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Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level
The GM32-FQ’s ADS panel certainly gives it healthy light output, but it isn’t quite as bright as the Corsair 32QHD165, which uses a conventional IPS part. The backlight is a factor here, so it shouldn’t be assumed that ADS panels will automatically be brighter. But 387 nits is plenty of power for any indoor environment.
With a respectable black level of 0.3258 nits, the GM32-FQ has a slight contrast advantage over most IPS monitors, though a few like the Monoprice have more dynamic range. More notably, though, it has better contrast than the GM27-FQS, which could be the deciding factor in a purchase decision.
After Calibration to 200 nits
Since I didn’t calibrate the GM32-FQ, its final contrast result is nearly the same. I only dropped the brightness slider to 200 nits to create a level playing field. Its advantage over the GM27-FQS is now a little smaller, but I still consider that a win. The Monoprice is an over-achiever among IPS monitors and should be considered exceptional. And VA technology will deliver even more contrast.
With a few noted issues in the uniformity test, the GM32-FQ’s intra-image contrast measures a bit lower. It still retains its position relative to the other screens and another example could score higher in this test. But this is decent performance for an IPS display.
