Alright friend let’s dive into this ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQR monitor review.
I’ve spent a good chunk of time with this thing and I’m ready to give you the straight goods no fluff.
Think of this as a chat between old pals sharing honest opinions and practical insights.
Gaming Performance: Smooth Sailing or Rocky Seas?
This monitor shines in the gaming arena mostly.
The 160Hz refresh rate and 4K resolution make for a buttery-smooth experience with most modern titles.
The response time is fantastic minimizing motion blur and making fast-paced games feel incredibly responsive at higher refresh rates.
I’ve personally played through several demanding games and the difference between this and lower refresh rate monitors is night and day.
You’ll appreciate the detail and the fluid movement especially in titles where fast reactions are crucial.
The HDMI 2.1 support is also a massive plus ensuring compatibility with next-gen consoles and high-end graphics cards.
You’re getting the full bandwidth potential leading to a crisp lag-free gaming session.
However there’s a slight catch.
At 60Hz the input lag noticeably increases.
While this might not be a major deal for casual gamers competitive players who rely on precise timing will feel the difference.
This unexpected bump in input lag at lower refresh rates is a bit of a disappointment.
I’d have expected a more consistent performance across the entire refresh rate spectrum.
This is definitely something to consider if you frequently play games at lower settings or older titles that don’t support higher refresh rates.
The difference is subtle but it’s there especially in competitive titles.
FreeSync and G-Sync: A Tag-Team Effort for Smooth Gameplay
The inclusion of both FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility is a smart move.
This virtually eliminates screen tearing and stuttering further enhancing the gaming experience.
It’s a testament to ASUS’s commitment to providing a robust and versatile monitor for a wider range of systems and preferences.
Whether you’re a die-hard NVIDIA or AMD user this monitor provides a smooth and tear-free experience.
I personally found this feature to be quite valuable especially during intense gaming sessions.
The FreeSync range is impressively wide meaning you’ll experience a consistent tear-free image even as your framerate fluctuates during gameplay.
The seamless integration with G-Sync further expands its compatibility working effortlessly with various NVIDIA graphics cards.
This ensures that regardless of your graphics card setup your gaming experience will be smooth and free of annoying visual artifacts.
It’s a great feature that helps optimize the gaming experience across a variety of hardware setups.
Picture Quality: A Mixed Bag of Delight and Disappointment
The ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQR boasts a stunning 4K resolution delivering incredibly sharp images and detailed visuals.
Text is crisp and clear making it ideal for productivity tasks as well.
However the picture quality isn’t without its flaws.
The contrast ratio is relatively low which means blacks appear more like dark grays especially noticeable in darker scenes.
The local dimming feature designed to enhance contrast unfortunately falls short.
It’s ineffective at improving the contrast ratio and can actually introduce some distracting blooming around bright objects on dark backgrounds.
This diminishes the impact of HDR content which is disappointing considering the monitor’s capabilities.
Color Accuracy and Gamut: A Photographer’s Dream?
For color accuracy this monitor performs exceptionally well in its dedicated sRGB mode.
The colors are vibrant but realistic making it a good choice for photo and video editing.
This accurate color representation is crucial for tasks where color fidelity is paramount.
The monitor covers a significant portion of the Adobe RGB color space making it suitable for professional photo editing and it also boasts good coverage of DCI-P3 vital for video editing and content creation.
However remember that the sRGB mode limits brightness forcing you to calibrate the monitor for optimal results.
If you need a brighter image with accurate colors some calibration is essential.
While the color gamut is wide and covers most of the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces achieving precise color accuracy requires calibration using professional tools or software.
If you’re serious about color accuracy this calibration step is necessary to unlock the monitor’s full potential and ensure the colors are as true to life as possible.
Ergonomics and Design: A Comfortable Companion
The build quality of the PG27UQR is excellent.
The sturdy stand offers a good range of adjustments allowing you to find the perfect viewing angle.
The stand is well-designed and the monitor feels solid and well-built.
It’s not just about aesthetics the stand is built for stability and adjustability allowing you to tailor the monitor’s position for maximum comfort during long sessions.
Cable management is also well-thought-out keeping your desk tidy and organized.
The design is sleek and modern although the ROG branding is prominently displayed which might be a turn-off for some.
The ergonomics are a definite strength; you can adjust the height tilt and swivel allowing you to customize it perfectly to your setup.
You can even rotate it into portrait mode.
The overall design is attractive but it may not appeal to everyone.
The large ROG logo is a clear indicator of its gaming-centric nature.
Connectivity and Features: Well-Equipped for Modern Use
The ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQR offers a generous selection of ports.
You get HDMI 2.1 DisplayPort 1.4 and USB-A ports providing ample connectivity options for your various devices.
This ensures that you can connect multiple devices simultaneously without any issues.
The USB hub is a handy addition providing extra USB ports for connecting your peripherals.
However one minor drawback is that the USB hub is not powered so your devices will likely have to draw power from their individual power sources.
The availability of both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 ensures compatibility with the latest and greatest gaming consoles and PCs.
The robust selection of ports covers all your connectivity needs making it a versatile monitor that can be used for various applications.
Extra Features: A Sprinkle of Added Value
The monitor also boasts some helpful extra features like a built-in blue light filter to reduce eye strain a GamePlus mode with crosshairs and a frame rate counter and Aura Sync RGB lighting for those who enjoy a bit of customization.
These added features while not essential for everyone add extra value and cater to different user preferences.
The inclusion of a blue light filter is a welcome addition for users who spend extended periods using the monitor.
The GamePlus mode can be helpful for gaming especially for those who like having in-game overlays to improve their gameplay experience.
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The RGB lighting is a purely aesthetic feature but it’s a nice touch if you’re into customized setups.
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Overall: A Solid Performer with Minor Shortcomings
In summary the ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQR is a very good monitor especially for gaming at higher refresh rates.
The combination of high resolution fast response time and high refresh rate makes for a satisfying gaming experience.
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The inclusion of FreeSync and G-Sync further adds to its appeal.
However the low contrast ratio and ineffective local dimming are significant drawbacks that affect picture quality particularly in dark scenes.
Also the increased input lag at 60Hz is disappointing and something to be aware of.
Ultimately whether this monitor is the right choice for you depends on your priorities.
If you primarily game at high refresh rates and value smooth motion and low input lag in those conditions this monitor is a fantastic option.
If picture quality in darker scenes is a top priority or if you frequently play at 60Hz you might want to explore other options.
Weigh the pros and cons carefully to see if it’s the right fit for your needs and budget.
It’s a solid performer that offers excellent value for the price but it’s not perfect.