- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Our Verdict
- Test Results
- Differences
- Compared to others
- Discussions
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is an impressive 27 inch, 1440p monitor with outstanding gaming performance. Thanks to its IPS panel, the image remains accurate at an angle, but blacks look gray in a dark room. It delivers a very responsive gaming experience thanks to its remarkably low input lag, while fast-moving content looks crisp with almost no blur. It has a remarkably fast refresh rate that improves the overall appearance of motion and supports the FreeSync variable refresh rate technology. It's bright enough for most rooms and has decent reflection handling. When in HDR, its peak brightness is okay for most HDR games, but unfortunately, the monitor lacks a wide color gamut to display the full richness of colors found in HDR content.
Our Verdict
The VG27AQ is a great monitor for mixed use. This monitor has great resolution and size, a very low input lag, wide viewing angles, and excellent ergonomics. It's a good choice if you often share your screen either for work or for a co-op gaming session, or even for watching multimedia content together with a friend. It's more suitable for an average-lit room as it can't get very bright and can't display deep blacks in a dark room.
See our Mixed Usage recommendationsThe VG27AQ is an impressive monitor for office use. It has great resolution and size and favors multitasking. You can easily share your work with a colleague thanks to the excellent ergonomics. The wide viewing angles ensure that you will both enjoy the same accurate image. It can get fairly bright to fit most rooms, and thanks to the decent reflections, a few more lights shouldn't be an issue.
See our Office recommendationsThe VG27AQ is an outstanding monitor for gaming. The input lag is remarkably low and the great resolution and screen real estate allow you to see more details of your gaming arena. Fast-moving content has only minimal blur trail and the excellent refresh rate ensures smooth motion. Finally, the monitor's exceptional ergonomics make it easy to position it comfortably on your desk.
See our Gaming recommendationsThe TUF Gaming VG27AQ is an impressive monitor for consuming multimedia. It can display most content at its native resolution, due to its excellent resolution and large size and thanks to the low input lag the monitor feels very responsive to your actions. It has decent reflection handling and wide viewing angles so you can enjoy a movie with a friend in a room that has a few more lights without issue.
See our Multimedia recommendationsThe VG27AQ is a great monitor for creating media. The large size and great resolution allow you to see more of your work on the screen and the excellent ergonomics make it easy to place the monitor comfortably. The wide viewing angles allow you to collaborate with a colleague sitting next to you, while both enjoying the same accurate image. Finally, you can stay assured of a responsive editing experience due to the monitor's remarkably low input lag.
See our Media Creation recommendationsThe TUF Gaming VG27AQ is a decent monitor for playing HDR games. It has a mediocre contrast ratio so blacks in a dark room look more like gray and there's no local dimming feature to improve this. Its HDR brightness is okay for most HDR games but unfortunately, it lacks a wide color gamut to deliver vivid colors in your games. On the upside, the input lag is outstanding and your gaming experience will feel very responsive.
See our HDR Gaming recommendations- 8.1 Mixed Usage
- 8.0 Office
- 8.5 Gaming
- 7.9 Multimedia
- 8.0 Media Creation
- 7.1 HDR Gaming
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Excellent ergonomics.
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Remarkably low response time.
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Outstanding low input lag.
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Can't display deep blacks in a dark room.
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Lacks a wide color gamut.
- Update 2/4/2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
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Test Results
The stand supports the monitor well and prevents most wobble.
The monitor has excellent ergonomics, which allow you to place it in a comfortable position with ease.
The back of the monitor is simple and less busy than the larger ASUS TUF VG32VQ. There's no RGB bias-lighting feature and no quick-release on the stand. There's a hole at the base of the stand that helps with cable management.
The monitor's borders are thin and favor a multi-display setup.
The monitor isn't very thick, but like many ASUS monitors, the stand has a backward inclination, so the thickness varies slightly depending on the height of the screen. The reported measurements are taken with the monitor placed at the bottom.
