Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS QHD 180 Hz gaming monitor review: Exceptional accuracy and flexible performance

27-inch QHD IPS gaming monitor with 180 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, G-Sync certification, ELMB with overdrive, DisplayHDR 400 and wide gamut color.

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Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS
Editor's Choice
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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With so many monitors available in the 27-inch QHD class, prices are inevitably lower and performance differences are small. Is it worth paying a few bucks more for 180 Hz versus 165? In the case of Asus’ ROG Strix XG27ACS, the answer is a resounding yes.

Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS

(Image credit: Asus)

The video processing here is some of the very best I’ve seen anywhere. Not only can you run ELMB and Adaptive-Sync together, but there’s also a precise overdrive and strobing options you won’t find anywhere else. There is no scenario where you won’t find the right combination of settings to achieve maximum smoothness, response and excellent gaming feel. Only a much more expensive display can improve upon the XG27ACS for gaming.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Picture quality is also top-notch, thanks to solid contrast and pro-level color accuracy. Calibration is unnecessary and even if you attempt it as I did, there is no improvement. The XG27ACS is measurably and visually perfect right out of the box. And that is true for SDR and HDR. You get plenty of color volume with over 90% coverage of DCI-P3 and an HDR dynamic contrast ratio of 4,590:1.

There are plenty of opportunities to say “for $300” when qualifying the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS’s performance. But it plays better than many gaming monitors I’ve reviewed that cost more. If OLED didn’t exist, you’d need at least 240 Hz, preferably 360 Hz, to beat it. It really is that good. If you’re looking for a budget screen to pair with a carefully built gaming system or console, the XG27ACS is it. 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.

2 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Tennberg
    Thanks for a great review. Currently putting together the first new build in ages and the monitor is the last item to get. Truly overwhelmed with what's out there. Looking at 27" IPS 1440p monitors for a 3070 Ti. Between this, the PG279QM, and XG27AQMR, which one would you recommend?
    Reply
  • Dr D00p
    Last time I was looking for a monitor, in 2018, these were the premium level specs, commanding a $700 to $800 entry fee.
    Reply