Review: CORSAIR’s First-Ever Monitor Hits the Sweet Spot for Gaming and Livestreaming

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CORSAIR is popularly known for its lineup of premium gaming peripherals and PC components, but this is its first-ever attempt at entering the very competitive gaming display arena. And let me tell you, CORSAIR is making quite the first impression with its XENEON 32QHD165 Gaming Monitor.

Instead of jamming every high-numbered spec into the monitor just for marketing bullet points, CORSAIR has taken a much more thoughtful approach to its debut display, which I really appreciate. A manageable QHD resolution and a quantum dot IPS panel with incredible color range were prioritized over 4K or a ridiculously high refresh rate.

And while some may argue that CORSAIR is a bit late to the game, especially with these specs, my feeling is that this is actually the perfect formula for cost-effectively squeezing out the most enjoyment in games, movies, and even livestreaming.

Let’s take a look at how CORSAIR’s new XENEON 32-inch gaming monitor hits the sweet spot in terms of versatility and value.

CORSAIR XENEON 32QHD165 Gaming Monitor Specs & Features

• 32-inch screen size
• Native resolution: 2560×1440
• Max resolution: 3840×2160
• Refresh rate: 165Hz
• Response time: 1ms MPRT, <3ms GTG
• Color gamut: 98% DCI-P3, 100% AdobeRGB, 100% sRGB
• Peak brightness: 400 nit (SDR) / 440 nit (HDR)
• Static contrast ratio: 1000:1
• HDR certification: VESA DisplayHDR 400
• Adaptive sync: AMD FreeSync Premium, NVIDIA G-Sync compatible
• Display inputs: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x Type-C DP Alt-Mode
• Warranty: 3 years / zero dead pixels

Pricing:

$599.99 at CORSAIR Store

$599.99 at Amazon

$599.99 at Best Buy

You Have to See it to Believe It

On paper, everything about the XENEON monitor indicates that it’s more than enough to satisfy your gaming and video watching needs.

But what the specs alone can’t tell you is how incredible everything looks on the screen. Immediately apparent is the vibrancy and color range afforded by the IPS panel’s quantum dot technology and 98% DCI-P3 rating. Still and moving images feel life-like, as if they’re about to jump out of the screen, and I’m seeing shades of colors that I’ve never noticed before on websites that I regularly visit.

Comparing side-by-side with my 27-inch then-top-of-the-line gaming monitor, the XENEON is revealing that I’ve been missing out on a lot of nuanced details, especially when ray-tracing is available. And this effect isn’t limited to PC gaming either — the PlayStation 5 is able to take full advantage of the QHD resolution and HDR mode. Add to this the real estate of the 32-inch screen size, and you’ve got the formula for an immersive gaming experience that reaches just far enough into your peripheral vision without being exhausting; e.g. having to move your head to see everything.

I hope my photos are doing the monitor a bit of justice, but you really do need to see it for yourself to get the full experience. The colors on my personal monitor feel so muted in comparison.

But these newfound levels of vibrancy and saturation may not be for everyone, though. It did take me some time to adjust to how punch-y websites looked, and I did spend an amount of time customizing the color profile as it defaults to a warmer tone. Alternatively, you can simply set the mode to sRGB and not worry about any of this, but you’d be missing out on the broader color gamut.

In general, I actually prefer the QHD resolution over 4K because it means I don’t need to have the most expensive graphics card in order to run games at native resolution. The pixel density on the XENEON is just right for a 32-inch screen, granted you’re not sitting too close to it, and I don’t notice any jaggies. (I wouldn’t go any larger than 32 inches without moving to 4K.)

There are also a lot of quality-of-life features that help the XENEON be even more versatile, like automatic input and mode switching, a USB 3.0 hub, and clever cable management. Plus, everything feels really premium thanks to a robust aluminum stand and base.

Speaking of the stand, it features a built-in multi mount that’s compatible with Elgato Multi Mount arms. This is a sleek way for livestreamers to attach a camera, mic or lighting, and save on desk space. Of course, the XENEON monitor is fully compatible with iCUE software and the iCUE Nexus or Elgato Stream Deck to allow for one-touch presets or profile changes.

Should You Buy CORSAIR’s XENEON 32QHD165 Gaming Monitor?

If you’re the type of gamer who goes into the graphics settings to prioritize fidelity over frame rate, then I think the XENEON monitor is a worthwhile investment to level-up your overall gaming and movie watching experience.

CORSAIR has thoughtfully included the most balanced features for the most popular use cases, and over-delivered on the color capabilities. And the brand is standing behind its product with a 3 year warranty and Zero Dead Pixel guarantee.

Considering the typical PC and console gaming enthusiast, I can’t think of anything that this monitor is lacking, except for the fact that CORSAIR didn’t include any RGB elements. But maybe they’re saving that for the next go-around.

Deal Alert: For a limited time, the CORSAIR XENEON Gaming Monitor is on sale at an all-time low price of $599.99, and is available at Amazon, Best Buy, and directly from CORSAIR.

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