPS 13 9350 If you don't want to hassle with the quirks of Qualcomm's ARM-based chips, the Intel Lunar Lake-powered XPS 13 is a fantastic alternative.
I used our standard suite of benchmarking tools and performance tests
I used it as my primary work laptop, including taking it on an international work trip
I spent about a month with the Surface Laptop 13-inch, far longer than I usually spend with a device under review. While this was mostly due to circumstance (Computex and WWDC, in particular), this did allow me to do a much deeper dive.
In addition to my normal benchmarking process, I took extra time to retest some competing laptops we had in the office to come up with a more thorough comparison against the Surface Laptop 13-inch's competitors.
The Roku TV interface is easy to navigate, but we experienced some lag when making selections during our testing of the Roku Streaming Stick (Image credit: Future)
The Roku Streaming Stick is cheap, compact, and easy to use. As the cheaper of Roku’s two newest streaming sticks, the other being the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, it has its limitations – specifically, no 4K or HDR support – but the value proposition here is very good. If you’re trying to save money, it might be among the best streaming devices out there.
As far as competition goes at this price point, there’s really only the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD, which is slightly more expensive. Of course, if you care about getting the best performance and features and are willing to pay for it, I suggest going for the Roku Ultra (2024) instead.
The Roku Streaming Stick is literally just a stick with an HDMI port on the end, and is small even by streaming stick standards. When I reviewed the Amazon Fire TV Sticks that came out in 2023 ( still current models), I had trouble fitting their bulky bodies into the HDMI slots behind my TV, so the svelte design of the Roku Streaming Stick is welcome.
The only visual difference between this and the Streaming Stick Plus version is that the Roku logo is purple as opposed to an etched design, making it look just a bit cheaper than its big brother. Otherwise, it’s identical, with the same somewhat convex case, with the HDMI male jack on one end, and the USB-C charging port on the other. There’s also a reset button, and that’s it.
It’s worth noting that Roku only provides a USB-C to USB-A cable for charging – there’s no power supply or adapter. When I first saw this on the Roku Streaming Stick Plus (again, they’re identical in this regard), I was a little upset that I was expected to pay extra for an adapter. But then I realized there was a good reason for the lack of an adapter, since you’re expected to use the USB port on your TV to power the streaming stick.
Because you’re powering the stick from the TV’s USB port, which is usually just a few slots over from the HDMI connections, there are no hanging cables from the device. This means you’ll end up with a cleaner-looking setup using the Roku Streaming Stick.
The Roku Streaming Stick comes with a USB cable and a remote with a voice control option (Image credit: Future)
The included remote control is Roku’s voice remote. It has a slightly bulky body with a little bit of weight that makes it nice to handle while still being fairly compact. The buttons include dedicated play/pause buttons – a feature I appreciate over the navigation wheel layout that most remotes have. And there’s also a voice assistant button, which lets you make voice commands when holding it down. It’s not Roku’s best remote – that would be the one included with the Roku Ultra – but it’s good enough and about what one would expect at this price point.
The Roku Streaming Stick is intended to be an entry-level HD device, so there’s no 4K or HDR support. I tested it on a 65-inch TV, and the picture quality was still pretty good. If you’re getting this for a guestroom TV, it’s probably worth saving the few extra bucks.
The Roku Streaming Stick’s biggest sticking point is its performance. Given the stick’s low price, you shouldn’t expect the world, but it’s still worth noting. The actual streaming experience is fine and without interruption, but the Roku Streaming Stick has a slight delay when interacting with it, with the onscreen cursor moving just a fraction of a second after a button press, so you feel like it’s catching up.
It’s worth noting that the Roku Streaming Stick uses the old 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi standard, which is even slower than the 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) one used by the Roku Streaming Stick Plus. You probably don’t need the latest Wi-Fi standard for a streaming device, but the Streaming Stick’s slower and older WiFi standard is a potential reason why it runs a little slower.
The Streaming Stick’s interface is the usual intuitive one I expect from Roku. There are a few watch suggestions at the top, but the home screen is otherwise just a series of tiles for different apps. I appreciate its simplicity compared to the more congested interfaces used by Google TV, Fire TV, and other smart TV platforms. If you prefer that type of layout, Roku has a similar setup when you click on the “What To Watch” tab on the homescreen.
There’s a good amount of free content available to stream directly through the Roku interface. There’s also a Sports tab, but you still need a subscription to whichever service has the rights to your favorite sport. Otherwise, Roku’s interface here is its usual rock-solid self.
Roku Streaming Stick: Price and release date
The super-compact Roku Streaming Stick is powered by your TV's USB port (Image credit: Future)
$29.99 / £29.99 (about AU$50)
Released April 2025
Thirty bucks or quid for a streaming device is impossible to beat. The closest to that is probably the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD that I mentioned earlier at $34.99 / £39.99 / AU$69.
The question you need to ask yourself is whether it’s worth saving ten bucks for this version over the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, which goes for $39.99 / £39.99 (about AU$70). The design of both sticks is the same, and so are the limitations in performance. If you’re trying to just get the cheapest streaming stick with 4K and HDR support (but not Dolby Vision), the Plus version is the one you’ll want. But if you have an older TV that doesn’t support those features, the basic Roku Streaming Stick will be ideal.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2023) is also a good streamer to look at as it’s regularly discounted to the same price as the Roku Streaming Stick Plus. And unlike Roku products, that model is available for purchase in Australia.
Roku's remote control sits nicely in the hand and features a mic button for voice search commands (Image credit: Future)
Should you buy the Roku Streaming Stick?
Roku Streaming Stick
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
HD streaming with Dolby Atmos but no 4K or HDR support
3/ 5
Performance
It’s fine when streaming, but it lags when interacting with the interface and menus, possibly due to using an older Wi-Fi standard
3.5 / 5
Design
It’s slim and is designed to get power from the TV it’s connected to, helping provide a cleaner, more tangle-free look
4.5 / 5
Value
Streaming doesn’t get cheaper than this. You just have to decide if you can forgo 4K and HDR support
5 / 5
Buy it if...
You’re on a strict budget Getting the Roku Streaming Stick is on par, pricewise, with dinner for two from a fast food chain. You can’t really get cheaper than this
You want to hide the cables The ability to draw power from a TV’s USB port is a nice touch that allows for a cleaner-looking setup, especially if you plan on wall-mounting your TV.
You want a Roku device There are other almost as cheap options. But if you like the Roku smart interface, then this is the perfect entry-level device for it.
Don't buy it if...
You want top performance The slight lag while navigating is a performance-related concern, as it can be frustrating to feel like you’re always a quarter step behind.
You want 4K and HDR The Roku Streaming Stick does have features like Dolby Atmos, but you’re missing out on the 4K resolution and HDR support that pricier models have.
Roku Streaming Stick review: Also consider
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2023)
If you’re an Amazon Prime Video subscriber and/or own Alexa smart home products, then the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2023) is the way to go. It has faster Wi-Fi6 support, not to mention 16GB of onboard storage and Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support. It is very Prime-centric, however, and shows ads for Prime content every time it’s idle.
If you want both speedy performance and the Roku ecosystem, The Roku Ultra (2024) is your best bet. Sure, it can’t tuck behind the TV discreetly like the Streaming Stick or Streaming Stick Plus, but the Ultra is the company’s best and most robust streaming device. It supports just about every feature, including 4K and Dolby Vision HDR, and it comes with Roku’s best remote.
I used the Roku Streaming Stick regularly for a few days to evaluate everything it can do. I used it to stream Roku content and movies and shows from apps like Max. I also spent time using the remote and testing its various functions.
I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years, from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.
