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Conclusion

There are plenty of extreme gaming monitors. You can choose from various shapes and sizes, resolutions, refresh rates, and feature sets. The choices are dizzying. But if ultimate performance is your goal, you must go for maximum speed.

Refresh rates of 360 and 500 Hz guarantee smooth motion and an image free of blur or breakup. They also deliver the lowest input lag, and that’s what competitors are looking for. You’ve already sprung for that GeForce RTX 4090. Do you want to hamper it with a monitor that only runs at 240 Hz?

At 540 Hz, the PG248QP is the first monitor I’ve seen that can actually outrun a 4090 when games are played at max detail. I don’t like the term “future proof”, but it is certainly future-resistant.

Asus ROG Swift PG248QP — (Image credit: Asus)

I concede that once you hit 360 Hz, higher refresh rates are only a small improvement. But they are an improvement. The PG248QP is the smoothest gaming monitor I’ve ever seen. It has the fastest panel response I’ve ever measured and almost the lowest input lag. I can’t tell the difference between 15 and 19ms, but I can easily see its superlative motion processing. When running G-Sync and overdrive, it is eerily smooth. With ULMB 2, it’s even better. And thanks to the high-output backlight, there’s plenty of brightness. Asus has truly raised the bar for backlight strobes with one that actually works well.

I also applaud the PG248QP’s HDR image quality. It uses field dimming to deliver over 13,300:1 HDR contrast effectively and is one of the only speedy screens with a wide color gamut. Though I noted some out-of-box color errors, it calibrates to a high standard. Since you’re reading this review, you can tweak your PG248QP to excellence.

On the surface, paying over $900 for a 24-inch FHD monitor seems exotic. It is certainly an exotic product, but once you’ve experienced its super smooth-moving image and unparalleled gaming feel, you’ll want one. The Asus ROG Swift PG248QP is the best-performing gaming monitor I’ve yet reviewed. If you have the budget and the desire for raw performance, you should put it on your shortlist.

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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.