The Asus ProArt PA32DC comes in as the new flagship for the ProArt line with a jaw-dropping OLED panel that’s tuned for professionals. It’s imbued with particular features, but it’s not exactly cheap and without any gaming features. Let’s check the Asus ProArt PA32DC to know if it should be your next investment for a successful editing and content creation career.
Asus ProArt PA32DC Specifications
- Screen Size: 32 Inches
- Resolution:3840 x 2160 4K UHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: OLED
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 0.1ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000000:1
- Brightness: 250cd/m² (500 cd/m² Peak)
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 3 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes 100 x 100
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1m HDMI 2.0 x 3, USB-C PD 65W x 1, USB 3.2 x 4, 3.5mm Audio Jack x 2 (In/Out)
- Dimensions with Stand (WxHxD): 28.9” x 24.7” x 9.6″
- Weight: 27.5 lbs
Design and Features
The Asus ProArt PA32DC looks different from its ProArt siblings, especially if you use its special attachments like the mini stand. It has a matte black finish, which oozes a professional appeal instead of a luxurious one. This monitor has thick bezels, like most monitors with calibration hoods or built-in gadgets on its edges.
The first noticeable characteristic on the monitor is the built-in colorimeter that protrudes from the monitor’s top edge. It can be stowed when not in use and it can be utilized to calibrate the display automatically. You can also use external colorimeters, but it is nice that the device already has one handy. 
It’s a big monitor, so you might want to check your desk space out if you are buying this to upgrade your home workstation. The monitor needs 28.9 inches of width and 9.6 inches of depth, although you can save space using mini stands. They are the same as the bases used on TVs, so they are tiny yet incapable of ergonomics.
Build quality is outstanding, as expected, since Asus spared no expense on this flagship offering. The plastics and metals used are thick and sturdy, plus there were no cosmetic defects on any of its parts. Both stand designs are firm and stable, so the screen won’t sag or shake unless you hit it accidentally or intentionally.
The Asus ProArt PA32DC has an OSD joystick for conveniently manipulating its very deep OSD. A remote would have been handy though, especially at this price range. The monitor also works with the brand’s ProArt Calibration software, so tweaking it should be easier than using the regular route.
The package includes two stands so you can set it up without adding more accessories. The mini stand is the same as the feet used on TVs, while the other is a fully-adjustable monitor stand. You get tilt, swivel, and height adjustments with the latter, but you can also swap it out with a VESA mount if you need more flexibility.
The Asus ProArt PA32DC offers plenty of connectivity options, but we’re not impressed with one of them. It has DisplayPort 1.4, three HDMI 2.0 ports, and a fully-functional USB-C port for modern workstation devices. What’s underwhelming here is that the latter only offers 65 watts, whereas other monitors in the same class have more potent Thunderbolt 3 or 4 slots. You also get four usable USB 3.2 ports for accessories and two 3.5mm jacks for audio inputs and outputs.
Another underwhelming addon is the monitor’s 3-watt speakers which do not belong in this price range. We understand that the product was not designed for entertainment, but that isn’t an excuse if you ask for this much money.
Display and Performance
The Asus ProArt PA32DC boasts a 32-inch OLED panel with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a 0.1 ms response time. Its brightness has a 250 cd/m2 typical output and a 500 cd/m2 peak. At the same time, the contrast ratio is listed at 1000000:1. The monitor is capable of brilliant HDR thanks to these numbers, plus it supports Dolby Vision and HLG alongside the usual HDR10 standard.
4K is the resolution of choice for professionals since it offers more detail and display space than other popular formats. We also believe that its better viewed at this size versus the more common 27-inch variants since the pixel density isn’t too tight. It’s easier to see every tiny detail without losing the benefits of the high pixel count.
The Asus ProArt PA32DC covers more than 100% sRGB, 99% DCI-P3, and 98% Adobe RGB for stunning saturation. However, that kind of performance skewed the default color accuracy too much since it is not tuned for a specific color space. The default accuracy had a very high deltaE average of 3.41, so you need to utilize its calibration features or filters with sub-1.2 color error averages.
Calibrating it with the built-in colorimeter reduced the dE average to an impressive 0.58, while manual calibration got a slightly better 0.49. The scores aren’t that far off, so most will be able to get by with the built-in, which is surprisingly very good. However, we still recommend getting a separate colorimeter so you can always ensure that the panel is optimized.
The OLED panel in this monitor reached 255 cd/m2 at 100% in SDR and a 541 cd/m2 peak when HDR is active. OLED panels do not need a high output to produce their infinite contrast ratios, so it is still going to be better in HDR performance compared to those with FALD units. The display can have deep blacks and well-defined gradients, making it great for HDR grading and editing work.
Panel uniformity for the Asus ProArt PA32DC test sample did not show any flaws like backlight leaks or clouding. That’s mostly because it doesn’t have a backlight like a regular monitor, but cherry-picking panels that go into flagships also have a hand in that result. Note that this can still vary between every unit, plus it’s easy to ruin the panel with burn-in if you are not careful.
This monitor is capable of near-instantaneous pixel response time, so it barely shows any blurring during fast-paced scenes. The limitation here is the 60Hz refresh rate which many will find disappointing since most OLEDs typically have at least 120Hz. However, we know that manufacturers do this to preserve the panel’s color fidelity, just like what LG did for its 32EP950-B.
The Asus ProArt PA32DC also doesn’t have FreeSync or G-Syenc compatibility, so you are on your own if you use it for gaming. VRR is essential for 4K gaming, but it’s understandable this time since this monitor was not meant for that. Its input lag is also quite high at 15ms at 60Hz, so it won’t be the snappiest option available.
Thoughts on the Asus ProArt PA32DC
The Asus ProArt PA32DC is excellent if you want the best possible color and contrast performance. Its OLED panel offers jaw-dropping color coverage and an infinite contrast ratio, beating the brand’s other best prosumer models. It’s also built around that quality with features that can maximize its potential, so the price is somewhat justified.
The Asus ProArt PA32DC only has a few downsides, such as the 60Hz limit and the high price tag. Its lack of gaming features is a letdown, but what’s most disappointing to us is the 65-watt limit for the USB-C port. However, it’s still an excellent investment for artists and editors since it leads the 32-inch 4K category in many facets.
Pros:
- Great Price
- Superb Color and HDR Performance
- Excellent Build Quality
- 90-Watt USB-C
Cons:
- HDR and VRR Incompatible
- Dismal Default Color Accuracy
- Limited Availability
Paolo is a gaming veteran from the golden days of Doom and Warcraft. Since junior high, he has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He has also spent half a decade researching, reviewing, and writing about these products and now has over 1400 articles about the best gaming tech under his belt.
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