The Gigabyte M32U is a 32-inch 4K gaming monitor with 144Hz refresh rate. Its availability is determined by an inexpensive and fast IPS panel with a wide color gamut. The M32U monitor is packed with features including FreeSync, an ergonomic stand and extensive connectivity options.
Large 4K monitors with high refresh rates remain largely an unrecognized niche so far as global companies LG and ASUS stick to the proven 27-inch format. But Gigabyte is quickly capitalizing on the unclaimed position with its new gaming monitors. In our review of the Gigabyte M32U 4K HDR, we’ll take a look at the full range of its unique features.
Gigabyte M32U review
Design
Gigabyte monitors are not distinguished by their innovative design, and the M32U does not change that tradition. Slim design delivers an immersive viewing experience. The monitor itself has a matte black finish and the stand matches perfectly, giving the device the sleek look we love to see in gaming monitors.
The M32U monitor is VESA mountable if you want to mount it on a wall or other stand. The front bezels are thin, about 0.9 cm. The stand has a niche for cable routing. The M32U has good ergonomics with swivel, tilt and height adjustments. There is no turn to portrait mode. The case is completely plastic, but its quality does not disappoint.
Image quality
The Gigabyte M32U monitor is based on the Innolux IPS panel, which brings the standard benefits of this panel technology, including a wide 178 ° viewing angle and accurate color reproduction. Unlike VA panels, the image remains perfect no matter the angle you look at the screen, and the colors are accurate and consistent across the entire surface.
The M32U display has a wide color gamut covering 90% of the DCI-P3 color space, equivalent to approximately 125% sRGB. This produces richer and richer colors. When viewing sRGB content, this can result in a slight oversaturation, but nothing overwhelming, just a little more brightness.
If you need more accurate sRGB output, you can use the provided dimmable sRGB emulation mode, which limits the color gamut to ~ 100% sRGB.
In addition, the Gigabyte M32U has a contrast ratio of 1000: 1, which is the standard for IPS monitors. At the same time, its brightness peaks at 350 nits for SDR and 400 nits for HDR content.
The screen is bright enough under normal lighting conditions. But HDR viewing quality leaves a lot to be desired as the monitor lacks full-matrix local dimming to improve contrast ratio. That is, even if the M32U supports HDR, you shouldn’t buy it solely to work with HDR content. It has local dimming, but only 16 zones.
The main selling point of the M32U is its fast 144Hz IPS panel paired with a 32-inch 4K form factor at an attractive price point. UltraHD images on the M32U’s visible screen look incredibly sharp with a high pixel density of 140 PPI (pixels per inch). Details and text are crisp and without the need for scaling.
Performance
Accelerated response time is available in the Gigabyte M32U monitor. But the best performance is obtained with the option disabled. At the same time, blurring and ghosting, direct or reverse, are not noticeable. Regardless of the settings, you get a smooth and dynamic gameplay. FreeSync Premium Pro supports it seamlessly at up to 144 fps. VRR also works seamlessly with compatible GeForce cards.
The output latency is kept at 4ms, so you won’t notice any lag between your actions and the result on the screen. Just make sure you have the latest firmware installed for optimal performance. The M32U also supports Aiming Gimbal Sync, which allows backlight strobe to be used in conjunction with VRR.
The backlight does not flicker (unless the aim stabilizer / sync is on), there is also a built-in blue light reduction filter. The Gigabyte M32U has a new Eyesafe certification that reduces harmful blue light emission even without a dedicated filter. The expected drawback of IPS technology is the visible glow in the corners of the screen, but it can be dealt with. Its intensity varies from specimen.
Functions
The M32U OSD is well organized and easy to use thanks to the joystick on the back of the monitor. You can also make changes in the OSD Sidekick app. There are many in-game features including Black Equalizer (improves visibility in dark scenes), various picture presets (three custom modes), customizable crosshair overlays, on-screen timers, and a refresh rate tracker.
Other useful features include Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture. The dashboard allows you to monitor the performance of the PC system on the screen, such as cpu / gpu temperature, load, etc. There are advanced image adjustment tools (gamma, color brightness, sharpness, 6-axis hue / saturation).
There is also a built-in KVM switch that allows you to connect two devices to the screen and use one set of keyboard / mouse to control both.
Connections
Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, two HDMI 2.1 ports, a USB-C port (with DP 1.4 Alt mode and up to 18W power delivery), two built-in 3W speakers, a headphone jack, and a USB 3.0 hub (1 upstream + 3 downstream port).
Note that HDMI 2.1 ports are limited to 24 Gbps and use DSC (Video Stream Compression) for 4K 144 Hz 10-bit 4: 4: 4 color. This is not a problem for Xbox consoles or modern graphics cards, however the PS5 is limited to 10-bit 4K 120Hz color with 4: 2: 0 instead of 4: 2: 2 as it lacks DSC. But you probably won’t notice this in games.
Conclusion
The price makes it one of the most affordable 32-inch 4K 144Hz IPS monitors. The Aorus FI32U model costs $ 200 more, but all it offers is an active noise canceling microphone jack with RGB lighting and a premium design.
Therefore, we can recommend using the Gigabyte M32U as it offers a much better value for money. Its IPS panel offers vibrant colors, wide viewing angles and fast response times, while FreeSync up to 144Hz ensures smooth operation. There are also many additional features available.
