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In the PC monitor market, the Z-Edge brand isn’t as popular as, let’s say HP, Asus, or Dell, but it’s gained a stellar reputation for providing quality, gaming monitors at an extremely reachable price like the UG27P; and the Z-Edge UG32P continues that tradition.
For under $250, you’re getting a solid 32-inch display that also provides a curved 1080p screen resolution and 240Hz refresh rate. Also, potential buyers can expect a 1ms response time alongside a 16:9 aspect ratio for enhanced in-game performance.
Beyond that, its price point also provides some nifty display features ranging from 280cd/m² peak brightness to, 3000:1 contrast ratio to AMD FreeSync Premium. There are even some HDR capabilities, though users will have to do some serious settings maneuvering to get the color accuracy just right, as the monitor’s default settings are pretty basic.
At its price point, however, certain sacrifices are made. These include the lack of internal speakers and USB connectivity. Again, at this price, those issues can be excused as you’re getting a sleek borderless design and enough HDMI and DisplayPort connections. That doesn’t mean that the gaming monitor is a no-frills package; it’s far from it.
The Z-Edge UG32P has some noteworthy extras that’ll impress casual gamers outside of performance. Extras like the 1500R curvature and 3-sided ultrathin frame make it look more premium than it costs. HDR image quality is quite basic, but it can look somewhat decent if you adjust some color settings. Alongside PC gamers, multi-console gamers have a few extra HDI ports for good measure outside the twin Displayport connections. Thankfully, SDR image quality is quite impressive for this price.
Gamers on a sub-$250 budget in need of a 32-inch 1080p display with a high refresh rate and some gaming extras should look no further. The Z-Edge curved gaming monitor does enough to compete with some of the best budget gaming monitors including the Sceptre C345B-QUT168 which sells for around the same price but offers a higher 3440 x 1440 resolution and up to 400 cd/m2. Just be mindful of the UG32P’s caveats, as you manage expectations.
Z-Edge UG32P Specs
- 32″ 1080P FHD Curved Monitor.
- 240Hz high refresh rate.
- 1ms Response Time.
- HDR10 compatible.
- Ultra-Slim Frame.
- 178° Wide Angel Viewing.
- HDMI 2.0 + HDMI 1.4 +DisplayPort 1.2.
- Support FreeSync.
- With RGB Breathing Light.
- Eye-Care Technology.
Design & Features
Setting up the Z-Edge UG32P is very easy. Considering that it weighs around 17.6 pounds, handling is even simpler. All you have to do is connect the stand to the neck, and it also supports VESA (75mm x 75mm) in case you need to connect the monitor to a stand. The simplicity in assembling this monitor relates to the generally basic plastic design; don’t expect any fancy ergonomics but it gets some dynamic breathable lighting around the back where the stand attaches to the display.
This monitor is designed solely for functionality, and that extends to the inputs located on the back panel. All ports are located on the back panel facing down, where you find two HDMI ports, two DisplayPort connections, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. This is sufficient for PC gamers who own multiple consoles as well. Considering the price, it’s justifiable for extras like external speakers and USB hubs to be absent. Keep in mind, that this is a plug-and-play machine through and through.
Though it would’ve been nice to have G-Sync compatibility, the Z-Edge UG32P does offer FreeSync Premium which is readily compatible with the best graphics cards from Nvidia anyway. Since this curved gaming monitor is geared towards enthusiasts and more esports gamers, it’s interesting to see a respectable variable refresh rate solution offered at this price. The monitor is also HDR compatible, but making adjustments through the OSD menu controls can be a little cumbersome, especially in the middle of a fast-paced gaming session. Having OSD software in Windows that can streamline whatever personal adjustments or changes you need is a better way to go.
Image Quality and Gaming Performance
From a gaming-first approach, the Z-Edge UG32P leans more towards technical performance and less on overall image quality. PC gaming rigs that feature some of the latest graphics cards from both Nvidia and AMD and are capable of reaching high frame rates in games like Doom Eternal, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, Fortnite, and the like will run smoothly on this curved monitor.
With FreeSync turned on, you don’t expect any lag or tearing issues, and if you have a budget rig at 1080p, you should find the Z-Edge curved monitor a nice buttery smooth smart. Its resolution maxes at only 1080p, still fine, but we’ve seen competitors at this price offer up to 1440p resolution and 240Hz refresh rate.
The Z-Edge UG32P fundamentally raises the bar on what PC gamers should expect from a budget gaming monitor.
General SDR image quality is more than fine for this type of budget gaming monitor. Contrast is standard at 3000:1 and the monitor makes the most of its 280cd/m² brightness. The colors are bold and crisp and black remains fairly deep. Screen images pop nicely when playing more visually demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077, but one thing you need to avoid is Black Equalizer as it does more harm than good when it comes to image quality.
That said, having a curved VA monitor does create a few issues with direct lighting sources like lamps and direct sunlight since it causes glaring issues that are not necessarily an issue when playing in a dark or dimly lit space. Also, HDR performance is middling but that can be remedied through GPU color settings.
Overall, the Z-Edge UG32P is a fine-budget gaming monitor that delivers a refresh rate of up to 240Hz alongside FreeSync Premium support. These features combine for strong motion clarity. Boosting the maximum refresh rate to 240Hz reduces input latency and bolsters motion fluidity in games that render at high frame rates. Competing monitors like the LG 34GP63A-B offer up to 1440p resolutions, better HDR handling, and better ergonomics, but they cost slightly more for the enhanced feature set.
Z-Edge UG32P Review: Verdict
The Z-Edge UG32P turns the 32-inch budget gaming monitor market on its head. It raises a tough question; how can a monitor this inexpensive perform this well at 1080p; why would an esports gamer buy anything else for under $250?
There are reasons, of course, why the Z-Edge UG32P has a few flaws, including out-of-the-box color accuracy and lack of USB ports, which of course are out of contention for most shoppers at this price point. Some might prefer the Samsung Odyssey G65B for its color quality, gaming hub, and superior game handling; but you’ll be spending twice as much.
But if all you want is an affordable monitor for gaming, entertainment, and entry-level content creation in both SDR and HDR, the Z-Edge UG32P is simply unbeatable. It delivers good image quality and its refresh rate exceeds monitors sold for two times its price.
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