Buying Guide
The Best 32 in. Gaming Monitors
Five 32-inch screens, from curved 1440p VA monitors to a 240Hz 4K QD-OLED.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
A 32-inch monitor needs a deeper desk and suits 1440p for mid-range cards or 4K for high-end ones. These five span both.
Every figure comes from the manufacturer listing.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Fastest Refresh
MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED
The highest refresh rate here (240Hz).
Best for: Competitive shooters where motion clarity matters most.
Our take Check price for MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED (opens in a new tab)
Best Mini LED Option
Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 32-inch
4K at 165Hz with Mini LED backlighting.
Best for: Bright rooms and HDR games.
Our take Check price for Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 32-inch (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget 1440p
ASUS TUF Gaming VG32WQ3B
A 180Hz 1440p VA panel with a three-year warranty.
Best for: Mid-range cards.
Our take Check price for ASUS TUF Gaming VG32WQ3B (opens in a new tab)
Best Curved Value
LG UltraGear 32GS60QC-B
A curved 180Hz 1440p screen.
Best for: Immersive single-player games.
Our take Check price for LG UltraGear 32GS60QC-B (opens in a new tab)
Best 4K Value
Dell S3225QS
4K at 120Hz with 95% DCI-P3.
Best for: Mixed work and play.
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The highest refresh rate here (240Hz). | Competitive shooters where motion clarity matters most. | Check price for MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED (opens in a new tab) |
| 4K at 165Hz with Mini LED backlighting. | Bright rooms and HDR games. | Check price for Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 32-inch (opens in a new tab) |
| A 180Hz 1440p VA panel with a three-year warranty. | Mid-range cards. | Check price for ASUS TUF Gaming VG32WQ3B (opens in a new tab) |
| A curved 180Hz 1440p screen. | Immersive single-player games. | Check price for LG UltraGear 32GS60QC-B (opens in a new tab) |
| 4K at 120Hz with 95% DCI-P3. | Mixed work and play. | Check price for Dell S3225QS (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Fastest Refresh1 of 5
MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
MSI's MPG 321URX pairs a 31.5-inch 4K QD-OLED panel at 240Hz with USB-C input.
Best for
- Competitive shooters where motion clarity matters most.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when oLED burn-in risk with static desktop element is a problem.
Why we like it
It also has an HDMI 2.1 input, so a console can share the screen. On refresh rate it leads this guide at 240Hz, ahead of the VG32WQ3B (180Hz). It matches the VG32WQ3B on screen size (31.5 inches).
It shares a 3840x2160 (4K) resolution with the Odyssey Neo G7 and S3225QS; the 32GS60QC goes with a 2560x1440 (1440p) resolution. A QD-OLED panel is unique to it among these picks, while the S3225QS uses a VA panel. It also offers a built-in KVM with picture-in-picture and HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a inputs.
Reaching 240Hz at 4K needs DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC or HDMI 2.1 on your graphics card, and a GPU able to render well above 100fps at 4K. Leave the maker's pixel-refresh routines enabled and hide static taskbars to limit burn-in risk. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Odyssey Neo G7 the nearest cheaper option.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 240Hz
- Resolution: 3840x2160 (4K)
- Size: 31.5 inches
- Panel: QD-OLED
- Response: 0.03ms
- HDR: DisplayHDR True Black 400
- USB-C: Yes
Pros
- a 240Hz refresh rate for fast motion
- 4K resolution for sharp text and detail
- a QD-OLED panel with per-pixel contrast
- DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification
Cons
- OLED burn-in risk with static desktop elements
- Costs more than the 32GS60QC at the time of writing
Best Mini LED Option2 of 5
Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 32-inch on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Samsung's Odyssey Neo G7 32 is a curved 4K panel at 165Hz with Mini LED backlighting.
Best for
- Bright rooms and HDR games.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the 32GS60QC cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It is the non-OLED way to get 4K and a high refresh rate on a 32-inch screen. It reaches 2,000 nits peak with Quantum HDR 2000, and CoreSync lighting on the back matches on-screen colours. The 1000R curve fills your view.
On refresh rate it sits mid-pack at 165Hz: the MPG 321URX offers 240Hz, and the S3225QS comes in at 120Hz. It matches the 32GS60QC and the S3225QS on screen size (32 inches). It shares a 3840x2160 (4K) resolution with the MPG 321URX and S3225QS; the 32GS60QC goes with a 2560x1440 (1440p) resolution.
