Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG evaluation: This piquant OLED computer screen wows in HDR

Label When Reviewed

$749

Finest Costs This day: Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG

These making an strive to search out an OLED computer screen fill a bunch of choices in 2024, however must you’d like a 27-slump 1440p prove, those decisions fill essentially historic Samsung’s QD-OLED panel. Now, alternatively, Asus is changing that with the ROG Strix XG27AQDMG. This fresh 27-slump 1440p 240Hz gaming computer screen has an OLED prove from LG. It is akin to QD-OLED in a lot of respects however takes the lead in HDR efficiency.

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG specs and functions

You wouldn’t know the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG from thoroughly different OLED monitors by glancing at the spec sheet. It is a 27-slump prove with a 2560×1440 resolution and a most refresh rate of 240Hz. Also, like identical monitors, it sticks to HDMI and DisplayPort for video enter and keeps USB connectivity minimal with upright two USB-A ports.

• New dimension: 27-slump widescreen
• Native resolution: 2560×1440
• Panel form: Smart WOLED
• Refresh rate: Up to 240Hz
• Adaptive sync: Adaptive Sync 240, AMD FreeSync Premium Authentic, 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 Kind-A, 1x USB Kind-B (upstream)
• VESA mount: 100x100mm
• Audio system: None
• Label: $749 MSRP

The principle disagreement, of course, is the kind of prove panel historic. WOLED stands for “white OLED,” and it’s a kind of panel manufactured by LG that has a subpixel layout with an additional white OLED pixel that joins the purple, blue, and inexperienced OLED pixels.

That is comparatively piquant, as almost all LCD and OLED displays at some stage in historical past follow a purple, blue, and inexperienced sub-pixel layout, and accomplish white by lighting all three concurrently. LG says the piquant white sub-pixel can extend the prove’s most brightness.

The is a successor to the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM, which also had a WOLED panel. That computer screen extinct poorly as QD-OLED opponents mercurial leaped sooner than it. The XG27AQDMG fairs better.

Extra studying: Gaze our roundup of the totally gaming monitors to search out out about competing products.

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG do

The Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG’s do, mighty like its spec sheet, is sophisticated to pronounce except for thoroughly different OLED monitors at a search. It strikes a most modern learn about from the front, with slim bezels alongside either aspect and a consuming prove panel. Unlike some opponents, alternatively, Asus branding remains illustrious as a result of a stunning purple ROG put.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

From the again, the computer screen’s skinny profile stands out, and some refined etching makes the computer screen’s gaming intent obvious. The computer screen comprises an RGB-LED accent within the form of the Asus ROG put. It is also personalized using the on-show cloak menu or coordinate with thoroughly different RGB-LED devices by process of Asus’ Charisma Sync.

Asus properly chooses to use a compact, flat stand for the ROG Strix XG27AQDMG. This reduces the quantity of situation the computer screen takes up on your desk and keeps the situation it does exhaust usable, because it is possible you’ll also restful self-discipline objects on the stand. The stand adjusts for height, tilt, swivel, and pivots 90 levels to be used in portrait orientation. A 100x100mm VESA prove mount is available, that capacity that third-get together computer screen stands and palms are an option.

The computer screen stand choices a threaded mount on the high of the stand. It is also historic to set aside a peripheral like a webcam, microphone, or LED gentle, and it’s a significant feature for streamers and thoroughly different video converse creators. You’ll possible desire a spacer or adjustable mount to use it, alternatively, on story of the high of the prove will block a peripheral mounted here except the stand is adjusted to its lowest height.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG connectivity and menus

Asus sticks to the basics with connectivity. The ROG Strix XG27AQDMG has one DisplayPort 1.4 port and two HDMI 2.0 ports, both of which provide a preserve to VRR (Variable Refresh Fee) for compatibility with up-to-the-minute game consoles.

The computer screen’s on-show cloak menu system is accessed through a joystick centered on the underside bezel. It is responsive and straightforward to use. Asus on-show cloak menus are logically arranged and properly-labeled, so navigating them to search out functions is inconspicuous.

Picture quality adjustment is intensive. It choices a preference of preset modes as properly as coloration gamut modes that hear to sRGB and DCI-P3. Shade temperature and gamma are adjustable as properly, and both scheme particular numerical values comparatively than obscure labels like “frigid” or “warm.” Six-axis coloration customization is integrated for additional horny-tuning if it’s required.

Avid gamers can elevate the brightness of dim areas of the show cloak to assemble enemies hidden in dim areas more uncomplicated to explore. The prove also comprises quite a lot of aspect ratio modes, that would maybe also simply alternate the scale of the viewable situation on the prove. That would maybe also very properly be significant must it is possible you’ll also very properly be searching to prohibit the viewable situation to a 24-slump 1080p similar for esports titles. There’s also a 4:3 mode, which is at hand must it is possible you’ll also very properly be searching to play a truly historic PC game that lacks upright widescreen give a preserve to.

