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AOC CQ32G1 Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v1.1
Reviewed Jul 23, 2020 at 08:20 am
Latest change: Retest Jan 20, 2021 at 01:49 pm
AOC CQ32G1 Picture
7.1
Mixed Usage
7.2
Office
7.6
Gaming
6.9
Multimedia
6.8
Media Creation
5.5
HDR Gaming

The AOC CQ32G1 is a fairly well-rounded 32 inch 1440p curved monitor with good gaming performance. It's a 144Hz monitor with native FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) support and it's G-SYNC compatible. The input lag is extremely low, but sadly, the response time is slow, resulting in motion blur. Luckily, it has a black frame insertion feature to help improve the appearance of motion. This monitor has a VA panel with a very good contrast ratio and it has surprisingly fairly wide viewing angles, so it's still a good choice if you need to share your screen with a friend, but unfortunately, it has very limited ergonomics. This monitor doesn't support HDR, but on the upside, it has good overall picture quality with great out-of-the-box color accuracy and it has great peak brightness.

Our Verdict

7.1 Mixed Usage

The AOC CQ32G1 is a decent overall monitor. It's a good choice for gaming thanks to its 144Hz refresh rate, VRR support, and extremely low input lag. Sadly, it has a slow response time and there's motion blur with fast-moving content. Despite having a VA panel, it's a decent choice for office use as it has fairly wide viewing angles and it gets bright enough to combat glare. This monitor displays deep blacks, but it has poor black uniformity, and it doesn't support HDR if you want to watch HDR movies with it.

Pros
  • Fairly wide viewing angles.
  • FreeSync VRR support.
  • Great peak brightness.
Cons
  • No HDR support.
  • Awful ergonomics.
  • Slow response time.
7.2 Office

The AOC CQ32G1 is a decent office monitor. The 1440p resolution and 32-inch screen offer enough screen space to open multiple windows at once. It has fairly wide viewing angles and it gets bright enough to combat glare. Sadly, it has awful ergonomics as you can only adjust its tilt range.

Pros
  • Fairly wide viewing angles.
  • Good reflection handling.
  • Great peak brightness.
Cons
  • Awful ergonomics.
7.6 Gaming

Good for gaming. The AOC CQ32G1 has a native 144Hz refresh rate, FreeSync support, and G-SYNC compatibility. Sadly, its response time is slow, so there's a motion blur trail in fast-moving content. It's ideal for dark-room gaming due to its VA panel that displays deep blacks; however, it has poor black uniformity.

Pros
  • Fairly wide viewing angles.
  • Extremely low input lag.
  • FreeSync VRR support.
  • Very good contrast ratio.
Cons
  • Awful ergonomics.
  • Slow response time.
6.9 Multimedia

The AOC CQ32G1 is okay for multimedia use. The 32 inch, 1440p screen is great for sitting back and watching the latest videos online. It displays deep blacks, but it has poor black uniformity and it doesn't support HDR. The monitor has fairly wide viewing angles, but it doesn't offer much in terms of ergonomics.

Pros
  • Fairly wide viewing angles.
  • Very good contrast ratio.
Cons
  • No HDR support.
  • Awful ergonomics.
  • Poor black uniformity.
6.8 Media Creation

Okay for content creators. The AOC CQ32G1 has a big enough screen to work with multiple windows opened at once, but the stand has awful ergonomics. It gets bright enough to combat glare if you work in a bright environment and it also has good reflection handling. The monitor also has great coverage of the Adobe RGB color space used in photo editing.

Pros
  • Fairly wide viewing angles.
  • Great coverage of the Adobe RGB color space.
Cons
  • No HDR support.
  • Awful ergonomics.
  • Poor black uniformity.
5.5 HDR Gaming
  • 7.1 Mixed Usage
  • 7.2 Office
  • 7.6 Gaming
  • 6.9 Multimedia
  • 6.8 Media Creation
  • 5.5 HDR Gaming
  1. Updated Jan 20, 2021: For consistency, we've changed the height adjustment from N/A to 'No'. The score has been adjusted accordingly.
  2. Updated Jul 23, 2020: Review published.
  3. Updated Jul 20, 2020: Early access published.
  4. Updated Jul 15, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  5. Updated Jul 13, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  6. Updated Jun 16, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 32 inch AOC CQ32G1, which is also available in a 27 inch size, the AOC CQ27G1. There are similar 144Hz models available from AOC, which are listed below.

