5 Best 32-Inch Monitors of 2019

1. Best Pick: LG 32UD99-W

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Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5

One of the best IPS monitors on the market, the LG 32UD99-W is an excellent all-around display, featuring a 4K resolution, HDR support, and USB-C connectivity. While easily the most expensive product on this list, selling for around $700-800, this monitor is the most well-rounded, offering great picture quality and good gaming performance.

Design

On the surface, this LG monitor is very similar to the LG 27UK650-W, featuring a minimalist design with thin bezels and a white back panel. It will look good on any desk, whether your setup is for work or gaming, and is not as ostentatious as some gaming monitors. There is an easily accessible 100 x 100 mm VESA mounting interface on the back panel for wall mounting and an intuitive joystick at the bottom of the monitor for navigating the on-screen display (OSD).

And as a welcome bonus, the 32UD99-W has surprisingly decent-sounding speakers, which blast out from the bottom. While they are not as good as external speakers or headphones, the internal speakers are decent enough for music and movies.

Connectivity

The 32UD99-W offers a good selection of connection ports, featuring one DisplayPort, two HDMI ports, one USB-C port, one audio out, and two USB 3.0 down ports – all of which are outward-facing at the back, right next to the VESA mounting interface.

The dual HDMI inputs can support a 4K resolution at the max refresh rate (60 Hz), which is especially beneficial if you want to use the monitor for gaming on Xbox One X and/or PS4 Pro. The USB-C port, on the other hand, is useful if you want to connect the monitor to a compatible laptop, as the port is an all-in-one interface that supports video input, data transfer, and power delivery over a single cable.

Stand

Compared to most other LG monitors, the 32UD99-W is not that different regarding the stand design. It has a sturdy stand with a crescent-shaped base and basic cable management. The stand connects to the central area of the monitor and is easy to remove, courtesy of the quick-release button. You can adjust the height of the stand and tilt and pivot the screen, but you can’t do a swivel adjustment, which might disappoint some of you.

Performance

Featuring good color accuracy out of the box, this LG monitor is fantastic for productivity, with the large screen and 4K resolution allowing for easy multitasking. The overall picture quality is great, with good brightness in standard mode, wide viewing angles, decent contrast for an IPS, and outstanding color accuracy once calibrated. You can use this monitor for photo/video editing, computer-aided design (CAD) software, coding, creating spreadsheets, and content writing, among other things.

The 32UD99-W also supports HDR content. But like the LG 27UK650-W, it’s not fully equipped to display HDR content properly, so don’t expect too much on that front. Although it supports a wide color gamut, it can’t get bright enough in HDR mode and has no form of local dimming.

For regular gaming, the 32UD99-W is a great monitor, featuring a fast response time – which is especially notable for a non-TN monitor – and a low input lag even when running in 4K resolution and whether or not FreeSync is enabled. With FreeSync enabled, the monitor dynamically adapts to the graphics card output, allowing for smoother gameplay with minimal screen tearing.

Whether you game on PC or consoles, the 32UD99-W will make for an excellent display, especially if you love to play games with pretty visuals – such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Far Cry 5, and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. On the other hand, if you mostly play fast-paced competitive games, this monitor is not the most ideal since the 60 Hz refresh rate is a limiting factor.

Verdict

If you want the best 32-inch monitor for all-around usage, the 32UD99-W is the best option on the market, especially if you want a display that can easily interface with desktop computers, laptops, and gaming consoles. Sure, the price tag is not the most budget-friendly, but this product is definitely worth the money.

2. Best Budget: Dell D3218HN

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Editor’s Rating: 3.8/5

Selling for less than $200, the Dell D3218HN is the best option if you want an affordable large-screen monitor. It’s got an IPS panel with a 1080p resolution and a 60 Hz refresh rate, the latter of which is more than enough for non-gaming use. While not as impressive as other Dell professional monitors – especially those under the UltraSharp series – the D3218HN is good enough for general use and basic office work.

