MSI G32CQ4 E2 31.5 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor Review: Big Screen Immersion Meets a Budget-Friendly Price

For years, my gaming setup was functional but uninspired. I was using a standard 24-inch, 60Hz flat panel monitor that, while reliable for work, felt like a bottleneck for my gaming passion. In fast-paced shooters, I felt a step behind the competition, plagued by motion blur that made tracking enemies a chore. In sprawling open-world RPGs, the grand vistas felt compressed, lacking the cinematic punch the developers intended. The problem was clear: my window into these digital worlds was too small and too slow. Not upgrading meant continuously missing out on the full experience, sacrificing not just competitive advantage but the sheer, breathtaking immersion that modern gaming promises. It’s a compromise many gamers make, unaware of how much a purpose-built display can fundamentally transform their playtime from a simple hobby into a truly captivating escape.

What to Consider Before Buying a Gaming Monitor

A gaming monitor is more than just a screen; it’s a key solution for unlocking the true potential of your gaming hardware. It translates the raw power of your PC or console into a fluid, responsive, and visually stunning experience. The main benefits are threefold: speed, clarity, and immersion. High refresh rates reduce motion blur for a competitive edge, higher resolutions bring game worlds to life with crisp detail, and features like curvature and adaptive sync create a seamless, tear-free experience that pulls you right into the action. It bridges the final, crucial gap between you and the game.

The ideal customer for a product like the MSI G32CQ4 E2 31.5 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor is someone looking to make a significant leap from a basic television or an older, smaller office monitor. This gamer values immersion and wants a large, curved screen to fill their field of view, combined with the “sweet spot” resolution of 1440p for great detail without requiring an ultra-high-end graphics card. However, it might not be suitable for professional esports athletes who demand the absolute lowest possible input lag from specialized TN panels, or for graphic design professionals who require the flawless colour accuracy of a high-end IPS display. For those on a very tight budget or with limited desk space, a smaller 24 or 27-inch 1080p monitor could be a more practical alternative.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Panel Type & Curvature: The MSI G32CQ4 E2 31.5 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor uses a VA (Vertical Alignment) panel, known for its excellent contrast and deep blacks, which is fantastic for dark, atmospheric games. The 1500R curvature is quite aggressive, designed to wrap the image around your peripheral vision for enhanced immersion. Consider if this level of curve suits your preference and if a VA panel’s potential for ghosting in fast-moving scenes is an acceptable trade-off for its superior contrast compared to an IPS panel.
• Resolution & Refresh Rate: This monitor hits a fantastic middle ground with a WQHD (2560 x 1440) resolution and a 170Hz refresh rate. 1440p offers a significant step up in sharpness from 1080p without the massive performance cost of 4K. The 170Hz refresh rate ensures incredibly smooth motion, a critical factor for competitive shooters, racing games, and any fast-paced title. Ensure your graphics card is capable of pushing high frame rates at this resolution to take full advantage.
• Size & Desk Space: A 31.5-inch monitor is substantial. Before you buy, measure your desk to ensure you have enough space not only for the screen itself but also for its wide stand, which some users have noted is quite large. You’ll also want to sit at an appropriate distance to avoid head-turning and enjoy the immersive curve without eye strain.
• Connectivity & Build Quality: Check that the monitor’s ports match your hardware. This MSI model offers DisplayPort 1.2a (required for the full 170Hz at 1440p) and two HDMI 2.0b ports (which cap out at 144Hz at 1440p). While the frameless design is modern, some user feedback points to concerns about build quality and quality control, so it’s wise to be aware of potential inconsistencies in this budget-focused category.

Keeping these factors in mind, the MSI G32CQ4 E2 31.5 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor stands out in several areas. You can explore its detailed specifications and current offers here.

While the MSI G32CQ4 E2 31.5 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor is an excellent choice for many, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing the Beast

Pulling the MSI G32CQ4 E2 31.5 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor from its substantial box, the first thing that struck us was its sheer scale. Moving from a 24-inch display to this 31.5-inch curved panel feels like upgrading from a television to a personal cinema. The assembly was straightforward; the stand clicks securely into the back of the monitor, and a few thumbscrews secure the base. One design choice we immediately noticed, which a user also highlighted, is the external power brick. While this can be slightly clunky for cable management, it’s a smart move by MSI to keep heat away from the panel’s internal components and reduce the monitor’s overall weight, making it easier to handle and mount.

