- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Our Verdict
- Video
- Test Results
- Differences
- Compared To Others
- Deals
- Discussions
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM is an excellent gaming monitor. The 280Hz refresh rate delivers exceptional motion handling, with extremely fast response time, low input lag, and an optional black frame insertion feature. Unlike most monitors on the market, the black frame insertion feature can even be used simultaneously with the variable refresh rate feature. Like most of ASUS' TUF lineup, it also has outstanding ergonomics, a simple design, and great build quality. It's a great monitor for most uses, but the low-resolution screen might disappoint some users, as it's not as good for office use or for multitasking, but overall, this is a great monitor for any usage. Unfortunately, it's not a good choice for console gamers, as it has an extremely high input lag at 60Hz.
Our Verdict
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM is a great monitor. It's intended as a gaming monitor, and it shows. It has exceptionally smooth motion with little blur, low input lag at the max refresh rate, and it supports a variable refresh rate. Like most IPS monitors, it has wide viewing angles, but low contrast, so it's not as good for late-night gaming in a dark room. Finally, this monitor is also great for office use and media creation, but the low resolution might disappoint some users.
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Outstanding response time.
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Image remains accurate at an angle.
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Outstanding ergonomics.
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Low contrast.
Overall, the ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM is a great office monitor. It has wide viewing angles, outstanding ergonomics, and excellent gray uniformity. Unfortunately, the low native resolution isn't the best for multitasking, and it has only decent text clarity. It also doesn't support any multiple-input display features, like Picture-in-Picture or Picture-by-Picture.
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Image remains accurate at an angle.
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Outstanding ergonomics.
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Low contrast.
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Limited 1080p resolution.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM is an outstanding gaming monitor, one of the best we've ever tested. It has outstanding motion handling, resulting in clear motion with very little blur. It also supports a variable refresh rate and is compatible with both FreeSync and G-SYNC devices. It also has exceptionally low input lag when gaming at 280Hz, but, unfortunately, the 60Hz input lag is extremely high, so it's not a great choice for console gamers.
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Outstanding response time.
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Image remains accurate at an angle.
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Outstanding ergonomics.
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Low contrast.
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Extremely high input lag at 60Hz.
The ASUS TUF VG279QM is a very good monitor for multimedia. It has great horizontal viewing angles, great for watching your favorite streamers with a group of friends. It also has great peak brightness in SDR, and it can easily overcome glare in a bright room. On the other hand, the low native resolution isn't the best for watching the latest high definition videos.
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Image remains accurate at an angle.
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Outstanding ergonomics.
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Low contrast.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM is a great monitor for media creation. It has excellent ergonomics, wide viewing angles, and outstanding gray uniformity. It also has an excellent SDR color gamut and excellent gradient handling. Unfortunately, the low-resolution screen isn't ideal for video editing, and the relatively low coverage of the Adobe RGB color space isn't great for professional photo editing.
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Image remains accurate at an angle.
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Outstanding ergonomics.
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Low contrast.
Decent monitor for HDR gaming, but mainly due to the ASUS VG279QM's outstanding gaming performance. Unfortunately, HDR doesn't add much, as this monitor has only decent peak brightness in HDR, and it can't display a wide color gamut.
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Outstanding response time.
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Image remains accurate at an angle.
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Outstanding ergonomics.
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Low contrast.
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Extremely high input lag at 60Hz.
- 8.2 Mixed Usage
- 8.1 Office
- 8.7 Gaming
- 7.9 Multimedia
- 8.0 Media Creation
- 7.3 HDR Gaming
- Updated Jan 12, 2022: Measured the response times with a new overdrive setting.
- Updated Aug 17, 2020: Fixed an error about the built-in speakers.
- Updated Jun 22, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Jun 18, 2020: Early access published.
Video
Test Results
The ASUS VG279QM has a very similar style to other ASUS monitors we've tested, like the ASUS VG279Q and the ASUS TUF VG27VQ.
The stand is simple, with a small overall footprint, but it supports the monitor well.
