ASUS TUF Gaming ASUS TUF Curved Gaming Computer Monitor 32" 165Hz Review

This 32-inch curved ASUS lands in the 93rd percentile for performance, delivering solid 165Hz gaming for around $250. You get great connectivity and smooth motion, but average color scores and no height adjustment. It's a lot of fun for the money.

The ASUS TUF VG32VQ1B is a 32-inch curved gaming monitor that scores in the 93rd percentile for performance in our database. That's driven by its 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, which are solid numbers for a monitor in this price bracket. It's a WQHD (2560 x 1440) VA panel with a 1500R curve, designed to pull you into the game without breaking the bank.

Where this monitor really shines is in its connectivity, landing in the 95th percentile. You get two HDMI 2.0 ports and a DisplayPort 1.2, which is more than enough for most gaming setups and consoles. The trade-off? Its color and display scores are in the 76th percentile, which means it's good, but don't expect the vibrancy of a high-end IPS or OLED panel.

Performance is this monitor's strong suit, and the 93rd percentile ranking proves it. The 165Hz refresh rate is the headline act, making gameplay incredibly smooth compared to standard 60Hz or even 144Hz panels. Paired with AMD FreeSync Premium, it effectively kills screen tearing and stuttering if your GPU can keep up. The 1ms MPRT response time, thanks to ASUS's ELMB tech, does a decent job minimizing ghosting in fast-paced scenes.

Just know that '1ms' is a marketing spec (MPRT), not the panel's native grey-to-grey time. In practice, motion clarity is very good for a VA panel, though not quite at the level of a top-tier IPS. The 250-nit brightness and HDR10 support are fine for casual HDR, but this isn't a true HDR experience. For the price, the motion performance is where you're getting your money's worth.

Priced between $229 and $289, the VG32VQ1B sits in a sweet spot. You're getting 165Hz, FreeSync Premium, and a large curved screen for what often amounts to 144Hz money. When you compare its 93rd percentile performance score to monitors in the $300+ range, the value proposition gets clear. It's a lot of screen and smoothness for the cash, especially if you find it on sale at the lower end of that price spread.

Stacked up against its peers, the TUF's value stands out. The Samsung Odyssey G9 and ASUS ROG Swift QD-OLED are in a different league (and price bracket) for color and contrast. The LG UltraGear 45 offers a wilder aspect ratio and higher refresh rates, but at a much higher cost and lower pixel density. Compared to something like a Dell UltraSharp 27" 4K, you're trading resolution and color accuracy for refresh rate and immersion. The MSI MPG 32" 4K is a closer competitor on paper, but its 4K resolution demands a much more powerful GPU to hit high frame rates. For a GPU targeting 1440p gaming, this ASUS gives you the high refresh rate experience without the premium price of 4K or OLED tech.

Skip this monitor if you're a color-critical professional or a competitive esports player chasing every last bit of motion clarity. Its color performance sits in the 76th percentile, which is fine for gaming but not for photo editing. And while the 1ms MPRT is good, the very best IPS panels still have an edge in pixel response. Also, if your desk setup absolutely requires height adjustment and you don't want to buy a separate arm, look for a model that includes it out of the box.

If you want a large, immersive screen for smooth 1440p gaming and don't need perfect color accuracy or blazing HDR, this ASUS TUF monitor is a data-backed winner. Its performance and connectivity scores are excellent for the price. We'd recommend it for gamers on a budget who prioritize frame rate over pixel-peeping image quality. Just pair it with a monitor arm if you need height adjustment.