So, you want a large monitor for gaming, videos, work, or everyday use, but you’re not sure which model to opt for or what specifications are the right ones for you?
We can help you out with that!
In this buying guide, you’ll find all the best 32-inch monitors currently available as well as everything you need to look out for when purchasing a display of this size!
Type | Monitor | Panel | Resolution | Refresh Rate | VRR | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best 32-inch Budget Monitors | IPS | 1920x1080 | 60Hz | N/A | ||
IPS | 2560x1440 | 75Hz | FreeSync (G-SYNC Stable) | |||
Best 32-inch 1440p 144Hz Gaming Monitors | VA | 2560x1440 | 170Hz | FreeSync (G-SYNC Unstable) | ||
VA | 2560x1440 | 165Hz | FreeSync (G-SYNC Unstable) | |||
IPS | 2560x1440 | 170Hz | FreeSync (G-SYNC Stable) | |||
Best 32-inch 1440p 240Hz Gaming Monitors | VA | 2560x1440 | 240Hz | FreeSync (G-SYNC Compatible) | ||
IPS | 2560x1440 | 260Hz | FreeSync (G-SYNC Compatible) | |||
Best 32-inch 4K 60Hz Monitors | VA | 3840x2160 | 60Hz | FreeSync (G-SYNC Unstable) | ||
VA | 3840x2160 | 60Hz | FreeSync (G-SYNC Unstable) | |||
IPS | 3840x2160 | 60Hz | FreeSync (G-SYNC Stable) | |||
Best 32-inch 4K 144Hz Gaming Monitors | VA | 3840x2160 | 144Hz | FreeSync (G-SYNC Unstable) | ||
IPS | 3840x2160 | 144Hz | FreeSync (G-SYNC Compatible) | |||
Best 32-inch HDR Monitors | VA | 3840x2160 | 165Hz | FreeSync (G-SYNC Stable) | ||
IPS | 3840x2160 | 160Hz | FreeSync (G-SYNC Stable) |
If you want to view our changelogs for this particular buying guide, you can do so at the end of this article.
Best Budget 32-inch Monitors
Keep in mind that 32″ monitors with 1920×1080 resolution have a rather low pixel-per-inch ratio (pixel density) which causes the picture quality to be pixelated. So, we don’t recommend this combination for regular desktop use.
However, when looking at the screen from a distance, the individual pixels won’t be as noticeable. So, if you just want a big monitor for console gaming, watching videos and similar use, 32″ 1080p monitors can be useful for that.
The Pros:
- Precise, consistent and vibrant colors
- HDR support with wide color gamut
- Wide viewing angles
The Cons:
- Not ideal for regular desktop use due to low pixel density
- No AMD FreeSync
- Tilt-only stand
- Stand prone to breaking
- IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)
About The Monitor
The LG 32ML600M is one of the most budget-friendly 32″ 1080p monitors you can get, yet it features an IPS panel for wide viewing angles and entry-level HDR support with a wide color gamut!
Image Quality
Now, let’s make something perfectly clear right away — this monitor won’t provide you with an eye-catching HDR viewing experience that you’d get with a much more expensive monitor or TV.
Here’s the deal: the LG 32ML600M can accept the HDR10 signal and display it. Nevertheless, for a ‘true’ HDR viewing experience, it would need a significantly higher peak brightness, a higher contrast ratio and local dimming.
Even so, it’s not one of the ‘fake’ HDR monitors either as it has a wide 95% DCI-P3 color gamut, which will provide you with more vibrant and lifelike colors.
On the other hand, since it has an IPS panel, the colors will be consistent across the entire screen, and thanks to the wide 178° viewing angles, the picture won’t change in color, contrast, or brightness when you look at the monitor off-axis.
Further, it has a peak brightness of only 300-nits, so it doesn’t qualify for VESA’s entry-level DisplayHDR 400 certification, but due to its wide color gamut support, it actually offers a better HDR picture than certain HDR400-certified screens.
Next, the LG 32ML600M has a static contrast ratio of 1,200:1. It may not have as deep blacks as that of VA panel monitors, but it is actually better than most IPS monitors at this (or even higher) price range when it comes to contrast.
Lastly, the monitor has a quick pixel response time speed and low input lag, so it’s great for console gaming as you’ll get no prominent motion blur or perceptible delays.
Features
LG packs a bunch of useful features in their monitors, and the 32ML600M is no exception.
This means you’ll find their standard features such as On-Screen Control and Screen Split, allowing you to adjust the monitor’s settings in a desktop application and to split the screen into different layouts for easier multitasking.
Additionally, there are customizable crosshair overlays for FPS games and Black Stabilizer, which improves the visibility of objects in shadows by altering the gamma curvature.
Design & Connectivity
The tilt-only stand of the monitor is the only thing we hold against it, as many users have reported that it breaks easily. So, we recommend getting any budget third-party monitor stand just to be sure.
