Asus ROG Swift PG27AQWP-W Overview

Introduction

This new OLED gaming monitor from Asus was initially unveiled at Gamescom in August 2025 and has attracted numerous consideration because of its top-end specs and options, together with its model new design aesthetic. The PG27AQWP-W is a part of Asus’s premium ROG Swift product line-up, and is 27″ in measurement with a 2560 x 1440 decision. It’s headline spec is the native 540Hz refresh price, the quickest at present out there from any OLED monitor panel, even surpassing the brand new 500Hz QD-OLED panels we’ve seen launched within the final month or so. Not solely is the native refresh price a bit larger than these competing QD-OLED panels, however this display screen additionally boasts a dual-mode perform which lets you enhance your refresh price even larger up to an enormous 720Hz for those who’re ready to drop your decision to a a lot decrease 1280 x 720. That function could also be helpful to some avid gamers who wish to play older titles at a decrease decision and actually push body charges, movement readability and velocity and we’ll talk about use circumstances and efficiency later.

That is all made doable because of using a model new 4th Gen WOLED panel from LG.Show, that includes their newest ‘Main RGB Tandem’ construction, which we are going to clarify extra in a second. Asus have additionally up to date the design of this new monitor, with a brand new silver color end, a clear rear enclosure, blue lighting options and a brand new cut-out stand design. They’ve additionally added a variety of contemporary options together with their ‘TrueBlack’ shiny display screen coating, DisplayPort 2.1 connectivity (UHBR20), their OLED Care Professional function set and Neo Proximity Sensor. We’ll take a look at these extra all through this assessment.

That is shaping as much as be a flagship OLED gaming monitor, so let’s see the way it performs in our testing.

Key Specs

• 26.5″ (27″ class), flat format
• 4th Gen Main RGB Tandem WOLED panel from LG.Show
• Shiny panel end utilizing Asus ‘TrueBlack’ coating
• 2560 x 1440 decision
• 540Hz native refresh price
• Twin-mode help with HD (1280 x 720) at 720Hz
• Adaptive-sync for variable refresh charges (certifications TBC)
• VESA DisplayHDR 500 True Black certification, together with 1500 nits peak brightness spec (1.5% APL)
• Extensive (and improved) color gamut overlaying 99.5% DCI-P3
• OLED Care Professional options together with Asus Neo Proximity Sensor
• 1x DisplayPort 2.1a (UHBR20), 2x HDMI 2.1, 3x USB-A knowledge ports and 1x headphone connections
• Totally adjustable stand with tilt, peak, swivel and rotate

Asus Promotional video

Product Showcase and Launch Protection

You may additionally wish to take a look at our palms on protection from Gamescom in August for extra footage of the display screen and it’s distinctive new design.

Design and Options

The PG27AQWP-W comes with a model new design aesthetic and personally I feel it seems to be actually nice, it’s an superior wanting display screen! It’s a pleasant break from the long-standing ROG Swift monitor design, shifting to a silver stand, arm and rear part, a brand new cut-out stand design and even switching to blue LED lighting as a substitute of the standard crimson. Not everybody will prefer it, however we predict it’s one of many nicest wanting gaming screens we’ve seen thus far, however that’s simply our private view on it.

The rear of the display screen has a silver plastic enclosure (which seems to be metallic) across the sides and a protruding central part the place all of the display screen electronics, energy provide and connections are housed. This display screen options an inner energy provide so there’s no want for a separate energy brick. This central part has a clear plastic casing, permitting you to see inside to a few of the parts as you may see from the pictures offered. This once more seems to be nice we predict.

The stand attaches through a fast launch mechanism on the again, or will be eliminated in favour of VESA wall / arm mounting for those who’d relatively. There’s a tripod socket on the highest of the stand for connecting webcams and so forth for those who want. There’s a well-known ROG brand lighting function on the again as effectively which will be customised through the OSD menu or Asus’ software program, or synced with different Asus RGB lighting gadgets.

The stand has additionally had a make-over. The principle arm is silver in color just like the rear of the display screen, with a cable tidy gap on the backside. The foot of the stand is silver in color however made out of steel, offering a robust, vast and durable base for the display screen. There’s varied cut-out sections on this foot which offers a brand new styling for the ROG Swift monitor line-up. Some folks might want a smaller, squarer and easier base which is obtainable on their ROG Strix collection, however none have this top-end spec right now.

There’s varied LED lighting options on the stand as effectively, together with an ROG projection brand from the underside (referred to as ‘Gentle in Movement’ within the menu) and a blue energy brand, which will be turned off within the OSD menu if you’d like.

There’s a full vary of ergonomic changes from the stand with tilt, peak, swivel and rotate. They’re all actually clean to function, and straightforward sufficient to maneuver though tilt is a bit stiff. The display screen stays very secure on the desk and the entire design feels sturdy and durable with virtually no wobble.

On-screen menu

The OSD is managed primarily via a small joystick toggle on the again of the display screen’s “chin” part on the underside edge. There are additionally two pressable buttons, one both aspect of the joystick. One provides you fast entry to the dual-mode’ perform by default, whereas the opposite is the ability on/off button. You may edit the left hand button through the menu to have a shortcut for one thing else although if you’d like. A pleasant contact is that for those who press the ability button, it prompts you to verify you positively wish to flip the display screen off, to keep away from these unintentional power-offs.

OSD Menu
Joystick toggle controller
Fast and snappy
Intuitive to make use of
Person updatable firmware

There may be additionally some fast entry to key settings through the instructions on the joystick which you’ll customise within the menu, or for those who press the joystick in you may enter the primary menu. Navigation is fast, snappy and intuitive because of the joystick controller. There have been a good vary of settings and choices out there too. The display screen helps user-updatable firmware.

Connectivity

The PG27AQWP-W gives 1x DisplayPort 2.1 (with UHBR20 bandwidth) and 2x HDMI 2.1 video connections, together with a headphone jack and 3x USB-A knowledge ports. Word that this mannequin doesn’t function different fashionable connectivity choices similar to USB type-C and doesn’t have any KVM perform both. Asus inform us that their ROG Swift vary can be used transferring ahead for these fashions which provide DP 2.1 connectivity, with the ROG Strix vary then getting used for these with DP 1.4.

We have been pleasantly shocked by two facets of the connectivity efficiency on this display screen, regardless of it’s very excessive spec (1440p @ 540Hz, 10-bit color depth, 4:4:4 / RGB chroma):

1. You may nonetheless run at full settings with DSC turned off, from a DP 2.1 (UHBR20) graphics card
2. Even when you have a DP 1.4 graphics card, you may nonetheless run at full spec utilizing DSC

We have been shocked by each these factors as normal / frequent timing configurations would counsel that this spec would want ~82 Gbps of bandwidth uncompressed (with out DSC), which is greater than the 77.37 Gbps out there from even the top-tier UHBR 20 DisplayPort 2.1. It might want ~27.3 Gbps of bandwidth when utilizing compression (DSC), which is greater than the 25.92 Gbps out there from DisplayPort 1.4.

In case you’ve obtained a DP 2.1 UHBR20 graphics card
you may run at full spec with out DSC

Nevertheless as a result of panel’s specs and parameter limitations, the information price necessities are literally decrease than typical theoretical values. This enables the display screen to perform at full spec (1440p, 540Hz, 10-bit, 4:4:4 chroma) from a DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20 graphics card with out DSC being wanted. You may flip DSC off within the OSD menu and this spec remains to be out there to make use of from an NVIDIA RTX50 collection graphics card. That’s a nice shock as we have been anticipating to want to make use of DSC to hit the total spec, even from these connections.

In case you’ve obtained solely an older DP 1.4 graphics card
you may run at full spec utilizing DSC

Maybe much more vital and shocking is that the timings used right here enable the total spec to be run from an older DisplayPort 1.4 graphics card. That you must use DSC in fact for these, however you’re NOT precluded from working the display screen at it’s full spec from these older playing cards. We tried the display screen from an NVIDIA RTX 3090 graphics card and will choose the total spec when utilizing DSC. That’s nice information as we initially anticipated customers to want a DP 2.1 succesful graphics card to energy the total spec, however fortunately you don’t. When you can set 1440p 540Hz 10-bit, 4:4:4 chroma from a DP 1.4 graphics card take into accout the excessive system calls for of working video games at 1440p @ 540Hz, ideally you’d have a contemporary, top-end graphics card anyway.

We examined a variety of various configurations to determine the utmost refresh price that might be run over completely different connections, and with completely different color depth and chroma mixtures:

These in crimson require you to create a customized decision through the NVIDIA management panel, as the particular refresh charges weren’t listed by default within the EDID. These are refresh charges to the closest 10Hz. These might not at all times be the total theoretical maximums, however these have been the maximums we might obtain via plenty of trial and error and testing. It’s possible you’ll get completely different outcomes probably out of your system and graphics card.

We see no actual motive to disable DSC anyway and so the important thing level is that the total spec will be run effective from all these connection choices, together with DP 1.4 graphics playing cards.

4th Gen Main RGB Tandem WOLED Panel

The panel used on this monitor is a part of LG.Show’s newest Gen 4 line-up for 2025. These panels utilise an up to date 4-stack panel construction, in any other case often known as ‘Main RGB Tandem’, which strikes from 3 layers of light-emitting OLED materials from their third Gen, to 4 layers for his or her 4th Gen. Word that the “Main RGB” naming scheme right here refers back to the light-emitting layers, not the sub-pixel construction of the panel which stays RGWB with an extra white sub-pixel used.

This shift to a 4-layer panel construction is what helps enhance brightness and colors, additionally permitting LG.Show to dispose of the MLA (Micro Lens Array) that was used to spice up brightness on the older panels. 4th Gen WOLED panels provide improved SDR and HDR brightness, improved black depth and ambient mild dealing with, and improved color gamut.

You’ll find masses extra details about the applied sciences behind 4th Gen WOLED in our video right here.

‘TrueBlack’ Shiny Coating

One of many key promoting factors of this new monitor is the inclusion of Asus’ new ‘TrueBlack’ shiny display screen coating, distinguishing it from most different WOLED screens out there in the marketplace. We’ve already examined this new shiny coating on two different lately launched Asus screens, the ROG Strix XG27AQWMG (27″ 4th Gen WOLED, 1440p, 280Hz) and the ROG Strix XG32UCWMG (32″ third Gen WOLED, 4K, 240Hz, dual-mode) and it’s impressed us.

