At a look
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Functional design with a small stand base and tripod mounting
- Many image-quality options and changes
- 27-inch 5K panel appears to be like extraordinarily sharp
- Combo of excessive refresh fee, ELMB Sync, and ELMB 2 ship on movement readability
Cons
- Odd VESA mount design
- USB-C port solely offers 15 watts of energy supply
- Mid-tier distinction and colour efficiency
Our Verdict
The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG delivers unbelievable sharpness each at relaxation and in movement because of the one-two punch of improved refresh charges and ELMB.
Price When Reviewed
This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined
Best Pricing Today
Price When Reviewed
$849
Best Prices Today: Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG
5K displays aren’t as unique as they was. Once a uncommon possibility bought at costs a number of instances larger than their 4K equivalents, 5K displays are actually out there for nicely under $1,000. They’re additionally out there with options that have been as soon as unthinkable, and the Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG is an instance of that pattern. It has a 5K IPS panel but in addition offers a refresh fee as much as 180Hz at 5K, or 330Hz at 1440p. That’s a giant leap over the 60Hz refresh fee 5K displays have traditionally caught with, however does it actually make the XG27JCG choose for gaming?
Read on to be taught extra, then see our roundup of the best monitors for comparability.
Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG specs and options
The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG’s key function is in fact the Fast IPS LCD panel. It has a most decision of 5120×2880 and a most refresh fee of 180Hz when overclocked.
And if that refresh isn’t sufficient, or in case your GPU can’t deal with gaming at 5K decision, you’ll be able to decrease the decision to 2560×1440 and luxuriate in a refresh fee as much as 330Hz.
- Display measurement: 27-inch 16:9 side ratio
- Native decision: 5120×2880
- Panel sort: Fast IPS LCD
- Refresh fee: 165Hz/180Hz(OC) at 5K, or 330Hz at 1440p
- Adaptive sync: AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Nvidia G-Sync Compatible
- HDR: Yes, VESA DisplayHDR 600 Certified
- Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and as much as 15 watts Power Delivery, 1x USB-B 3.2 Gen 1 upstream, 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 downstream, 3.5mm audio pass-through
- Audio: No
- Extra Features: Tripod screw mount
- Software assist: Windows 11, MacOS 12 or later
- Price: $849 MSRP
5K displays with excessive refresh charges are new, so that you would possibly count on to pay a premium. Yet that’s not the case. The XG27JCG has a retail MSRP of $849, and whereas that’s not cheap, it’s truly in direction of the low finish of 5K monitor pricing.
Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG design
The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG embraces the corporate’s present tried-and-true design language. That means you’ll see lots of matte-black plastic each back and front, in addition to a distinguished ROG emblem with RGB-LED backlighting. The emblem is appropriate with Asus’ Aura Sync, so you’ll be able to coordinate it with different units.
It’s a design that screams “I’m a gaming monitor!” on the high of its lungs, however it’s not as spectacular as Asus’ ROG OLED displays, which have a tendency to make use of supplies that look extra spectacular on the rear panel.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
An ergonomic stand is included with the monitor, as is typical for displays on this value vary. It has a compact, flat stand base that minimizes the monitor’s footprint in your desk. The stand adjusts for peak, tilt, swivel, and might pivot (rotate) 90 levels to be used in portrait orientation.
A 100x100mm VESA mount is accessible to be used with third-party monitor arms and stands. However, the monitor stand’s neck is affixed from the manufacturing unit. You can take away it by prying off two plastic items after which unscrewing 4 screws. This reveals a 100x100mm VESA mount, however is a bit recessed, which can not work with some third-party monitor stands and arms. Asus sells an adapter for wall mounts that may resolve this problem. It’s a little bit of an uncommon design, and I don’t see the logic in it, as a result of it doesn’t appear to offer a useful profit or look remarkably extra enticing than different displays.
Like many Asus ROG displays, the XG27JCG has a pleasant further: a 1/4-inch tripod screw mount. This mount is on high of the stand neck and can be utilized to connect a wide range of useful peripherals, like an adjustable webcam arm or a hoop gentle. Competitors hardly ever provide this function, so if you wish to mount some further gear in your monitor, the XG27JCG is a superb selection.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG connectivity
Connectivity is usually a sore level for Asus ROG displays, and whereas the ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG manages to supply some perks, it’s not fairly the place I would really like it to be.
The problem is the USB-C port. The monitor does have one, which is sweet, because it’s nonetheless not a assured function on a monitor marketed to avid gamers. However, the USB-C energy solely offers 15 watts of Power Delivery, which is mostly not sufficient to cost a related laptop computer at acceptable speeds. You’ll want one other energy supply for the laptop computer, which will increase cable litter.
I do perceive why Asus would make this selection. Most Windows gaming laptops require 100 to 240 watts of energy, which might require a dearer USB-C energy supply implementation. Asus as a substitute retains USB-C energy supply easy, presumably to maintain the value low. However, this can be a 5K monitor, so it would enchantment to not solely avid gamers but in addition prosumers and professionals. The latter two demographics might be disenchanted by the USB-C port.
