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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.
Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level
The C34A1R is a very bright monitor. It doesn’t have a zone dimming feature, so field and window patterns will measure the same. It’s just shy of 420 nits in SDR mode, which is midway between the brightest and dimmest screens in the category. The Philips monitor has an advantage with its full-array local dimming Mini LED backlight.
After Calibration to 200 nits
A monitor gains rarely contrast with calibration, especially given that I had to lower the slider two clicks to solve a clipping issue. However, the C34A1R excels after adjustment, boasting a best-in-class 4,578.4:1 score, thanks to impressively low black levels.
The ANSI score of 3,943:1 is also a winner, again best-in-class. The C34A1R delivers a deep and textured image that rivals the much more expensive Philips. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Test Takeaway: The C32A1R has superb contrast for an edge-lit monitor, even beating an expensive Mini LED screen’s native ratio. Achieving this level of performance for $230 is indeed impressive.
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