Asus ProArt Display OLED PA32DC review: The new OLED standard

Price When Reviewed

3,499

Best Prices Today: Asus ProArtwork OLED PA32DC

The rollout of OLED screens continues to be a hesitant, stutter-stop affair. The Alienware AW3423DW’s arrival in early 2022 appeared to herald a brand new wave of choices however, for most individuals, OLED stays an extravagant expense. 

The Asus ProArtwork Display OLED PA32DC sadly does little to make OLED extra inexpensive, but it surely does elevate the bar on picture high quality in a giant means.

Note: This assessment is a part of our ongoing roundup of the best monitors. Go there to be taught extra in regards to the competitors, what to search for in a monitor, and shopping for suggestions.

Asus ProArtwork Display OLED PA32DC: The specs

The Asus ProArtwork Display OLED PA32DC is, in lots of respects, a relatively typical skilled monitor. It has a 32-inch show, 4K decision, a 60Hz refresh fee, and helps HDR.

• Display dimension: 32-inch widescreen
• Native decision: 3840×2160
• Panel kind: 10-bit OLED
• Refresh fee: 60Hz
• HDR: Yes, HDR10, HLG, VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black
• Ports: USB-C with 65W Power Delivery, 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort 1.4, 3x HDMI 2.0, 3.5mm audio-out
• Stand adjustment: Height, tilt, swivel, pivot
• VESA mount: 100x100mm
• Speakers: Yes
• Price: $3,499

So, what are you paying for? The OLED panel. Its presence significantly elevates the expertise of utilizing the monitor in each SDR and HDR. Asus additionally throws in a couple of extras, like a USB hub and tons of video inputs (5 in whole). Still, that is an costly choice even amongst 32-inch 4K screens—however the expense is justified by efficiency.

Asus ProArtwork Display OLED PA32DC: Design

The Asus ProArtwork Display OLED PA32DC is an absolute unit. Unlike most fashionable screens, which use slim bezels to attenuate dimension, the PA32DC’s giant bezels look chunky and old-school. 

The monitor is pretty slim in profile, measuring not more than two inches thick at its thickest level and about an inch in the direction of the perimeters, however the heatsink-like rear panel comes throughout as ruggedized relatively than svelte. 

Matt Smith

Build high quality is well the perfect of any monitor I’ve examined in latest reminiscence. The rear panel and bezels really feel sturdy and permit little to no flex when dealt with. It’s not an opulent monitor, however its rigidity and useful aesthetic make its high quality apparent. 

I believe the monitor might take the occasional bump in stride (as long as the show panel is protected), however a built-in deal with makes accidents much less doubtless. The deal with is firmly connected to the chassis and helps the monitor’s 16-pound weight (with out stand).

The deal with isn’t only for present, as Asus clearly believes some homeowners will transfer the show. The monitor’s pair of flip-out base legs, that are put in by default, assist in its portability. These legs may be rotated to supply a base for the show, then rotated again under the underside bezel when it’s time to maneuver the monitor.

An ergonomic stand can also be included. It attaches to the monitor’s 100x100mm VESA mount through 4 screws: The stand mount doesn’t have a quick-release system, as is widespread on client shows. The stand seems easy however supplies the standard vary of changes together with peak, tilt, swivel, and pivot.

Asus ProArtwork Display OLED PA32DC: Features and menu

The PA32DC doesn’t skimp on connectivity. It contains three HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort, and one USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode. That’s a complete of 5 video inputs, an distinctive quantity for any fashionable monitor. 

USB connectivity can also be good, although not nice. The monitor’s USB-C port acts as a USB hub for 4 extra USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports. It’s nice to see this many USB-A ports supported, and even higher that they provide a powerful model of the USB 3.2 spec as an alternative of falling again to USB 3.0 or a mixture of USB 3.0 and USB 2.0. 

There’s no Ethernet, nevertheless, or video-out for daisy-chaining extra shows. The monitor additionally lacks extra USB-C ports, and the USB-C port solely supplies 65 watts of Power Delivery. That’s not sufficient energy to cost many high-end laptops beneath load.

Both the video inputs and USB ports are straightforward to entry, as they’re oriented in the direction of the perimeters of the monitor as an alternative of the rear and aren’t obstructed by the chassis. That’s excellent news in case you incessantly join and disconnect gadgets. 