This can be a display screen coating utilized on the manufacturing unit by the panel producer LG.Show as a substitute of (not on high of) the matte AG coating, and which has now been improved and enhanced for the reason that first shiny WOLED panels from 2024. Asus have been the one vendor really to undertake the unique shiny WOLED panel final 12 months, discovered on their 27″ 240Hz XG27AQDMG monitor. They’ve now adopted these new panels right here for the PG27AQWP-W and the opposite fashions we’ve simply talked about, with the brand new and improved shiny display screen coating choice. Asus name this new coating ‘TrueBlack’, to not be confused with the ‘True Black’ terminology used for VESA’s DisplayHDR certifications for OLED panels.

Based on the product info, this new coating ought to provide:

• A zero-haze (0%) optical layer which ought to take away any slight graininess that was seen on the unique shiny WOLED panel from final 12 months for a clear, clear and crisp picture. Final 12 months’s panel was rated with a 3% haze end and we noticed some minor grain to the picture throughout our testing.
• Improved blacks in any lighting setting
• A reported 38% drop in ambient reflections “in comparison with previous-gen shiny WOLED panels” from final 12 months.

Our evaluation

The coating and panel era mixture is precisely the identical because the XG27AQWMG that we lately examined, and so for ease we are going to use some pictures and video screenshots from our testing of that mannequin, together with some up to date commentary and knowledge from our testing of the PG27AQWP-W:

1. There’s zero grain for a really clear and clear picture – the brand new 0% haze coating eliminated any minor graininess that was seen on the older shiny WOLED coating, offering a transparent and clear picture as promised. You can even see this transformation (first picture above) the place the sunshine supply shining on the screens has a extra outlined and crisp reflection, whereas the outdated coating causes some minor haze/diffusion to the reflection. Textual content and workplace paperwork now look super-clear, with no seen grain remaining. It’s additionally a good enchancment in picture readability in contrast with normal matte anti-glare coatings typical on WOLED panels, which diffuse mild sources much more and have some seen grain to the coating (second picture).

2. Black depth is the perfect of any monitor OLED panel/coating mixture – Within the presence of ambient mild the blacks remained darker and blacker than on another WOLED panel/coating mixture (represented by the yellow line on the graph above). It’s very near a shiny WOLED TV in truth now (silver line). This helps retain the wonderful blacks and distinction that OLED can provide, even in brighter room situations. We’ve captured some comparisons under for illustrative functions:

The matte coated 4th Gen WOLED panels are literally fairly shut too (inexperienced line), and evidently it’s the 4th Gen WOLED panel know-how that provides the numerous developments on this space. Combining these 4th Gen panels with a shiny coating helps a bit bit extra in contrast with when a matte AG coating is used. The trade-off nevertheless is elevated reflections which we are going to speak about in a second.

You may see that the 4th Gen shiny panel is best than the older 2nd Gen shiny WOLED panels from final 12 months (mild blue line on the graph), demonstrated additionally within the picture above.

There’s no comparability relating to QD-OLED panels in brighter room situations. When you have mild sources in entrance of the display screen, blacks turn into raised and begin to flip gray / purplish sadly on that know-how. They’re extra suited to darker room situations.

3. You ought to be aware of reflections – this was very exhausting to seize in pictures however the brand new TrueBlack coating confirmed barely much less noticeable reflections than the outdated shiny coating. There’s nonetheless mirror-like reflections to take care of as a result of there’s no AG (anti-glare) layer, however the reflection appeared a bit “darker” and fewer noticeable on the brand new coating. Some minor enhancements there.

It is best to nonetheless be cautious of the place of sunshine sources in entrance of the display screen as being a shiny panel it does create mirror-like reflections, particularly with home windows and light-weight sources going through the display screen. Conventional matte anti-glare coatings on WOLED panels present higher reflection and glare dealing with, and actually that is the one space the place this new coating falls behind matte AG coatings. Some folks will want the picture of those shiny coatings, others will discover a matte AG coating extra applicable to assist get rid of glare and reflections way over shiny.

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In some unspecified time in the future we are going to try to present a extra thorough matte vs shiny, QD-OLED vs WOLED comparability, however for now we are able to noticed that the brand new TrueBlack coating is superior to the outdated shiny WOLED coating for certain, and for these looking for a shiny end, however from a WOLED know-how panel as a substitute of QD-OLED, it’s sure to be engaging.

OLED Care

One problem with OLED panels basically is the inherent threat of picture retention and burn-in. It’s a know-how extra suited to dynamic and altering content material, which is why these are largely positioned as gaming and multimedia screens. There may be extra of a threat of picture retention if you’re utilizing these screens for many static desktop and workplace use although. Within the advertising materials offered to us Asus additionally speak about a 60% longer life-span in contrast with earlier WOLED screens, because of the brand new 4th Gen panel.

Show producers present a variety of measures to assist mitigate that threat, and keep the panel over time and we are going to discuss in regards to the OLED Care measures in a second.

Asus embrace a 3 12 months guarantee with the monitor, together with burn-in cowl which provides some added peace of thoughts round utilization and picture retention dangers. This is similar as on their different current OLED screens.

To assist mitigate the dangers of picture retention Asus present a powerful and expanded set of OLED care choices throughout the OSD menu underneath their ‘ROG OLED Care Professional‘ options. Acquainted choices embrace the pixel shift / display screen transfer which strikes the picture barely just a few pixels at a time periodically (you may flip this off absolutely if you’d like). There’s additionally a display screen saver which dims the display screen if there isn’t any change to the picture for an prolonged time period. There’s additionally a picture cleansing cycle which is able to run routinely every now and then, or you may run manually within the menu if you’d like.

An ‘auto brand brightness’ part contains choices for ‘brand detection’, in addition to ‘taskbar detection’ and ‘boundary detection’. Boundary detection dynamically detects the boundary of the black bars and reduces the brightness and in addition barely shifts the pixel of the close to borders.

Neo Proximity Sensor

One different new know-how Asus have added to the display screen is their Neo Proximity Sensor: This extremely delicate TOF sensor permits customers to set their most popular utilization distance. When the person steps out of vary, the monitor will swap to a black picture (i.e. flip off the pixels) to scale back the danger of burn-in, and restores on-screen content material if you return to it. You can even customise the detection distance shortly and simply.

We’ve been saying for some time that we’d prefer to see extra movement/proximity sensors on OLED screens, and it’s nice to see Asus embrace that right here like that they had on their PG27UCDM and different new screens lately, taking it a step additional with the superior distance detection which is nice to see. Let’s hope that is included on all their future OLED screens too.

Brightness and Distinction

For this testing we disabled the OLED care options within the OSD menu as these can have a small affect to display screen brightness in sure conditions. We might suggest enabling as a lot of these options as doable to mitigate dangers of burn-in, though you could have to experiment on your explicit utilization to make sure none are distracting or problematic.

Uniform Brightness = OFF

Out of the field the display screen operates with the ‘Uniform Brightness’ (UB) setting turned off, which is a function we’ve seen many occasions now on Asus OLED screens that if enabled would assist keep a constant display screen brightness whatever the content material you present, the scale of your home windows or your Common Image Degree (APL).

On this display screen the ‘off’ mode really behaves otherwise, and higher, than many earlier Asus OLED screens. On the most brightness setting you may see that the screens brightness varies relying on the APL and so that you get fluctuations in brightness as you resize and transfer home windows round or change your content material. It reaches as much as a powerful 632 nits most although, dropping all the way down to 380 nits for full display screen white. That 632 nits peak is a good step up in contrast with earlier gen WOLED panels, as an illustration the PG27AQDP reached 425 nits peak on this configuration (49% larger luminance). It’s even a better luminance than the opposite 4th Gen WOLED panel we’ve examined lately (27″ 1440p 280Hz) within the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQWMG which reached 585 nits. This new 540Hz Gen 4 panel seems to be even brighter.

In case you’re working on the most brightness setting then the ABL dimming could also be distracting for workplace and desktop makes use of for most individuals, though will not be as problematic for dynamic content material like video games and multimedia. It’s possible you’ll wish to attempt utilizing this mode for SDR dynamic content material because it might attain larger luminance ranges than the uniform brightness mode and offer you a extra impactful picture.

Apparently for those who decrease the brightness setting you will get a extra constant luminance even with the UB mode turned ‘off’. At a calibrated 200 nits there may be some minor drop off for larger APL’s, however solely all the way down to round 192 nits minimal. At a calibrated 150 or 120 nits, the luminance stays constant whatever the APL and display screen content material which is sweet information. So in principle you may additionally go away UB off and use a decrease brightness setting, though there’s no actual advantage of doing that aside from it retains the ELMB and Low Blue Gentle mode choices accessible.

Uniform Brightness = ON

Uniform Brightness mode behaves precisely with the identical luminance being retained whatever the APL window measurement being examined and the content material being displayed, even at most brightness setting. The display screen can attain as much as 381 nits at most brightness setting on this UB mode which is superb, and surpasses the standard 260 – 270 nits we’ve seen from all previous-Gen OLED screens we’ve reviewed by a substantial manner. It’s a bit larger than the 360 nits we’d seen from the 27″ 1440p 280Hz Gen 4 panel as effectively.

Black depth and distinction	Uniform Brightness OFF	Uniform Brightness ON
Max luminance (nits)	632 nits	381 nits
Min Luminance (nits)	34 nits	34 nits
Uniform / No ABL	Some brightness settings
Stays uniform in Home windows desktop	Some brightness settings

On the lowest setting the display screen might attain all the way down to a low 34 nits when utilizing both mode, affording you good flexibility for darker room situations too.

Perceived brightness

We also needs to needless to say the perceived brightness of OLED screens is bigger than conventional LCD screens because of their larger distinction ratio, one thing we explored in our detailed article lately. We shouldn’t rely solely on luminance measurements to check between these completely different applied sciences and contemplate real-world brightness.

Primarily based on the rules defined in our article, this OLED monitor, with a most luminance of 381 nits (in UB mode) would have the identical approximate perceived brightness as a standard LCD that reaches ~630 nits luminance. That’s a extra helpful comparability for those who’re evaluating between OLED and LCD screens.

The ‘TrueBright’ certification tiers mentioned within the article are solely actually relevant to QD-OLED panels as this scheme was created by Samsung Show, so we are going to chorus from attaching a selected TrueBright brand or tier to this display screen, however the identical rules outlined in our article all maintain true on WOLED panels.

Default Setup (SDR)

The display screen comes out of the field within the ‘Racing’ preset mode, with the ‘vast gamut’ color house energetic and with ‘Uniform Brightness’ mode disabled. For these exams we disabled all OLED Care options and switched from the ability saving mode (which has restricted OSD choices) to the efficiency mode.

Gamma monitoring was fairly good total and we measured a 2.09 common, with gamma being a bit low which ends up in some slight lack of element. Shadow element was weak on this mode with the primary seen RGB shade being 6 in our testing. The color temp on the center graph was wonderful with an excellent steadiness or crimson, blue and inexperienced channels. This resulted in a very good greyscale accuracy of dE 1.8 common.

