Corsair Xeneon 32QHD165 32-inch QHD 165 Hz Gaming Monitor Review: Color For Days

Big screen, huge color gamut.

Corsair Xeneon 32QHD165
(Image: © Corsair)

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Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The 32QHD165 just cracks the 400-nit mark in SDR mode. It’s plenty bright enough at half that amount. Large screens like this don’t need to be cranked up for a good picture. The Corsair’s huge color gamut takes care of that.

Black levels are higher than average among the IPS panels in the group, and that results in a slightly below-average contrast ratio of 902.1:1. Some of this is mitigated by the very saturated color, but there is some upward potential for image depth here.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration improves contrast a little and though the numerical difference is small, we could see its impact. We recommend making the adjustments to grayscale tracking; they’re obviously worth it. At just under 1000:1, the 32QHD165 looks pretty good.

The Corsair’s ANSI result keeps it in fourth place with a respectable 921.8:1 score. This is about average for IPS panels, though a few of the latest monitors can do better. But again, that huge color gamut mitigates the contrast issue somewhat. We were quite satisfied with its picture and expect most buyers will be too.

Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.

  • closs.sebastien
    32" and less than 4k...
    ok, for old people who are half-blind..
    = 5mm-pixel
    Reply
  • thepersonwithaface45
    Wow, was really excited at first but then I remembered QHD isn't 4k
    Reply
  • Jake Hall
    closs.sebastien said:
    32" and less than 4k...
    ok, for old people who are half-blind..
    = 5mm-pixel
    Yeah, I didn't think about pixel density when I got my monitor, but it's not really that bad. You have to be unreasonably close to the screen.
    Reply