The Asus XG279Q puts together style and performance in a package that satisfies the demands of competitive or enthusiast gamers who want the best possible experience. This model isn’t as sharp as the XG27UQ 4K 144Hz monitor, but it offers a faster speed limit and is friendlier on your GPUs. The Asus XG279Q is asking for a bit more cash compared to the excellent Asus VG27AQ, so let’s check out what advantages it can offer.
Asus XG279Q Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 170Hz
- Response Time: 1ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 400 cd/m²
- Speakers: Yes (2 x 2 Watts)
- Stand: Height -Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: HDMI 2.0 x 2, DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, USB 3.0 x 3, 3.5mm Jack
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 24.05” x 16.22” x 10.63”
- Weight: 15.43 lbs
Design and Features
The Asus XG279Q uses the same Strix aesthetic formula composed of aggressive accents and the imposing helix-shaped stand to indicate its premium nature. The chassis uses a combination matte black with metallic red accents, unlike the ROG Swift models which use orange bronze instead. The display is free from plastic bezels on three sides, but you will still see minimal panel borders when it is powered on.
One thing that’s noticeable with the Asus XG279Q over its TUF Gaming counterparts is its slightly larger due to the helix stand. The device needs almost 11 inches of depth which truly isn’t much but can interfere with your other peripherals on the desk. It doesn’t weigh a lot as a whole, so it still has some portability if in case you regularly redo your setup or still go to LAN parties.
Build quality is fantastic as expected from the brand since there are no apparent weaknesses or cosmetic defects on the product. Every corner is perfectly cut and crafted, so you won’t see uneven seams or sharp edges. The stand doesn’t wobble, and it holds the view angle you set almost permanently.
The back panel is split into a smooth and textured layer for added flair, but what stands out the most is the ROG eye logo that has RGB LEDs. You can set the colors and themes via the OSD, but it can also be controlled with the brand’s Aura Sync RGB ecosystem. This feature is valuable if you already have ROG parts and peripherals which you can synchronize to create a themed lighting setting.
What’s great about the recycled design is most are already familiar with how to manipulate the Asus XG279Q’s functions. The monitor has a 5-way joystick for easy navigation of its sub-menus, along with a few shortcut keys that give access to filters and overlays that are standard with its gamer-centric design. However, more and more brands are becoming competitive in this aspect like AOC which includes a remote at this price point.
The aforementioned helix stand on the Asus XG279Q is a bit overdesigned and it needs a refresh, but its highly functional and very durable. The mechanism offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments, so practically any normal view angle is possible with this model. It also has an LED projector at the bottom which adds an accent light for your setup.
The Asus XG279Q isn’t limited to DP and HDMI like its G-Sync counterparts, but we think Asus could have added more to its connectivity layout. The panels at the rear include DisplayPort 1.2 and dual HDMI 2.0 slots, along with a trio of USB 3.0 ports for peripherals. Its enough to handle most of your needs in a gaming setup, but it would be nice to see something more modern like USB-C on this latest model.
The Asus XG279Q also has a pair of 2-watt speakers built into its chassis. However, the two distort as soon as you raise the volume, and they cannot provide the necessary oomph for the monitor’s main use. We wish Asus would upgrade this characteristic on their gaming lines to a comparable level with their MX series monitors.
Display and Performance
The Asus XG279Q boasts a 27-inch IPS panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, 170Hz maximum refresh rate, and a 1ms response time. The backlight hits 400 cd/m2, while contrast is rated at 1000:1 like most IPS monitors. This model is also advertised to be HDR compatible, but it only comes certified with VESA’s DisplayHDR 400 standard.
1440p and 27-inch screens are perfect since they present the best balance between crispness and visibility. You get a sizable upgrade in pixel count and density, but small objects like text do not appear microscopic. Games will look cleaner and sharper, but you won’t have to use scaling or resort to endless squinting and eye strain while crunching the numbers.
The Asus XG279Q offers fantastic color coverage, offering a little over 100% in sRGB and around 91% in DCI-P3. Color accuracy could be better since the deltaE average sits at around 2.72, but it shouldn’t be noticeable unless you are using the monitor for editing. Color temperature is slightly biased towards the cooler hues, so some white backgrounds can look like they have a slight hint of blue.
You can correct these flaws with a colorimeter, but most do not have access to one unless they buy it for around the price of a budget monitor. We recommend tweaking the settings as best as possible or to your liking if in case the oversaturation in some hues is not pleasant to you.
The Asus XG279Q’s backlight reaches around 430 cd/m2 in SDR, but it can pulse to around 540 cd/m2 in HDR mode. The contrast ratio sits at 1150:1 at around 30% brightness, but you will notice a massive improvement when the backlight’s maximum pulses for HDR content. DisplayHDR 400 monitors aren’t great at producing HDR effects, but this model is currently one of the best in this regard.
Panel uniformity for the Asus XG279Q test unit is excellent since there were no considerable leaks or unevenness in the backlight’s spread. There is slight deviance between the center and the sides of the screen, but it’s only visible when measured with a colorimeter. This is excellent for an IPS variant, but do take note that there are manufacturing tolerances which could affect other units.
The Asus XG279Q is almost 100% blur-free at its maximum refresh rate, so it is ideal for competitive gaming. The monitor includes the brand’s ELMB Sync feature, but we found that it isn’t necessary at all, save for some extreme circumstances. This model is another testament to the improvements in IPS tech which used to lag considerably behind TN-based variants.
The Asus XG279Q is a FreeSync gaming monitor, but it also completely works with G-Sync for Nvidia GPU users. This capability enhances the monitor’s value since you don’t have to ditch it in case you switch GPU brands on your next upgrade cycle. Input lag sits at 7ms, so there is no need to worry about delays or de-synced instances while gaming.
Thoughts on the Asus XG279Q
The Asus XG279Q is a fantastic choice if you want to enjoy both competitive and visually-enhanced games that are HDR-compatible. The monitor’s refresh rate and pixel response times offer superb motion handling, so you won’t immediately feel the need to use its strobing feature. The image quality could use some improvements, but the extra brightness and contrast combine with extra color coverage to create eye-popping visuals.
We don’t have major complaints with this monitor, but we wish Asus would at least improve their feature set if they want to keep on using this aesthetic. Gamers could use better speakers for example, but then again, these are minor when compared to the product’s capabilities. Overall, the Asus XG279Q is a solid choice for gaming, whether if you are into E-Sports or visually engrossing titles.
Pros:
- Fast and Excellent Motion Handling
- FreeSync/G-Sync Compatible
- Wide Gamut Coverage
- Excellent HDR Performance
- Attractive Design with RGB
Cons:
- Difficult to Calibrate
- 2-Watt Speakers
- Pricey
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.
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