Ahead of CES 2026, Asus and MSI have both announced upgraded 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitors built on a 2026 QD-OLED panel with an improved anti-reflection film.
Samsung Display, the maker of all QD-OLED panels, has announced plans to move to 'V-Stripe' RGB pixels in at least some of its 2026 panels, but this is not the only change to the 2026 QD-OLED lineup.
It has now been confirmed that QD-OLED is also implementing a new, improved film in 2026 to address the general issues with blacks and color tint on QD-OLED in bright rooms. It remains to be seen whether the film will be applied to all 2026 QD-OLED or only select panels.
Deeper blacks, reduced color tint
Asus and MSI are racing to come up with their own marketing names for the improved film. MSI calls it DarkArmor, while Asus refers to it as BlackShield. It is the exact same thing, applied by Samsung Display.
Here is how Asus and MSI explain it:
- "DarkArmor Film: This specialized film technology is designed to enhance light absorption and eliminate the distracting purple or reddish tints often visible on standard QD-OLEDs under ambient light. It boosts pure black levels by up to 40%, significantly improving contrast and delivering superior image performance. Furthermore, it upgrades the screen surface hardness from 2H to 3H, offering 2.5x better scratch resistance to effectively withstand daily wear and tear," announced MSI.
- "So, for the PG32UCDM Gen 3, we're using BlackShield Film, which improves the monitor's black level in scenarios with brighter ambient lighting by up to 40%. Expect the black parts of your display to retain their darkness better than ever, giving you unprecedented contrast and color accuracy no matter your lighting situation. We've also given the monitor an anti-reflection surface coating to further enhance the clarity of your viewing experience. The BlackShield Film is also highly durable. It offers 2.5x more panel scratch resistance than previous designs, easing your cleaning routine," announced Asus.
'DarkArmor' film on QD-OLED. Photo: MSI
'BlackShield' film on QD-OLED. Photo: AsusHigher peak brightness
Asus will implement it in the PG32UCDM Gen 3, while MSI will use it in the MPG 322UR X24 and MAG 321UP X24 monitors. All of them will launch in 2026, with pricing to be announced. It is not clear if they use the new 'V-Stripe' pixel layout.
Resolution remains 4K (3840x2160) and refresh rate 240Hz, but peak brightness increases from 1000 to 1300 nits, according to MSI’s announcement (Asus did not comment). The monitors are now certified for DisplayHDR 500 True Black.
Also read: LG Display's new 27" 4K OLED uses RGB stripe for sharper text
The Asus PG32UCDM Gen 3 features DisplayPort 2.1 (80Gbps), HDMI 2 and USB-C.
Expect more announcements from Asus, MSI and other monitor makers at CES 2026 next week.
