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HDR Performance

Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

For the best HDR, it doesn’t get better than a QD-OLED like the XG27ACDNG. It doesn’t have the brightness of a high-end Mini LED, but that tech can’t deliver the deep black levels required for truly impactful imagery. The XG27ACDNG switches automatically and offers four HDR-specific picture modes with adjustment capability.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

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Asus XG27ACDNG — (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The XG27ACDNG defaults to Gaming HDR mode, but I found better luminance tracking using the TrueBlack option. This doesn’t affect the peak output, which is just over 434 nits for a 25% window. Asus claims 1,000 nits for small highlights, and I have no reason to doubt this. If you want higher output, the PG27AQDP stands above the others. But for practical use, there is barely a difference between any of the six monitors.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

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The XG27ACDNG’s HDR grayscale tracking is visually perfect with no errors greater than 1dE which is impressive. The EOTF tracks closest to reference in the TrueBlack mode where it runs just a bit dark until meeting the line at 40%. Some shadow detail might be a little hard to see but this is a minor issue.

In the color test, the XG27ACDNG makes full use of its large gamut to create vivid and saturated HDR. The measured points are past their targets but in a linear progression so there is no loss of detail. Textures are crisp and clean in all areas of the image. And there are no visible hue errors.

The BT.2020 chart is impressive and shows red coverage of around 90%, green at almost 80% and blue hitting 95%. This is excellent performance.

Test Takeaway: The XG27ACDNG’s HDR performance is on par with what I saw in the SDR tests. Color is very saturated and spot-on accurate. Luminance tracking is close to reference so textures and detail is as clear as it possibly can be. This is an awesome monitor for HDR content and whether you watch video or play games, it will look amazing.

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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.