The computer screen’s functions will be adjusted in Residence windows with Asus’ DisplayWidget tool. It’s sooner and more uncomplicated to use than the on-show cloak menu. Most computer screen makers offer identical tool, however DisplayWidget is extra heavenly and more uncomplicated to use than identical tool from opponents like Gigabyte and MSI.

Audio system are usually not integrated, so you will desire to use external audio system or a headset. I constantly clutch to explore bundled audio system, however aggressive gaming monitors also exclude them.

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG SDR image quality

The Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG, like every thoroughly different 27-slump OLED gaming computer screen on the market, serves up 2560×1440 resolution. Nonetheless whereas opponents use Samsung’s QD-OLED panel technology, the XG27QDMG as a replace relies 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 fat-show cloak SDR brightness of 260 nits. That’s aggressive with peers just like the Alienware AW2725DF, alternatively it’s restful not unbelievable.

Brightness is declared to be a perk of WOLED panels, but in SDR the XG27AQDMG is barely brighter than decisions with a Samsung QD-OLED panel. The computer screen’s fat-show cloak brightness is horny for a room with factual gentle modify, however gleaming overhead lighting or a sunny window can fabricate a bunch of glare and assemble the computer screen unlit to evaluation.

WOLED does fill an advantage in HDR brightness, though, as I’ll mark in additional detail within the next piece of this evaluation.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Distinction is a energy of the ROG Strix XG27AQDMG. The computer screen performed a minimum brightness of zero nits at every prove brightness atmosphere, which is successfully a finest result and boosts the glory ratio into the thousands and thousands.

The computer screen’s horny distinction is noticeable across all the pieces seen on the prove, alternatively it’s particularly significant in darker video games and flicks like Diablo IV or Blade Runner. OLED avoids the grayish, foggy learn about frequent to extra rate efficient monitors with an IPS panel.

All up-to-the-minute OLED monitors fill the earnings of OLED’s distinction ratio, so distinction is just not a reason to clutch one OLED prove over any other. Easy, it’s factual to explore the WOLED performs as properly as anticipated.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The ROG Strix XG27AQDMG’s coloration gamut results are attention-grabbing. It achieves 100 p.c of the sRGB coloration gamut, 96 p.c of DCI-P3, and 89 p.c of Adobe RGB. These are horny results, however they’re a minute bit within the again of most up-to-the-minute QD-OLED monitors. Most QD-OLED monitors launched in 2024 can attain 98 p.c of DCI-P3 and 94 p.c of Adobe RGB.

Avid gamers shouldn’t be troubled over this, because the adaptation will be sophisticated to ascertain whereas playing video games. Even converse creators doubtlessly won’t rep the XG27AQDMG’s a minute bit diminished coloration gamut a roar.

Easy, if most coloration gamut is a precedence for you, a QD-OLED computer screen is the upper different. It’s also shiny to preserve pronounce of a Mini-LED computer screen with quantum dots, such because the RedMagic 4K Gaming Video display. They attain unparalleled coloration gamut results.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Matthew Smith / Foundry

WOLED’s coloration efficiency continues to inch within the again of QD-OLED in coloration accuracy, because the XG27AQDMG posted results that inch the QD-OLED monitors that PCWorld has examined this one year. The XG27AQDMG’s coloration seems life like and remains sizable for gaming, however converse creators would maybe are searching to calibrate the prove.

The XG27AQDMG also had dinky concerns with coloration temperature and gamma efficiency. I measured a gamma curve of two.3 when the atmosphere used to be at 2.2, that capacity converse regarded a tad darker than it will restful. Shade temperature used to be also a minute bit off, with a measured coloration temperature of 6600Good ample when the computer screen used to be situation to 6500Good ample. That means the computer screen regarded a minute bit cooler and extra sterile than ideal. Each and each of these variances are barely minor, though, and unlikely to be an impediment for avid gamers.

Sharpness is a extra noticeable roar. The WOLED panel’s piquant subpixel layout may maybe maybe cause coloration fringing concerns around particulars like minute textual converse and horny, excessive-distinction edges. Cramped fonts had been pixelated and at instances showed off-colours alongside their edges. Asus choices a ClearEdge feature, which is imagined to decrease the roar, alternatively it wasn’t efficient in my sorting out. Essentially, at instances the computer screen regarded worse with ClearEdge on than with it off.

This ranking 22 situation is also fresh on up-to-the-minute QD-OLED monitors, particularly 27-slump monitors 1440p resolution, however I attain feel it’s a minute bit extra noticeable on the WOLED panel.

