Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG review: This unique OLED monitor wows in HDR

Price When Reviewed

$749

Best Prices Today: Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG

Those in search of an OLED monitor have a whole lot of decisions in 2024, however if you’d like a 27-inch 1440p show, these decisions have primarily used Samsung’s QD-OLED panel. Now, nonetheless, Asus is altering that with the ROG Strix XG27AQDMG. This new 27-inch 1440p 240Hz gaming monitor has an OLED show from LG. It is just like QD-OLED in lots of respects however takes the lead in HDR efficiency.

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG specs and options

You wouldn’t know the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG from different OLED displays by glancing on the spec sheet. It is a 27-inch show with a 2560×1440 decision and a most refresh charge of 240Hz. Also, like related displays, it sticks to HDMI and DisplayPort for video enter and retains USB connectivity minimal with simply two USB-A ports.

• Display dimension: 27-inch widescreen
• Native decision: 2560×1440
• Panel sort: Glossy WOLED
• Refresh charge: Up to 240Hz
• Adaptive sync: Adaptive Sync 240, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Nvidia G-Sync
• HDR: Yes, HDR10
• Ports: 1x DisplayPort 1.4 DSC, 2x HDMI (v2.0), 1x earphone jack, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB Type-B (upstream)
• VESA mount: 100x100mm
• Speakers: None
• Price: $749 MSRP

The key distinction, after all, is the kind of show panel used. WOLED stands for “white OLED,” and it’s a sort of panel manufactured by LG that has a subpixel structure with a further white OLED pixel that joins the crimson, blue, and inexperienced OLED pixels.

This is moderately distinctive, as almost all LCD and OLED shows all through historical past follow a crimson, blue, and inexperienced sub-pixel structure, and obtain white by lighting all three concurrently. LG says the distinctive white sub-pixel can improve the show’s most brightness.

The is a successor to the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM, which additionally had a WOLED panel. That monitor aged poorly as QD-OLED opponents shortly leaped forward of it. The XG27AQDMG gala’s higher.

Further studying: See our roundup of the best gaming monitors to find out about competing merchandise.

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG design

The Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG’s design, very similar to its spec sheet, is troublesome to inform other than different OLED displays at a look. It strikes a contemporary look from the entrance, with slim bezels alongside all sides and a shiny show panel. Unlike some opponents, nonetheless, Asus branding stays outstanding due to a glowing crimson ROG brand.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

From the again, the monitor’s skinny profile stands out, and a few refined etching makes the monitor’s gaming intent clear. The monitor contains an RGB-LED accent within the form of the Asus ROG brand. It will be personalized utilizing the on-screen menu or coordinate with different RGB-LED gadgets by way of Asus’ Aura Sync.

Asus correctly chooses to make use of a compact, flat stand for the ROG Strix XG27AQDMG. This reduces the quantity of house the monitor takes up in your desk and retains the house it does eat usable, as you’ll be able to nonetheless place objects on the stand. The stand adjusts for top, tilt, swivel, and pivots 90 levels to be used in portrait orientation. A 100x100mm VESA show mount is accessible, which implies that third-party monitor stands and arms are an possibility.

The monitor stand features a threaded mount on the highest of the stand. It can be utilized to connect a peripheral like a webcam, microphone, or LED mild, and it’s a helpful characteristic for streamers and different video content material creators. You’ll seemingly want a spacer or adjustable mount to make use of it, nonetheless, as a result of the highest of the show will block a peripheral mounted right here except the stand is adjusted to its lowest top.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG connectivity and menus

Asus sticks to the fundamentals with connectivity. The ROG Strix XG27AQDMG has one DisplayPort 1.4 port and two HDMI 2.0 ports, each of which help VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) for compatibility with trendy recreation consoles.

It must be famous that this monitor doesn’t help HDMI 2.1, and consequently, it may’t show its most refresh charge of 240Hz over HDMI. This might be an issue if you wish to join a PC over HDMI. I all the time desire to see a monitor help its most refresh charge throughout all accessible show inputs, and it’s disappointing to see this omitted.

USB-C connectivity isn’t accessible, and the monitor has solely two USB-A ports for connecting wired peripherals. These will be accessed by a USB-B upstream connection. This is primary connectivity for a gaming monitor, however just like opponents.

The monitor’s on-screen menu system is accessed by a joystick centered on the underside bezel. It is responsive and simple to make use of. Asus on-screen menus are logically organized and well-labeled, so navigating them to search out options is straightforward.

Image high quality adjustment is in depth. It contains quite a lot of preset modes in addition to shade gamut modes that concentrate on sRGB and DCI-P3. Color temperature and gamma are adjustable as properly, and each goal particular numerical values as an alternative of obscure labels like “cool” or “warm.” Six-axis shade customization is included for additional fine-tuning if it’s required.

