Review of Asus PG258Q
The Asus PG258Q is the fastest gaming monitor to date with its 240Hz refresh rate at 1080p, making it the epitome of competitive gaming displays. This product is part of the next generation of cutting-edge monitors we are about to see, but the Asus PG258Q still runs at 1920 x 1080 which cements its bid as the leading professional gaming monitor for important tournaments of titles such as Overwatch and CS: GO where every split millisecond matters between victory or defeat.
Asus PG258Q Specifications
- Screen Size: 25 Inches
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 FHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: Twisted Nematic (TN)
- Refresh Rate: 240Hz
- Response Time: 1ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 400 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: None
- Stand: Height – Yes (4.72 Inches)
- Stand: Tilt – Yes (-5°/+20°)
- Stand: Swivel – Yes (-50°/+50°)
- Stand: Pivot – Yes (0°/+90°)
- VESA Compatibility: Yes
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 1.4 x 1, USB 3.0 x 2, 3.5mm Headphone Jack
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 22.21“x 19.83” x 10”
- Weight: 12.35 lbs
Design and Features
The Asus PG258Q features a stunning, gamer-centric design with its charcoal matte finish, orange accents, and the second generation ROG signature helix stand with a LED projector below. You can use the ROG logo template or create your own on the included blank cap to create distinct lighting designs on your battle station. Some may like the gaudy new looks of the current ROG series of products, but there are those who prefer minimalist designs similar to the predecessor’s look, the Asus PG248Q.
The Asus PG258Q stays true to its ultra-premium nature with its sleek looks. The face of the screen has thin bezels which measure 9mm on the sides, 10mm on the top and 14mm at the bottom. The screen has a matte AG treatment which is subtle enough not to affect the images with any graininess or discoloration. Apart from the silver Asus logo and gray labels, the front appears smooth and clean just the way we like it.
Of course, Asus did not forget to add functionality to the Asus PG258Q’s form, since the bulky stand includes all four points of articulation for freedom to adjust to get a perfect viewing angle. Movements are smooth but stiff, so you may need to use two hands to move the cabinet to your desired position. Just like its other ROG Swift siblings, the Asus PG258Q feels robust plus material and build quality is top-notch. We didn’t notice any creaks or unwanted flexing on the plastic surfaces, and the stand does a good job at holding stable on any desk.
Like the other premium PG offerings, navigating the OSD is as easy as peas thanks to the multi-directional joystick which replaces a myriad of buttons. The device feels tactile and responsive while sifting through the various options. Along with this feature, you also get four other buttons which include an exit/cancel key, hotkeys for GamePlus and GameVisual modes, and the main power switch.
Being a G-Sync-equipped monitor, the Asus PG258Q only includes a slot for DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4 due to the limitations of the second generation G-Sync module. For most applications, that layout is sufficient, giving you the option to add an HDMI host device such as a gaming console. For peripherals, you get two USB 3.0 slots and a headphone passthrough jack, but there are no 3.5mm input ports since the Asus PG258Q does not include built-in speakers.
The down firing I/O layout is neatly hidden with a plastic plate which apart from a cable passthrough hole, covers the entire design at the rear. This feature makes cable management convenient since you can neatly position the wires to go through to the cable-tidy hole on the stand. If you do not find the ergonomics and design the included stand brings, you may opt for aftermarket mounting options since the Asus PG258Q is VESA compatible.
Display and Performance
The Asus PG258Q boasts of a 25-inch TN panel with a sizzling 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time at a native resolution of 1920 x 1080. Some prospective buyers could be disappointed since Asus went with TN instead of IPS, but currently, only AU Optronics manufactures these screens en masse. This unit is similar to the ones found on the BenQ XL2540 and AOC Agon AG251FZ, but the difference with the Asus PG258Q is that this model is G-Sync certified.
Out of the box, the PG258Q is blindingly bright at 80% luminance with the Racing preset set as the default. Color temperatures and saturation are moderately acceptable, but to some users, some colors might appear a bit washed out. Users should set the brightness anywhere from 1 to 10 in the OSD for prolonged use since the PG258Q can shine with measured lighting exceeding the 400cd/m2 rating.
Making this adjustment will lower contrast to less than 900:1, but for TN panels that result is still within acceptable standards since they rarely go over 1000:1. If you play at higher levels of illuminations, the screen will reach the specified 1000:1 easily. For best results, set the Gamma to around 2.2 to 2.4 and contrast to 50, with a little tweaking to the RGB settings. You can’t expect IPS levels of vibrancy or contrast results at par with VA panels, but still, the Asus PG258Q does not disappoint regarding these facets for gaming.
