The Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS is the brand’s latest machination of dominating the ultra-affordable 1440p IPS market. It is still pricey compared to competitors like the Gigabyte M27Q, but it promises top-shelf performance that you would normally get if you went with the top-shelf stuff. Let’s take a closer look to see if it should be the next value king or if you should just spend more on its upper siblings if you want better quality and performance.
Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 180Hz
- Response Time: 1ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
- Brightness: 400 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: No
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot– Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 1, USB-C DP Alt Mode x 1
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 25.27” x 20.19” x 8.61”
- Weight: 14.57 lbs
Design and Features
The Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS sports a simpler design than the other Strix models, but it’s aesthetically different than the TUF models. The monitor has a matte black finish with fewer gamer-centric accents, so it doesn’t look too aggressive beyond the ROG eye logo. The screen has a bezel-free design, although it still has inner borders like most modern options.
It’s dimensionally smaller than its predecessors, so it eats up less space on your desk. Going back to the square base, similar to what older models have, helps a lot since it only needed 8.61 inches of depth. It’s also lightweight at 14.57 pounds, so moving it around or even bringing it with you to LAN parties is very much doable.
One aspect that Asus never fails to impress is its product’s build quality. The monitor is mostly made out of plastic, but everything seems well-reinforced, and there are no signs of cosmetic defects on any of its parts. The included stand is very firm and stable, so the screen won’t sag or shake while it’s in use.
The Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS has an OSD joystick with hotkeys, just like its high-end siblings. It’s located at the back near the right side of the panel, so it’s very easy to reach even if you can’t see it. Some of the brand’s models have moved it to the center under the logo, but it is not a deal-breaker since we’re pretty much used to this setup.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. It is easy to get an angle that won’t strain your neck even after extended hours of play. You can use VESA mounts, but there is very little reason to spend more.
The brand’s design for the I/O layout is pretty interesting for this model. It has DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 slots, but it also has a USB-C slot with DP Alt Mode instead of the typical type-A and 3.5mm jack combo. It’s usable with a monitor, but it only provides 7.5 watts of charging power, so it’s only usable for phones.
There are no speakers with this model, but that’s okay since most gamers prefer headsets anyway. They are better for focus and immersion, as opposed to the typical 2-watt pair the brand uses for most of its gaming models.
Display and Performance
The Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 180Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response time. The backlight has a 350 cd/m2 output and a 400 cd/m2 peak, while the contrast is listed at 1000:1. This model is HDR 400-certified, but we all know how limited that is when it comes to HDR performance.
The 1440p gaming space is still very competitive since it’s what most people buy nowadays as an upgrade or a stop-gap before getting the “endgame monitor.” It is great for games and productivity, and it certainly is a better experience than 1080p. It has become very affordable in recent times, but every brand is still churning out new models in the hopes of getting a bigger slice of the mainstream market pie.
The Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS covered 100% sRGB and 92% of DCI-P3, which missed the brand’s claims but is satisfactory for gaming purposes. Its default accuracy, on the other hand, is excellent since it had a deltaE average of only 0.91. Most users won’t have to calibrate it, so it’s great for those who want to use it as soon as it’s out of the box.
Calibrating the monitor reduced the dE average to 0.60, which is even better for content or media creation. However, you will need a colorimeter to achieve similar results. However, we can only recommend the purchase if you are into color-critical work since the gadget itself can cost as much as the monitor.
The Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS’s backlight reached 361 cd/m2 in SDR, but it peaked at 433 cd/m2 when its HDR mode was active. Its contrast peaked at 1089:1 at 34% backlight, but it wasn’t enough to create deep blacks like a VA or OLED panel would. Its HDR capability isn’t something that would make us buy it, but compelling performance will usually cost at least $500 more.
Panel uniformity for the test sample had some issues due to backlight leaks on the top edge of the screen. They showed up as clouding in dark scenes but are mostly unnoticeable against white or full-color backgrounds. Note that this can vary with every unit made due to tolerances, so there are better units out there.
The Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS is one of the best when it comes to pixel response time. It helps that the panel itself is naturally faster than some IPS models, but there’s also the brand’s fantastic overdrive implementation with 20 levels of adjustment. It’s easy to get a blur-free setting with this monitor, so it’s highly suitable for E-Sports use.
The Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS is compatible with both FreeSync and G-Sync for tear-and-stutter-free gaming. It is essential to have both if you want to save money and have VRR all the time since you won’t have to buy a new monitor every time you switch to the other GPU brand. Its input lag sits at 4ms at 180Hz, so it is as fast as the best 144Hz+ gaming monitors out there.
Thoughts on the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS
The Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS is an excellent choice if you want a reasonably-priced gaming monitor with top-tier characteristics. It has a vibrant and accurate IPS panel that usually belongs to more expensive models. It’s built well, and it includes USB-C, which makes it more flexible than the slightly cheaper alternatives on the market.
We can’t exactly treat the XG27ACS as a pure budget model since its $299 MSRP is still higher than most of its competitors. However, you are getting better overall quality with it, so that small extra goes to something tangible, like better craftsmanship and out-of-the-box accuracy. We dare say that it is one of the best budget models out there, even if it is not exactly cheap to begin with.
Pros:
- Excellent Color Quality
- Very Fast and Responsive
- USB-C Connectivity
- FreeSync and G-Sync
Cons:
- Limited Connectivity
- Poor HDR Performance
- Low Contrast
About the Author: 
Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that 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.
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