If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their CQ32G1 doesn't correspond to our review, please let us know and we'll update the review. Note that some tests such as gray uniformity may vary between units.

Model Size Resolution Curve Europe Availability
C24G1 24" 1080p 1500R Yes
C27G1 27" 1080p 1800R Yes
CQ27G1 27" 1440p 1800R No
C32G1 32" 1080p 1800R Yes
CQ32G1 32" 1440p 1800R Yes
CU34G2X 34" 3440x1440 1500R No

You can see the label for our unit here.

Compared To Other Monitors

There's not much that stands out about the AOC CQ32G1 in terms of gaming. It has a slower response time than most 144Hz monitors, and it has awful ergonomics. However, it the widest viewing angle we've seen on a VA panel monitor so far, and it maintains a very good contrast ratio, making it an ideal choice for watching movies in the dark with a friend. Also see our recommendations for the best gaming monitors, the best 144Hz monitors, and the best 32-inch monitors.

Gigabyte G32QC

The Gigabyte G32QC is better than the AOC CQ32G1. The Gigabyte has much better motion handling due to its higher refresh rate and faster response time, and it supports HDR. However, the AOC has better color accuracy out-of-the-box and better reflection handling.

AOC CQ27G1

The AOC CQ27G1 is a bit better overall than its bigger variant, the AOC CQ32G1. The CQ27G1 has a different stand with much better ergonomics and it has a quicker response time. However, the CQ32G1 gets much brighter, it has wider viewing angles, and it handles reflections in really bright rooms a bit better.

Dell S3220DGF

The Dell S3220DGF is better overall than the AOC CQ32G1. The Dell has a higher refresh rate, as well as a much better response time, it supports HDR, and the screen has better uniformity. However, the AOC gets brighter, it has wider viewing angles, the out-of-the-box color accuracy is better, and it has a black frame insertion feature to clear up motion blur.

LG 32GN600-B

The LG 32GN600-B is better than the AOC CQ32G1. The LG has better black uniformity, much better gradient handling, and a faster response time. Unlike the AOC, the LG supports HDR, but this doesn't add much, as it can't display a wide color gamut and can't get very bright in HDR. On the other hand, the AOC has better viewing angles.

LG 32GK650F-B

The LG 32GK650F-B is a bit better overall than the AOC CQ32G1. The LG has a much quicker response time, it has better ergonomics, and the uniformity is better too. However, the AOC has much better out-of-the-box color accuracy, it displays a wide color gamut, it gets brighter, and it also wider viewing angles.

Nixeus EDG 34

The Nixeus EDG 34 is slightly better than the AOC CQ32G1. The Nixeus has a 34-inch screen, it supports HDR, and it has a much quicker response time, resulting in less motion blur. However, the AOC has a wider VRR range, it displays a wider color gamut and has better out-of-the-box color accuracy, and it also has wider viewing angles.

Samsung CHG70

The Samsung CHG70 is better overall than the AOC CQ32G1. Both are available in a 27 and 32 inch size, but the Samsung has a different stand than the AOC. The Samsung has a much faster response time at its max refresh rate, it has a local dimming feature, it supports HDR, and its ergonomics are better. However, the AOC has wider viewing angles and better out-of-the-box color accuracy.

Samsung C49RG9/CRG9

The Samsung C49RG9/CRG9 is much better overall than the AOC CQ32G1. The Samsung has a 5120x1440 resolution, it has better ergonomics, it gets much brighter, supports HDR, and has a quicker response time. On the other hand, the AOC has a 144Hz refresh rate, a better contrast ratio, wider viewing angles, and much better out-of-the-box color accuracy.

LG 32QN55T-B

The AOC CQ32G1 and the LG 32QN55T-B use different panel types, each with strengths and weaknesses, so the best one depends on your usage. The AOC is a better choice for dark rooms, as it has a much higher contrast ratio, so blacks look black instead of gray in a dark room. The LG is a better choice for brighter viewing environments, and it has better viewing angles, so it's a better choice if you often share your screen with someone else.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Size 32"
Curved Yes
Curve Radius 1800R
Weight (without stand)
9.9 lbs (4.5 kg)
Weight (with stand)
12.8 lbs (5.8 kg)

The AOC CQ32Q1 looks very similar to the AOC CQ27G1, except it has a different stand. It has a curved screen and the body is mainly black, with some red trim on the bottom bezel, the back, and the stand. It has a gamer-friendly look but it won't stand out in an office environment.

