GoKawiilI also feel it comes across in how colors present. Technically, the monitor’s results are modest for an OLED monitor: It has a color gamut that spanned 94 percent of DCI-P3 and 89 percent of AdobeRGB. That’s a tad more narrow than top QD-OLED monitors, which can hit up to 98 percent and 95 percent, respectively. However, the ultra-clear, high-contrast look of the panel amplifies the sense of impact. I’m not saying it’s better than the best competitors, but the PG27UCWM’s overall image quality is in the upper tier. That's at least partially due to the fact that RGB Stripe OLED also improves “color volume," which is a display's ability to maintain color that gamut had max brightness.
Unfortunately, the vivid and contrast-rich image is paired with mirror-like reflections. I could likely use the monitor to shave. It’s not a problem in a dark room, but it’s noticeable when even modest ambient light is present.
This is an important, and divisive, point. Many OLED purists adore an ultra-gloss finish because it highlights the rich contrast and color the technology can provide. Others, myself included, prefer matte displays that reduce or eliminate discernible reflections.
There’s no right answer to this question, but you’ll need to decide your preference before you make a purchase.
Great for Sharpness, Great HDR
Beneath the PG27UCWM’s glossy coat you’ll find a tandem RGB Stripe OLED panel with a native resolution of 3840 x 2160. It’s crisp. Earlier OLED monitors have used an unusual sub-pixel arrangement that could hurt image clarity, but the PG27UCWM has a more conventional RGB sub-pixel layout that eliminates the issue. You'll sometimes see this marketed as “5th-Gen QD-OLED," and it initially launched in 34-inch monitors like the Alienware AW3426DW. But finally, the PG27UCWM is bringing it to the more standard 27-inch size.
Text clarity, in particular, has always been one of the chief issues about those shopping for OLED monitors, and I no longer have complaints in that regard. The resolution helps, too, providing a pixel density of about 165 pixels per inch across the 26.5-inch panel. The panel’s sharpness was excellent with the monitor connected to both my Windows 11 desktop and my MacBook Air M4.
HDR is where the PG27UCWM’s tandem OLED panel really begins to earn its keep. My testing found it can hit up to 800 nits of brightness. While that’s not a record-setting result, it’s in line with other premium OLED monitors, which typically offer 800 to 900 nits in my testing (the best barely clear 1,000 nits). The monitor also supports Dolby Vision HDR, which is rare.
The PG27UCWM’s brightness, contrast, and resolution combine to deliver real impact in HDR games. It’s so bright that it can at times feel overwhelming. Fortunately, Asus includes HDR brightness adjustment options that let you tone down the brightness if you’d prefer.
Asus’ PG27UCWM isn’t uniquely bright in HDR though. The Alienware AW3426DW, Acer Predator X27 X1, and MSI MPG 32URXW are among the monitors I’ve tested that deliver similar HDR brightness (and some of which are significantly cheaper). Still, the PG27UCWM performs much better than least expensive OLED monitors like the entry-level Alienware AW2726DM, which can only deliver roughly 400 nits in HDR.
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