Other than that, the LG 32ML600M has reasonably thick bezels, a low-haze anti-glare coating that eliminates reflections but preserves the picture quality and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.
Connectivity options include two HDMI 1.4 ports, VGA and a headphone jack.
Alternatives
Despite its poor stand quality, the LG 32ML600M is the best 32″ 1080p IPS monitor you can get. It’s the only model that supports HDR as well as a wide color gamut, and all the other models with these specs are a lot older.
LG 32QN600
Inexpensive 1440p IPS Monitor
Panel: IPS
Resolution: 2560×1440
Refresh Rate: 75Hz
VRR: FreeSync (G-SYNC Stable)
The Pros:
- Precise and consistent colors
- Wide viewing angles
- AMD FreeSync up to 75Hz
- Crisp image quality
The Cons:
- Tilt-only stand
- IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)
About The Monitor
Looking for a 32″ 1440p monitor with consistent and accurate colors as well as wide viewing angles? The LG 32QN600 is by far the most affordable option.
Image Quality
With the WQHD resolution of 2560×1440 pixels, the image quality becomes much sharper on 32″ sized monitors.
Simply put, you get a pixel density of around 93 PPI which is equivalent to 1080p on 24″ monitors in terms of sharpness and clarity, but you also get a much bigger screen!
The LG 32QN600 is based on an IPS panel with a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, a 350-nit peak brightness and ~99% sRGB color gamut with 10-bit depth support for 1.07 billion colors!
In other words, you get a bright picture quality with vivid colors that will remain perfect at basically any angle. The monitor is also fit for entry-level color-critical work after proper calibration.
Next, the LG 32QN600 has a quick 5ms response time speed, so there will be no visible smearing or motion blur in fast-paced games. Alas, it is limited to 75Hz.
Features
The LG 32QN600 offers Black Equalizer, various pre-calibrated picture presets and AMD FreeSync (48-75Hz VRR range). It also supports HDR, but it’s only software-emulated due to a lack of wide color gamut and local dimming, among other things.
Design & Connectivity
The stand of the monitor is tilt-only, but you can mount the screen via the 100x100mm VESA pattern. Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 1.4 ports and a headphone jack.
Best 32-inch 1440p 144Hz Gaming Monitors
For most gamers, 1440p and 144Hz are the perfect combination.
Here’s why: you get a significant boost in motion clarity and responsiveness thanks to the high refresh rate while 1440p is not nearly as demanding as 4K, but still provides a crisp image quality.
Gigabyte M32QC
Best Budget 32″ 1440p 144Hz Gaming Monitor
Panel: VA
Resolution: 2560×1440
Refresh Rate: 165Hz (170Hz OC)
VRR: FreeSync (G-SYNC Unstable)
The Pros:
- High contrast ratio, wide color gamut
- MBR + FreeSync up to 170Hz
- Crisp image quality
- Height-adjustable stand, KVM switch
The Cons:
- Minor smearing in fast-paced games, mainly in darker scenes
About The Monitor
The Gigabyte M32QC is the most cost-effective 32″ 1440p high refresh rate gaming monitor with a curved VA panel.
Image Quality
The monitor’s high static contrast ratio of 3,000:1 will still provide you with an appealing picture quality with deep blacks and vivid details. At the same time, its peak brightness of 400-nits will be plenty under normal lighting conditions.
But that’s not all, the M32QC has a wide 94% DCI-P3 color gamut (~125% sRGB), so the colors will be quite vibrant!
When it comes to gaming performance, the Gigabyte M32QC has some noticeable ghosting in dark scenes of fast-paced games, but its high 165Hz refresh rate makes for a responsive gaming experience.
Most gamers, except those who are highly competitive or extremely sensitive to smearing, will find the amount of ghosting tolerable.
AMD FreeSync is supported as well, with some units exhibiting brightness flickering with fluctuating frame rates. Alternatively, you can use the Aim Stabilizer-Sync MBR technology for less motion blur.
Features
Besides FreeSync and MBR, the Gigabyte M32QC offers standard gaming features such as Black Equalizer, pre-calibrated picture presets and custom crosshairs.
It also supports Picture in Picture and Picture by Picture, and the exclusive Dashboard feature, which allows you to display various system parameters (GPU/CPU temperature, fan speed, etc.) on the screen.
Design & Connectivity
The stand of the monitor offers height adjustment up to 100mm, -5°/20° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility while the screen has a steep 1500R curvature.
Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 2.0 ports, USB-C (DP Alt Mode, 18W PD), an audio line-out port for headphones or external speakers and a dual-USB 3.0 hub. There’s also a built-in KVM switch.