The display screen has a really vast color gamut which extends a major manner past the sRGB color house in crimson, inexperienced and blue shades. The over-coverage in blue/purple shades particularly is one thing we’ve not seen to this extent earlier than on earlier Gen OLED panels. You may see a comparability right here towards a third Gen WOLED and a typical QD-OLED panel too. The color gamut right here is similar as the opposite 27″ 280Hz 4th Gen WOLED panel we’ve examined lately.

There are vital enhancements to the color gamut protection in contrast with earlier third Gen WOLED panels as you may see. There’s extra protection in crimson and blue shades particularly which takes you from ~125% relative protection of sRGB to ~153%. That’s much more substantial than on QD-OLED panels (~139%), largely all the way down to that extension in blue and purple shades. Please take into accout we’re speaking about SDR 2D chromaticity, and color gamut, we’ll speak about HDR colors and color quantity in a while within the assessment.

Earlier WOLED generations matched the DCI-P3 reference house very intently, reaching round 97 – 98% absolute and relative protection. Additionally they reached round 73% of the Rec.2020 color house – most likely a greater reference to make use of for comparisons right here than utilizing DCI-P3 given it’s protection space. The brand new 4th Gen WOLED panels now covers 99.7% DCI-P3, or ~122% relative protection, and ~85% Rec.2020. So there’s fairly vital enhancements within the color gamut on these new panels. That is wider protection than QD-OLED panels by these 2D chromaticity measurements too (~111% relative DCI-P3 protection).

Extensive gamut issues and use-cases

On the one hand that is excellent news for individuals who merely want a extra vivid, saturated and vibrant picture and the distinction in contrast with earlier WOLED panels could be very obvious throughout regular makes use of. In case you’re a type of customers who simply likes vibrant photographs for multimedia and video games then this new panel gives you a pleasant enhance. Equally if you’re working with or viewing content material that’s mastered in Rec.2020 and also you want the widest protection of that reference as doable, then this new panel offers wider protection than the older panels.

Nevertheless if you’re desirous to have a extra correct picture for working with SDR/sRGB content material, frequent DCI-P3 content material for HDR, or maybe even Adobe RGB content material for pictures, you will want to have the ability to tame and clamp this very vast color gamut again to different color areas. The older WOLED panels had a local gamut that intently matched DCI-P3 and so even out of the field they generally offered fairly good accuracy for DCI-P3 content material. Right here, with extra over-coverage current we can be extra reliant on emulation modes and calibration if we wish to work with DCI-P3 content material. Equally for sRGB content material (used for SDR), we want to have the ability to reduce the even-wider-than-usual gamut to enhance accuracy. We’ll take a look at the offered choices for this shortly.

Color accuracy

With the very vast native vast color gamut energetic right here, the accuracy of sRGB colors was poor, with a dE 3.5 common measured. That is regular for a large gamut display screen and to be anticipated and we are going to look if we are able to enhance sRGB / SDR accuracy in a second.

The native color gamut of this panel extends a substantial manner past the DCI-P3 reference, particularly in blue/crimson/purple shades as you may see from the underside left CIE diagram, reaching ~122% relative protection. With that nearer match than to sRGB a minimum of, the accuracy of DCI-P3 colors out of the field was rated as average, with a dE 2.7 common however 8.8 most measured. It deviated essentially the most in blue shades the place the native panel gamut prolonged a substantial manner past the DCI-P3 reference house.

sRGB Emulation Modes

There are literally two methods to attain an sRGB emulation mode as we’ve seen on different current Asus OLED screens. There’s an ‘sRGB Cal’ preset mode out there within the ‘Recreation Visible’ menu the place almost all settings are locked down, or there’s additionally a color house setting that can be utilized from throughout the different presets, as an illustration the default ‘Racing’ mode which leaves all different settings accessible. We’ll take a look at each approaches.

sRGB Color Gamut choice (in Racing preset)

The Racing > sRGB color house mode supplied the identical gamma and greyscale efficiency because the native vast gamut mode; to be anticipated given we’ve solely modified the color house settings. It had improved just a few areas fairly properly although. Most evident was the clamping of the very vast native color house again near the sRGB reference, now measured at 94.7% absolute protection. This had gone a bit too far, leading to some small under-coverage however nothing vital or noticeable in follow. On account of this smaller energetic color house, the accuracy of sRGB colors was now good although, with dE 2.1 common measured.

sRGB Cal mode

The sRGB Cal mode within the ‘Recreation Visible’ menu offers another method for sRGB / SDR clamping. This mode is just about locked down relating to OSD menu controls, together with the entire ‘colour’ part of the menu being greyed out. You may nonetheless regulate brightness a minimum of, however we’re absolutely on the mercy of Asus’ manufacturing unit calibration right here for this mode.

This mode supplied an analogous gamma configuration that the opposite method, being a bit low once more at 2.09 common. We did nevertheless have an improved shadow element on this mode, with the primary seen greyscale shade being RGB 3 now. Color temp and white level have been a minor 1 – 2% heat and have been excellent.

We had principally the identical color house clamping and color accuracy on this devoted preset mode as within the Racing > sRGB gamut configuration. The opposite method provides significantly better flexibility in settings and controls and gives very comparable efficiency and color house clamping anyway. It’s most likely simpler to configure one of many different modes to make use of the sRGB color house if you wish to emulate that reference house for SDR content material.

DCI-P3 Emulation mode

This mode is probably going extra helpful than it has been on earlier WOLED screens for the reason that native gamut now extends a substantial manner past the DCI-P3 reference house, versus intently matching it. It’s accessible utilizing the color house setting within the OSD menu.

This mode is much like the native vast gamut mode by way of gamma, color temp and greyscale efficiency. Shadow element was a bit worse than the native mode, with the primary seen greyscale shade being RGB 7 now. This mode additionally clamps the native gamut again near DCI-P3, however once more goes barely too far like within the sRGB modes leaving us with some minor under-coverage. This does end in improved color accuracy for DCI-P3 colors which have been now good. This can be a first rate useable mode if you wish to extra intently match the DCI-P3 color house.

Adobe RGB clamping

Word that there’s no Adobe RGB emulation mode offered by Asus, so if you wish to work particularly with content material in that color house, similar to for skilled and pictures functions, you will want to have the ability to profile the display screen your self utilizing a calibration device. We’d prefer to see Asus add this as an extra choice within the menu on future screens. There isn’t fairly full protection of this color house out there from the panel although, solely reaching 95.9% absolute protection nevertheless it’s fairly shut.

Calibration

Calibration and profiling can produce some excellent total outcomes and might be helpful although for those who needed to function the display screen inside its native vast gamut mode, however then map the color house again to one thing else like sRGB or Adobe RGB as an illustration for colour-aware functions (e.g. Photoshop). You would want an acceptable calibration gadget and software program for this, or you may additionally attempt our calibrated ICC profile.

The display screen was profiled to 2.2 gamma, 6500K color temp and to the sRGB color house. The display screen was left in its native vast gamut mode, however this profile can be utilized in colour-aware functions to map again to sRGB on this occasion. Total the calibrated outcomes have been excellent as you’d hope.

• You’ll find our calibrated settings for SDR and ICC profile in our database now.

Normal and Workplace

The PG27AQWP-W is kind of effectively fitted to workplace work by way of specs, though warning as ever is suggested relating to utilizing an OLED panel for many static content material. The know-how carries an inherent threat of picture retention and burn-in, and so it’s a display screen extra suited to dynamic content material like gaming and video ideally. Longevity of OLED panels has been bettering through the years and generations, and with the wide selection of OLED Care options included from Asus and the 3-year burn-in cowl, that is much less of a priority than it was once. Within the advertising materials offered to us Asus additionally speak about a 60% longer life-span in contrast with earlier WOLED screens because of the brand new 4th Gen panel. That’s clearly very welcome too.

The panel does fairly effectively for some workplace use for those who want it to. The 2560 x 1440 decision is fairly normal on a display screen this measurement and whereas it gained’t present the identical sharpness and pixel density as a 4K decision (not but out there from 27″ WOLED panels, however out there from QD-OLED know-how) it ought to be completely comfy and effective for many customers. There’s no want for any OS scaling right here both or associated issues with help in several functions and use-cases.

Coating

We talked at size earlier in regards to the coating, and our recommendation can be to contemplate your ambient lighting situations and positioning earlier than deciding which coating is best for you. There’s little question that the brand new TrueBlack coating offers a brilliant sharp and clear picture, eradicating any minor grain we’ve seen from earlier shiny WOLED panels (just like the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG). That’s nice from a picture readability viewpoint.

Because it’s mixed right here with a 4th Gen WOLED panel, it additionally retains black depth the perfect out of all of the OLED monitor panel kind/coating mixtures we’ve examined, even in brighter room situations. The draw back is that reflections will be extra obvious and distracting, as there’s no anti-glare or anti-reflection coating on this display screen. That’s maybe extra of a problem for daytime workplace software utilization so be aware of the positioning of your exterior mild sources.

Sub-pixel Structure and Textual content Rendering

Beforehand their WOLED monitor panels had an uncommon RWBG sub-pixel construction, which incorporates not solely an added white sub-pixel (used to spice up brightness) however has the RGB out of their ordinary order. This results in pretty poor textual content readability on their panels, with fairly noticeable points in follow. It causes textual content to look much less clear and extra blocky which we commented on in our varied opinions of earlier WOLED-based screens. That features as an illustration Asus’s earlier 240Hz WOLED screens like the favored ROG Swift PG27AQDM and the sooner 27″ 240Hz shiny ROG Strix XG27AQDMG. They each had the older RWBG format.

LG.Show have now up to date the format on their new panels and this new 27″ Gen 4 panel used within the PG27AQWP-W has an up to date format, the place the RGB have been put again in the appropriate order, and the white sub-pixel has been moved in to a distinct place (third within the format) to offer RGWB.

All LG.Show panels that includes up to date RGWB sub-pixel format to this point:

• Gen 3 – 32″ 4K 240Hz panel
• Gen 3 – 45″ ultrawide 5K2K 165Hz panel
• Gen 3 – 27″ 1440p 480Hz panel
• Gen 4 – 27″ 1440p 280Hz panel
• Gen 4 – 27″ 1440p 540Hz panel

We’ll re-use some pictures that we took from the PG27AQDP once we examined it, which has the identical panel measurement, decision and pixel format as this new mannequin and so offers precisely the identical textual content readability.

