The ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM is a 27-inch, 1440p gaming monitor. Along with the Corsair XENEON 27QHD240, this monitor is the main competitor to the LG 27GR95QE-B, as all three monitors use the same OLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate. It features FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) support with G-SYNC compatibility, so it can reduce screen tearing with any type of graphics card. However, because it's limited to HDMI 2.0 bandwidth, HDMI 2.1 sources, like current-gen gaming consoles, can't make full use of the monitor. It's advertised to use heatsink technology that's supposed to make the screen brighter than other monitors with the same panel, and it has features to help reduce the risk of permanent burn-in, like pixel cleaning and screen move options.
Note: We originally tested this monitor with firmware MCM102, as we couldn't update to any of the newer firmware, MCM103 or MCM104. We tried four different PCs, with Windows 10 and 11, and couldn't update the firmware using the ASUS installer. We looked into why none of those PCs worked, but we couldn't find anything unusual. Other people have noticed this online, as you can read more about it here and here. This issue is caused by the firmware installer not working with certain PCs, but we couldn't find any common aspects about the configurations of the first four PCs we tried that would explain this problem. Because it's an issue related to the installer, we would have experienced the same thing even with another unit of this monitor.
Finally, we could update the firmware with a fifth PC, a basic desktop PC with Windows 11. However, on July 11, 2023, ASUS released an updated version of firmware MCM104 that you can install via USB. If you're having trouble updating the firmware with the installer, you can try updating it with a USB instead.
Our Verdict
The ASUS PG27AQDM is incredible for PC gaming. It has a near-instantaneous response time, resulting in sharp motion without any inverse ghosting or blur trail behind fast-moving objects. It also has VRR support to reduce screen tearing and a fast 240Hz refresh rate. It even has low input lag for a responsive feel, as long as the monitor is updated to the latest firmware. Unfortunately, it has noticeable VRR flicker with changing frame rates, which is distracting in dark scenes. On the plus side, it's great for dark room gaming as it displays perfect blacks, and there isn't any blooming around bright objects.
- 240Hz refresh rate with VRR support.
- Near-instantaneous response time.
- Near-infinite contrast ratio.
- Perfect black uniformity.
- Limited to HDMI 2.0 bandwidth.
- Distracting VRR flicker.
The ASUS PG27AQDM is great for console gaming. It delivers a smooth gaming feel thanks to its low input lag and near-instantaneous response time for sharp motion. That said, it lacks HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and it's limited to a 1440p resolution. Luckily, it delivers exceptional picture quality in both SDR and HDR, with deep and inky blacks and no blooming around bright objects.
- Near-instantaneous response time.
- Near-infinite contrast ratio.
- Perfect black uniformity.
- Limited to HDMI 2.0 bandwidth.
The ASUS ROG Swift PG27AQDM is decent for office use, but it's mainly limited by its issues with text clarity. Because computer operating systems don't render text well with the display's RWBG subpixel layout, text isn't as sharp as on other displays with the same pixel density. OLEDs are also prone to burn-in with constant exposure to the same static elements over time, like if you have a taskbar on the screen all day. It doesn't get bright enough to fight a ton of glare either, which is disappointing if you want to use it in a well-lit office, but it has great reflection handling. It also has really wide viewing angles, which are useful if you constantly need to share the screen with someone else.
Great reflection handling.
- Wide viewing angles.
- Amazing ergonomics.
- OLEDs are prone to burn-in.
- Not bright enough for well-lit rooms.
- Text clarity issues.
The ASUS PG27AQDM is excellent for content creators but has some limitations. It has amazing accuracy in its sRGB mode, and it also displays a wide range of colors. The amazing ergonomics and wide viewing angles are also ideal if you constantly need to share the screen with someone else. However, it has text clarity issues caused by its subpixel layout, so text elements in your editing programs don't look sharp. OLEDs like this one are also prone to burn-in with constant exposure to the same static elements over time, like if you work with the same editing program open all day.
Great reflection handling.
- Wide viewing angles.
- Amazing ergonomics.
- Amazing image accuracy in sRGB mode.
- OLEDs are prone to burn-in.
- Not bright enough for well-lit rooms.
- Text clarity issues.
The ASUS PG27AQDM has decent brightness. While it has okay SDR brightness and is bright enough for rooms with a few dim lights around, it isn't bright enough to fight intense glare. Luckily, it gets brighter in HDR as small highlights really pop, but the screen gets dimmer with larger highlights.
- Bright enough for small highlights to pop.
- Not bright enough for well-lit rooms.
