Asus pa32ucx review in Spanish (full analysis)

Today we are going to review one of the best monitors ever created for the design market. This is the Asus PA32UCX, the brand's first 32-inch monitor with Mini LED backlight technology. A 4K beast with real 10-bit IPS panel, and brightness values exceeding 1200 nits in HDR, and full support for most sRGB, DCI-P3, Rec. 2020 color spaces, etc.

As if the ProArt PA32UC-K was not enough, Asus has been outperformed once again. This monitor has Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, Asus ProArt hardware calibration with DeltaE <2 and its own calibration software. We will see all this and more in our review.

Before continuing, we must thank Asus for their trust in us by giving us this professional monitor to do our review.

Asus PA32UCX technical features

Unboxing

Asus has made a presentation in style for this great monitor Asus PA32UCX. For this, a box of enormous dimensions in white color and with the photo of the monitor together with some relevant information of the same on its sides has been used.

The box is made of thick cardboard and has a different opening system than other monitors. To do this, we will have to remove four plastic grips that fix both parts of the box. And once the upper part is removed, we find the monitor perfectly tucked between two molds of expanded polystyrene cork along with all the accessories.

In fact, the bundle consists of the following:

• Monitor Base Asus PA32UCX Monitor 3-Pin Power Cable Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C to USB Type-AHDMID Cable Display Warranty Card and Mounting Instructions Monitor Pre-Calibration Report Side Covers X-Rite i1 DisplayPro Colorimeter

We have a lot of things and all of them interesting. Starting with the cables, we have a Thunderbolt 3 for notebooks with 60W of load. The other USB-C cable will be used for data transfer from the USB Type-A of the monitor.

Meanwhile, this monitor also includes a mid-high range colorimeter such as the i1 DisplayPro, the superior model that we used to carry out the reviews. Then we will see a little more about it.

And of course, the monitor calibration report could not be missing, in which we see aspects such as the Delta E in various color spaces and the results of the gamma curves and others. Of course, these are the results obtained at the factory, which will possibly vary a bit with our test environment and the tools we have.

Premium and professional design

Now we are going to focus as always on the exterior design of the Asus PA32UCX monitor, which promises us to be one of the best we have ever tried, like everything it has inside. Incidentally, the bundle comes with the stand and screen removed and quick installation system, which is much appreciated because we will not have to screw absolutely anything.

Base

Let's start by looking at the base, one that undoubtedly attracts a lot of attention for its large size. The height of the support is no less than 44 cm, while the base is 35 cm wide by 24 cm deep. We are talking about a 32-inch monitor, so Asus has not spared in dimensions to have a very high quality base.

The support area has a thick metal interior chassis and a matte black plastic casing, which is what we see from the outside. Polished gold accents are visible for the front and the Asus logo to the right. Be careful, this is not LED lighting, since this monitor does not have it. We continue upwards, with a foot divided into two parts, the first (until reaching the golden ring) is installed fixedly on the base. This also has some plastic ends, while inside it will be an iron cylinder directly welded, or fixed to the base metal plate.

We go to see the upper area or support arm, which is entirely made of metal, and offers the possibility of turning on its axis with the joint at the height of the golden ring. It is completely cylindrical, in the lower area we have the typical hole for routing cables and in the upper area a slot that houses the hydraulic system to raise and lower the monitor. A system, which works outrageously well, smooth, hard and completely silent. In fact, in the back there is visible a kind of height indicator behind a transparent plastic.

After this Asus PA32UCX arm finished in brushed metal, we are located in the screen's own clamping system, which is not too different from what we have in other models of the brand. Of course, its size is considerably larger to avoid swaying, with a large metal grip in which we only have to attach the screen to two upper tabs and fix it with a click to the two inner tabs. Very simple and also compatible with VESA 100 × 100 mm.

Very thick and heavy screen

After this display of elegance in the base, we come to the Asus PA32UCX screen itself, which we have perfectly assembled.

The fully assembled set offers us measures of 72.7 cm wide, 9.3 cm deep and 62.2 cm high with the screen in the highest position. Of course, without counting the possibilities that we have of ergonomics. Looking at the back area, we have a full cover of high quality hard plastic with a brushed metal look and the chrome Asus logo on the top area. The control set is located in the rear right area as always.

