Subscribe to the magazine here. The iiyama G-Master GB3266QSU monitor (£366) combines a large 32-inch screen with a 2,560 x 1,440 resolution and a high-contrast VA panel. The end result should be ideal for up-close gaming and desktop use, as well as sitting back and enjoying fantastic-looking video and games. When it comes to styling, though, the all-black plastic construction tips towards mundane and utilitarian rather than minimalist sleekness. That said, the curve of its impressively slim panel does give it a certain elegance. That curve also helps ensure you get an optimal viewing angle, even for the edges of the screen, which is a legitimate concern for a panel this size. Meanwhile, the 32in screen and 2,560 x 1,440 resolution make for a modest pixel density of 91ppi. As such, up close it’s not the sharpest display, and text can look a little rough, but it’s great for gaming and watching video. Out-of-the-box image quality is good too, with no obvious color imbalance or a sense of a washed-out or overly dark image. In most regards, the display impressed in our tests, hitting a perfect gamma score of 2.2 and decent delta E color accuracy. Its contrast of 3,505:1 is decent for a VA panel and comfortably outclasses IPS and TN panels, while its maximum brightness of 427 nits impresses. However, the default color temperature was just 5,971K, which is a fair way away from the ideal of 6500K. Also, the display hits 206 nits even at minimum brightness, which is a touch too bright in very dark environments. Manually adjusting the color balance only helped us to improve the colour temperature to 6,159K, and a full software calibration was required to pull it back into line. However, once calibrated there was only a slight difference in color to the naked eye, so we feel comfortable saying that the GB3266QSU’s out-of-the-box state is good enough for most people’s needs. The uniformity of the panel is middling, with an average brightness variance of 5.83 percent and a spot in the bottom right corner dropping by 20 percent. That’s not a major problem for casual use but not ideal for image editing. VERDICT With its big, bold, high-contrast image and solid 144Hz gaming performance, the iiyama GB3266QSU is a great option for those seeking a large screen but don’t want to stretch to a 4K resolution. It also has a solid selection of features for a decent price. Its responsiveness will hold back esports fanatics, but it’s otherwise a good all-rounder. PROS+ Large screen for modest price+ High contrast and good default image quality+ Solid gaming performanceCONS– Chunky pixel density– Sluggish response time SPECS Screen size 32in Panel technologyVA Max refresh rate144Hz Response time 1ms Max brightness400cd/m² Backlight zones 1 Adaptive sync FreeSync and G-Sync Display inputs2 x DisplayPort, 2 x HDMI Audio2 x 5W speakers, headphone out Stand adjustmentHeight, pivot, rotation, tilt Extras100 x 100mm VESA mount, 4-port USB hub (2 x USB 3 up to 900mA, 2 x USB 2 up to 500mA)
