Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.

ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v2.0
Review updated Aug 14, 2024 at 11:49 am
Latest change: Retest Aug 15, 2024 at 11:37 am
ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM Picture
7.5
PC Gaming
6.4
Console Gaming
7.7
Office
7.6
Editing
7.5
Brightness
7.9
Response Time
6.2
HDR Picture
6.8
SDR Picture
8.8
Color Accuracy

The ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM is a 1440p, 240Hz gaming monitor with a 27-inch screen. Part of the Republic of Gamers lineup, it's newer and has a higher refresh rate than the ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q and the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QZ. Like the older models, it has native G-SYNC VRR support, and it has features you can only use with an NVIDIA graphics card, like NVIDIA Reflex Latency Analyzer, to measure the latency of each part of your setup. Unlike most monitors, it has three HDMI ports, but none of them support HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, so you can only take advantage of the monitor's refresh rate with a DisplayPort connection.

Our Verdict

7.5 PC Gaming

The ASUS PG279QM is a good PC gaming monitor. With a 240Hz refresh rate, it's a good choice for competitive gaming, and it has native G-SYNC support to take full advantage of NVIDIA graphics cards. It even has features you can only use with NVIDIA graphics cards, like Reflex Latency Analyzer to measure the latency of your setup. Speaking of which, it has low input lag and a fast response time for sharp motion. Unfortunately, though, it has limited picture quality as it has a low contrast ratio and a bad local dimming feature that fails to improve it.

Pros
  • 240Hz refresh rate.
  • Fast response time for sharp motion.
  • Native G-SYNC support.
  • Low input lag.
  • Supports NVIDIA Reflex Latency Analyzer.
Cons
  • Low native contrast ratio.
  • Bad edge-lit local dimming.
  • Highlights don't pop in HDR.
6.4 Console Gaming

The ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM isn't bad for console gaming. Motion looks sharp, and it has low input lag for a responsive feel. However, it can't take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, but you can still play 1440p games up to 120Hz with VRR support. That said, it doesn't deliver realistic images because it has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray, the local dimming feature is bad, and it doesn't make highlights pop in HDR.

Pros
  • Fast response time for sharp motion.
  • Low input lag.
  • VRR works with the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Cons
  • Low native contrast ratio.
  • Bad edge-lit local dimming.
  • Can't take full advantage of consoles.
  • Highlights don't pop in HDR.
7.7 Office

The ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM is a good monitor for office use. It has good text clarity, and the screen is big enough to open two windows side-by-side. The image remains consistent at an angle, so you can easily share your screen with someone else, and it has impressive ergonomics, too. Lastly, it gets bright enough to fight glare, which is great if you want to use it in a well-lit room, and it has good reflection handling.

Pros
  • Wide viewing angles.
  • Bright enough to fight glare.
  • Impressive ergonomics.
Cons
  • No dedicated office features.
7.6 Editing

The ASUS PG279QM is good for media creators. The large screen makes it easy to see more of your timeline at once. It has wide viewing angles and impressive ergonomics, so you can easily share your screen with someone else. It also displays a wide range of colors and has an accurate sRGB mode, but you need to calibrate it for the best white balance. Unfortunately, it has low contrast and disappointing black uniformity, so it delivers limited picture quality, especially in dark rooms.

Pros
  • Wide viewing angles.
  • Accurate sRGB mode.
  • Bright enough to fight glare.
  • Impressive ergonomics.
Cons
  • Low native contrast ratio.
  • Bad edge-lit local dimming.
  • Needs calibration for the best white balance.
7.5 Brightness

The ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM has good brightness. It gets bright enough to fight glare in a well-lit room, but highlights don't stand out in HDR.

Pros
  • Bright enough to fight glare.
Cons
  • Highlights don't pop in HDR.
7.9 Response Time

The ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM has a very good response time. Motion looks sharp with fast-moving objects, but there's more blur at lower refresh rates.

