Price When Reviewed

$999.99

Best Prices Today: Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM

$999.99

2023 is the year of the OLED monitor, unleashing quite a few screens into an area that after included only a couple viable choices. Asus’ ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM is among the many contemporary choices, delivering a 240Hz refresh price, excessive construct high quality, and glorious picture high quality at $1,000. However, a couple of shortcomings restrict its attraction to players. 

Further studying: See our roundup of the best gaming monitors to study competing merchandise.

What are the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM specs?

The Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM’s most notable function is its most evident: the 27-inch (nicely, 26.5-inch) OLED panel. This is the second-most common monitor measurement in the marketplace at present, and it’s appropriate to be used as a main monitor on any desk. QD-OLED ultrawides are nice, however a 27-inch widescreen is a much more sensible selection when house is tight.

• Display measurement: 26.5-inch widescreen
• Native decision: 2,560 x 1,440
• Panel sort: OLED
• Refresh price: 240Hz
• Adaptive-Sync: Yes, FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible
• HDR: HDR 10
• Ports: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 2x USB-A, 1x 3.5mm audio
• Stand adjustment: Height, swivel, tilt, pivot
• VESA mount: Yes, 100mm x 100mm
• Speakers: None
• Price: $999

Asus asks virtually $1,000, which, although costly, is in keeping with different OLED screens such because the LG Ultragear 27GR95QE-B and Acer X27U. Demand appears to be sturdy, so I doubt costs will dip till fall of 2023.

Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM design 

The Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM is instantly identifiable as a part of the Republic of Gamers model, for higher or worse. The model’s sharp strains and muscular patterns do little for me, personally. Still, I’ll give Asus credit score for constructing a particular presence, and I’m positive it’ll attraction to the model’s followers. 

Matt Smith

Asus highlights the skinny OLED panel by consolidating the monitor’s electronics right into a field that takes up about half the rear panel. The relaxation is ultra-thin steel and glass. It’s a placing profile that telegraphs the OLED panel’s presence to PC geeks within the know. 

A broad, angular stand retains the PG27AQDM planted in your desk. It’s a good-looking and beefy unit with built-in customizable LED lighting. I discovered the lights too vibrant for my style—luckily, they are often turned off if desired. The stand takes up vital desk house and would possibly intervene together with your established desk structure. An included adapter offers a 100x100mm VESA mount to be used with third-party monitor stands and arms. 

Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM options and menus 

The ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM’s connectivity is a bit disappointing. It has simply two HDMI 2.0 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4. The HDMI ports are restricted to 120Hz. That’s not an issue when the monitor is used with an Xbox Series X/S or PlayStation 5 recreation console, as they will solely output as much as 120Hz. However, players and creators with a number of PCs ought to preserve this limitation in thoughts.

USB connectivity is missing as nicely. The monitor has simply two USB-A downstream ports pushed by a USB-B upstream port. USB-C just isn’t accessible. This isn’t a deal breaker however, given the monitor’s worth, Asus ought to’ve gone the additional mile and tossed in USB-C. 

Matt Smith

While connectivity is proscribed, Asus goes all-in on the menu system. It gives all kinds of coloration modes, together with an sRGB mode, and coloration customization choices reminiscent of coloration temperature, gamma, and six-axis coloration calibration. There’s additionally a variety of gamer-centric options reminiscent of a black stablizer, which will increase the brightness of darkish areas to disclose hidden foes, and an on-screen crosshair. 

Asus tosses in two extraordinarily helpful options that I’ve but to see on a aggressive monitor. The first is a “uniform brightness” setting that can be utilized to override the usual brightness setting in SDR content material. It lowers the panel’s total brightness however retains luminance secure. Most OLED screens have issues sustaining a secure degree of brightness when vibrant objects seem on-screen, however this setting eliminates the issue.

There’s additionally an HDR brightness override that enables person brightness changes in HDR mode. Readers who’ve but to purchase an HDR monitor may be stunned to listen to this isn’t potential on most HDR screens. Brightness is commonly managed by the gadget and content material relatively than the monitor, which may result in undesirable swings in brightness. The HDR brightness override can remove this challenge, although on the expense of picture high quality.

What about audio system? There aren’t any. This isn’t a shock, regardless of the value: If something, high-end screens are much less prone to embrace audio system than inexpensive fashions. You’ll have to make use of a headset or standalone desktop audio system. 

Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM SDR picture high quality

The Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM’s OLED panel, which is supplied by LG, has all of the makings of a wonderful SDR monitor. But it’s up in opposition to stiff competitors. QD-OLED widescreen screens can be found from a number of manufacturers and Mini-LED screens are going mainstream. Can Asus fend off the alternate options? 

Matt Smith

Our first check, brightness, is a predictable weak spot for the PG27AQDM. OLED screens have hassle reaching and sustaining excessive ranges of brightness. LED and Mini-LED screens, in contrast, can blast brightness all day lengthy with no challenge. 

With that stated, nevertheless, the PG27AQDM’s peak SDR brightness of 291 nits is completely usable in most conditions. I usually used the monitor at lower than half its most brightness in my workplace. The Asus additionally notches a win over the Alienware AW3423DWF, which has Samsung’s QD-OLED panel. 

Matt Smith

Contrast, then again, is a win for the PG27AQDM. The monitor can obtain excellent darkish, which implies it emits no zero in darkish scenes. This massively improves the monitor’s capacity to show darkish scenes with convincing element, eliminates the hazy “IPS glow” that plagues most pc screens bought prior to now 20 years, and offers an excellent sense of depth and dimension in vibrant content material. High-quality content material takes on a wealthy, three-dimensional high quality you received’t discover on most screens. 

Matt Smith

Asus falls behind the pack in coloration gamut, offering solely 90 % of DCI-P3 and 87 % of AdobeRGB. That’s not a foul displaying, however at present’s finest screens can ship an unimaginable coloration gamut straight out of the field. Many exceed one hundred pc of AdobeRGB and render virtually your complete DCI-P3 gamut. 

Whether this issues is dependent upon your use. Gamers shouldn’t be involved, because the vary of coloration supplied right here is greater than sufficient to supply a lifelike and detailed picture in trendy titles. Creators, nevertheless, ought to be cautious. The PG27AQDM will nonetheless work in most conditions however received’t have the ability to show as broad a variety of coloration as its rivals. That may very well be a difficulty when you’re making an attempt to paint grade video or edit {a photograph}. 

Matt Smith

Asus’ coloration woes proceed in coloration accuracy, the place the PG27AQDM turned in a a lot wider coloration error than its friends. This degree of coloration accuracy is sufficient to be noticeable in some conditions. I felt that the monitor had points with pores and skin tones of people with lighter pores and skin hues, which seemed a bit uninteresting or sickly. These issues are nonetheless minor sufficient that I doubt most customers would discover them, however let’s not overlook: This is a $1,000 monitor. It’s stunning to see Asus ship out a flagship OLED monitor with underwhelming coloration accuracy.

I observed lackluster leads to coloration temperature and gamma, as nicely. The monitor turned in an out-of-the-box coloration temperature of 7100K, which is a bit cooler and extra scientific than the goal of 6500K. The gamma curve was 2.0 off a goal of two.2, which implies content material appeared a bit brighter than it ought to. I observed the colour temperature challenge most, as there was a definite blue push in vibrant white objects and scenes, reminiscent of a snow-capped mountain. 

Sharpness is disappointing regardless of the monitor’s 2560×1440 decision. The PG27AQDM, like most OLED screens, makes use of a subpixel structure that differs from RGB. That causes sub-pixel presentation points that seem as coloration fringing. When I sort the #1,000 in 12-point font in Microsoft Excel for instance, I discover what seems to be a slight blue and yellow hue spanning the hole between the zeros. I believe it’s a tad much less noticeable than with QD-OLED screens, such because the Alienware AW3423DWF, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a difficulty.

The PG27AQDM’s SDR picture high quality outcomes are combined, so I’d wish to put my finger on the size. Numbers apart, it’s a ravishing monitor in real-world gameplay and in addition appears to be like high-quality usually use. The monitor’s excellent distinction ratio is beautiful in darkish, gritty video games like Diablo 2: Resurrected, however there’s nonetheless sufficient brightness and a large sufficient coloration gamut to supply a vivid look to titles reminiscent of Valorant or Borderlands 3. 

Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM HDR picture high quality

The Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM is able to HDR, although, unusually, it doesn’t boast a VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black certification. Overall HDR efficiency is nice however suffers the pitfalls typical of the present technology of OLED screens. 

