ASRock Phantom Gaming PG32QF2B 32" Black 2023

The ASRock PG32QF2B is a 31.5-inch QHD gaming monitor with a 165Hz refresh rate and 550 nits of brightness. It delivers a big screen and smooth refresh rate, but falls short on color accuracy, ergonomics, and connectivity. Most buyers will find better options at similar prices.

The PG32QF2B runs at 165Hz, which is smooth enough for most gamers. You'll notice the difference immediately if you're coming from a 60Hz or 75Hz panel. FreeSync Premium keeps things tear-free with AMD GPUs, and the 550 nit brightness means the screen stays visible in brighter rooms. But that's where the good news mostly ends.

Our benchmark data puts this monitor's performance in the bottom quarter of all displays we've tested. The VA panel has the typical VA strengths, like good contrast and deep blacks, but it also brings the usual VA weaknesses. Motion clarity suffers compared to IPS or OLED panels, and you'll see some smearing in fast scenes. The response time isn't listed as a highlight, which usually means it's nothing to write home about. For a monitor with "Gaming" in the name, the performance numbers are underwhelming. It's playable, sure, but it's not going to impress anyone who's used a faster panel.

Stacked against the competition, the PG32QF2B has a rough time. The Samsung Odyssey G60SD is a QD-OLED panel that absolutely destroys this monitor in color accuracy and response time. The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UCDMG is smaller at 27 inches but runs 4K and offers far better overall quality. Even the Alienware AW3425DW, despite being an ultrawide, delivers a more premium experience in every measurable way.

The LG UltraGear 45GX950A-B is in a completely different league, though it costs significantly more. The MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 is probably the closest competitor in spirit, a gaming-focused display that actually delivers on its promises. The ASRock's main advantage is price, and even that isn't a huge gap once you factor in what you're losing. If you can stretch your budget even a little, any of these alternatives will serve you better in the long run.

Pricing for the ASRock PG32QF2B sits at R$2,649 in Brazil, which puts it in a tricky spot. That's not cheap enough to be a budget pick, and it's not good enough to justify spending more. For similar money, you can find monitors with better color accuracy, better ergonomics, and more connectivity options. The LG UltraGear 45GX950A-B and Samsung Odyssey G60SD both cost more but deliver dramatically better performance. If you're strictly limited to this price range, the PG32QF2B gives you a big screen and high refresh rate, but you're accepting compromises in nearly every other category. It's a case of getting what you pay for, and sometimes not even that.

The ASRock PG32QF2B is a 31.5-inch QHD gaming monitor that sits in that awkward middle ground between budget and premium. You get a 2560x1440 VA panel with a 165Hz refresh rate and 550 nits of brightness, which sounds decent on paper. But our database tells a different story. This thing lands in the bottom third for display quality, performance, and features compared to other monitors we've tested.

Is the ASRock PG32QF2B good for gaming? Sort of. The 165Hz refresh rate and FreeSync Premium support mean it'll handle fast-paced games without tearing, and the VA panel gives you deep blacks for darker scenes. But the overall performance score of 14.5 out of 100 for gaming puts it well behind what you'd expect from a monitor marketed under the Phantom Gaming banner. The color accuracy is a weak spot too, landing near the bottom of our rankings.

At around R$2,649 in Brazil, this monitor is competing against some seriously capable alternatives. The problem is that most of those alternatives do nearly everything better. If you're shopping for a large QHD gaming display and this is what fits your budget, it'll work. But you should know exactly what you're giving up before you commit.

Skip the PG32QF2B if you care about color accuracy, since it ranks near the bottom of our database. Content creators, photo editors, and anyone doing color-sensitive work should look elsewhere. If you need good ergonomics, like height adjustment or pivot, this monitor's poor ergonomic scores will frustrate you. And if you rely on multiple inputs or USB hubs, the extremely limited connectivity is a dealbreaker. For competitive gamers who need fast response times and minimal motion blur, a QD-OLED like the Samsung Odyssey G60SD or MSI MPG 271QR will serve you far better. This monitor is really only for budget-conscious buyers who want a big QHD screen and don't care about much else.

Should you buy the ASRock PG32QF2B? Probably not, unless you're getting a significant discount. The 165Hz refresh rate and large QHD screen are nice, but they're not enough to overcome the monitor's weaknesses in color, ergonomics, and connectivity. This is a display that checks a few boxes on a spec sheet without excelling at anything.

If you're a casual gamer who just wants a big screen with a high refresh rate and doesn't care about color accuracy or adjustability, this monitor will do the job. But most people shopping in this price range have better options available. The PG32QF2B feels like a monitor designed to hit a price point rather than deliver a great experience. And in a market this competitive, that's just not enough.