The ASUS PG27AQDM has a near-instantaneous response time, leading to exceptionally sharp motion.
- Near-instantaneous response time.
- Outstanding refresh rate compliance.
The ASUS ROG Swift PG27AQDM is incredible for HDR, but you must update it to the latest firmware for the best performance. It displays deep blacks and has perfect black uniformity, meaning it performs extremely well in dark rooms. It has good peak brightness, enough to make colors look vivid, but it has limited coverage of the Rec. 2020 color space, so not all content looks as it should.
- Near-infinite contrast ratio.
- Perfect black uniformity.
- Bright enough for small highlights to pop.
- Aggressive ABL in HDR.
The ASUS PG27AQDM has exceptional picture quality in SDR. It displays deep and inky blacks without any blooming, and it also displays a wide range of colors.
- Near-infinite contrast ratio.
- Perfect black uniformity.
The ASUS PG27AQDM has fantastic color accuracy. It has an extremely accurate sRGB picture mode, but you can still get the best accuracy with a full calibration. Luckily, it has excellent gray uniformity, so the accurate image remains consistent across the entire screen.
- Amazing image accuracy in sRGB mode.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Nov 10, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.1.1. We removed the Vertical Viewing Angle test.
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Updated Jul 23, 2025:
We updated text throughout to match the new and updated tests with Test Bench 2.1, including in the Verdict section.
- Updated Jul 21, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.1. This includes new tests for Direct Reflections, Ambient Black Level Raise, and Total Reflected Light. You can see all the changes in the changelog.
- Updated Feb 21, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.0.1. This includes a new test result for DisplayPort 2.1 Transmission Bandwidth.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 27-inch ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM, the only size available for this monitor. There's also a PG27AQDM-R variant that comes with a monitor arm instead of a stand, but it performs the same.
| Model | Included Stand |
|---|---|
| PG27AQDM | Standard |
| PG27AQDM-R | Monitor Arm |
Our unit was manufactured in February 2023; you can see the label here. These results are with firmware MCM105 and MCM106, as there are some HDR issues with firmware MCM102, so if you experience issues in HDR, try updating to the latest firmware.
Popular Monitor Comparisons
The ASUS PG27AQDM is an incredible PC gaming monitor that combines a fast 240Hz refresh rate with an OLED panel, making it a great choice for gamers who crave high refresh rates and good picture quality. There are known HDR issues with its original firmware, but as long as you can update it to its latest firmware, it's a nice upgrade over the LG 27GR95QE-B, which uses the same panel, but the ASUS gets much brighter in HDR and has less overshoot. However, it has a more aggressive ABL than the LG, so there are some distracting changes in brightness in HDR content, even while gaming. Of course, it doesn't deliver the same vivid colors as QD-OLEDs like the Dell Alienware AW2725DF, so if you want the best picture quality, it's better to go for the Dell.
See our recommendations for the best 240Hz monitors, the best 27-inch monitors, and the best 1440p gaming monitors.
The ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG is a newer generation of 27-inch OLED monitor than the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM. Some of the changes with the XG27AQDMG include a much brighter screen in SDR, a glossy finish, and the ability to display a wider range of colors in HDR, making it the better choice for most gamers. However, if you prefer a matte display and don't mind the reduced brightness, you won't be disappointed by the older PG27AQDM.
The MSI MPG 271QRX QD-OLED and the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM are premium 27-inch gaming monitors. If connectivity and colors are important to you, the MSI is the better choice, as it has a KVM switch and a USB-C port, which provides 90W of power delivery. The MSI also has far more vibrant HDR colors.
The ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM and the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDP are both 1440p OLED gaming monitors in the same lineup. They have many of the same features, but the main difference is that the PG27AQDP has a higher 480Hz refresh rate than the 240Hz refresh rate of the PG27AQDM, and the PG27AQDP has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of modern graphics cards. On top of that, the PG27AQDP gets much brighter in SDR, so it's the better choice for well-lit rooms. However, the PG27AQDM is the better choice if you often play games at 60Hz, as it has lower input lag at 60Hz.
The ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM and the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM are both 240Hz OLED gaming monitors, with a few differences. The PG27UCDM has a higher 4k resolution for sharper and more detailed images, and it supports higher bandwidth over HDMI and DisplayPort so you can easily reach the max resolution. The PG27UCDM also has a few extra features, like a USB-C port, KVM switch, and Dolby Vision support. The PG27UCDM even displays more vivid colors, and while it gets brighter in SDR, the PG27AQDM is much brighter in HDR.
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.
Test Results
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