The ASUS VG279QM has outstanding ergonomics, identical to the ASUS VG279Q.
The back of the monitor is plain, with a simple design and no RGB backlighting. There's no quick release, which is a bit disappointing, but it can be VESA mounted. There's a small space within the stand for cable management.
The borders are thin on all four sides, making it a great choice for a multi-monitor setup.
The ASUS VG279QM has a thin profile and looks great when VESA mounted.
Great build quality. Although it's mostly made of solid plastic, it has a sturdy stand and it feels solid.
Like all IPS monitors, the ASUS VG279QM has a low contrast ratio. This causes blacks to appear gray in a dark room. For better dark-scene performance, look for a VA monitor, like the ASUS TUF VG27VQ.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM doesn't have a local dimming feature. This video is provided for reference only.
Great peak brightness, but it's not quite as bright as the ASUS TUF VG279Q. This monitor can easily overcome glare in a bright room.
Decent peak brightness in HDR, with very little variation in peak brightness with different content. We measured this with the "ASUS Gaming HDR" setting, which is the brightest mode. The "ASUS Movie HDR" setting is about 30 nits dimmer on average.
Great horizontal viewing angles, which is typical for IPS panels. Similar to the ASUS VG279Q, the image remains accurate even at a wide angle, which is great for sharing the screen with a few other people.
Decent vertical viewing angles. Even if you're sitting up close, the top and bottom of the screen remain accurate.
Amazing gray uniformity. The corners of the screen are a bit darker than the center (this is known as vignetting), but the center of the screen is extremely uniform. In near-dark scenes, the uniformity is much better, with almost no variation.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM has decent black uniformity. The screen is a bit cloudy in dark scenes, but there's almost no backlight bleed.
With our pre-calibration settings, the ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM has great accuracy. The only noticeable issue is the gamma, which doesn't follow the sRGB target curve, resulting in most scenes appearing brighter than they should be. Yellows and greens are slightly oversaturated, but we don't expect this to be an issue for most people.
After calibration, the ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM has outstanding accuracy. We were able to fully correct the gamma, and most scenes are displayed at the correct brightness. Any remaining inaccuracies aren't noticeable.
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.
Excellent SDR color gamut, but it's pretty standard. This monitor can display the entire sRGB color space used by almost all web content, but it has only good coverage of the wider Adobe RGB color space. If you want a monitor with a wider color gamut, check out the Acer Predator XB273U GXbmiipruzx.
Excellent SDR color volume. Like most LCD displays, it can't display very bright blues, and due to the low contrast ratio, it can't display dark saturated colors very well.
The ASUS VG279QM has a mediocre HDR color gamut. It can't display a wide color gamut.
Mediocre HDR color volume. It can't display a wide color gamut, and like with SDR content, it can't display bright blues or dark saturated colors very well.
There are no signs of temporary image retention on the ASUS TUF VG279QM.
Excellent gradient handling, but some banding is noticeable. The image is a bit brighter than usual, as this monitor automatically switches to HDR when we send a 10-bit signal, and the brightness can't be adjusted in HDR.
There are some signs of vertical color bleed, but this shouldn't be an issue for most people.
Decent reflection handling, very similar to the ASUS VG279Q. There shouldn't be any issues in brighter offices, but it's not a great choice if there's direct sunlight on it.
Like the ASUS VG279Q, this display has only decent text clarity, even after enabling ClearType (top photo).
Update 01/12/2022: We received reports that there's an overdrive setting that you can achieve in the service menu called 'OD 120'. We tested the response time with it and updated the table below with the results. While it performs close to '80', it's not as good as there's more overshoot, and we still recommend using the '80' setting.
| 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 |
| OD 120 | Chart | Table | - |
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM has an outstanding response time at the max refresh rate, resulting in extremely clear motion, with almost no motion blur behind fast-moving objects. Like most monitors, the level of overdrive can be adjusted, and we found that the '80' setting works best at the max refresh rate. There's a bit of overshoot in some scenes, especially when transitioning from a dark shade to a brighter one, but it's not very noticeable.
