Corsair Xeneon 32QHD165 gaming monitor review
You want a great all-rounder, something truly elegant and well executed. Or something more professional has an amazing factor, but also has some flaws or missing features? The new Corsair Xeneon 32QHD165 is completely in the first category. On paper, this is nothing special. 32 inches, IPS panel, 165Hz refresh rate, 1440p resolution, sub-3ms response, basic HDR function, you know.
Of course, this is a good combination of functions. You can say that it has almost found the best point for real-world games, 4K will produce such crazy GPU load levels, and ultra-wide monitors have their own set of limitations. At least, if it’s not for a small obstacle, you can do it. price. The price of this thing is 799 dollars (699 pounds). For an ordinary old 1440p panel, this is a lot of money. It is true.
Corsair Xeneon 32QHD165 specifications
Panel size: 32 inches
Panel technology: IPS
Original resolution: 2560 x 1440
aspect ratio: 16:9
Refresh rate: 165 Hz
Response time: 1ms MPRT
High dynamic range: VESA DisplayHDR 400
Compared: 1,000:1
colour: 98% DCI-P3
brightness: 400 cd/m2
enter: DisplayPort 1.4 x1, HDMI 2.0 x2, USB Type-C, 15W charging
other: AMD FreeSync Premium, compatible with G-Sync
So, how does Corsair Xeneon 32QHD165 justify the price? First, there is engineering and a broader attention to detail. The cast aluminum bracket (adjustable height, tilt and rotation) is absolutely higher than the standard of build quality. The OSD menu also pays attention to details, which is clearer and more logical than usual. In other words, wherever you look, there is exceptionally high polish and refinement.
As for the detailed specifications, this is mainly good news, but it is also debatable whether these add up to make up for the price tag. The native resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels is combined with a 32-inch 16:9 aspect ratio panel ratio, which translates to a pixel density below 100DPI. This is not necessarily the main problem in the game. But it does produce blocky pixels in a wider computing environment. Similarly, at this price point, you may need a screen with all-round precision, not just a pure game console.
In terms of speed, 165Hz refresh is supplemented by 1ms MPRT and sub-3ms gray to gray pixel response. A good number, to be sure. But the fastest 1440p IPS panel now has a clock frequency of 240Hz and a grayscale to grayscale of 1ms. Therefore, it is difficult to say that this is where your money is going.
The same applies to HDR performance. Corsair Xeneon 32QHD165 has VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification and a peak brightness of 400 nits. Inevitably, there is no local dimming, this is not a true HDR display. At the same time, the static contrast ratio of an IPS panel is usually 1,000 to 1.
One area that is slightly better than the standard is color accuracy. Corsair claims that the DCI-P3 color space has a coverage rate of 98%, which is more similar to a professional content creation panel than a gaming monitor, and may reflect the use of quantum dot technology in Xeneon backlighting.
Another controversial advantage over the public concerns investment. Two HDMI 2.0 ports and DisplayPort 1.4 ports are predictable enough. But USB Type-C has a single-cable connection power supply function, which can charge laptops, which is a good choice. Or, at least, if the charging power is not limited to just 15W, this is hardly enough for things like the MacBook Air, let alone gaming laptops.
It is also worth noting that the HDMI port is limited to 144Hz. However, they can indeed be connected to non-PC devices such as consoles. For this reason, Xeneon has a special “console mode” that includes accepting 4K input and zooming out to 1440p. It is obviously designed for Sony PS5 which does not support 1440p. However, the basic idea of forcing the console to withstand a heavy 4K rendering load to only 1440p does not make much sense.
It is difficult for anyone to see from the overall perspective what the high price of Corsair Xeneon 32QHD165 means in terms of speed and feed. So, what about the actual viewing and gaming experience? The core picture quality is certainly good. It is powerful, vibrant, and well-calibrated. It is also fast and feels very good for the claimed specifications. Of course, a little overshoot can be seen in the fastest available pixel overdrive mode. And it is not as clear and blur-free as the fastest 1ms GtG panel currently available.
Overall, it is a monitor that performs well in every type of game. For shooting games like Apex Legends, there is enough speed and no noticeable delay. A graphically heavy single-player adventure game like Cyberl The same goes for playing total war style strategy games. 1440p is sufficient to prevent menus and panels in various games from taking up too much available screen space.
On the other hand, Corsair Xeneon 32QHD165 is not really good at anything. E-sports addicts will want something faster. Gamers with deep pockets and looking for a truly dramatic visual experience may also prefer the 4K panel and the crazy details and precision it brings, or the ultra-wide option for the ultimate immersion.
If Corsair Xeneon 32QHD165 is a little cheaper, then the fact that it is a trusted jack in all industries rather than being excellent in any field will be more acceptable. Similarly, fat pixel pitch is not suitable for general computing tasks, and if you like the right pixel density, it is not suitable. For $800, this is a bit difficult to swallow. Particularly eye-catching is that LG UltraGear 32GP850-B offers the same panel size and resolution, but provides a higher refresh rate and excellent response at a lower cost, even if it can’t match the overall quality of Corsair’s image quality It’s on par with vitality.
So yes, Corsair Xeneon 32QHD165 is a very good all-round gaming monitor. It is polished, executed well, and is an excellent all-rounder. It is only comfortably overestimated by 30% to be truly noticeable.