Let’s talk about the ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQR monitor.

I’ve spent a good amount of time with this 27-inch 4K beauty and I’m ready to give you the straight goods – the good the bad and the “meh.” Think of this as a chat with a seasoned techie friend not a sterile product review.

Table of Contents

Gaming Prowess: A Solid Contender But Not a Knockout

This monitor’s a strong contender for PC gaming.

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That 144Hz refresh rate with FreeSync and G-SYNC compatibility is a serious boon.

Smooth gameplay is the name of the game and this monitor delivers.

I found motion to be generally excellent although there’s a touch of blur at lower refresh rates.

That said the low input lag is fantastic; you won’t feel any noticeable delay even in lightning-fast games requiring split-second reactions.

This is crucial especially in competitive online gaming where milliseconds matter.

However there’s a significant caveat.

The lack of HDMI 2.1 is a real bummer.

This means current-gen consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S are held back.

You won’t be able to enjoy those glorious 4K 120Hz gaming experiences.

It’s a significant limitation and something to consider seriously before you buy.

If console gaming at the highest refresh rates is a priority you’ll need to look elsewhere.

This is where the monitor falls short of the true high-end future-proof options.

The Detail Devil: 4K Resolution Triumphs

Let’s talk about the positives.

The 4K resolution is stunning.

The detail is incredible and text clarity is exceptional making it a great choice for both gaming and productivity tasks.

The sharpness is crisp even when working with smaller text sizes for extended periods.

This is a boon for anyone who spends considerable time working with documents or spreadsheets.

Beyond Gaming: A Versatile Performer?

While designed with gamers in mind the XG27UQR surprisingly holds its own in other areas.

Office Warrior: Productivity Powerhouse

The 27-inch screen is generous enough for comfortable multitasking and that 4K resolution ensures sharp text and clear visuals for documents and spreadsheets.

Its high peak brightness and decent reflection handling make it a viable option even in brightly lit offices minimizing eye strain caused by glare and reflections.

The wide viewing angles also allow for easy collaboration; those sitting beside you can comfortably see the screen without major color distortion.

This is a highly functional monitor for any office environment.

Movie Marathon Champion? Not Quite.

For movie nights the high resolution delivers excellent detail making 4K content truly pop.

The bright display is a plus for well-lit rooms.

However the low contrast ratio and underwhelming local dimming are noticeable drawbacks in darker viewing environments.

Blacks appear more gray than inky and the local dimming feature struggles to improve this.

It doesn’t completely ruin the viewing experience but it does hamper the immersion particularly in scenes with a wide range of brightness.

This makes it less ideal for those who enjoy watching movies in dark rooms.

Creative Canvas: A Decent Option

The XG27UQR offers a decent experience for content creators particularly with its dedicated sRGB mode that delivers accurate colors before calibration.

However this mode locks certain picture settings which can be frustrating.

The 4K resolution provides plenty of detail for image editing and video work.

The wide viewing angles are useful for collaborative projects allowing others to clearly see your work from slightly off-center positions.

The swivel adjustment is a useful addition.

The inability to rotate it into portrait mode may be a drawback for some vertical content creation tasks.

The Nitty-Gritty: A Deeper Dive into Performance

Now let’s dive into the technical aspects and the specifics of the performance.

I want to give you an accurate picture of what you’re getting.

HDR Performance: A Missed Opportunity

The monitor supports HDR but it’s hindered by that same low contrast ratio and weak local dimming.

While it displays a wide range of colors and has a decent HDR peak brightness the lack of contrast prevents highlights from truly popping.

Highlights appear slightly washed out against the darker elements.

The local dimming’s edge-lit nature with only 16 zones results in the entire screen essentially being lit up in most scenes rendering local dimming almost completely ineffective.

This limits the effectiveness of the HDR function.

Response Time and Motion Clarity: A Mixed Bag

The response time at 144Hz is good with minimal blur trails.

However at lower refresh rates the blur becomes more noticeable.

The overdrive settings can be tweaked to improve response time but there is a delicate balance to be struck.

Too much overdrive can lead to noticeable overshoot and inverse ghosting.

Connectivity and Compatibility: A Key Limitation

Let’s revisit that HDMI 2.0 limitation.

It’s a major drawback for anyone with next-gen consoles.

While DisplayPort works well and delivers the full 144Hz refresh rate at 4K with compatible graphics cards (those supporting DSC) the lack of HDMI 2.1 makes it less versatile and future-proof than some competitor monitors.

Ergonomics and Build Quality: Solid but Not Spectacular

The monitor’s build quality is solid.

The plastic feels sturdy and the stand though somewhat large is stable and supports the screen well.

The swivel adjustment is helpful although it lacks height and tilt adjustment a standard feature in many high-end monitors.

The inclusion of USB ports is a welcome addition for connecting peripherals.

The Competition: How Does It Stack Up?

Several monitors occupy a similar price range and offer some compelling alternatives:

The ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQR a higher-end sibling boasts HDMI 2.1 a slimmer design and better motion handling.

The LG 27GP950-B also offers HDMI 2.1 and superior motion clarity especially at lower refresh rates.

The Sony INZONE M9 excels with better HDR performance thanks to superior local dimming and brighter highlights.

Each of these offers features absent on the XG27UQR.

Final Verdict: A Solid Choice with Caveats

The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQR is a capable monitor offering a great 4K resolution and smooth 144Hz gameplay for PC gamers.

However the lack of HDMI 2.1 severely limits its versatility making it less attractive for console gamers.

Its HDR capabilities fall short due to a low contrast ratio and ineffective local dimming.

While it performs well in several areas these drawbacks are substantial considerations.

Before making a purchase carefully assess your priorities to determine if the strengths of this monitor outweigh its weaknesses in relation to your individual needs.

If console gaming at top refresh rates is crucial you’ll want to explore models with HDMI 2.1 support.

ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQR Monitor Review