Recently updated on December 16th, 2024 at 01:53 am
The Corsair XENEON 32QHD165 monitor offers a basic, modern design, a stand with a highly unique style, and excellent construction. One of the finest cable management systems we have ever seen is in place there. It features a surprisingly straightforward design, with a sleek finish on the back and no RGB lighting or other gamer aesthetic, except from the stand.
The stand is quite original in its design, however it takes up a lot of room. You can’t easily put other items in front of the monitor because of the two-tiered stand blocking the front of the monitor. It is quite sturdy and provides good monitor support.
The Corsair XENEON 32QHD165 monitor is a really well constructed. The aluminium stand has a high-end look. It is quite strong and supports the monitor with little to no movement. Sadly, the display itself, which seems to be totally plastic, lacks the stand’s premium construction. It flexes a little bit, and the bottom bezel is a little bit uneven. Even while the display is actually quite good, it feels notably less high-end than the stand, which is unexpected if you planned to VESA install it.
With the help of the iCUE software, you can adjust every aspect of your monitor, and with the support of the iCUE Nexus or Stream Deck integration, you can even switch between inputs at the press of a button.
Use the 5-way physical joystick that is located behind the screen if you’d prefer.
A wide brightness spectrum is provided by an HDR400 display for more realistic and spectacular in-game graphics.
Unfortunately, the Corsair XENEON 32QHD165 has weak contrast, as would be anticipated for an IPS monitor, making dark rooms’ blacks appear gray. Additionally, there is no local dimming feature to boost contrast. These results are a little higher than usual for an IPS panel and surpass Corsair’s claimed average contrast ratio of 1000:1, even though contrast can vary between individual displays.
The sRGB and Adobe RGB color spaces are absolutely perfectly covered by the Corsair XENEON 32QHD165’s amazing SDR color gamut. It’s somewhat oversaturated in Adobe RGB, which may displease some people.
The HDR color volume on the Corsair 32QHD165 monitor is pleasant. Its color spectrum is somewhat incomplete, and just like SDR, it is unable to display dark rich hues. Video: YouTube/Corsair
For media creators, the Corsair XENEON 32QHD165 is a fantastic monitor. It is simpler to view more of your work at once on the huge screen. As long as you select the sRGB mode, it provides great accuracy right out of the box and an exceptional SDR color gamut with full coverage of both the sRGB and the Adobe RGB color spaces. Unfortunately, the sRGB option prevents you from making the majority of image modifications, and all other picture modes have poor saturation.
The 32QHD165 supports HDR10 signals, certified with DisplayHDR 400, powered by an edge-array LED backlight. However, it lacks dynamic contrast for HDR, placing it in the category of HDR-compatible monitors without additional dynamic range.
Where the Corsair XENEON 32QHD165 truly shines is in its color reproduction. Offering exceptional accuracy, it boasts the widest gamut ever measured. Corsair’s pursuit of the Rec.2020 specification is evident, achieving over 84% of its volume. Undoubtedly, it stands as the most vibrant monitor we’ve evaluated thus far.
In terms of on-screen display (OSD) features, simplicity and efficiency define the 32QHD165. Navigation is straightforward, whether using the joystick, iCUE app, or NEXUS/Stream Deck controllers. The Picture sub-menu provides comprehensive image control, featuring six presets tailored for various tasks. Calibration options include three gamma settings, three color temperatures, and precise RGB sliders. Remarkably accurate color representation is achieved in the default Standard mode, with an additional sRGB mode available for SDR content.
The second screen within the Picture menu offers an eye saver function, akin to the prevalent low blue light feature, mitigating eye fatigue by adjusting color temperature and brightness. Additionally, three overdrive options are provided, with the Fast mode effectively reducing motion blur. For those preferring backlight strobing over Adaptive-Sync, enabling the MPRT option eliminates motion blur at the cost of a 40% brightness reduction.
Within the System Setting sub-menu, the Adaptive-Sync toggle is located, which must be disabled before activating MPRT. The LED toggle solely controls the power indicator light, as the Corsair 32QHD165 lacks additional lighting features. Finally, the Factory Reset option allows for a complete restoration to factory defaults.