Already located in the front area of ​​the Asus PA32UCX, we appreciate a matte panel with a fairly good anti-glare finish that blurs all kinds of light that directly or indirectly falls on it. For practical purposes, we only have a polished plastic physical frame in the lower area with a thickness of 17 mm. But obviously we will find frames both on the top and sides integrated on the image panel, these being 9 mm. For such a large monitor, the frames are really small, don't you think?

We haven't seen this profile monitor yet, and this is where we see a huge difference from other products. And it really is very thick for what we are used to, with no less than 55 mm just on the outer edges and 70 cm in the widest area. Of course all the technology that is installed needs space, and we must consider that the cooling system is active, having an internal fan, quite quiet, by the way.

Complete ergonomics despite its size

At least, it is surprising what we can do with this monitor in terms of positioning. Its 32 inches and wide measures are not an obstacle even to be able to rotate it 90 degrees both to the right and to the left to place it in reading mode.

We even have a gyroscope system so that both the OSD and the messages on the screen adapt to this angle of inclination. The long 44 cm base allows us to easily rotate the screen as long as we tilt it a little so that the corner does not hit the ground.

The hydraulic arm allows us to position the Asus PA32UCX so low that it will touch the ground, and so high that it will reach 62 cm in height. In this way the range of movement is 130 mm from both positions.

Regarding the z axis, the arm can be rotated a total of 60 ° to the right and another 60 ° to the left. As we saw before, this joint is located on the arm itself, at the height of the golden ring on it.

Finally we can manipulate the vertical orientation of the screen at an angle of 23 ° degrees up and -5 ° down. We couldn't expect less from a top of the range monitor like this.

Connection ports

The Asus PA32UCX has many connection ports, for incredible connectivity that we will have to see in detail. In fact, we can divide the lower area into two parts, focusing on the video and power connectors we have:

• 3-pin power to 230V3x HDMI 2.0b1x DisplayPort 1.2 3.5mm jack for audio output Power button Service port

First of all, it is obvious that the power supply of this monitor is located inside the screen. The power data provided by Asus indicates a consumption of 58.7W in typical operation at a brightness practically the minimum of 200 nits, being somewhat higher with HDR activated as is logical.

Regarding HDMI ports, they perfectly support 4K @ 60 Hz resolution with HDR activated. But we're limited to 8-bit color depth, at least that's how it was with an Asus 1660 Ti graphics card. Meanwhile, the DisplayPort port has allowed us to configure the output to 10 bits from the graphics card and the HDR.

In the second port area we have:

• 2x USB Type-C with Thunderbolt 33x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A Kensington slot (in the back area)

On the Thunderbolt 3 connectors, the one located in the independent zone, will offer us a 60W load for the devices connected to it, for example a laptop (5V / 3A, 9V / 3A, 15V / 3A, 20V / 3A). The second connector located next to the USB, will give us only 15W at 5V / 3A. In both cases, we will have support for 4K @ 60Hz resolution and 10-bit color depth. Something very important to keep in mind is that when one Thunderbolt port is in use , the other port will only offer an output DisplayPort signal.

Regarding normal USB ports, these will work with all kinds of peripherals as long as we have the USB-C cable connected to our equipment to establish data input / output. It is exactly the same as the USB Type-B port used in other monitors.

Side and top caps to improve immersion and colors

We still have something to prove in terms of the design of the Asus PA32UCX, and they are its visors, covers, ears or whatever we want to call it.

They are panels made of a kind of cardboard or flexible plastic covered with a synthetic material that is surely matt polyurethane. These panels will be in charge of covering the sides and upper area of the monitor so that ambient light does not enter the screen and cause reflections. These panels are completely dark to absorb the excess luminance generated by the screen itself, and thus achieve a perfect contrast.

The way to install them is very simple, by means of a series of plastic pins that we only have to push down so that these elements are fixed to the side frame of the screen. Immersion and concentration are greatly improved, although they are quite wide and we will need a good space on the desk so they do not get in the way.

Perhaps the only weak point I see in them is the construction material. The panels are considerably flexible, and after a time of use the one that covers the upper area may bend under its own weight. Rigid plastic visors with velvet lining I think would have been more effective.