We’re happy to report that textual content readability has been improved an inexpensive quantity on the newer panels, with the textual content wanting a bit sharper and clearer to the bare eye. We in contrast the brand new display screen aspect by aspect with an earlier 27″ WOLED monitor (with the outdated pixel format) and felt that the textual content was fairly properly improved right here. It seems to be a bit sharper and extra outlined and we’ve tried to seize this as finest we are able to with some magnified shut up pictures above. It’s not good as there’s nonetheless the added white sub-pixel, nevertheless it’s a bit clearer and sharper wanting.

Please take into accout the magnification on these pictures, however hopefully you may see the enhancements made right here. This makes the brand new 27″ Gen 4 WOLED panel extra suited to desktop, workplace and textual content utilization than earlier WOLED choices, apart from the opposite couple of 27″ WOLED panels talked about above that had these enhancements.

The identical new RGWB format has additionally been used on their 32″ panel (as used within the Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDP for instance) and evaluating these aspect by aspect confirmed some additional slight enhancements on the bigger panel because of the elevated pixel density it gives. Utilizing 125% and even 150% scaling ends in barely clearer textual content because of the elevated 140 PPI of that panel, in contrast with the 110 PPI of this 27″ mannequin. The textual content can be a bit smaller when utilizing 125% scaling than on the 27″ 1440p panel, much more so for those who have been to make use of 100% scaling on the 32″ and in order that has some affect on visible readability.

Display Brightness

	Brightness
Most brightness (SDR)	381 nits (UB mode)
Minimal brightness	34 nits
Uniform brightness behaviour out there
Flicker free

Because of the 4th Gen WOLED panel there’s a good enchancment in luminance for workplace and normal functions (SDR), with the display screen reaching as much as 381 nits with the uniform brightness setting enabled which is perfect for desktop and workplace work to keep away from any form of ABL dimming. That’s a very good step up from the ~270 nits most frequent on most OLED screens we’ve examined thus far. For these used to a brighter display screen, or involved that transferring from a vivid LCD to an OLED can be an issue, this provides you a really great addition in SDR brightness functionality.

Flicker-free efficiency

Flicker
Flicker free verified
PWM / flicker frequency	n/a

Helpful Workplace Options

As this mannequin is aimed toward avid gamers it doesn’t have as many options and connections as a few of their different ROG collection screens. There’s no USB-C connection, KVM swap or PiP/PbP modes sadly, so preserve that in thoughts for those who’re in want of any of these. If you wish to know extra about what all these productiveness options are, take a look at our article and information right here.

There are three USB knowledge ports and a headphone connection together with a flexible stand, together with a movement sensor which helps with OLED Care and avoiding picture retention.

Blue Gentle and Eye Care Modes

Blue mild output
Blue peak wavelength	451 nm
Blue mild portion	30.07%
Low blue mild modes out there
Low blue mild mode temp	6022K – 5665K

The native panel spectral distribution is proven above at a calibrated 6500K white level, the place the blue peak is at 451 nm. That’s a change with this new 4th Gen WOLED panel, because the blue spectral peak was beforehand at 455 – 456nm.

You may see the improved separation of the inexperienced and crimson spectrums on this new 4th Gen WOLED panel in contrast with an outdated third Gen panel. That is because of the separation of the crimson and inexperienced light-emitting layers within the 4-stack panel construction.

There’s a ‘Blue Gentle Filter’ setting within the menu with 4 ranges out there, however they’re solely accessible when you’ve Uniform Brightness disabled. These modes get barely hotter in look and we measured 6022K (stage 1), 5851K (stage 2), 5712K (stage 3) and 5665K (stage 4). The extent 4 setting additionally has a locked brightness capped at a setting of 35 (with UB off) and is significantly extra yellow in look than the opposite modes (155 nits max).

HDR

HDR {hardware} capabilities

Being an OLED panel, the PG27AQWP-W is effectively geared up to deal with HDR content material from a {hardware} viewpoint with its per-pixel stage dimming permitting for true blacks, a principally infinite distinction ratio and the avoidance of all blooming and halos. In these regards it could actually simply surpass any Mini LED backlit LCD monitor. Nevertheless, it can not attain the identical luminance ranges as Mini LED screens in brighter total scenes, and carries a “peak brightness” spec of 1500 nits, which is able to then additionally decrease because the content material in your display screen modifications and the APL will increase which is regular on this know-how. That is one key space the place Mini LED screens have the potential to look brighter and ship a extra impactful HDR expertise in some conditions.

The WOLED panel maintains higher distinction and black depth within the presence of ambient mild than different QD-OLED panels, which present raised blacks that begin to go gray as ambient mild will increase, particularly the place these mild sources are in entrance of the display screen.

The brand new ‘TrueBlack’ shiny coating additionally helps with black depth retention, because it doesn’t diffuse mild throughout the panel like a matte AG coating would. This new coating mixed with a 4th Gen WOLED panel provides you the deepest blacks doable from any OLED monitor panel/coating mixture, whilst ambient lighting will increase. We talked about this much more earlier within the assessment. You do have to be extra aware of mirror-like reflections with this coating, so preserve that in thoughts. HDR is finest loved in a darkened room anyway.

HDR Modes and Operation

There are 4 HDR modes out there throughout the OSD menu – Gaming, Cinema, Console and True Black 500. Most settings are locked by default, together with for brightness, distinction and the entire color menu. Asus do present an choice referred to as “adjustable HDR” which as soon as enabled lets you make changes in these different areas if you wish to make tweaks. That may turn into vital later when contemplating the brightness potential of this display screen.

Default HDR configurations

We first measured the PQ EOTF monitoring in every of the 4 modes which is proven above. You may see that the True Black 500 mode offers correct monitoring right here which is typical for these particular modes, designed to evolve to the VESA DisplayHDR certification and testing course of. The luminance was a bit decrease than meant in darker shades however this was minor.

The Console HDR mode was additionally very correct in these (initially restricted) exams and outcomes have been the identical because the HDR 500 mode, with the Gaming and Cinema HDR modes exhibiting some progressively extra drastic roll-off for mid-to-light gray shades, inflicting these shades to look a bit darker than meant, though additionally serving to to protect tonal values a bit. Earlier than we draw any conclusions right here although we have to speak about brightness…

As we’d seen lately once we examined the ROG Strix XG27AQWMG in all of those modes the height white luminance measurements have been the identical by default. It’s typical for the True Black 500 (TB500) mode to carry out to this luminance, however the different modes can be anticipated to supply larger peak luminance capabilities. Enabling the ‘adjustable brightness’ choice within the OSD menu permits us to verify that the TB500 mode is about to 90% brightness by default whereas the others are set to 70% by default, so there’s extra brightness room out there past the default config.

Most Brightness Setting HDR efficiency

What we’re on the lookout for right here is the brightest, most impactful HDR expertise with essentially the most correct efficiency we are able to get, so we examined the affect the brightness setting has on peak brightness functionality:

Peak brightness measurement at 1% APL in Gaming/Cinema/Console HDR mode

Brightness setting	Peak white luminance (nits)
70	665
80	869
90	1447
100	1801

As you push the brightness management as much as the max now you can attain even past the marketed 1500 peak brightness, up as excessive as 1801 nits in truth which could be very spectacular! That’s the very best we’ve seen from any OLED monitor thus far. We re-tested the white luminance at completely different APL with the brightness management on most for every mode.

The HDR Gaming, Cinema and Console modes all carry out very equally total in these eventualities. In comparison with the TB500 mode they present a barely larger luminance for all APL, larger by round 9% or so. Whenever you get to the darkest scenes under 10% APL these modes then attain so much larger than the TB500 mode, over double the luminance in truth for the smallest 1% APL exams. In follow and real-world content material vivid highlights in darker scenes are noticeably brighter and extra impactful.

If we examine the height white luminance measurements towards another Asus WOLED screens you may see that the PG27AQWP-W performs extraordinarily effectively. On common the white luminance is 42% larger on this new PG27AQWP-W mannequin than it was on the 480Hz PG27AQDP!

In aspect by aspect comparisons the PG27AQWP-W seems to be brighter than the PG27AQDP in real-world HDR content material for brightness, and also you get some brighter extra impactful highlights in darker scenes particularly. The colors additionally look extra vivid and brighter, because of the improved color gamut of the 4th Gen panel.

Bear in mind these are simply peak white luminance measurements, we have to contemplate different greyscale shades and EOTF efficiency to guage the HDR brightness extra totally and decide the optimum mode and settings. Boosting the brightness isn’t with out some potential trade-offs, because the OSD menu warns you. This will affect EOTF monitoring, so we went again to measure every mode once more however with brightness now at 100%:

Click on between every tab to see outcomes and evaluation for every of the HDR mode

The EOTF monitoring within the True Black 500 mode stays fairly correct with some minor over-brightening of mid to mild gray shades. The opposite 3 modes present a extra pronounced improve in brightness past the goal for mid gray shades and a few extra drastic over-brightening. The Gaming and Cinema modes present some roll-off for the tone mapping as effectively, so all of them behave barely otherwise to 1 one other. The marginally low luminance in darker gray shades that we’d seen within the default configurations was nonetheless current right here, nevertheless it’s minor total, though causes a bit lack of shadow element. The primary seen greyscale shade in HDR exams was RGB 6.

That is at an ordinary 10% APL take a look at, nevertheless it’s helpful to guage every mode extra totally at completely different APL:

EOTF Monitoring Comparability – most 100 brightness setting

Click on between every tab to see outcomes and evaluation for every of the HDR mode

The Gaming, Cinema and Console modes are all fairly comparable total, with some over-brightening of the EOTF in mid to mild gray shades at decrease APL (darker scenes). The Gaming mode reveals a bit extra roll off in brighter, larger APL scenes than the Console mode and so finally ends up a bit darker in some circumstances. The cinema mode reveals extra noticeable roll-off which impacts brightness additional and there’s additionally some extra darkening in darker shades too so that may crush some element. Console mode appears to supply the perfect steadiness and the brightest HDR expertise we felt.

The TB500 mode reveals essentially the most correct EOTF monitoring in darker scenes, avoiding any main over-brightening that we see within the different 3 modes, nevertheless it can not get anyplace close to the luminance of the opposite modes due to this. In brighter scenes, there may be some roll off to assist protect tonal values which is ok. This mode gives essentially the most correct EOTF monitoring and greyscale element, nevertheless it doesn’t get very vivid total.

Common Greyscale Luminance Comparability – most 100 brightness setting

One other good option to measure the general luminance is on the above graph. Right here we’ve got thought of an common of the measurements throughout the mid to mild gray shades between values 45 and 100, and you may see a visible illustration of which shades that covers with the gradient bar on the high which principally excludes the a lot darker shades from the calculation. Contemplating the luminance of those shades tells a extra full story of real-world brightness past simply easy white luminance measurements, and is beneficial for capturing events the place the EOTF monitoring causes issues, one thing quite common on QD-OLED screens with their Peak 1000 modes.

