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Brightness and Contrast

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

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

The PG27AQWP-W is one of the brightest OLEDs I’ve reviewed to date, with over 544 nits available in SDR mode. This is with Uniform Brightness turned off and measuring a 25% window pattern. A full field is around 360 nits, still extremely bright. Black levels cannot be measured so contrast is theoretically infinite.

After Calibration to 200 nits

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Calibration doesn’t affect black levels or contrast. I set brightness with Uniform Brightness off and on and was glad to see that the PG27AQWP-W locks in the values, so you don’t have to readjust the slider every time you switch. I typically use Uniform Brightness for work tasks and turn it off when watching video or playing games. In HDR mode, you’ll want it on for maximum impact. I could not measure the black squares in a checkerboard pattern, so ANSI contrast cannot be determined.

Test Takeaway: The PG27AQWP-W is exceptionally bright among OLEDs with SDR peaks over 544 nits. It stands out with its Uniform Brightness toggle, which isn’t included in every monitor. It renders the same deep contrast and true blacks as any OLED I’ve reviewed.

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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.