Review: ASUS ProArt Display PA32UCXR monitor

I’ve spent most of the last two years working on the road out of my converted camper van, so you might be wondering; why would I need, or even consider, the new ASUS ProArt Display 32inch desktop monitor?

I figured, if I would want to find a place for this beast of a machine when I live in such a tiny (transportable) space, you’re sure to see the benefits wherever you choose to set up your workspace.

The ASUS ProArt Display PA32UCXR Monitor is 32 inches with 4K UHD (3840x2160), Mini LED Backlighting, 1600 nits peak brightness and a built in self auto calibration which saves all colour parameter profiles on the ProArt monitors internal scaler IC chip.

The Build

Straight out of the box the PA32UCXR screams quality. The packaging itself is made from 80% recycled cardboard designed to minimise weight and volume, while the monitor is made from eco-friendly materials. The PA32UCXR has been tested to meet the requirements of world-leading sustainability certifications.

Installation is easy. Set up the monitor stand first (the two parts just slot into place and screw to secure), then you use its own stand to lift the screen out of the box.

The whole set up is 13.8kg so once positioned, you can be rest assured that this monitor is not going anywhere (unless you live in a converted van!) Even still, you can feel comfortable knowing the sturdy base can easily carry its own weight.

The PA32UCXR comes with its own hood, to protect your screen from outside glare and light and when completely set up the monitor measures 72.7 x 60.1 x 24.5 cm (35cm deep with hood).

The ergonomic stand offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments. It’s as easy as pushing the screen to your desired position. You can rotate 90° in both directions and for complete control a quick release feature allows you to VESA mount the monitor on a wall to save on desk space.

There are multiple ports for easy connection. The PA32UCXR offers two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, an earphone jack, three USB ports plus a 15W USB charger port.

Living full time in a van I am always looking out for low powered electronics, and the PA32UCXR is no exception. The monitor runs on full power at less than 46.62watts and an impressive 0.5watts in power saving mode.

One of the thunderbolt 4 ports offers up to 90watts power delivery to charge a laptop or phone while working.

So, what would normally have me set up with multiple power cords on charge, I can run the PA32UCXR and charge all my devices at an output between 80 and 125watts.

There are two 3-way inbuilt speakers in the monitor, and although the sound was acceptable, I have to say that for streaming music or editing videos I preferred the sound quality coming from my laptop.

It’s also easier to adjust volume levels via your keyboard however, the internal monitor speakers are sufficient if you need them.

The PA32UCXR has a multitude of features within the screen menu. This is where you can access colour palette settings, image controls, screen calibration, and Picture-by-Picture (PbP) or Picture-inPicture (PiP) controls. You can view up to four input sources simultaneously and individually adjust colour modes for each window.

And the PiP places content from a second input source in a smaller window at the corner of the screen, allowing for diverse viewing options when working on creative content.

Image Quality

As a photographer, videographer and graphic designer who has been working solely off a 14inch laptop, the PA32UCXR is a welcomed aid for creativity.

The 32-inch mini-LED backlit 4K panel is a must for any creator, with 2304-zone local dimming, offering higher luminance with full white 1000 nits brightness and deeper black hues for exceptional colour contrast and accurate reproduction of HDR content.

There were more than a few moments when I had to turn down the calibrated brightness of the ProArt Display because it was just too bright. A feature I wish my laptop had as my screen is often hard to navigate when working outdoors in the bright Aussie sun.

The colours are the richest I’ve seen on an external monitor and the quality is second to none. The PA32UCXR exceeds industry colour reproduction standards with its 99% Adobe RGB colour gamut, making this monitor ideal for content creators, video editors and post production work.

Its true 10-bit IPS panel is able to showcase more than 1.07 billion colours giving creators a vast colour spectrum to work with.

In my profession I often spend hours at a time designing or editing content. Many external monitors have a tendency to flicker or cause irregular brightness, however the Pro Art Display independently manages backlighting zones to effectively minimise onscreen flicker during transitions and ensures high levels of sustained brightness.

Interestingly, this only occurred for me when using the monitor in my ‘home’ setup. When plugged into the van the screen would flicker occasionally.

Which tells me my van inverter power wasn’t constant enough to supply the monitor with steady power to maintain the backlighting.

Another great feature is the monitors Self Calibration. The PA32UCXR comes already factory pre-calibrated using a three-scale process to guarantee industry-leading colour fidelity.

You can schedule regular calibrations using the Auto Execution in the set up menu, or you can opt to manually activate calibration. With the built-in colourimeter the PA32UCXR does all the hard work for you, ensuring you’re always working at the best quality possible.

The wrap-up

Set up and handling (4.5 stars)

The PA32UCXR has some serious weight behind it, but once you screw the arm onto the base, you can use it as a lever to easily lift the monitor out of the box. The fiddliest part of installation is securing the 8 screws into the monitor hood.

Features (4 stars)

The ProArt Display boasts some serious features. With fully customisable settings, you have total control over your creativity. The PA32UCXR also comes with 3 months free Creative Cloud subscription.

Image quality ( 4.5 Stars)

Impressive quality and brightness and the auto calibration function means you can trust your work output every time.

Value for money ( 4 Stars)

At $2,999 the PA32UCXR is a considered investment however, the build quality and long list of customisable features makes this the perfect monitor for content creators.

Final Word

After using the Pro Art Display in both the van and a borrowed home office space, I seriously considered the ways in which I could find a permanent home for it during my life on the road.

A monitor like this may not be the most convenient companion for a transportable home, however there is no denying it is the perfect accomplice for any content creator.

If I’ve learnt anything from working as a creator on the road, it’s that time is very valuable. Creativity can’t be rushed, but with the right tools, you and your content can be taken to a whole new level.

And for me, the PA32UCXR Pro Art Display is right up there with one of the best collaborators I’ve had the pleasure to work with.