What matters

Both are 31.5-inch creator monitors with a 3840 x 2160 panel, a 400 nits claim, DisplayHDR 400, factory calibration, 100% sRGB and Rec.709 coverage, 10-bit color, KVM switching, one-cable laptop connectivity, and adjustable stands. The shared foundation is already capable for ordinary creator work. The decision is whether you value deeper static contrast or smoother motion enough to change models.

Key differences

  • The PD3225U uses IPS Black with a claimed 2,000:1 contrast ratio and 98% P3 coverage. It runs at 60 Hz and carries a 5 ms GtG response claim. For still images, layout, and design, that combination favors tonal separation and color coverage without charging for motion features you may not use.
  • The PD3226G uses IPS with a claimed 1,200:1 contrast ratio and 95% P3 coverage, but rises to 144 Hz with variable refresh and a 1 ms MPRT claim. Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, and up to 90 W laptop power also replace Thunderbolt 3, HDMI 2.0, and up to 85 W on the PD3225U. That is a meaningful upgrade for mixed creator, gaming, and newer-console use, not an automatic upgrade for static color work.
  • BenQ's US pages showed the PD3225U at USD 849.99 sale and USD 999.99 regular, while the PD3226G was USD 899.99 sale and USD 1,099.99 regular. The checked gap was therefore USD 50 on sale or USD 100 at regular prices. Recalculate the decision if either promotion moves.

Who it is for

  • Pick the PD3225U if photo editing, illustration, layout, or static design dominates, 60 Hz is acceptable, and its stronger claimed contrast and P3 coverage matter more than newer motion features.
  • Pick the PD3226G if high-refresh scrolling, animation, games, variable refresh, or newer computer and console inputs are used often enough to justify both the premium and the reduction in claimed contrast and P3 coverage.

Watch-outs

  • Do not read the two response-time figures as one matched test: GtG and MPRT measure different behavior. The same caution applies to vendor contrast and color-coverage claims without independent side-by-side measurement.
  • Calibration hardware, replacement cables, docks, graphics hardware, and an expired promotion can change the ownership total beyond the monitor price.
  • Buy neither for reference HDR mastering, higher pixel density, OLED black levels, or local-dimming HDR. Their shared HDR class does not establish those capabilities.