Bottom Line
The ASUS XG32VQ offers immersive image quality and smooth performance as well as plenty of exclusive gaming and flashy features. However, unless its price drops, there are better alternatives for the money out there.
The ASUS XG32VQ gaming monitor combines its big 32″ curved screen with a 144Hz refresh rate, stunning visuals, and AMD FreeSync for both immersive and responsive gameplay experience.
Moreover, it offers plenty of exclusive features including gimmicky RGB lighting, rich connectivity options, and the premium ROG Strix branding and design.
Image Quality
The ASUS ROG Strix XG32VQ features Samsung’s VA panel (SVA) with a static contrast ratio of 3,000:1 and a peak luminance of 300-nits, which makes for deep blacks and bright whites.
Moreover, it offers true 8-bit color depth and an extended color gamut of 125% sRGB for striking colors, which perfectly complement the high contrast.
Thanks to the 2560×1440 WQHD screen resolution, the picture is clear and sharp with a pixel density of 93 PPI (pixels per inch), which is equivalent to 1080p at 24″.
So, you don’t get as crisp details as you’d get on a 27″ 1440p monitor, but you get a remarkably larger screen and a decent pixel density, too.
Moving on, there’s no excessive backlight bleeding, the screen is flicker-free, and the 178-degree viewing angles don’t cause any huge shifts in contrast or color when the image is viewed from an angle.
Performance
Unfortunately, the ASUS XG32VQ monitor doesn’t have a backlight strobing capability, so you will have to settle for a 4ms response time (gray to gray pixel transition) with six different overdrive (OD) settings available.
In the OSD (On-Screen Display) menu, you will find the ‘OD’ option with six levels ranging from 0 to 5. Overall, setting the overdrive option to ‘Level 3’ provides the best results with the least amount of ghosting and overshoot.
Even then, there is noticeable ghosting, which is expected from a VA panel regardless of its high refresh rate.
On balance, the ghosting is tolerable because you get such deep blacks as a trade-off, but if you mainly play fast-paced competitive games, you should consider an IPS or a TN high refresh rate gaming monitor instead.
In case you prefer more graphically-oriented games and single-player FPS, you won’t mind the ghosting due to the immersive picture quality.
In addition, the ASUS XG32VQ input lag performance is excellent, with only 4ms of measured delay.
Features
There are plenty of gaming features available, including the GameVisual picture presets (FPS, RTS/RPG, etc.) and the GamePlus customizable crosshairs, timers, and an FPS counter.
The OSD settings can be adjusted either by the joystick and the buttons at the back of the monitor or in the DisplayWidget desktop application.
Other features include the illuminating ROG logo that projects beneath the monitor’s stand as well as the Aura Sync RGB lighting with numerous customizable colors and patterns that can sync with the rest of your Aura Sync gear.
Lastly, the ASUS XG32VQ curved gaming monitor supports AMD FreeSync, which allows you to synchronize the monitor’s refresh rate with the GPU’s frame rate, therefore, entirely removing screen tearing and stuttering.
FreeSync only works with compatible AMD graphics cards, so this feature won’t work if you have an NVIDIA card.
The ASUS XG32VQ FreeSync range is 48-144Hz (LFC supported) over both HDMI and DP. FreeSync also works when using a compatible NVIDIA G-SYNC graphics card.
However, some units are affected by the VRR brightness flickering issue.
Design & Connectivity
The design of the monitor is robust and versatile with up to 100mm height adjustment, -/+ 50° swivel, -5°/20° tilt, and 100 x 100mm VESA mount compatibility.
Connectivity options include HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2, mini-DisplayPort 1.2, a headphones jack, and a dual-USB 3.0 hub (two downstream plus one upstream).
Price & Similar Monitors
The ASUS XG32VQ price is around $500, which is rather steep.
For ~$150 less, you can get the Gigabyte G32QC, which is superior in every way. It has MBR, 165Hz, and higher peak brightness.
Note that the ASUS XG32VQ is also available as the ASUS ROG Strix XG32VQR, which is the same model – plus FreeSync 2 and HDR400. It’s available for ~$550.
Visit our always up-to-date best gaming monitor buyer’s guide for more information and the best deals available.
Conclusion
While the ASUS XG32VQ does offer amazing image quality and smooth performance, we feel that it has plenty of unnecessary features which we would gladly trade for motion blur reduction.
Luckily, such an alternative exists at an even lower cost which is why we highly recommend the Gigabyte G32QC over the ASUS XG32VQ.
| Screen Size | 31.5-inch |
| Screen Curvature | 1800R |
| Resolution | 2560×1440 (WQHD) |
| Panel Type | VA |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 (Widescreen) |
| Refresh Rate | 144Hz |
| Response Time | 4ms (GtG) |
| Adaptive Sync | FreeSync (48Hz-144Hz) |
| Ports | DisplayPort 1.2, mini-DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0 |
| Other Ports | 2x USB 3.0, Headphone Jack |
| Brightness | 300 cd/m2 |
| Contrast Ratio | 3000:1 (static) |
| Colors | 16.7 million (true 8-bit) |
| VESA | Yes (100x100mm) |
The Pros:
- High contrast ratio and rich colors
- Low input lag and high refresh rate
- Plenty of exclusive features including FreeSync
The Cons:
- No motion blur reduction technology
- Expensive; there are more cost-effective alternatives
- Visible ghosting in fast-paced games
