ASUS ProArt PA32QCV: My Perfect Sidekick

For over five years, my main screen has been the Apple Pro Display XDR a 6K marvel with flawless color grading and that unmistakable pro polish. When the XDR was released there was nothing like it in the market. The catch? Its high price, makes it a luxury few can justify.

That’s where the ASUS ProArt Display PA32QCV shines. This 31.5-inch 6K monitor costs around 16 900 SEK with VAT (EUR 1400/$1,400)—roughly 1/4 of the XDR—and has become my ideal second screen. Placed right beside the XDR, their identical size and 218 PPI pixel density create a seamless dual-setup that feels custom-built.

After barely a month of use, here’s why the PA32QCV has locked in a spot at my desk, especially for the demands of wildlife shots and video edits.

Nailing Colors

In wildlife photography, every detail counts: the shimmer on a bird’s feathers or the muted tones of hidden prey. Color accuracy isn’t optional. The PA32QCV comes factory-calibrated with a Delta E under 2 (mine averaged 0.7, max 1.5), delivering pro-grade precision straight away. It hits 100% sRGB and DCI-P3, with 88% Adobe RGB—more than enough for my RAW files in Lightroom and Photoshop.

As a longtime XDR owner, the “M Model-P3” preset is a game-changer. It matches the XDR’s wide gamut so perfectly that sliding images between screens shows zero shift in hues or brightness, a problem I had with my previous Asus gaming display, the image never looked the same on the two screens, which made it frustrating editing in DaVinci Resolve where I always use a dual screen layout.

The downside? Its IPS panel reaches about 1450:1 contrast, far from the XDR’s mini-LED million-to-one ratio. Shadowy forest scenes can look slightly lifted in HDR, but for final prints or web exports, it rarely matters. The upside is total silence—no fans to buzz during quiet late-night sessions.

Breathing Room for DaVinci Edits

For my YouTube work, I need space to layer timelines, scopes, color wheels, and refs without constant zooming. The PA32QCV’s 6016 x 3384 resolution provides exactly that: full timelines on one side, everything else on the XDR.

With HDR600 support and 600 nits peak brightness, it handles my lit office for smooth grading. Mac-tuned calibration makes this a smart, affordable XDR stand-in.

Ports are practical: dual Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 push 6K at 60Hz, and Auto KVM flips inputs fast for reviews. The buttons feel cheap compared to the XDR’s elegance—but the price forgives it.

The Ultimate XDR Pairing

Next to my XDR, the PA32QCV complements rather than competes. Shared 218 PPI means crisp text and images everywhere, but ASUS throws in full ergonomics: height, tilt, swivel, pivot—the XDR’s stand can’t touch that. Plug in Thunderbolt, pick P3, and you’re unified.

It’s a tethering powerhouse for photo culls and a multitasking beast in Resolve. Against the XDR’s $5,000+ world, this feels like a bargain that delivers on what counts.

Bottom Line

If my Apple XDR dies tomorrow, I would happily replace it with a second PA32QCV. IPS blacks aren’t theater-dark, but for most of my wildlife and video needs, it overdelivers on value. This dual setup has supercharged my workflow on a budget. If you’re a photographer, editor, or Mac user seeking balance, this is it.