As expected, the Asus PG258Q is one of the most responsive monitors we have seen to date, since its fastest input lag result is only at 4.5ms which is next to zero when it comes to input processing. Gray to gray response time averages at 3.5 seconds, so ghosting isn’t an issue in fast-paced scenes most of the time.
The 240Hz native refresh rate does wonders for our gaming tests with Overwatch and Battlefield. Across our session, images were crisp and clear while the motion was extra fluid more than the usual. We cannot stress or equate how 240Hz differs from 144Hz, 165Hz or 180Hz, but we can say that you have to see it for yourself if it works. The differences are too small or too fast to notice, so we think it’s something you will get used to if you buy the Asus PG258Q and use it for a while. However, once you get accustomed to the speed, it is something you cannot unsee since we somehow did notice that a regular 144Hz monitor looked slower at some point.
When compared to the two other 240Hz options on the market, the AOC AG251FZ, and the BenQ Zowie XL2540, we have to say that the Asus PG258Q edges them out in blur reduction and clarity. We cannot explain how Asus managed this advantage since these three models share similar panels, but at least you get improved performance along with G-Sync and its price premium.
Even if 1080p is easy to run even with mid-ranged graphics, some titles like Battlefield 1 could squeeze the life out of your GPU before it produces enough frames to maximize the Asus PG258Q. Thankfully, G-Sync is included to remedy tears and stutters which you could experience if frames drop by a margin. The VRR tech is functional from 30Hz up to 240Hz, so you can ensure your gaming eye-candy will be free from these long-existent issues.
Some may argue that you don’t need G-Sync if your frames are high enough since it does incur a 2% performance drop and a bit of input lag. But in our tests with Overwatch where FPS reached over 200, we think Nvidia’s adaptive sync solution still does its job especially in 5v5 clashes where a myriad of skills and explosions go off. Either way, it’s difficult to notice the difference while enjoying the buttery-smooth gaming goodness of the Asus PG258Q.
Finally, the Asus PG258Q comes with a valuable set of extras meant to compliment your gaming needs such as the GamePlus and GameVisual features, but probably, the most notable out of them all is the ULMB or Ultra Low Motion Blur feature. This tech does wonders to remove blurs which high refresh rates can’t solve, but it does limit brightness since the gist of the tech is to strobe the backlight. While it does induce a bit of strobe crosstalk, we can say that the PG258’s implementation of ULMB is one of the best we have seen, since the high threshold of brightness on this product allows acceptable levels of illumination if ULMB is in use.
Conclusion
Probably, the biggest question about the Asus PG258Q is if it is worth the upgrade. While having faster refresh rates, an exciting new look and a plethora of other features make this purchase a no-brainer, our feelings are still mixed. 240Hz may or may not provide a huge difference if you already have a high-tech 144Hz gaming monitor on your desk, but it is something your eyes will not let go once they get used to the higher threshold.
All of the Asus PG258Q’s make it worth its price which is too high for a 1080p monitor for some, although you have to remember that we are stuck with FHD as the universal standard for competitive gaming for the time being. If you are one of those individuals who has been saving up for a massive monitor upgrade after gaming for quite some time on your aging 60Hz monitor, or if you are trying to break into the professional arena or an extremely competitive player. If that’s the case, then we would have to recommend the Asus PG258Q as the best 240Hz gaming monitor you can get.
Ryan says
Not factoring in price, and staying strictly within the 24-25′ size range, can this be considered the best on the market then, in terms of overall gaming performance and image quality? Please, nitpick away! =)
Paolo Reva says
Hi, Ryan! Yes, we can say that the Asus PG258Q is the best in its category if you don’t consider the price. However, it’s not one of the best-designed, so there are pros and cons we should consider.
KJCH says
My son got this monitor and likes it very much. The only downside at all is the fact we cannot remove the stand/mount to mount it as he wants and that was not made apparent before purchasing.
Paolo Reva says
Hey there KJCH! You can remove the stand completely, but there is a specific way to go about it. For complete instructions, refer to Section 2.4 of this guide. Enjoy!
Brian says
I’m trying to remove the stand but can’t find your instructions. Can you please provide a link?
Paolo Reva says
Hi, Brian! click this link and download the english version. Please refer to section 2.4 for the instructions. Enjoy!