The Asus ROG Stix XG27UQR offers a premium gaming experience that comes with the ROG series and its notoriety in enthusiasts’ gaming circles. It’s a refreshed version of the XG27UQ, with changes focusing on making it more affordable and competitive in the ever-growing 4K 144Hz segment. Let’s take a closer look if it should be your upgrade or if there are better options for the money.
Asus ROG Strix XG27UQR Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160 4K UHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 144Hz
- Response Time: 4ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
- Brightness: 350 cd/m2 (400 cd/m2 Peak)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes
- Connectivity DisplayPort 1.4 DSC x 2, HDMI 2.0 x 2, USB 3.0 x 2, 3.5mm jack x 1
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 24.95” x 20.57” x 10.02”
- Weight: 17.64 lbs
Design and Features
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UQR looks just like its predecessor but uses a plainer, more minimalist stand. The monitor has a matte black finish with an RGB Eye logo at the back for themed setups. The display isn’t bezel-free, so it looks dated compared to some current options in the market.
It consumes slightly less space than the older version since its base doesn’t have the raised base with an LED projector anymore. The changes are minimal, but that half-inch taken out of its overall depth might spell the difference for users with compact desks. It only weighs 17.64 pounds, so moving it around should be easy.
Its build quality is probably one of its best characteristics since it feels every bit like a premium variant. The plastics used are thick and sturdy, plus there were no cosmetic defects on any of its parts. The included stand is firm and stable, so the screen doesn’t wobble under any normal circumstances.
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UQR has an OSD joystick and some hotkeys to help make it easier for you to access its settings and capabilities. The control layout is at the back near the right-hand side of the screen, so it is easy to access instantly. It doesn’t have remotes like other premium options, but that’s fine for most users.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. Pivoting wasn’t included since it’s not designed to be a side or peripheral display, but you can still use VESA mounts if needed. The stand’s design lost the red accents and the LED projector, so it looked cleaner and helped make the monitor cheaper than the predecessor.
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UQR’s connectivity layout has two DisplayPort 1.4 DSC slots, two HDMI 2.0 ports, and two USB ports for accessories. Its glaring lack of HDMI 2.1 and maybe a USB-C slot is a deal-breaker, considering the Asus VG28UQL1A, which costs the same as the former, has HDMI 2.1 at least. HDMI 2.1 is one of the main selling points of these monitors since it allows them to be used for the latest gaming consoles.
You also get a 3.5mm jack, but this variant has no speakers since it was designed to be used with a gaming headset. The latter is much better for gaming since it drowns out the outside noise that will break your focus on games. It’s also a fact that Asus does not include powerful, gaming-grade sets anyway, so you aren’t losing much.
Display and Performance
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UQR sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms boosted response time. The backlight has a 350 cd/m2 typical output and a 400 cd/m2 peak, while the contrast is listed at 1000:1 like most IPS monitors. This model is HDR 400 certified, but we all know how limited that is regarding HDR performance.
27-inch 4K monitors are extra sharp and crisp so they are perfect for gaming and imaging. Office work or any task that involves letters and numbers can be a bit more difficult since text can become too small at 100% scaling. It’s also widely known that you will need a powerful GPU to maximize the screen’s speed and resolution.
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UQR covers 100% sRGB and 94% DCI-P3 for great color in games and movies. Its default accuracy had a dE average of 1.98, so it’s factory-calibrated and ready to go out of the box. You only need to set a few minor tweaks, like adjusting the brightness or activating VRR, before starting to play.
Calibrating it with a colorimeter reduced the dE average to an excellent 0.41, a score you’d normally see on prosumer variants. However, you will need the assistance of the gadget to get comparable results. Copying settings or ICC profiles cannot guarantee the latter since each panel has minor differences that can affect it.
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UQR’s backlight reached an impressive 515 cd/m2 in SD, and it peaked at 621 cd/m2 when its HDR mode was active. Its contrast ratio reached 1104:1 at 30% brightness, but that and its limited edge-lit local dimming feature were not able to produce deep blacks or range. Imaging highlights and details don’t pop like they do on a mini-LED or OLED monitor.
Panel uniformity for the test sample did not have any major issues, but there were some variances. Some clouding shows up when the screen is blank or showing an all-black image, but this is consistent with what we see on most IPS monitors. Note that this can change between every unit made to tolerances, so there are better and worse ones out there.
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UQR’s pixel response time is excellent if you can keep your framerates high enough. Setting the overdrive to its number 3 setting is the best, but you have to drop it to level 1 if your framerates are nearer to 60Hz than 120Hz. But despite this, the monitor is still great for competitive play on any platform.
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UQR is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync for stutter and tear-free gaming. Dual compatibility with both brands is essential since you will need it for 4K gaming using either AMD or Nvidia-based systems. Its input lag sits at 4ms at 144Hz, so it is as fast as the best out there that are highly recommended for fast-paced games.
Thoughts on the Asus ROG Strix XG27UQR
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UQR is a great choice if you want a high-quality gaming monitor with excellent imaging performance. Its IPS panel offers high-quality color fidelity, plus it’s fast and responsive enough for competitive play. It is built solid, just like most of the brand’s premium offerings, so it should outlast its warranty.
We like the reduced price but think it’s a deal-breaker that the XG27UQR lacks HDMI 2.1 and USB-C connectivity. The R stands for a refresh in our eyes, so Asus missed a chance to make a great 4K gaming monitor excellent. It’s a decent pick based on performance but lacks the functionality that has become standard for today’s high-end gaming displays.
Pros:
- Excellent Color Quality
- Robust Build Quality
- FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible
- Great Price
Cons:
- Limited HDR
- No HDMI 2.1
- 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.
Leave a Reply