Design

The D3218HN has a plain design that will fit well in a typical office setting. Instead of the usual silver finish seen in other Dell professional monitors, the back panel is all white, and the bezels are thicker than that of UltraSharp monitors such as the U2717D and the U2718Q. There are no built-in speakers on this monitor, but unlike with some budget monitors, there is a VESA mounting interface at the back for wall mounting.

For menu control, the monitor has a set of clickable buttons at the bottom, on the underside. They are easy to use and produce good tactile feedback when pressed, but they are not as intuitive as the control scheme of our top pick. While not exactly brimming with features, the on-screen display is also well implemented, featuring an organized layout.

Connectivity

Regarding connectivity, the D3218HN is very limited, which is a common trend among most budget monitors. It has one HDMI port and one VGA port for video input – and that’s it. There is no audio out and USB hub, the former of which is an uncommon omission even for a budget monitor. The input ports are side-facing at the back and are easy to access even when the monitor is placed close to the wall.

Stand

One of the biggest assets of Dell professional monitors is their stand design, which easily separates them from the competition. Sadly, the same thing can’t be said for this particular model, as the stand design is completely different from the usual. The stand, which connects to the bottom section of the monitor, has poor ergonomics, only offering a tilt adjustment. If you want a more flexible setup, you’ll need to mount the monitor to a third-party monitor arm or wall mount with better ergonomics.

Performance

While not as versatile as the LG 32UD99-W, this Dell monitor is good enough for general use and basic office work. The overall picture quality is decent for a low-end IPS display, with great color accuracy once calibrated, good brightness, and wide viewing angles. The contrast is also surprisingly decent and is better than that of most IPS monitors, which is a notable plus.

Since it has a 1080p resolution – which translates to a low pixel density – this monitor is not ideal for photo editing and other art-related work where being able to see images in more detail is important. If you want a monitor that’s more suitable for that kind of work, you’ll need to increase your budget.

The D3218HN is decent for regular gaming, featuring a good response time and a surprisingly low input lag on par with some gaming monitors. It’s a good monitor for PS4 and Xbox One gaming, where a 1080p resolution and 60 Hz refresh rate are more than good enough. We recommend sitting more than four feet from the screen when gaming, though, as the low pixel density is more noticeable when viewing the screen up close.

Verdict

Overall, the D3218HN is a recommended budget option that offers good value for the money. You can use it for basic office work, general use, and casual gaming. It’s got a significantly shorter list of features compared to our other top picks here, but considering the price point, it’s unfair to ask for more than what it offers. If you simply want a basic monitor with a large screen, this product is for you.

3. Best Value: Samsung C32HG70

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Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5

A VA monitor with a QHD resolution, the Samsung C32HG70 is an all-around monitor that offers excellent value for the money. Compared to our top pick here, it’s more inclined toward entertainment than productivity. You can get it for around $500-600, with Samsung also offering a 27-inch variant, which is one of the best 27-inch monitors.

Design

The C32HG70 is unique among the monitors in this guide, featuring a curved screen and a cool lighting system on the back panel. The screen curvature is 1800R, translating to a more aggressive or sharper curve, which is suitable for gaming. The screen also has an anti-glare coating, which is beneficial when using the monitor in a bright room.

While the monitor can be mounted to a wall mount or monitor arm, a special VESA mount adapter is required for such a setup. The good news is that the required adapter is already included in the package, which can’t be said for some monitors – like the Asus MX27AQ and the AOC monitor on this list.

For menu control, there is a small joystick on the back panel, located on the bottom-left corner, as seen from the back. While some of you might find it awkward to use at first, the joystick is intuitive and allows for faster menu navigation.

Connectivity

The C32HG70 has good connectivity. For input, it has two HDMI ports and one DisplayPort, with the former being the more important interface if you want to use the monitor for console gaming. It has a USB hub as well, along with an audio out and a mic in. All ports – including the two USB 3.0 down ports – are down-facing at the rear. One of the USB ports also supports fast charging, which is a nice bonus.