Design
Stand
Width
17.0" (43.2 cm)
Depth
9.6" (24.5 cm)

The stand has wide-set feet with enough space to put stuff in front of it. The stand supports the monitor well.

1.5
Design
Ergonomics
Height Adjustment
0.0" (0.0 cm)
Switch Portrait/Landscape No
Swivel Range No swivel
Tilt Range -20° to 5°

Update 01/20/2021: For consistency, we've changed the height adjustment from N/A to 'No'. The score has been adjusted accordingly.

Awful ergonomics as you can only tilt the monitor. The AOC CQ27G1 and the LG 32QN55T-B have much better ergonomics.

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 100x100

The back of the AOC CQ32G1 is simple with red diagonal stripes. The stand has a quick-release button if you want to VESA-mount the monitor. Cable management is done through a hole in the stand.

Design
Borders
Borders
0.4" (0.9 cm)

The borders are fairly thin, perfect for a multi-monitor setup.

Design
Thickness
Thickness (with stand)
7.6" (19.4 cm)
Thickness (without stand)
3.2" (8.2 cm)

Due to the screen's curvature, the AOC CQ32G1 is a bit thick, but it won't stick out much if you wall-mount it. With the stand, it's much thinner than the Samsung CHG70.

7.5
Design
Build Quality

Good build quality. The entire frame is made out of solid plastic that doesn't feel too cheap. It sits on the stand well and overall, it's a well-built monitor.

Picture Quality
7.9
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
3,039 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
N/A

Like most VA panel monitors, the AOC CQ32G1 has a very good contrast ratio. It displays deep blacks when viewed in the dark, but sadly, it doesn't have a local dimming feature.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge

There's no local dimming feature. The video above is provided for reference only.

8.1
Picture Quality
SDR Peak Brightness
SDR Real Scene
385 cd/m²
SDR Peak 2% Window
369 cd/m²
SDR Peak 10% Window
370 cd/m²
SDR Peak 25% Window
370 cd/m²
SDR Peak 50% Window
370 cd/m²
SDR Peak 100% Window
371 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 2% Window
369 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 10% Window
370 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 25% Window
370 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 50% Window
370 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 100% Window
370 cd/m²
SDR ABL
0.000

Great peak brightness. This monitor easily gets bright enough to combat glare, and it keeps its brightness consistent with varied content. The AOC CQ32G1 gets much brighter than the AOC CQ27G1.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Peak Brightness
HDR Real Scene
N/A
HDR Peak 2% Window
N/A
HDR Peak 10% Window
N/A
HDR Peak 25% Window
N/A
HDR Peak 50% Window
N/A
HDR Peak 100% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 2% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 10% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 25% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 50% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 100% Window
N/A
HDR ABL
N/A

The AOC CQ32G1 doesn't support HDR.

7.1
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
34°
Color Washout From Right
39°
Color Shift From Left
70°
Color Shift From Right
70°
Brightness Loss From Left
36°
Brightness Loss From Right
38°
Black Level Raise From Left
46°
Black Level Raise From Right
70°
Gamma Shift From Left
18°
Gamma Shift From Right
18°

Although monitors with VA panels usually have narrow viewing angles, the AOC CQ32G1 has a surprisingly decent horizontal viewing angle. Colors remain fairly accurate when viewing from the side, and although you won't get the same wide viewing angles as IPS monitors, it's still good enough for co-op gaming with a friend.

6.2
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
32°
Color Washout From Above
36°
Color Shift From Below
65°
Color Shift From Above
70°
Brightness Loss From Below
34°
Brightness Loss From Above
36°
Black Level Raise From Below
17°
Black Level Raise From Above
19°
Gamma Shift From Below
14°
Gamma Shift From Above
16°

Like its horizontal viewing angles, the vertical viewing angle isn't bad for a VA panel, and it's similar to the BenQ EW3270U. You won't lose much image accuracy if you mount the monitor slightly above eye level, but the colors start to wash out if you mount it too high.