The PG32DC’s on-screen menu, which is managed by a joystick and buttons on the entrance proper bezel, present a protracted record of choices that few screens can match. Preset show modes embrace assist for sRGB, AdobeRGB, Rec. 2020, DCI-P3, DICOM, and Rec. 709, plus HDR modes for Rec. 2020, HDR LHG, and HDR DCI. 

Matt Smith

Adjustments are equally strong, spanning 4 colour temperature modes and 5 gamma presets. There’s additionally six-axis colour hue and saturation adjustment, plus achieve, offset, and black degree management. 

These controls are means past what even a typical fanatic will want, however present skilled customers the possibility to fine-tune the monitor to realize a selected commonplace of high quality.

The monitor even supplies a calibration utility that can be utilized in tandem with quite a lot of third-party colour calibration instruments, together with the Datacolor SpyderX and Datacolor X-Rite, to hone colour accuracy and brightness to exacting requirements. This utility, which features a {hardware} calibration software that rotates into place on the prime of the show, was profitable in calibrating the show to a degree of colour accuracy few screens can rival. 

A pair of built-in audio system spherical out the PG32DC’s lengthy record of options, however they’re quiet and don’t sound nice in most conditions. They’ll work in a pinch, however exterior audio system or headphones are preferable.

Asus ProArtwork Display OLED PA32DC: SDR picture high quality

Image high quality is essential for any monitor, but it surely’s vital for the PA32DC. Excellent picture high quality is all the level. Fortunately for Asus, the PA32DC delivers throughout the board. 

Matt Smith

Maximum SDR brightness is available in at 540 nits. It must be famous this degree of brightness is decrease when displaying a big, shiny picture for greater than a pair seconds, a scenario I’ll clarify extra on this assessment’s HDR part. Still, the monitor’s brightness is suitable.

However, the show’s usability in a shiny room takes a success as a result of semi-gloss show panel. It’s not as reflective as Apple’s Pro Display XDR however will undergo every time a lightweight supply displays throughout its floor. This makes the monitor more durable to make use of in a brightly lit room.

Matt Smith

Contrast is great, with a measured most distinction ratio of 37,010:1. That’s roughly 37 instances greater than a typical IPS monitor. It additionally beats Mini-LED options just like the Viewsonic XG321UG, Asus PG32UQX, and Samsung Odyssey Neo G9. 

The Alienware AW3423DW scores higher right here, because it registered pure black (that’s, a brightness degree of zero nits) in testing, whereas the Asus PG32DC confirmed brightness degree of 0.1 nits in pure black. This is a trivial distinction in real-world use, nevertheless, and each shows supply glorious distinction efficiency. 

Matt Smith

The PG32DC knocks colour gamut out of the park, reaching 100 % of sRGB, 99 % of DCI-P3, and 98 % of AdobeRGB. This is technically higher than the Alienware AW3423DW, which was extra restricted in AdobeRGB, and among the many elite echelons of all screens I’ve ever examined. 

This degree of colour gamut efficiency means the PG32DC can show an especially wide selection of colour. That’s helpful in skilled settings, the place creators wish to make sure that they’ll see each colour current within the content material they’re creating, but it surely’s additionally good generally use because it results in a extra saturated and vivid look. 

Matt Smith

Color accuracy is great out of the field. It’s not the perfect I’ve examined, however as we speak’s greatest screens are excellent generally use, so the variations between them have much less influence. This degree of colour accuracy is greater than sufficient to supply a lifelike and reasonable look. 

As talked about, the monitor features a built-in calibration utility and {hardware} that’s meant to realize exact outcomes. I attempted it and located it lowered colour accuracy even additional, as famous on the graph. The outcome nonetheless isn’t the best possible I’ve recorded, however ought to nonetheless be way over correct sufficient for any skilled use. 

The PG32DC additionally did effectively in colour temperature and gamma, reaching the goal colour temperature of 6500Ok and gamma curve of two.2 straight out of the field. I additionally tried the extra color-temperature and gamma choices and located they, too, have been correct to what they promised. 

This monitor makes use of a traditional RGB subpixel format much like a typical IPS monitor. This is essential, as many OLED shows, together with the Alienware AW3423DW (and, presumably, any future screens based mostly on the identical QD-OLED know-how) use an alternate format that may result in colour fringing or odd stagger-step patterns round high quality particulars, together with fonts. This is a significant vote in favor of the PG32DC’s sharpness and day-to-day usability, because it suffers no such points. Small fonts are readable and each bit as sharp as an IPS monitor just like the Dell U3223QE.

