ASUS ROG Swift PG32UQX 32-inch 4K Mini-LED Monitor: specs and who it suits

The ASUS ROG Swift PG32UQX is a 32-inch 4K gaming monitor with a Mini-LED backlight, a 144Hz refresh rate and NVIDIA G-SYNC Ultimate. Its main selling point is HDR: ASUS lists 1152 local dimming zones, a peak brightness of 1400 nits and DisplayHDR 1400 certification. It is aimed at gamers and creators who want high-end HDR on a desktop screen.

Mini-LED and local dimming

Most LCD monitors light the whole screen with one backlight. A full-array local dimming (FALD) backlight splits the lighting into zones that can be dimmed or brightened separately. The PG32UQX has 1152 independent LED zones. In general, more zones let a bright highlight sit next to a dark area with less glow around the highlight, which is the effect HDR content is designed to use. Because each zone is still much larger than a pixel, some blooming around small bright objects can remain, which is a characteristic of this type of backlight.

HDR, brightness and colour

ASUS says the peak brightness is 1400 nits, certified under DisplayHDR 1400, the upper tier of VESA's HDR certification. A nit is a unit of brightness, and the higher the peak, the more impact bright highlights such as sunlight or explosions can have in HDR content. The panel is a quantum-dot IPS with 98% DCI-P3 coverage. DCI-P3 is a wider colour range than standard sRGB, used in cinema and much modern HDR video, and quantum dots are used to produce those colours with smoother gradation.

Resolution and refresh rate

4K (3840 x 2160) on 32 inches gives sharp text and detail. The 144Hz refresh rate is delivered over DisplayPort 1.4 using DSC (Display Stream Compression), which squeezes the signal to fit the cable's bandwidth. G-SYNC Ultimate is NVIDIA's top G-SYNC tier, and ASUS says it combines variable refresh rate with the NVIDIA G-SYNC processor and HDR. To drive 4K at 144Hz in games, you need a powerful graphics card.

Connections and extras

The listing gives DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, three HDMI (v2.0) ports, two USB 3.1 ports and USB 2.0 ports. The front deco bar has a LiveDash OLED display, which can show a custom icon or system information such as CPU temperature and GPU details. The box includes an HDMI cable, a DisplayPort cable, a USB-A to B cable, a power cord and adapter, a quick start guide, a warranty card, a colour calibration report, replaceable LED light covers, a tripod thread screw, wall mount screws and ROG extras. The monitor works on 100-240V.

Size and weight

The monitor measures about 28.6 x 19.8 x 12.0 inches including its stand and weighs 24 lb (about 10.9 kg), so it needs a solid, deep desk.

Who it suits

It suits PC gamers with a high-end NVIDIA graphics card who value HDR picture quality, and creators who work with wide-gamut or HDR content. It's a premium option rather than a general office screen.

What to check before you buy

• Graphics card: check that it supports DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC and can drive 4K at the frame rates you want.
• HDR software: HDR needs operating-system and game support; check settings in the manual.
• Console use: the HDMI ports are version 2.0, so check what that means for the frame rate and resolution you want from a console.
• Desk space: the stand is large and the monitor is heavy.
• Brightness and blooming: local dimming works in zones, so check it suits the content you watch.

The short version

• A 32-inch 4K (3840 x 2160) Mini-LED IPS gaming monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate.
• G-SYNC Ultimate, 1152 local dimming zones, 1400 nits peak and DisplayHDR 1400.
• Quantum dots with 98% DCI-P3 colour coverage.
• DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, three HDMI 2.0 ports and USB ports.
• LiveDash OLED display on the front; about 24 lb.

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