The latest and largest computer display from rising star ALOGIC has been launched and I’ve had a chance to test drive the monster screen that’s an affordable and larger alternative to Apple’s 27-inch Studio Display.
The new ALOGIC Clarity Pro Max 32-inch UHD 4K display comes in three flavors: there’s a basic model with just the screen, then there’s a mid-range version that has a pop-up 8K webcam and 65W USB Power Delivery for charging or running a laptop. Finally, there’s the brand’s flagship Clarity Max Touch 32-inch UHD 4K which has all the features of the midrange model with a full-size touchscreen that can be used with finger gestures, pointing or with a graphics pen (available separately) for those who want to use the screen as a massive graphics tablet for drawing and painting.
This large screen makes an ideal presentation monitor for working with a group around you. With its refresh rate of 60Hz and a Quantum Dot IPS panel, it offers the kind of performance that photographers and graphic designers will appreciate. There’s so much screen real estate to play with and the larger size makes using 4K resolution easier on the eye than trying to cram the same resolution into a 27-inch screen. It doesn’t sound like a lot extra but the added space is noticeable.
The ALOGIC Clarity Pro Max 32-inch UHD 4K display has a comprehensive selection of inputs including two HDMI ports, a DisplayPort, plus USB-C input and output that carries a full range of signals, including 65W of power for driving or charging a laptop. The USB-C option is the connection method required for using the models with the built-in 8K webcam and touchscreen because that’s how the data signals are transmitted to and from the host computer.
The 32-inch display makes an ideal screen for use with a Mac mini or Mac Studio. The colors are nice and punchy, plus the LED backlight is nice and even. The touchscreen works well and would be ideal for use as a kiosk display. For example, it would be an ideal screen for niche uses like a booking-in system for a medical practice where patients can log themselves in for an appointment.
The screen has a shiny surface rather than a matte finish, so the siting of the display is important. You wouldn’t want to position yourself in front of it with a window or bright light behind you because of distracting reflections.
A beefy 150W power supply ships with the display and for the touchscreen version there’s an optional cantilever stand that’s uniquely designed to almost fold flat so that you can draw on the screen using the optional graphics pen. The touchscreen is a 10-point Multitouch one-glass solution. The optional graphics pen provides 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity which makes it useful for drawing, retouching photos or even signing documents. The touchscreen will work with all MPP 2.0 styluses.
In terms of pen accuracy, I don’t think there is quite as much fine control as you’d get with a high-end graphics tablet from a brand like Wacom or Xencelabs, but the pen, which has a rechargeable battery, functions well. As for the finger-pointing function, it’s fun to be able to launch apps from my Mac’s dock with the touch of a finger. You can even use a finger to highlight text in a Word document. It’s also great for interactive use.
The 4K IPS display with Quantum Dot backlight offers a maximum 4K resolution of 3,840 x 2,160. The viewing angle is 178 degrees both horizontally and vertically, while the maximum brightness is 350 NITS. When using the screen for presentations, it would be better to take the resolution down a little to something lower, like 2,560 x 1,440. The display quality is excellent with good color balance out of the box.
The color gets even better if the screen is calibrated using something like DataColor’s Spyder X. The screen has color gamut support of 130% sRGB, 110% AdobeRGB and 102% DCI-P3. I used the Apple RGB setting on my Mac and the result was excellent even without calibration. With up to 350 NITS of brightness and 1.07 billion colors, this monitor is a good performer although not as bright as some on the market.
Two of the ALOGIC Clarity Max 32-inch displays have a built-in 8MP webcam that pops up whenever an app triggers the need for video. The quality is sharp but because the webcam is built into the screen you are limited to the viewing adjustments you can make. It’s a neat solution but some users might prefer to add their own solution.
The webcam also has a four-microphone stereo array so the display can be used for video conferencing in a meeting room. The touchscreen function would make the display ideal for setting it up with a host computer working as a video kiosk. It’s a neat solution for the money.
The stereo speakers built into the Clarity Max screens are perhaps the weak point of the product because they are limited to an output of 5W per channel, which wouldn’t be enough for use in a meeting room. The audio signal can be channeled via the USB-C connection and there is an analog audio out for connecting to an amplifier or speaker system. However, if you’re not too bothered about having hi-fi quality sound and just want basic sound for system alerts, then the built-in speakers will do just fine.
One feature I particularly like on the flagship touchscreen model is the optional foldable Z-shape stand. This enables easy adjustment of the angle of the screen, including the height and tilt. There’s no facility to rotate the stand into portrait mode with this stand, so that could be important for some graphic designers or multi-screen users who like using a tall screen. Even so, the folding stand is robust and keeps the screen rock solid, even when using the graphics pen.
As well as offering a choice of HDMI, DisplayPort and USB-C video inputs, the ALOGIC Clarity Max 32-inch display also has a couple of USB-A ports and one USB upstream port. Everything is plug-and-play plus you get all the cables you need in the box with a chunky external power supply.
Verdict: The ALOGIC Clarity Max 32-inch displays are more than just big screens with 4K resolution. The range is also designed to meet the demands of graphic designers, artists, photographers and content creators who need lots of space for their work. The optional graphic pen that can be used with the touchscreen version isn’t quite a total replacement for a full-blown graphics tablet but it works well, nonetheless. If you want a large 4K screen with heaps of extra functionality, the ALOGIC Clarity Max 32-inch displays are well worth a look and they are all competitively priced for what you get. All three versions are compatible with 100 x 100mm VESA mounts.
Pricing & Availability: The ALOGIC Clarity Max Touch 32-inch UHD 4K Monitor with Webcam, USB-C Power Delivery costs $1,399 / £1,399.99 / €1,699. The midrange version with Power Delivery and an 8MP webcam is priced at $1, 199 / £1,149.99 / €1,379, while the basic model without the webcam costs $999.99 / £999.99 / €1,099.99. The optional ALASS Pen for the flagship touchscreen version costs an extra $499.99 / £49.99 /€49.99, while the Clarity Fold Stand for the touchscreen model will set you back a reasonable $199.99 / £199.99 / €199,99.
More info: alogic.com
Tech Specs:
- Model no: ALOGIC Clarity Max Touch 32-inch UHD 4K Monitor with Webcam, USB-C PD.
- Screen size: 32 inches.
- Panel: IPS with QD backlight.
- Viewing angle: 178°(H) / 178°(V).
- Resolution: 4K (3,840 x 2,160p).
- Refresh rate: 60Hz.
- Brightness: 320 NITS.
- Color space: 130% sRGB, 110% AdobeRGB, 102% DCI-P3.
- Touchscreen: 10-point with graphic pen.
- Webcam: 8MP HD.
- Microphones: 4-mic stereo array.
- Speakers: 5W x 2.
- Audio out: Yes
- Connectivity: 2 x USB-A, 1 x USB Upstream, 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x USB Type C.
- USB-C charge: 65W.
- Weight: 6.5kg (without stand).
- VESA mount: FDMI MIS-D 100mm.
- Box contents: Monitor, DisplayPort cable, HDMI cable, USB-C cable, USB-B to USB-A cable, DC 19V 7.89A, 150W (Max) Power Adapter.
