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AOC CQ32G2SE Gaming Monitor
Because desktops just want to have fun...
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AOC https://www.aoc.com £329, $340, 389 €
It’s amazing how far display prices have fallen, while their quality continues to rise. Take this one, for example. It’s a specialist, quad hi-definition (QHD) gaming monitor with a giant 31.5-inch screen. It runs at 165Hz, has a 1ms response time and a 300 nits rating, yet it costs well south of 400 notes.
The AOC CQ32G2SE Gaming Monitor features a tool-free setup. You can get it up and running out of the box in five minutes flat, without having to root around for the right spanner or screwdriver. Just snap the display onto the stand and fit the foot using a finger-turned screw. It’s no hassle at all.
Around the back of the display are two HDMI ports and a DisplayPort. There’s no Thunderbolt connectivity (though you can use a Thunderbolt port with an adapter, of course). There’s no built-in USB hub either, but at this price, you wouldn’t expect one.
The monitor is Quad HD, with a pixel resolution of 2560 x 1440. That’s an impressive pixel density of 94 pixels per inch. The screen is mildly curved, so the sides of the viewing area aren’t further away from the viewer than the centre. It has six pre-configured game settings, with presets available for first-person shooters, real-time strategy games racers and more, though switching between them using the under-screen buttons is a little fiddly. Its 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time keeps things smooth and accurate, even when your game’s moving fast; and at 300 nits, the brightness is acceptable if unremarkable.
Naturally, the display is perfect for gaming. Colours are rich and vibrant and there’s not a hint of ghosting or lag, even when things get intense. If you’re used to using a regular display, which might not run your games as smoothly, upgrading to a CQ32G2SE really does add a new dimension to your gaming.
The monitor performed admirably in our benchmarking tests too. When displaying a series of gradients ramps, the colours blended smoothly, with very little banding. Text proved clear and readable even at the smallest point sizes and photographs are beautifully realised. The speakers a
