The Asus ROG Strix XG27UCS is an unbelievably affordable 4K gaming monitor from a brand that pumps out top-shelf gaming products. Its 4K 160Hz output typically cost a thousand before, but this model brings it below $400 this time around. Let’s check it out to see if it still brings the same level as its upper-tier siblings in the brand’s lineup.
Asus ROG Strix XG27UCS Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution:3840 x 2160 UHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 160Hz
- Response Time: 1ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
- Brightness: 400 cd/m2 (450 cd/m2 Peak)
- Built-in Speakers: None
- 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 2.1 x 1, USB-C PD15W x 1, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions With Stand (WxHxD): 24.24 x 15.47″ x 8.61″
- Weight: 14.48 lb
Design and Features
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UCS isn’t as flashy as the older models, but that can be a good thing. The monitor has a matte black chassis with discrete accents, so it is not as flashy as the older ROG monitors we’ve seen in the past five years or so. The display has a bezel-free design, but it still has inner borders like most modern gaming displays.
It’s a cheaper Asus model, but its overall build quality was not compromised to help meet the price constraint. The plastic panels are thick and sturdy, plus there were no defects like burrs or uneven seams. The included stand is firm and stable, so there was very little wobbling, even when the screen is nudged with enough force.
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UCS’s dimensions are more modest thanks to the simpler yet still functional design. The whole unit only needs 8.61 inches of depth, thanks to the smaller footprint of the base and stand. It’s slightly heavier than most gaming displays in the same price bracket, but it’s still relatively portable by our standards.
The monitor’s control layout includes a joystick with hotkeys for easy access to its settings and additional features. You can’t see them directly, but they are easily accessible behind the screen’s right side. Other budget models have to make do with buttons, so this is a must-have bonus for both seasoned and newbie gaming monitor users.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. It’s easy to get a good viewing angle, and you can rely on it not sagging or wobbling in the heat of battle. You can also use VESA mounts with the monitor, but it’s only necessary if you have a tiny desk or multiple displays on deck.
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UCS’s connectivity layout includes a slot each for DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1, along with USB-C. The latter supports DP Alt Mode, but it only has 15 watts of charging power. You also get a 3.5mm analog jack, but there are no USB-A ports for other peripherals and accessories.
It also doesn’t have speakers, but that’s understandable since this is a budget model. Asus isn’t popular for sweet-sounding monitor speakers, so it’s not like it’s a huge loss. It deserves a decent pair of headsets for better immersion and focus or a desktop set for better depth and clarity.
Display and Performance
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UCS sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 160Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response time. The backlight has a 400 cd/m2 output while the contrast is listed at 1000:1. This model has HDR 400 certification, but we all know that it means that it doesn’t have the right equipment for appreciable HDR performance.
27-inch 4K screens are incredibly sharp and detailed, so they are great for games and design or editing-related work. It may be a challenge to read and type on them since letters and numbers appear smaller, but you can always use scaling for that. The more significant challenge with this monitor is that it provides enough GPU horsepower to power through demanding games and get closer to the 160Hz limit.
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UCS covers 100% sRGB and 99% DCI-P3 for stunning color in games and movies. Its default accuracy had a deltaE average of 1.07, so it’s good to go out of the box. Most users won’t need to calibrate it even if they intend to use the monitor for content creation or editing work.
Calibrating the monitor reduced the dE average to 0.61, making it comparable with high-end design monitors in terms of accuracy. Not all budget gaming displays are capable of this output, so this is a strong point of consideration for those who game and do color-critical work. The downside is that you will need a colorimeter to optimize it further from the excellent factory calibration, and those are not accessible to most.
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UCS’s backlight reached 431 cd/m2 at 100%, so it can fight off a ton of glare when needed. Its contrast was disappointing at 897:1 since most modern IPS panels already breach 1000:1 by default. The monitor is incapable of deep blacks, but that’s expected for most IPS monitors unless they have special backlights or treatments.
The panel uniformity on the test unit wasn’t impressive as well since it had backlight bleeding on the edges of the screen. The leaks show when a black or dark image is on screen, but it isn’t as noticeable against lighter backgrounds. Note that this can vary with every monitor made due to tolerances, so there are worse units out there.
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UCS’s response time is excellent since it barely shows any blurring. The screen does well in fast-paced and contrasting transitions since blurring and smudges are too minuscule to notice. It also has an ELMB function, but there is little reason to use it, especially since it will lock out Adaptive Sync.
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UCS is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync for tearing and stutter-free gaming. VRR is necessary for 4K gaming since it is more demanding, so having dual compatibility means you can keep the monitor even if you switch GPU brands. Its input lag sits at 4ms at 160Hz, so it’s just as fast as some of the 160Hz E-Sports monitors out there.
Thoughts on the Asus ROG Strix XG27UCS
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UCS is an excellent choice for gamers who want to upgrade their visuals without spending a small fortune. The 4K 160Hz offers fantastic pixel response times and color quality, making it usable for both fast-paced gaming and professional applications. The monitor is also built way better than most budget builds, so it should last longer.
It is far from perfect, but the fantastic price will put you in denial of its noticeable limitations. There is some room for improvement, but we feel that Asus already maximized its manufacturing budget for this model by using the color-accurate panel it has. The Asus ROG Strix XG27UCS is a brilliant budget gaming monitor, and you’d have to spend way more to get something with better overall performance.
Pros:
- Bright and Color Accurate
- Wide Gamut Coverage
- Excellent Build Quality with HDMI 2.1 and USB-C
- Fast and Responsive – Great for Gaming
Cons:
- Dismal Contrast
- Limited Connectivity
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.
- Overall
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