Corsair XENEON 32QHD165 Monitor: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- High Refresh Rate (165Hz):
- Smooth performance for gaming and fast-paced tasks.
- Reduces motion blur and screen tearing, enhancing the gaming experience.
- QHD Resolution (2560×1440):
- Provides sharp, detailed images while being less demanding on GPU than 4K.
- Ideal balance between performance and visual clarity for gaming and productivity.
- 32-Inch Screen Size:
- Offers an immersive experience, especially beneficial for gaming and multimedia.
- Great screen real estate for multitasking and professional applications.
- Vivid Colors with 100% sRGB and 98% DCI-P3:
- Accurate and vibrant color reproduction.
- Suitable for creative work like photo editing and video production.
- AMD FreeSync Premium Certification:
- Synchronizes the refresh rate with compatible GPUs to prevent tearing and stuttering.
- Also compatible with NVIDIA G-Sync (unofficially).
- Fast Response Time (1ms):
- Reduces ghosting and motion blur, crucial for competitive gaming.
- Enhances responsiveness in fast-action scenes.
- Solid Build Quality and Aesthetics:
- Sleek, modern design with a sturdy stand.
- RGB lighting options to complement gaming setups.
Cons:
- Price:
- Relatively expensive compared to some competitors with similar specifications.
- Might not be cost-effective for casual users or those on a budget.
- No Full Array Local Dimming (FALD):
- Lacks advanced dimming zones, which impacts HDR performance.
- Blacks may not be as deep compared to high-end monitors with better HDR support.
- Limited HDR Capabilities:
- HDR 400 certification is basic; lacks the brightness and contrast levels of higher HDR standards (like HDR 600/1000).
- Not ideal for those seeking a true HDR experience.
- No Built-in Speakers:
- Requires external speakers or headphones for audio output.
- Could be inconvenient for users seeking an all-in-one solution.
- Viewing Angles (Typical for VA Panels):
- While the panel performs well, some color and contrast shifts may occur at extreme angles.
- Not as consistent as IPS panels in this aspect.
- Size vs. Resolution Consideration:
- On a 32-inch screen, QHD might show slightly visible pixels for users sitting close.
- Not as sharp as 4K at this size, which may affect productivity tasks requiring fine detail.
XENEON 32QHD165 from Corsair is a top-notch gaming monitor. For a responsive gaming experience, it has a quick refresh rate, excellent response time at both the maximum refresh rate and 60Hz, and outstanding input lag. It includes a Console mode that enables it to receive 4k @ 60Hz feeds despite lacking HDMI 2.1 ports. And lastly, it supports FreeSync variable refresh rates, which eliminates tearing during gaming.
For office use, the Corsair XENEON 32QHD165 is a great monitor. It is ideal for screen sharing because of the stand’s ability to swivel and its wide horizontal viewing angle. While the wide screen facilitates multitasking, it only provides acceptable text clarity. Visibility is not a problem because of its excellent peak brightness and decent control of reflections. Additionally, it boasts fantastic gray uniformity and an amazing SDR color gamut, which is perfect if your work necessitates correct color. photo: Corsair
The 32-inch, 1440p Corsair XENEON 32QHD165 monitor has an IPS panel. Overall, Corsair’s first monitor is quite outstanding. It is primarily marketed as a gaming monitor, and it offers a great gaming experience with reduced input lag, excellent response time, and FreeSync technology for almost tear-free gaming. With one of the greatest SDR color gamuts we’ve ever tested, it has striking colors and fully covers the sRGB and Adobe RGB color spaces. Even so, unless you utilize the built-in sRGB mode, the majority of content is oversaturated due to this large color range. It has poor contrast, which is typical for an IPS monitor, but wide viewing angles, therefore it doesn’t display well in low light.
If you’re looking for a well-rounded monitor with top-tier gaming performance, excellent color reproduction, and a sleek design, the Corsair XENEON 32QHD165 is a solid choice!