The VG27AQ's build quality is good. It feels slightly cheaper than the ASUS TUF VG32VQ, but is still solid and sturdy. We didn't encounter any issues while testing it.
The VG27AQ's contrast is mediocre. This means that blacks will look more like gray in a dark room. However, this is expected for an IPS monitor, and in fact, the VG27AQ still performs better than many IPS monitors.
This monitor doesn't have a local dimming feature. The video is provided for reference only.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ has good SDR peak brightness. It's suitable for most rooms, but might not be able to fight glare in a very bright room. There's no noticeable variation with different content, which is great.
The TUF Gaming VG27AQ's HDR peak brightness is mediocre. It's bright enough for playing HDR games, but the monitor won't display bright highlights in HDR movies as it should. Once again, there's no brightness variation with different content.
The TUF Gaming VG27AQ has decent horizontal viewing angles, as expected for a monitor with an IPS panel. This is great if you want to play co-op games or share your work with a colleague, as both of you will enjoy the same accurate image.
This monitor has great vertical viewing angles. This means that if you sit up close, the image won't have uniformity issues at the top and bottom edges.
The TUF Gaming VG27AQ has outstanding gray uniformity. The monitor displays a uniform image without distracting clouding or darker spots in both bright and dark scenes.
The VG27AQ's black uniformity is mediocre, which means that when you watch very dark scenes in a dark room, you might notice some clouding. This isn't noticeable in normal content. Our unit had one of the best performances we've seen on an IPS monitor. However, this is unit-specific and might not be the case in yours.
The TUF Gaming VG27AQ has decent pre-calibration accuracy. Some people will notice the inaccuracies both in the grays and in some colors. The gamma doesn't follow the target curve closely and as a result, most scenes are darker. The image has a slight red-yellowish tint, which is explained by the warmer color temperature.
After calibration, the TUF Gaming VG27AQ monitor has excellent accuracy. Only a few of the remaining inaccuracies can be spotted by the trained eye without the aid of a colorimeter.
You can download our ICC profile calibration here. This is provided for reference only and shouldn't be used, as the calibration values vary per individual unit even for the same model due to manufacturing tolerances.
s.RGB Picture Mode: Racing mode (calibrated)Adobe RGB Picture Mode: Racing mode
The TUF Gaming VG27AQ has an excellent SDR color gamut that covers most of the common sRGB color space. However, the coverage of the wider Adobe RGB color space, which is mainly used in professional photo editing, is just decent.
s.RGB Picture Mode: Racing modeAdobe RGB Picture Mode: Racing mode
The TUF Gaming VG27AQ has excellent SDR color volume. The monitor displays rich, saturated colors in most luminosities. Unfortunately, it can't display dark colors well due to its low contrast ratio. Also, like most LED displays, very bright blues can't be displayed very well, but this shouldn't be very noticeable.
DCI P3 Picture Mode: HDR GamingRec. 2020 Picture Mode: HDR Gaming
The VG27AQ has just a mediocre HDR color gamut, and can't diplay a wide color gamut.
DCI P3 Picture Mode: HDR GamingRec. 2020 Picture Mode: HDR Gaming
The VG27AQ has only a mediocre HDR color volume. It's limited by its color gamut and the low contrast ratio and can't deliver saturated colors or very dark ones.
There are no signs of temporary image retention on our TUF Gaming VG27AQ. However, this can vary between units, so let us know in the discussions below if yours has any such issue.
The VG27AQ's gradient performance is excellent. Although some 8-bit banding is visible, especially in the darker shades, the overall performance is remarkable.
The VG27AQ has some vertical color bleed that you can see in the above photo. Thankfully this isn't very noticeable in normal use. However, it can be distracting if you use the monitor for applications where you regularly encounter patterns like the photo above. In these cases, the color bleed will be visible.
| Trace Free | Response Time Chart | Motion Blur Photo |
| 0 | Chart | Photo |
| 20 | Chart | Photo |
| 40 | Chart | Photo |
| 60 | Chart | Photo |
| 80 | Chart | Photo |
| 100 | Chart | Photo |
The VG27AQ has an exceptional response time that displays fast-moving content with almost no blur trail. You can customize the overdrive level by adjusting the Trace Free setting. We recommend using level '40' as it gives the best combination of response time and little overshoot.
