The Best 32-inch Gaming Monitors of 2021

• 34-inch screen
• 3,440 x 1,440 resolution
• 100 Hz native/120 Hz OC refresh rates
• G-sync compatible
• Curved screen
• IPS panel

Like with its RGB-inflected, high-end PC towers and laptops, Alienware's monitors are highly polished pieces of hardware, and the AW3418DW is no exception. Starting at $1,500—though you can find it cheaper online—this massive monitor may not be budget friendly, but it is a huge success where immersion is concerned. Unless you're already using a huge, curved-screen monitor like this one, that's going to be the first thing you notice: the wide, partially encircling screen really draws you into certain games.

Despite being famed more for its in-game corporate espionage and spreadsheet management than its graphics, EVE Online still looked incredible on this monitor. The IPS panel used here is not the most impressive from a contrast (black level and brightness) perspective, but its color range is wider and more accurate than comparable TN paneled monitors. The huge screen's 21:9 aspect ratio (3,440 x 1,440) adds a lot to the immersion factor, though if you're interested in an "ultra-wide" monitor like this one, you may want to make sure your games support the setting (check something like WSGF's list of ultra-wide games).

It should be noted that while this Alienware monitor excels in terms of "cinematic" presentation, hardware aesthetic, and bright, vivid colors, it isn't the hyper-fast, eSports-ready choice some gamers may be looking for. The 100 Hz/120 Hz over-clocked refresh rates here are fine for less twitchy games, but hyper-competitive gamers may want to find something closer to 144 or even 240 Hz. That said, 100 Hz/120 Hz OC refresh rates are still way better than what you'll get from, say, a TV.

• 34-inch screen
• 3,440 x 1,440
• 60 Hz native/100 Hz OC refresh rate
• G-sync compatible
• Curved screen
• IPS panel

The ROG Swift PG348Q is a big 34-inch option from Asus, a company that makes a huge array of gaming monitors across many sizes and specifications. Like a couple of the other 34-inch monitors I tried, the PG348Q—with its ample 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, 60/100 Hz refresh speeds, G-sync compatibility, and curved IPS screen—is most notable for the sense of immersion it brings on via its huge curved screen.

In terms of features and value, the PG348Q lands between the Acer Predator and Alienware models. You aren't getting quite the same flashy, RGB experience as with Alienware's "AlienFX" programmable effects, but neither is it as (relatively) bare-bones as the Predator. The PG348Q is the top-of-the-line option in Asus' considerable gaming monitor lineup, and this shined through during use. The built-in LEDs and IPS panel made for a rich and eye-strain free experience while I was gaming, and with the option for G-Sync, I felt confident that the graphically impressive screen would also remain responsive and tear-free.

Like the other 30+ inch monitors in the list, the PG348Q is a great choice for sheer immersion and beautiful images, but you'll need a pretty hefty video card to operate it comfortably. Overall, though, the extra features and bits and bobs, like blue light filtering and the monitor's lovely titanium/copper finish, feel like icing on an already well-baked cake.

• 35-inch screen
• 3,440 x 1,440
• 100 Hz refresh rate
• FreeSync compatible
• Curved screen
• VA panel

One of the downright biggest monitors I've ever gone hands-on with, the Asus ROG Strix XG35VQ is almost alarmingly affordable for its size. Many 32/34-inch monitors retail for a grand a more, so getting this one (a 35-inch) at its MSRP of $799 (or sometimes less online) is definitely a value proposition if you're looking for a big, curved, TV replacement of a thing.

Transitioning from some of the faster refresh rates during my time with this one, I definitely noticed the shift from 144/240 Hz to 100 Hz at first. Like most 30+ inch monitors, the XG35VQ is better suited for cinematic, immersive gaming experiences than hyper-twitchy ones. Its resolution (3,440 x 1,440) is high enough to keep games on the huge screen looking crisp, but like with the smaller XG32VQ, it also uses a VA-style LCD panel. This more affordable panel type explains, in part, the XG35VQ's lower price. And like with other VA-equipped displays (most TVs use this panel type), viewing angles aren't stellar, and color fidelity/overall brightness won't blow you away. But the image is still reliably good for most games.

While you're also getting FreeSync here—and base-mounted LED lighting—the XG35VQ's major draw is how affordable it is for such an absolutely massive monitor. While you could get better picture quality from an IPS-equipped option, finding a 35-inch variant with the same high resolution and higher-than-average refresh rate would mean spending way, way more money—and we think plenty of gamers will be satisfied by the XG35VQ's performance.