The number of 4K resolution monitors capable of 144Hz can be counted on the fingers of one hand. It is the pinnacle of gaming performance and some of the best gaming monitors. As such, these specs command premium pricing. And you’ll need an equally premium graphics card to drive nearly 8.3 million pixels at 144 frames per second (fps). Add HDR and extended color into the mix and you’re looking at a tremendous processing requirement.

The two best examples we’ve reviewed are the Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ and Acer Predator X27, which both sit atop our Best 4K Gaming Monitors list. These 27-inch IPS screens have 384-zone full array backlights that peak at 1,000 nits brightness. They provide image quality comparable to an OLED panel with great gaming prowess. They also cost around $1,300. Today, we’ll be looking at a less-expensive alternative that delivers everything except the FALD backlight for $800 as of writing. Meet the Asus ROG Strix XG27UQ.


The Asus ROG Strix XG27UQ has the latest IPS tech in the form of an AHVA (Advanced Hyper Viewing Angle) panel that’s certified VESA DisplayHDR 400 compliant. It covers a claimed 90% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and includes a factory calibration. It will run at 144 Hz over a single DisplayPort cable and supports both FreeSync. We got the monitor to run G-Sync (you can see how in How to Run G-Sync on a FreeSync monitor tutorial), but it’s still going through Nvidia’s certification process so is not listed in the official G-Sync-compliant roster.

A 10-bit (8-bit+FRC) panel supports HDR10 signals with Adaptive-Sync. Running HDR with FreeSync or G-Sync at 144 Hz requires a Radeon RX 5700 or a GeForce RTX 20-series graphics card or better. Lesser boards top out at 120 Hz, though SDR content can run at 144 Hz in any case.

Asus includes Extra Low Motion Blur that runs up to 144 Hz but disables Adaptive-Sync in the process. To ensure the fastest possible frame rates, the Asus ROG Strix XG27UQ supports Display Stream Compression (DSC), a more efficient way to move signals over DisplayPort that results in a visually lossless image. It’s one of the reasons for this monitor’s extremely low input lag.

Assembly and Accessories

Assembling the Asus ROG Strix XG27UQ is a simple matter of attaching the base with a captive bolt. For the Light in Motion RGB effect, Asus includes three lens options, two logos and a blank, that project onto the desktop. Just snap one in place on the bottom, plug in the external power supply and you’re ready to rock.

Video connections are supported with one cable each for DisplayPort and HDMI (see our DisplayPort vs. HDMI article for gaming comparisons) in the box, and you get a USB 3.0 cable too.

Once you’re hooked up, a cover snaps in place over the input panel to keep things tidy.


The Asus ROG Strix XG27UQ sports Asus’ traditional Republic of Gamers (ROG) styling with molded patterns that resemble a spaceship from a sci-fi movie. Build quality is rock-solid with thick hard plastic for the panel and upright and a cast aluminum base. Full ergonomics are included with firm adjustments for height (120mm), swivel (90 degrees to either side), tilt (20/-5 degrees) and a 90-degree portrait mode.

Around the back right are four keys and a joystick for controlling the on-screen display (OSD).

Also in back is a large ROG logo that lights up in a variety of colors and effects. Asus includes its Aura RGB and Light in Motion LED effects that light up in back and project a ROG logo onto the desktop. All these are controllable from the OSD. You can also use Aura Sync to coordinate lighting effects with other ROG components. These and other monitor functions can be controlled from the Windows desktop with Asus DisplayWidget app, available as a free download.

Asus has made no attempt to the ROG Strix XG27UQ’s bezel. It’s a chunky affair that sits proud of the anti-glare layer and is just under 1 inch wide all around. When viewed next to another 27-inch monitor with a thin flush bezel, the Asus screen actually looks larger. It’s an unexpected optical illusion.

Tucked up under the upright is a well-stocked input panel with two each of DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0. USB 3.0 is supported by an upstream and two downstream ports. Audio is covered by a 3.5mm headphone jack, which can also be used for powered speakers. And you’ll be needing it because there are no speakers built in, though you can control volume from the OSD.

OSD Features

The XG27UQ’s OSD is divided into seven sub-menus with many options for gaming, image adjustment, lighting effects and user preferences.