Dell UltraSharp 32 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U3225QE) Review

About the Dell UltraSharp 32 4K monitor

• Display size: 32 inches
• Resolution: 3840 x 2160
• Refresh rate: 120Hz
• Peak brightness: 600 nits (HDR)
• HDR support: VESA DisplayHDR 600
• Color saturation: 99% DCI-P3 (rated), 100% sRGB (rated)
• Color depth: 10-bit
• Contrast ratio: 3,000:1
• Ports: 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x DisplayPort 1.4 out, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x Thunderbolt 4 upstream with 140W PD, 1x Thunderbolt 4 downstream, 1x USB-C, 1x 3.5 audio out, 4x USB-A 10Gbps, 1x RJ45, 1x front-facing USB-A 10Gbps, 2x front-facing USB-C 10Gbps
• VRR support: HDMI VRR
• Other features: Anti-glare panel, multi-source mode
• Price: $949.99

The UltraSharp 32 4K (U3225QE) is the latest IPS Black monitor from Dell, and sits alongside a similar 27-inch model, the Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U2725QE). It also doubles as a Thunderbolt 4 hub, with a series of rear-facing and front-facing ports.

The UltraSharp 32 4K (U3225QE) monitor costs $949.99 ($699.99 for the 27), though you'll likely be able to get it discounted both from Dell and other retailers soon, given it was just released to the market today, February 25, 2025.

How we tested

In testing the Dell UltraSharp 32 4K, we used the monitor in various modes, connected to different sources, and so on. We also tested things like backlighting, using test videos designed to highlight things like display uniformity and motion blur.

We've reviewed hundreds of monitors and other kinds of displays over the years and have a deep understanding of what makes a great monitor—and a not-so-great one.

What we like

The Dell UltraSharp 32 4K has deep black levels (for an IPS screen)

Let's get this out of the way right now. For an IPS screen, the Dell UltraSharp 32 4K offers excellent deep black levels and a high contrast ratio. Previous generation IPS screens have struggled to get past a 1000:1 contrast ratio, but this monitor smashes that number, reaching all the way to 3000:1.

And you can tell the difference. IPS screens are known for better color reproduction compared to TN and VA panels but have struggled to reach the same black levels. IPS Black, however, minimizes light leakage to achieve deeper black levels, while retaining that superior color reproduction.

OLED, of course, is the elephant in the room, thanks to the fact that OLED panels offer pixel-level lighting control for perfect black levels (or so-called true blacks), and contrast ratios of 1,000,000:1 or even higher. The downside to OLED monitors is the risk of screen burn-in, which happens when you have a static image on the screen for extended periods. That's common on computer monitors when it comes to things like menu bars and other icons. Not only that, IPS screens can get brighter than OLED, though OLED technology is improving when it comes to brightness.

So how do the black levels perform in the real world? Well, they're certainly deeper than other IPS screens, but blacks still really look like really dark grays. On an OLED panel, parts of the image that are black can even blend in with a black bezel around the screen, but that won't happen here.

The basic gist is that IPS technology is still arguably the way to go when it comes to computer monitors. They're bright and vibrant, and there's no risk of burn-in—plus they now sport deeper black levels. But, those black levels still don't approach OLED panels.

The image is crisp and has excellent color reproduction

Thankfully, the colors offered by this monitor are vibrant and bright, providing excellent color accuracy overall. The monitor can cover 99% of the DCI-P3 color space and 100% of the sRGB color space, with an average DeltaE under 2.

Some monitors offer more accurate colors, though they often cost more. It's no accident that Dell is quoting a DeltaE of under 2. DeltaE essentially measures the difference between the intended color and what's produced on the screen. It's generally considered that the untrained eye can't see a DeltaE below 2. A DeltaE below 1 is usually considered good enough for ultra-color-sensitive work, like professional photo editing and video color-grading. That said, as a casual photographer and videographer, I found the monitor easily good enough for my work. So, unless you're working in a professional setting, your experience will likely be similar.

Beyond work that requires ultra-accurate colors, the Dell UltraSharp 32 4K excels. Again, colors are vibrant and bright, and watching movies on the screen is a joy. Games looked stunning, too —this isn't a full-on gaming monitor and can’t compete with the best gaming monitors we’ve tested, you'll still be pleased with what it offers.

With a 4K resolution, the monitor is crisp and detailed—nothing new these days, but if you haven't used one regularly before, you'll find that text looks a little more crisp and images a little more detailed than lower resolution monitors.

The anti-glare panel limits reflections

We are big fans of anti-glare glass on TVs and monitors in recent times. The anti-glare glass used on the Dell UltraSharp 32 4K looks great, even when placed right beside a window in the afternoon when glare can get a little annoying on glossy display panels. You won’t have to deal with this as much with the Dell UltraSharp 32 4K. The anti-glare glass doesn’t eliminate glare, but it does a good job of minimizing it—you can see what's on the screen better and it’s better for your eyes.

Speaking of being better for your eyes, Dell says that the monitor is TÜV Rheinland 5-star eye comfort certified. That's thanks to a combination of the higher refresh rate, anti-glare glass, and high color accuracy. It means that it's easier on your eyes than other monitors, and could help reduce eye strain.

