Lenovo Legion Y32p-30 Gaming Monitor Review: Feature-rich for a price

Monitors for work and gaming are going through a renaissance as customers become a bit more sophisticated in their requirements following a work-from-home scramble for panels at the height of the pandemic, and Lenovo is offer one of the best bangs for bucks with the Lenovo Legion Y32p-30.

Odd naming convention aside, the Lenovo Legion Y32p-30 is a gaming monitor that packs a punch with its impressive features and performance for around $599. Yes, $600 USD is still expensive for a gaming monitor, however, customers walk away with a panel that offers support for KVM switching, 1.07 billion colors, PiP/PBP, 4K resolution, 144Hz refresh rates, a headphone arm, and more.

However, for a dedicated gaming monitor boasting similar features and specs, some monitors come in at $800 or more, so Lenovo’s Legion Y32p-30 remains competitively priced against options such as the Gigabyte M32U, albeit still expensive if gaming isn’t the majority reasoning for purchasing.

Design and Ergonomics

Primarily, the Legion Y32 is an understated looking monitor that can pass for a gaming and work-space monitor. Unlike some more dedicated gaming monitors that embezzle themselves in LEDs, angular designs, and garish branding, the Legion Y32 gets praise for its minimalist elegance. The monitor’s design is understated yet sophisticated. The slim bezels create an immersive viewing experience, allowing you to focus on the screen content without distractions.

Yet, there are still shimmers of gaming-focused design that echo in its appearance with a subtle RGB-strip LED light box that help indicate power and rest modes for the monitor, as well as a honeycomb pattern around the boxed incasing for the components centered on the back of the display.

As for the build, the monitor feels solid and well-built with a hefty 22lbs weight to the display and 30lbs when the base is attached. The base provides stability, and the stand allows for height adjustment, swivel, and tilt, all at the cost of space. The Y-designed stand takes up a generous portion of desk space if chosen as the presentation mode over connecting the panel via Vesa mount.

The matte black finish of the Legion Y32p-30 exudes a professional vibe that I prefer over the glossy or shiny plastic looking solid black choices other OEMs use for their monitors.

The Y32p-30 is thin, and its “near edgeless” bezels create an immersive viewing experience.

I chose not to utilize the VESA mount support for this monitor, largely due to its weight but I was able to enjoy the flexibility of the base stand with its ability to swivel, tilt, and leverage height adjustments. The 30-degree swivel, 5-degree downward tilt, and 22-degree upward tilt cater to your comfort.

Lastly, I must mention the attached headphone arm that can be accessed from a pivot point on the side of the panel. The integrated headphone arm attachment is a thoughtful addition, and it keeps your headphones within arm’s reach, minimizing clutter on your desk or the necessity for your own hack-built solutions in the future.

For the gaming focused customer, the attachment ensures that your headphones are easily accessible without taking up additional space and it’s especially useful during intense gaming sessions or work calls.

Display

The Legion Y32p-30 boasts a sharp 4K resolution that delivers stunning visuals. Whether you’re gaming, streaming, or working, the high pixel density ensures crisp images and text. But that’s not all—the monitor also supports a refresh rate of 144Hz, providing smooth motion and reducing motion blur during fast-paced gaming sessions. The combination of 4K and 144Hz is a treat for both gamers and content creators.

Lenovo’s Legion Y32 offers a large 32-inch IPS LCD screen with ample real estate for gaming, productivity, and multimedia tasks as well as support for 144Hz max refresh rate and several adaptive sync technologies. The 4K resolution ensures sharp visuals, making it ideal for content creators and gamers alike.

However, while the box and specs say support for HDR 400, the monitor doesn’t really pack the hardware to do that feature justice.

I believe most gamers will appreciate the buttery-smooth motion thanks to the high refresh rate. Whether playing fast-paced shooters or exploring open-world games, the Legion Y32p-30 kept up in my limited gaming capacity.

As for the nitty gritty of display features, Lenovo’s response time includes up to five overdrive modes for gamers to tweak to their desired gaming experience.

The Legion Y32 can utilize backlight strobing but not when actively engaged in ActiveSync, not settings for the length of strobing or timing, and can only be initiated when refresh rate hits around 90Hz and above.

In addition to above average specs and features for response times in the Legion Y32, there is also the 95 percent DCI-P30 color gamut.

Lenovo claims that the monitor comes factory-calibrated with Delta E<2 color accuracy. This makes it suitable for creative tasks like photo editing, graphic design, and video production.

Connectivity

One of the standout features for the Legion Y32 is its built-in KVM switch which allows seamless switching between two different computers using the same monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It’s a productivity boon for multitaskers.

Anyone who may have a dedicated gaming tower as well as laptop designated for productivity at the same workstation will appreciate the convenience of the KVM as the Legion Y32 makes for a really nice productivity experience with its sharp contrast and brightness levels for graphics or video editing.

In addition to the ability to switch devices on the fly the Legion Y32 also hosts a bevy of connectivity options that include a USB-C with 75W of power deliver port, HDMI 2.1 support for 4K 120Hz performance on consoles like PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Gamers can enjoy next-gen gaming with little compromise.

The inclusion of a powered USB-C port allows for easy connectivity to compatible devices. You can charge your laptop, transfer data, and even use the monitor as an external display—all through a single cable.

Other mainstays of connectivity for the Legion Y32 include a 3.5mm Audio Out, a USB3.2 Gen 1 Type B port and two USB3.2 Gen Type-A connectors.

Audio Considerations

There isn’t much to write home about in regard to the audio on for the Y32p. While the Legion Y32p-30 ticks many boxes, its built-in speakers are underwhelming. If you’re an audiophile or need high-quality sound, consider investing in external speakers or a good headset.

Price and Competition

Beyond the neat bezel-less display, the next connectivity arrangement, The Legion Y32p-30’s main drawback is its price. It’s undeniably expensive, especially when compared to other 4K monitors. However, the combination of 4K resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, and additional features often justified the cost for me.

The ability to switch from gaming to content creation and on to more productivity tasks is a flexibility not offered by competitors in the same sector as the Legion Y32p-30.

Similar monitors, like the Corsair Xenon 32UHD144, share comparable specs but also come with a hefty price tag.

Summary

The Lenovo Legion Y32p-30 combines gaming prowess with productivity features. Its sleek design, 4K display, KVM switch, and USB-C hub make it a versatile choice. While the contrast could be better, the overall package is compelling. As for the headphone arm attachment, it’s a small detail that enhances convenience and organization.

The Lenovo Legion Y43p-30’s 4K resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, USB-C port, KVM switching, headphone arm, wide color gamut, and PiP/PBP features make it a well-rounded choice, but be prepared to invest a bit more, and consider supplementing the audio experience with external speakers. If you’re willing to splurge, the Legion Y32p-30 delivers thirty-two inches of visual glory.