All 4 modes present very comparable real-world brightness in these exams for brighter, larger APL scenes. The Console mode finally ends up being a bit brighter than the others in darker, decrease APL scenes although whereas the TB500 mode falls behind for darker scenes the place the luminance is much extra restricted and highlights don’t attain almost as vivid as within the different modes.

We are able to additionally examine the typical greyscale luminance towards varied different WOLED screens you may see that the PG27AQWP-W holds the sting and is kind of near the Asus XG27AQWMG which additionally had a 4th Gen WOLED panel (at 280Hz). These screens are brighter than the sooner Gen 3 PG27AQDP (480Hz) mannequin, by round 28% common in greyscale luminance from these measurements. In aspect by aspect comparisons the PG27AQWP-W seems brighter, together with small highlights which appear to pop a bit extra.

Greyscale and color temp

We’ve already analysed the EOTF monitoring intimately within the earlier part, however we are able to additionally take a look at the greyscale color temp and white level right here. You may see that there’s a superb RGB steadiness on the center graph which ends up in an excellent color temp and white level, in addition to wonderful greyscale accuracy. In case you confer with the bars within the center for the ‘greyscale shade accuracy’ you may see a visible illustration of the place the over-brightening of the EOTF happens, impacting a few of these mid to mild gray shades a bit. This does differ relying on the scene (the APL), the over-brightening is simply actually obvious in darker, low APL scenes.

Color Accuracy and gamut

All 4 modes confirmed the identical color gamut and color accuracy in HDR so we’ve offered the outcomes from the Console HDR mode above which we’ve settled on as our most popular mode. Apparently in HDR the energetic color house is rather less than within the native SDR mode, reaching ~113% relative DCI-P3 protection versus ~122% we’d seen earlier in SDR. This appears to be as a way to take away a lot of the over-coverage in blues/purples from the Rec.2020 color house, and acts like a Rec.2020 clamp for HDR content material in order that’s a very good factor.

Color accuracy was additionally excellent total, with dE 1.2 common measured. Color gamut was wider than earlier WOLED screens such because the PG27AQDP (70.5% Rec.2020) and PG32UCDP (72% Rec.2020) which ends up in a extra vivid and vibrant picture. Facet by aspect comparisons in real-world HDR content material confirmed a barely extra vibrant picture which was welcome though color quantity begins to return in to play right here, so we are able to’t depend on solely the essential 2D chromaticity measurements to contemplate HDR colors.

Color Brightness

We’ve already measured the height white luminance of the display screen above, after which delved in to the luminance of the greyscale which has a direct affect on mid tones and total picture brightness throughout actual use. We’ve got additionally included our extra exams under based mostly on our new testing methodology defined in our detailed article right here. These exams are designed to incorporate measurements of color brightness, based mostly on measurements of RGBCMY colors. For colors, the greyscale measurements earlier may also be related to account for all these mid-tones and completely different shades of colors.

As a quick clarification about these measurements this part contains:

1. A scale and rating based mostly on perceived ‘brightness’ of the show as a substitute of a uncooked ‘luminance’ measurement. This makes use of the XCR mannequin developed by Samsung Show and accounts for each the luminance of the colors but in addition the colourfulness which is impacted by the color gamut. XCR and its significance is defined in much more element in our article.
2. The scores are actually instantly associated to how you’ll understand and really feel the brightness of the show. The place a rating is twice as excessive as one other rating, it means it ought to seem roughly twice as vivid. You may’t deal with luminance measurements in the identical manner as our article explains.
3. We’ll embrace measurements and brightness scores for colors, not only for white. Extra vital for real-world HDR expertise and content material.
4. Analysis of the efficiency and brightness of those colors because the APL modifications, together with for “peak brightness” capabilities on the smallest APL. This reveals the place colors stay vivid in addition to simply white measurements, or the place you may generally get washout points, or colors which can not attain as vivid as you may anticipate.
5. Comparisons between completely different shows and panel applied sciences the place relevant

One limitation with WOLED panels for HDR is that the luminance of colors reaches a restrict and the panel can solely get brighter total by utilizing the extra white sub-pixel. That is notably evident at smaller APL the place the color brightness reaches its restrict however peak white luminance can attain a lot larger. The usage of the “white enhance” for decrease APL scenes causes some color washout relative to QD-OLED panels which may attain their peak brightness utilizing an RGB additive method, and don’t function a white enhance sub-pixel. Actual-world scene brightness as a complete is nevertheless extra impacted by the sooner measurements for greyscale luminance so total the QD-OLED fashions find yourself wanting darker in follow both manner.

That is very comparable what we’d seen prior to now from different WOLED panels. Evaluating it to another Asus WOLED screens the brand new PG27AQWP-W is perceptually as much as round 13% brighter for colors than the 27″ 480Hz PG27AQDP and 32″ 4K PG32UCDP fashions. That is partly because of the upper luminance functionality of the panel, and partly because of the improved color gamut, with color saturation having an affect on perceived brightness too. In follow the display screen does look a bit extra vibrant and vivid as effectively.

You may see by comparability {that a} QD-OLED panel (the 27″ 1440p, 360Hz, MSI MPG 271QRX getting used right here for instance) can keep excessive color brightness even on the smaller APLs under 10%, these being darker total scenes. In case you contemplate the direct comparability graph the MSI, which represents a typical fashionable QD-OLED panel, is definitely fairly a bit darker by round 10% for colors in lots of scenes, together with larger APL brighter scenes, however most notably it reaches as much as 11% brighter for the smaller APL (highlights in darkish scenes) the place the strains on the graph separate. In follow in darker low APL scenes, colors seem extra vivid and saturated on a QD-OLED panel in some conditions, however the hole is narrowing with these newest Gen 4 WOLED panels.

Gaming

The PG27AQWP-W could be very a lot aimed toward aggressive and esports gaming, or for these on the lookout for the newest and biggest specs and refresh price for his or her final gaming setup. It’s utilizing an OLED panel which is well-known for its near-instant response occasions and wonderful movement readability capabilities at excessive refresh charges, together with its wonderful image high quality, distinction and HDR capabilities. We’ll talk about use circumstances and whether or not you ought to contemplate this top-tier refresh price monitor a bit later, however let’s check out the efficiency and knowledge first.

Refresh Fee

(at native decision)	Refresh Fee
Most Refresh Fee DisplayPort	540Hz @ 1440p 720Hz @ 720p
Most Refresh Fee USB type-C
Most Refresh Fee HDMI	540Hz @ 1440p 720Hz @ 720p
VRR vary	48 – 540Hz at 1440p 48 – 720Hz at 720p
ClearMR certification tier

The display screen has a local 540Hz refresh price which is supported by adaptive-sync for Variable Refresh Charges (VRR) from appropriate techniques. On the time of testing, certifications underneath the NVIDIA ‘G-sync Suitable’ scheme remains to be pending, nevertheless it has already handed the AMD ‘FreeSync Premium Professional’ certification scheme. There may be additionally help on this display screen for a dual-mode perform which lets you push your refresh price up even additional to an enormous 720Hz! Nevertheless, the sacrifice is that it’s a must to drop to a a lot decrease 1280 x 720 (HD) decision to succeed in that. We’ll discover dual-mode in additional element shortly.

Gaming Options

There’s a variety of gaming extras out there on this display screen as effectively together with an ELMB (Excessive Low Movement Blur) mode which gives a BFI (Black Body Insertion) perform. There’s a large vary of additional settings and modes within the menu as listed above, all of the acquainted ROG modes and settings can be found.

There’s additionally varied side ratio management modes together with choices to simulate a smaller 24.5″ sized display screen which runs at 2368 x 1332 natively for 1:1 pixel mapping on a smaller display screen measurement. There’s additionally a ‘per pixel’ mode which handles non-native resolutions and side ratios fairly properly. As an illustration for those who needed to run at a decrease 1920 x 1080 decision, that may provide the equal display screen measurement of ~19.88″. The sq. modes are additionally helpful for non-16:9 gaming conditions for those who want them.

We did discover that just a few of the 1:1 pixel mapping modes didn’t work correctly in our testing. As an illustration in regular mode operation one thing like 1280 x 960 labored effective with 1:1 mapping, however 1280 x 720 ended up being stretched to the identical display screen space as 1080p works at. After checking this with Asus we have been advised this is because of how Home windows generally handles show timing preferences. In sure eventualities, the working system might override the monitor’s meant pixel-by-pixel scaling it appears however customers can usually resolve this by disabling show sign simulation inside their AMD or NVIDIA graphics card management panel. We anticipate this situation to be fairly uncommon anyway as 1280 x 720 at 1:1 mapping would depart you with a really small seen display screen space. In dual-mode operation all the pieces appears to behave as meant aside from the 1:1 pixel mapping mode for 1280 x 720, that finally ends up being stretched to full display screen as a substitute, for a similar causes as within the regular mode.

Twin-mode / Body Fee Increase

Regular mode = 2560 x 1440 (1440p) @ 540Hz
Twin-mode = 1280 x 720 (720p / HD) @ 720Hz

Like another current WOLED panels, this new 540Hz panel offers a dual-mode perform, a function which Asus name “Body Fee Increase”. This lets you select whether or not you wish to push for much more velocity and better body charges past the super-high 540Hz refresh price the display screen helps natively. The twin-mode perform helps a 1280 x 720 decision at 720Hz on this mannequin.

Word that you will notice this generally referred to by the panel producer LG.Show as “HD”, which is technically right however has brought about numerous early confusion already. Individuals hear “HD” and assume this to imply 1920 x 1080 (1080p), however really that decision is known as “FHD” (Full HD). 1280 x 720 is definitely “HD”, from the times of getting “HD prepared” TV’s and all that confusion on the time. This has additionally not been helped by some retailers being given conflicting info from LG.Show in regards to the panel early on. Anyway, it’s 1280 x 720 (or 720p for those who’d relatively) at as much as 720Hz on this panel and this Asus monitor. Another resolutions additionally help 720Hz as listed under (default native help, no customized resolutions):

Resolutions supporting 720Hz:

• 1280 x 720
• 1176 x 664
• 1024 x 768 (when side ratio setting = sq.)
• 960 x 720 (when side ratio setting = sq.)
• 800 x 600

Use circumstances and eventualities

Who may need this perform? 540Hz is clearly already amazingly quick and for those who can run the display screen at its native 1440p decision and get anyplace close to 540fps body charges, that’s going to be an incredible gaming expertise. On another screens the dual-mode perform is usually out there on screens with a extra modest or mid-tier native refresh price, due to this fact giving entry to a better, top-tier refresh price so you may select between the 2 modes. As an illustration the 32″ 4K fashions with a mid-tier 240Hz native can provide 480Hz in dual-mode which is a good enhance in efficiency. We’re not saying 240Hz is “sluggish”, it’s simply the dual-mode perform gives a really massive improve to 480Hz. Right here the native refresh price is already extraordinarily excessive, the very best out there in truth, and so chasing 720Hz might be pointless for most individuals.

