Lawliet Keffor
First off, this is not a bad gaming monitor. G-Sync, 32 inches wide, QHD resolution, and a very good performing VA panel with excellent contrast. That being said, Ive not found a decent use for it as an upgrade to my AOC 24" G-Sync monitor. The VA panel produces excellent contrast, colors, and blacks, but suffers noticeably from poor viewing angles. Im not that far from the monitor (maybe a few feet), and the sides have a very noticeable darkening effect. Given the fact that this has no monitor curvature, this made things a bit worse in my opinion. A panel curve could change the viewing angle, which should improve the VA panel viewing angle. To what degree is debatable, but for my unique setup, I think it would have made a positive difference. It would have also made the price tag seem more reasonable. The 2560x1440 resolution at 32" is good, but has roughly the same pixel density as a 1080p 23.5" to 24" monitor. I noticed no sharpness increase, which was to be expected. However, 32" at the same pixel density makes everything bigger and more immersive, so there are still benefits to a larger screen in this regard. G-Sync worked flawlessly, minus the screen flicker (but thats a deep and far-reaching problem caused by G-Syncs implementation). Having that $200 price tag hurts a lot though, and thats exactly why Ive given this a 3 star rating: price. For my setup, I saw very little benefit and value coming from an already amazing G-Sync panel. I was not expecting the VA panel to suffer so badly in terms of viewing angles. For almost $700, it did not seem like a justified expense. For those who have yet to experience G-Sync though, have no doubts—this is still a solid gaming monitor. But perhaps there is some better value to be found elsewhere? The Sphere Lighting feature is a nice touch, but the lack of full user customizability makes it, in my opinion, a gimmick. It would be amazing if the lighting could be changed via software, and had an option to adapt to on screen colors. Oh, and the OSD joystick navigation system is the best Ive seen yet. Absolutely better than standard buttons on all fronts. The OSD menu itself is also nicely designed. If you can get this on sale for around $500, it would be worth its price tag.