It’s not all dangerous information, although. The monitor has two HDMI 2.1 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4, plus DisplayPort over USB-C, for a complete of 4 video inputs. Most rivals have three inputs, although 4 just isn’t unusual.
The XG27JCG additionally has a USB-A hub with three downstream USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports. That’s vary of USB-A connectivity for a monitor marketed as a gaming show. These might be pushed by the USB-C port or a USB-B port, and a KVM swap perform is included.
Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG menus and options
Though it’s bought as a gaming show, the Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG doesn’t skimp on the menu system or picture high quality changes. It consists of particular sRGB and DCI-P3 colour modes (along with the unspecified “wide gamut” which is the default), plus exactly focused colour temperature and gamma modes and six-axis colour saturation adjustment. These options are useful should you’re making an attempt to tune the monitor’s picture for a particular look or commonplace.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
But the XG27JCG has a phalanx of gaming options, too. These embody an FPS counter, a timer and stopwatch, on-screen cross hair and sniper modes, and shadow enhance modes together with a dynamic shadow enhance that’s meant to interact mechanically when wanted (although I’m actually not adequate at aggressive shooters to say simply how nicely this mode works). There’s additionally lots of choices for controlling refresh fee and an Extreme Low Motion Blur mode, which I’ll clarify extra within the movement efficiency part of this overview.
The cherry on high is Asus’ DisplayWidget. It’s a software program utility that permits you to alter most show options from inside Windows or MacOS. While some rivals (like Dell, BenQ, and Acer) have related software program, some manufacturers (like Samsung and LG) are notably behind on this space.
Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG audio
The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG doesn’t have built-in audio system. This is typical for a gaming monitor. A 3.5mm audio jack is accessible for audio pass-through.
Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG SDR picture high quality
The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG has each benefits and drawbacks in comparison with the typical $800 monitor. On the plus facet, it offers super-sharp 5K decision and plenty of picture high quality changes. But on the draw back, it makes use of a Fast IPS LCD panel, a typical show panel that may are likely to have downsides in distinction and colour gamut. So how does the monitor stack up in SDR?
Matthew Smith / Foundry
First up is SDR brightness, the place the XG27JCG hits a most of 354 nits. As the graph reveals, that’s okay however not in direction of the excessive finish of SDR brightness. As you’ll see within the HDR part, the monitor does have the potential to get a lot brighter, and I’d have appreciated to see that out there as an possibility in SDR, too.
However, 354 nits remains to be simply superb for many conditions, and actually I typically used it round 20 to 40 % of its most brightness. You solely want to contemplate a brighter SDR monitor should you’re in an unusually shiny setting, like an workplace the place you’ll be able to’t management the lighting, or a room with giant sunlit home windows.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
As talked about, the XG27JCG has a Fast IPS LCD panel. IPS panels are likely to have a restricted distinction ratio, and the XG27JCG just isn’t an exception. I measured a most distinction ratio of 1230:1 at 50 % of most brightness, and that worth didn’t change a lot at different brightness settings.
The problem right here is the monitor’s backlight, which should shine by means of the LCD panel to make the show helpful. The backlight usually bleeds by means of noticeably in darkish scenes, a difficulty generally known as “IPS glow.” This could make the picture appear washed out in darkish scenes.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Color gamut efficiency is best, although nonetheless solely respectable. I measured a colour gamut that spans 100 % of sRGB, 94 % of DCI-P3, and 87 % of AdobeRGB. These figures are excessive sufficient to point a vivid picture, however they’re a couple of steps behind main rivals.
It’s fascinating to notice that the Asus ProArtwork Display 5K PA27JCV has a significantly better colour gamut. So, whereas the XG27JCG additionally offers 5K decision, the ProArtwork is best if artistic work is your major purpose.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Having stated that, the XG27JCG truly did fairly nicely when it comes to colour accuracy. It achieved a colour error that’s extremely aggressive with alternate options, and which ought to present real looking colour in most conditions.
But that doesn’t imply the picture is definitely superior to the ProArtwork, or to most alternate options, as a result of I observed small points in gamma and colour temperature efficiency. At default settings, the monitor posted a gamma curve of two.4 (off the goal of two.2) and a colour temperature of 7000Ok (off the goal of 6500Ok). As a end result, the picture regarded a bit darker and cooler than it ought to have.
I discovered the colour temperature worth was simply adjusted within the User Mode colour settings, which immediately snapped it to 6500Ok. But the gamma worth was all the time excessive. I needed to decrease it to a menu setting of gamma 2.0 to attain gamma 2.2. That’s undoubtedly not a deal breaker, however it’s one thing to remember if you’re contemplating this monitor for artistic work.
Sharpness, in fact, is a energy. The 27-inch 5K panel delivers a decision of 218 pixels per inch. That’s near the very best pixel density out there (a 6K 32-inch monitor has related pixel density). Only 8K displays are considerably extra pixel-dense, however they’re unusual and costly. 5K decision is nice should you work with high-resolution photos or movies, in fact, however it noticeably improves the readability of small fonts and is mostly nice should you learn lots of paperwork in your day-to-day workflow.
Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG HDR picture high quality
The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG is able to HDR and is VESA DisplayHDR 600 licensed. I discovered that it achieved the promised degree of brightness with a measured most of 608 nits. Unlike an OLED show, which is dimmer when giant parts of the show are lit in HDR, the XG27JCG produced a most of 608 nits in all eventualities.
It’s not all excellent news, nevertheless. While the XG27JCG has a excessive HDR brightness, it lacks the dynamic distinction required to make HDR look its greatest. Because of how backlit LCD shows work, a shiny HDR scene will typically result in elevated brightness in each darkish and shiny areas of the scene. That flattens distinction and likewise makes it laborious for the XG27JCG to ship the luminance element anticipated.
The XG27JCG features a dynamic backlight function that’s higher than common. Now, let’s be clear: This just isn’t a Mini-LED show. A Mini-LED show will place lighting components instantly behind the LCD panel. The XG27JCG is edge-lit, which means the lights are positioned across the edges. As a end result, the dynamic backlight function will trigger distracting gentle uniformity points in any scene with a mixture of shiny and darkish content material.
To give credit score the place it’s due, although, the XG27JCG’s dynamic backlight is best than common. It reacts with relative pace and seems to have extra dimming zones than typical (although the precise quantity just isn’t quoted, as is typical for edge-lit shows). I nonetheless don’t assume it’s adequate to be of sensible use, however it’s higher than the norm for a dynamic backlight on an edge-lit LCD show.
In addition, the XG27JCG permits HDR brightness adjustment. This just isn’t the norm, as HDR usually locks brightness to that set by the content material proven on-screen. That’s okay for a tv, however annoying on a pc monitor.
Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG movement efficiency
The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG’s decision is the headline function. However, the monitor’s movement readability is value simply as a lot consideration, for a number of causes.
First, the apparent one: refresh fee. The XG27JCG can do as much as 165Hz at 5K decision, or as much as 180Hz when overclocked. That’s a giant deal! 5K displays have typically had a lot decrease refresh charges (normally 60Hz). Increasing the refresh fee to 165Hz/180Hz offers an enormous leap in smoothness and responsiveness. It’s not only for video games, both. The decrease latency {that a} high-refresh show offers will also be felt on the Windows and MacOS desktop.
The monitor also can ship 1440p decision at as much as 330Hz (this mode doesn’t have an overclock out there). Personally, I are likely to play technique titles most of all, and I actually just like the sharpness of 5K in these video games. Plus, many can hit excessive body charges alongside the decision. Still, the 1440p/330Hz mode is a pleasant possibility if you wish to play a extra aggressive recreation.
Asus additionally offers adaptive refresh fee assist by means of AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync. That is typical for a high-end gaming monitor, in fact.
But Asus’ Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) mode is the place issues get fascinating.
ELMB is a backlight strobing mode. It strobes the backlight at excessive frequencies such {that a} clean, black body is proven between commonplace frames. Due to a quirk of human persistence of imaginative and prescient, this has the impact of decreasing movement blur. ELMB just isn’t new, and it’s not distinctive. Many manufacturers provide related options beneath completely different names. However, Asus is a frontrunner on this approach, and proves that management with options not simple to search out elsewhere.
The first is ELMB Sync. A typical backlight strobing just isn’t appropriate with adaptive sync. That’s as a result of the frequency of the strobing might be at odds with the dynamic refresh fee. ELMB Sync can get them again in sync, nevertheless, so you should use variable refresh charges with ELMB turned on. That’s a giant win.
The second is ELMB2. This model of ELMB takes benefit of the XG27JCG’s dynamic backlight to refine how the strobing works. Instead of turning your entire backlight on and off rapidly, the edge-lit zones transfer down the show from high to backside. It’s a bit just like the scan line on an previous CRT show.
And, wow, is it efficient. I’ve not too long ago reviewed plenty of 500Hz OLED displays with completely astounding picture high quality. The XG27JCG isn’t fairly at that degree, however it’s a lot nearer than it has any proper to be. ELMB2 delivers extremely crisp movement with a ton of element. Even small textual content is readable because it zooms throughout the show.
While ELMB Sync and ELMB2 are extraordinarily helpful, these modes include some caveats. ELMB Sync just isn’t appropriate with dynamic dimming, side ratio management, and the blue gentle filter. ELMB2 moreover just isn’t appropriate with variable refresh charges and doesn’t permit brightness management.
Still, the XG27JCG’s general movement efficiency is excellent for a 5K monitor.
Should you purchase the Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG?
The ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG is one more terrific monitor from Asus, although one with area of interest enchantment. Most avid gamers might be higher served by a 4K OLED monitor, and most artistic professionals will choose a 5K show constructed particularly for work, which is more likely to have a wider colour gamut and extra options to regulate monitor picture high quality.
But in order for you a monitor that’s nice for each work and play, or you might have a specific craving to play video games at extraordinarily excessive decision (which might be fairly potential should you get pleasure from older or much less demanding video games), the 5K XG27JCG is excellent. It delivers unbelievable sharpness and readability, and it does so at a aggressive value.