Asus XG 27VQ

1080p AMD gamers that need high frame rate support will love this monitor

PRICE $ 599 asus.com/au

1080p gaming may be overshadowed by 4K, but it’s still the sweet spot for gamers who prefer smooth motion over high resolutions. The Asus ROG Strix XG27VQ aims to be one of the smoothest 1080p monitors around with support for 144Hz refresh rates and AMD’s FreeSync.

At the centre of the XG27VQ is a 1080p VA type panel with a 3000:1 contrast ratio. VA panels aren’t as responsive or fast as a TN panel, but have deeper blacks and superior viewing angles. Proof of this is the 4ms response time and 144Hz refresh rate, which are excellent, but not the fastest available.

A subtle 1800R curve in the display aids in providing an immersive gaming experience. The XG27VQ also supports AMD’s FreeSync, which adapts the monitor’s refresh rate on the fly to match your game’s frame rate. The result is buttery smooth gaming that looks amazing.

TÜV Rheinland has endorsed the XG27VQ as a flicker-free, low blue light display. What’s this mean? The human eye isn’t too keen on blue light, which LCDs spew out constantly, resulting in headaches and sore eyes. On some monitors with this feature, the removal of the blue light also introduced flickering in the image, which looked awful. The XG27VQ manages to filter most of the blue light out to protect your eyes, but also doesn’t flicker. Win- win!

The XG27VQ supports the same Gameplus features as the PG27VQ and is equally good for multi-display setups.

A raft of display modes Asus called “GameVisuals” are included that when applied change the image to suit the task or game style. FPS mode enhances visibility in dark scenes so you can see enemies, racing mode applies a gamma of 2.2 and a white point of 6500K and the unusual MOBA mode that “enhances the colour of your health bars as well as your opponents to help being them into focus.”

For those invested in the Asus Aura Sync lighting system, the XG27VQ is one of the first monitors to be included in the Aura Sync family, with four lighting zones, including ambient lighting behind the monitor. The XG27VQ’s metal stand is fully adjustable, allowing modification of the angle, swivel and height of the display. There’s a common 100mm x 100mm VESA amount on the rear for use on any standard monitor arm or wall mount.

There’s a few FreeSync enabled 144Hz 1080p monitors on the market

FPS mode enhances visibility in dark scenes so you can see enemies

and many of them are cheaper than the XG27VQ too and some even have better response times. The AOC G2460PF instantly springs to mind. Unless you’re keen on a VA panel instead of a TN and are invested in the Asus ROG look or the Aura Sync RGB lighting system, there’s better value elsewhere. ANTHONY AGIUS