Gamers can elevate the brightness of darkish areas of the display screen to make enemies hidden in shadowy areas simpler to see. The show additionally contains a number of facet ratio modes, which may change the scale of the viewable space on the show. That is perhaps helpful if you wish to prohibit the viewable space to a 24-inch 1080p equal for esports titles. There’s additionally a 4:3 mode, which is useful if you wish to play a really previous PC recreation that lacks correct widescreen help.

The monitor’s options will be adjusted in Windows with Asus’ DisplayWidget software program. It’s faster and simpler to make use of than the on-screen menu. Most monitor makers supply related software program, however DisplayWidget is extra enticing and simpler to make use of than related software program from opponents like Gigabyte and MSI.

Speakers will not be included, so you have to to make use of exterior audio system or a headset. I all the time desire to see bundled audio system, however aggressive gaming displays additionally exclude them.

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG SDR picture high quality

The Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG, like each different 27-inch OLED gaming monitor available on the market, serves up 2560×1440 decision. But whereas opponents use Samsung’s QD-OLED panel know-how, the XG27QDMG as an alternative depends on LG’s third-generation WOLED. So, how does it stack up?

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The ROG Strix XG27AQDMG reached a most full-screen SDR brightness of 260 nits. That’s aggressive with friends just like the Alienware AW2725DF, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not superb.

Brightness is claimed to be a perk of WOLED panels, but in SDR the XG27AQDMG is barely brighter than options with a Samsung QD-OLED panel. The monitor’s full-screen brightness is ok for a room with good mild management, however brilliant overhead lighting or a sunny window can create a whole lot of glare and make the monitor uncomfortable to view.

WOLED does have a bonus in HDR brightness, although, as I’ll clarify in additional element within the subsequent part of this evaluate.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Contrast is a energy of the ROG Strix XG27AQDMG. The monitor achieved a minimal brightness of zero nits at each show brightness setting, which is successfully an ideal outcome and boosts the distinction ratio into the tens of millions.

The monitor’s glorious distinction is noticeable throughout all the things considered on the show, nevertheless it’s particularly helpful in darker video games and flicks like Diablo IV or Blade Runner. OLED avoids the grayish, foggy look widespread to cheaper displays with an IPS panel.

All trendy OLED displays profit from OLED’s distinction ratio, so distinction isn’t a motive to purchase one OLED show over one other. Still, it’s good to see the WOLED performs in addition to anticipated.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The ROG Strix XG27AQDMG’s shade gamut outcomes are attention-grabbing. It achieves 100 p.c of the sRGB shade gamut, 96 p.c of DCI-P3, and 89 p.c of Adobe RGB. These are glorious outcomes, however they’re a bit behind latest QD-OLED displays. Most QD-OLED displays launched in 2024 can attain 98 p.c of DCI-P3 and 94 p.c of Adobe RGB.

Gamers shouldn’t fret over this, because the distinction will likely be troublesome to note whereas enjoying video games. Even content material creators most likely gained’t discover the XG27AQDMG’s barely lowered shade gamut an issue.

Still, if most shade gamut is a precedence for you, a QD-OLED monitor is the higher selection. It’s additionally clever to think about a Mini-LED monitor with quantum dots, such because the RedMagic 4K Gaming Monitor. They obtain unparalleled shade gamut outcomes.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

WOLED’s shade efficiency continues to lag behind QD-OLED in shade accuracy, because the XG27AQDMG posted outcomes that lag the QD-OLED displays that PCWorld has examined this 12 months. The XG27AQDMG’s shade seems to be lifelike and stays nice for gaming, however content material creators could wish to calibrate the show.

The XG27AQDMG additionally had slight points with shade temperature and gamma efficiency. I measured a gamma curve of two.3 when the setting was at 2.2, that means content material seemed a tad darker than it ought to. Color temperature was additionally a bit off, with a measured shade temperature of 6600Ok when the monitor was set to 6500Ok. That means the monitor seemed barely cooler and extra sterile than ideally suited. Both of those variances are pretty minor, although, and never more likely to be an impediment for players.

Sharpness is a extra noticeable drawback. The WOLED panel’s distinctive subpixel structure may cause shade fringing points round particulars like small textual content and advantageous, high-contrast edges. Small fonts have been pixelated and at instances confirmed off-colors alongside their edges. Asus features a ClearEdge characteristic, which is meant to reduce the issue, nevertheless it wasn’t efficient in my testing. In reality, at instances the monitor seemed worse with ClearEdge on than with it off.

