Asus ProArt PA32DC OLED Review: Premium Contrast, Color and Flexibility for Creative Pros

The Asus ProArt PA32DC is a 32-inch OLED monitor with Ultra HD resolution, color modes for every standard, built-in calibration, HDR and infinite contrast.

Reviews
By Christian Eberle
published
Asus ProArt PA32DC
Editor's Choice
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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The PA32DC isn’t about gaming, but the response and lag tests are relevant for any monitor. The comparison group includes all the OLEDs I’ve reviewed, plus two MiniLED models. They are ViewSonic’s XG321UG and Asus’ PA32UCX which is also a pro screen. The OLEDs are Aorus’ FO48U, along with the Alienware AW5520QF and AW3423DW.

Pixel Response & Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

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Asus ProArt PA32DC
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

It’s important to note that while most OLEDs claim a 0.1ms response time, this is a single-pixel value, not a full-screen draw, which I test. Filling the entire screen with a white field takes the same amount of time for OLEDs and LCDs. The 60 Hz PA32DC comes in at the expected 16ms. And motion blur is visually the same as a 60 Hz LCD. To combat this, an OLED can use black-frame insertion, but the PA32DC doesn’t offer this. If you want to game on an OLED, you’ll want a higher refresh rate like the AW3423DW or FO48U have. The PA32DC’s input lag is on par with enterprise screens at 76ms.

Viewing Angles

Asus ProArt PA32DC

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

OLED panels have excellent off-axis image quality because the light coming from them is not polarized like an LCD. You can see there is no reduction in brightness in either plane. A slight green shift appears in the brighter steps, which is a function of the screen coating. There is also no loss of detail as the gamma does not change.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

Asus ProArt PA32DC

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Clearly, OLED does not have an issue with screen uniformity. The PA32DC is superb as one would expect from a professional monitor. It doesn’t even come close to any visible problems. Color and luminance are perfectly rendered from edge to edge at all brightness levels.

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Christian Eberle
Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.

6 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Kridian
    $3,500!?
    minimum $800.
    Reply
  • dk382
    Kridian said:
    $3,500!?
    minimum $800.
    It's a professional mastering monitor, not meant for ordinary consumers... It's pretty cheap as far as those go, actually.
    Reply
  • Kridian
    I don't think accurate color should be dangled out there like it's some golden carrot.
    f-that.
    Reply
  • drajitsh
    One of the problems of oleds was the burnout of the emitters, with the blue being the most vulnerable. Has that been solved.
    Reply
  • dk382
    Kridian said:
    I don't think accurate color should be dangled out there like it's some golden carrot.
    f-that.
    Ordinary consumer displays tend to come reasonably well calibrated these days. This display takes things to the next level by having a built-in calibration system that costs quite a bit extra to include. Good, reliable, finely-calibrated tools come at a premium over standard consumer-oriented tools no matter the industry. And that's what this product is—a tool for professionals. This display and other displays like it (LG 32EP950 for instance) are being used as work-from-home HDR mastering monitors since they're cheaper and easier to use than dual-layer LCD mastering monitors (at the cost of lower peak brightness). It's also being used by colorists and graphic artists who demand perfect black levels.

    drajitsh said:
    One of the problems of oleds was the burnout of the emitters, with the blue being the most vulnerable. Has that been solved.

    No, not "solved," though it has been mitigated somewhat. They've developed various "pixel refresh" techniques that help the various colored subpixels burn at a more even rate. And this panel has a blank pixel buffer that the screen will move around in so static elements don't stay on the same pixel for too long.
    Reply
  • drajitsh

    Reply