The Asus ProArt PA32UCXR promises reference-grade fidelity with brilliant HDR performance for discerning professionals. It’s a high-end display with lots of bells and whistles, like its mini-LED backlight. That means it will be pricey, but let’s check and see to know if it’s a worthy investment.
Asus ProArt PA32UCXR Specifications
- Screen Size: 32 Inches
- Resolution:3840 x 2160 4K UHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 5ms
- Contrast Ratio: TBA
- Brightness: 1000 cd/m2 SDR (1600 cd/m² HDR Peak)
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 5 Watt)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4x 1, HDMI 2.0a x 2, USB-C Thunderbolt 4 PD90W x 2 USB 3.2 x 4, 3.5mm Audio Jack
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 28.6″ x 23.5″ x 9.7″
- Weight: 30.4 lbs
Design and Features
The Asus ProArt PA32UCXR sports a slightly cleaner look than the PA32UCX, but it does carry some upgrades with it. The monitor has a sleek matte black finish, but its logos are more noticeable since they have a golden finish. The display has a bezel-free design, but it still has inner borders like most modern displays.
It’s a larger monitor, so you might need to set aside some space for it if you are coming from a smaller screen. The monitor needs almost ten inches of depth, but its base is regular-shaped and flat, so it shouldn’t be a hassle to deal with. The monitor weighs a little over 30 pounds, so extra care is necessary when carrying it around.
The build quality is fantastic, just like with every other ProArt model we’ve seen and written about. The plastics are heavily reinforced and sturdy, so they won’t flex or crack when a decent amount of force is applied. The included stand is firm and stable, so the screen won’t sag or shake just like that.
The Asus ProArt PA32UCXR has a joystick for the OSD for easy access to its various settings and capabilities. It also has quick buttons for easier access, and ever one of them is located on the bottom bezel. Other models have remotes, but its not entirely necessary for this model.
Another important feature of this model is its built-in colorimeter, which automates the calibration process. It swivels around the left corner of the screen, allowing users to get rid of the need to plug in a separate gadget to tweak the colors. The monitor also has ambient sensors and a calibration hood to enhance your customizing experience.
The Asus ProArt PA32UCXR’s stand offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. It’s easy to get an angle that will suit you while you edit for hours on end. You can also use a VESA mount, but that only becomes necessary in select instances.
Another goldmine on this monitor is its connectivity layout, which offers more than other prosumer variants. You get DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 slots, but there is also a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports with 90 watts of charging power. The monitor is supported by a four-slot USB 3.2 hub and a 3.5mm jack for accessories.
The monitor’s built-in speakers also got upgraded to 5 watts as opposed to the three-watt set on the PA32UCX. They sound better at higher volume levels, but they are still incapable of deep bass since there is no woofer. However, they sound very good for a backup, so we can’t complain here.
Display and Performance
The Asus ProArt PA32UCXR boasts a 32-inch IPS panel with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a 5ms response time. The mini-LED backlight has a 1000 cd/m2 typical output and a 1600 cd/m2 peak, while native contrast is listed at 1000:1. This model is HDR 1400 certified thanks to that output and the local dimming feature, enabling it to produce substantially better HDR imagery.
4K is highly suitable for editing monitors, but its arguably better to view when the screen is larger. 32-inch displays are perfect for this since it doesn’t make the pixel density too tight, but at the same time keeps the screen sharper than a regular TV. Most will need less scaling since its not as sharp as a 27-inch variant would be appear.
The Asus ProArt PA32UCXR is pre-calibrated for almost every color standard that’s in use in the professional world. Its deltaE average for most them are at more or less 0.93, making it one of the most accurate multi-gamut monitors in the market. Most users won’t need to calibrate this model since it was already optimized from the factory.
You won’t need a colorimeter for this model, but its built-in can be used to maintain its color fidelity throughout its life. Using an aftermarket colorimeter reduced its sRGB dE average to 0.41, but it raised the others quite a bit. We recommend sticking with the default and the built-in calibrator since it already works fantastic.
The Asus ProArt PA32UCXR’s brightness reached 1311 cd/m2, while its HDR peak reached 1866 cd/m2. Its contrast was at 1341:1, but it expanded exponentially when its HDR mode was active. Only OLED panels will be better at this point, but those will be dimmer than this model when it comes to both peak and sustained brightness.
Its panel uniformity had some flaws when local dimming is turned off, but its not a big deal since its only noticeable in select instances. The minor backlight leaks disappear when local dimming was active, so it won’t be an issue for most since its HDR capabilities will probably be maximized anyway. Note that this can vary with every unit made due to tolerances, so there are better and worse ones out there.
The Asus ProArt PA32UCXR is limited to 60Hz, but its pixel response time is quite decent since the backlight is considerably better than a standard WLED unit. Some blurring and ghosting can happen in fast-paced sequences, but it is not as bad as it sounds. Some overdrive will be necessary for gaming, but that’s clearly not the focus of this model.
The Asus ProArt PA32UCXR also supports Adaptive-Sync for buttery smooth visuals while gaming. It’s only 60Hz, but 4K is very demanding, so getting some form of assistance in preventing tearing is a must-have. Its input lag sits at 9ms at 60Hz, so it’s decently responsive enough for gaming.
Thoughts on the Asus ProArt PA32UCXR
The Asus ProArt PA32UCXR is a fantastic choice for editing and HDR consumption. It offers fantastic color accuracy from the factory, and it even has a built-in calibrator to fine-tune the screen regularly. It also has a bunch of features and accessories that can sweeten the deal.
The only issue with the Asus ProArt PA32UCXR for most people will be its whopping price tag. Its not for the weak of heart, but that’s expected from a model that is this sophisticated. We can’t recommend it as a daily driver for most users, but professionals and content creators will surely love it.
Pros:
- Fantastic Colors and HDR
- Adaptive Sync Compatible
- Lots of Connectivity and Accessories
- Accurate Out of the Box
Cons:
- Expensive
About the Author: 
Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. 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 now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
Leave a Reply