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Asus ROG Swift PG27AQWP-W 27-inch 540 Hz QHD QD-OLED gaming monitor review: Every piece of performance tech in a single display

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There is nothing to complain about here. The Asus ROG Swift PG27AQWP-W is high-end in every way and not as expensive as you’d expect. It’s super speedy and responsive with a stunning picture to match. It proves the concept that you never regret buying the best.

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When Asus releases a new ROG Swift display, you can expect it to feature the latest technology and maximum performance. These flagship models are the hypercars of computer monitors with price-no-object design and engineering.

If you follow my display reviews, you know that I recommend the best OLED gaming monitors as the tech of choice when budgets allow. There is no LCD variant as smooth, nor one that boasts OLED’s perfect black levels and infinite contrast.

The ROG Swift PG27AQWP-W is the latest in a long line of firsts for Asus. It is the first 540 Hz OLED I’ve encountered, and the first monitor to boast a 720 Hz refresh rate at HD resolution. More on that below. It also has a Quantum Dot layer for wider gamut coverage along with Adaptive-Sync, HDR10, DisplayHDR 500 True Black, ELMB, and more features than just about anything else short of Asus’ other ROG Swift models. Let’s take a look.

Asus ROG Swift PG27AQWP-W Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally Panel Type / Backlight Quantum Dot Organic Light Emitting Diode (QD-OLED) Screen Size / Aspect Ratio 27 inches / 16:9 Max Resolution and Refresh Rate 2560x1440 @ 540 Hz Row 3 - Cell 0 1280x720 @ 720 Hz Row 4 - Cell 0 FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible Native Color Depth and Gamut 10-bit / DCI-P3+ Row 6 - Cell 0 HDR10, DisplayHDR 500 TrueBlack Response Time (GTG) 0.02ms Brightness (mfr) 500 nits SDR Row 9 - Cell 0 1,500 nits HDR (1% window) Contrast (mfr) 1,500,000:1 Speakers None Video Inputs 1x DisplayPort 2.1 Row 13 - Cell 0 2x HDMI 2.1 Audio 3.5mm headphone output USB 3.2 1x up, 3x down Power Consumption 37.8w, brightness @ 200 nits Panel Dimensions WxHxD w/base 23.8 x 17.1-21.5 x 10.8 inches (605 x 434-546 x 274mm) Panel Thickness 2.5 inches (64mm) Bezel Width Top: 0.31 inch (8mm) Row 20 - Cell 0 Sides: 0.35 inch (9mm) Row 21 - Cell 0 Bottom: 0.51 inch (13mm) Weight 15.5 pounds (7kg) Warranty 3 years

OK, first up is that 720 Hz refresh rate. I put that there to pique your interest, and it is not a typo. You can run the PG27AQWP-W at 720 Hz if you are willing to reduce the resolution to HD. That’s 1280x720, which is the minimum vertical pixel count that qualifies for the HD label. More often, you’ll see the term FHD or Full HD, meaning 1920x1080. How does this translate into reality? Keep reading, and you’ll see.

Asus pairs these dizzying speeds with Adaptive-Sync, G-Sync, FreeSync, and console VRR is supported. It also supports ELMB, which is a strobing feature designed to reduce motion blur. Note that ELMB Sync is not present here. That’s where you can run ELMB and Adaptive-Sync at the same time. ELMB is limited to 120 Hz, so it’s there when you can’t run a higher frame rate.

The OLED panel is a Quantum Dot variant with wide-gamut color coverage of around 109% of DCI-P3. That’s the class average, and it’s about the most color you can get in a gaming monitor. Accuracy is assured by a factory calibration, and you get a full complement of calibration controls, which include a pro-level sRGB mode. Brightness is very high, with over 540 nits for SDR content and 1,500 nits in HDR mode, as measured in a 1% window. You can also engage a Uniform Brightness option to keep eye fatigue at bay.

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