When the VG27AQ's BFI setting, 'ELMB SYNC', is enabled, it isn't possible to adjust the response time.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG32VQ has a flicker-free backlight, which is great. It also has an optional black frame insertion feature, and unlike almost every monitor our there, this feature is available at the same time as FreeSync. The setting that controls this feature is known as 'ELMB SYNC'.
The TUF Gaming VG27AQ has an excellent native refresh rate and can be easily overclocked to 165Hz. It supports AMD's FreeSync variable refresh rate technology and is also NVIDIA certified, for a nearly tear-free gaming experience.
Over HDMI, the VRR range at 1440p is < 20Hz to 144Hz.
Note:Â Some websites advertise the ASUS TUF VG27AQ with a 155Hz overclock instead of 165Hz. ASUS originally announced this model with a 155Hz overclock, but it was released with 155Hz, 160Hz, and 165Hz options. Some websites are still reporting the original information.
The TUF Gaming VG27AQ's input lag is remarkable. Although the 60Hz input lag, used by most consoles, is slightly higher, it remains excellent even for competitive gamers.
If input lag is important to you and you want the best gaming experience possible, check out our recommendations for the best gaming mice.
The VG27AQ has an excellent resolution and provides you with a very good amount of screen real estate. It favors multitasking and allows you to see more details of your gaming arena.
The TUF Gaming VG27AQ gives you the option to add a timer to your game but has no more additional features to enhance your gaming experience.
Differences Between Sizes and Variants
We tested the 27" ASUS TUF VG27AQ, which is the only size available for this model. There are other TUF Gaming models available, some of which are listed below. We do not expect our review to be valid for the other models.
Note: Some websites advertise the ASUS TUF VG27AQ with a 155Hz overclock instead of 165Hz. ASUS originally announced this model with a 155Hz overclock, but it was released with 155Hz, 160Hz, and 165Hz options. Some websites are still reporting the original information.
If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their VG27AQ doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review. Note that some tests such as gray uniformity may vary between individual units.
| Model | Size | Resolution | Refresh Rate |
| TUF VG32VQ | 32" | 1440p | 144Hz |
| TUF VG27AQ | 27" | 1440p | 165Hz |
| TUF VG27BQ | 27" | 1440p | 165Hz |
| TUF VG35VQ | 35" | 3440x1440p | 100Hz |
| STRIX XG32VQR | 32" | 1440p | 144Hz |
The TUF VG27AQ we reviewed was manufactured in July 2019.
