ASUS ROG Strix XG32AQ with 175Hz WQHD IPS panel
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made using the “Buy” button at the bottom of this post. Where possible, you'll be redirected to your nearest store. Further information on supporting our work.For those wanting an immersive experience for gaming and general desktop usage, ~32″ screens with a WQHD resolution can provide a nice balance. The ASUS XG32AQ of the ROG Strix series provides this, with 175Hz added into the mix for good measure. The styling is shared with others in the series – something we’d describe as ‘pared back gamery styling’. Plenty of dark matte plastics and some interesting design elements on the stand, but a lack of eye-catching colourful accoutrements. The top and side bezels are dual-stage, with panel border flush with the rest of the screen plus a slim hard plastic outer part. The OSD (On Screen Display) is controlled by a joystick and set of pressable buttons running down the rear of the monitor, at the right side as viewed from the front.
A 32″ 2560 x 1440 (WQHD or 1440p) IPS-type panel is used with 175Hz (via factory OC) refresh rate and Adaptive-Sync support, including Nvidia ‘G-SYNC Compatible’ with 48 – 175Hz VRR range plus LFC. A matte anti-glare screen surface is used, whilst a 1000:1 static contrast ratio, 178°/178° viewing angles and 10-bit colour are specified. A flicker-free WLED backlight provides a 450m cd/m² (600 cd/m² HDR peak) typical maximum luminance and 96% DCI-P3 (130% sRGB) colour gamut. The monitor is factory calibrated with specified DeltaE <2. It also responds to HDR10 content in a fairly dynamic way, with VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification. It can put its 10-bit colour support, decent DCI-P3 coverage and brightness levels to good use with basic edge-lit local dimming for a situational contrast boost.
A 1ms grey to grey response time is specified (caution advised), whilst a degree of variable overdrive is used to help balance pixel response speeds and overshoot levels over a range of refresh rates. The stand attaches centrally and offers tilt, limited height (80mm or 3.15 inches) and swivel adjustment. It can be removed using a quick-release button, with provision for alternative mounting via 100 x 100mm VESA included. The ports face downwards and include; DC power input (external ‘power brick’), 2 USB 3.0 ports (plus Type-B upstream), 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, DP 1.4 and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Low Blue Light (LBL) settings are included to promote relaxing viewing, with the usual gaming-focused additions including ‘Shadow Boost’ to enhance detail in dark areas for a competitive edge, an on-screen crosshair and ‘FPS Counter’ (refresh rate display).
Further details can be found on the manufacturer’s website. The monitor is listed for ~$530 (£550).