Pros
  • Fast response time for sharp motion.
Cons
  • Some more blur at lower refresh rates.
6.2 HDR Picture

The ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM has mediocre HDR picture quality. It has a low contrast ratio, so blacks look gray in dark rooms, and it has a bad local dimming feature that fails to improve the picture quality in dark scenes. Colors don't look vivid either.

Pros
Cons
  • Low native contrast ratio.
  • Bad edge-lit local dimming.
6.8 SDR Picture

The ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM has okay SDR picture quality. While it displays a wide range of colors, blacks look gray due to its low contrast ratio.

Pros
  • Displays wide range of SDR colors.
Cons
  • Low native contrast ratio.
8.8 Color Accuracy

The ASUS PG279QM has excellent color accuracy. It has an accurate sRGB mode, but you still need to calibrate it if you want the best white balance.

Pros
  • Accurate sRGB mode.
Cons
  • Needs calibration for the best white balance.
  • 7.5 PC Gaming
  • 6.4 Console Gaming
  • 7.7 Office
  • 7.6 Editing

Performance Usages

  • 7.5 Brightness
  • 7.9 Response Time
  • 6.2 HDR Picture
  • 6.8 SDR Picture
  • 8.8 Color Accuracy
  1. Updated Aug 15, 2024: Clarified that the ASUS is advertised as having Variable Overdrive.
  2. Updated Aug 14, 2024: Updated text throughout the review according to Test Bench 2.0, mainly in the Verdict and Motion sections.
  3. Updated Aug 09, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.0. This includes new tests for VRR Motion Performance, Refresh Rate Compliance, Cumulative Absolute Deviation (CAD), and VRR Flicker. You can read the full changelog here.
  4. Updated Apr 18, 2023: Clarified that the new Dell Alienware AW2524H is another G-SYNC monitor with a lower Resolution and higher refresh rate.
  5. Updated Mar 17, 2023: Added that the new ASUS ROG Swift 360Hz PG27AQN is a 1440p monitor with a 360Hz Refresh Rate.
  6. Updated Mar 09, 2023: Mentioned the LG 27GR95QE-B in Contrast because it's another 1440p, 240Hz monitor that has a near-infinite contrast.
  7. Updated Sep 15, 2022: We tested the monitor to confirm that it works with the PS5's new 1440p support.
  8. Updated May 02, 2022: We tested the monitor with the PS5's new variable refresh rate feature and confirmed that it's working properly.
  9. Updated Apr 08, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.2, resulting in changes to the results and scores with the Response Time and Input Lag. Added tests for Console Compatibility and macOS compatibility and made minor changes to other tests, which you can see in our Changelog.
  10. Updated Jan 31, 2022: Review published.
  11. Updated Jan 26, 2022: Early access published.
  12. Updated Jan 20, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
  13. Updated Jan 18, 2022: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  14. Updated Jan 12, 2022: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
  15. Updated Jan 06, 2022: The product has won our suggestion poll, so we'll buy and test it soon.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 27-inch ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM, which is the only size available. It's part of ASUS' ROG Swift lineup of gaming monitors, and it's newer than the ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q and the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QZ, which are also native G-SYNC monitors but have lower refresh rates.

Model Size Native Resolution Max Refresh Rate Native G-SYNC
PG279QM 27" 1440p 240Hz Yes

Our unit was manufactured in Aug. 2021; you can see the label here.

Compared To Other Monitors

The ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM is a good 1440p, 240Hz gaming monitor that takes full advantage of NVIDIA graphics cards thanks to its native G-SYNC support. This includes features like NVIDIA Reflex Latency Analyzer that measures the latency of your setup, which is useful to see which devices cause the most delay. It's definitely a great choice if you want a native G-SYNC monitor as the market for those is limited. However, if you don't need that, there are other 1440p, 240Hz monitors with G-SYNC compatibility that you can get for less, like the Dell Alienware AW2723DF.

For more options, check out our recommendations for the best 1440p gaming monitors, the best G-SYNC monitors, and the best 240Hz monitors.

Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T

The Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T and the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM are both 240Hz 1440p gaming monitors. They're each great choices for gaming, but choosing one over the other can come down to which graphics card you have. The ASUS has native G-SYNC support that can take full advantage of NVIDIA graphics cards, and it has features that you can only use with NVIDIA graphics cards, like Reflex Latency Analyzer. However, the Samsung is the better choice for gaming in a dark room as it has a higher contrast.

Dell Alienware AW2723DF

The Dell Alienware AW2723DF and the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM are both 1440p, 240Hz gaming monitors with a few differences. The Dell has an overclockable refresh rate of up to 280Hz, which the ASUS doesn't have, and it also has a lower input lag. The main difference between the two is that the ASUS has native G-SYNC support, which lets you take full advantage of your NVIDIA graphics card, as you can also use its Reflex Latency Analyzer feature to measure the input lag of your entire setup.

ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQ

The ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQ and the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM offer very similar performance. The XG27AQ is a bit more versatile for gaming, as it has an optional backlight strobing feature, commonly known as black frame insertion, which can improve the appearance of motion. On the other hand, the PG279QM has a higher refresh rate and is better for competitive gaming.

ASUS ROG Swift 360Hz PG27AQN

The ASUS ROG Swift 360Hz PG27AQN and the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM are both excellent gaming monitors with a 1440p resolution and native G-SYNC support. The main difference is that the PG27AQN has a higher 360Hz refresh rate and quicker response times for better motion handling. Besides that, both monitors are similar, so choosing one over the other comes down to which max refresh rate you want.

ASUS ROG Strix XG279Q

The ASUS ROG Strix XG279Q and the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM offer very similar performance overall. The XG279Q has an optional backlight strobing feature, which can improve the appearance of motion, and it has slightly better ergonomics. The PG279QM, on the other hand, has a slightly faster refresh rate and low input lag. There's also a difference in supported variable refresh rates, as the PG279QM natively supports G-SYNC, resulting in a more visually consistent gaming experience if you have an NVIDIA graphics card.

ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q

The ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM is better than its predecessor, the ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q. The PG279QM has a much faster response time at 60Hz, and unlike the PG279Q, it supports HDR. The PG279QM also has slightly better text clarity. On the other hand, the PG279Q is a bit more versatile for gaming, as it has an optional backlight strobing feature, which can improve the appearance of motion.

LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B

The ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM and the LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B deliver very similar performance, each with strengths and weaknesses. The ASUS has better ergonomics, so it's easier to place it in an ideal viewing position. On the other hand, the LG has a faster response time at the max refresh rate, and it has an optional backlight strobing feature to improve the appearance of motion.

Dell Alienware AW2721D

The Dell Alienware AW2721D and the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM are very similar, each with strengths and weaknesses. The Dell has a better vertical viewing angle and better ergonomics, and it's brighter in both SDR and HDR. The ASUS, on the other hand, has better reflection handling and a wider color gamut, and it has built-in speakers.

ASUS VG279QM

The ASUS VG279QM is a bit better than the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM. The VG279QM has an optional backlight strobing feature, commonly known as black frame insertion, designed to improve the appearance of motion. The VG279QM also has much better ergonomics and a faster response time at the max refresh rate. On the other hand, the PG279QM has a higher resolution screen, resulting in better text clarity and a sharper image when gaming or watching videos.

Dell Alienware AW2524H

The ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM and the Dell Alienware AW2524H are both G-SYNC gaming monitors, and choosing one over the other depends on the type of games you play. The ASUS delivers sharper detail thanks to its 1440p resolution, while the Dell is better for gaming at a high frame rate due to its 500Hz refresh rate.

+ Show more

Video

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved
No
Curve Radius
Not Curved

The ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM has a very gamer-oriented design. The gamer aesthetic continues on the back, with lines etched in the back panel and a large ROG logo that doubles as RGB bias-lighting.

8.0
Design
Build Quality

The ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM has great build quality. The stand is very sturdy, with metal feet that support the monitor well and don't allow for much wobble. The main body is mainly plastic, and there's a bit of flex in the back panel near the RGB logo, but there are no other noticeable issues.

