Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM review: It isn’t perfect, but gamers will fall in love

Price When Reviewed

$999.99

Best Prices Today: Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM

2023 is the year of the OLED monitor, unleashing quite a few screens into an area that after included only a couple viable choices. Asus’ ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM is among the many recent choices, delivering a 240Hz refresh charge, excessive construct high quality, and glorious picture high quality at $1,000. However, a couple of shortcomings restrict its enchantment to players. 

Further studying: See our roundup of the best gaming monitors to study competing merchandise.

What are the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM specs?

The Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM’s most notable function is its most evident: the 27-inch (effectively, 26.5-inch) OLED panel. This is the second-most standard monitor measurement available on the market in the present day, and it’s appropriate to be used as a main monitor on any desk. QD-OLED ultrawides are nice, however a 27-inch widescreen is a much more sensible alternative when area is tight.

• Display measurement: 26.5-inch widescreen
• Native decision: 2,560 x 1,440
• Panel kind: OLED
• Refresh charge: 240Hz
• Adaptive-Sync: Yes, FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible
• HDR: HDR 10
• Ports: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 2x USB-A, 1x 3.5mm audio
• Stand adjustment: Height, swivel, tilt, pivot
• VESA mount: Yes, 100mm x 100mm
• Speakers: None
• Price: $999

Asus asks nearly $1,000, which, although costly, is according to different OLED screens such because the LG Ultragear 27GR95QE-B and Acer X27U. Demand appears to be robust, so I doubt costs will dip till fall of 2023.

Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM design 

The Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM is straight away identifiable as a part of the Republic of Gamers model, for higher or worse. The model’s sharp strains and muscular patterns do little for me, personally. Still, I’ll give Asus credit score for constructing a particular presence, and I’m positive it’ll enchantment to the model’s followers. 

Matt Smith

Asus highlights the skinny OLED panel by consolidating the monitor’s electronics right into a field that takes up about half the rear panel. The relaxation is ultra-thin steel and glass. It’s a placing profile that telegraphs the OLED panel’s presence to PC geeks within the know. 

A broad, angular stand retains the PG27AQDM planted in your desk. It’s a good-looking and beefy unit with built-in customizable LED lighting. I discovered the lights too brilliant for my style—thankfully, they are often turned off if desired. The stand takes up vital desk area and may intrude along with your established desk structure. An included adapter supplies a 100x100mm VESA mount to be used with third-party monitor stands and arms. 

Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM options and menus 

The ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM’s connectivity is a bit disappointing. It has simply two HDMI 2.0 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4. The HDMI ports are restricted to 120Hz. That’s not an issue when the monitor is used with an Xbox Series X/S or PlayStation 5 sport console, as they will solely output as much as 120Hz. However, players and creators with a number of PCs ought to maintain this limitation in thoughts.

USB connectivity is missing as effectively. The monitor has simply two USB-A downstream ports pushed by a USB-B upstream port. USB-C will not be obtainable. This isn’t a deal breaker however, given the monitor’s worth, Asus ought to’ve gone the additional mile and tossed in USB-C. 

Matt Smith

While connectivity is proscribed, Asus goes all-in on the menu system. It presents all kinds of shade modes, together with an sRGB mode, and shade customization choices similar to shade temperature, gamma, and six-axis shade calibration. There’s additionally a spread of gamer-centric options similar to a black stablizer, which will increase the brightness of darkish areas to disclose hidden foes, and an on-screen crosshair. 

Asus tosses in two extraordinarily helpful options that I’ve but to see on a aggressive monitor. The first is a “uniform brightness” setting that can be utilized to override the usual brightness setting in SDR content material. It lowers the panel’s general brightness however retains luminance secure. Most OLED screens have issues sustaining a secure stage of brightness when brilliant objects seem on-screen, however this setting eliminates the issue.

There’s additionally an HDR brightness override that enables consumer brightness changes in HDR mode. Readers who’ve but to purchase an HDR monitor could be stunned to listen to this isn’t attainable on most HDR screens. Brightness is usually managed by the gadget and content material moderately than the monitor, which may result in undesirable swings in brightness. The HDR brightness override can eradicate this difficulty, although on the expense of picture high quality.

What about audio system? There aren’t any. This isn’t a shock, regardless of the value: If something, high-end screens are much less more likely to embrace audio system than inexpensive fashions. You’ll have to make use of a headset or standalone desktop audio system. 

Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM SDR picture high quality

The Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM’s OLED panel, which is offered by LG, has all of the makings of a wonderful SDR monitor. But it’s up in opposition to stiff competitors. QD-OLED widescreen screens can be found from a number of manufacturers and Mini-LED screens are going mainstream. Can Asus fend off the alternate options? 

Matt Smith

Our first check, brightness, is a predictable weak spot for the PG27AQDM. OLED screens have hassle reaching and sustaining excessive ranges of brightness. LED and Mini-LED screens, in contrast, can blast brightness all day lengthy with no difficulty. 

With that stated, nonetheless, the PG27AQDM’s peak SDR brightness of 291 nits is completely usable in most conditions. I sometimes used the monitor at lower than half its most brightness in my workplace. The Asus additionally notches a win over the Alienware AW3423DWF, which has Samsung’s QD-OLED panel. 

Matt Smith

Contrast, then again, is a win for the PG27AQDM. The monitor can obtain good darkish, which implies it emits no zero in darkish scenes. This massively improves the monitor’s potential to show darkish scenes with convincing element, eliminates the hazy “IPS glow” that plagues most pc screens offered up to now 20 years, and supplies an impressive sense of depth and dimension in brilliant content material. High-quality content material takes on a wealthy, three-dimensional high quality you received’t discover on most screens. 

Matt Smith

Asus falls behind the pack in shade gamut, offering solely 90 % of DCI-P3 and 87 % of AdobeRGB. That’s not a nasty displaying, however in the present day’s greatest screens can ship an unbelievable shade gamut straight out of the field. Many exceed 100 % of AdobeRGB and render nearly the complete DCI-P3 gamut. 

Whether this issues is dependent upon your use. Gamers shouldn’t be involved, because the vary of shade supplied right here is greater than sufficient to supply a lifelike and detailed picture in fashionable titles. Creators, nonetheless, needs to be cautious. The PG27AQDM will nonetheless work in most conditions however received’t be capable to show as broad a spread of shade as its opponents. That may very well be a problem should you’re attempting to paint grade video or edit {a photograph}. 

Matt Smith

Asus’ shade woes proceed in shade accuracy, the place the PG27AQDM turned in a a lot wider shade error than its friends. This stage of shade accuracy is sufficient to be noticeable in some conditions. I felt that the monitor had points with pores and skin tones of people with lighter pores and skin hues, which regarded a bit boring or sickly. These issues are nonetheless minor sufficient that I doubt most customers would discover them, however let’s not neglect: This is a $1,000 monitor. It’s stunning to see Asus ship out a flagship OLED monitor with underwhelming shade accuracy.

I observed lackluster leads to shade temperature and gamma, as effectively. The monitor turned in an out-of-the-box shade temperature of 7100Ok, which is a bit cooler and extra medical than the goal of 6500Ok. The gamma curve was 2.0 off a goal of two.2, which implies content material appeared a bit brighter than it ought to. I observed the colour temperature difficulty most, as there was a definite blue push in brilliant white objects and scenes, similar to a snow-capped mountain. 

Sharpness is disappointing regardless of the monitor’s 2560×1440 decision. The PG27AQDM, like most OLED screens, makes use of a subpixel structure that differs from RGB. That causes sub-pixel presentation points that seem as shade fringing. When I kind the quantity 1,000 in 12-point font in Microsoft Excel for instance, I discover what seems to be a slight blue and yellow hue spanning the hole between the zeros. I believe it’s a tad much less noticeable than with QD-OLED screens, such because the Alienware AW3423DWF, but it surely’s nonetheless a problem.

The PG27AQDM’s SDR picture high quality outcomes are blended, so I’d prefer to put my finger on the dimensions. Numbers apart, it’s a wonderful monitor in real-world gameplay and in addition seems tremendous basically use. The monitor’s excellent distinction ratio is beautiful in darkish, gritty video games like Diablo 2: Resurrected, however there’s nonetheless sufficient brightness and a large sufficient shade gamut to supply a vivid look to titles similar to Valorant or Borderlands 3. 

Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM HDR picture high quality

The Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM is able to HDR, although, unusually, it doesn’t boast a VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black certification. Overall HDR efficiency is nice however suffers the pitfalls typical of the present technology of OLED screens. 

