The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is a popular entry-level 27-inch, 1440p gaming monitor that first came out in 2019. It has a native 144Hz refresh rate that you can overclock to 165Hz, and it has G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing. It also comes with ASUS's ELMB Sync technology to reduce persistence blur, but it's limited in many extra features as it doesn't have a USB hub. It competes with many other budget-friendly 1440p gaming monitors. Keep in mind that there's also a newer model, the ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A, that you can find available.
Our Verdict
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is okay for PC gaming. While it has VRR support to reduce screen tearing and low input lag for a responsive feel, motion is blurry as it has a slow response time. It also has limited quality with a low contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray, and no local dimming feature to improve it.
- 165Hz refresh rate with VRR support.
- Low input lag.
- Blurry motion at any refresh rate.
- Low native contrast ratio.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ is disappointing for console gaming. It can't take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and fast-moving objects are blurry, especially at lower refresh rates. It also can't deliver life-like images as it has a low contrast ratio and fails to make colors look vivid. On the plus side, it has low input lag for a responsive feel.
- Low input lag.
- Blurry motion at any refresh rate.
- Low native contrast ratio.
- Lack of HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is a good monitor for office use. Thanks to the fantastic ergonomics, you can easily share your work with a colleague, and the wide viewing angles ensure everyone enjoys the same consistent image from the sides. It can get fairly bright to combat glare in most rooms, but it struggles with reflection handling. However, it's limited in extra features, as it doesn't have a USB hub.
- Bright enough to fight glare.
- Fantastic ergonomics.
Distracting reflections.
- Lack of extra features like a USB hub.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is a decent monitor for content creation. Its fantastic ergonomics make it easy to place comfortably, and its wide viewing angles allow you to collaborate with a colleague sitting next to you. However, it has limited picture quality, especially in dark rooms, and while it has good accuracy before calibration, you still need to calibrate it for the best accuracy.
- Bright enough to fight glare.
- Fantastic ergonomics.
Distracting reflections.
- Low native contrast ratio.
- No local dimming feature.
- Still need calibration for best accuracy.
- Lack of extra features like a USB hub.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ has okay brightness. It gets bright enough to fight glare in most well-lit rooms, but highlights don't pop in HDR.
- Bright enough to fight glare.
- Highlights don't pop in HDR.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ has a disappointing response time. There's motion blur and noticeable inverse ghosting with fast-moving objects, especially at lower refresh rates.
- Blurry motion at any refresh rate.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ has poor HDR picture quality. It has a low contrast ratio, and without a local dimming feature, blacks look gray in dark rooms. It also can't display a wide range of vivid colors.
- Low native contrast ratio.
- No local dimming feature.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ has okay SDR picture quality. While it displays a wide range of colors, it has a low contrast ratio, so blacks look gray in dark rooms.
- Displays wide range of colors.
- Low native contrast ratio.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ has great color accuracy. While it doesn't have a dedicated sRGB mode, it still has good accuracy before calibration. That said, calibrating it results in the best accuracy.
- Good accuracy before calibration.
- Still need 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 24, 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.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 27-inch ASUS VG27AQ, which is the only size available for this model. There are other TUF Gaming models available with a similar name, including the newer ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A, but they perform differently, and the results are only valid for this monitor.
| Model | Size | Resolution | Max Refresh Rate | Panel Type |
| VG27AQ | 27" | 1440p | 165Hz | IPS |
The unit we reviewed was manufactured in July 2019, and you can see the label here.
Popular Monitor Comparisons
The ASUS VG27AQ is an okay PC gaming monitor that was popular when it first came out in 2019, but it's since been outperformed by newer budget-friendly 1440p gaming monitors, like the Dell G2724D. Unfortunately, even the newer ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A isn't much of an upgrade in terms of performance over this monitor, so there are better options elsewhere.
See also our recommendations for the best monitors, the best gaming monitors, and the best 1440p gaming 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 ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS is a newer model than the ASUS TUF VG27AQ. The XG27ACS improves in a few areas, particularly with its response time, color accuracy, and brightness. It even has a few extra features like HDMI Forum VRR support and DisplayPort Alt Mode over USB-C, making it the better monitor overall.
The LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B and the ASUS TUF VG27AQ are both budget-friendly 1440p gaming monitors, but the LG has an advantage in most areas. This is because it has much better motion handling, so it's the better choice for playing fast-paced games. The LG is also better for use in well-lit rooms as it gets brighter.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is a bit better overall than the Gigabyte G27Q. The ASUS has a higher 165Hz refresh rate with a faster response time at 60Hz to make motion look smoother. It also has much better ergonomics, making it easier to place in an ideal viewing position. However, the Gigabyte is better for well-lit rooms because it gets brighter.
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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