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Response, Input Lag, Viewing Angles and Uniformity

QHD OLEDs are the hottest category in high-performance gaming monitors, with many models running at 480 Hz and higher. This group includes Asus’ XG27AQDPG, LG’s 27GX790A, MSI’s MPG271QR, Aorus’ FO27Q5P, and Samsung’s S27FG60.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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Asus ROG Swift PG27AQWP-W — (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Response times typically mirror refresh rates, so it’s no surprise to see the PG27AQWP-W at the top. At 540 Hz, it matches the 500 Hz screens, and at 720 Hz, it only takes one-one-thousandth of a second to draw a full white field. If monitors get any faster than this, I’ll need a new high-speed video camera!

Surprisingly, this does not translate to input lag. I ran this test many times and got a 22ms average, which is fast but not as fast as others. The LG 27GX790A shares the record with the 360 Hz Philips 27M2N8500 at 10ms. Can you tell the difference between 22 and 10ms? I can’t, but a highly skilled gamer might. In my observations, the PG27AQWP-W is super quick and smooth like all OLEDs. But its high refresh rate doesn’t make it the absolute quickest.

Test Takeaway: The PG27AQWP-W is super smooth and responsive. It’s quick but not the very quickest. It is unique in its 720 Hz ability, though, which might appeal to some users. The inclusion of ELMB makes it more useful at low refresh rates. That’s also a unique feature. I do not doubt that it will become the display of choice for some competitors.

Viewing Angles

The PG27AQWP-W shows nearly perfect off-axis imagery with no visible change in brightness. If you stare at the photo long enough, you might see a bit of green, but this does not affect content in any way. The top view is solid too, with just a little red and a slight reduction in gamma. This is excellent performance.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

OLED monitors continue to impress me with their visually perfect screen uniformity. You will not find a bad example and the PG27AQWP-W is no exception. Mine came out at just 3.76%, which is among the lowest scores in my database, which currently includes 457 monitors.

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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.