It also offers Samsung's own Quantum HDR2000 rating rather than a VESA DisplayHDR tier. Reaching 165Hz at 4K needs DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC or HDMI 2.1 on your graphics card, and a GPU able to render well above 100fps at 4K. When we checked, only the S3225QS and cheaper picks cost less, and the MPG 321URX cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 165Hz
- Resolution: 3840x2160 (4K)
- Size: 32 inches
- Response: 1ms
- Adaptive sync: G-SYNC Compatible, FreeSync Premium Pro
Pros
- 165Hz for smoother motion than a 60Hz office screen
- 4K resolution for sharp text and detail
- G-SYNC Compatible, FreeSync Premium Pro to reduce screen tearing
- Mini LED backlight Samsung calls Quantum Matrix
Cons
- Costs more than the 32GS60QC at the time of writing
Best Budget 1440p3 of 5
ASUS TUF Gaming VG32WQ3B on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ASUS's VG32WQ3B is a curved 31.5-inch 1440p VA screen at 180Hz.
Best for
- Mid-range cards.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: a VA panel that can smear dark transitions.
Why we like it
VA contrast and the large size suit slower single-player games. It matches the 32GS60QC on refresh rate (180Hz). On screen size it ties with the MPG 321URX at 31.5 inches.
Like the 32GS60QC, it has a 2560x1440 (1440p) resolution, while the S3225QS uses a 3840x2160 (4K) resolution. Like the S3225QS, it has a VA panel, while the MPG 321URX uses a QD-OLED panel. No other pick in this guide offers a 90% DCI-P3 color gamut; compare the 32GS60QC, which has a 99% sRGB color gamut.
It also comes with a 3-year warranty and 90% DCI-P3 coverage. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper 32GS60QC and the pricier S3225QS, at the time of writing. The trade-off is screen size; for more, the Odyssey Neo G7 comes in at 32 inches.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 180Hz
- Resolution: 2560x1440 (1440p)
- Size: 31.5 inches
- Panel: VA
- Color gamut: 90% DCI-P3
- Adaptive sync: FreeSync
- Warranty: 3-year
Pros
- 180Hz for smoother motion than a 60Hz office screen
- 1440p resolution, sharper than 1080p at 27 inches
- 90% DCI-P3 colour coverage
- FreeSync to reduce screen tearing
Cons
- a VA panel that can smear dark transitions
- Screen size trails the Odyssey Neo G7 (32 inches)
- Costs more than the 32GS60QC at the time of writing
Best Curved Value4 of 5
LG UltraGear 32GS60QC-B on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
LG's 32GS60QC is a curved 32-inch 1440p screen at 180Hz.
Best for
- Immersive single-player games.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when hDR10 support without a DisplayHDR certificatio is a problem.
Why we like it
It keeps a large screen within a mid-range graphics card's reach. It matches the VG32WQ3B on refresh rate (180Hz). On screen size it ties with the Odyssey Neo G7 and the S3225QS at 32 inches.
Like the VG32WQ3B, it has a 2560x1440 (1440p) resolution, while the MPG 321URX uses a 3840x2160 (4K) resolution. No other pick in this guide offers a 99% sRGB color gamut; compare the VG32WQ3B, which has a 90% DCI-P3 color gamut. It shares a FreeSync with the VG32WQ3B; the S3225QS goes with a FreeSync Premium.
It also offers two HDMI inputs and one DisplayPort. It undercut the VG32WQ3B and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The main gap: refresh rate of 180Hz, behind the MPG 321URX (240Hz). If that matters, the MPG 321URX offers 240Hz.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 180Hz
- Resolution: 2560x1440 (1440p)
- Size: 32 inches
- Response: 1ms
- HDR: HDR10
- Color gamut: 99% sRGB
- Adaptive sync: FreeSync
Pros
- 180Hz for smoother motion than a 60Hz office screen
- 1440p resolution, sharper than 1080p at 27 inches
- 99% sRGB colour coverage
- FreeSync to reduce screen tearing
Cons
- HDR10 support without a DisplayHDR certification
- Refresh rate of 180Hz, behind the MPG 321URX (240Hz)
Best 4K Value5 of 5
Dell S3225QS on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The S3225QS brings 4K at 120Hz to 32 inches with 95% DCI-P3 on a VA panel.
Best for
- Mixed work and play.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: a VA panel that can smear dark transitions.
Why we like it
It suits a deeper desk and media. Its 120Hz refresh rate is the lowest in this group; the MPG 321URX leads at 240Hz. On screen size it ties with the Odyssey Neo G7 and the 32GS60QC at 32 inches.
