PC cases, or fully self-built PCs, are where NZXT excels the most. But monitors are not. Not really. The new NZXT Canvas 32Q Curved is here. This is a 32-inch, 1440p, 165Hz panel that immediately raises questions. When it comes to gaming monitors, is it better to have a screen specialist like LG, for example, optimized for gaming? Or can gaming monitor specialists apply their know-how to screens?

The NZXT Canvas 32Q Curved is nothing special in terms of specs. It is certainly good. But a 32" VA panel with 1440p resolution, 165Hz refresh, 1ms response time, and 300nits brightness does not set a new standard. On the contrary, it is competitive but not world-beating specs.

Speaking of specs, NZXT's own figures show that this VA panel has a static contrast of only 1,000:1. Normally, one would expect at least 2,000:1, if not 3,000:1, from a modern VA panel. Also, the 1ms response time is not MPRT, but is based on a gray-to-gray index; Samsung was previously the only company to achieve a VA monitor with 1ms GT instead of MPRT. Interesting.

Incidentally, the NZXT Canvas 32Q Curved supports HDR10 signal processing. However, the maximum brightness is 300 nits and there is no local dimming. This is not true HDR, or even close. Nor is the panel's color accuracy very high; NZXT rates the 32Q at 89% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 99% of sRGB. Both numbers are a bit off the pace compared to a decent IPS panel. In the context of gaming, however, that is not a major issue.

The Canvas 32Q, however, is a 1500R curved screen, which is quite heavily curved. Curved screens are, at best, subjective. However, I think most would agree that an ultrawide panel makes more sense than such a traditional 16:9 monitor. Certainly, the curvature does not detract much from the viewing experience. But neither does curvature clearly improve this display.

Anyway, if most of the Canvas 32Q Curved looks pretty mainstream, where does the NZXT's goodness lie? This is a great looking display. The build is beautiful, too. The main enclosure is made of high quality white plastic and the metal stand is very well designed.

The stand can swivel, tilt, and height adjust, but cannot be rotated to a vertical position. It is also strictly an optional add-on. In the U.S., the NZXT Canvas 32Q Curved is quite a bargain at $379 without the stand and $429 with it, but in the UK it is a bit more expensive at £429 without the stand and £469 with it. In any case, the option of a stand is an interesting experiment; NZXT also sells single- and double-mount VESA arms for VESA 100mm x 100mm mounting as an alternative to the stock stand.

Other NZXT-specific features include CAM software. Essentially a Windows app that replaces the clunky monitor OSD menu, NZXT's OSD is not particularly clunky. In fact, as an OSD, it is very sophisticated. However, the CAM app is much more powerful and configurable, allowing users to control various functions and settings without having to use the OSD, including creating configuration profiles for each app.

As for inputs, HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB Type-C (with DisplayPort Alt mode) are available. The latter does not support power delivery. Therefore, it is not possible to connect to a laptop with a single cable and both drive and charge the display. Nevertheless, 165 Hz is available via USB.

Now, as for the actual image quality, obviously, one has to get used to the rather fat pixels that come with a 32" panel and 1440p native resolution. It's not a crisp 4K monitor; on a Windows desktop that's much more of an issue than in-game. However, the all-around multi-use appeal is undermined.

Furthermore, the monitor is not instantly socked in: for a VA panel, contrast is not very high and viewing angles are OK rather than good. Furthermore, as might be expected from a maximum brightness of 300 nits, it simply does not pack a punch. Dare I say it, it is somewhat old-fashioned and lacks the saturation and piquancy of today's top-of-the-line panels.

As for pixel response, three levels of overdrive are available, and even at the fastest setting, overshoot and reverse ghosting are virtually non-existent and very easy to use. Not surprisingly, due to the relatively modest overdrive, the 32Q is not as sharp and racy as current top-of-the-line IPS panels. It is just a tad soft in fast motion.

Inevitably, HDR performance is not a highlight either. The panel lacks the necessary brightness and backlight modulation to do so. It is also worth noting that the gamma of SDR content is a little wonky when the panel is run in Windows HDR mode. Therefore, unless you are specifically watching or playing back HDR content, you definitely do not want to put it in HDR mode.

In general, I wouldn't worry about HDR mode. If you were to compare an HDR-heavy title like "Cyberpunk 2077" in SDR mode and HDR mode on this display, it would be difficult to determine which is which.

These things would probably seem rather negative. However, this is not a bad monitor. For the most part, it performs as expected from the specs: 300 nits, 165 Hz, 1440p (basically) SDR gaming panel. contrast will not be as high as one would expect from a VA monitor. Responsiveness is not as good as the best IPS screens. But it is by no means blurry. It is quite fast. And they look good and are very nicely made. [The NZXT Canvas 32Q Curved is not a bargain. It's not perfect, and it's not world-beating. But it is a solid choice in this part of the market.

If we were to buy a 32", 165Hz, 1440p, SDR panel, we would have to decide whether we think the styling and engineering advantages of this NZXT offset the slightly more vibrant image quality of some alternatives. In other words, there are definitely some advantages NZXT has over existing monitor manufacturers. But NZXT needs to learn a few more things before it can compete with the big brands.