ASUS ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV Review – Plenty Of Pixels Onboard

Unboxing

The new ASUS ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV is pretty fresh off the oven as it was launched locally just last month and announced globally a month before that – while the stuff is new, much of the unboxing experience is still the usual. This applies down to the design as well, as no changes has been made since we last tested a ProArt monitor, such as this one.

Here’s all the items included in the box:
– Quick start guide
– Warranty card
– ProArt welcome card
– Color calibration report
– AC (C13) power cable (Type G, UK / Malaysia)
– AC (C13) power cable (Type E/F “Schuko”, Europe / Russia)
– AC (C13) power cable (Type B “NEMA”, North America / Taiwan)
– HDMI cable
– DisplayPort cable
– Thunderbolt 4 cable
– Cleaning cloth
– Stand base
– Stand strut
– Stand mounting plate
– ASUS ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV main unit

Walkaround

The monitor design is the same as before, with a very minimalistic look throughout; in fact, you probably couldn’t tell the difference if there is another 32-inch ProArt monitor placed side by side, unless you look at the small text etched into the stand base that denotes the panel’s 6K resolution. You still get the same set of buttons for OSD controls, along with an ambient light sensor next to the power button, just like before.

Given that this is a 6K monitor, you probably guessed by now that this is intended as a competing model against Apple’s very own Pro Display XDR, which features the exact same resolution. As such, the monitor conveniently includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one of which supports 96W Power Delivery to support MacBooks – as a matter of fact, the display comes with a dedicated profile for MacBook displays as well. You also get additional USB ports down bottom for easier I/O access.

Specifications

ASUS ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV

Full specifications available on product specifications page.

Display Panel Type	32″ flat IPS
Display Surface Type	AGLR (anti-glare, low-reflection) matte
Resolution	6016 x 3384 (16:9, 6K), 218 PPI
Refresh Rate	60Hz
Pixel Response Time	5ms
Gamut Coverage	100% sRGB 98% DCI-P3 Factory color calibration, ΔE <2
Color Depth	10-bit (1.07B colors)
HDR Support	HDR10
Brightness	400 nits (typical) 600 nits (HDR peak)
Contrast Ratio	1,500:1 (typical) 3,000:1 (max)
Viewing Angle (CR≧10)	178°(H) / 178°(V)
Variable Refresh Rate Support	Adaptive Sync
Display Certifications	VESA DisplayHDR 600 VESA MediaSync Display Calman Verified TÜV Flicker-free TÜV Low Blue Light
I/O	Rear: 1x AC-in 1x HDMI 2.1 1x DisplayPort 1.4 1x USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 (15W) 1x USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 (96W) 1x USB-C upstream / KVM port 1x 3.5mm headphone jack 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) Type-A (4.5W) Bottom: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (5Gbps) Type-A (4.5W) 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (5Gbps) Type-C (15W)
KVM Switch	Yes
Onboard Speakers	2x 2W stereo
Power Consumption	49.49W max
Stand Articulation	Tilt: +23° ~ -5° Swivel: +30° ~ -30° Pivot: +90° ~ -90° Height Adjustment: 0~130 mm
VESA Mounting	100 x 100 mm
Dimensions & Weight	Monitor only: 714.2 x 617.9 x 46.9mm, 9.3kg Monitor with stand: 714.2 x 419.7 x 240.1mm, 6.3kg

Performance

Brightness Uniformity

We measured the brightness over a 5×5 grid spanning across 32 inches of area to see how consistent the brightness are relative to the center region. We measure around 570 nits in the center with the panel brightness set to maximum, although the figures do deviate quite a bit, from the lowest of around 480 nits at the top right edge, to as high as 630 nits on the lower left edge. Not the most consistent I’d say, although the consistency is much better at lower brightness levels.

Color Gamut

Color Gamut Measurement	Gamut Coverage	Gamut Volume
sRGB	99.9%	146.6%
Adobe RGB	84.0%	100.9%
DCI-P3	98.8%	103.7%

Here’s what we measured in terms of color gamut, which is consistent with manufacturer’s claims. Note that every single unit of the ProArt PA32QCV is factory-calibrated, and each will get its own calibration report. With that said, the colors should be periodically calibrated to ensure accuracy over time, although this model isn’t among the list of ProArt monitors that supports the self-calibration feature.

The Good

There’s no big surprises when it comes to the PA32QCV monitor – all of the known qualities of previous models, like the PA27JCV we tested last year, remain. That means the same excellent colors, robust OSD menu, AGLR matte panels, expansive I/O, KVM support, and more; this 6K model adds 6K resolution, Thunderbolt 4 and MacBook-friendly features like the “M Model-P3” color mode to make it more enticing for those who use MacBooks or Mac-based systems for their work.

The Bad

The ProArt 6K PA32QCV ticks all the necessary boxes for a professional monitor, although it’s not going to directly compete against Apple’s Pro Display XDR given that you have to spend several times more (as in, RM20,000 at minimum) for its impressive 1,600 nits of peak brightness. If your workflow doesn’t involve extremely bright HDR scenarios, this ProArt model is plenty serviceable. That said, having the self-calibration feature found in other ProArt models would’ve been a great value-add feature, since it can save the hassle of setting up manual calibrations.

Verdict

At RM5,500, the ASUS ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV is a solid option to go for if you want the 6K resolution like the Apple Pro Display XDR, but couldn’t stomach the price of Apple’s hardware. Macs aside, this monitor works great for a Windows-based machine as well, as the company has laid good foundations on what makes a great monitor for color-critical work.

Special thanks to ASUS Malaysia for providing the ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV for this review.