The Asus VG32UQA1A offers incredible value with its large 4K screen that is perfect for gaming on today’s 4K platforms. It’s a budget-friendly model from the TUF Gaming series, but that doesn’t mean that it loses out on performance and reliability. Let’s look closer to see if this display should be your upgrade for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X gaming.
Asus VG32UQA1A Specifications
- Screen Size: 32 Inches
- Resolution:3840 x 2160 UHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: Vertical Alignment (VA)
- Refresh Rate: 144Hz (160Hz OC)
- Response Time: 1ms MPRT
- Contrast Ratio: 2500:1
- Brightness: 400 cd/m2 (450 cd/m2 Peak)
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 2 Watts)
- Stand: Height – No
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot– No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (200 x 200)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 DSC x 1, HDMI 2.1 x 2, USB 3.1 x 3, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions With Stand (WxHxD): 28.2″ x 19.5″ x 8.4″
- Weight: 16.5 lbs
Design and Features
The Asus VG32UQA1A comes from the TUF Gaming lineup, so it’s not as flashy as its ROG brethren. The monitor has a matte black finish which looks simple yet more elegant for some in a sea of RGB-bedazzled gaming products. The display isn’t completely bezel-free, but the borders are thin enough to be unnoticeable against the large screen.
It’s a larger screen, but it is not as space-consuming as the other 32-inch monitors we’ve tested in recent times. The device only needs 8.4 inches of depth when fully assembled, so it is suitable for users with shallow desks. It’s also lightweight at 16.5 pounds, so putting it together and setting it up on your desk should be as easy as peas.
The monitor’s build quality is quite decent despite having the low-price handicap that severely limits most products. The plastics used are thick and sturdy, and we did not see any cosmetic defects, just like with the brand’s premium models. The included stand can keep the large screen upright, but it does have some wobble if you accidentally nudge the screen.
But despite that nature, the Asus VG32UQA1A still has an OSD joystick and the usual hotkeys we regularly see on the brand’s monitors. It’s a bit more difficult to access due to the screen’s size, but we’d rather have it than use OSD buttons. A remote would be a handy addition to it since it’s big enough to be used for couch gaming, but it’s unnecessary if it will raise the price.
The biggest limitation of this model is probably its stand which only offers tilting adjustments. We’d like it if the screen could be raised or lowered since its size can be polarizing for some users. You can use VESA mounts, but that’s only necessary if its stock posture doesn’t sit right with you or if you have limited desk space.
The Asus VG32UQA1A’s connectivity layout offers DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.1 slots, and a trio of USB 3.1 type-A and type-B slots. It could use more like a USB-C slot, but the default layout can already handle your PC, two 4K 120Hz consoles, plus your keyboard and mouse combo. You also get a 3.5mm jack for headphones to seal the deal.
Another disappointment with this model is its speakers, which only have 2 watts of power per channel. They are tinny and weak, so most users will avoid them altogether and use headphones instead. We’re curious when Asus will start upgrading this facet since they always use 2-watt pairs for most of their gaming displays, including the top-end models.
Display and Performance
The Asus VG32UQA1A sports a 32-inch VA panel with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 160Hz overclocked refresh rate, and a 1ms MPRT response time. The backlight has a 400 cd/m2 output and a 450 cd/m2 peak, while the contrast is listed at 2500:1. This model is HDR 400-certified, but that doesn’t mean that it can provide convincing HDR performance since its missing some key ingredients.
4K is much more comfortable to view on a 32-inch screen versus a sharper 27-inch model. You still get the increased pixel count, but the pixel pitch and its resulting legibility and visibility are a bit more manageable. You can use scaling to get around this, but that doesn’t always work like seasoned users would like to.
The Asus VG32UQA1A covers 99% sRGB and 79% of the DCI-P3 color space for decent vibrancy in games and movies. It’s not the most vibrant, and its also the least accurate 4K 144Hz+ monitor we’ve written about due to its high 3.21 deltaE average. This won’t be an issue for gamers, but trained editors and creators will know the difference.
However, it responded well to calibration since its deltaE average dropped to an impressive 0.93. That’s a score you’ll normally see on prosumer variants, but it’s made possible with the help of a good colorimeter like the Calibrite Display Plus. However, buying the latter if you are only gaming is impractical, so we can only recommend it to creators and designers.
The Asus VG32UQA1A’s backlight reached 404 cd/m2 at 100%, and it peaked at 449 cd/m2 when its HDR mode was active. Its contrast reached 2271:1 at 30% brightness, indicating that its capable of deeper blacks than its IPS counterparts. Its HDR performance isn’t great due to its lack of local dimming, but dark or night scenes are better viewed on it.
Panel uniformity, on the other hand, isn’t great since there were a lot of clouding issues on its quadrants. They weren’t an issue when full-color images were shown, but dark scenes or when the screen is blank will definitely reveal the flaws. Note that this can vary between every unit made due to manufacturing tolerances, so there are better units out there.
The Asus VG32UQA1A has an effective overdrive implementation to mitigate its slower pixel response time. Setting the overdrive to its 3rd level helped in reducing blurs, but you can increase it up to level 5 if needed at the expense of slight overshoot. It is great for fast-paced games compared to other VA models in the market.
The Asus VG32UQA1A is also compatible with both FreeSync and G-Sync, so you don’t have to worry about tearing and stuttering. This is essential for 4K gaming since you don’t have to buy a new monitor if a better 4K 144Hz GPU comes from the other brand. Its input lag sits at 4ms at 144Hz, so it’s responsive enough for the most sensitive users out there.
Thoughts on the Asus VG32UQA1A
The Asus VG32UQA1A does an excellent job when it comes to raw gaming performance. It is fast and very responsive, so it is suitable for games like Valorant and Warzone 2. It’s also designed and built well, helping us and owners overlook some of its missing features.
However, it does have some limitations you have to live with, such as its weak speakers and the limited HDR performance. We don’t consider them as deal breakers since the price is lower than most offerings. However, you can spend a little more and get something better, like the Gigabyte M32U, which has better features out of the box.
Pros:
- Excellent Contrast
- Accurate Post-Calibration Results
- Dual HDMI 2.1
- Outstanding Build Quality
Cons:
- Poor HDR Capabilities
- Limited Creature Comforts
About the Author: 
Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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