This mode most likely exists for 2 causes. Firstly, for advertising functions, as LG.Show and the monitor producers can all promote the “World’s quickest refresh price of 720Hz” now. Chasing numbers and specs is at all times a advertising tactic on this section. Secondly (and possibly much less cynically) it would match a few area of interest gaming eventualities:

1) In case you’re chasing the very best doable refresh price and body price – maybe for those who’re an expert or aggressive gamer, there could also be some small incremental advantages in pushing for even larger body charges. Whether or not that’s enhancements in movement readability, a discount of the stroboscopic impact, reductions to system latency or elevated body charges total. For some avid gamers, this may make the distinction in aggressive conditions, and so there’s extra refresh price room on this monitor than ever earlier than.

The advantages over 540fps are going to be very small for most individuals although, though they’re measurable and detectable in the appropriate conditions which we are going to exhibit in a second. In case your system is struggling to energy 1440p @ 540Hz yet one more frequent method can be to drop to one thing like a 1080p decision and chase 540fps that manner. In case you’re hitting 540fps and wish to chase even larger body price help then dropping to 720p could also be another choice and that’s if you open up the vary to 720Hz. You’ll want a strong sufficient system to handle it, and video games that help these form of body charges as effectively. Some avid gamers could also be on the lookout for that additional refresh price capabilitiy.

2) You’re gaming at a decrease decision anyway – for those who’re taking part in an older recreation title, or one thing that’s extra generally performed at a low decision anyway then why not open up that additional room for larger body charges? It’s higher than being restricted to “solely” the 540Hz refresh price, you’ve obtained a boosted room to play with there for those who can attain it. Maybe you’re taking part in an older recreation at 1280 x 720, or a “squarer” side ratio like 1024 x 768. If you’re, then this display screen will give you refresh price house past the native refresh price which is likely to be useful.

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Activation and efficiency

Body-rate enhance mode is activated shortly and simply through a single pressable shortcut button on the again of the monitor, or through the OSD menu. As soon as activated you may proceed to make use of VRR, however not it appears ELMB mode (explored extra later).

The drop to a 720p decision is drastic and that’s a really low decision to be working on a 27″ display screen measurement, or any fashionable monitor actually. Readability and picture element is clearly misplaced in contrast with the native 1440p decision, that ought to go with out saying. Textual content is far bigger and the picture is total much less detailed and fewer clear. We predict this mode is more likely to be very area of interest to be sincere, the drop in decision is simply too drastic for most individuals to contemplate. A 4K display screen dropping to 1080p for a boosted refresh price is tolerable to extra folks, and we all know there’s avid gamers on the market who discover the function helpful. On a 1440p display screen like this, dropping to 720p simply feels an excessive amount of, it’s a super-low decision that may solely be helpful in a few restricted eventualities that we’ve simply talked about. In case you fall in to both of these eventualities, perhaps this can be a pleasant and helpful function, in any other case we predict most individuals will simply benefit from the wonderful 1440p 540Hz efficiency of this display screen and go away dual-mode alone.

Scaling

We confirmed that when utilizing dual-mode, the display screen does not function with pixel-perfect integer scaling. That appears to be one thing persons are involved in with these dual-mode screens, or usually when taking part in with a decrease decision. With the 1280 x 720 decision becoming completely in to 2560 x 1440 with a 4:1 ratio, it ought to be doable to scale 1 picture pixel precisely to 4 pixels on the display screen. In follow the dual-mode could be very near integer scaling, however not good. This isn’t essentially a foul factor although.

We in contrast the textual content readability in dual-mode operation with pixel good integer scaling, when setting the display screen to 720p in regular operation and utilizing the integer scaling choice in NVIDIA management panel. You may see some pictures above capturing as finest we are able to the textual content readability in every mode. In regular mode with integer scaling energetic in NVIDIA management panel, the strains and textual content have been a bit sharper and clearer, however typically seemed jagged to be sincere as a result of it’s such a low decision on a display screen this measurement. In distinction, the dual-mode configuration doesn’t fairly have precise integer scaling, however due to this fact results in a barely softer look to the picture. Textual content, strains and sharp edges are much less jagged and smoothed a bit. It’s actually not horrible to not have pixel good integer scaling right here in our opinion, and will arguably be thought of preferrable for a much less jagged picture and textual content.

Response Instances

As mentioned in our detailed article about Response Time Testing – Pitfalls, Enhancements and Updating Our Methodology we’re utilizing an improved and extra correct technique for capturing G2G response occasions and overshoot, based mostly on figures which might be extra reflective to what you see visually on the display screen in real-World utilization. Our article linked above talks via why that is higher and the way we arrived at this improved technique in rather more element.

The above G2G response occasions are constant in any respect refresh charges, together with 720Hz, 540Hz, 120Hz and 60Hz and through VRR conditions with altering body charges. Because of the OLED panel the response occasions are super-fast and near-instant, with a median of solely 0.44ms G2G measured. All transitions can sustain simply with the body price calls for of even 720Hz, and there was additionally no seen overshoot evident which is nice information too, so total there was good and clear pixel transition occasions.

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Movement Readability

We captured some pursuit digital camera pictures of the display screen at it’s native 540Hz refresh price and in contrast it towards different fashionable OLED panels with decrease and better refresh charges supported. These pictures are designed to seize real-world perceived movement readability and provides you a very good indication of how the display screen seems to be in actual use, past G2G response time measurements as you monitor transferring objects throughout the display screen.

There are good enhancements in movement readability as you progress up above the frequent 240Hz refresh price OLED screens, that are already excellent on this space. We’ve seen loads of 480Hz OLED-capable OLED screens already and the enhancements that 540Hz can provide past these are small. There’s some minor visible variations in these particular exams, however solely very aggressive avid gamers are more likely to discover any distinction at these form of tremendous excessive refresh charges in real-world conditions. Past one thing like 360Hz it’s the finer and smaller particulars that turn into clearer and sharper with larger refresh charges, and we’ll examine these a bit extra in a second.

First let’s add within the outcomes from the 720Hz dual-mode operation:

You may see additional enhancements in movement readability and sharpness when utilizing the 720Hz refresh price mode. That is fairly an enormous soar up in Hz from 540Hz, so it’s extra noticeable. You do in fact lose picture element, decision and readability when transferring to such a low decision, however there’s no denying the movement readability is phenomenal.

As we mentioned, it’s smaller transferring particulars that have a tendency to learn most from the will increase in refresh price, and we’ve added in some scrolling textual content to the UFO exams above to seize that. The transferring textual content turns into a lot clearer and simpler to learn by the point you attain 540Hz, and much more so at 720Hz which was really spectacular. We stay up for future screens with a local refresh price in this type of vary, while not having to sacrifice decision to get there! That might be actually wonderful.

Stroboscopic Impact

In addition to bettering movement readability a better refresh price may assist scale back (however not absolutely get rid of) the stroboscopic impact (aka the Phantom Array Impact) that may be seen as you concentrate on a single space of the show, and objects transfer previous your line of sight. As an illustration this may occur if you’re targeted on a crosshair or goal in a quick FPS recreation like CS:GO, whereas the surroundings round you scrolls previous your line of sight. Within the instance above we’ve used the mouse cursor animation which you’ll attempt for your self from Blurbusters right here. Taking a hard and fast place picture captures how this seems to the bare eye, as proven above the place the take a look at simulates a variety of refresh charges proper as much as the utmost 720Hz dual-mode.

Because the mouse cursor (or any transferring picture in dynamic content material) transfer previous your line of sight, low refresh charges can lead to noticeable “stepping” or “strobing” of the picture. That is one motive why larger refresh charges really feel extra fluid and clean. Because the refresh price will increase, the step distance reduces as you may see from the picture above that we captured from this display screen. The step distance is halved as you go from 360Hz to 720Hz in truth which considerably reduces its visibility.

Not everyone seems to be vulnerable to this stroboscopic impact in dynamic content material, however those that are will see profit within the elevated refresh price right here, with first rate and noticeable positive aspects in contrast with conventional and customary 240Hz OLED screens at 540Hz, or much more so for those who use dual-mode 720Hz. So not solely are you getting movement readability advantages from the upper refresh price, however you’re additionally getting advantages relating to this stepping, stroboscopic impact which impacts some customers. Extra on the stroboscopic impact right here on Blurbusters.com.

ELMB / BFI Mode

Like different current Asus OLED screens, the PG27AQWP-W has an added BFI (Black Body Insertion) mode for blur discount. Asus name this ELMB (Excessive Low Movement Blur) and it’s the choice to a strobing movement blur discount backlight you may discover on some LCD screens. Reasonably than the backlight being strobed on and off quickly (as a result of there isn’t any backlight on an OLED panel), a black body is inserted periodically in to the picture as a substitute. With the panel producers not providing native panel help for this function Asus have launched a scaler based mostly BFI perform on a number of of their new OLED screens, together with this mannequin.

ELMB activation and operation

ELMB is on the market when utilizing a fastened 270Hz refresh price. That’s as a result of the panel nonetheless operates at it’s native 540Hz behind the scenes, however a black body is inserted for half of the frames, providing you with 270Hz. In dual-mode you sadly can not run ELMB at 360Hz which might have been half the 720Hz refresh price. Truly there aren’t any refresh charges in dual-mode that may enable ELMB to be turned on, because it’s lacking a 270Hz mode within the EDID. In case you create a customized decision for 1280 x 720 @ 270Hz, you may then allow ELMB from inside twin mode, however there’s no actual level. You’d be higher off utilizing it from the native mode, when set at 270Hz. In regular mode you too can use ELMB when set at 120Hz, which might be helpful for video games consoles probably. It’s not out there at 60Hz although because of excessive flickering.

Different limitations round utilization embrace:

• There’s no help for the time being to make use of BFI at another refresh charges together with 60Hz as an illustration
• It can’t be used similtaneously variable refresh price, just for a hard and fast 270Hz or 120Hz enter
• It could actually additionally solely be utilized in SDR mode, not in HDR.
• Uniform Brightness mode isn’t out there if you allow ELMB. We confirmed that the display screen reveals ABL dimming when utilizing this mode, relying on the content material / APL proven. The brightness can attain as much as ~320 nits most on this mode with brightness set at 100% and for smaller APL, however drops all the way down to ~193 nits for larger APL. For dynamic content material the place you’d be utilizing this function, it’s completely effective although.
• Many different settings similar to blue mild modes are additionally unavailable.