Alternatives
- Gigabyte G32QCA – an older version of this monitor without KVM and USB-C, usually goes for the same price
LG 32GN650
Flat-Screen 32″ 1440p 144Hz Gaming Monitor
Panel: VA
Resolution: 2560×1440
Refresh Rate: 165Hz
VRR: FreeSync (G-SYNC Unstable)
The Pros:
- High contrast ratio
- MBR and FreeSync up to 165Hz
- Crisp image quality
The Cons:
- Minor smearing in fast-paced games, mainly in darker scenes
About The Monitor
Do you prefer flat screens at this screen size? In that case, we recommend the LG 32GN650.
Image Quality
Unlike the Gigabyte M32QC, the LG 32GN650 doesn’t support a wide color gamut, yet it is more expensive, so we are more inclined to recommend the Gigabyte model here as it does offer better value for the money.
Here’s some friendly advice: if you are worried about the screen curvature, be sure to check out how curved monitors look in person before jumping to any conclusions.
Although the curvature isn’t as necessary here as it’s on ultrawide monitors, we actually prefer it on 32″ sized monitors as it does make the viewing experience more immersive.
On the other hand, if you’ve experienced curved screens and would rather stick to flat screens, the LG 32GN650 is an all-around solid display.
It has the standard 100% sRGB color gamut and it’s factory-calibrated, so you’ll get accurate and vibrant colors without over-saturation for sRGB content, which includes most video games and web content anyway.
Next, the monitor has a high contrast ratio of 3,000:1 for deep blacks as well as a decent 350-nit peak brightness.
Features
AMD FreeSync is supported with a 48-165Hz VRR range via DisplayPort and 48-144Hz via HDMI. Some users have also reported brightness flickering when using VRR.
Other useful features include Motion Blur Reduction, Black Stabilizer, customizable crosshairs and various pre-calibrated picture presets. HDR support is available as well, but it’s only software-emulated.
Design & Connectivity
The LG 32GN650 features a robust and versatile design with up to 110mm height adjustment, -5°/15° tilt, 90° pivot and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.
Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.4 and a headphone jack.
Alternatives
- LG 32GN600 – the same monitor but with a tilt-only stand and a more affordable price (depending on the sale)
Gigabyte M32Q
32″ 1440p 144Hz IPS Gaming Monitor
Panel: IPS
Resolution: 2560×1440
Refresh Rate: 170Hz
VRR: FreeSync (G-SYNC Stable)
The Pros:
- Wide color gamut
- DisplayHDR 400
- Plenty of gaming features including Freesync + MBR up to 170Hz
- Ergonomic stand and rich connectivity options
The Cons:
- IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)
About The Monitor
If you don’t want to deal with dark-level smearing and VRR brightness flickering issues of VA panels, the Gigabyte M32Q is an excellent yet affordable 32″ 1440p 144Hz IPS gaming monitor with 170Hz OC.
Image Quality
Based on an IPS panel, the M32Q offers vibrant, consistent and accurate colors with 94% DCI-P3 gamut and an sRGB emulation mode.
Further, its rapid 1ms GtG pixel response time speed will ensure that there’s no prominent ghosting in fast-paced games.
Other specifications are standard for an IPS panel at this price range, including a 400-nit peak brightness, a 1,000:1 static contrast ratio and true 8-bit color depth.
Features
The Gigabyte M32Q supports AMD FreeSync with a 48-170Hz VRR range and even though it’s not certified as G-SYNC Compatible, VRR works without issues with NVIDIA cards.
It also offers the Aim Stabilizer Sync technology, which allows you to use VRR and backlight strobing at the same time! This way, you get less motion blur without sacrificing VRR for tear-free gameplay.
Other useful gaming features include custom crosshairs, pre-calibrated picture presets and Black Equalizer for better visibility in darker games.
Design & Connectivity
The monitor boasts good build quality as well as versatile ergonomics with up to 130mm height adjustment, -5°/20° tilt, +/- 30° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.
Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, a headphone jack, a USB 3.0 hub (1 upstream + 3 downstream), USB-C with DP 1.4 Alt Mode and an integrated KVM switch.
Alternatives
Looking for a better 32″ 1440p monitor? Check out the ASUS PG329Q with DisplayHDR 600 and Adobe RGB color gamut. It offers more vibrant colors and better HDR support.
However, it goes for $200 – $300 more, at which price point you can get a 32″ 4K 144Hz IPS model instead.
Best 32-inch 1440p 240Hz Monitors
Want to future-proof your system with a gaming monitor that has both high resolution and high refresh rate? In this category, we’ll keep you posted about the best 32″ 1440p 240Hz models available.