The “frameless” design is sleek, with very thin bezels on three sides that enhance the immersive effect, especially in a multi-monitor setup. The stand itself is V-shaped and has a wide footprint, providing a stable base for the large screen, but you’ll definitely need to check your desk for clearance. Firing it up for the first time, the vibrant colours and the immediate sense of depth from the 1500R curve were impressive. Navigating the on-screen display (OSD) with the 5-way joystick on the back was intuitive and far superior to the frustrating multi-button setups on many other monitors. Our initial impression is of a monitor that delivers a premium, immersive experience at a surprisingly accessible price point.

Deep Dive: Performance and Real-World Gaming Experience

Specs on a page are one thing, but how a monitor performs in the heat of battle is what truly matters. We put the MSI G32CQ4 E2 31.5 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor through its paces across a variety of genres, from frenetic first-person shooters to visually rich RPGs, to see if its performance lives up to its promise.

Immersive Gameplay: The 1500R Curve and WQHD Resolution Experience

The single greatest strength of this monitor is its ability to pull you into the game. The 31.5-inch panel size is enveloping, and the 1500R curve genuinely enhances the sense of depth. In games like Cyberpunk 2077, driving through the neon-drenched streets of Night City felt incredibly cinematic. The curve wrapped the cityscape around our peripheral vision, making the world feel more tangible and alive. This isn’t just a gimmick; it reduces the eye and head movement needed to take in the whole scene, which we found led to less fatigue during long gaming sessions.

The WQHD (2560 x 1440) resolution is the perfect match for a screen this size. At 31.5 inches, a standard 1080p resolution would look noticeably pixelated and blurry. Here, the image is sharp and detailed, allowing us to appreciate fine textures on character models and distant environmental details. This was perfectly demonstrated when playing PUBG, echoing one user’s experience. On our old 4K screen, the higher pixel density sometimes made it harder to distinguish player models from background noise at a distance. On the MSI G32CQ4 E2 31.5 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor, the combination of the large screen size and crisp 1440p resolution made spotting enemies significantly easier. We could clearly see an opponent prone in a distant bush, a detail that might have been missed on a smaller, less clear display. This is a tangible competitive advantage born directly from the monitor’s core specifications.

Built for Speed: Deconstructing the 170Hz Refresh Rate and 1ms Response Time

For any gamer serious about competitive titles, a high refresh rate is non-negotiable. The jump from 60Hz to the 170Hz offered here is transformative. In fast-paced shooters like Apex Legends or Valorant, the on-screen action is buttery smooth. Tracking fast-moving targets becomes an exercise in precision rather than a blurry mess. When flicking the mouse to acquire a target, the world remains clear and coherent, providing a direct, one-to-one feel between our input and the on-screen result. The inclusion of Adaptive Sync is also crucial, eliminating ugly screen tearing when the frame rate fluctuates, ensuring the image remains pristine even when the action gets intense.

However, we must address the “1ms response time” and the nature of VA panels. This 1ms figure almost certainly refers to MPRT (Moving Picture Response Time), a measurement achieved through backlight strobing, rather than the true GtG (Grey-to-Grey) pixel response time. In our testing, we found the monitor’s pixel response to be very good for a VA panel, but not flawless. As one user correctly pointed out, the monitor can suffer from “ghosting,” particularly in dark scenes. When a bright object moves across a dark background, you can sometimes see a faint trail behind it. This was most noticeable when playing darker games on a console, like the PlayStation 5. For most casual and single-player gaming, this is barely perceptible. However, for highly competitive players who are sensitive to any motion artefact, this is a trade-off to be aware of—it’s the price paid for the panel’s incredible contrast.

Colour, Contrast, and Visuals: A Look at the VA Panel’s Strengths

Where the MSI G32CQ4 E2 31.5 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor truly shines is in its visual depth. The 3000:1 native contrast ratio, a hallmark of VA panel technology, is roughly three times higher than what you’d find on a typical IPS monitor. The difference is immediately apparent. Blacks are truly black, not a hazy dark grey. This made playing atmospheric horror games like Alan Wake 2 an incredibly tense and immersive experience. The deep shadows held detail without looking washed out, and the game’s signature flashlight-beam mechanic had a brilliant, piercing quality against the oppressive darkness.

The colour reproduction is also impressive for a monitor in this price bracket. With support for 1.07 billion colours and a claimed 117% sRGB coverage, games look vibrant and punchy. While it won’t compete with a professional-grade IPS for colour accuracy in photo editing, for its intended purpose—gaming—the colours are more than satisfying. We also appreciated the inclusion of MSI’s “Night Vision” feature in the OSD. This intelligently brightens dark areas of the screen without overexposing the lighter parts, making it easier to spot enemies lurking in shadows without ruining the overall image contrast. It’s a useful tool that gives a slight competitive edge in games with poor visibility. If you crave a rich, high-contrast image that makes games pop, this monitor’s VA panel delivers an outstanding visual experience.