Working ELMB is a bit cumbersome nonetheless

We’ve mentioned this in earlier opinions and this is applicable to all present implementations of BFI on OLED screens actually. The actual fact ELMB is simply out there at a few fastened refresh price does make it a little bit of a ache to make use of in follow, as for those who have been gaming or utilizing the display screen usually at 540Hz as an illustration, perhaps utilizing VRR too, for those who resolve you wish to use ELMB as a substitute it’s a must to manually change your graphics card refresh price to 270Hz first, then disable VRR, and solely then are you able to activate ELMB. Then if you wish to return again to 540Hz or VRR it’s a must to reverse these steps. This makes it fairly inconvenient to get to. It might be good for those who might simply allow ELMB at any time when from the OSD menu and that then moved you to the right mode and disabled something like VRR that can not be used on the similar time.

Little question there are numerous limitations with how that is applied on the scaler aspect for the time being, however sooner or later we’d prefer to see some easier controls and activation steps for this function. In the intervening time it nonetheless feels a bit restricted within the person expertise, despite the fact that this function has been round for some time now on Asus OLED screens. Some enhancements to its activation can be welcome.

ELMB Efficiency

With ELMB enabled, the brightness management is on the market all the way in which as much as 100, which is sweet information. On this display screen the luminance will be adjusted as much as 320 nits which is brighter than we’d seen on many earlier Asus OLED screens. As an illustration the 32″ 4K PG32UCDM had reached solely 96 nits, the 27″ 480Hz PG27AQDP reached 221 nits, and the 27″ 4K PG27UCDM reached 134 nits. The opposite current 4th Gen WOLED monitor we examined, the XG27AQWMG reached 294 nits, so it’s even brighter on this new 540Hz 4th Gen WOLED panel.

Total which means the ELMB mode is superb in brightness, because of the 4th Gen WOLED panel once more. Fortunately not like some screens with this function, the brightness setting is remembered independently from the off state, so that you don’t want to fret about altering that every time you wish to flip it on or off.

Given the 50:50 responsibility cycle of the BFI perform, the movement readability on the most 270Hz is similar as the traditional 540Hz mode, so we are able to confer with the movement readability pictures above once more to contemplate how that may look in follow. This readability is similar throughout all the display screen because of the super-fast response occasions of the OLED panel, you don’t want to fret about which space of the display screen is the cleanest and clearest, such as you do on an LCD display screen with a strobing blur discount backlight.

Movement Readability Equivalence
270Hz ELMB = 540Hz common

Utilizing ELMB mode

This mode will help enhance perceived movement readability at 270Hz (or 120Hz) very properly, and so this might be helpful for those who can solely energy as much as round 270 fps out of your system, or for those who’re utilizing a tool which solely helps a decrease most similar to a 120Hz-capable fashionable video games console. You can recreation on the decrease refresh price and use ELMB in to bump your movement readability as much as the equal of one thing a lot larger. For PC gaming it provides you an excellent a shortcut if you’ll to reaching 540Hz-like movement readability for those who can solely energy as much as 270Hz. Additionally for those who’re taking part in a recreation that doesn’t even help the upper refresh charges, then this can be a good option to give your self a movement readability bump.

On these new top-end gaming OLED shows ELMB / BFI might be a extremely helpful stop-gap for bettering movement readability whereas your different system parts and graphics playing cards catch up, and when you could also be ready to have the ability to actually energy 1440p at 540Hz, which goes to be an enormous problem for even the perfect techniques. Be mindful you do must make some sacrifices in different areas just like the lack of VRR, potential flickering / eye pressure from the black frames being inserted, and it’s a bit fiddly to activate and off. However for individuals who need a good enhance in movement efficiency and sharpness it’s a really helpful choice.

In case your system is extra highly effective, you will get the identical movement readability for those who follow 540Hz and may attain as much as 540fps. That’s together with the improved latency and body charges that working that prime will provide. You can even then use VRR and different settings, so for those who can energy the display screen at that stage you’ll most likely wish to try to simply use the display screen in regular mode as a substitute the place doable. Had this BFI mode additionally been out there on the full 540Hz, it might have supplied one other huge step up in movement readability, reaching 1,080Hz-like ranges. Sadly it’s solely doable at half the native refresh price for the time being.

VRR Flicker

All OLED screens can present flicker and gamma fluctuations in VRR conditions and that is one thing we studied and examined intimately in our article right here. Asus have included their OLED Anti-flicker function on this display screen to offer you a mode that may hopefully assist scale back flicker, do you have to expertise any in your utilization. Keep in mind that simply because a display screen can present flicker, doesn’t imply you’ll essentially expertise it throughout your utilization and out of your system. Please see our detailed article for masses extra details about this difficulty on OLED screens.

Asus have simplified the choices for this on the PG27AQWP-W with a easy on/off swap within the menu. The display screen switches to black for a few seconds if you change this setting.

Anti-flicker = Off

With the anti-flicker modes turned off we noticed an energetic VRR vary of 48 – 540Hz, or 48 – 720Hz in dual-mode. Like different WOLED know-how panels we examined in our detailed research, the gamma response is instantly tied to the body price throughout VRR conditions. As an illustration at RGB 10 this will get progressively brighter as much as RGB 16 because the body price drops from 540fps to 48fps. This solely applies when utilizing VRR we must always reiterate.

In consequence it’s massive swings in body price that trigger essentially the most potential flicker and gamma shift. The trick with this panel can be to maintain body charges as constant as doable, at no matter stage you may obtain, to scale back the chance of flicker. Keep in mind that this knowledge represents the utmost potential flicker, and it might be much less with extra regular body charges. We noticed essentially the most noticeable flicker in darker scenes and content material the place it reaches excessive ranges, with principally none seen in lighter content material which was good. Within the dual-mode operation as a result of the VRR vary is even wider, you get much more gamma shift and due to this fact much more potential flicker. To reiterate, for those who can preserve body charges extra constant then this flicker can be lowered considerably.

Anti-flicker = On

The anti-flicker modes prohibit the VRR vary in an effort to scale back the gamma shift that may happen with massive body price swings. In native operation we seen that the refresh price most was now restricted to 500Hz, as a substitute of the total 540Hz. This appears to be a short lived bug, and Asus have advised us this can be addressed through a firmware replace, permitting this perform for use as much as 540Hz max. Throughout our testing the anti-flicker setting was out there in dual-mode, however Asus inform us this can be disabled in dual-mode operation in that later firmware. We’ll go away the outcomes right here for curiosity, and hopefully re-check these at a later date when the brand new FW is on the market.

The anti-flicker setting caps the VRR vary to a shorter 255 – 500Hz vary with LFC used under that, other than a really small “useless zone” the place it’s disabled altogether. In dual-mode operation you get a VRR vary from 255 – 720Hz and LFC under that.

In native mode it has an inexpensive affect on the potential flicker in darker scenes however there’s nonetheless a major VRR vary from 500 – 255Hz the place the gamma will shift because the body price drops. It’s a large VRR vary in any case given the very excessive refresh price of the panel, and so a variety during which gamma might fluctuate in principle. Much more so within the dual-mode the place VRR vary has been restricted a bit, however remains to be a really vast 255 – 720Hz vary. There’s much less discount in potential most flicker in that mode in consequence. On the LFC boundary and under you too can get some extra noticeable flicker and jumps in gamma because the body price is multiplied to completely different values and their corresponding gamma stage. Once more please take into accout that is the potential most flicker, and in actual utilization it ought to be a lot much less for those who can preserve body charges constant.

Lag

Learn our detailed article about enter lag and the assorted measurement methods that are used to guage this side of a show. The screens examined are break up into two measurements that are based mostly on our total show lag exams and half the typical G2G response time, as measured by our oscilloscope. The response time factor, a part of the lag you may see, is break up from the general show lag and proven on the graph because the inexperienced bar. From there, the sign processing (crimson bar) will be offered as a very good estimation of the lag you’ll really feel from the show. We additionally classify every show as follows:

Lag Classification (up to date)

• Class 1) Lower than 4.17ms – the equal to 1 body lag of a show at 240Hz refresh price – ought to be effective for avid gamers, even at excessive ranges
• Class 2) A lag of 4.17 – 8.33ms – the equal of 1 to 2 frames at a 240Hz refresh price – average lag however ought to be effective for a lot of avid gamers. Warning suggested for critical gaming
• Class 3) A lag of greater than 8.33ms – the equal of greater than 2 frames at a refresh price of 240Hz, or 1 body at 120Hz – Some noticeable lag in every day utilization, not appropriate for top finish gaming

There may be an especially low lag on the PG27AQWP-W at native refresh price, measured at 0.143 ms complete show lag, and leaving us with solely 0.038 ms of estimated sign processing lag (rounded to 0.04ms on the graph). That is completely effective for aggressive gaming and principally zero. In dual-mode operation the lag was precisely the identical.

There was barely larger enter lag for fastened 60Hz enter indicators at 2ms, however that is nonetheless very low and is simply relevant for fastened 60Hz enter sources anyway. It’s the decrease 540Hz quantity that applies in VRR conditions, even when your body price drops.

Gaming Shadow Element

Preset mode	Shadow Element Ranking and first seen greyscale shade
Default Racing and RTS/RPG modes	Weak (RGB 6)
FPS mode	Good (RGB 3)
sRGB Cal mode	Good (RGB 3)
Calibrated (with ICC profile energetic)	Excellent (RGB 2)
HDR mode	Weak (RGB 6)

In a brand new part urged by our viewers, we needed to hone in on the shadow element outcomes a bit extra since that is an space that may affect darker recreation titles, and is vital to many avid gamers. The native panel efficiency was weak within the Racing preset mode no matter which color house you chose, with the primary seen greyscale shade being RGB 6. By way of calibration and profiling this may be improved so much although, however you’d be reliant on the profile being recognised and retained by your recreation which is uncommon.

The RTS/RPG mode is similar for shadow element though that’s set to a 2.6 gamma and has completely different colors too. The FPS mode improves shadow element however is configured to 2.0 gamma and has very saturated and vivid colors. The sRGB Cal mode improves issues a bit (RGB 3), however that’s clamped to the smaller sRGB color house on a regular basis and is fairly rigid in settings.

Most avid gamers will most likely wish to follow the total gamut native customized mode for essentially the most vibrant picture, and Asus present a ‘Shadow Increase’ setting within the menu for tweaking issues. This largely impacts mid gray shades although, not bettering the near-black element that a lot. You get slight enhancements for those who transfer to Degree 1 (RGB 5 now seen) and Degree 2/3 (RGB 4). The ‘dynamic shadow enhance’ mode brings out RGB 2 nearly, however raises the brightness of lighter gray shades much more so it’s pretty drastic. You may experiment with this setting a bit in your gaming to see if it helps carry out a few of the element in darkish video games. In HDR you don’t have entry to the black stabilizer settings, and shadow element was nonetheless weak (RGB 6) sadly.