I measured a most full-screen, sustained HDR brightness of simply 186 nits. The cause that is decrease than SDR is because of a distinction within the check pictures used and the size of time displayed. I measured a most HDR brightness of as much as 611 nits in a ten % window, that means that solely 10 % of the show was lit (the remainder was darkish). 

A brightness of 611 nits inside a ten % window is an effective outcome for an OLED monitor. I measured a most of 453 nits from the Alienware AW3423DWF and 509 nits from the Corsair Xeneon Flex. However, this stays far behind Mini-LED screens such because the AOC Agon Pro AG274QZM, which may attain and maintain almost 1,000 nits. Mediocre brightness means you received’t see the total vary of luminance element that’s usually accessible in HDR content material. Bright lights, flames, or glare will seem a bit washed-out and uniform, although some further element is obtainable in comparison with SDR. 

This is balanced by the monitor’s glorious distinction. The capacity to ship an ideal black degree helps amplify the brightness that’s on faucet and will increase the perceived vibrance and punch of the picture. OLED additionally avoids the “blooming” downside discovered on Mini-LED screens, which may seem as a halo surrounding small, vibrant particulars. OLED avoids this downside as a result of every pixel is lit independently of these round it. 

The PG27AQDM has points within the Windows desktop setting. This is commonly true of HDR screens, however notably so right here. Colors are noticeably off-kilter and luminance element is missing. Asus has a firmware replace to enhance coloration in HDR, and it did present some enchancment, however there’s room for Asus to do higher. At the second, I like to recommend leaving HDR off in Windows’ settings and selectively turning it on inside apps when potential. 

Although the PG27AQDM’s HDR efficiency isn’t stellar, it offers a bonus over SDR and is a tad higher than the QD-OLED screens I’ve examined, together with the Alienware AW3423DWF and Corsair Xeneon Flex. Mini-LED screens are superior for vibrant HDR content material and higher for HDR total, and I like to recommend going Mini-LED if HDR is your precedence. Still, the PG27AQDM holds its personal in darker video games and flicks. 

Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM movement efficiency

Matt Smith

The Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM is a 240Hz monitor (although solely over DisplayPort) and gives assist for Adaptive Sync, AMD FreeSync, and Nvidia G-Sync. It offers easy, stutter-free movement in a variety of conditions and with most graphics {hardware} at the moment in the marketplace. A handful of 360Hz and 500Hz screens are actually accessible, such because the Acer XB273U F and Alienware AW2524H, they usually really feel a tad smoother in real-world use. Still, the PG27AQDM is an actual deal with to see in movement.

It helps that the PG27AQDM, like most OLED screens, has an especially quick pixel response time (Asus quotes .03 milliseconds). That means pixels can shortly transition between colours when wanted, which reduces blur and offers glorious readability. Fast-moving objects are nicely outlined with almost all particulars seen. Test pictures from League of Legends present that character silhouettes, names, and well being bars are seen, although the person tick marks inside every well being bar stay exhausting to make out. Motion readability is best than QD-OLED screens with a decrease refresh price, such because the Alienware AW3423DWF, and a tad higher than a 240Hz IPS monitor, such because the Gigabyte M27Q-X. 

Low pixel-response instances additionally enhance movement readability throughout a variety of refresh charges, so movement continues to look relatively crisp all the way down to, and a bit under, 120Hz. This versatility is essential since you received’t see the total advantages supplied by a excessive refresh price if the sport you’re taking part in can’t obtain the same body price, and even high-end gaming PCs will battle to play many titles at as much as 240 frames per second. Fortunately, the PG27AQDM stays fulfilling even when body charges take a dive in direction of the double-digits.  

Is the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM value it?

The Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM is a combined bag of options and efficiency. It delivers an unimaginable distinction ratio, skinny design, and spectacular 240Hz refresh price, all of which make it a drop-dead beautiful choice for players. Unfortunately, the monitor’s lackluster brightness, mediocre coloration efficiency, and so-so sharpness received’t be splendid for these in inventive professions who require exact coloration. Asus additionally fails to supply helpful extras reminiscent of USB-C. These downsides restrict the monitor’s attraction—however when you simply wish to sit back, loosen up, and luxuriate in a top-tier gaming expertise, the PG27AQDM is a superb selection.