ASUS ZenScreen MS32UC 32" Class Review

It's a TV wearing a monitor's clothes, and the fit is bad. Buy it only if you find it cheap and need a big, pretty screen for very casual use.

The ASUS ZenScreen MS32UC is a monitor that makes you ask 'what's the point?' It's a 32-inch 4K screen with a beautiful IPS panel, but it's also a 'smart' monitor with built-in Android TV. That sounds neat until you realize you're paying for a mediocre smart TV experience bolted onto a decent but unremarkable computer monitor. The one thing to know is this: you're buying a TV that's pretending to be a monitor, and it's not great at either job. Our data shows it's a standout for display quality, but it falls behind in almost every other category that matters for a monitor.

The display itself is the only real surprise here, and it's a good one. That 97th percentile ranking for display quality is legit. The 4K resolution on a 32-inch IPS panel is sharp, colors are vibrant thanks to the 10-bit color, and 400 nits of brightness is solid for most rooms. But that's where the good news ends. The 'performance' score is in the disappointing 21st percentile, which tracks when you realize this thing isn't built for speed or responsiveness. It's fine for streaming video or looking at documents, but don't expect it to keep up with any fast-paced content.

Worth it? Only on a deep sale, and only if your needs are very specific. The price swings from $449 to $599. At the low end of that range, it's a passable deal for a big 4K screen with a bonus smart OS. At $599, it's a hard pass. You can get a much better dedicated monitor for that money. Shop around, but be ready to walk away.

This monitor exists in a weird middle ground. Compared to a pure productivity monitor like the Dell UltraSharp, the ASUS loses on color accuracy, ergonomics, and professional features. Compared to a gaming beast like the MSI MPG 322URX QD-OLED or the ASUS ROG Swift, it's laughably outclassed in refresh rate and response time. Even next to Samsung's Odyssey Neo G9, which is a different beast entirely, the ZenScreen feels like a compromised afterthought. Its closest competitor is probably a basic 32-inch 4K TV, and against those, it might win on pixel density but lose on price and smart features.

If you're a gamer, this isn't it. Go get the MSI MPG 322URX QD-OLED instead. If you're a photo or video editor, skip this too. The color accuracy isn't reliable enough. Go get a Dell UltraSharp. This monitor is for someone with very casual, mixed needs who values screen size over everything else.

We can't recommend the ZenScreen MS32UC for most people. If you desperately need one device to be both a decent computer monitor and a passable smart TV for a guest room or secondary space, and you find it for $450, you could do worse. But for anyone else—gamers, creative pros, or even serious multitaskers—there are better, more focused tools for the job. This is a solution in search of a problem.