Samsung C32G75T
Best 1440p 240Hz Curved Gaming Monitor
Panel: VA
Resolution: 2560×1440
Refresh Rate: 240Hz
VRR: FreeSync (G-SYNC Compatible)
The Pros:
- High contrast ratio and strong peak brightness
- Wide color gamut
- FreeSync and MBR up to 240Hz
- Fully ergonomic stand and rich connectivity options
The Cons:
- 1000R curvature too steep for some users
- VRR Control option might cause micro-stuttering on some units
About The Monitor
With the Samsung C32G75T, you get a high 240Hz refresh rate and fast response time paired with a high contrast ratio and DisplayHDR 600!
Image Quality
Thanks to the monitor’s 600-nit peak brightness for HDR content, a high 2,500 static contrast ratio with 8-zone local dimming and a wide 95% DCI-P3 color gamut, you’re getting an immersive image quality with deep blacks, bright highlights and vibrant colors.
But there’s more, what makes the Samsung Odyssey G7 so special is, first of all, the rapid 240Hz refresh rate, which may not offer as noticeable improvement over 144Hz as 144Hz does over 60Hz, but the difference is definitely noticeable.
More importantly, the Samsung G7 monitors are the first VA panel displays to deliver a 1ms GtG pixel response time speed, which makes them just as quick as some fast IPS and TN panel monitors.
So, you can enjoy both deep blacks provided by the high contrast ratio and quick response time for minimal ghosting thanks to the quick response time.
But here’s the kicker: the pixel response time performance remains consistent at all refresh rates. So, regardless if you’re using the monitor at 60Hz or with a variable refresh rate, you won’t get any prominent ghosting or overshoot!
Features
Further, the Samsung C32G75T supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and it’s certified as G-SYNC Compatible by NVIDIA. With the 1009.3 or newer firmware, there’s also no brightness flickering while VRR is enabled.
Other standard gaming features such as custom crosshairs, pre-calibrated picture presets and Black Equalizer are available too.
Keep in mind that to get 240Hz at 1440p 10-bit color, you’ll need a graphics card that supports DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC. Otherwise, you’ll be limited to 240Hz at 1440p with an 8-bit color depth or 144Hz at 1440p 10-bit color.
Design & Connectivity
The design of the monitor includes a steep 1000R curvature which matches the curvature of the human eye for added immersion, though some people might find that the curvature is too aggressive.
Next, the stand is robust and versatile with up to 120mm height adjustment, +/- 15° swivel, -9°/13° tilt, 90° pivot and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility. There’s also RGB lighting at the front and back of the monitor.
Connectivity options include two DisplayPort 1.4 ports, HDMI 2.0 (max 144Hz at 1440p), a headphone jack and a dual-USB 3.0 hub.
Alternatives
The Samsung C32G75T is also available as a 27″ variant, the Samsung C27G75T.
LG 32GQ850
Best 1440p 240Hz IPS Gaming Monitor
Panel: IPS
Resolution: 2560×1440
Refresh Rate: 240Hz (260Hz OC)
VRR: FreeSync (G-SYNC Compatible)
The Pros:
- Wide color gamut
- Accurate colors, quick response time
- VRR up to 260Hz
- Ergonomic stand and rich connectivity options
The Cons:
- Design lacks swivel option
- IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology, but A-TW polarizer helps minimize the issue)
About The Monitor
If you’d rather have a flat-screen 32″ gaming monitor with 240Hz, look no further than the LG 32GQ850.
Image Quality
Just like the G7, the 32GQ850 has DisplayHDR 600 certification, implying a 600-nit peak brightness and a 16-zone local dimming solution.
However, since it has a lower native contrast ratio of 1,000:1, blacks won’t be as deep.
You do get a wider 98% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, which results in more saturated and vibrant colors. An sRGB emulation mode is available as well with adjustable brightness.
Overall, in comparison to the 32″ G7, you get more vibrant colors, but a lower contrast ratio and IPS glow, so the viewing experience won’t be as immersive in dark rooms. So, it mainly comes down to personal preference.
The LG 32GQ850 has an A-TW polarizer which helps minimize IPS glow, but blacks still appear darker on VA panels.
VRR is supported via HDMI 2.1 VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible certifications, and you can expect flawless tear-free performance up to 260FPS.
Other features include Black Stabilizer (improves visibility in darker scenes), various picture presets and custom crosshair overlays.
Design & Connectivity
The stand of the monitor is quite sturdy and offers full ergonomic support with up to 110mm height adjustment, -5°/15° tilt, 90° pivot and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.
Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.1 ports, a headphone jack (with DTS 3D simulation) and a dual-USB 3.0 hub.
Alternatives
- Gigabyte Aorus FI32Q-X – another 32″ 1440p 240Hz gaming monitor. It has no A-TW polarizer but can be found for $600
Best 32-inch 4K 60Hz Monitors
4K UHD resolution looks significantly sharper on 32-inch monitors as opposed to 1440p, but it’s also a lot more demanding to drive when it comes to PC gaming.
