ROG Swift PG32UQX monitor
A big expensive monitor from Asus that promises the world. Can it deliver?
We recently mentioned that monitors are one of the few technology categories that isn’t commoditised: most models specialise or compromise in various areas of performance and value. So, we love it when a monster like Asus’ PG32UQX comes along. There’s no compromising here. It offers Display Stream Compression (DSC), HDR 1,400, a 144Hz refresh rate, 1,152-zone mini-LED dynamic rear lighting and G-sync Ultimate – all on a matte, 32-inch, IPS screen with a 3,840 x 2,160 resolution – all the things that genuinely make the best content look awesome.
We started at the top, which for this reviewer means Far Cry 5 in HDR. On a good monitor this game’s visuals are phenomenal, with smooth motion, back-lit objects genuinely glowing, light flooding out of the screen and bright objects practically popping out of dark environments. The PG32UQX’s performance told us it was a very good monitor.
We moved onto The Darkest Hour, which is literally dark and full of shadows that are punctuated by a few bright lights. We were rewarded with exceptional detail in shadowy areas, smooth monochromatic gradients and sharp relief elsewhere. We stepped things up further and ran LG’s OLED TV display test reels to gauge colour vibrancy on true-black backgrounds and were once again impressed: colours burst off the screen and were surrounded by largely true-black backgrounds. While there was some light bleeding from the rear-mounted mini LEDs it was minimal and contrived to generate the best contrast performance we’ve seen from any LCD screen. Quite simply, this monitor displays all highquality content exceptionally well.
Gone are the days where setting up HDR screens involved bespoke drivers, Windows gymnastics, hope, and luck. Nowadays, you just slide a switch on Windows’ display settings. When we turned it off, colours became governed by the display’s pre-sets and adjustments. We found sRGB mode made office work particularly comfortable to perform albeit at the expense of colour vibrancy.
The monitor looks good on its own too. It might not have the thinnest bezel but the stylised contouring, graphical flourishes and down-firing (customisable) projected logo lets people know this is special even when turned off. Just note that the threepronged base does not have a small footprint, but it does provide stability to the substantial screen. Adjustments include 70mm height, +20o to -5o tilt and +/- 20o swivel.
The OSD is intuitively accessed via a spinning switch and two buttons at the base and adds some nifty gaming features. These include on-screen crosshairs for FPS shooters and a black booster setting which ruins contrast but reveals people hiding in shadows. Below the screen, a mini ‘LiveDash’ OLED display shows bespoke logos or system information while Aura Sync technology matches RGB lighting configurations with compatible peripherals. Other interesting features include a top-mounted tripod socket and USB port for streamers.
Few people wouldn’t want this monitor, but few could afford it at $3,599. However, its ability to make top content so incredibly immersive means the PG32UQX is still good value and a worthwhile investment.
Big, expensive and worth every cent. Glorious.