- 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 excellent 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, and it has a very fast refresh rate that improves the overall appearance of motion. It also supports FreeSync variable refresh rate technology to reduce screen tearing. Unfortunately, even though it supports HDR, it doesn't display a wide color gamut for HDR content and can't get bright enough to bring out highlights.
Our Verdict
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is a great monitor for most uses. This monitor has great resolution and size, a very low input lag, fantastic response time, 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. 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.
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Excellent ergonomics.
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Fantastic 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.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is a great monitor for office use. It has a great resolution and size that favors multitasking. You can easily share your work with a colleague thanks to the excellent ergonomics and the wide viewing angles ensure everyone viewing enjoys the same accurate image. It can get fairly bright to combat glare in most rooms, and thanks to the decent reflection handling, it performs well in most office environments.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is an excellent monitor for gaming. The input lag is remarkably low and the high 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 excellent ergonomics make it easy to position it comfortably on your desk.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is very good for consuming multimedia. The 1440p monitor can display most content at its native resolution, 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 lights without issue.
The ASUS TUF 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.
The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is a decent monitor for playing HDR games. Unfortunately, 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. It lacks a wide color gamut to properly display HDR content and it can't get bright enough to bring out highlights. On the upside, the input lag is outstanding and gaming experience feels very responsive.
- 8.1 Mixed Usage
- 8.0 Office
- 8.5 Gaming
- 7.9 Multimedia
- 8.0 Media Creation
- 7.1 HDR Gaming
- Update 2/17/2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
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Test Results
The TUF VG27AQ has the same style as most other ASUS gaming monitors. It has a square-shaped base with some red on it. It's designed as a gaming monitor but doesn't stand out in an office environment.
The stand supports the monitor well and prevents most wobble.
The monitor has excellent ergonomics, allowing for all common adjustments, so you can place it in a comfortable position with ease.
Simple design on the back. There's cable management through the stand, but there's no quick release on it.
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 total thickness varies slightly depending on the height of the screen. The measurements are taken with the monitor placed at the bottom.
Good build quality. It feels slightly cheaper than the ASUS TUF VG32VQ, but is still solid and sturdy without any noticeable issues.
The contrast ratio isn't bad. IPS panels don't usually have good native contrast, and this one is better than most. If you want a similar model with a VA panel for a better contrast ratio, check out the TUF VG27VQ.
This monitor doesn't have a local dimming feature. The above video is provided for reference only.
The 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.
Mediocre HDR peak brightness. There's no variation in brightness with different content, but it doesn't get bright enough to bring out highlights in HDR.
Great horizontal viewing angle, which is typical of an IPS panel. The image remains accurate when viewed from the side, so it's easy to share your screen with others.
Decent vertical viewing angle, but you lose some image accuracy if the monitor is mounted above or below eye level.
The VG27AQ has outstanding gray uniformity. The edges are a bit darker, but it's not noticeable with most content.
The TUF Gaming VG27AQ has decent out-of-the-box color accuracy. Some people will notice the inaccuracies in some colors. The gamma doesn't follow the target curve closely and as a result, most scenes are darker. Since the color temperature is warmer than the target, the image has a slight red-yellowish tint.
Superb color accuracy post-calibration. 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.
The TUF Gaming VG27AQ has an excellent SDR color gamut that covers most of the common sRGB color space, with okay coverage of the wider Adobe RGB color space, which might not be enough for professional photo editors.
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.
The VG27AQ has a mediocre HDR color gamut, and can't display a wide color gamut for HDR content.
Mediocre HDR color volume. It's limited by its color gamut and the low contrast ratio, and can't deliver dark, saturated colors.
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 handling is excellent. There's some banding in darker shades, but this shouldn't be noticeable with most content.
Unfortunately, there's some noticeable vertical color bleed. This shouldn't be visible with most content, but it's not ideal for photo editing.
The TUF Gaming VG27AQ monitor has decent reflection handling. You shouldn't have any issues if your room has a few lights, but if you place it across a large window then the reflections can be distracting. This is similar to the Gigabyte Aorus AD27QD.
Text clarity is decent. It's recommended to turn on ClearType (top photo), as it significantly improves the appearance of diagonal lines, as seen on the R and N.
| Overdrive Setting | Response Time Chart | Response Time Tables | Motion Blur Photo |
| 0 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 20 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 40 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 60 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 80 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 100 | Chart | Table | Photo |
Fantastic response time at its max refresh rate. The best Overdrive setting, which is called 'Trace Free', is '80'. It has the clearest motion out of all the settings, but there's overshoot in some brighter transitions. If that bothers you, the '60' setting performs very similarly, with a bit less overshoot.
| Overdrive Setting | Response Time Chart | Response Time Tables | Motion Blur Photo |
| 0 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 20 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 40 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 60 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 80 | Chart | Table | Photo |
| 100 | Chart | Table | Photo |
The VG27AQ has an okay response time at 60Hz. The best Overdrive setting is '0' as there's no overshoot and there's no visible ghosting with fast-moving objects like the other settings. Since this is different than the setting at its max refresh rate, you might have to change it when playing games at 60Hz. If response time at 60Hz is important to you, then check out the ViewSonic Elite XG270QG.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ has a flicker-free backlight, which helps reduce eye strain.
This monitor has an optional black frame insertion feature to improve the appearance of motion. Unlike most monitors, this feature is available at the same time as FreeSync. The setting 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 can go up to 144Hz.
Note:Â Some websites advertise the 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. It remains low even at 60Hz, which is important for console gamers.
The VG27AQ has an excellent resolution and provides you with a great amount of screen real estate. It favors multitasking and allows you to see more details of your gaming arena.
Differences Between Sizes and Variants
We tested the 27 inch 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 don't expect our review to be valid for the other models.
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 | Panel Type |
| TUF VG32VQ | 32" | 1440p | 144Hz | VA |
| TUF VG27AQ | 27" | 1440p | 165Hz | IPS |
| TUF VG27BQ | 27" | 1440p | 165Hz | TN |
| TUF VG35VQ | 35" | 3440x1440p | 100Hz | VA |
| STRIX XG32VQR | 32" | 1440p | 144Hz | VA |
The unit we reviewed was manufactured in July 2019.
Compared to other monitors
The ASUS VG27AQ is an excellent gaming monitor and outperforms many other 27 inch, 1440p VA monitors we've tested. See also our recommendations for the best monitors, 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 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 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 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 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 better than the BenQ EX2780Q in most uses. The ASUS has a much better build quality, significantly better ergonomics, and it has a black frame insertion feature that can help reduce the appearance of motion blur. Its refresh rate is also slightly higher, but the BenQ has better viewing angles and it can get much brighter.
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 a much better monitor than the ASUS TUF VG27VQ. The VG27AQ has a higher resolution at 1440p and it has better viewing angles, response time, gray uniformity, and it supports HDR. On the other hand, the VG27VQ uses a VA panel instead of an IPS panel, so it has a much better contrast ratio, making it better suited for dark rooms.
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 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 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 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 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 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 better than the ViewSonic Elite XG270QG. The ASUS supports FreeSync, has much better ergonomics, better contrast and black uniformity, the out-of-box color accuracy is significantly better, and it supports HDR. On the other hand, the ViewSonic supports G-SYNC and has a quicker response time, which is much better at 60Hz than the ASUS, a better SDR color gamut, and it has better reflection handling.
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.