Asus debuts first 8K HDR monitor with Dolby Vision for professional workflows

[Daniel Sims]

The big picture: Displays that support 8K remain uncommon due to the limited availability of true 8K content. However, the additional pixel density is valuable for certain professional workflows, which is the main selling point behind the Asus ProArt line and its newest entry into the 8K market

Asus' first 8K monitor, which is also the first 8K display to support HDR and Dolby Vision, will become available later this month. Pricing hasn't yet been announced, but the display includes a wide range of features aimed at professional image and video editors.

The ProArt Display 8K PA32KCX is a 32-inch Mini-LED professional monitor that supports resolutions up to 7,680 x 4,320, amounting to 33.2 million pixels at 275 pixels per inch. The display offers double the linear resolution of 4K, triple that of 1440p, and quadruple that of 1080p.

Although 8K screens are not unheard of, manufacturers have stepped back from them due to a lack of 8K content. Sony has not released a new 8K TV since 2022 and has none planned for the foreseeable future. Dell's $4,000 UP3218K, introduced in 2017, remains the only 8K option at some PC storefronts.

Like most displays that exceed 4K resolution, the UP3218K is targeted at professionals who need extremely fine visual detail for tasks like video editing, design, and VFX work. It's therefore unsurprising that Asus's first 8K model arrives as part of its productivity-focused ProArt series.

The PA32KCX combines its high pixel count with robust HDR capabilities, launching with support for HLG and HDR10, and adding Dolby Vision via firmware shortly after release.

The monitor delivers 1,200 nits of peak brightness and 1,000 nits sustained full-screen brightness, with 10-bit color depth, 100% sRGB, 99% Adobe RGB, 97% DCI-P3, and Rec. 2020 gamut coverage. It also promises Delta E < 1 color accuracy.

For connectivity, the display includes a built-in USB hub with dual Thunderbolt 4 ports offering up to 96W power delivery and KVM switching, letting users control two systems with one keyboard and mouse. Although the HDMI Forum recently finalized the HDMI 2.2 spec (which supports 8K at higher refresh rates) Asus' new monitor still relies on HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1.

HDMI 2.2-capable hardware isn't expected to reach the market for another couple of years. Even if mainstream 8K adoption remains slow, both HDMI 2.2 and DisplayPort 2.1b will also allow higher refresh rates at lower resolutions once devices begin to ship.

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Asus debuts first 8K HDR monitor with Dolby Vision for professional workflows

 

[VitalyT]

275 PPI for a monitor is a waste of pixels.

For the last 5 years, I have been working with a 32" 4K monitor, and IMO 8K needs a 40" monitor, not to be wasteful.

 

[brucek]

Any predictions as to what year we will see a broad range of 8K content streamed to consumers at a bit rate that meaningfully differentiates it from 4K?

 

[Puiu]

Any predictions as to what year we will see a broad range of 8K content streamed to consumers at a bit rate that meaningfully differentiates it from 4K?

Probably in 5-7 years. Right now it makes no sense since there are no proper mainstream 8K TV. Production costs of 8K content should also be taken into account.

 

[VitalyT]

Probably in 5-7 years. Right now it makes no sense since there are no proper mainstream 8K TV. Production costs of 8K content should also be taken into account.

This is not a TV, it is a professional monitor, it does not need any mainstream TV content.

 

[DrSuess]

275 PPI for a monitor is a waste of pixels.

For the last 5 years, I have been working with a 32" 4K monitor, and IMO 8K needs a 40" monitor, not to be wasteful.

Its a purpose based monitor and isn't for the average consumer (it is also not priced for the average user). It is pretty much aimed at content creators where having a resolution above 4K is import editing videos an photos (its why Apple has had 5K monitors for years). So it is not a waste to the film and content creator communities.

 

[Puiu]

This is not a TV, it is a professional monitor, it does not need any mainstream TV content.

The comment I was quoting was talking about streaming 8K content to consumers.

 

[brucek]

And I wasn't asking because I was evaluating this particular device for watching non-existent 8K content, it's just the reference to 8K Dolby Vision just got me wondering (again) who the ultimate target audience for the created 8K DV content was going to be.

Don't get me wrong, I don't need a lecture about professional devices having capabilities in excess of the target delivery platform, or other non-consumer cases.

Meanwhile though I remain skeptical about 8K to the home as a mass consumer device. There's no easily perceptible difference at screen sizes below 77". Even at 100", differences are subtle unless you're closer than 5 feet way. The first real benefits in practical usage appear at 120" screens, and even there for the front row only. So how many homes are ever going to be willing and able to accommodate that? (that's not a tech question, that's a question about typical home sizing and family preferences.)

So, for a use case that small, are all the players involved really going to invest in a true 8K production standard for mainstream content? And the headaches of reliably delivering it to all your customers, which at least in the US will probably be much easier in some markets than others. For these reasons I think we'll end up with a selection of demo content that is true 8K, and maybe a wider tier that is marketed as 8K but delivers little perceptible benefit over what could have been achieved within 4K, and not get far beyond that.

 

[AlmightyLoaf]

I would love to get my hands on this to try 8K gaming some day. primarily to see what some of these cursed TAA-only games look like when played without the smeary blur.