Display and features

We now go to one of the sections where we will give more information, since Asus PA32UCX is the most advanced monitor that Asus has built. Hold on because curves are coming.

Let's start with its general benefits, where we have a 32-inch screen with a 16: 9 panoramic image format and a resolution of 3840x2160p at 60 Hz. This gives us a pixel pitch of 0.1845 mm, or what is the same, approximately 137 dpi. The panel technology is IPS, although it is the first monitor on the market to offer Mini LED backlight technology. It is about incorporating smaller LEDs than conventional LEDs in a higher density matrix to obtain a more powerful brightness and with better control by zones. In fact, it has no less than 1, 152 local brightness zones to be intelligently managed.

This IPS panel is not built for gaming, but spatially for design, so its frequency is 60 Hz and its response is 5 ms GTG. Of course, it integrates generic Adaptive Sync technology to obtain a more fluid image. We continue with a typical contrast of 1, 000: 1 that will rise to no less than 1, 000, 000: 1 if we activate HDR10. Regarding HDR, we have DisplayHDR 1000 certification, the highest available and that will give us a typical brightness of 600 nits, and 1200 nits in HDR. Of the highest we have ever seen.

The Asus PA32UCX monitor has a complete range of configuration functions for the different color spaces and HDR mode, which we recommend using through DisplayPort. It has the technology of the Asus Smart HDR brand, which supports different HDR formats with PQ curves, such as: HDR_PQ DCI, HDR_PQ Rec2020, Dolby Vision or HLG (Log-gamma Hybrid). With these PQ curves what is achieved is to obtain the maximum precision in the image adapting it to the maximum brightness available on the screen.

It is not all far from it, because we have another good number of predefined ProArt modes with specific calibration for the main color spaces. We are talking about Rec. 2020, with a covered space of 89%, Adobe RGB, with 99.5%, DCI-P3, with 99% and sRGB, with 100%. This is due to its true 10-bit color panel (1.07 billion colors) and standard calibration with 14-bit LUT tables providing Delta E <2 precision in most spaces.

The viewing angles of this IPS panel are 178 degrees both vertically and horizontally, with a perfect range of color rendering as seen in the screenshots. It supports HDCP, up to 5 levels of blue light filtering, Flicker Free technology as gaming detail, and PiP and PbP modes supporting up to 4 different signals in UHD quality.

We still have some details, such as having a 3W stereo double speaker system that will be quite useful for listening to our videos and multimedia content if we do not have speakers connected. Sound quality is rather standard and to muddle through. The Thunderbolt connector will be compatible with all laptops or boards that implement this standard at 40 Gbps.

Calibration and color proofing

Now we are going to go directly into the calibration section of this Asus PA32UCX, which will be a very important question because it is a design-oriented monitor. And this time we have a lot to talk about, since we are going to replace the HCFR software with DisplayCAL 3, another free software that we really liked the way it works. In addition, it includes a very good calibration system thanks to working with the ArgyllCMS motor, providing support for 3D and normal LUT curves to select the calibration mode that suits us best.

The parameters used to output the results and perform the calibration have been:

• X-Rite ColorMunki Colorimeter Display Gamma 2.2 Tone Curve (Generic Monitor Calibration) Color Temperature 6500K CIE 1931 Standard Observer 2 ° for brightness in cd / m ² with standard formula

For practical purposes, they are the same parameters that we had in HCFR.

Brightness and Contrast

Let's start by providing data on the brightness and contrast of the Asus PA32UCX. This time we have taken data with the monitor in normal mode with a brightness of 100% and in HDR10 mode with the maximum brightness and 10 bits activated.

Measurements	Contrast	Gamma value	Color temperature	Black level
@ 100% gloss	3503: 1	2.22	6341K	0.0324 cd / m 2
@ HDR10	6566: 1	1.87	7277K	0.2367 cd / m 2

We can see that the contrast results are spectacular both in HDR and in normal mode, widely exceeding 3000: 1 with the maximum brightness and in turn obtaining quite deep blacks. We have kept the monitor parameters as they come from the factory with the Sharpness at 0.

