The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A is a 27-inch, 1440p gaming monitor with a native 144Hz refresh rate that you can overclock to 170Hz. It's a newer model than the popular ASUS TUF VG27AQ, featuring similar specs, including FreeSync VRR and G-SYNC compatibility. It also has an ELMB Sync feature to reduce persistence blur. It has features many other gaming monitors have, like Shadow Bost and virtual crosshairs, but it's rather limited in extra perks besides that. It has an ergonomic stand and two USB 3.0 ports to which you can connect your devices.
Our Verdict
The ASUS VG27AQL1A is okay for PC gaming. It has a 170Hz overclockable refresh rate, FreeSync support, G-SYNC compatibility, and incredibly low input lag. However, motion is blurry with a slow response time at any refresh rate. On top of that, its low contrast and disappointing black uniformity mean it's not the best choice for dark-room gaming, and it has a terrible local dimming feature.
- FreeSync support and G-SYNC compatibility.
- Incredibly low input lag.
- Noticeable motion blur.
- Low contrast.
- Highlights don't stand out in HDR.
The ASUS VG27AQL1A is mediocre for console gaming. Although it has low input lag for a responsive feel, it can't take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S as it lacks HDMI 2.1 bandwidth. It also has a slow response time that makes motion blurry, and it has limited picture quality due to its low contrast and terrible local dimming.
- Incredibly low input lag.
- Noticeable motion blur.
- Low contrast.
- Highlights don't stand out in HDR.
The ASUS VG27AQL1A is good for office use. The large 27-inch screen provides enough space to multitask, and the 1440p resolution helps deliver clear text. It's also useful if you work in a well-lit environment, as it's bright enough to fight glare, but reflections can get distracting. Lastly, it has wide viewing angles and great ergonomics, making it easier to share your screen with others.
- Decent text clarity.
- Wide viewing angles.
- Fantastic ergonomics.
Distracting reflections.
The ASUS VG27AQL1A is decent for content creators. The large screen offers enough space so that you can open multiple windows side-by-side. The fantastic ergonomics make it easier to find an ideal viewing position, and the wide viewing angles mean you can easily share your screen with a client. However, you need to calibrate it for the most accurate colors, and it has limited picture quality with a terrible local dimming feature.
- Decent text clarity.
- Wide viewing angles.
- Fantastic ergonomics.
- Low contrast.
- Terrible local dimming feature.
- Needs calibration for best accuracy.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A has decent brightness. While it gets bright enough to fight glare in well-lit rooms, highlights don't pop in HDR.
- Bright enough to fight glare.
- Highlights don't stand out in HDR.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A has a mediocre response time as there's noticeable blur with fast-moving objects.
- Noticeable motion blur.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A has limited HDR picture quality. It has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray, and while it has a local dimming feature, it performs terribly and causes blooming around bright objects.
- Low contrast.
- Terrible local dimming feature.
The ASUS VG27AQL1A has okay SDR picture quality. It displays a wide range of colors, but blacks look gray in dark rooms.
- Displays wide range of colors.
- Low contrast.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A has good color accuracy. Although it has an sRGB mode, colors still look oversaturated, and you need to calibrate it for accurate colors.
- Excellent gray uniformity.
- Needs calibration for best accuracy.
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 TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A, and the results are only valid for this model. There are other models that share a similar name, for which you can see the differences below, but they're different models.
| Model | Size | Resolution | Panel | Max Refresh Rate |
| VG27AQL1A | 27" | 1440p | IPS | 170Hz |
| VG279Q1A | 27" | 1080p | IPS | 165Hz |
| VG32AQL1A | 32" | 1440p | IPS | 170Hz |
The VG27AQL1A we reviewed was manufactured in July 2020, and you can see the label here.
Popular Monitor Comparisons
The ASUS VG27AQL1A is a basic entry-level 1440p gaming monitor that has a slow response time, and it's a downgrade from the monitor it replaced, the ASUS TUF VG27AQ. There are other 1440p gaming monitors you can get in a similar price with better performance, like the LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B and the Dell G2724D.
Also, make sure to check out our recommendations for the best gaming monitors, the best 144Hz monitors, and the best 1440p monitors.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A and the ASUS TUF VG27AQ perform very similarly. The VG27AQL1A has a slightly higher max refresh rate, it gets much brighter in HDR, displays a wide color gamut, and has a quicker response time at 60Hz. However, the VG27AQ has better ergonomics, better out-of-the-box accuracy, and its BFI feature works over a wider frequency range.
The LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B is slightly better than the ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A for gaming, but the ASUS is better for office use. The LG has a much faster response time, resulting in clearer motion with less blur behind fast-moving objects. On the other hand, the ASUS has much better ergonomics, so it might be slightly easier to place it in an ideal viewing position.
Overall, the MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD performs better than the ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A. The MSI has a much faster response time to deliver a clearer image in fast-moving scenes. It has a much wider color gamut for HDR due to its quantum dot layer; however, it doesn't get as bright as the ASUS to bring out highlights in HDR content. The MSI has more USB ports, including a USB-C that supports DisplayPort and 15W charging.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A and the LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B are both entry-level 1440p gaming monitors. The ASUS has a 170Hz refresh rate, much better ergonomics, a BFI feature, and it gets brighter in HDR. However, the LG has a much quicker response time and better out-of-the-box color accuracy.
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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