Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144 32-inch 4K 144 Hz Gaming Monitor Review: Premium Excellence

A 32-inch 4K IPS gaming monitor with 144 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR600 and extended color.

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Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144
Editor's Choice
(Image: © Corsair)

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In the HDR monitor category, there are three distinct tiers of image quality. Budget screens make do with no dynamic contrast and therefore have images that look much the same whether they’re SDR or HDR. At the high end where prices can top $2,000, we have full-array local dimming backlights, some with Mini LEDs, and potentially over 1,000 dimming zones. They look stunning but their prices are high.

In the middle, for $800-1,000, are monitors like the Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144. They deliver plenty of brightness and zone dimming edge backlights to get HDR contrast over 10,000:1. That’s a significant difference from the IPS typical 1,000:1. And those monitors have color gamuts just as large, if not larger, than their more expensive cousins. They are in the sweet spot of the price/performance ratio.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The 32UHD144 checks all the boxes for a premium 4K screen. Its video processing is excellent thanks to dynamic overdrive, something very few gaming monitors offer. The image is stunning thanks to that Quantum Dot film and the resulting huge color gamut. With nearly 117% coverage of DCI-P3, it qualifies as a Rec.2020 panel. Again, only a few other screens have this much color.

Corsair also heads the class in color accuracy. With preset picture modes for Adobe RGB, DCI-P3 and sRGB that are all spot-on, you can use it for the same color-critical work normally taken on by a much more expensive professional display. The 32UHD144 is a reference-level monitor.

While the price at this writing is $999 ($899 without the stand), it doesn’t cost much more than other comparable products. And its color accuracy, build quality and ability to anchor a hardware ecosystem make it stand out. The Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144 is a monitor anyone looking to go 4K should strongly consider.

Christian Eberle
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.

10 Comments Comment from the forums
  • wifiburger
    "While the price at this writing is $999 ($899 without the stand), it doesn’t cost much more than other comparable products "

    lol, what an absurd price to ask for 4k panel

    I guess I'll stay at 4k 60hz for my tvs & pc monitors forever ! there's no way I'm spending more than 300$ for a 4k panel
    Reply
  • Roland Of Gilead
    I think the lack of RGB should be a Pro, not a Con! ;)
    Reply
  • edzieba
    If your backlight is edge-lit, you're not in any meaningful way HDR.
    Reply
  • cknobman
    It would be really nice if Toms started calling these manufacturers out for calling their monitors "HDR" with edge lit dimming zones.
    If you have ever seen it in practice ITS GARBAGE.
    IPS panels have crap contrast ratios.

    So regardless of what else is available, this monitor is fake HDR and way too expensive.
    Should be no more than $500.
    Reply
  • Makaveli
    wifiburger said:
    "While the price at this writing is $999 ($899 without the stand), it doesn’t cost much more than other comparable products "

    lol, what an absurd price to ask for 4k panel

    I guess I'll stay at 4k 60hz for my tvs & pc monitors forever ! there's no way I'm spending more than 300$ for a 4k panel

    Compared to what?

    what other 4k panels offer the same features for alot less?

    keith12 said:
    I think the lack of RGB should be a Pro, not a Con! ;)

    Agreed!!
    Reply
  • PEnns
    Enough already with the lack of RGB (aka unicorn vomit) being a con!!

    For many it is a big plus!!
    Reply
  • 10tacle
    A lot of people out there like to know who makes the panel for monitor reviews (LG, Samsung, and AU Optronics being the top three). Can that be included in future reviews?
    Reply
  • truerock
    No speakers! No LED lights!
    Huge double bonus.

    I always subtract a lot of points for any monitor with speakers inside of it.
    Reply
  • pitzkale
    No RGB? No Speakers? Straight to the top of my monitor shortlist!
    This is probably the only monitor in this category that doesn't have these added features tacked in for no reason.
    If I can splurge on a monitor like this you better believe I have decent speakers and can decide for myself if I add RGB to my setup.
    Reply
  • Alvar "Miles" Udell
    I haven't seen an update, but there is now an A variant of this monitor with the only difference being a cheaper stand instead of premium aluminum for $150 less.
    Reply