Due to the large size of the screen, we have chosen a grid of 3 × 5 squares to check the uniformity of this panel. For normal mode, we see excellent uniformity throughout the panel, only increasing the Delta tolerance that the software considers ideal in the left area. But looking at the brightness levels, it is a panel with a very good uniformity, in almost all cases being very close to those 600 nits of typical brightness that appear in its specifications.

These impressive results correspond to the activated HDR10 mode, seeing that even the tolerance measurements improve throughout the panel. The brightness peaks at 1500 nits throughout most of it, far exceeding 1, 200 of its specs. Simply sensational the work Asus has done. HCFR has confirmed these data also in the tests we have carried out with it.

Factory calibration and Delta E

We have taken advantage of its different predefined image modes to see how good its factory calibration is with 10 bits activated. For them we have selected the sRGB, AdobeRGB, DCI-P3 and Rec.709 modes, from those available.

In these results, before calibration, we see that the best Delta is obtained with the sRGB configuration predefined in its corresponding space, and with the space Rec.709. Regarding the distribution of values ​​with AdobeRGB, we have very good grays and blues, although the rest of the colors are somewhat further from that Delta <2. Finally, the space tested with a higher average Delta is the DCI-P3, standing at 3.94. This space was the one with the highest values ​​on the calibration sheet provided by the manufacturer.

This is also reflected in the calibration graphs, with one very good results for sRGB and Rec.709 and somewhat improvable, for example in the AdobeRGB gamma curve and RGB balance, and the gamma curve and color temperature in DCI-P3.

Calibration and Delta E after a calibration

Next, we have performed a monitor calibration on its standard profile, leaving the custom ones (sRGB, DCI-P3, etc.) as they come from the factory. We have made this calibration with the curved profile + matrix configuration in DisplayCAL and with a brightness of 80%, as the monitor comes from the factory.

Values ​​obtained with i1 DisplayPro

We have also used the colorimeter that is included in the monitor to compare some values ​​with the younger brother that we use. And the truth is that the differences are very few in terms of the results that we have obtained in the Delta calibration and the graphs.

I1Profiler software

Your iProfiler program has many more options besides calibration, such as evaluating the quality of the color profile you have installed (as long as it is compatible), a uniformity test similar to that of DisplayCAL 3 and, of course, calibration of scanners, printers or projectors.

The information that it gives us is quite complete, with CIE diagrams, Delta E, etc., although it is true that it is not as complete as DisplayCAL or HCFR as far as the monitor is concerned.

Asus ProArt calibration software

This software is proprietary to Asus, and is also seamlessly integrated with the available colorimeter. Again, it is very similar to X-Rite's own, although we have fewer options in the delivery of results and a very similar calibration system.

Either one will be good options, but we trust more the one that X-Rite supplies for its colorimeter, and it is also free for it. We have left you some screenshots so you can see what both programs offer us.

ICC calibration profiles

Now we leave you here two calibration profiles that we have made with the standard image mode. The first of them we have done through DisplayCAL with the ColorMunki Display, while the second we have done with the i1 DisplayPro and its i1 Profiler software.

ICC profile with both applications

User experience

After this long analysis of the calibration, we are going to take a break and comment calmly on what we have found in this Asus PA32UCX regarding its use.

The best that exists for design

We have no doubt about this, because its real 10 bits offer us a color depth capable of covering most spaces oriented to graphic design such as AdobeRGB or UHD content creators such as DCI-P3 or Rec.2020. Professional designers will know a lot more about this than we do, and they will know how to get the most out of this monitor. With an HDR10 that reaches 1500 nits, with 600 in normal mode, it is well above the vast majority of monitors available on the market.

After seeing the results before and after the calibration, we have a spectacular delta, not to mention its UHD resolution and its enormous 32-inch size with which to work like a charm. If the ROG Swift PG35VQ seemed the most of the most, this comes to surpass it with its IPS panel. These predefined modes for color spaces are very well calibrated, and we can improve them with the included colorimeter.

Let's not forget its backlight technology, which is responsible for bringing contrast and brightness to such spectacular values. But this time we must get a little criticism that we will try to explain. It seems that this technology still needs some adjustments, since, under black backgrounds, a kind of brightness appears around elements such as icons, images or the OSD itself. We have been informed by Asus that this will be easily fixed with a new firmware update. This phenomenon similar to bleeding only if we look at the monitor from the sides, since it stops absolutely nothing is noticed.