Update 01/12/2022: We received reports that there's an overdrive setting that you can achieve in the service menu called 'OD 120'. We tested the response time with it and updated the table below with the results. There's a ton of overshoot, so we still recommend using the '0' setting.
| 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 |
| OD 120 | Chart | Table | - |
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM has an outstanding 60Hz response time, resulting in clear motion with only a bit of motion blur. This is much better than the Dell Alienware AW2720HF. The level of overdrive can be adjusted, but unlike at 280Hz, we recommend leaving it at '0' when gaming at 60Hz. Higher settings result in significant overshoot.
The backlight doesn't use PWM to dim, which is great.
The ASUS VG279QM has an optional black frame insertion (BFI) feature, which ASUS calls "ELMB". Unlike the majority of monitors on the market, this feature is also available when the variable refresh rate feature is enabled. This setting is known as "ELMB Sync".
The standard ELMB feature can only be enabled between 120Hz and 280Hz, but ELMB Sync can be enabled below that. Even though it can be enabled, we found that ELMB didn't do anything between 50 and 85Hz.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM supports VESA's Adaptive Sync variable refresh rate technology. It's certified by NVIDIA as G-SYNC Compatible, which works with most recent NVIDIA graphics cards, and it also works with most FreeSync devices, but it's not certified by AMD. G-SYNC only works over DisplayPort, but FreeSync works over HDMI as well. Note that when connected via HDMI, the 280Hz overclock isn't available, and the maximum refresh rate is 240Hz. If you want a monitor with an even higher refresh rate, check out the ASUS ROG Swift 360Hz PG259QN.
Outstanding low input lag, but only at the native resolution and refresh rate. Unfortunately, the 60Hz input lag is extremely high, making this a poor choice for console gamers. As these results are extremely high for 60Hz, we rechecked them a few times, even with a different tool, and our results were consistent.
The 1080p resolution of this monitor is decent, but it's not the best for multitasking. For a better multitasking experience and sharper text, a 1440p or 4k monitor, like the ViewSonic Elite XG270QG, is a much better choice. If you're looking for a similar 32 inch monitor, then check out the Samsung Odyssey G7.
The USB input is a service port that can only be used for firmware updates.
Update 08/17/2020: We incorrectly listed this monitor to not have built-in speakers, when in fact it does. The review has been updated.
This monitor has built-in speakers and there are a few additional gaming features, including a virtual crosshair, timer, and an frame rate counter.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 27 inch ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM, version VG279QM, but it's also available in a 24.5" model, and there are other similar ASUS Gaming monitors, some of which are listed below.
| Model | Size | Resolution | Max Refresh Rate | Notes |
| VG279QM | 27" | 1080p | 280Hz | FreeSync, IPS |
| VG259QM | 24.5" | 1080p | 280HZ | FreeSync, IPS |
| VG279Q | 27" | 1080p | 144Hz | FreeSync, IPS |
| TUF VG27VQ | 27" | 1080p | 165Hz | FreeSync, VA |
| TUF VG27AQ | 27" | 1440p | 165Hz | FreeSync, IPS |
| PG279QZ | 27" | 1440p | 144Hz | G-SYNC, IPS |
If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their ASUS VG279QM doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review. Note that some tests such as the gray uniformity may vary between individual units.
The VG279Q we reviewed was manufactured in March 2020, and you can see the label here.
Compared To Other Monitors
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM is an impressive gaming monitor, delivering an outstanding gaming experience, as long as your computer can maintain a high frame rate. Unfortunately, it's not as good for office use or console gaming. Check out our other recommendations for the best gaming monitors, the best 27" monitors, and the best FreeSync monitors.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG259QM and the ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM are almost identical, as it's mostly a size difference between them. The VG279QM is slightly better, as it has wider viewing angles, better color accuracy, and gets much brighter in HDR. Gradient handling is also much better on the VG279QM since the VG259QM can only accept an 8-bit input signal.