8.1
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
4.149%
50% DSE
0.134%
5% Std. Dev.
0.488%
5% DSE
0.067%

The AOC CQ32G1 has great gray uniformity. The edges of the screen appear darker, which could be noticeable when displaying large areas of uniform color, like a web page. Luckily, there's very little dirty screen effect and the uniformity is much better in near-dark scenes.

4.4
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
3.104%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

Poor black uniformity, similar to the AOC CQ27G1. There's visible backlight bleed along the top and bottom of the screen, and there's no local dimming feature to improve the black uniformity.

8.3
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
Picture Mode
Sport
Luminance
399 cd/m²
Luminance Settings
100
Contrast Setting
50
RGB Controls
50-50-50
Gamma Setting
1
Color Temperature
6,375 K
White Balance dE
1.81
Color dE
2.63
Gamma
2.20

The AOC CQ32G1 has impressive out-of-the-box color accuracy. There are two pre-set modes you can adjust the picture settings with: Game and Eco, which locks the brightness and color settings. We used the Game mode and most colors are fairly accurate, although some people might notice inaccuracies with the color red. The color temperature is a bit on the warm side and gamma follows the curve fairly well, but dark scenes are too dark, and bright scenes are too bright.

9.6
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
Picture Mode
Standard
Luminance
152 cd/m²
Luminance Settings
0
Contrast Setting
48
RGB Controls
45-50-49
Gamma Setting
1
Color Temperature
6,551 K
White Balance dE
0.66
Color dE
0.54
Gamma
2.19

After calibration, the color accuracy is near-perfect. Any remaining inaccuracies aren't visible without the aid of a colorimeter. Gamma follows the curve better overall, but some bright scenes are still over-brightened.

You can download our ICC profile calibration here. This is provided for reference only and shouldn't be used, as the calibration values vary per individual unit even for the same model, due to manufacturing tolerances.

9.1
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB xy
99.2%
Adobe RGB xy
82.3%
sRGB Picture Mode
Standard
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Standard

The AOC CQ32G1 has an outstanding SDR color gamut, even better than the AOC CQ27G1. It has near-perfect coverage of the sRGB color space used in most content and it has great coverage of the Adobe RGB color space used in photo editing.

9.4
Picture Quality
SDR Color Volume
sRGB In ICtCp
98.9%
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
88.9%
sRGB Picture Mode
Standard
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Standard

Outstanding color volume. Thanks to its very good contrast ratio, it can display deep colors, and it can also display rich, saturated colors.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
N/A
DCI P3 xy
N/A
Rec. 2020 xy
N/A
DCI P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR

This monitor doesn't support HDR.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
DCI-P3 In ICtCp
N/A
Rec. 2020 In ICtCp
N/A
DCI P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR

This monitor doesn't support HDR.

10
Picture Quality
Image Retention
IR After 0 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 2 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 4 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 6 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 8 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 10 Min Recovery
0.00%

As with most VA panels, the AOC CQ32G1 doesn't have any issues with temporary image retention or permanent burn-in.

7.7
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
8 Bit

Good gradient handling, although there's some noticeable banding in the darker shades, especially with black, red, and green.

9.5
Picture Quality
Color Bleed
Pixel Row Error
0.001%
Pixel Column Error
0.103%

Sadly, the AOC CQ32G1 has some minor vertical color bleed. It shouldn't be noticeable with most content, but it isn't ideal for photo editors.

7.7
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
4.8%
Indirect Reflections
2.8%
Calculated Direct Reflections
2.0%

The AOC CQ32G1 has good reflection handling. It performs exceptionally well in moderately-lit rooms, but it struggles with direct light on it, so it's best to avoid placing it opposite a window.

6.5
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
VA
Sub-Pixel Layout
RGB

The text clarity is decent. It can be improved using ClearType (top photo), which makes the diagonal or curved lines on the letters R, N, G, and S clearer.