Stand

Other than the curved screen, what makes this Samsung monitor easily stand out (no pun intended) is the stand design. The stand, which has a large footprint, looks more like a monitor arm than a regular monitor stand, with a different height adjustment system. There is cable management in the middle section, which allows for tidier cabling.

Regarding ergonomics, the monitor stand is good, offering full adjustment options – including tilt and swivel – which is yet another aspect that separates it from the other products here. However, the adjustment ranges are not exactly generous, especially regarding the swivel range.

Performance

Featuring a 144 Hz refresh rate, the C32HG70 is an excellent monitor for gaming. It’s got a fast response time and a low input lag and supports variable refresh rates for minimal screen tearing, which is especially beneficial in graphically intensive games. Since it has a VA panel, this monitor boasts a high native contrast ratio, which translates to more vibrant images.

If you mostly play single-player games with pretty graphics, you’ll love this monitor – but don’t expect the curved screen to add the same immersion offered by curved ultrawide monitors. You can use this monitor for PC and Xbox One gaming. It supports FreeSync over HDMI, which is good news for those who game on Xbox One.

The overall picture quality is good, with outstanding color accuracy and good brightness. Like our top pick, the C32HG70 supports HDR content. But unlike the LG 32UD99-W, this monitor is a certified VESA DisplayHDR 600 monitor, which is a mid-range classification in the VESA HDR standard.

Although Samsung clearly markets it for gaming use, this monitor is also suitable for productivity and watching movies, with the high contrast ratio also proving to be a big plus for the latter. It has narrow viewing angles, though, which is a big no-no for some people.

Verdict

In all, the C32HG70 is an excellent monitor for all-around use. It has good picture quality and great gaming performance. If you want an all-around monitor that’s more affordable and more inclined toward entertainment than our top pick, get this Samsung product instead.

4. AOC Q3279VWFD8

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Editor’s Rating: 3.9/5

The AOC Q3279VWFD8 is an excellent option if you want a QHD monitor that is considerably more affordable than the Samsung C32HG70 and comes with an IPS panel instead of VA. It sells for just around $250, which makes it the second-most affordable product on this list, right behind our budget pick.

Design

Compared to the Samsung monitor, this AOC monitor has a much simpler design, featuring a thinner chassis and a regular flat screen. While the bezels are thicker compared to that of Dell UltraSharp models, they look good and are not distracting. The screen has an anti-glare coating, which reduces glare when using the monitor in a bright setting, such as a typical office environment. For OSD control, there is a set of clickable buttons at the bottom of the monitor.

Unlike all the other monitors in this guide, the Q3279VWFD8 has no VESA mounting interface at the back. If you want to mount it to a third-party monitor stand or wall mount, you’ll need to buy the VESA mount adapter sold by HumanCentric on Amazon. If you simply want a height adjustment option, you can go for one of those platform-style monitor stands instead.

Connectivity

The Q3279VWFD8 has decent connectivity, featuring a mix of digital and analog input ports, which is great if you want to use it for both modern and older computers. For input, it has one DisplayPort, one HDMI port, one DVI port, and one VGA port – all of them are outward-facing at the back, along with the analog audio out.

Stand

Like the entire chassis, the monitor stand is plain and not as attention-grabbing as the one found on the Samsung C32HG70. The stand has a simple rectangular base and attaches securely on the bottom section of the back panel, where the connection ports are also located.

The monitor stand has poor ergonomics, though, only offering a tilt adjustment. On the bright side, the tilt range is better than that of our budget pick. Considering its limited adjustability, the Q3279VWFD8 is one of those monitors that’s better off mounted to a third-party stand/arm or wall mount.

Performance

The Q3279VWFD8 is great for productivity, featuring a higher resolution than the Dell D3218HN, which translates to sharper texts and more detailed images. You can use it for different kinds of work, including photo editing, content writing, and creating presentations. The overall picture quality is good, with great color accuracy, wide viewing angles, and decent peak brightness.

