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In 2019, I reviewed my first OLED monitor, Alienware’s AW5520QF. While groundbreaking at the time, it shows how far the category has come in six years. Today’s OLEDs are brighter, more colorful, faster, and less expensive. They still represent a premium category, though some 27-inch screens are priced under $1,000. Asus has taken aim at a lower price point and managed to produce a standout display that raises the bar for image quality and performance while costing less than the competition. The ROG Strix XG27AQWMG is that display.
Asus hasn’t left much out to achieve a $600 price. There are no internal speakers, and the refresh rate is 280 Hz. And that’s it. You get accurate Quantum Dot color, higher brightness than nearly all other 27-inch QHD OLEDs, response and input lag on par with the best, and superb build quality. The picture is so sharp that I defy anyone to wish for a 4K screen once they’ve seen it. HDR content shows with the full design intent of the format. Gameplay has a truly addictive quality, as does anything else you might do with the XG27AQWMG, like looking at photos or watching videos. If you put one of these in your dorm room, don’t tell anyone lest you have crowds coming in to watch the latest episode of Stranger Things.
I would recommend any of the many OLED monitors I’ve reviewed; they’re all excellent. But the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQWMG is just a little better. The picture is stunning, gameplay is smooth and quick, and the build quality is premium. This is a monitor that anyone will want once they’ve tried it. The fact that it comes in at a lower price point is a terrific bonus. Asus has truly raised the bar here. If you’ve got $600 to spend on a new monitor, definitely check it out.
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