8.4
Design
Ergonomics
Min Height To Top Of Panel
15.8" (40.1 cm)
Height Adjustment
3.9" (9.9 cm)
Tilt Range
-20° to 5°
Rotate Portrait/Landscape
Yes, Clockwise
Swivel Range
-25° to 25°
Wall Mount
VESA 100x100

The ergonomics are impressive. It's easy to place the screen in an ideal position or to adjust it for someone else.

The back has a large ROG logo that doubles as an RGB light. There's a cutout in the stand for cable management , and there's an included cover that hides the inputs.

Design
Stand
Base Width
21.9" (55.5 cm)
Base Depth
10.1" (25.7 cm)
Thickness (With Display)
9.1" (23.0 cm)
Weight (With Display)
17.6 lbs (8.0 kg)

The stand has a large footprint, but it supports the screen well, allowing for very minimal wobble, even at the maximum height extension.

Design
Display
Size
27"
Housing Width
24.2" (61.4 cm)
Housing Height
14.4" (36.6 cm)
Thickness (Without Stand)
3.5" (9.0 cm)
Weight (Without Stand)
10.1 lbs (4.6 kg)
Borders Size (Bezels)
0.3" (0.8 cm)
Design
Controls
Design
In The Box
Power Supply
External Brick

  • DisplayPort cable
  • HDMI cable
  • USB-B upstream cable
  • Power supply and cable
  • User manuals, including calibration report
  • Stickers

Picture Quality
6.2
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
1,147 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
1,169 : 1

The ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM has mediocre contrast, so blacks look gray if you're in a dark room. Unfortunately, because the local dimming feature can only illuminate entire columns of light at once, it's ineffective at boosting contrast with the checkerboard test pattern. It's most effective at boosting contrast in scenes with larger dark areas.

The contrast photo shows a reddish tint. This is from an interaction between the backlight and the camera sensor and it isn't noticeable in person.

3.0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
Yes
Backlight
Edge

The local dimming feature is bad and ineffective at improving dark scene performance. It's edge-lit with 32 dimming zones, so it only illuminates entire columns of light at once, resulting in terrible blooming with most content. It's especially noticeable in dark scenes with subtitles. In scenes that are dark enough for zones to turn off, it's very effective at reducing black levels, but there's a noticeable difference between zones that are on and off.

As fast-moving objects transition between zones, it reacts quickly, but this is distracting in dark scenes as zones flicker on and off. The 'Level 3' Variable Backlight setting offers the best performance overall. Zone transitions are a bit slower with the 'Level 2' setting, and there's less flicker overall, but it also raises the black levels in zones that are off.

8.0
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene
348 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
370 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
364 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
363 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
363 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
363 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
369 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
364 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
363 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
363 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
363 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.001
Minimum Brightness
41 cd/m²

The SDR brightness is great. It's bright enough to overcome glare in bright rooms, and there's very little variation in brightness with different content, which is great.

These results are from after calibration, in the 'Racing Mode' Picture Mode, with the backlight at max and Variable Backlight set to 'Level 3'.

7.1
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
VESA DisplayHDR Certification
DisplayHDR 400 - 1.0/1.1
Real Scene
469 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
486 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
478 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
477 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
477 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
432 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
485 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
477 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
476 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
476 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
430 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.007

The HDR brightness is decent. Despite having a local dimming feature, small highlights don't pop against the rest of the image, and it fails to deliver a satisfying HDR experience. Luckily, it has good PQ EOTF tracking, meaning it displays most content at their correct brightness, and with a sharp cut-off at the peak brightness, it lets highlights get the brightest they could.

These results are with HDR enabled, Brightness at '100', and Variable Backlight set to 'Level 3'.

8.0
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
35°
Color Washout From Right
34°
Color Shift From Left
51°
Color Shift From Right
53°
Brightness Loss From Left
41°
Brightness Loss From Right
41°
Black Level Raise From Left
70°
Black Level Raise From Right
70°
Gamma Shift From Left
59°
Gamma Shift From Right
59°

The ASUS PG279QM has an impressive horizontal viewing angle. The image remains consistent from the sides, ideal for sharing your screen with others.