This problem can also be current on trendy QD-OLED displays, particularly 27-inch displays 1440p decision, however I do really feel it’s a bit extra noticeable on the WOLED panel.

The XG27AQDMG’s general SDR picture high quality is without delay spectacular and disappointing. Its vast shade gamut and excellent distinction make it glorious for video games and flicks. However, the WOLED panel barely underperforms QD-OLED in some respects, and its lackluster sharpness stands out. I can suggest the XG27AQDMG for those who simply wish to recreation, however consumers in search of a recreation that’s equally nice for gaming, workplace productiveness, and content material creation must be cautious.

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG HDR picture high quality

The Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG’s SDR efficiency barely lags behind its OLED friends, nevertheless it strikes again in HDR.

I measured a most sustained full-screen HDR brightness of 269 nits, which principally ties the monitor’s SDR brightness. However, the monitor hit a most sustained brightness of 724 nits in a 10 p.c window, that means 10 p.c of the show was lit. QD-OLED shows, just like the Alienware AW2725DF and Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDM, achieved about 400 nits on this situation.

The Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG additionally hit a most sustained brightness of 608 nits in a 50 p.c window, that means half the show was lit. That, too, is healthier than QD-OLED options, that are fortunate to maintain 300 nits.

To put it merely, the XG27AQDMG’s WOLED panel delivers higher HDR brightness than QD-OLED. Higher brightness is essential as a result of it gives extra element in luminous areas of a scene. The accretion disc across the black gap in Interstellar’s Gargantua scene is a good instance. The disk looks like a uniform, glowing uniform mass in SDR, however HDR reveals refined colours and added element that was invisible in SDR.

The XG27AQDMG can also be nice for HDR gaming. Games which have HDR help ceaselessly have enticing particle results and different small, flashy components that seem solely briefly on the display screen. The XG27AQDMG seems to be exceptionally brilliant and detailed when displaying these results. QD-OLED displays additionally look good in HDR video games, however the XG27AQDMG is superior.

If HDR is on the high of your checklist of priorities, then the XG27AQDMG is a superb selection. Its brightness is defeated solely by Mini-LED displays just like the AOC Q27G3XMN. Mini-LED displays have their very own disadvantages, although, like halos round small brilliant objects and, normally, much less movement readability. The XG27AQDMG’s mixture of brightness, distinction, and movement readability makes it ideally suited for HDR gaming.

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG movement efficiency

Motion efficiency is a energy of OLED displays, and the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG is not any exception. Scrolling take a look at photographs from video games like League of Legends and Dota 2 revealed good element round character silhouettes. The names and hitpoint bars displayed above characters have been usually legible in movement, although not all the time straightforward to learn. Small, fast-paced objects stay identifiable and vital element is seen in first rate vistas when panning the digital camera in a 3D recreation.

While the XG27AQDMG’s movement readability is nice, it’s defeated by QD-OLED options that hit 360Hz, akin to Alienware’s AW2725DF. These opponents are costlier, however their improved refresh charge can present a slight movement readability increase. Keep in thoughts, nonetheless, {that a} recreation should obtain a body charge of as much as 360 frames per second for the 360Hz refresh charge to show helpful. That’s troublesome, or unattainable, with many trendy PC video games.

Asus gives a backlight strobing mode known as ELMB, which quickly sparkles the picture to scale back perceived movement blur. It’s efficient, nevertheless it additionally lowers the brightness of the show. That generally is a drawback in SDR content material, as there’s not a whole lot of brightness to spare. The ELMB mode additionally helps a most refresh charge of 120Hz, and it doesn’t work with HDR. These limitations take away most of its enchantment.

The XG27AQDMG’s official adaptive sync help is in depth. It contains certifications for VESA Adaptive Sync 240, Nvidia G-Sync Compatible, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. The monitor additionally works with the variable refresh mode on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

All OLED opponents supply adaptive sync help, however many firms select to not pursue official certification with each Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync. Technically, displays with out the certification will often work with each, however I just like the peace of thoughts Asus gives by together with official help for each requirements.

Should you purchase the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG?

The Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG is a viable different to QD-OLED displays that performs barely worse in some conditions and higher in others. The monitor’s HDR efficiency is its best energy, because it achieves a stage of HDR brightness that’s considerably increased than QD-OLED displays. In SDR, nonetheless, the XG27AQDMG barely lags behind QD-OLED opponents in shade efficiency and sharpness.

Pricing works in Asus’ favor. The XG27AQDMG carries a retail MSRP of simply $749.99. Just a few QD-OLED displays, just like the MSI MAG 271QPX, can be found for $750, however most are $50 to $100 costlier. That makes the XG27AQDMG a fantastic selection for players who need OLED however nonetheless must be aware of their price range.