ASUS TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A
A 4K panel to satisfy both PC and console gamers?
IF SIZE MATTERS, what’s an extra inch worth? Clocking in at 28-inches, the new ASUS TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A is an inch larger than what has arguably become the 27-inch norm for 4K, 144Hz gaming monitors based on IPS panel technology.
That extra inch makes sense, but it’s a worry, given that the non-gaming 28inch 4K monitors we’ve seen, such as the Philips 288E2UAE and Acer B287K, have underwhelmed in terms of panel quality. Rather than just being a PC gaming panel, Asus has fitted the TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A with two HDMI 2.1 ports. The significance is mainly for console gaming, with both the Sony PS5 and Microsoft Xbox Series X supporting 4K@120Hz refresh rates, which require HDMI 2.1.
Of course, for PC, DisplayPort 1.4 is currently the interface of choice, which enables up to 144Hz refresh at the full 4K. There’s a two-port USB 3.0 hub, but no USB Type-C. Asus rates pixel response at 1ms gray-to-gray, while HDR support takes the form of VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification. That’s entry-level HDR and doesn’t include local dimming. As for color accuracy, Asus claims 90 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 digital cinema gamut, which is decent but not exceptional. Both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync adaptive refresh are supported.
In terms of physical build and features, this is a TUF model, rather than Asus’s top-notch ROG panels. But quality is decent and the stand is fully adjustable including rotation into portrait mode. But the all-black chassis lacks the snazzier styling elements found on ROG monitors.
All told, it’s a pretty sweet 4K gaming package, on paper. And so it proves in practice. Fire up the VG28UQL1A and the first impression of is a vibrant, accurate IPS display with lovely colors, decent contrast, and not too much IPS glow. Forget about those substandard 28-inch 4K monitors, this one looks sweet.
Just as impressive is the speed and response. Asus includes five levels of user-configurable overdrive. The top two suffer from overshoot, enough to be a problem in-game. Levels two and three deliver a sharp response that’s up there with the best IPS monitors. Asus’s Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync (ELMB) tech is as flawed as ever. It makes little, if any, difference to response while making the display dramatically dimmer.
Refresh rates up to 144Hz are also supported. With 360Hz panels available and 480Hz models incoming, 144Hz is nothing special, but for most people, it will be plenty. Only esports addicts will need more response and latency.
Suitably configured, this panel looks and feels great. Just remember that those uber-sharp 4K visuals make for a pretty outrageous workout for any GPU. You’ll need one heck of a graphics card to drive it properly. One other arguable limitation is inevitably HDR performance.
SDR content looks good in HDR mode, so you could plausibly run this monitor in HDR mode all the time. And, given its modest 350-nit rating, it is a bright and punchy panel. Games such as Cyberpunk
2077 look that bit more punchy and vibrant in HDR mode than SDR mode, which isn’t always the case with entrylevel HDR monitors. But this still isn’t a true HDR monitor.
What it is, however, is a great allrounder. If you’re looking for a highquality gaming panel to share between PC and console, the ASUS TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A should be on your shortlist. The only catch is that for pure PC gaming, paying extra for those HDMI 2.1 ports is a little pointless.
VERDICT 9 ASUS TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A
GET IN THE GAME Great allround image quality; super speedy IPS panel.
GAME OVER HDMI 2.1 mainly of benefit to console gamers
$700 www.asus.com