6.7
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
29°
Color Washout From Above
30°
Color Shift From Below
36°
Color Shift From Above
41°
Brightness Loss From Below
33°
Brightness Loss From Above
34°
Black Level Raise From Below
53°
Black Level Raise From Above
70°
Gamma Shift From Below
30°
Gamma Shift From Above
32°

The vertical viewing angle is okay. While it washes out from wide angles, it's still fine if you're standing up and looking down on the monitor.

7.9
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
4.340%
50% DSE
0.129%

This monitor has great gray uniformity. The sides of the screen are a bit darker than the center, and there's a bit of dirty screen effect in the center, but it isn't very noticeable.

The gray uniformity photo shows a reddish tint. This is caused by an interaction between the backlight and the camera sensor and it isn't noticeable in person.

5.8
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
1.448%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
5.915%

The black uniformity is disappointing. The screen appears cloudy without local dimming. Due to the limited number of dimming zones, local dimming results in worse black uniformity, with significant blooming around bright objects.

8.8
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Pre-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Racing Mode (sRGB)
sRGB Gamut Area xy
103.1%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
2.30
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,663 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.22
Color dE (Avg.)
1.36
Contrast Setting
50
RGB Settings
100-100-100
Gamma Setting
2.2
Brightness Setting
40
Measured Brightness
179 cd/m²
Brightness Locked
No

The accuracy before calibration in the sRGB mode is excellent. It locks colors well to the sRGB color space, and most colors are accurate, but white balance is a bit off. Gamma follows the sRGB curve very closely, but most scenes are slightly darker than they should be.

This monitor has two separate options that allow you to limit the color gamut to the 'sRGB' color space. Setting GameVisual to 'sRGB' locks the gamut, but it also severely limits the picture settings that you can change. Setting Display SDR Input to 'sRGB' also locks the color gamut to the sRGB color space but leaves all picture settings unlocked, which is useful for customization. Both sRGB modes achieve roughly the same accuracy, but 'Racing Mode' with the separate sRGB clamp delivers the best results overall without any limitations, which is what we used for testing.

9.7
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Post-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Racing Mode
sRGB Gamut Area xy
99.1%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.65
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,498 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.19
Color dE (Avg.)
0.41
Contrast Setting
50
RGB Settings
100-94-98
Gamma Setting
2.2
Brightness Setting
18
Measured Brightness
103 cd/m²
ICC Profile
Download

The accuracy after calibration is fantastic Any remaining issues with the white balance and color accuracy aren't noticeable, and gamma follows the sRGB target curve nearly perfectly. The color temperature is extremely close to the calibration target.

9.9
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB Coverage xy
99.6%
sRGB Picture Mode
Racing Mode
Adobe RGB Coverage xy
99.9%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Racing Mode

The SDR color gamut is fantastic. It has complete coverage of both the sRGB and the Adobe RGB color spaces, but it oversaturates colors in Adobe RGB.

9.1
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI-P3 Coverage xy
95.8%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
HDR Mode
Rec. 2020 Coverage xy
83.0%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
HDR Mode

The HDR color gamut is fantastic. It has nearly complete coverage of the DCI-P3 color space used by most current HDR content. It also has great coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 color space, and there are minimal tone mapping issues with each color space.

8.2
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
1,000 cd/m² DCI-P3 Coverage ICtCp
75.7%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
HDR Mode
10,000 cd/m² Rec. 2020 Coverage ICtCp
37.0%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
HDR Mode

The HDR color volume is great. Although it displays a wide range of colors, it doesn't make them look very vivid.

7.5
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
IPS
Subpixel Layout
RGB

The ASUS PG279QM has good text clarity. Running the Windows ClearType wizard helps improve text clarity (top photo), especially on diagonal or curved lines.

7.7
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
4.7%
Indirect Reflections
2.5%
Calculated Direct Reflections
2.2%

The reflection handling is good The matte coating helps reduce the intensity of direct reflections but also adds a slightly hazy look.

