Asus ROG Strix XG248QSG Ace 610 Hz gaming monitor review: A new frame rate frontier

It’s a 610 Hz 24-inch TN FHD panel with Adaptive-Sync, two kinds of ELMB blur reduction, HDR, and wide gamut color.

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Asus XG248QSG
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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When it comes to speedy monitors, there’s smoothness and there’s response. 610 Hz certainly delivers low input lag and perfect motion resolution, especially when coupled with premium video processing. But is the resolution and size sacrifice too much?

Asus XG248QSG

(Image credit: Asus)

I’ve reviewed numerous premium OLEDs that played games incredibly well. The Asus ROG Strix XG248QSG Ace plays incredibly well, just in a different way. It doesn’t have the high color volume or infinite blacks of an OLED. But it does match them in smoothness thanks to its 610 Hz and Asus’ ELMB implementation. It’s the best version of backlight strobing yet, with no artifacts, only a small brightness penalty, and the ability to couple it with Adaptive-Sync. For that alone, the XG248QSG stands out. It also beats its LCD competition in color volume and max brightness.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Can I recommend it over an OLED? That’s a tough one because there’s no denying that it’s just as smooth and responsive as one. But no LCD technology can deliver the perfect black levels and infinite contrast of any rank-and-file OLED. If the XG248QSG were less expensive, it might be easier to answer that question; however, it currently costs the same as the XG27AQDPG, a 500 Hz QHD QD-OLED.

Ultimately, it’s about the highest possible fps numbers and best in class HDR and on those points, the Asus ROG Strix XG248QSG succeeds. Gamers looking for a competitive advantage should definitely check it out.

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Christian Eberle
Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.

1 Comment Comment from the forums
  • Shiznizzle
    $1000 for a 1080p rectangle thing.

    Is it possible to tell the difference between 120 hz and 340 hz?

    Possibly, but i doubt it.

    How about from 340 to 610?

    My answer is no.

    If you say yes, then do a blind test and tell us which is which once there are enough 600 hz monitors on the market so you cant learn their color profiles and base your decision on that. Better yet. Do a black and white 600 hz test. Refresh rate is refresh rate so color should not matter. You clain to see the difference so tell us which one.

    What do you mean you cant see the difference between 610 and 472? Are you blind?

    We are now getting into the absurd levels of tech that not even humans can see the difference of.
    Reply