Console Gaming

The display screen has a local 2560 x 1440 decision (1440p) panel, however can settle for a “digital 4K” enter sign, permitting for vast help of contemporary video games consoles. Importantly this enables for HDR help from an Xbox Collection X which may solely run in HDR mode at 4K.

We confirmed through an Xbox Collection X that 4K 120Hz works effective together with HDR10 help and options like VRR and ALLM. In contrast to a few of Asus’s different OLED screens there isn’t any help for Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR content material on this display screen right now. You should utilize the ELMB perform at 120Hz which is probably helpful for reinforcing movement readability in gaming to 240Hz-like ranges.

Word that there aren’t any built-in audio system on this mannequin not like some competing screens, and so that you’ll want to attach headphones or some form of exterior soundbar/speaker system when utilizing a console. That’s one potential hole for the PG27AQWP-W for those who’re seeking to play console video games or join different exterior gadgets however that’s one of many few issues it’s lacking.

Is that this 540Hz OLED monitor value it?

The PG27AQWP-W gives the very best refresh price out there from any OLED monitor to this point. At its native 1440p (2560 x 1440) decision the display screen can run at a large 540Hz, which is a step above the earlier top-end WOLED panels which reached 480Hz (e.g. Asus PG27AQDP), and a step above the quickest at present out there QD-OLED panels which attain 500Hz. Asus have a 500Hz QD-OLED monitor which launched this 12 months too.

You is likely to be asking your self whether or not 540Hz is worth it? Is that this simply chasing refresh price numbers for the sake of it? Will you actually discover a distinction over these different top-end refresh price OLED screens? Are you able to even profit from this larger refresh price virtually anyway? Will you even discover a distinction over frequent ~240Hz refresh price OLED screens?

Be mindful your system necessities

One vital factor to bear in mind is whether or not your system may even energy as much as 540 fps correctly, and whether or not the video games you play can help these body charges. In case your system can not energy the body charges then you definitely gained’t see the advantage of the very excessive 540Hz refresh price anyway. In case you’re solely outputting 240 fps (and let’s assume you’ve VRR enabled) then the display screen goes to function at 240Hz and so will look equivalent in movement readability and gaming efficiency to an ordinary 240Hz 27″ WOLED display screen.

It ought to be apparent that you just’re going to want a very highly effective system to succeed in as much as 1440p @ 540 fps, and so reaching these form of frames charges can be out of the attain of many customers proper now. However this type of top-end refresh price monitor is absolutely aimed toward very aggressive and esports avid gamers who’ve the newest and biggest {hardware} and are pushing body charges exhausting, probably permitting them to succeed in these form of ranges. For them, the small variations in movement readability, body price help and system latency that this head-room gives might make a distinction in aggressive conditions. We also needs to do not forget that there are some aggressive avid gamers who play a lot older titles, with decrease settings and graphical particulars, the place 540 fps may turn into extra achievable. They could even be taking part in at a decrease decision like 1080p, 720p and even some 4:3 side ratio resolutions, and that may make reaching 540 (and even 720Hz through dual-mode) so much simpler too.

Future proof room and the target market

Even for those who can’t attain these form of body charges now, then needless to say this display screen will present plenty of future-proof headroom for you as different system parts enhance over time. Even for those who might solely energy 1440p @ 240 fps as an illustration now, you’ll have room to develop into if you replace your graphics card and PC in a while. As you improve your body charges and system efficiency over time, there are enhancements available in gaming efficiency and expertise as we mentioned earlier.

So, we predict the first use case for this type of display screen can be for aggressive and esports avid gamers. It’s truthful to say that purely from a gaming viewpoint this display screen is aimed toward a distinct segment viewers, and a median gamer is both not going to have the ability to attain anyplace close to 540 fps, or isn’t taking part in at a stage the place the small visible and latency advantages will make a distinction to them. In that case for gaming they could be simply as proud of a decrease refresh price display screen just like the wide selection of 240 – 280Hz WOLED screens which have gotten more and more competitively priced. It can save you your self a good bit of cash and go for a “slower” display screen, with ~240Hz OLED in fact nonetheless wanting wonderful anyway. Some folks similar to to have the newest and biggest tech as effectively, or have cash to spare we must always take into accout so there’s most likely an viewers on the market who will purchase this display screen for that motive alone.

Different causes to contemplate this display screen even for those who don’t want 540Hz

We’ve been speaking right here about gaming expertise, however there could also be different advantages that this new 540Hz WOLED monitor gives over the older 240Hz fashions, and even the opposite high-tier 480 – 500Hz OLED choices. That features issues like textual content rendering, pixel construction, HDR efficiency, and the monitor’s function set. Some customers might wish to get this new display screen for a few of these advantages alone, no matter whether or not they can attain the 540Hz refresh price or not.

These causes might embrace:

1. The brand new 4th Gen WOLED panel gives advantages in comparison with earlier WOLED screens – there’s first rate enhancements in brightness, colors and black depth from these new 4th Gen WOLED panels. That is solely the second monitor panel launched utilizing this know-how, the primary being a 27″ 1440p 280Hz panel. So if you’d like these advantages, this larger refresh price model might be engaging.
2. It’s possible you’ll want WOLED to QD-OLED – in contrast with the brand new 500Hz QD-OLED choices being launched, you could simply want a WOLED choice as a substitute. This might be due to the much better ambient mild dealing with or the brighter total panel maybe, or another desire for one know-how over the opposite you may need. This new display screen provides you extra alternative in that top-tier refresh price section.
3. That is by far the quickest WOLED monitor to function a shiny display screen coating – for those who’re a fan of shiny panels, all the prevailing 27″ shiny WOLED monitor choices attain as much as 280Hz most. If you would like a shiny OLED monitor and a better refresh price than that, then the PG27AQWP-W can provide it. Competing QD-OLED panels have a shiny look too take into accout (what we name “semi shiny” because of extra anti-reflective properties).
4. The up to date sub-pixel format helps with textual content rendering – that is one in all solely 3 WOLED panels of this measurement to function the up to date sub-pixel format which helps enhance textual content rendering. The others being the 27″ 1440p 480Hz Gen 3 panel (e.g. Asus PG27AQDP) and the 27″ 1440p 280Hz Gen 4 panel (e.g. Asus XG27AQWMG). In case you’re utilizing the display screen for static, workplace and textual content work then this might be an vital issue.
5. You might be on the lookout for improved brightness – this panel has proven to supply the very best SDR luminance we’ve seen thus far from any OLED monitor panel, which is probably vital to some customers. Be mindful the perceived brightness advantages of OLED as effectively, however this new panel can provide larger luminance than earlier OLED screens. For HDR it gives the very best peak luminance we’ve seen thus far, reaching 1800 nits, and a few of the highest total real-world brightness too. If HDR and SDR brightness is a precedence for you, these are good causes to contemplate this new 540Hz monitor.
6. This new display screen gives a variety of gaming extras you won’t discover elsewhere – being a top-end flagship OLED monitor you will discover options like BFI, VRR anti-flicker modes, and a large vary of preset modes and gaming extras. A number of the slower OLED screens might not function all of those. BFI particularly might be helpful, as that is the quickest implementation we’ve seen thus far, reaching as much as 270Hz operation. To our earlier level about brightness, it additionally gives larger brightness help in BFI mode than many different BFI-enabled screens.
7. The design is exclusive and engaging – not everybody will agree, however we predict this is likely one of the finest wanting gaming screens we’ve seen.

In brief, there’s loads of good causes to contemplate this new display screen even for those who don’t essentially want the 540Hz refresh price. You’ll must resolve if it’s definitely worth the extra cash for you or not.

Conclusion

The PG27AQWP-W is a unbelievable OLED monitor with an incredible spec and spectacular efficiency. From a gaming viewpoint you’ve obtained the quickest refresh price at present out there from any OLED monitor, providing some potential advantages and benefits to aggressive avid gamers past your extra typical mid-tier OLED monitor choices. There’s wonderful movement readability in native mode, and the ELMB perform gives a helpful enhancement for decrease refresh price gaming, together with for video games consoles. Lag is tremendous low and console help is powerful too. Whereas the dual-mode perform is much less fascinating on this display screen because of its already very excessive native refresh price and the numerous drop in decision and picture high quality that’s required, it might be helpful in some area of interest eventualities to some avid gamers. If not, it’s not just like the native mode isn’t wonderful for gaming already.

Even for those who don’t essentially want the super-high refresh charges and could also be a extra informal gamer, this display screen has so much to supply in different areas that makes it effectively value contemplating. It’s obtained the brightest monitor OLED panel we’ve seen thus far in each SDR and HDR utilization. The brand new 4th Gen Main RGB Tandem panel makes that every one doable, and it additionally improves black depth, ambient mild dealing with and colors too. The shiny ‘TrueBlack’ display screen coating can be engaging to some customers as effectively and appears nice in the appropriate utilization setting.

There’s just a few minor areas that might be higher, together with the color house clamping for sRGB and DCI-P3 modes and the shadow element in most SDR presets and in HDR. ELMB is beneficial however restrictive, being locked to solely a few fastened refresh charges and being a bit clunky to make use of.

Personally we predict the brand new display screen design seems to be nice as effectively and it’s a pleasant change from earlier ROG Swift screens. We have been pleasantly shocked to see full spec help from DP 2.1 (UHBR20) while not having DSC, and extra importantly full spec help from a DP 1.4 graphics card when utilizing DSC. We didn’t anticipate both to suit throughout the connection bandwidths.

The display screen is predicted to start out showing on sale throughout November, though availability will differ by area we’re advised. Its out there to pre-order in Sweden already at a worth of ~€1200 with an anticipated availability from 21 Nov though it’s not appeared within the UK but that we’ve seen. We anticipate US launch to be a bit later than different areas because of import and tariff challenges. We don’t have confirmed pricing for these areas for the time being however as quickly as we do, we’ll replace this assessment and publish an replace on our information pages. It’s an excellent display screen and effectively value testing for those who’re available in the market for a top-tier gaming OLED monitor.

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We might earn a fee if you buy from our affiliate hyperlinks on this article- TFTCentral is a participant within the Amazon Companies LLC Associates Programme, an affiliate promoting programme designed to supply a method for websites to earn promoting charges by promoting and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.ca and different Amazon shops worldwide. We additionally take part in an analogous scheme for Overclockers.co.uk, Newegg, Bestbuy , B&H and a few producers.

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