The Asus PG259QN stomps all over the competition by being the first to offer an ultra-smooth 360Hz refresh rate on a vibrant IPS panel. They already pushed the envelope with the 240Hz PG258Q, but that model was based on TN technology which is focused on speed rather than image quality. The redesigned and souped-up Asus PG259QN is looking to change the pace of the E-Sports monitor market, so let’s check out its performance numbers at its $699 price tag.
Asus PG259QN Specifications
- Screen Size: 25 Inches
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Full HD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 360Hz
- Response Time: 1ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 400 cd/m2
- Built-in Speakers: No
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 1, USB 3.0 x 2, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 21.9” x 19.6” x 9.7”
- Weight: 15.7 lbs
Design and Features
The Asus PG259QN mostly sticks to the ROG Swift aesthetic, but there is a noticeable change on the stand that makes it look sleeker or more sophisticated. The chassis is mostly matte black, and the gunmetal and orange accents give it some contrast while denoting its top of the line nature. The display is bezel-free on three sides, but you will still see panel borders when it is turned on.
The Asus PG259QN isn’t a massive monitor, and its dimensions got a few reductions compared to the 240Hz predecessor. This model is slightly heavier, but it’s also slightly slimmer with a smaller overall footprint. The shape of the base still features the helix design, but it spreads out towards the side so it doesn’t interfere with the peripherals in front.
Build quality is, as always, excellent on the Asus PG259QN like many of the brand’s offerings down from the budget level all the way to the top. The chassis feels thick and sturdy, and there are no cosmetic defects on any of the parts. The stand’s hinges are firm and there is no wobbling of any sort once the device is upright.
Another distinct aspect of the Asus PG259QN is it’s the ROG eye logo with RGB LEDs at the back of the monitor. The feature works with Aura Sync so you can add the monitor to your Asus peripherals and their lighting ecosystem. It is bright enough to double as a bias light, but its position spreads the illumination out to the side which can look awkward depending on your build.
The Asus PG259QN uses a very familiar control layout composed of an OSD joystick with a complement of hotkeys. Accessing the monitor’s features is as easy as peas, but you have to learn the hotkey’s functions which point out to the monitor’s extra features such as its overlays. We’d like something a bit more sophisticated like a remote at this price range, but you don’t need to fix what isn’t broken.
the stand included with the Asus PG259QN offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments, so practically any view angle is possible. You can also swap it out with a VESA mount if you need to save the space, but getting one will add cost to the already expensive upgrade. You also lose the stand’s aesthetic value which we know, many are considering in a monitor purchase.
The Asus PG259QN is a G-Sync gaming monitor since the 360Hz panel was co-developed with Nvidia. The FPGA controller in the monitor limits the video input to a slot each for DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0, but you also get two usable USB 3.0 receptacles and a 3.5mm jack. You also won’t find speakers on the model since its intended audience will most likely use headsets anyway.
Display and Performance
The Asus PG259QN boasts a 25-inch Fast-IPS panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, a 360Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response time. The panel has a 400 cd/m2 backlight, while its contrast ratio is still limited to 1000:1 like most IPS panels. This model is also HDR 400 capable among other things, but we all know that it offers limited improvements in image quality.
The most glaring limitation of the Asus PG259QN is it still offers a 1080p resolution which many consider to be outdated. However, its not surprising since it still is the universal format for competitive gaming which is what the monitor is geared for. You won’t need scaling at this resolution, but some may miss the extra sharpness of a 1440p variant if they are coming from that.
The 360Hz refresh rate and its benefits are already up for debate as to how effective it is or is it worth the cost. To be honest, it’s a bit of a challenge to see the improvements the Asus PG259QN offers over 240Hz offerings, but the extra smoothness and the improvements in motion clarity are there. They aren’t as appreciable on the get-go, but you will see the advantage once you have adjusted or if you revert back to a lower refresh rate screen.
The Asus PG259QN doesn’t offer strong saturation since it is limited to 97% sRGB which is surprising since many Fast IPS models are already beyond 100%. It is, however, a pre-calibrated monitor so the accuracy only has an impressive deltaE 0.56. The color temperature is also very close to 6500K, so there is no need to calibrate the screen.
Using a colorimeter for the Asus PG259QN already isn’t necessary unless you get a model with a worse result since they vary been between every unit. But we think its highly unlikely since this model faced some of the toughest quality control measures by today’s standards. And if there are improvements post-calibration, they will be negligible or unnoticeable typically.
The Asus PG259QN’s backlight reaches as much as 470 cd/m2, while its contrast ratio peaks at 1250:1 at 50% brightness. These are excellent results, but the backlight is still limited when it comes to HDR performance. The gamut is limited and there is no local dimming feature, so the HDR output you will see is very limited.
Panel uniformity for the Asus PG259QN is fantastic since there are no leaks or any major clouding issues on the screen’s quadrants. An all-black image can reveal some minor issues on the edges of the screen, but its mostly unnoticeable when gaming. Take note that this model still uses IPS which is prone to these flaws, so there will be units with worse symptoms out there.
The Asus PG259QN is very fast, so its pixel response and draw times are indescribably beyond what other fast-IPS models can offer. You will see some minor blurring if you don’t use its overdrive since the response time cannot catch up to the frame rate. However, setting the function to its Normal setting will clear any persistence or smudging. You don’t need to use the Extreme setting, plus it induces overshoot which will ruin the Asus PG259QN’s already excellent motion handling.
The Asus PG259QN is in a way unique since it still is compatible with FreeSync over DisplayPort even if it’s a full G-Sync monitor. We usually mark the latter as less practical since you are locked out of using AMD GPUs, but this changes that even if the price is still considerably higher. Input lag sits at less than 2ms, making this model the fastest gaming monitor available to date.
Thoughts on the Asus PG259QN
The Asus PG259QN is the best competitive gaming monitor money can buy thanks to its fantastic speed and smoothness. Its hard to distinguish at times, but the improvements in motion clarity and fluidity are tangible and very real. Our other favorite aspect is its compatibility with FreeSync even if it’s a G-Sync gaming monitor which goes to show how the industry is starting to prioritize the gamers instead of the cash flow.
The Asus PG259QN can make the 144Hz model seem slow, but it is still limited when it comes to image quality and vibrancy. We expected better color vibrance from the monitor, but its superb factory calibration more than makes up for it. The Asus PG259QN is your best choice if you want the fastest plug and play gaming monitor available, but be aware that these characteristics cost a pretty penny which many will find impractical.
Pros:
- Fastest Gaming Monitor Available
- G-Sync/FreeSync Compatible
- Attractive Design
- Low Input Lag and Excellent Response Time
- Impressive Factory Calibration
Cons:
- Limited Gamut
- HDR Performance is Underwhelming
- Very Expensive for a 1080p Monitor
-About the Author:
Paolo is a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since his junior high years. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations and he believes that it’s every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
Leave a Reply