A 32-inch monitor has many benefits, offering more screen space to multitask or for an immersive gaming experience compared to a smaller display. There are a ton of great 32-inch monitors to choose from, but while they're growing in popularity, they still aren't as common as 27-inch displays. Luckily, they usually have a 4k or 1440p resolution, and premium models tend to have HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of modern graphics cards or gaming consoles. Even mid-range and budget options are versatile for different uses, like gaming and work.
When looking for a new monitor, it's important to consider your budget and what you need the display for, like if you want something simple or prefer the latest premium options. If you want a gaming display, having a fast response time and low input lag help result in a responsive gaming experience. However, other factors like high brightness and wide viewing angles are beneficial for office work. There's no perfect solution for everyone, but understanding the available options is a good place to start.
We've bought and tested over 320 monitors, and below, you'll find our top picks for the best monitors available in a 32-inch size. If you're interested in other sizes, see our recommendations for the best 24-25 inch monitors, the best 27-inch monitors, and the best 34-49 inch monitors.
Note: We recently published Test Bench 2.0 and are updating our reviews to reflect this. As such, it may seem that two similar monitors have wildly different scores, but scores aren't comparable between different test benches.
The best 32-inch monitor we've tested is the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85. It's an excellent high-end monitor with many gaming features. Its 4k resolution lets you see a ton of details and is great even for productivity as it has sharp text clarity. It has a 240Hz refresh rate that's ideal for gaming at high refresh rates, and its very fast response time makes motion look crisp, which is ideal for games with fast-moving objects. However, if you don't need such a high refresh rate, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75 is a lower-end model with a 165Hz refresh rate and has many of the same features that you can find for less.
Whether you get the Neo G8 or the Neo G7, both deliver the same great HDR experience. They each have a good native contrast ratio, and the Mini LED local dimming feature on each helps further improve the contrast and picture quality in dark scenes. This means that blacks look deep in dark rooms, and they have decent HDR brightness to make the highlights stand out. So, both monitors are great 32-inch options, but the Neo G8 delivers the most versatility due to its higher refresh rate.
Although the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 is great for gaming, if you want the absolute best 32-inch gaming monitor, check out the Dell Alienware AW3225QF. It's different from the Samsung because it has a QD-OLED panel, resulting in incredibly sharp motion with fast-moving objects, which is ideal for playing fast-paced games. It also has a near-infinite contrast for perfect black levels in dark rooms, and it displays more vivid colors than the Samsung monitor, so it offers even better picture quality. Besides that, it has a 240Hz refresh rate and 4k resolution like the Samsung, giving you detailed images and a smooth feel while gaming.
However, only consider this monitor if you need something mainly for gaming and not so much for other tasks like productivity. OLEDs like the Dell risk permanent burn-in with constant exposure to the same static elements over time, like if you have a taskbar on the screen all day while working. This is why the Samsung monitor is the more versatile option; however, go for the Dell if you want the best gaming performance.
If you don't want a monitor only for gaming and you're concerned about the risk of burn-in with the Dell Alienware AW3225QF, or if the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 is too much out of your price range, the Gigabyte M32U is a good mid-range alternative. Although it has a 4k resolution like the Samsung, leading to sharp and detailed images, there are a few trade-offs for getting it. It doesn't have Mini LED backlighting, and its local dimming is much worse, making blacks look gray in dark rooms, and highlights don't pop in HDR, either.
Besides that, it has different features than the Samsung, making it even more versatile for work purposes. For example, its KVM switch makes it easy to use the same keyboard and mouse with two different computers connected to the monitor. It also has a USB-C port that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, but with only 15W of power delivery, it isn't enough to charge your laptop while using it. If you want something that delivers more power over USB-C and also has a bigger USB hub, the Dell U3223QE is another great choice, but it doesn't have as many features as the Gigabyte.
If you're on a more limited budget, you can save even more money by getting something with a 1440p resolution, which is useful if you don't want a 4k monitor like the Gigabyte M32U. The LG 32GP850-B is another good option, which you can also find as the 32GP83B-B at different retailers, and both variants perform the same. As it has a lower pixel density than the Gigabyte, images look less sharp and detailed, and it doesn't have as many productivity features as the Gigabyte, as it lacks a KVM switch and USB-C port, but that's the trade-off for getting something cheaper. Still, it's fine if you need something for working during the day and gaming at night, as it gets bright enough to fight glare in a well-lit room, and it has wide viewing angles.
In terms of gaming, it has a slightly higher 180Hz refresh rate than the Gigabyte, but you can only achieve that with a DisplayPort connection as it's limited to HDMI 2.0 bandwidth. That said, it still offers good motion handling like the Gigabyte, so fast-moving objects are crisp, and it has a handful of gaming features like crosshairs and a black stabilizer.
If you're looking for a 32-inch monitor on a budget, there are a few good options, but you'll have to sacrifice performance. A monitor like the LG 32GN650-B is decent overall, and you can also find it as the 32GN63T-B at different retailers, as both variants perform the same. Sadly, though, it's a step down from the LG 32GP850-B/32GP83B-B as it doesn't get as bright and has worse motion handling with more smearing. However, it still has a 165Hz refresh rate, and it's good enough if you want an entry-level gaming monitor.
One difference is that the 32GN650-B has a different panel type, resulting in a higher native contrast for deeper blacks, which is great for dark room gaming. However, it also has worse viewing angles, so the edges of the screen look washed out if you sit close or share your screen with a friend.
Jul 03, 2024: Removed the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75 from Notable Mentions as it's now mentioned in the text of the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85. Added the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM to the Notable Mentions.
May 17, 2024: Added the Dell Alienware AW3225QF as the 'Best 32-Inch Gaming Monitor' to reflect the current market and what people are searching for. Replaced the Dell U3223QE with the Dell S3221QS in the Notable Mentions to reflect changes in the text of the recommendation.
Mar 25, 2024: Moved the LG 32GR93U-B to Notable Mentions because it's similar in price to the Gigabyte M32U and has fewer features. Replaced the Samsung Odyssey G7/G70B S32BG70 with the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75 in Notable Mentions because the Neo G7 is better overall. Removed the Dell Alienware AW3225QF from Notable Mentions, as it's mentioned as an alternative in the text of the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85.
Jan 30, 2024: Added the Dell Alienware AW3225QF to the Notable Mentions.
Nov 09, 2023: Replaced the LG 32GQ950-B with the LG 32GR93U-B because it's cheaper, and for consistency with other articles.
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best monitors currently available with a 32-inch screen. They are adapted to be valid for most people in each price range. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all of our 32-inch monitor reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.