Put merely, the Asus ProArtwork Display OLED PA32DC is as near good as any monitor I’ve examined. Is it flawless? Well…not precisely, but it surely’s shut. Though not technically good in each means, the monitor’s SDR efficiency has no apparent weak level.

My sole nitpick is the semi-gloss end which, mixed with modest brightness in some use circumstances, may be a problem—but it surely’s nothing a pair of curtains can’t repair.

Asus ProArtwork Display OLED PA32DC: HDR picture high quality

The Asus ProArtwork Display OLED PA32DC is HDR appropriate and carries VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black certification. This is a degree of certification accessible to OLED shows that signifies their capability to achieve low black ranges. It’s additionally the bottom degree of True Black certification accessible from VESA—which, given the PA32DC’s value, is a disappointment. 

In testing, the PA32DC was able to first rate HDR brightness relying on the scenario. It was solely in a position to obtain a full-screen most of 302 nits, however that was elevated to 502 nits when solely half the display screen was brightly lit, and as much as 552 nits with 10 % of the display screen brightly lit. 

This variance in brightness may be seen in use, but it surely’s solely apparent when a small, shiny space step by step expands (or vice versa). This is a bonus over the Alienware AW3423DW, which, in some conditions, can undergo dramatic swings in brightness which can be overly distracting. 

Still, the PA32DC’s HDR efficiency leans extra on its distinction and colour efficiency than its brightness, and that has penalties for content material. It’s greatest when displaying darkish, moody content material, which showcases the monitor’s capability to supply element. And, in fact, a great starfield view works wonders, as every star seems good towards the inky darkness of area. 

Brighter content material nonetheless seems good, however the lack of sustained brightness is a limitation in some conditions. When taking part in Microsoft Flight Simulator, as an example, I observed the good flare of a sundown was by no means fairly as dramatic as on a Mini-LED different. The identical may be mentioned of snowy fields in a film or streaming present filmed for HDR. 

Don’t get me fallacious: The PG32DC remains to be no less than a good HDR monitor and among the many greatest selections for HDR content material. I’d rank it greater than the Alienware AW3423DW due to the PG32DC’s much less apparent swings in brightness. It sustains greater brightness than the Alienware total, and in all conditions. 

The PG32DC can also be leagues higher than a premium skilled monitor that lacks good (or any) HDR assist. If you’re excited about an improve from a BenQ PD3200U, Dell Ultrasharp U3221Q, or Asus ProArtwork 329CV, you’re going to be floored by the advance.

Asus ProArtwork Display OLED PA32DC: Motion readability

The PA32DC is just not offered as a gaming monitor and makes no guarantees about sport efficiency. It has a 60Hz refresh fee and doesn’t assist any adaptive sync commonplace—not even FreeSync. 

Game efficiency is lackluster. The OLED panel provides good movement readability for a 60Hz show, however that doesn’t make up for the absence of a excessive refresh fee or adaptive sync. Moving objects look mushy and it’s usually troublesome to select high quality element when panning a digital camera rapidly in a 3D sport.

That’s to not say it’s hopeless. I had a superbly pleasing expertise in Microsoft Flight Simulator, Old World, and Final Fantasy XIV. None of those video games lean closely on movement readability or smoothness. 

Matt Smith

However, most gamers will probably be much more happy by the Alienware AW3432DW, Viewsonic XG321UG, or Asus PG32UQX, all of which pair strong HDR efficiency with excessive refresh charges and adaptive sync.

Final ideas

Asus’ ProArtwork Display OLED PA32DC is the perfect monitor I’ve ever examined—in SDR picture high quality, at least, and generally construct high quality and performance, as effectively. Prosumers who desire a implausible monitor, and are prepared to pay to get it, will probably be thrilled. Professionals will love the monitor’s glorious colour efficiency, excessive distinction, quite a few inputs, and lengthy record of picture high quality options.

That’s to not say it’s the right monitor for each particular person. The $3,000 price ticket alone will take it out of rivalry for most individuals, myself included. Add the monitor’s lack of adaptive sync, modest refresh fee, and enormous dimension, and the result’s a monitor with particular enchantment. 

But in case you’re within the goal market, and have the money to spend, the PA32DC is an excellent selection. I believe this monitor’s most major problem will probably be availability: Everyone craving OLED goes to need one.