The Asus ProArt Display PA32QCV is expensive, but it is every creative professional’s dream monitor with 6K resolution.
As a digital illustrator and graphic designer, the color quality, sharpness and size of displays in my daily life are important to maintain consistent quality and peace of mind.
I need monitors that allow me to create and deliver color artwork that is clear and consistent across as many surfaces and media as possible. All this while also providing an abundance of space for today’s multi-app/multi-window workflow creations and designs.
Asus is a brand with a long history and a large catalog of displays under its name. Chances are you already own or have used an Asus monitor at some point in your life.
The latest release from Asus is the massive 32-inch ProArt PA32QCVa 6K ultra-high-definition juggernaut of a screen. One aimed at creators and artists for home and studio use to compete with other offerings on the market at a more budget-friendly retail price.
Asus has supplied a ProArt PA32QCV to take for an extensive test drive and see if it meets expectations.
Short review Asus ProArt PA32QCV: in the box
The ProArt arrived in an Asus padded shipping box with branding and extra custom padding inside for the display and all components.
In the box:
- Asus ProArt PA32QCV monitor
- HDMI Ultra High-Speed Cable
- Microfiber cloth
- Power cord
- Quick start guide
- Thunderbolt 4 cable
- Warranty card
- Welcome card
The packaging and security of the ProArt and components for shipping are excellent.
Asus ProArt PA32QCV Review: On the original stand
When you’re plunking down a ton of money for a high-end appliance, you want to make sure it’s shipped safely for the tumbling cycle that most delivery services offer.
- Panel size (inches): 31.5
- Pixels per inch (PPI): 218
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Display area (H x V): 697.19 x 392.17 mm
- Screen surface: AGLR (Anti-Glare, Low Reflection)
- Backlight type: LED
- Panel type: IPS
- Viewing angle (CR10, H/V): 178 degrees/178 degrees
- Pixel pitch: 0.116mm
- Resolution: 6,016×3,384
- Color space (sRGB): 100%
- Color space (DCI-P3): 98%
- Brightness (HDR, peak): 600 cd/m2
- Brightness (typ.): 400cd/m2
- Contrast ratio (max.): 3000:1
- Contrast ratio (typ.): 1500:1
- Screen colors: 1073.7M (10 bit)
- Response time: 5 ms (GTG)
- Refresh rate (max): 60 Hz
- HDR (High Dynamic Range) Support: HDR10
- Flicker-free: Yes
- LCD ZBD Warranty: Yes (3 years)
- Ports: Thunderbolt 4 x 2 (Daisy Chain) / DisplayPort 1.4 DSC x 1 / HDMI (v2.1) x 1 (FRL)
- USB hub: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
- USB hub: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C
- Headphone jack: Yes
- USB-C power supply: 96 W
- USB 3.2 (signal): x 1 USB Type-C (for KVM switch)
Brief review Asus ProArt PA32QCV: quality and features
The ProArt is very well made from top to bottom. While nothing about the screen feels cheap or flimsy, the outer casing is made of plastic and not high-quality aluminum like the Apple Studio Display or Pro Display XDR.
While I like a clean, professional look for my workspaces, it doesn’t extend to the point where I’m willing to pay thousands of dollars for a sleek aluminum chassis and Mac style. I need good, functional displays that I can afford, and the plastic is an acceptable cost-saving measure.
All menu buttons and controls are located on the bottom of the ProArt, which is a good design choice. I need to be able to reach and use buttons easily, and years of fiddling around in front of monitors and inevitably pressing the wrong button over and over again makes this decision huge.
Asus ProArt PA32QCV Review: The stand is heavy and durable.
Again, it pushes away from the sleek for the sake of sleek, which too many brands opt for in favor of functionality. Some users won’t like this, but I do, and after half a day I stopped noticing the buttons.
Asus includes a nice stand with the ProArt that is heavy and durable, while offering a wide range of motion for the ProArt and being easy to assemble. If I had comments for Asus on the stand I’d say the cable management holes could be higher to hide the cables a bit, but this is a minor nitpick.
The ProArt also allows VESA mounting on a sturdy swing arm mount. I chose this for my workspace and it never bothered me for a moment.
Aside from the size, color and display quality, the ProArt also shines in the staggering number of ports and options that Asus brings to the screen.
