Asus Rog Monitors: Premium Price, Premium Experience?

The Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ is one of the best and most expensive 4K gaming monitors on the market. With a price tag of $2,000, it is a significant investment for gamers and content creators alike. The monitor boasts impressive features such as a 27-inch display, a 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate, G-Sync capability, and HDR compatibility. While some may question the high cost, others argue that the exceptional performance, image quality, and advanced backlight technology make it a worthwhile investment.

The ROG Swift PG27UQ is based on Nvidia's G-Sync HDR reference design

The ROG Swift PG27UQ's panel relies on an in-plane switching quantum-dot display, which provides rich colours and wide viewing angles. Quantum dots are nano-sized crystals that emit specific shades of colour depending on their core size. This provides more "precise" colours than a typical LCD panel, which can experience colour bleed.

The ROG Swift PG27UQ's display also features local dimming, with its LED backlight dynamically controlled across 384 zones, providing high contrast and a wide range of dynamic luminance. This qualifies it as a DisplayHDR 1000 product.

The ROG Swift PG27UQ's connectivity options include one HDMI 2.0 port, a headphone jack, two USB-A ports, and one USB-B port. It also features a five-way OSD navigation joystick and a built-in ambient light sensor that adjusts the display's brightness based on the current lighting conditions.

It has a typical brightness of 300 nits and a peak brightness of 1,000 nits

The Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ monitor has a typical brightness of 300 nits and a peak brightness of 1,000 nits. This brightness level is considered quite high and is one of the reasons for the monitor's high price.

Brightness is an important aspect to consider when purchasing a monitor. A monitor with high brightness can combat glare in a well-lit room, making it ideal for use during the day or in a room with bright lights or large windows. Additionally, a monitor with high HDR brightness makes highlights stand out, which is important for watching content or playing games in HDR.

The ROG Swift PG27UQ monitor's high brightness level of 1,000 nits allows it to be certified as a DisplayHDR 1000 product. This certification indicates that the monitor can deliver true HDR content reproduction, providing a more immersive and realistic experience for gamers and video playback.

The high brightness level of the ROG Swift PG27UQ monitor also enhances its contrast ratio. With a typical brightness of 300 nits and an HDR contrast ratio of 20,000:1, the monitor can display deep blacks and bright whites, resulting in high-contrast images.

While the ROG Swift PG27UQ monitor's peak brightness of 1,000 nits is impressive, it is important to note that such high brightness may be uncomfortable for everyday use. Most indoor environments require a brightness of up to 300 nits, and even lower settings may be preferred for comfortable viewing in dark rooms. However, in bright environments or when competing with direct sunlight, higher brightness levels can be beneficial.

It has a high refresh rate of 144Hz

The refresh rate of a monitor refers to the frequency at which the monitor can update the information displayed on its LCD panel. A higher refresh rate means a smoother animation and a more responsive gaming experience. The ASUS ROG monitor has a high refresh rate of 144Hz, which is more than twice the standard 60Hz. This means that the ROG monitor can update its display more than twice as often as a standard monitor, resulting in a smoother and more responsive gaming performance.

A higher refresh rate is particularly advantageous for gamers, as it allows them to see more of what is happening in their interactive game or application. This can be especially beneficial for competitive gamers who require high frame rates and smooth animations to gain a competitive edge.

The ROG monitor's high refresh rate of 144Hz is further enhanced by its support for variable refresh rate technologies such as AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-SYNC. These technologies allow the monitor to dynamically adjust its refresh rate to match the output of the graphics card, eliminating issues like screen tearing and providing an even smoother visual experience.

The combination of a high refresh rate and variable refresh rate technology makes the ASUS ROG monitor a top choice for gamers who want the best possible visual performance and responsiveness from their display. This advanced technology does come at a cost, contributing to the overall expense of the ASUS ROG monitor.

It has a range of extra productivity features

The Asus ROG monitor has a range of extra productivity features that justify its high price tag. The monitor has a high refresh rate of 144Hz, which is a significant upgrade from the standard 60Hz monitors. This makes it an excellent choice for gaming, as it provides a very responsive and immersive gaming experience. Additionally, the ROG monitor has a high resolution of 3840 x 2160, delivering ultra-high-definition visuals. The monitor also supports HDR10 and DCI-P3 colour, ensuring a wide colour gamut and vivid visuals.

The ROG monitor also includes a range of connectivity options, such as HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, a headphone jack, and USB ports. It even has a built-in ROG Light Signal that projects the logo onto a wall or backdrop, and a Light Signature projection kit that allows users to customise light effects on their desktop surface.

One of the most impressive features of the ROG monitor is its use of quantum-dot technology. This technology provides precise colours and wide viewing angles, enhancing the overall visual experience. The monitor also has local dimming, with an LED backlight that can be dynamically controlled across 384 zones, resulting in high contrast and richer, more natural-looking dark scenes.

The ROG monitor also stands out for its build quality and styling. It includes a sturdy base that can be adjusted for height, swivel, tilt, and portrait mode. The monitor's bezel is fairly wide, and the anti-glare layer effectively rejects reflections without causing graininess in the image.

Overall, the Asus ROG monitor justifies its high price tag with its impressive specifications and range of productivity features. It delivers an exceptional visual experience, a wide range of connectivity options, and customisable lighting effects, making it a top choice for gamers and content creators alike.

It has a high build quality and styling

The Asus ROG monitor has a high build quality and styling. The monitor's stand adjustments are firm and precise, including 4.7 inches of height, 45-degree swivel in each direction, 25-degree back tilt, 5-degree forward tilt, and a 90-degree portrait mode. The monitor's styling is slightly subdued compared to other ROG screens, but it still has molded textures and lighting effects. The base projects a pattern onto your desktop, and there is a backlit ROG logo around the back. The effects can be controlled in the OSD and even synced with other ROG hardware components. The monitor's bezel is fairly wide at 20mm on the top and bottom and 16mm on the sides. The anti-glare layer is set back a bit, effectively rejecting reflections without causing grain in the image. The monitor's high build quality and styling contribute to its premium pricing.

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