Review: Asus ProArt PA32KCX 32” 8K display

In a world where we consume most of our visual media on tiny, glossy, 4-inch phone screens, the ASUS ProArt Display PA32KCX is the glorious antithesis.

This 32-inch, 8K Mini LED monitor is not just a display – it's a professional magnifying glass that forces a new level of appreciation for your favourite hi-res photographs.

The sheer, unadulterated detail you can see at a native 7680 x 4320 resolution at a mind blowing 275 ppi is simply astounding.

The moment of truth

The moment of truth for any photographer will be revealed in Lightroom. I initially opened a recent portfolio image saved at 1920px and pressed 'F' for fullscreen – and a wave of disappointment washed over me. "If only I had saved all my images in 8K," I muttered to myself.

My file, saved at a once-respectable 1920px at 220dpi, looked tiny as if on an iPad. This disappointment forced me to dive into my archives and favourite recently shot 48MP images to see what the original RAWs looked like, and I was stunned with the amazing detail. I could now zoom into images and see intricate details that I’d previously missed. You can relive moments as if being there via this screen.

Ahhh – beautiful 'matty-ness'

However, the other ‘wow’ factor isn't just the pixel count – it's also the lack of reflections. The screen is perfectly, beautifully matte. Unlike the mirror-like finish of a standard Apple display, which doubles as a grooming mirror, the PA32KCX just absorbs light. I waved my phone's torch directly at the panel, and the usually harsh beam was muted into a dull, forgotten glow.

This is thanks to ASUS's LuxPixel technology, which combines an advanced anti-glare, low-reflection (AGLR) coating with ‘Eye Care’ tech. The monitor ships with a substantial hood, but honestly, the screen surface is so phenomenal at rejecting ambient light that the hood feels like a bonus, not a necessity. Even after a full day of pixel-peeping, and general use, I didn't feel that familiar ‘pixel overload’ or eye strain. This monitor is exceptionally kind on the eyes and I could even say 'relaxing to look at'. 

Underpinning this experience is a beastly spec sheet aimed squarely at those who want the best. This 32-inch 10-bit panel is a Mini LED powerhouse with 4032 dimming zones, 1200 nits of peak brightness, and VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification. Colour reproduction is excellent, covering 97% of the DCI-P3 and 95% of the Adobe RGB gamuts with a factory-calibrated Delta E of less than 1.

Navigating the monitor’s thumb-stick menu is straightforward, complemented by limited integration with my Mac’s own controls. The out-of-the-box calibration was so good I didn't need to touch a thing, but I did push the brightness from a comfortable 240 to the 400 (max) setting just to see what it could do – and nearly burnt my eyeballs out. For anyone needing an outdoor HDR location monitor, this would clearly hold its own against the harshest glare.

If you feel the need to calibrate the monitor, there's a built-in colorimeter that flips down for automated self-calibration. I've always hated the whole calibration ritual, so this is a godsend. 

The exterior and ports

The monitor arrives in a box large enough for at least eight cats to live in, yet setup is surprisingly simple. The heavy-duty stand makes height, tilt, and pivot adjustments a breeze, and the near-invisible bezels on three sides give it a sleek, modern edge. However, while the screen itself is the clear hero, for around $13,000, it could have been nice to see an aluminium finish similar to Apple’s high-end offerings.

Connectivity is future-proof, with dual Thunderbolt 4 (96W power delivery), dual HDMI 2.1, and DisplayPort 2.1. It even allows for picture-in-picture modes from up to four different 4K sources simultaneously.

Is this for everyone?

Let's address the two elephants in the room. First, the 60Hz refresh rate. Yes, gamers have complained. But this is not really a gaming monitor – pushing 8K's worth of pixels around in a game is overkill, especially where normal graphics cards would find it difficult to keep up with gameplay. For its intended audience – photographers and video post-production professionals – 60Hz is perfectly sufficient.

If you want a similar sized gaming monitor that doubles as high end post production monitor, I suggest you check out the 32” 4K ASUS ProArt Display OLED PA32UCDM that has an incredible 240Hz refresh.

The second issue is more practical: running at native 8K makes your operating system's UI elements comically tiny. To keep menus and palettes legible, you'll realistically run your OS at a scaled resolution (like 4K), while dedicating the full 8K canvas to your creative application. In any case, image details and text looks fantastic at this resolution.

The wrap up

The ProArt PA32KCX is an uncompromising tool. It's not just an upgrade – it's an investment that demands you elevate the rest of your workflow to match it. It's a truly phenomenal piece of engineering. I love this monitor. My only real problem? I'm already dreading the day ASUS asks for this review unit back. I'm just hoping they... forget.

Specs

• 32-inch 8K UHD (7680 x 4320) adopts 4032-zone local dimming mini LED backlight with LuxPixel AGLR IPS 178° wide viewing angle panel.
• 1200 nits peak brightness and 1000 nits of sustained full-screen brightness for exceptional colour contrast.
• True 10-bit colour depth and Quantum Dot technology provide 100% sRGB, 99% Adobe RGB, 97% DCI-P3 and Rec. 2020 colour gamut, along with industry-leading Delta E < 1 colour accuracy.
• Built-in colorimeter supports Self / Auto calibration, as well as Calman and Light Illusion ColourSpace CMS professional calibration software.
• Multiple HDR format support, including Dolby Vision, HLG and HDR10. 
• Light Sync solution support Ambient Light Sensor and Backlight Sensor for reliable colour performance from the start.
• Built-in Auto KVM allows for effortless switching between two connected laptops or PCs with a single keyboard and mouse.
• Dual Thunderbolt 4 up to 96W Power Delivery, HDMI2.1, DisplayPort2.1, and a built-in USB Hub.
• Ergonomic design with tilt, swivel, pivot and height adjustments for a comfortable viewing experience.