Unlike it’s the case with 1080p and 1440p monitors, the difference in price between 4K displays with low and high resolution is a lot bigger.
So, if you mainly plan on using your monitor for office-related work and don’t surpass 60FPS in games, consider the following inexpensive 60Hz models.
LG 32UL500
Best Value 32″ 4K Monitor
Panel: VA
Resolution: 3840×2160
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
VRR: FreeSync (G-SYNC Unstable)
The Pros:
- High contrast ratio
- Wide color gamut and HDR support
- Plenty of features including FreeSync
- High pixel density
The Cons:
- Minor smearing in fast-paced games, mainly in darker scenes
- Tilt-only stand
About The Monitor
The LG 32UL500 is the best 32″ 4K monitor with a VA panel for the money! It offers a high contrast ratio, a wide color gamut and HDR support — plus, it has an affordable price!
Image Quality
For most people, 4K resolution is ideal for 32-inch monitors. You get a rich pixel density of 140 PPI, so everything will be crystal-clear, and you’ll have plenty of screen space available!
While some users don’t use any scaling at this pixel density, and others prefer at least a 125% scale, one thing’s for sure, you’ll get clear and vivid details.
The LG 32UL500 has a high contrast ratio of 3,000:1, a decent 300-nit peak brightness, 10-bit color depth support for 1.07 billion colors and a wide 95% DCI-P3 color gamut. Since it doesn’t have at least 400-nits of peak brightness, the monitor doesn’t have VESA’s DisplayHDR 400 certification.
However, thanks to its wide color gamut and high contrast, HDR content will look much better in comparison to certain HDR400-certified displays, which may have a higher brightness but lack contrast and colors.
Naturally, as the peak brightness is 300-nits and since there is no local dimming, HDR on this monitor just provides a glimpse of what HDR can really do on more expensive and capable displays.
In fact, the Samsung CHG70 and the HP Pavilion Gaming 32 offer better HDR picture quality — if you’re sitting at least 3 ft away from the screen for the individual pixels to be indistinguishable.
From a normal viewing distance, the LG 32UL500 4K monitor will have a lot more vivid details due to its higher pixel density, but it won’t be able to display specific highlights the way HDR600 monitors do.
The lack of high brightness and local dimming also make for inferior HDR color volume, that is, the display’s ability to produce proper colors at different brightness levels.
As it’s the case with most VA panel monitors, there’s some smearing visible in fast-paced games, and the viewing angles aren’t quite as wide as that of the IPS variants.
Features
Moving on, the LG 32UL500 supports AMD FreeSync with a 40-60Hz VRR range over both HDMI and DisplayPort for AMD cards and the Xbox One console while the VRR range is limited to 48-60Hz over DP for NVIDIA GPUs.
Other features include On-Screen Control, Screen Split, various pre-calibrated picture presets, Black Stabilizer, and advanced picture adjustment tools such as 6-axis hue/saturation, gamma and color temperature settings.
Visit our LG 32UL500 review for more information.
Design & Connectivity
The design of the monitor includes reasonably thick bezels and limited ergonomics including tilt by -5°/15° and VESA mount compatibility via the 100x100mm pattern.
Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, a headphone jack and two 5W built-in speakers. HDCP 2.2 is supported too, meaning that you’ll be able to stream protected content in native 4K UHD resolution.
Alternatives
- BenQ EW3270U – has a bit better response time performance, but it can be up to $100 more expensive
Philips 328E1CA
Curved 4K UHD Monitor
Panel: VA
Resolution: 3840×2160
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
VRR: FreeSync (G-SYNC Unstable)
The Pros:
- High contrast ratio
- Wide color gamut
- AMD FreeSync
- High pixel density
The Cons:
- Minor smearing in fast-paced games, mainly in darker scenes
- Narrow FreeSync range
- Tilt-only stand
About The Monitor
Want something a bit different? Check out the Philips 328E1CA, a curved 4K monitor!
Just like the LG 32UL500, the Philips 328E1CA supports a wide 120% sRGB color gamut, but it has a bit lower 2,500:1 contrast ratio and no HDR support while its peak brightness is around 300-nits.
It supports AMD FreeSync with a 48-60Hz VRR range over both HDMI and DisplayPort.
All in all, the LG 32UL500 offers slightly better image quality and smoother performance at the same price, but the Philips 328E1CA has a curved screen — whether that’s a worthy trade-off is entirely up to your personal preference.
It gets better: the Philips 328E1CA has excellent factory calibration with Delta E < 2 accuracy and a provided sRGB emulation mode.
Design & Connectivity
The stand of the monitor is tilt-only, but you can VESA mount the screen via the 100x100mm pattern.
Next, the screen curvature is 1500R, the bezels are ultra-thin and there’s a light anti-glare coating that eliminates reflections without ruining the image quality.
Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, a headphone jack and two 3W integrated speakers.
Alternatives
- MSI MAG321CURV – A more gamer-y 32″ 4K curved monitor based on the same panel. It supports HDR, but it doesn’t even have a wide color gamut, so its HDR support is useless.
Since it’s also more expensive, we don’t recommend it over the Philips unless you really prefer its design; It’s height-adjustable, has a dual-USB 3.0 hub and a USB-C port with DP Alt Mode, but no Power Delivery.
LG 32UN650
Affordable 32″ 4K IPS Monitor
Panel: IPS
Resolution: 3840×2160
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
VRR: FreeSync (G-SYNC Stable)
The Pros:
- Wide color gamut and viewing angles
- High pixel density
- Height-adjustable stand
- Plenty of extra features including FreeSync
The Cons:
- Design lacks swivel and pivot options
- No sRGB mode
- Inferior contrast ratio to that of VA panel monitors
About The Monitor
The LG 32UN650 is the only 32″ 4K IPS monitor available for under $500 because it doesn’t have professional-grade factory calibration like most models with these specifications, which go for over $700.
This makes it a great pick for gaming, everyday use, and basic content creation.
Image Quality
Based on an IPS panel, the LG 32UN650 has wide viewing angles for perfect image quality regardless of the angle you’re looking at the screen. It also has a faster pixel response time speed, so you won’t get dark smearing behind fast-moving objects in darker scenes.
A wide color gamut is supported as well with 95% DCI-P3 (~125% sRGB) color space coverage. Sadly, there’s no sRGB emulation mode that would restrict the gamut to ~100% sRGB. So, if you want to use the LG 32UN650 for any type of serious color-critical work, you will need a colorimeter to profile the display yourself.
However, for basic content creation, it will work just fine.
Features
The LG 32UN650 supports AMD FreeSync with a 40-60Hz VRR range over both HDMI and DisplayPort.
Other features include Black Stabilizer, various picture modes and Dual Controller for simultaneous control over two separate PCs connected to the monitor via just one set of keyboard/mouse.
Design & Connectivity
The design of the monitor features ultra-thin bezels, while the stand is height-adjustable by up to 110mm. You can also tilt (-5°/20°) the screen or VESA (100x100mm) mount it.
Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 inputs, DisplayPort 1.4, a headphone jack and two 5W built-in speakers.
Alternatives
- Dell U3223QE – premium 32″ 4K professional monitor with an IPS Black panel (2000:1 contrast ratio), USB-C 90W PD and KVM
Best 32-inch 4K 144Hz Monitors
Got a powerful enough GPU to maintain high frame rates at 4K UHD? The following high-end displays are for you!
Gigabyte M32UC
Cheapest 32″ 4K 144Hz Gaming Monitor
Panel: VA
Resolution: 3840×2160
Refresh Rate: 144Hz (160Hz OC)
VRR: FreeSync (G-SYNC Unstable)
The Pros:
- High contrast ratio
- Wide color gamut
- Plenty of features, including VRR + MBR up to 144Hz
- High pixel density
- Ergonomic stand, KVM
The Cons:
- Minor ghosting behind fast-moving objects, mainly in darker scenes
- Design lacks swivel/pivot
About The Monitor
Due to its VA panel, the Gigabyte M32UC is the cheapest 32″ 4K high refresh rate gaming monitor available. So, if you’re not particularly sensitive to some dark-level smearing and screen tearing, it’s a great option for you as you won’t have to deal with the IPS glow and low contrast ratio of the more expensive IPS models.
Image Quality
The Gigabyte M32UC has a high contrast ratio of 3,000:1 and it doesn’t suffer from IPS glow, which makes for deep blacks ideal for content consumption in a dark room.
However, as VA panels don’t have as consistent colors and as wide viewing angles as IPS technology, they’re not ideal for professional color-critical work. You can still get by some basic content creation though.
The monitor has a wide 93% DCI-P3 gamut coverage for vibrant and punchy colors, and there’s an sRGB emulation mode available.
Further, it offers a good peak brightness of 350-nits, so it can get more than bright enough in well-lit rooms. HDR is supported, but it’s far from the true HDR experience due to the lack of local dimming and much higher brightness.
As it’s the case with most VA panel monitors, there’s some trailing noticeable behind fast-moving objects, but mainly in dark scenes. Unless you’re particularly sensitive to this though, it won’t be an issue.
Similarly, when using variable refresh rate, some brightness flickering can be observed in in-game menus, loading screens and at low frame rates when LFC is triggered. The intensity of this issue can vary between different units of the monitor, but it can be ‘fixed’ by disabling variable refresh rate.
The Gigabyte M32UC also supports simultaneous VRR and MBR operation via the Aim Stabilizer Sync technology up to 144FPS. If you overclock the monitor to 160Hz, you cannot use VRR.
