The Asus VG258QR is the next midrange monitor in the brand’s extensive gaming display portfolio that offers an upgraded refresh rate and a boosted response time. The new monitor somehow sits between the Asus MG248QR and the XG258Q as the new midrange option for competitive gamers. The Asus VG258QR uses a newer AU Optronics panel similar to the AOC G2590PX, making it interesting to check what kind of pros and cons we can expect.
Asus VG258QR Specifications
- Screen Size: 25 Inches
- Resolution:1920 x 1080 FHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: Twisted Nematic (TN)
- Refresh Rate: 165Hz
- 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): 22.15“x 19.14” x 8.72”
- Weight: 11.24lbs
Design and Features
What’s great about the Asus VG258QR is it dons the brand’s familiar gaming monitor aesthetic instead of the latest generation which has seen mixed reception. The monitor is finished in matte black that’s easy to maintain without adding flashiness to the product. The monitor isn’t bezel-free, but the border is composed of very thin dual-stage borders.
The Asus VG258QR’s feature layout is familiar as well, but that can only be a good thing. The monitor still has buttons, but those are shortcuts to the monitor’s GamePlus features such as the FPS counter and the timer/crosshair overlays. The OSD is controlled with a five-way joystick that makes it convenient for gamers to tweak the display.
Asus always applied a nice touch to its all its monitors even If it offers several tiers. The Asus VG258QR is very solid and reliable, with no visible or audible physical defects. The material is thick and virtually scratch-resistant, so you can keep the device looking new for as long as you are keeping it.
It’s also no secret that 24-inch monitors are your best pick if you want a high-grade battlestation but have limited space. The Asus VG258QR will not take up a lot of depth with its squarish base, so you can still use keyboards with wrist rest or full-coverage mouse mats without issues.
The rear of the chassis has a slightly different aesthetic scheme, but the signature futuristic pattern indents are still present. The VESA attachment point is the most prominent feature at the center of this side, covered by the included stand.
The Asus VG258QR is supported by a flexible stand that won’t leave you hanging when it comes to adjustments. The mechanism provides tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments, making it convenient to acquire a perfect viewing angle. As mentioned, the product is VESA compatible, so you can still opt for a wall mount or an aftermarket stand.
The connectivity on the Asus VG258QR is pretty decent since it includes the essentials, however, this is one aspect the brand could have improved. The layout only includes DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4, and DVI-D for video inputs plus 3.5mm jacks for audio passthrough. There is also a pair of 2-Watt speakers, but they are underpowered for gaming purposes.
Display and Performance
The Asus VG258QR sports a 25-inch TN panel from AU Optronics with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, 165Hz refresh rate, and a .5ms response time. The latter, as always, should be taken with a grain of salt, but it is an indication that the display has advanced blur reduction features. The display is supported by a 400cd/m2 backlight which is powerful enough for most gaming situations such as strobing modes.
The 25-inch form factor and the 1080p resolution may make the Asus VG258QR less desirable for most, but it still is the current standard for competitive games like CSGO. The monitor should also be easy to run with a range of GPUs, including the low to midrange bracket. This product is an excellent finisher to a strictly competitive gaming build that doesn’t require a massive budget.
The Asus VG258QR offers reasonable imaging quality despite the expected penalties brought about by TN technology. The screen is able to produce 97% of the sRGB gamut with a default accuracy of DeltaE 2.5 which is very decent for a TN gaming display. Color temperature is very close to the ideal 6500K, so colors look natural and there is no need to employ a colorimeter.
One downside of the Asus VG258QR is it has a lower contrast ratio than many Asus TN gaming monitors we’ve tested. It maxes out at 880:1, making the screen look grayish in dim rooms with black images on display. This limitation also affects grayscale performance aside from black depth, since it lessens the visibility of gradient separations in some instances.
However, motion handling, which is TN’s strongest suit, is also one of the highlights of the Asus VG258QR. The device’s pixel response time is fast enough to keep blurs at bay, so there isn’t any need for its blur reduction features. The ELMB capability of the monitor will only come in handy in the most extreme cases, but we’d rather leave it off 99% of the time.
Panel uniformity isn’t flawless, but its one of the best we’ve seen since there are no backlight leaks. Deviations are limited to 10%, so there are no visible imbalances in the screen’s brightness. Colors stayed within DE 2.5 of the D65 standard, so there are no noticeable color shifts either.
The Asus VG258QR is a FreeSync gaming monitor, but its also listed as one of the models certified by Nvidia to be G-Sync compatible. Using cards like the RTX 2060 or the Radeon 5700 will provide flawless performance which will match the refresh rate perfectly. Input lag is limited to 5ms, so there are no delays or “de-synced” instances.
Thoughts on the Asus VG258QR
The Asus VG258QR is a compelling option if you want a competitive gaming monitor that offers responsive performance and decent image quality. The product’s certified G-Sync compatibility also makes it very attractive to Nvidia users who rely on the brand’s more popular GPUs. We also love this design generation which the brand is now using for their non-PG models for its simplicity and functionality.
The only complaint we have about the Asus VG258QR is the premium penalty the brand is asking in exchange for these highlights. You can get a comparable device for around 70% of this model’s price like the ViewSonic XG2402.
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 which accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.