The mini-LED monitor Asus ProArt PA32UCG, which was already announced at IFA 2019, is expected to hit retailers at the end of June. The special feature is the mini LED backlight with extremely high luminosity of up to 1,600 cd/m² and local dimming to 1,152 zones for a contrast ratio in HDR mode of 1,000,000: 1.
The first message from the editors about this device is entitled “Mini-LED monitor already supports DisplayHDR 1400”, because the VESA's new level of HDR certification was introduced practically in parallel. The official DisplayHDR-1400 certificate for the PA32UCG did not follow until around a year later, but the monitor has not yet been available in stores.
Asus announces market launch at the end of June
Asus is now publicly announcing that the ProArt PA32UCG, which is intended for the professional segment, will “probably” be available at the end of June 2021 at the recommended retail price of around 5,550 euros. The price may seem high to private users, but it is not unusual in the segment of graphic designers, photographers and professional photo editors. With 4K Ultra HD at 120 Hz via HDMI 2.1, Asus also appeals to game developers and video editors.
Real 10 bit and colorimeter enclosed
The key data of the ProArt PA32UCG can also be seen apart from the aforementioned mini LED backlight. The IPS panel with Quantum Dot film offers real 10 bit color depth without FRC simulation, is based on an average color difference of Delta E & lt; 1 (for Adobe RGB and sRGB) calibrated at the factory and should cover 98 percent of the DCI-P3 color space and 85 percent of Rec. 2020. A colorimeter is also included with the X-Rite i1 Display Pro for individual calibration, but the monitor is also compatible with hardware color calibration systems from other manufacturers such as Datacolor and Klein Instruments.
Very high contrast in HDR mode
The backlight should still achieve a high brightness of 1,000 cd/m² across the entire screen. In combination with the relatively finely tuned Full Arry Local Dimming (FALD) with 1,152 separately adjustable light zones, the said contrast ratio of 1,000,000: 1 should be achievable in HDR mode. Accordingly, the PA32UCG is particularly suitable for HDR material and supports the formats HDR10, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) and Dolby Vision. According to Asus, “several HDR10 curves, including the PQ-Hard-Clip-Curve, PQ-Optimized and PQ-Basic” are supported.
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Asus ProArt PA32UCG (Image: Asus)
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Asus ProArt PA32UCG 
Asus ProArt PA32UCG 
Asus ProArt PA32UCG 
Asus ProArt PA32UCG 
In addition, Asus advertises the so-called Off-Axis Contrast Optimization (OCO) technology, which is supposed to improve the color accuracy with “a leveling layer that controls the light transmission” at wide viewing angles. This layer “reduces the halo effect by 80% and improves the contrast ratio of darker parts of the screen by up to a factor of seven”, according to the manufacturer.
Overview of other facilities
The connections include one HDMI 2.1, two HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 1.4 as well as two Thunderbolt 3 (input/output) with USB-C socket, three USB-A ports and a headphone output. The stand offers all common adjustment options. Stereo speakers are integrated. Further details on the equipment are provided by Asus.
FreeSync Premium color depth 10 bit (no FRC) color space 85% Rec. 2020, 99.5% Adobe RGB, 98% DCI-P3, 100% sRGB, 100% Rec.709 brightness 1,000 cd/m² (Full screen, permanent)
1,600 cd/m² (selective, peak) Contrast Typical: 1,000: 1
HDR: 1,000,000: 1 HDR DisplayHDR 1400 Connections 1 × DisplayPort 1.4
1 × HDMI 2.1
2 × HDMI 2.0
2 × Thunderbolt 3 (In/Out)
3 × USB-A
Headphone output Speakers 2 × 3 watts Other Calibrated (Delta E <1), X-Rite colorimeter, HDR Preview, 6-axis color adjustment, ergonomic hood tiltable, height-adjustable, swiveling, pivot, VESA mount Price (RRP) 5,550 euros Market launch at the end of June 2021