Check out our full M32UC review for more details.
Design & Connectivity
The stand of the monitor offers a good range of ergonomics, including up to 100mm height adjustment, -5°/20° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility, while the screen has a steep 1500R curvature for added immersion.
Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, two HDMI 2.1 ports (24 Gbps, DSC), USB-C (DP Alt Mode, 18W PD), a USB 3.0 hub (1 upstream + 3 downstream), a headphone jack, dual 2W built-in speakers and a KVM switch.
Alternatives
- MSI G321CU – similar monitor based on the same panel, but it has a tilt-only stand and no KVM or USB ports
- Acer Nitro XV322QK V – the first (and currently the only) flat-screen 32″ 4K 144Hz VA gaming monitor
Gigabyte M32U
Cheapest 32″ 4K 144Hz IPS Gaming Monitor
Panel: IPS
Resolution: 3840×2160
Refresh Rate: 144Hz
VRR: FreeSync (G-SYNC Stable)
The Pros:
- High pixel density, wide color gamut, consistent colors
- Quick response time speed
- Plenty of features, including FreeSync and MBR up to 144Hz
- Ergonomic design and rich connectivity options
The Cons:
- IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)
- Design lacks pivot option
About The Monitor
If you don’t want to deal with VA’s dark level smearing and VRR brightness flickering, the Gigabyte M32U is the cheapest 32″ 4K high refresh rate gaming monitor with an IPS panel.
Image Quality
Thanks to its IPS panel, the M32U provides you with a fast pixel response time speed for no smearing in fast-paced games. You also get smooth VRR performance for tear-free gameplay up to 144FPS and wider viewing angles.
However, you won’t get as deep blacks as that of the M32UC version due to the lower 1,000:1 static contrast ratio.
If you want to have both: fast response times and a high contrast ratio, you’ll have to invest in an OLED or mini LED display. Sadly, there are no 32″ OLED displays currently available (except for a few professional models), but we’ll include a few mini LED models next, though they go for over $1,000.
The M32U has a decent peak brightness of 350-nits (400-nits for HDR with mere 16 dimming zones) and a wide 90% DCI-P3 color gamut.
It also offers plenty of features, such as Aim Stabilizer Sync, crosshair overlays, on-screen timers, a refresh rate tracker, PiP/PbP, Black Equalizer, etc. Visit our full Gigabyte M32U review for more information.
Design & Connectivity
The stand offers height adjustment up to 130mm, -5°/20° tilt, +/- 30° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.
Connectivity options include DP 1.4 with DSC, two HDMI 2.1 ports, USB-C with DP Alt Mode and 18W Power Delivery, dual 3W built-in speakers, a headphone jack, a KVM switch and a USB 3.0 hub (1 upstream + 3 downstream).
Alternatives
- Gigabyte Aorus FI32U – a more premium version of this monitor with a microphone jack (action noise cancellation), RGB lighting and better design.
It’s usually $200 more expensive, but can be found on sale for the same price as the M32U
Best 32″ HDR Monitors
Want a 32″ monitor a proper HDR support? You’ll need a model with a FALD (full array local dimming) backlight!
Samsung Neo G7
Best 32″ 4K HDR Gaming Monitor
Panel: VA
Resolution: 3840×2160
Refresh Rate: 165Hz
VRR: FreeSync (G-SYNC Stable)
The Pros:
- High contrast ratio and pixel density
- Wide color gamut (sRGB mode)
- High peak brightness, 1196-zone mini LED FALD
- Quick response time, low input lag
- Plenty of features, including VRR and MBR up to 165Hz
- Fully ergonomic stand, USB hub
The Cons:
- Minor blooming (in very demanding scenes)
- The aggressive 1000R screen curvature won’t appeal to some gamers
About The Monitor
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 is one of the best HDR monitors available, but it has some flaws that you should be aware of.
Image Quality
The Neo G7 has 1196 zones spread across the entire panel, which can dim the areas of the screen that are supposed to be dark. As a result, you simultaneously get deep blacks and bright whites.
In some demanding scenes (fireworks, stars in the night sky, etc.), blooming will be noticeable as the light from illuminated objects bleed into the surrounding dimmed zones, but this is an expected drawback of this technology.
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 also has a high native contrast ratio of around 4,000:1, a high peak brightness of up to 1,200-nits, a wide 95% DCI-P3 color gamut and a rapid 1ms GtG pixel response time speed.
It supports VRR and MBR (not at the same time) up to 165Hz. Some units might have noticeable brightness flickering, in which case you can use the VRR Control option to prevent it (though this can increase input lag a bit and add micro-stutter).
Besides the inferior VRR performance, the Neo G7 also doesn’t have quite as wide viewing angles and consistent colors as IPS monitors, so it’s not ideal for professional color-critical work.
