It has been quite some time since we reviewed a gaming monitor and the majority of the ones reviewed before were G-Sync models. In today’s AOC CQ32G1 review we will analyze the performance and all other aspects of a great curved gaming monitor which is native FreeSync and also G-Sync compatible. Not just for gaming though, this monitor has a good mixed usage rating and serves well for Multimedia, Media creation and office work. First let’s take a look at the specifications.
AOC CQ32G1 Specs
Let’s take a look at the specifications and then proceed with the AOC CQ32G1 review.
| Adaptive Sync | AMD FreeSync Premium |
| HDR | Unavailable |
| Panel Size | 31.5-inch Curved |
| Panel Type | VA |
| Resolution | 2560x1440QHD |
| Refresh Rate | 144Hz |
| Response Time (typical Gray to Gray) | 5ms |
| Panel Curvature | 1800R |
| Connectivity | 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort, 3.5mm audio out |
| Stand | Tilt: -4° ±1° ~ +21.5° ±1.5° |
| AOC Shadow Control | Available |
| Brightness | 300 cd/m2 |
| Colors | 16.7 million (true 8-bit) |
| Contrast Ratio | 3000:1 (static) |
AOC CQ32G1 Build Quality Review
The AOC CQ32G1 definitely radiates the look of a gaming monitor with its curved 32 inch screen. The body color is mostly black with a few red lines running here and there. The stand is different in comparison to the AOC CQ27G1 monitor, but the rest is almost identical. The design is sturdy with narrow bezels and yes it is Wall mountable (VESA compatible). The stand has wide feet(17.0″ (43.2 cm)) which leaves ample room to store anything between them. The 1800R curvature really brings about the optimum angles for gaming immersion. However in terms of ergonomics the CQ32G1 doesn’t justify the price since there is no height adjustment or swivel integrated unlike the AOC 27 inch. You just have to be content with tilting the monitor.
The borders of this monitor are well built for a multi monitor setup given its thin nature. Overall the build is above average. Actually it’s quite good given that the solid plastic frame is built and the monitor is not too thick.
Picture Quality
We know that most VA monitors have a great contrast ratio. You can learn more about monitor panel types here. It displays deep blacks when viewed in the dark and when watching dark content with its 3000:1 ratio. The monitor brightness features are well programmed. No matter the glare it will adjust its brightness to counteract. The brightness is unwavering and consistent with content variations and has a great overall peak brightness. However they omitted HDR support which is a blow.
In terms of horizontal viewing angles the AOC CQ32G1 performs pretty decently. The 178-degree viewing angles account for it. The image colors, contrast and brightness are fairly the same when viewing from an angle. And in terms of a vertical angle, the accuracy will still remain the same if you mount it at a decent height and not too high. The 1440p resolution has a good pixel density distribution across the 32 inch screen and is similar to a 1080p(Full HD) on a 24 inch screen. Although the 1440p resolution is best fitted on a 27 inch, the image quality is still awesome on the 32 inch with clear detail and a good pixel density distribution.
Also the AOC CQ32G1 has great gray uniformity. If you are viewing something which has uniform color distribution the edges appear darker which makes better uniformity. The color accuracy is also well set up. There are two pre-set modes used to adjust the picture settings. Namely Game and Eco, which locks the brightness and color settings. The Game mode is the most accurate display of colors. This monitor also possesses excellent sRGB color space and good reflection handling. For the best gaming experience you can add the relevant anti-aliasing paired with the contrast ratio and the color accuracies.
Performance
The refresh rate of the AOC CQ32G1 is accurate to the last digit which is 144Hz. And it is achievable over the HDMI 2. The G-Sync compatibility works over the DisplayPort connection. Also the eye strain is reduced due to the flicker free feature at all backlight settings. However in terms of response time this monitor lags in comparison with the others of the same calibration. The 1ms response time given in the specs is the Moving Picture Response Time, but the gray to gray pixel transition time is 5ms. If you want to use 1ms MPRT via backlight strobing then you have to select the ‘Overdrive’ setting in the OSD menu.
There are four settings as off, weak, medium and strong in this Overdrive setting. Although the strong setting is enabled, motion blur is visible and response time is slow. The best recommended setting is the ‘Medium’. Although it has slower response time the overshoot will be lower than Strong. You can also use the MBR setting to adjust the backlight strobing.
Additional Features and Connectivity
The AOC CQ32G1 on screen display has many useful features. You get three fully customizable gaming profiles, a frame rate counter overlay and virtual crosshair for FPS games. There are also pre-programmed picture presets for game genres like Racing, FPS. Apart from those you get the Shadow Control, Game Color and low-blue light filter. The default settings for brightness, contrast ratio are also available and you can adjust them. There is another complaint that users experience brightness flickering with the Syncing enabled. This is a GPU issue that Nvidia and AMD have to fix.
The input lag is very low hence it serves best for the competitive gamer. Also there are five buttons underneath to control the menu.
AOC CQ32G1 Best Settings
As we mentioned before the medium in overdrive setting is the most appropriate in standard FPS like 60. Especially for FreeSync. However if you are going for 120 Hz then the Strong setting works best. The sRGB color gamut optimizes the brightness at a range of 80-90%. Using the motion blur reduction value between 1 and 20 when you get higher FPS is better without using FreeSync. The AOC CQ32G1 has no speakers integrated. And with all these features the The AOC CQ32G1 price tops at $386.00 on Amazon.
AOC CQ32G1 vs Gigabyte G32QC
| AOC CQ32G1 | Gigabyte G32QC |
| 2560×1440 resolution | 2560×1440 resolution |
| 144 Hz refresh rate | 144 Hz refresh rate |
| 1800R curved radius | 1500R curved radius |
| No height adjustment | 3.9″ (10.0 cm) height adjustment |
| No HDR | HDR available |
This is a much debated comparison and the specifications mentioned above is how the two monitors are separated. The Gigabyte has higher refresh rate, HDR, better ergonomics. Also the motion handling is better because of the faster response time and refresh rate. The Gigabyte is also thicker but the build quality is fairly good.
The Gigabyte has great SDR peak brightness and is in parallel with the AOC in this aspect. However the HDR is what separates the Gigabyte. And it is consistent through different content. In terms of viewing angles and color accuracy the AOC is ahead. The response time is great at maximum refresh rate and is best with the ‘Balance’ overdrive setting. Therefore overall the Gigabyte outperforms the AOC in the aspects reviewed above.
Conclusion
That’s about it for the AOC CQ32G1 review. No doubt that the AOC CQ32G1 gaming monitor, given its ups and downs, is a good curved gaming monitor with optimum viewing angles and suitable for both computing and competitive gaming. The FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility in combination with the high contrast ratio, motion blur reduction, VRR support and peak brightness truly adds value. However the absence of HDR, no swivel or height adjustment and the slow response times remain as the monitor downsides.
As we mentioned there are some other monitors that perform better in this calibration. The Gigabyte G32QC, Dell S3220DGF, and even the AOC CQ32G2S can also be considered as alternatives. The Gigabyte and Dell have faster response time and HDR support. Nevertheless in terms of color accuracy and reflection handling the AOC is ahead of them both.