The ASUS VG279QM is much better than the ASUS VG279Q. The VG279QM has a much higher max refresh rate and a much faster response time, resulting in much clearer motion, with little blur behind fast-moving objects. The VG279QM supports HDR, and it supports ASUS' ELMB-SYNC feature, so you can use black frame insertion and the variable refresh rate feature at the same time.
The ASUS VG279QM and the Gigabyte M27Q are both excellent gaming monitors; it just depends on your preference. The ASUS has a higher refresh rate of 280Hz versus the Gigabyte's 170Hz, but the Gigabyte has a 1440p resolution, while the ASUS is just 1080p. For most people, the Gigabyte is a better choice because the increase in resolution is more noticeable than the higher refresh rate. However, if you like having a black frame insertion feature, only the ASUS lets you use it simultaneously with VRR. The Gigabyte offers more features, like a USB hub, a Picture-in-Picture mode, and a built-in KVM.
The ASUS VG279QM is slightly better than the ASUS TUF VG27AQ for gaming. The VG279QM has a faster response time, resulting in clearer motion with less blur, especially at 60Hz. The VG279QM is a lot brighter, especially in HDR. On the other hand, the VG27AQ has a higher native resolution, making it a slightly better choice for multitasking.
The ASUS VG279QM is a better overall monitor than the Samsung Odyssey G7 LC32G75T, but the Samsung is slightly better for gaming. The ASUS has a max refresh rate of 280Hz, it gets brighter, it has wider viewing angles, and it has better out-of-the-box color accuracy. However, the Samsung has a higher 1440p resolution, it displays deep blacks, and it's available either in a 27 or 32 inch size.
Overall, the ASUS VG279QM is a bit better than the ASUS ROG Swift 360Hz PG259QN. The VG279QM has a bigger screen, wider viewing angles, and better ergonomics. It also has a better response time due to less overshoot and a Black Frame Insertion feature that works over a wider range. However, the PG259QN has a much higher refresh rate to deliver smoother gameplay, and its out-of-the-box color accuracy is significantly better. The PG259QN is a native G-SYNC monitor, while the VG279QM has native FreeSync support.
The ASUS VG279QM is better for gaming than the ASUS VG248QG, mainly because it has a different panel type and a higher refresh rate. The VG279QM has a native 240Hz refresh rate that you can overclock to 280Hz, while the VG248QG has a 165Hz native refresh rate. The VG279QM also has a quicker response time of 60Hz for better motion handling, and its IPS panel has wider viewing angles. The VG279QM also supports HDR, which the VG248QG doesn't, but it doesn't add much because it has a low contrast ratio. While the VG279QM gets a bit brighter, the VG248QG has much better reflection handling, so it's a better choice for well-lit rooms.
There are very few differences between the Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx and the ASUS VG279QM. The ASUS has better ergonomics, a slightly faster response time, and a more versatile black frame insertion feature, which can even be used with a variable refresh rate. On the other hand, the Acer has much lower input lag at 60Hz, making it a better choice for console gamers.
The ASUS VG279QM is much better than the ASUS TUF VG27VQ. The VG279QM has much better ergonomics, better viewing angles, and significantly faster response time. The VG279QM supports HDR, and it supports black frame insertion and a variable refresh rate at the same time. On the other hand, the VG27VQ has a much better contrast ratio, so it looks better in a dark room.
The ASUS VG279QM is much better than the Gigabyte G27QC for most uses. Although the ASUS has a lower 1080p resolution, it has a much higher refresh rate of 280Hz, significantly faster response time, wider viewing angles, and higher peak brightness. The Gigabyte has a 1440p resolution, and its higher contrast ratio makes it better for gaming in the dark.
The ASUS VG279QM and the ASUS ROG Strix XG17AHPE are very different monitors that target different needs. The XG17AHPE is a portable gaming monitor. It delivers similar response times to the VG279QM, as well as similar input lag. Due to the portable nature of the XG17AHPE, though, it has terrible ergonomics and a much smaller screen. The VG279QM is a desktop gaming monitor with a larger screen, better viewing angles, and HDR support.