ASUS XG27AQ 170Hz WQHD IPS model
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made using the “Buy” button at the bottom of this post. Where possible, you'll be redirected to your nearest store. Further information on supporting our work.The relentless march of the high refresh rate 2560 x 1440 IPS models continues. The ASUS XG27AQ adds to this, opting for the popular 27″ screen size. It has the distinctive ROG Swift styling elements expected for the series, but goes for the more subdued look without any bright colourful elements from the front. The top and side bezels are dual-stage, with a slender panel border that’s flush with the rest of the screen. Plus a slim hard plastic outer component. The bottom bezel is thicker, with a matte dark grey finish and little more than a sliver of visible panel border. The OSD (On Screen Display) is controlled by some buttons and a joystick at the rear of the monitor, towards the right side as viewed from the front.
A 27″ IPS-type panel is employed with 2560 x 1440 (WQHD) resolution and support for a 170Hz refresh rate. More specifically, the AU Optronics M270DAN06.8 AHVA (Advanced Hyper-Viewing Angle) panel. This includes a light matte anti-glare screen surface, for good glare handling without impeding the clarity or vibrancy as much as ‘stronger’ matte surfaces. A 1000:1 static contrast ratio and 178°/178° viewing angles are specified, as usual for the panel type with its focus on strong colour consistency. The monitor supports Adaptive-Sync, including Nvidia’s ‘G-SYNC Compatible Mode’ with a 48 – 170Hz VRR range (plus LFC). True 8-bit colour support is offered, whilst a flicker-free backlight yields a 400 cd/m² typical maximum luminance and 95% DCI-P3 (130% sRGB) colour gamut. ‘Ultra-Low Blue Light’ LBL (Low Blue Light) settings are included to help promote a more relaxing viewing experience. The monitor offers basic HDR support via VESA DisplayHDR 400, allowing the colour gamut to be put to good use and allowing 10-bit colour processing to be used with the help of GPU dithering. No local dimming or particularly high luminance levels are required for this low level of HDR certification.
A 1ms grey to grey response time is specified, as well as a 1ms MPRT response time. As usual you shouldn’t pay to such specifications, but the second value is linked to the use of the ELMB Sync (Enhanced Low Motion Blur plus Adaptive-Sync simultaneously) strobe backlight setting. The rear of the monitor includes the usual ROG engravings as well as a large illuminated ROG motif towards the top left. This is an RGB LED lighting feature, Aura Sync that can be controlled via the OSD or using software. The included stand is fully adjustable and can be removed using a quick-release mechanism to reveal 100 x 100mm VESA holes. The ports face downwards beneath a clip-off plastic cover and include; DC power input (external ‘power brick’), 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, DP 1.2a, 2 USB 3.0 ports (plus upstream) and a 3.5mm headphone jack. 2 x 2W speakers are also included, for basic sound output.
Further information can be found on the manufacturer’s website. The monitor is listed for ~$500 USD.