Like the MPG 321URX and Odyssey Neo G7, it has a 3840x2160 (4K) resolution, while the VG32WQ3B uses a 2560x1440 (1440p) resolution. It is the only pick here with a 95% DCI-P3 color gamut; the VG32WQ3B has a 90% DCI-P3 color gamut instead. At 4K, check that your graphics card and cable support 4K at the refresh rate you want before you buy. Its price falls between the VG32WQ3B and the Odyssey Neo G7, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Resolution: 3840x2160 (4K)
- Size: 32 inches
- Panel: VA
- Color gamut: 95% DCI-P3
- Adaptive sync: FreeSync Premium
Pros
- 4K resolution for sharp text and detail
- 95% DCI-P3 colour coverage
- FreeSync Premium to reduce screen tearing
- 32-inch 4K screen at 120Hz
Cons
- a VA panel that can smear dark transitions
- Refresh rate trails the MPG 321URX (240Hz)
- Costs more than the 32GS60QC at the time of writing
How We Chose These 32 in. Gaming Monitors
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Resolution and refresh
- We compared listed resolution and refresh rate against the graphics power each needs.
- HDR and colour
- We recorded DisplayHDR certifications and listed colour gamut.
- Connectivity and stand
- We checked ports, USB-C and stand adjustment where the listing states them.
- Panel
- We noted panel type and the trade-offs it brings for motion, contrast and burn-in.
What to Look for in a 32 in. Gaming Monitor
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Size for your desk distance
24 to 25 inches suits 1080p and competitive play at a typical desk. 27 inches pairs well with 1440p and 4K; 32 inches suits 4K at a deeper desk.
Match resolution to your graphics card
1080p suits entry and mid-range cards and high refresh rates. 1440p is the balance for most gaming PCs. 4K needs a high-end card to hold high frame rates.
Pick the resolution your card can drive before looking at refresh rate.
Pick the panel type
IPS offers wide viewing angles and good colour. VA has higher contrast but slower dark transitions. OLED has perfect blacks and very fast response but carries a burn-in risk with static content.
Choose a refresh rate you can reach
A higher refresh rate only helps when your PC delivers matching frame rates. 144Hz to 180Hz suits most players; 240Hz and above rewards competitive shooters.
Consider the stand
A stand with height, tilt and swivel adjustment saves buying a monitor arm. Check VESA mounting if you plan to use one anyway.
Read HDR labels carefully
HDR10 means the monitor accepts an HDR signal, not that it displays it well. DisplayHDR 600 or True Black 400 certifications say more about real HDR performance.
How to Choose a 32 in. Gaming Monitor
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Competitive shooters where motion clarity matters most | MPG 321URX | The highest refresh rate here (240Hz) |
| Bright rooms and HDR games | Odyssey Neo G7 | 4K at 165Hz with Mini LED backlighting |
| Mid-range cards | VG32WQ3B | A 180Hz 1440p VA panel with a three-year warranty |
| Immersive single-player games | 32GS60QC | A curved 180Hz 1440p screen |
| Mixed work and play | S3225QS | 4K at 120Hz with 95% DCI-P3 |
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Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Monitor | Refresh rate | Resolution | Size | Panel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MPG 321URX | 240Hz | 3840x2160 (4K) | 31.5 inches | QD-OLED |
| Odyssey Neo G7 | 165Hz | 3840x2160 (4K) | 32 inches | Not listed |
| VG32WQ3B | 180Hz | 2560x1440 (1440p) | 31.5 inches | VA |
| 32GS60QC | 180Hz | 2560x1440 (1440p) | 32 inches | Not listed |
| S3225QS | 120Hz | 3840x2160 (4K) | 32 inches | VA |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
Prices change often; these tiers reflect Amazon prices when this guide was updated.
| Price tier | Monitors |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | 32GS60QC, VG32WQ3B |
| About $250 to $500 | S3225QS |
| About $500 to $1000 | Odyssey Neo G7, MPG 321URX |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a 1ms response time rating matter?
Makers measure response time differently, so compare panel type and independent reviews rather than the headline figure.
Should I use HDMI or DisplayPort?
On a PC, DisplayPort usually supports the highest refresh rates. HDMI 2.1 is equivalent and needed for consoles.
Is HDR worth it on a budget monitor?
Rarely. Budget HDR10 monitors accept HDR but lack the brightness and contrast to show it well. OLED or DisplayHDR 600 models do it better.
Is OLED burn-in still a problem?
It is a risk with static elements over many hours. Current OLED monitors use pixel-refresh routines to reduce it; check the maker's warranty for burn-in coverage.
Is 1080p fine on a 27-inch monitor?
It works, but text and detail look softer. 1440p is sharper at 27 inches; 1080p is best at 24 to 25 inches.
Do I need a GPU that matches the refresh rate?
To benefit fully, yes. A 240Hz monitor still feels smoother at 150fps than a 144Hz one, but the gains shrink when frame rates are far below the refresh rate.
Bottom Line
MSI's MPG 321URX is the high-end choice. ASUS's VG32WQ3B and LG's 32GS60QC keep a big screen affordable at 1440p, while Samsung's Neo G7 and Dell's S3225QS cover 4K without OLED.