I measured a most full-screen, sustained HDR brightness of simply 186 nits. The cause that is decrease than SDR is because of a distinction within the check photos used and the size of time displayed. I measured a most HDR brightness of as much as 611 nits in a 10 % window, that means that solely 10 % of the show was lit (the remaining was darkish). 

A brightness of 611 nits inside a 10 % window is an effective consequence for an OLED monitor. I measured a most of 453 nits from the Alienware AW3423DWF and 509 nits from the Corsair Xeneon Flex. However, this stays far behind Mini-LED screens such because the AOC Agon Pro AG274QZM, which may attain and maintain practically 1,000 nits. Mediocre brightness means you received’t see the total vary of luminance element that’s usually obtainable in HDR content material. Bright lights, flames, or glare will seem a bit washed-out and uniform, although some further element is on the market in comparison with SDR. 

This is balanced by the monitor’s glorious distinction. The potential to ship an ideal black stage helps amplify the brightness that’s on faucet and will increase the perceived vibrance and punch of the picture. OLED additionally avoids the “blooming” drawback discovered on Mini-LED screens, which may seem as a halo surrounding small, brilliant particulars. OLED avoids this drawback as a result of every pixel is lit independently of these round it. 

The PG27AQDM has points within the Windows desktop surroundings. This is usually true of HDR screens, however notably so right here. Colors are noticeably off-kilter and luminance element is missing. Asus has a firmware replace to enhance shade in HDR, and it did present some enchancment, however there’s room for Asus to do higher. At the second, I like to recommend leaving HDR off in Windows’ settings and selectively turning it on inside apps when attainable. 

Although the PG27AQDM’s HDR efficiency isn’t stellar, it supplies a bonus over SDR and is a tad higher than the QD-OLED screens I’ve examined, together with the Alienware AW3423DWF and Corsair Xeneon Flex. Mini-LED screens are superior for brilliant HDR content material and higher for HDR general, and I like to recommend going Mini-LED if HDR is your precedence. Still, the PG27AQDM holds its personal in darker video games and flicks. 

Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM movement efficiency

Matt Smith

The Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM is a 240Hz monitor (although solely over DisplayPort) and presents help for Adaptive Sync, AMD FreeSync, and Nvidia G-Sync. It supplies easy, stutter-free movement in a variety of conditions and with most graphics {hardware} at the moment available on the market. A handful of 360Hz and 500Hz screens at the moment are obtainable, such because the Acer XB273U F and Alienware AW2524H, and so they really feel a tad smoother in real-world use. Still, the PG27AQDM is an actual deal with to see in movement.

It helps that the PG27AQDM, like most OLED screens, has an especially quick pixel response time (Asus quotes .03 milliseconds). That means pixels can rapidly transition between colours when wanted, which reduces blur and supplies glorious readability. Fast-moving objects are effectively outlined with practically all particulars seen. Test photos from League of Legends present that character silhouettes, names, and well being bars are seen, although the person tick marks inside every well being bar stay exhausting to make out. Motion readability is best than QD-OLED screens with a decrease refresh charge, such because the Alienware AW3423DWF, and a tad higher than a 240Hz IPS monitor, such because the Gigabyte M27Q-X. 

Low pixel-response occasions additionally enhance movement readability throughout a variety of refresh charges, so movement continues to look moderately crisp all the way down to, and a bit beneath, 120Hz. This versatility is vital since you received’t see the total advantages offered by a excessive refresh charge if the sport you’re enjoying can’t obtain an analogous body charge, and even high-end gaming PCs will wrestle to play many titles at as much as 240 frames per second. Fortunately, the PG27AQDM stays gratifying even when body charges take a dive in direction of the double-digits.  

Is the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM price it?

The Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM is a blended bag of options and efficiency. It delivers an unbelievable distinction ratio, skinny design, and spectacular 240Hz refresh charge, all of which make it a drop-dead attractive possibility for players. Unfortunately, the monitor’s lackluster brightness, mediocre shade efficiency, and so-so sharpness received’t be excellent for these in inventive professions who require exact shade. Asus additionally fails to supply helpful extras similar to USB-C. These downsides restrict the monitor’s enchantment—however should you simply wish to relax, chill out, and revel in a top-tier gaming expertise, the PG27AQDM is a superb alternative.