Monitor test of AOC U32U1: when design is priority

Details

AOC design monitors, in collaboration with Studio F.A.Porsche, have grown by a new piece. Last tested Q27T1 attracted attention with its unconventional stand and the new U32U1 plans to continue this trend. However, it adds larger dimensions as well as resolution and wider positioning options. It also wants to show great color reproduction for graphic work and very solid port selection. But will its design be the only reason for purchase?

Basic specs

Packaging and equipment

The design box print shows the monitor from the front and back. An interesting feature is the ribbon that runs past the entire box.

The package contains everything you need and something extra. Of course, there is complete cable equipment, including a power adapter, HDMI and DisplayPort cables, and even a USB-C cable for connection to a PC. I can confirm that charging and transferring the image exclusively via USB-C works without problems. The monitor will therefore be an ideal addition to laptops with USB-C especially with Thunderbolt 3 and 4. The package also includes documentation, including measured values of display calibration.

In other reviews, in the next step after packaging, we show the stand and its assembly. Here, however, the stand is integrated into the body of the monitor, so you don’t have to assemble or screw anything.

The front profile is minimalist and elegant. The display has narrow frames, which we will show you in a moment. The integrated stand also allows the panel to be rotated sideways by up to 40 degrees.

When looking at the back, you can see a silver metal part, which is a kind of heart of the monitor. It connects the display and the stand and has a built-in port selection.

On the left side there is a pair of HDMI connectors, but only one of them is type 2.0 for 4K@60Hz. You will also find DisplayPort 1.4 and 3.5 mm audio connector.

The other side also offers USB-C with DP Alt Mode, untraditionally also Micro-USB type B, power connector and three classic USB type A with 5 Gbps transfer. One of them also offers faster charging.

The lower right corner of the rear also has a joystick to control the OSD menu.

A closer look at the connection between the base and the display shows how the cables are run and also a rotary joint for pivot, which we will show right away. The base also has a pair of 2 W speakers at the top.

The display offers 115 mm vertical flexibility. At the lowest point, 103 mm from the pad is the bottom edge and 515 mm the top edge. In the highest position, it is 218 mm high and the top of the display is 630 mm high.

In addition to the height, you can also adjust the tilt of the monitor from -3.5 to +18.5 degrees. Rotation to the sides is possible by already mentioned 40 degrees to both sides.

A closer look at the movement of the base and the stand shows that the base is a sort of guide rail in which the stand moves. The movement is very smooth, but you can stop it exactly at the height you choose.

The monitor also offers already mentioned pivot, but only to one side. Personally, however, I think that 32″ is quite a lot for comfortable use.

The U32U1 boasts a very elegant design with minimalist frames on all four sides of the display. So goodbye thick lower bezel, you’re obsolete.

The detail also shows how the display is fitted into the body and how slightly it protrudes.

The backlight bleed is minimal, and in the photo below there is an intentionally longer exposure time to see any at all.

Of course, as always, each panel is different and your piece can be better, but also worse. In the next chapter, we will also measure the uniformity with a color analyzer.

• Contents
• Details
• Setting options
• Image properties
• Conclusion