Too expensive for gaming

We think that no one in their right mind would buy a monitor of these characteristics to play the LOL, that is clear. This monitor gives us an overwhelming image quality, which we can also enjoy playing and being like the kings of our neighborhood or city. But the truth is that in gaming benefits, we have practically nothing, since its refresh rate is only 60 Hz in all resolutions and its response time of 5 ms.

Precisely for that we have the ROG Swift, another flagship with much faster VA panel and yes oriented to enthusiastic gaming. But of course, if you are a professional content creator and you play, well, go ahead with this wonder.

OSD panel

We still have to see the OSD panel of the Asus PA32UCX, which is as complete and easy to use as the rest of the manufacturer's monitors. On this occasion, not only do we have the typical joystick to navigate and select the different options, but there are also 6 buttons to interact with it.

• First button (joystic): with it we will access the main and initial OSD panel. We will navigate and select all the options available in it. Second button: this has the function of going backwards or leaving the menu. Third button: quick selection of the video source. Fourth button: it is a design-oriented submenu, to place an A4 or B5 sheet, a ruler, or even align the image on the screen. Fifth button: we directly open the HDR modes with their corresponding PQ curves. Sixth button: this is only for turning the monitor on and off.

Focusing on the OSD menu, we have a total of 9 sections available. But one of the most important will be the first of all, in which we can quickly select one of the 13 available color modes. For example, we have used some of these during calibration, to check their standard features, and the truth is that they are at a high level of fidelity.

The following menus correspond to the blue light filter or the color or image settings, of which we have a 6-axis color adjustment mode. You can also not miss the sound settings menu , PIP / PBP modes and variants to organize multiple inputs simultaneously, and other settings menus that you can see in these screenshots.

Final words and conclusion about Asus PA32UCX

We can only say that this Asus PA32UCX monitor is going to be one of the most outstanding references in the market for screens for professional design and content creators. Asus knows how to make good panels and this is the example. One 32-inch IPS and 4K resolution, with DisplayHDR 1000 certification whose brightness reaches up to 1500 nits thanks to Mini LED technology. This technology has a small fault that can be corrected by firmware, in which a slight bleeding appears when we have light elements on a dark background.

Its calibration and capabilities are simply spectacular, with a Delta E <1 that we will easily obtain using the included X-Rite i1 DisplayPro colorimeter. Its 10-bit panel has up to 13 very well calibrated image modes for two different color spaces, of which we cover 100% in sRGB, AdobeRGB, 99% in DCI-P3 and 89% in Rec. 2020, one one of the largest today.

Visit our updated guide to the best PC monitors on the market

Connectivity is also up to the task, with dual Thunderbolt 3 interface, several USB 3.1 Gen1 and of course DisplayPort and HDMI. That yes we have needed DisplayPort to get the 10 bits of the panel. The OSD menu is as complete as ever, packed with options and great customization possibilities.

Regarding the design, we have no objections either, very elegant and of great quality, especially its enormous hydraulic base and spectacular ergonomics. Only the included side covers could be improved, being less flexible so that they do not curl over time.

We will find this beast for the astronomical figure of 4, 000 euros very soon on the market. The maximum exponent of the brand at the moment with the best benefits that we can find in an IPS panel. Only within the reach of a few, the most demanding designers and content creators, and who have been fortunate enough to get the hang of it. Asus as always, demonstrating its power in hardware.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
TOP FEATURES	MINI LED TECHNOLOGY REQUIRES A FIRMWARE FIT
DISPLAYHDR 1000 WITH 1500 NIT PEAKS	YOUR HUGE PRICE
10 REAL BITS, AND HUGE WIDTH OF COLOR
THUNDERBOLT 3
LARGE FACTORY CALIBRATION AND 13 PICTURE MODES
X-RITE I1 DISPLAYPRO INCLUDED
MANUFACTURING DESIGN AND QUALITY

The Professional Review team awards you the platinum medal:

Asus PA32UCX

DESIGN - 98%

PANEL - 100%

CALIBRATION - 98%

BASE - 98%

MENU OSD - 93%

GAMES - 90%

PRICE - 80%

94%