LABS TEST / 27 IN GAMING MONITORS
A
sus’TUFGamingVG27AQpacks
mostofthesamecoreessentialsas
theothermonitorsontest– aside
fromthelower-resolutionAOCmodel.That
meanstheVG27AQhasa 2,560x 1,440
resolution,a maximumrefreshrateof144Hz
(that’soverclockableto165Hz)andadaptive-
syncsupportwithG-Synccompatibility.That’s
a temptinglistoffeaturesbyanymeasure,and
theVG27AQhasanaceupitssleeve,though
elsewhereit'sa littlemoremundane.
Youdogeta fullyadjustablestand,with
height,rotation,pivotandtiltmovements
(plusofcourse, 100 x 100mmVESAmount
support),butotherwisethedesignis smartbut
decidedlydrabberthanalltheothersontest,
bartheAOC.Theplastichasa slightlycheaper-
lookingfinishtoit, thestandis justplainsteel
witha plasticouterandthebezelsaroundthe
screenareclearlyvisible.
ASUS TUF GAMING
VG27AQ/£449inc VAT
SUPPLIER overclockers.co.ukAll the otherdisplays
here have those tiny 1mm
bezels that sit flush with the
screen’s surface, with a small
border that sits under the edge of
the screen, creating a really slick, slim
look. The Asus, though, has a 5mm
wide bezel that sits atop the screen. It’s still very
slim but isn’t quite as neat as the others. You
also miss out on any extra features, such as a
headphone stand, RGB lights or even a USB hub.
When it comes to the important stuff,
though, the VG27AQ doesn’t disappoint.
Overall image quality is very good, with decent
colour balance, contrast and gamma in the
default mode. However, like the other displays
here, the colour gamut is larger than sRGB,
making it unsuitable for image and video
editing – it’s no good for HDR editing either.
You do get an sRGB mode that’s fixed to a
sensible 140 nits brightness, but the contrast
drops to a woeful 504:1. It’s a good setting
for general desktop work – low contrast is
actually easier on the eye, but it isn’t good for
gaming, watching video or photo and image
editing. Thankfully, the 111 per cent sRGB
coverage in the default mode isn’t too far
above 100 per cent, so you can get away with
using it the vast majority of the time.
It’s when you fire up a game that the
VG27AQ’s secret weapon comes into play.
This otherwise modest display includes Asus’
extreme low motion blur (ELMB) technology,
which combines Nvidia’s backlight-strobing
motion blur reduction technology (ULMB)
with adaptive sync support. Previously, ULMB
hasn’t been compatible with G-Sync but here
it is, and the result is fantastic.
We’ve included a screen grab from the
Blur Busters ghosting test to demonstrate
the difference in clarity between ELMB and
no ELMB. The upshot is that this display
romps home with by far the best gaming
performance on test, producing a crisp and
clear image, without having to sacrifice
G-Sync support.Conclusion
If you just want excellent gaming
performance, the VG27AQ is a great option
at a decent price. It lacks frills, but there are
no serious compromises, and the gaming
performance is superb. The only caveat is the
lack of a usable sRGB mode. For most users,
the slightly extended gamut won’t be an issue,
but there are better monitors if you’re into your
image and video editing.VERDICT
The addition of ELMB transforms this display
into a gaming powerhouse, and its image
quality is solid too.TUF
Fantastic gaming
performance
Great overall
image quality
Decent value
FLUFF- Few extra features
- Plasticky design
- No low-profile bezel
IMAGE QUALITY
22 / 30
FEATURES
12 / 20GAMING
30 / 30
VALUE
18 / 20OVERALLSCORE
82 %
SPEC
Screen size 27in
Resolution 2,560 x 1,440
Panel technology IPS
Maximum refresh rate 144Hz
(overclockable to 165Hz)
Response time 1ms
Contrast 1,000:1
Adaptive sync FreeSync and G-Sync compatible
Display inputs 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 2 x HDMI 2
Audio 2 x 2W speakers, headphone out
Stand adjustment Height, swivel, pivot, tilt
Extras 100 x 100mm VESA mount,
HDR 10 compatibilitycc
uuss
tommPP
CCA
P
PR
OVE
D
Standard ELMB