Bottom Line
The LG 32GS60QC is an overall decent gaming monitor, but there are better alternatives in this price range.
The LG 32GS60QC is yet another 32″ 1440p high refresh rate gaming monitor based on a curved VA panel. Let’s see how it performs and compares to its alternatives.
Image Quality
Thanks to its VA panel, the LG 32GS60QC provides you with a high 3,000:1 static contrast ratio, which results in deep blacks.
In fact, IPS monitors in this price range have almost grayish blacks in comparison due to their lower ~1,000:1 contrast ratio and IPS glow.
However, the viewing angles on VA displays aren’t quite as wide as that of IPS panels since there are minor gamma and saturation shifts at certain viewing angles. Unless you plan on doing color-critical work though, it won’t be an issue.
Next, the monitor has a 99% sRGB color gamut coverage, which provides you with vivid colors without over-saturation. It also supports 10-bit color depth via dithering (8-bit + 2-bit FRC) for smooth gradients.
The maximum screen brightness amounts to 300-nits meaning that the monitor can get more than right enough under normal lighting conditions.
On the 31.5″ viewable screen of the LG 32GS60QC monitor, the 2560×1440 Quad HD resolution provides you with a pixel density of 93 PPI (pixels per inch). This is equivalent to that of a 24″ 1920×1080 monitor, so you get the same level of detail clarity – but with more screen real estate due to the higher resolution.
Since you’ll be sitting a bit further from the screen than you would from a 24″ monitor, the individual pixels won’t be quite as noticeable. Overall, we find that this pixel density is perfectly fine for gaming and watching videos.
Still, if you prefer high-fidelity graphics and want to use the monitor for other uses as well, 4K UHD resolution is better suited for 32″ screens. However, 32″ 4K high refresh rate displays are considerably more expensive and the resolution is more taxing on the GPU.
Finally, the LG 32GS60QC also supports HDR (High Dynamic Range), but while it can accept the HDR10 signal and display it, there’s no required hardware for a proper HDR viewing experience.
Therefore, we recommend you disable HDR on this monitor. If you want a monitor with proper HDR support in this price range, check out the AOC Q27G3XMN with a 336-zone mini LED FALD (full-array local dimming).
Performance
The LG 32GS60QC has a maximum refresh rate of 180Hz, which provides you with a huge boost in motion clarity in comparison to the standard 60-75Hz displays.
You also get low input latency of around 3ms, which makes for imperceptible delay between your actions and the result on the screen.
Now, the LG 32GS60QC has four response time overdrive modes: Off, Normal, Fast and Faster.
LG advertises 1ms GtG pixel response time speed using the Faster mode, but it adds too much overshoot, making it unusable. So, you should stick with the Fast mode instead.
As expected from a VA panel display, there is noticeable ghosting behind fast-moving objects, mostly in darker scenes.
Some gamers are very sensitive to this, and others can tolerate it, but if you mainly play fast-paced competitive titles, you should consider a monitor with a faster pixel response time speed instead.
The LG 32GS60QC supports variable refresh rate (VRR) with a 48-180Hz range for tear-free gameplay up to 180FPS.
Another downside of VA panels is VRR brightness flickering that occurs in some games (mainly in those with fluctuating frame rates or in in-game menus and loading screens). So, you’ll have to either disable VRR in the affected games or use V-Sync to prevent tearing instead.
Features
There’s a directional joystick beneath the bottom bezel of the screen for quick and easy navigation through the OSD (On-Screen Display) menu.
Besides the usual image adjustment tools, such as brightness and contrast, you’ll find some advanced settings as well, including 6-axis hue and saturation, sharpness, four gamma modes, manual color temperature fine-tuning in 500K increments, aspect ratio (full wide and original) and automatic input detection.
Useful gaming features include Black Stabilizer (improves visibility in dark scenes), a refresh rate tracker and crosshair overlays.
The backlight of the monitor is flicker-free and there’s a low-blue light mode available (the ‘Reader’ picture preset).
Design & Connectivity
The stand of the monitor is sturdy but it’s tilt-only by -5°/15°. You can detach the screen and mount it on a third-party stand via the 100x100mm VESA pattern.
There’s also a light matte anti-glare screen coating that diffuses reflections without making the image too grainy.
Further, the screen has a steep 1000R curvature for added immersion. Some users might find the curvature to be too aggressive, but in our experience, it just takes some time to get used to.
Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports (limited to 144Hz) and a headphone jack.
Price & Similar Monitors
The LG 32GS60QC price ranges from $200 to $300.
We recommend the Gigabyte M32QC instead, which can be found on sale for $220. It has a height-adjustable stand, a more subtle 1500R screen curvature, a built-in KVM switch, a USB hub, a wider color gamut and a bit higher brightness.
If you want a 32″ model with a steep 1000R curvature, check out the KTC H32S25E. It has a higher 240Hz refresh rate and can be found for ~$280.
In case you don’t want to deal with dark-level smearing and VRR brightness flickering of VA panels, you should consider an IPS panel display instead, such as the KTC H27T22 or the Titan Army P32A2S2, both available in this price range.
For more information and options, check out our comprehensive and always up-to-date best gaming monitor buyer’s guide.
Conclusion
At its $200 sale price, the LG 32GS60QC is a decent gaming monitor if you’re not sensitive to ghosting and screen tearing. However, we find that there are better options in this price range, such as the Gigabyte M32QC.
Specifications
Screen Size | 31.5-inch |
Screen Curvature | 1000R |
Resolution | 2560×1440 (WQHD) |
Panel Type | VA |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 (Widescreen) |
Refresh Rate | 180Hz |
Response Time | 1ms (GtG)* |
Adaptive-Sync | FreeSync Premium (48-180Hz) |
Ports | DisplayPort 1.4, 2x HDMI 2.0 |
Other Ports | Headphone Jack |
Brightness | 300 cd/m² |
Brightness (HDR) | 300 cd/m² |
Contrast Ratio | 3000:1 (static) |
Colors | 1.07 billion (8-bit + FRC) 99% sRGB |
HDR | HDR10 |
VESA | Yes (100x100mm) |
The Pros:
- High contrast ratio
- Plenty of features, including VRR support up to 180Hz
The Cons:
- Ghosting behind fast-moving objects, mainly in darker scenes
- Prone to VRR brightness flickering
- Tilt-only stand