The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ is an excellent 4k gaming monitor. Its large 27 inch screen displays razor-sharp images and text, and it has good ergonomics and decent viewing angles, making it suitable for a wide range of uses. It has a fast response time, low input lag, and a 144Hz refresh rate, resulting in smooth motion and incredible responsiveness. However, it requires a graphics card with Display Stream Compression and a DisplayPort connection to achieve such a high refresh rate since it lacks an HDMI 2.1 port. It supports Adaptive Sync and is compatible with FreeSync and G-SYNC. Its IPS panel has decent reflection handling and gets bright enough to combat intense glare. It isn't as well-suited for dark rooms, though, as its low contrast ratio makes blacks look grayish. It has a good wide color gamut and gets decently bright in HDR, but the local dimming is terrible and can be quite distracting.
Our Verdict
The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ is a great monitor overall. It has a large 4k screen that makes it suitable for work, gaming, or media consumption. Gaming feels responsive due to its low input lag and high refresh rate, and it has a fast response time and a Black Frame Insertion feature to deliver clear images. It has an outstanding SDR color gamut for viewing and creating content, but the contrast ratio is low, resulting in blacks that look gray in the dark.
- Large screen and 4k resolution.
- Good visibility in bright rooms.
- Good ergonomics.
- Mediocre contrast ratio.
- Images look washed out when viewed from the side.
The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ is great for office use. It has a large screen for multitasking, and its high pixel density results in outstanding text clarity. Its decent viewing angles make it easier to share your work with colleagues, but the image looks a bit washed out from the side and might not be ideal if image accuracy is a must. Luckily, it has good ergonomics. It handles reflections decently well and gets more than bright enough to overcome glare.
- Large screen and 4k resolution.
- Good visibility in bright rooms.
- Good ergonomics.
- Mediocre contrast ratio.
- Images look washed out when viewed from the side.
The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ is an excellent gaming monitor. It has a low input lag, fast response time, and a 144Hz refresh rate, resulting in smooth and responsive gameplay. It has a Black Frame Insertion feature to improve motion clarity, which you can use simultaneously with variable refresh rate. Its large high-resolution screen provides incredible immersion, making it a great choice for playing atmospheric games like RPGs. Sadly, it isn't the best option for gaming in the dark due to its low contrast and mediocre black uniformity.
- Large screen and 4k resolution.
- 144Hz refresh rate.
- Outstanding response time.
- Good ergonomics.
- Mediocre contrast ratio.
- Requires graphics card with DSC for 144Hz.
The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ is great for media consumption. It has a large high-resolution screen that delivers stunning picture quality. It allows for a good amount of ergonomic adjustments so that you can place the screen at your optimal viewing position, and its decent viewing angles make it easier to share content with others. It isn't the best option for dark room viewing as its low contrast ratio makes blacks look gray.
- Large screen and 4k resolution.
- Good visibility in bright rooms.
- Good ergonomics.
- Outstanding SDR color gamut.
- Mediocre contrast ratio.
- Images look washed out when viewed from the side.
The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ is great for media creation. It has a large 4k screen that allows you to see all the fine details in your work with amazing clarity. It has an outstanding SDR color gamut with full sRGB coverage, making it suitable for color work. Unfortunately, it doesn't display dark colors well due to its low contrast ratio, and even though it has decent viewing angles, images look washed out from the side.
- Large screen and 4k resolution.
- Good visibility in bright rooms.
- Good ergonomics.
- Outstanding SDR color gamut.
- Mediocre contrast ratio.
- Images look washed out when viewed from the side.
The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ is good for gaming in HDR. It provides a smooth and responsive gaming experience thanks to its low input lag, fast response time, and high refresh rate. It has a good HDR color gamut and decent peak brightness, but its low contrast ratio makes blacks look gray, and the local dimming feature is terrible.
- Large screen and 4k resolution.
- 144Hz refresh rate.
- Outstanding response time.
- Good ergonomics.
- Mediocre contrast ratio.
- Requires graphics card with DSC for 144Hz.
- Terrible local dimming.
Changelog
- Updated Jun 14, 2023: Clarified that the ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQR is an updated monitor that's similar, but isn't exactly like the XG27UQ in Variants.
- Updated Jan 18, 2022: Discovered that it doesn't have PIP/PBP software.
- Updated Dec 03, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Nov 30, 2020: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 27-inch ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ, and it's the only size available. There's a similar monitor that's an updated version of it, the ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQR, but it performs differently, and the results don't apply.
| Model | Size | Resolution | Refresh Rate | VRR | Swivel Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XG27UQ | 27" | 4k | 144Hz | Adaptive Sync | -40° to 40° |
| XG27UQR | 27" | 4k | 144Hz | FreeSync | -25° to 25° |
If someone comes across a different type of panel or their ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ doesn't correspond to our review, let us know, and we'll update the review. Note that some tests, such as the gray uniformity, may vary between individual units.
Our unit was manufactured in September 2020; you can see the label here.
Popular Monitor Comparisons
The ASUS ROG XG27UQ is an excellent gaming monitor that's also well-suited for productivity and media consumption. It's one of the best high-refresh 4k monitors on the market, but it comes with a high price tag, and its 144Hz refresh rate is only achievable with a graphics card that supports Display Stream Compression. For other options, check out our recommendations for the best 4k gaming monitors, the best HDR gaming monitors, and the best 144Hz monitors.
The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQR is an updated version of the ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ. While they have different stands with better ergonomics on the XG27UQ, they're very similar in features and performance. The XG27UQR has the same 144Hz refresh rate with HDMI 2.0 bandwidth as the XG27UQ and has the same selection of inputs. The main advantage the XG27UQR has is its slightly improved color gamut; other than that, they're very similar monitors.
The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ and the Gigabyte M28U are very similar overall, but the ASUS is slightly better for most people, as it has better ergonomics. The Gigabyte has slightly better reflection handling, and its black frame insertion feature is a bit more versatile, as it works across a wider range of refresh rates.
Overall, the ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ is better than the Acer Predator XB273K Pbmiphzx. The ASUS has better ergonomics, higher peak brightness in SDR and HDR, and even though its response time is slower, it has much less overshoot. The Acer has better reflection handling, more USB ports, and a pair of speakers. The ASUS has native Adaptive-Sync support and is compatible with FreeSync and G-SYNC, while the Acer is a native G-SYNC monitor.
The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ is a bit better than the ASUS ROG Strix XG279Q. The XG27UQ has a much lower input lag when playing at 60Hz, gets brighter to combat glare, and its 4k resolution results in better text clarity. The XG279Q has a faster response time, a higher refresh rate, wider viewing angles, and better reflection handling.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, all of which we purchase ourselves, without cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized, custom tools to measure various aspects and deliver objective, data-driven results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance compared to the competition, and whether it's easy to find.
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