What Other Users Are Saying

Diving into feedback from fellow users, we found a spectrum of experiences that largely mirrors our own findings. On the positive side, many echo our sentiment about the transformative upgrade from a smaller screen or a TV. One user noted, “1 week into use and already love it everything is very crisp,” specifically mentioning how it helped them spot enemies in PUBG that they would have otherwise missed, which perfectly aligns with our testing. Another simply stated that for anyone moving from a TV, “this is a big step of an upgrade really good.”

However, the feedback also highlights a critical concern: quality control. Several users reported significant issues shortly after purchase or even on arrival. One review mentioned a “line of dead pixels” appearing after six months, while others received units that were either broken on arrival or failed within minutes. Another user provided a particularly critical take, pointing out “very bad light bleed, super bad ghosting and very poor build quality,” branding it a “low end gaming monitor.” This feedback is vital as it paints a picture of a product that offers incredible performance for the price, but potentially at the cost of inconsistent manufacturing and longevity. It’s a gamble that many will find worthwhile, but one that every potential buyer should be aware of.

How Does the MSI G32CQ4 E2 31.5 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor Compare to the Alternatives?

The MSI G32CQ4 E2 31.5 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor occupies a compelling spot in the market, but it’s not without competition. Here’s how it stacks up against three popular alternatives.

1. AOC Gaming 24G15N 24 Inch 180 Hz Monitor

The AOC Gaming 24G15N is aimed squarely at the competitive esports player on a strict budget. Its primary focus is speed over all else. While it has a slightly higher 180Hz refresh rate, it’s a smaller 24-inch flat panel with a lower Full HD (1920×1080) resolution. This monitor is the better choice for gamers who exclusively play fast-paced shooters like CS:GO or Valorant, where maximizing frame rates is the top priority and graphical fidelity is secondary. However, for anyone seeking an immersive, cinematic experience for single-player or open-world games, the MSI’s larger size, higher resolution, and immersive curve make it a far superior option.

2. KOORUI 27 Inch 180Hz QHD Curved Gaming Monitor

The KOORUI 27-inch model is arguably the most direct competitor to the MSI G32CQ4 E2. It offers a very similar feature set: a QHD (1440p) resolution, a curved VA panel, and a high 180Hz refresh rate. The key difference is the screen size. The KOORUI is a more manageable 27 inches, which may be preferable for users with limited desk space or who find 31.5 inches to be overwhelmingly large. If you want the same blend of speed and resolution but in a more compact package, the KOORUI is an excellent alternative. The choice between it and the MSI comes down almost entirely to your preference for screen size and the level of immersion you’re looking for.

3. KOORUI 24 Inch 165Hz Gaming Monitor

Similar to the AOC, this 24-inch KOORUI model prioritizes budget and speed for the 1080p gaming crowd. With a 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, it delivers a smooth, responsive experience for competitive gaming. It’s a fantastic entry-level choice for anyone building their first gaming PC or upgrading from a basic 60Hz office monitor. However, it simply can’t compete with the MSI G32CQ4 E2 31.5 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor on any other metric. The MSI offers a dramatically larger, more immersive, and significantly sharper picture, making it a much more substantial and impactful upgrade for those with the budget and desk space to accommodate it.

Our Final Verdict: Is the MSI G32CQ4 E2 Worth Your Money?

After extensive testing and consideration, our verdict on the MSI G32CQ4 E2 31.5 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor is a strong, albeit conditional, recommendation. This monitor delivers an absolutely phenomenal level of immersion for its price. The combination of a massive 31.5-inch panel, a crisp 1440p resolution, and a smooth 170Hz refresh rate creates a gaming experience that feels genuinely premium and transformative, especially for those upgrading from smaller, older displays. The excellent contrast from the VA panel brings dark, atmospheric games to life in a way that most budget IPS monitors simply cannot.

The conditions, however, are important. Buyers must be aware of the inherent trade-offs of a VA panel, namely the potential for some minor ghosting in specific scenarios. More importantly, the user feedback suggests a non-trivial risk of receiving a unit with quality control issues. If you’re willing to accept that risk for the sake of incredible performance-per-pound, then this monitor is one of the best value propositions on the market for large-screen immersive gaming. It’s built for the gamer who prioritizes a cinematic, all-encompassing experience over absolute competitive perfection.

If you’ve decided the MSI G32CQ4 E2 31.5 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor is the right fit for your setup, you can check its current price and availability here.