The ProArt has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a DisplayPort, an HDMI port, two USB-A ports, a USB-C port and a headphone jack to round it out.
Asus ProArt PA32QCV Review: Port Selection
The 96W Thunderbolt port is great for powering everything from MacBooks to external drives, and can be used to daisy-chain a second display to work in tandem with the ProArt.
One last comment about the technology of the ProArt. I learned that the power supply for the display is built into the case. On the ProArt, the large power brick is not connected to the AC cable.
This is a small thing, but that rock has a habit of messing up cable management, and it’s nice not to have it here.
Short test report Asus ProArt PA32QCV: installation
Setting up the ProArt was incredibly easy and worked within minutes.
After unpacking and sorting the various cables and components, I attached the ProArt to the swivel arm of my monitor via VESA mount, connected everything to my Mac Studio with the Thunderbolt cable, booted it up, and that’s it.
If Thunderbolt isn’t an option for your workplace, the HDMI cable option works just as easily.
Asus has its own Display Widget Center for Mac and Windows that lets you adjust brightness, contrast and color profiles based on a range of preset options or completely custom user profiles.
Short test report Asus ProArt PA32QCV: Display Widget Center
I installed the widget and it worked wonderfully with my Mac Studio running Sequoia 15.7. I made a few minor adjustments and everything was dialed in and ready to work.
I’ve struggled in the past with frustrating third-party drivers and firmware that reduced solid hardware to mediocre software. It’s a relief to see Asus building products that actually work with Mac-powered workspaces.
Short test report Asus ProArt PA32QCV: in use
Using the ProArt for a month was a great experience. The screen is bright, clear and responsive in all the ways I need as a digital artist.
Every creator’s needs will be different, and I won’t offend anyone by assuming I know what those needs will be. But I can say with confidence that the ProArt is an excellent display for work and play.
I noticed that it’s like looking at the 6K “Face of God” for the color quality and brightness of the sheet. The nice side effect of using the ProArt is that the color balance on my digital pen display was a little off in comparison, and this led me to correct this.
The sheer amount of real estate available on the ProArt is staggering. I use a pen display tablet for my primary workspace when I draw, but to test the ProArt, I moved all my Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop tasks to the ProArt, and I’m now officially spoiled.
This is where I’d post a “there’s so much room for activities” GIF if I could, because I had all the digital workspace I needed and then some without a secondary monitor.
The ProArt has a matte screen finish to reduce glare. I’ve read comments from others who felt the matte finish took away from some of the sharper, finer details, like on-screen fonts, but I’ve never noticed any issues.
In the personal annoyances column, the first problem is that the ProArt has a maximum refresh rate of 60Hz. For the gamers looking for faster refresh rates while playing first-person shooters when moments matter, know that this is the highest level you will reach.
Short review Asus ProArt PA32QCV: From the back
Next, the ProArt contains built-in speakers, but they are not good. They also cannot be controlled by the Asus widget and must be managed via the built-in buttons on the display.
This is inconvenient and I know most users will have their own sound and speaker preferences, but this is worth mentioning.
Short review Asus ProArt PA32QCV: luxury value
The ProArt retails from Asus’ online store for $1,299.
This does not make the ProArt cheap in any way. But when you compare this to the smaller 27-inch Mac Studio Display for $1,599 and the Pro Display XDR for a whopping $4,999, the ProArt is a decent value in terms of price alone.
A display like the ProArt is an investment for professionals and studios, or a luxury item for income users.
Now that I’ve used the ProArt for an extended period of time, I would happily make the $1,299 investment and consider myself lucky that I did. The ProArt is that good.
The ProArt is a great display for home or office work. Asus continues to deliver with each release, and with this lower cost, other brands (like Apple) should be looking over their shoulders.
Asus ProArt PA32QCV Pros
- Easy installation
- Beautiful display
- Mac specific display widget software
- A multitude of ports
- Headphone jack
- Amazing line quality
- Native VESA mounting options
- Very low investment costs compared to comparable displays
Asus ProArt PA32QCV Review Cons
- Tops out at 60Hz performance
- Horrible built-in speakers
- Not cheap
Rating 4 out of 5
Where can you buy the Asus ProArt PA32QCV?
The ProArt is available for purchase at Asus’ online store for $1,299. It is also available on Amazon for $1,499.
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