Additionally, the contrast ratio is decent for an IPS monitor, which can’t be said even for some products selling for a much higher price. While not comparable to VA monitors, the contrast ratio is better than that of most IPS monitors in the same price range.

The Q3279VWFD8 is built for productivity and general use, but it’s also a decent display for regular gaming. It has a good response time and a low input lag, both of which are beneficial in gaming no matter what kinds of games you play. The monitor also features FreeSync technology, with an effective range of 48-75 Hz over both DisplayPort and HDMI. If you mostly play single-player games and care about picture quality than response times, the Q3279VWFD8 will make for a solid gaming display.

Verdict

While not as rich in features as the Samsung C32HG70 and the LG 32UD99-W, the more affordable Q3279VWFD8 is a great monitor for all-around use. It offers good picture quality and decent gaming performance and features multiple input options – and the best part is that it sells for just around $250.

5. LG 32UD59-B

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Editor’s Rating: 4.1/5

The LG 32UD59-B is a 4K monitor with a VA panel. It’s a recommended alternative to our top pick if you want a relatively affordable 4K display and/or prefer the high contrast ratio of VA panels. It sells for less than $400, with the price often dropping to around $350 during a sale, putting it in the same price range as some of the best cheap 4K monitors.

Design

Like the LG 32UD99-W, this monitor has a minimalist design that will look good in any setup, with fairly narrow bezels all around and a plain back panel. But instead of white, the back panel has a black color scheme, easily separating it from our top pick. Unlike the AOC monitor above, this unit comes with a VESA mounting interface for wall mounting; the VESA pattern is 100 x 100 mm, which is the most common pattern implemented in monitors.

For OSD control, the 32UD59-B has a joystick at the bottom, just like other LG monitors. While the small joystick is more intuitive than the usual clickable buttons seen in other monitors, some of you might find it awkward to use at first. The OSD itself is well designed, featuring an organized structure with a good selection of options.

The monitor also features built-in speakers, but they are not as good as external speakers and headphones, especially for gaming use. If you are going to use the monitor for entertainment, we strongly recommend getting a separate sound system for a better audio experience.

Connectivity

The 32UD59-B has limited connectivity. It’s got two HDMI ports and one DisplayPort for video input, all of which can support a 4K resolution at the max refresh rate (60 Hz). There are no USB ports on this unit, which might disappoint some of you, but there is an audio out port for headphones. All ports are outward-facing on the back panel and are easy to access even when the monitor is in a wall-mounted setup.

Stand

The stand design is similar to that of most other LG monitors, featuring a crescent base and cable management. It supports the monitor well and has no serious wobbling issues, which can’t be said for some large monitors out there. However, the stand has subpar ergonomics, only offering height and tilt adjustments. If you want a more flexible setup, you’ll need to mount the monitor to a third-party monitor stand/arm.

Performance

Compared to the Samsung C32HG70, the 32UD59-B is more suitable for productivity and general use than gaming. The 4K resolution is great for working with multiple windows open at the same time, with LG offering a split-screen software with a good selection of multi-window setups. The monitor has good overall picture quality, featuring excellent color accuracy and superb contrast.

The 32UD59-B is also a good display for regular gaming – especially if you love to play survival horror games and open-world games with pretty graphics since the high contrast ratio leads to more vibrant images. The response time and input lag are good while the FreeSync support is beneficial when playing graphically intensive games.

Since it supports a 4K resolution at 60 Hz when connected using an HDMI cable, the 32UD59-B is also a suitable display for gaming on PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. It’s great for games such as God of War, Sea of Thieves, Persona 5, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Red Dead Redemption 2. If you are in the market for a VA monitor that works great for both productivity and console gaming, this LG monitor is for you.

Verdict

Overall, the 32UD59-B is one of the best 32-inch monitors on the market, offering good value for the money. While it has a shorter list of features compared to the LG 32UD99-W, it can get the job done and is a similarly well-rounded unit that works well for office work, gaming, and general use. If you want a VA monitor that’s more affordable and more suitable for productivity than the Samsung monitor above, get this product instead.