Skip to main content

Asus announces 31.5-inch 4K Ultra HD monitor [Updated]

AsusPQ321Monitor3ViewLarge
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What kind of screen resolution does the display you’re reading this on boast? If it’s modern, then chances are its got a pretty impressive pixels-per-square-inch ratio. But before you go bragging about how lush your screen is, you might want to take a look at what Asus plans to unveil at the upcoming Computex event in Taiwan. If you thought you were wide-eyed when companies like Apple and Samsung unveiled their crazy high-resolution AMOLED screens, then you might want to buckle up.

Recommended Videos

According to PCWorld, the Asus PQ321 LCD display is already pretty monstrous at a hefty 31.5-inches in screen size, but that diagonal measurement pales in comparison to its intense 4K Ultra HD screen resolution. The company reported that it made use of Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide (IGZO) as the binding agent on its LCD screen, rather than a traditional silicone mix. This allowed developers to force much smaller pixels onto the display. For all you tech-heads out there, the maximum resolution on this product will run at 3840 x 2160.

Ultra-realism is just one step closer to becoming an ultra-reality with this impressive resolution. But the PQ321 doesn’t stop there. The monitor also features a nifty tilt feature, which will allow you to move the viewing angle along a 176-degree arc. You’ll also get access to a DisplayPort, built-in 2W stereo speakers, and two HDMI inputs. This isn’t just another monitor hastily tossed together in an attempt to cash in on the high-resolution craze. Asus is promising that the PQ321 is a quality-driven product, well-built and made from heavy professional-grade materials. It all sounds like a visual dream and it looks sleek to boot.

Just remember that with great power comes great hardware. If you plan on running some visually intensive games at the maximum resolution for this screen, you’re going to need to pack a powerful punch, specifically in the video card department. For now, it’s probably better just to watch movies and browse the Web on this bad boy – that is, unless you want to shell out the $2,000 for a machine capable of playing the high-end graphics that are able to push this screen to its full capacity. The 31.5-inch ASUS monitor can be had for a whopping $3799. The display should ship sometime this month (June).

Asus4K39InchResolution
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Asus also announced a “big brother” to it’s 31.5-inch creation. Look for a much larger, much sleeker, 39-inch 4K resolution display to hit stores sometime in Q3. We don’t know a price for this behemoth just yet, but you can expect it to be considerably higher than its smaller counterpart.

Photo via Engadget

[Updated at 9:40 a.m. PST on 6/4/13: Included information about 39-inch version.]

Originally published at 12:51 p.m. PST on 5/31/13

Russ Boswell
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Russ Boswell is an aspiring video game and technology journalist from Colorado. He's been an avid gamer since he was old…
This monstrous Samsung 57-inch 4K gaming monitor is $700 off
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57-inch mini-LED gaming monitor placed on a desk.

For the ultimate video game experience, it's not enough that you invest in gaming PC deals. You'll also need a topnotch display like the 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 dual 4K curved gaming monitor. It's pretty expensive -- but very much worth it -- at its original price of $2,500, so you shouldn't miss this chance to get it with a $700 discount from Samsung, for a more reasonable price of $1,800. It's still not cheap, but if you can afford it, it will quickly prove to be one of your best gaming purchases. You'll miss out on the savings if you don't move fast though, so hurry up and complete the transaction.

Why you should buy the 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 dual 4K curved gaming monitor
Samsung describes the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 dual 4K curved gaming monitor as the first dual 4K Ultra HD monitor, with the 57-inch display offering 7680 x 2160 resolution -- that's equivalent to two 4K monitors with 3840 x 2160 resolution placed side-by-side. It's a massive screen, and when combined with a 1000R curvature to fill your peripheral vision and Quantum Mini-LED technology for extremely realistic images, you'll get fantastic levels of immersion in the best PC games that you may not get from any other monitor.

Read more
Gigabyte just upped its OLED monitor game
Three Gigabyte Aorus monitors over a colorful background.

Gigabyte already makes some of the best gaming monitors, but its upcoming lineup of QD-OLED Aorus displays is arguably even more exciting. However, its rivals Asus and MSI have held an edge in terms of warranty -- something that's crucial for a QD-OLED panel that could be prone to burn-in. Gigabyte now addressed the issue, extending its warranty to match those of the competition.

Gigabyte first showcased the new monitors earlier this year. Initially, they were all given a standard one-year warranty. MSI and Asus also stuck to offering a one-year warranty, but not for long. What follows is an interesting look at how all the top brands in the gaming market affect one another.

Read more
Get this Samsung 32-inch 4K monitor while it’s $500 off right now
Samsung's new Odyssey G7 comes with a flat screen.

The power of your gaming PC will be wasted on a basic display, so if you haven't upgraded yet, you should check out this $500 discount for the 32-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 4K curved gaming monitor in the Samsung Spring Sale. From an expensive original price of $1,300, it's down to a more reasonable $800, but probably not for long. There's still a few days left in the sale, but it's not recommended to wait until the last minute because there's no telling when stocks of the gaming monitor will run out.

Why you should buy the 32-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 4K curved gaming monitor
Samsung, a fixture in our roundup of the best gaming monitors, hits another home run with the 32-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 4K curved gaming monitor. With 4K Ultra HD resolution and Quantum Mini-LED technology that's found in some of the best TVs, the gaming monitor delivers amazing picture quality with sharp details and vivid colors, which will let you appreciate the graphics of today's best PC games. For smooth and uninterrupted gameplay, the screen also offers a 165Hz refresh rate, a 1ms response time, and support for AMD's FreeSync Premium Pro.

Read more