Motion
6.0
Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Best Overdrive Setting
Strong
Rise / Fall Time
7.7 ms
Total Response Time
26.8 ms
Overshoot Error
5.5%
Dark Rise / Fall Time
9.5 ms
Dark Total Response Time
21.9 ms
Dark Overshoot Error
4.7%

Overdrive Setting Response Time Chart Response Time Tables Motion Blur Photo
Off Chart Table Photo
Weak Chart Table Photo
Medium Chart Table Photo
Strong Chart Table Photo

The AOC CQ32G1 has a mediocre response time, worse than the AOC CQ27G1 and most other 144Hz monitors. The best overdrive setting is 'Strong', but its response time is slow with this setting and it has some overshoot, resulting in noticeable motion blur. Set it to 'Medium' if you want less overshoot and don't mind a slower response time. If you want a similar monitor with a faster response time, check out the ASUS TUF VG32VQ.

6.2
Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Best Overdrive Setting
Medium
Rise / Fall Time
8.6 ms
Total Response Time
25.4 ms
Overshoot Error
4.5%
Dark Rise / Fall Time
7.9 ms
Dark Total Response Time
21.0 ms
Dark Overshoot Error
4.6%

Overdrive Setting Response Time Chart Response Time Tables Motion Blur Photo
Off Chart Table Photo
Weak Chart Table Photo
Medium Chart Table Photo
Strong Chart Table Photo

The response time at 60Hz is better than at its max refresh rate, but it's still mediocre. The recommended overdrive setting is 'Medium', so you might have to change the setting if your game's frame rate drops. The 'Strong' setting has a significantly slower total response time and more overshoot, so there's ghosting with fast-moving content.

10
Motion
Image Flicker
Flicker-Free Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz

The AOC CQ32G1 is flicker-free at all backlight settings, which helps reduce eye strain.

7.0
Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Yes
BFI Maximum Frequency
144 Hz
BFI Minimum Frequency
100 Hz

This monitor has a black frame insertion feature that helps clear up motion blur. To enable it, set the Response Time setting to 'Boost'. Luckily, the BFI feature doesn't dim the screen as much as on the AOC CQ27G1.

9.0
Motion
Refresh Rate
Variable Refresh Rate
FreeSync
Native
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
144 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
FreeSync
Yes
G-SYNC
Compatible (Tested)
VRR Maximum
144 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors DisplayPort, HDMI

The AOC CQ32G1 has an excellent refresh rate. You can achieve its max refresh rate of 144Hz only over HDMI 2, as the refresh rate on the HDMI 1 input is limited to 85Hz. The monitor has native FreeSync support and it's G-SYNC compatible, although the latter only works over a DisplayPort connection. If you want a similar monitor with a higher refresh rate, check out the Gigabyte G32QC.

Inputs
9.5
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution
4.1 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
8.9 ms
Variable Refresh Rate
5.1 ms
Variable Refresh Rate @ 60Hz
10.2 ms
10 Bit HDR
N/A
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
6.9 ms

Incredibly low input lag, great for competitive gamers. The input lag slightly increases with VRR enabled, but most people won't notice this.

8.3
Inputs
Resolution And Size
Native Resolution 2560 x 1440
Aspect Ratio 16:9
Megapixels 3.7 MP
Pixel Density
92 PPI
Screen Diagonal 32.0"
Screen Area 438 in²

The 32 inch screen and 1440p resolution are great, providing enough space to open multiple windows at once for multitasking. Since its screen is bigger than the AOC CQ27G1, the pixel density is lower.

Inputs
Inputs
Inputs
Total Inputs
DisplayPort 1 (DP 1.2)
Mini DisplayPort No
HDMI 1 (HDMI 2.0), 1 (HDMI 1.4)
DVI No
VGA No
DisplayPort Out No
USB No
USB C No
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 1
Microphone In 3.5mm No
Digital Optical Audio Out No
Analog Audio Out RCA No
Power Supply Internal

HDMI 1 supports HDMI 1.4 and HDMI 2 has HDMI 2.0 support.

Features
Features
Additional Features
RGB Illumination
No
Speakers
No
HDR10 No
Multiple Input Display
No

The AOC CQ32G1 doesn't have many extra features. You can add a virtual crosshair on the screen for FPS games and it has a frame rate counter overlay.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)
Features
Controls

There are five buttons underneath the monitor to control the on-screen display, but the control scheme isn't very intuitive.

Features
In The Box

  • Power cable
  • HDMI cable
  • DisplayPort cable
  • Manual