Compared to other monitors
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is an excellent gaming monitor, and outperforms many other 27", 1440p VA monitors we've tested. See also our recommendations for the best gaming monitors and the best 1440p gaming monitors.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is somewhat better than the LG 27GL850-B. The ASUS has a faster refresh rate that makes motion look smoother, and better ergonomics to help you place it comfortably on your desk. It supports a black frame insertion (BFI) feature that helps improve the overall appearance of motion and can also deliver more uniform blacks. The LG, on the other hand, has a faster response time, so fast-moving content has almost no blur, making the lack of BFI not an issue.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is a bit better than the ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q. Both monitors deliver the same excellent gaming experience and are among the best we've tested so far for gaming. The TUF supports FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) technology, while the ROG supports G-SYNC VRR. Their difference in overall performance is mainly due to the HDR support that the TUF provides and due to its faster refresh rate that helps motion look smoother.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is better than the LG 27GL83A for mixed usage. Though they both have an IPS panel, the ASUS has a much better contrast ratio and black uniformity. Ergonomics are also significantly better on the ASUS, but the LG has a faster response time and better color accuracy out of the box.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is somewhat better than the Gigabyte Aorus AD27QD. The ASUS' refresh rate is faster, which helps motion look smoother. The ASUS also has better ergonomics, which is important if you often move your monitor around as you can quickly position it comfortably in the new location. Finally, the ASUS delivers more uniform blacks, although neither of the two monitors can display deep blacks in a dark room due to their IPS panels.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is slightly better than the Gigabyte Aorus FI27Q. The ASUS has better ergonomics, but its build quality isn't as good as the FI27Q. The ASUS also has a better contrast ratio and a significantly better black uniformity, but the Gigabyte has better color accuracy, can get brighter, and has much more extra features.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is significantly better than the Acer VG271UP. The ASUS has much better ergonomics, black uniformity, as well as a faster response time. However, the Acer has better color accuracy and can get brighter in HDR content. Additionally, the Asus' refresh rate can be factory overclocked to 165Hz, providing a smoother gaming experience overall.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is much better than the Acer Predator XB271HU. The TUF supports HDR and has a faster refresh rate that improves the appearance of motion. The TUF supports FreeSync for nearly tear-free gaming, while the Predator supports G-SYNC for the same purpose. The TUF has better reflection handling, which is great for a room with a few more lights, and can also display more uniform blacks in a dark room. However, neither of the two monitors can display deep blacks in a dark room due to their IPS panels.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is significantly better than the Dell U2719D. The ASUS has a much higher refresh rate, much better motion handling, and supports FreeSync. It also supports HDR and has a lower input lag, but the Dell has better color accuracy, reflection handling, and a slightly higher peak brightness.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is significantly better than the ASUS TUF VG32VQ. Though they share the same design, the VG27AQ has an IPS panel with much better viewing angles, color accuracy, and black uniformity. On the other hand, the VG32VQ's VA panel has a better contrast ratio, can get brighter, and has better reflection handling for bright room viewing, though its motion handling isn't as good.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is better than the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QZ. The TUF VG27AQ has better ergonomics, HDR support, and better black uniformity, but the ROG Swift has native support for G-SYNC, a slightly faster response time, and better reflection handling. Its out-of-box color accuracy is also better than the TUF VG27AQ.
The ASUS TUF VG29AQ is better than the ASUS VG279Q. Though they both have an IPS panel, the TUF VG27AQ has a higher resolution, a slightly faster refresh rate due to its factory overclock, and has HDR support. On the other hand, the VG279Q has better ergonomics, can get brighter, and has better reflection handling. Unfortunately, its black uniformity is quite poor.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is much better than the Samsung CHG70. The Asus has better ergonomics and viewing angles, but the contrast ratio isn't as good. Black uniformity is significantly better on the ASUS; however, it can't get as bright as the Samsung, particularly in HDR content.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is much better than the ViewSonic VX2758-2KP-MHD. The ASUS has significantly better build quality and ergonomics, and it supports HDR. Additionally, the ASUS has a better contrast ratio and its refresh rate can be factory overclocked to 165Hz. However, the ViewSonic has much better reflection handling and significantly better black uniformity.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is slightly better than the Acer Nitro XV273X in mixed usage. Though the Asus has a maximum refresh rate of 165Hz, it has a higher resolution, providing better picture quality, and is a better choice for multitasking. It has a higher contrast ratio, but doesn't quite match the color accuracy of the Acer and can't get as bright.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is significantly better than the Dell S2719DGF. The ASUS has an IPS panel that provides much better viewing angles, contrast ratio, black uniformity, and it supports HDR. However, the Dell has a significantly better motion handling, peak brightness, and reflection handling.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is better than the Razer Raptor 27. The ASUS has a higher native refresh rate, and a faster response time, resulting in clearer motion with less blur behind fast-moving objects. The ASUS also has a more adjustable stand, and it can be VESA mounted. The Razer, on the other hand, has a nicer design, with a unique RGB lighting feature around the base.
