Can This Dual-Purpose Smart TV Monitor Be the Key to Your Work-Life Balance?

Imagine you’re editing your photos, and you feel like you need a break. What if all it took was one press of a button to switch to some entertaining content on your work desk?

Computer monitors and TVs used to be two very different devices. Computer monitors generally meant having a closer viewing distance, and TVs were almost exclusively for entertainment purposes. However, with TVs now being made with built-in smart features and much more convenient connectivity options, while monitors are now being made bigger and capable of displaying more dynamic range, it’s not surprising that dual-purpose displays now exist. Let’s take a look at this $300 option from a brand called KTC.

The KTC A32Q8

The KTC A32Q8 is a 31.5-inch display designed to double as a large monitor or a medium-sized TV. It comes in a 28.25 x 16.5 x 1.5-inch (717.55 x 419.1 x 38.1 mm) frame with a 4K VA panel and a very thin bezel around it. It comes with a desk stand that is 7 inches (177.8 mm) tall with a thin, flat 7.5 x 8.25-inch (190.5 x 209.55 mm) metal base. With the stand, the monitor has a working height of 3.2 inches (81.28 mm) (bottom bezel to base) and can be tilted up 15 degrees or down 5 degrees. The stand is, of course, removable to reveal a 100 x 100 mm VESA-compatible mount that can be switched to monitor arms or wall mounting.

At the back of the panel is a full-sized HDMI port, a DisplayPort, and a single USB-C port as input options. On the other side are four USB-A ports (that don’t connect to the host device, only to the monitor/TV) and a single 3.5 mm audio output port for use with external speakers or wired headphones. Inside the box are the power supply, an HDMI cable, and a smart TV remote with various shortcuts for different streaming platforms and Google Assistant.

Resolution and Color

The KTC A32Q8 is equipped with a 31.5-inch VA panel with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 (4K) and a refresh rate of 60 Hz capable of displaying beyond 8-bit color through FRC. It has a peak brightness of 300 nits and a contrast ratio of 3,000:1. When it comes to color coverage and accuracy, documentation from the brand states 123% of sRGB and 94% DCI-P3 with a color accuracy rating of Delta E <2. However, upon calibration with DisplayCal, it confirmed sRGB at 123% but yielded just 84.2% of DCI-P3. Surprisingly, it achieved a Delta E maximum of just 0.89, which is much better than the set standard for the product line.

Function and Controls

Being made to double as a smart TV, this monitor has a lot of convenience factors when it comes to connectivity and customization. With the three different input types, especially USB-C, this becomes compatible with almost any modern device that has video signal output. This includes laptops, desktop computers, tablets, smartphones, and even cameras. The USB-C input also serves as a USB-C PD charger of up to 65 watts. Moreover, since this is essentially a monitor with its own operating system, it seamlessly manages instant connection to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices, whether for audio or for a keyboard and/or mouse.

While it comes with a single navigation button for the OSD, the much more convenient option is the included TV remote that gives access to a user-friendly menu interface as well as quick access to different functions and adjustments.

Application

The KTC A32Q8, in my opinion, is primarily a productivity monitor, and it offers quite a number of benefits at that. For one, the 32-inch screen provides a lot of screen real estate, which can be beneficial for working with multiple windows open at one time—great for multitasking. It also has multiple connectivity options and ports, which means that it can be used with most modern devices. When using the USB-C port as the input of choice, this not only provides a convenient connection but also provides up to 65 watts to charge the host device if it is capable of charging. For most productivity/consumer-level laptops, this 65-watt supply is enough to sustain and replenish the battery. However, for many creator-level devices, 65 watts might not be sufficient.

As an entertainment display, this monitor is remarkably convenient. Thirty-two inches isn’t much in terms of TVs, but if used in a workspace—especially as a monitor—this is just the right size for a desk. Alongside the 4K resolution, it’s really the convenience of being able to quickly switch modes to access different content sources that stands out, especially with compatibility with Google Assistant. The 5 V built-in speaker, though, is underwhelming and flat. For a better experience, it would be best to use external speakers, either through the 3.5 mm port or via Bluetooth that automatically pairs once the devices are powered on.

Of course, the biggest question would be whether this monitor is any good for editing. While the information about this monitor does not emphasize much about usability for creative tasks, this monitor was sent to us to see if it offers any benefits to photographers’ editing workflows. This particular monitor yielded a lower coverage of DCI-P3 than mentioned, which may be an individual unit variation. However, it makes up in terms of actual color accuracy ratings after calibration, performing much better than the supposed standard of Delta E <2. While this might not be one of the top choices in terms of color, it can still be usable for post-production after proper color calibration or as a larger secondary screen to a laptop with better color performance. Alternatively, it can be used for tethered shooting in a studio where resolution, framing, and details take precedence with previews before post-production begins. Nonetheless, considering the functionality and the overall concept, I personally look forward to seeing a better, perhaps perfected, smart TV-monitor with impeccable color performance and possibly Calman verification standards.

What I Liked

• Large 32-inch 4K screen
• Monitor doubles as a smart TV
• Multiple convenience features

What Can Be Improved

• Better color coverage
• Color accuracy standards
• USB-C connection to the device does not bridge input of other USB ports to the host