The Dell UltraSharp 32 4K’s brightness isn't stunningly high, but it's easily enough for the vast majority of settings, especially in the professional world. Even in the afternoon when the sun was shining through the window, I was still able to see what was on the screen perfectly well, with the brightness set to around 75%.

The viewing angles on the monitor are also quite good, although this is less important on monitors than it is for TVs. Even at a wide viewing angle, we were able to easily see what was on the screen without any degradation in color. The display wasn't quite as bright at wide viewing angles, but again, it was easy to see what was on the screen, and it still looked quite good.

There are tons of rear-facing ports and some front-facing ones

One of the big selling points of the Dell UltraSharp 32 4K over other monitors is the fact that it doubles as a Thunderbolt hub. In other words, it can connect to your computer through a single Thunderbolt cable and then allow you to plug accessories straight into your monitor for charging and connecting to your computer.

For starters, when connected to a laptop, the monitor can supply up to 140W of power, which is easily enough to top off relatively quickly. It also has HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, plus there are four USB-A ports and a USB-C port.

That's not all—there are a few front-facing ports accessible with a little pop-out hub. We found the hub a little stiff—you practically have to lift the monitor to pop it out, but it then extends down and gives you access to two USB-C ports and one USB-A port, all three of which support data transfer of up to 10Gbps.

This is loads of ports and should be more than enough for most users. We might have swapped out one or two of the USB-A ports on the back for another USB-C port or two, but that's down to personal preference.

You can also use multiple inputs at once. The monitor lets you place images from multiple sources side-by-side or picture-in-picture. Use for this is perhaps niche, but it's still a cool feature.

The Dell UltraSharp 32 4K monitor boasts a sleek and stylish design

We love the look of this monitor. It features relatively thin bezels around the screen, which helps achieve a modern look. The monitor is made of matte silver plastic, which looks high-quality despite not being metal.

The stand that the monitor comes with is versatile. It allows for the adjustment of monitor height, as well as the tilt angle, so you can get the perfect positioning for your needs. Additionally, the monitor supports VESA mounting, so if the stand doesn't quite do it for you, you can attach it to a more advanced mounting system.

Dell indicates that the materials for the monitor are sustainably sourced. It's made from 87% post-consumer plastic and 100% recycled aluminum. Other materials aren't as sustainable—it uses 50% recycled stainless steel and 20% recycled glass. Hopefully, these numbers will continue to increase over time.

As we mentioned, Dell also makes this monitor in a 27-inch size that may be a better fit for buyers who don't need a huge screen space and want to save some money.

What we don't like

HDR performance is only so-so

While the monitor gets decently bright and the black levels are deeper thanks to IPS Black technology, this Dell monitor is still only “just fine” when it comes to HDR performance.

The monitor is VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified, and you can tell the difference. That said, the edge-lighting tech on the monitor means that HDR highlights simply aren't as impressive as they otherwise would be.

Dell's own Alienware monitors, like the Alienware AW3225QF gaming monitor we reviewed, offer better HDR support, though. Some Alienware monitors support Dolby Vision and a peak HDR brightness of 1000 nits, at a similar price.

But again, the Dell UltraSharp 32 4K isn't a gaming monitor, it's more focused on productivity, which means that HDR support isn't quite as important. At least until you want to watch a movie on it.

It's not fully equipped for gaming

The Dell UltraSharp 32 4K doubles its refresh rate to 120Hz compared to the previous generation model, which makes for a smoother experience overall. A higher refresh rate is never a bad thing, including when it comes to productivity. Sure, it's not as critical as in gaming, but you'll still get a smoother look and feel, especially when it comes to animations on the screen and scrolling through web pages.

The Dell UltraSharp 32 4K also supports HDMI VRR, which means that it's equipped with a widely-compatible variable refresh rate. Unfortunately, however, it doesn't support hardware-specific versions of VRR, like AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync, so you may not get some optimizations. But, HDMI VRR is open enough to where you'll still get most of the advantages associated with a variable refresh rate in general.

The response time on the monitor is a little lower than some gamers would want. Dell quotes a response time of between 5ms and 8ms depending on the mode you use, which is fine at best. Plenty of gamers look for monitors that have a sub-1ms response time, especially when it comes to competitive shooters. This monitor won't give you that.

For productivity use, of course, you won't notice a response time like that at all. You may see some motion blur now and then, but we didn't find it to be distracting.

Warranty

The Dell UltraSharp 32 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U3225QE) comes with Dell's 3-year limited hardware warranty. This covers manufacturer defects and issues, not damage that you my do to the monitor during the three years. In other words, you'll want to be careful with it.

Should you buy the Dell UltraSharp 32 4K?

Yes, it's a stunning productivity monitor

The Dell UltraSharp 32 4K stays in its lane in a good way. The monitor is perfect for productivity, offering a high level of brightness and a much higher contrast ratio than any IPS screen before it.

It's still not quite the gaming machine that some users may have wanted, despite the higher refresh rate, but if you're primarily looking for a monitor for productivity use, this one can still easily be used for casual gaming.

Don’t forget it serves as a great Thunderbolt hub with loads of ports to choose from.