The reflection photos show a reddish tint. This isn't a calibration artifact, as the monitor has a near-perfect white balance and color temperature after calibration. It isn't noticeable in person, and it's an interaction between the backlight and the camera sensor.

9.9
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit

This monitor has remarkable gradient handling, with almost no noticeable banding in areas of similar color.

Motion
8.0
Motion
Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP @ 10-bit
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI @ 10-Bit
60 Hz

Due to bandwidth limitations over HDMI, you can only reach the max refresh rate over DisplayPort. If you want a 1440p monitor with an even higher 360Hz refresh rate, check out the ASUS ROG Swift 360Hz PG27AQN.

Motion
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
FreeSync
Compatible (Tested)
G-SYNC
Yes (Native)
VRR Maximum
240 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors
DisplayPort, HDMI

NVIDIAVRR MinVRR Max
DisplayPort<20Hz240Hz
HDMI<20Hz144Hz

AMDVRR MinVRR Max
DisplayPort<20Hz240Hz
HDMI<20Hz144Hz

On top of supporting native G-SYNC and working with FreeSync, this monitor also supports HDMI Forum VRR.

8.1
Motion
VRR Motion Performance
Recommended VRR OD Setting
Esports
Variable Overdrive Advertised
Yes
Avg. CAD
153
Best CAD
121
Worst CAD
168

Refresh RateCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
239HeatmapChartPhoto
165HeatmapChartPhoto
144HeatmapChartPhoto
120HeatmapChartPhoto
100HeatmapChartPhoto
80HeatmapChartPhoto
60HeatmapChartPhoto

The motion handling is great across the VRR range. Motion looks sharp with the 'Esports' overdrive setting, and while it's consistent across the VRR range, there's more inverse ghosting and blur at lower refresh rates.

7.7
Motion
Refresh Rate Compliance
Compliance @ Max Hz
42%
Compliance @ 120 FPS
61%
Compliance @ 60 FPS
81%

The refresh rate compliance is good. It performs best at 60Hz, as its response time isn't fast enough to make full color transitions before the monitor draws the next frame at high refresh rates.

8.2
Motion
CAD @ Max Refresh Rate
OD Transition Max Refresh Rate
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Esports
Avg. CAD
121
Best 10% CAD
71
Worst 10% CAD
232

Overdrive ModeCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
OffHeatmapChartPhoto
NormalHeatmapChartPhoto
EsportsHeatmapChartPhoto
ExtremeHeatmapChartPhoto

The CAD at the max refresh rate is great. Motion looks sharp with the recommended overdrive of 'Esports', as it has less blur than 'Normal' and less inverse ghosting than 'Extreme'.

Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Esports
First Response Time
3.9 ms
Total Response Time
5.2 ms
RGB Overshoot
3 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
9.1 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
9.1 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
10 RGB

Overdrive ModeFirst Response HeatmapTotal Response HeatmapRGB Overshoot Heatmap
OffHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
NormalHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
EsportsHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
ExtremeHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap

7.9
Motion
CAD @ 120Hz
OD Transition 120Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Esports
Avg. CAD
155
Best 10% CAD
94
Worst 10% CAD
238

Overdrive ModeCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
OffHeatmapChartPhoto
NormalHeatmapChartPhoto
EsportsHeatmapChartPhoto
ExtremeHeatmapChartPhoto

The CAD at 120Hz is very good. Like at the max refresh rate, the recommended overdrive is 'Esports', but it has a bit more inverse ghosting. If that bothers you, 'Normal' is better to use, but it has slightly more blur.

