We Chose the WRONG Monitors 5 Years Ago

TL;DR

LMG upgrades editors to ASUS ProArt 6K displays, admitting their HDR-focused PA32 UCX Pro choice was wrong because HDR workflows never took off.

Key Points

• 1.The original PA32 UCX Pro choice prioritized HDR, which never paid off. Five years ago LMG bet on HDR as YouTube's future, but the workflow remained cumbersome and the 1,000-zone backlight caused noticeable blooming in daily use.
• 2.ASUS PA32 QCVS replaces the old monitors as the new editor workhorse. The 32-inch 6K display costs $300 less than Apple's Studio Display, includes a built-in KVM, Thunderbolt 4 with 96W charging, and a notably better matte anti-glare coating.
• 3.The upgrade trades HDR performance for practicality. The new units lack local dimming and peak at only 600 nits versus 1,200 nits on the old monitors, but editors value extra resolution and screen real estate over HDR pop.
• 4.ASUS also sent one PA32KX 8K flagship for evaluation. It features 4,032 dimming zones (4× the old monitors), 1,200 nits peak brightness, a built-in colorimeter, nextG mini-LED to reduce haloing, and delta E less than 1 sRGB accuracy, priced around $9,000.
• 5.The 8K PA32KX was tested in Cyberpunk 2077 on a Red Bull-sponsored 5090 build. Running at 60 Hz and ~80 fps with inconsistent frame times, the image still looked near-photorealistic, though Linus acknowledged 8K gaming remains impractical for consumers for roughly 20 years.
• 6.A third entry-level option, the PA27JCV, was briefly highlighted. At 27 inches and 5K resolution, it shares features like built-in KVM and Apple color space compatibility at $700–$800, making it the accessible starting point in the ProArt lineup.