Check out our full Samsung Neo G7 review for more information.
Design & Connectivity
The stand of the monitor offers height adjustment up to 120mm, +/- 15° swivel, +/- 90° pivot, -9°/13° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.
Just like the Odyssey G7, the Neo G7 has an aggressive 1000R screen curvature that won’t appeal to many users.
Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, two HDMI 2.1 ports (40 Gbps, DSC), a headphone jack and a dual-USB 3.0 hub.
Alternatives
There’s also the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 model with a higher 240Hz refresh rate, but it’s more expensive and has scanline issues.
Acer X32FP
Best 32″ 4K IPS Monitor
Panel: IPS
Resolution: 3840×2160
Refresh Rate: 160Hz
VRR: FreeSync (G-SYNC Stable)
The Pros:
- High peak brightness, high pixel density, wide color gamut
- 576-zone mini LED FALD
- Fast response time, low input lag
- Plenty of features, including VRR up to 160FPS
- Ergonomic stand and rich connectivity options, including USB-C with 90W PD and KVM
The Cons:
- Minor blooming/haloing noticeable in certain scenes
About The Monitor
If you’d rather have a flat-screen HDR display, the Acer Predator X32FP is for you!
Image Quality
The Acer X32FP has an IPS panel and fewer (576) dimming zones, so you’ll get a lower contrast ratio and more blooming in comparison to the Neo G7.
However, you also get a much wider color gamut with 99% Adobe RGB and 96% DCI-P3 coverage for more vibrant, accurate and consistent colors with 178° wide viewing angles.
Further, the Acer X32FP has a fast pixel response time speed and offers smooth VRR performance up to 160FPS!
Other features include Black Boost, crosshair overlays, a refresh rate tracker and various picture presets. Check out our full Acer X32FP review for more information.
Design & Connectivity
The stand offers height adjustment up to 130mm, +/- 30° swivel, +5°/35° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.
Connectivity options include four HDMI 2.1 ports, DP 1.4 with DSC, USB-C with DP Alt Mode and 90W PD, a quad-USB 3.0 hub, KVM, a headphone jack and dual 7W integrated speakers.
Alternatives
If you’re looking for something cheaper, check out the Innocn 32M2V for $850 – $1,000. It even has more dimming zones (1152), but it has a slower response time speed and flickering issues when using local dimming and VRR at the same time in some games.
Conclusion
If you’re still not sure which 32-inch monitor is perfect for you, leave us a comment below, and we’ll gladly help you out!
All in all, if you’re on a tight budget, we recommend investing in one of the 1440p models as 1080p really looks pixelated on 32″ monitors — unless you just need a screen to view photos and videos at a distance.
That’s why we recommend the Gigabyte M32Q as the best budget/value model. If you can’t afford it, the LG 32GN650 or the Gigabyte M32QC can be found for up to $100 less.
The Samsung G7 and the LG 32GQ850 kick it up a notch further, but at a higher price, so consider them only if you have a powerful enough PC rig to put them to good use.
As for the 4K models, both the Gigabyte M32U and M32UC are excellent SDR displays, but you might want to consider saving up a bit more for a proper HDR monitor.
For HDR, we recommend the Samsung Neo G7 and the Acer Predator X32FP, depending on your panel technology preference.
Updates +
- March 13, 2023:
– Added the Acer X32FP and the Gigabyte M32U.
– Removed the LG 32GQ950. - November 22, 2022:
– Checked up on the guide to ensure that our picks are still the best options available. - August 31, 2022:
– Replaced the Gigabyte G32QCA with the M32QC, the Acer XB323UGX with the LG 32GQ850, and the MSI MPG321UR-QD with the LG 32GQ950.
– Added the Gigabyte M32UC and the Samsung Neo G7. - February 16, 2022:
– Updated alternatives for the MPG321UR-QD. - November 25, 2021:
– Checked up on the guide to ensure that our picks are still the best options available. - November 19, 2021:
– Removed the Philips 322E1C and 325E1C, as well as the AOC C32G1.
– Added the MSI MPG321UR-QD. - August 5, 2021:
– Replaced the AOC Q3279VWFD8 with the LG 32QN600; the LG 32GK650F with the LG 32GN650; and the Acer XB323UGP with the Gigabyte M32Q.
– Removed the HP Pavilion Gaming 32 and the Samsung CHG70.
– Added the Acer XB323UGX, the Gigabyte M32U, and the ASUS PG32UQX to the table; dedicated review sections will be added soon. - May 1, 2021:
– Improved readability across the board and fixed spelling/grammar issues. - February 24, 2021:
– Replaced the Philips 328E9QJAB with the updated Philips 322E1C model.
– Removed the ASUS CG32UQ.
– Added the LG 32UN650. - February 10, 2021:
– Added the LG 32GN650 as an alternative to the LG 32GK650F.