ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQ 27″ 4K Gaming Monitor Review

There are some crazy gaming monitors out there, and the industry as a whole seems to keep outdoing itself every year. The ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQ is no exception to the bunch. It’s not an ultrawide monitor, but it packs in all the other features you could want. It’s a Quantum-dot IPS 4K panel with a 144Hz refresh rate, 4ms response time, HDR support, NVIDIA G-SYNC support, and cinema-standard DCI-P3 color gamut.

It does, though, come in at a hefty price of well over Php100k, so are all the bells and whistles worth the dent in your wallet? Let’s find out.

Design and Construction

After taking it out of the box and setting up, a process that can be done alone (though we recommend getting help from a buddy), it is undoubtedly huge. Both the panel and stand do take up quite a bit of desk space, so be prepared for that.

Despite having the gaming-focused aesthetics that come with the ROG branding, the PG27UQ is quite sleek and stylish. It’s still going to stick out like a sore thumb in an office environment, but it isn’t too offensive either.

The bezels aren’t exactly thin, but we are willing to overlook this due to the sheer amount of display features it has to offer. Around the main display, there aren’t any visible buttons, as they are at the back. All we have is a small, silver ROG logo at the bottom.

Power and menu navigation is done using a set of buttons as well as a joystick at the back. The buttons themselves are clicky, and the joystick is firm and maneuvers well. Pressing down on the joystick already gives you access to the whole menu system, but specific actions are quickly accessed by pressing the other buttons.

Also at the back, hidden underneath a removable false panel, we have a selection of ports. We don’t get anything fancy like Thunderbolt 3, but has the basics like HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, and USB 3.0 Passthrough. Power, on the other hand, comes from the AC/DC adapter.

The back of the monitor is where you’ll find other fancy design gimmicks in the form of lighting. The big ROG logo on the upper right side has RGB LEDs and supports ASUS AURA. The top of the monitor arm also has a red LED that projects a ROG logo against the wall when turned on.

The stand is very sturdy despite only needing one screw to attach to the rest of the unit. The base includes a cable management hole, which is nice to have.

The monitor includes a lot of adjustment options including decent amounts of tilt, swivel, height adjustment, and even complete 90-degree pivot.

The PG27UQ does not disappoint with its design and rightfully so. You are paying big bucks for this beast, so it’s a requirement at this point. It looks good, is very strong, and will last you years if you take care of it.

Usage and Performance

The PG27UQ uses a 27-inch Quantum-dot IPS panel with a resolution of 3840 x 2160, a refresh rate of 144Hz, and response time of 4ms. The high resolution combined with IPS technology results in a very sharp display with great colors. It supports the full sRGB color gamut, after all. Add support for common HDR standards, and we have ourselves a great viewing experience for high-end content, as well as a product that isn’t just for gaming. Color-sensitive creative work is very much a possibility here.

But speaking of gaming, the low 4ms response time, 144Hz refresh rate, and G-SYNC support are precisely the things you want as a gamer. Provided that your rig can spit out FPS that high, in-game visuals are buttery smooth and competitive shooters like CS:GO and Overwatch is  a joy to play. The biggest drawback for gaming though is the screen size. 27-inches may be a bit too much for most people, as we’ve found that 24-inches are more comfortable for gaming.

Overall, the inclusion of all the high-end standards; 4K resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, HDR, G-SYNC, DCI-P3 color gamut — make the PG27UQ a beast for every purpose. You get a great watching, content creation, and gaming experience all-in-one.

Conclusion

The ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQ is a dream monitor for those who do it all. It’s a well-built product that can do so much. Now, is it worth the PHP 142,990USD 2,437INR 206,563EUR 2,321CNY 17,745 price tag? It’s all up to the user in the end if they will utilize everything it has to offer. If you’re hardcore in all facets; gaming, viewing, content creation — then it’s something to save up for.

ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQ specs:
27-inch UHD (3840 x 2160) Quantum-dot IPS panel
4ms response time
120Hz refresh rate (144Hz overclocked)
NVIDIA G-SYNC
600cd/m2 max brightness
1000:1 contrast ratio
+20°~-5° tilt
+35°~-35° swivel
0°~+90° pivot
0~120 mm height adjust
100mm x 100mm VESA Wall Mounting
DisplayPort 1.4
HDMI 2.0
USB 3.0 Passthrough
6341x(437 ~ 557)x 268mm (with stand)
9.2kg (net)

What we liked about it:

• 4K resolution
• HDR support
• 144Hz refresh rate
• G-SYNC
• Bright
• Great colors
• Solid construction
• Easy menu navigation

What we didn’t:

• Very niche
• Expensive!
• 27-inches is a little big for gaming