The XG27AQDMG’s general SDR image quality is without lengthen impressive and disappointing. Its wide coloration gamut and unbelievable distinction assemble it horny for video games and flicks. Nonetheless, the WOLED panel a minute bit underperforms QD-OLED in some respects, and its lackluster sharpness stands out. I will point out the XG27AQDMG must you upright are searching to game, however customers making an strive to search out a game that’s equally sizable for gaming, self-discipline of job productivity, and converse introduction must restful be cautious.

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG HDR image quality

The Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG’s SDR efficiency a minute bit lags within the again of its OLED peers, alternatively it strikes again in HDR.

I measured a most sustained fat-show cloak HDR brightness of 269 nits, which in most cases ties the computer screen’s SDR brightness. Nonetheless, the computer screen hit a most sustained brightness of 724 nits in a 10 p.c window, that capacity 10 p.c of the prove used to be lit. QD-OLED displays, just like the Alienware AW2725DF and Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDM, performed about 400 nits on this scenario.

The Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG also hit a most sustained brightness of 608 nits in a 50 p.c window, that capacity half the prove used to be lit. That, too, is better than QD-OLED decisions, which will be fortunate to preserve 300 nits.

To put it simply, the XG27AQDMG’s WOLED panel delivers better HDR brightness than QD-OLED. Higher brightness is crucial on story of it gives extra detail in gleaming areas of a scene. The accretion disc around the sunless gap in Interstellar’s Gargantua scene is a sizable instance. The disk seems as if a uniform, stunning uniform mass in SDR, however HDR finds refined colours and added detail that used to be invisible in SDR.

The XG27AQDMG is also sizable for HDR gaming. Video games that fill HDR give a preserve to most continuously fill heavenly particle effects and thoroughly different minute, flashy sides that appear totally in rapid on the show cloak. The XG27AQDMG seems exceptionally gleaming and detailed when showing these effects. QD-OLED monitors also learn about factual in HDR video games, however the XG27AQDMG is superior.

If HDR is at the high of your list of priorities, then the XG27AQDMG is an horny different. Its brightness is defeated totally by Mini-LED monitors just like the AOC Q27G3XMN. Mini-LED monitors fill their very hold disadvantages, though, like halos around minute gleaming objects and, most continuously, much less motion readability. The XG27AQDMG’s combination of brightness, distinction, and motion readability makes it ideal for HDR gaming.

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG motion efficiency

Circulate efficiency is a energy of OLED monitors, and the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG is just not any exception. Scrolling test photos from video games like League of Legends and Dota 2 printed factual detail around persona silhouettes. The names and hitpoint bars displayed above characters had been on the whole legible in motion, though not constantly easy to read. Cramped, like a flash transferring objects remain identifiable and crucial detail is seen in decent vistas when panning the camera in a 3D game.

Whereas the XG27AQDMG’s motion readability is factual, it’s defeated by QD-OLED decisions that hit 360Hz, akin to Alienware’s AW2725DF. These opponents are extra pricey, however their improved refresh rate can provide a dinky motion readability boost. Admire in thoughts, alternatively, that a game must attain a body rate of as much as 360 frames per second for the 360Hz refresh rate to point significant. That’s sophisticated, or impossible, with many up-to-the-minute PC video games.

Asus provides a backlight strobing mode called ELMB, which mercurial flickers the image to decrease perceived motion blur. It’s efficient, alternatively it also lowers the brightness of the prove. That will possible be a roar in SDR converse, as there’s not a bunch of brightness to spare. The ELMB mode also helps a most refresh rate of 120Hz, and it doesn’t work with HDR. These barriers preserve away most of its allure.

The XG27AQDMG’s loyal adaptive sync give a preserve to is intensive. It comprises certifications for VESA Adaptive Sync 240, Nvidia G-Sync Fancy minded, and AMD FreeSync Premium Authentic. The computer screen also works with the variable refresh mode on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Sequence X/S.

All OLED opponents offer adaptive sync give a preserve to, however many corporations clutch not to pursue loyal certification with both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync. Technically, monitors without the certification will on the whole work with both, however I admire the peace of thoughts Asus provides by including loyal give a preserve to for both standards.

Must restful you clutch the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG?

The Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG is a viable different to QD-OLED monitors that performs a minute bit worse in some scenarios and better in others. The computer screen’s HDR efficiency is its supreme energy, because it achieves a stage of HDR brightness that’s vastly higher than QD-OLED monitors. In SDR, alternatively, the XG27AQDMG a minute bit lags within the again of QD-OLED opponents in coloration efficiency and sharpness.

Pricing works in Asus’ desire. The XG27AQDMG carries a retail MSRP of upright $749.99. A few QD-OLED monitors, just like the MSI MAG 271QPX, come in for $750, however most are $50 to $100 extra pricey. That makes the XG27AQDMG a sizable different for avid gamers who need OLED however restful must restful be conscious of their budget.