Motion
Response Time @ 120Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Esports
First Response Time
4.7 ms
Total Response Time
9.5 ms
RGB Overshoot
7 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
7.1 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
11.4 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
11 RGB

Overdrive ModeFirst Response HeatmapTotal Response HeatmapRGB Overshoot Heatmap
OffHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
NormalHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
EsportsHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
ExtremeHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap

7.6
Motion
CAD @ 60Hz
OD Transition 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Esports
Avg. CAD
165
Best 10% CAD
95
Worst 10% CAD
273

Overdrive ModeCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
OffHeatmapChartPhoto
NormalHeatmapChartPhoto
EsportsHeatmapChartPhoto
ExtremeHeatmapChartPhoto

The CAD at 60Hz. Once again, the 'Esports' overdrive provides the best performance as there isn't distracting inverse ghosting, but 'Normal' performs similarly.

Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Esports
First Response Time
6.1 ms
Total Response Time
7.4 ms
RGB Overshoot
1 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
11.6 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
11.6 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
6 RGB

Overdrive ModeFirst Response HeatmapTotal Response HeatmapRGB Overshoot Heatmap
OffHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
NormalHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
EsportsHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
ExtremeHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap

Motion
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
No BFI
Maximum Frequency
N/A
Minimum Frequency
N/A
Longest Pulse Width Brightness
N/A
Shortest Pulse Width Brightness
N/A
Pulse Width Control
No BFI
Pulse Phase Control
No BFI
Pulse Amplitude Control
No BFI
VRR At The Same Time
No BFI

The ASUS PG279QM doesn't have an optional backlight strobing feature, commonly known as black frame insertion.

9.5
Motion
VRR Flicker
Dark Gray Flicker
0.6 RGB
Middle Gray Flicker
0.1 RGB
Light Gray Flicker
0.1 RGB

This monitor doesn't have any noticeable VRR flicker with changing frame rates, which is fantastic for gaming.

10
Motion
Image Flicker
Flicker-Free
Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz

This monitor has a completely flicker-free backlight at all brightness levels, which is great as it can help reduce eye strain if you're sensitive to it.

Inputs
8.9
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution @ Max Hz
3.1 ms
Native Resolution @ 120Hz
6.6 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
14.9 ms
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
N/A

The input lag is very low for a responsive feel. While it increases a bit more than expected at 60Hz, it's still fine for gaming.

7.5
Inputs
Resolution
Native Resolution
2560 x 1440
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Megapixels
3.7 MP
Pixel Density
109 PPI
5.0
Inputs
PS5 Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
No
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
4.7
Inputs
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
No
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes

You need to use the console's HDMI override settings for 1440p @ 60Hz to work, which disables VRR. However, because the console only supports HDR with 4k signals, you can't get any HDR from the Xbox on this monitor.

Inputs
Inputs Photos
Inputs
Video And Audio Ports
DisplayPort
1 (DP 1.4)
Mini DisplayPort
No
HDMI
3 (HDMI 2.0)
HDMI 2.1 Rated Speed
No HDMI 2.1
DVI
No
VGA
No
Daisy Chaining
No
3.5mm Audio Out
1
3.5mm Audio In
No
HDR10
Yes
3.5mm Microphone In
No
Inputs
USB
USB-A Ports
2
USB-A Rated Speed
5Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
USB-B Upstream Port
Yes
USB-C Ports
0
USB-C Upstream
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Rated Speed
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Power Delivery
No USB-C Ports
USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode
No USB-C Ports
Thunderbolt
No
Inputs
macOS Compatibility

There are no serious issues with macOS. VRR and HDR work properly in game and on the desktop. There's a slight issue with sleep, as window positions are shifted around when waking up from sleep.

Features
Features
Additional Features
Speakers
Yes
RGB Illumination
Controllable
Multiple Input Display
No
KVM Switch
No

The ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM has a few additional features available. Some of them include:

  • Crosshair: There are six virtual crosshairs to choose from. Unlike software virtual crosshairs, these can't be detected by your games.
  • FPS Counter: Displays the frame rate received from the source in real time. It can also display a graph of the frame rate over time.
  • Dark Boost: Adjusts gamma to make it easier to spot other players/enemies in shadows.
  • NVIDIA Reflex Latency Analyzer: By connecting a compatible mouse to the red USB port at the back of the monitor, this system allows you to analyze the total input latency of your computer.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)