Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM 4K 240 Hz QD-OLED gaming monitor review: High-end in every way

High-end gaming PCs demand the best gaming monitors, and when you’re shopping, the first three filters you should check are “4K”, “OLED” and “240 Hz.” Most of the hits will be 32-inch panels, but if you need a smaller footprint, or are looking for maximum pixel density, there are a few 27-inch screens out there as well. Though they are a little smaller, you’re looking at 163ppi versus 138, which you can distinguish in a side-by-side comparison.

Asus looks to fill that desire with its ROG Swift PG27UCDM. This QD-OLED panel will come up in the filter set I just mentioned and deliver a full list of features, premium build quality, terrific performance, and addictive gaming. Let’s take a look.

Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM Specs

The PG27UCDM is every bit a flagship display, and its price of $1,200 reflects that. You can spend that same money on a 32-inch 240 Hz OLED monitor from Dough, Acer, and others. But those screens won’t give you the highest pixel density available in the mainstream, 163ppi. That’s a level of sharpness you can clearly see. The PG27UCDM makes the most of that with a Quantum Dot layer that covers over 103% of DCI-P3. Accuracy is excellent right out of the box with no need for calibration and a pro-level sRGB mode.

The panel is capable of 1,000-nit peaks in HDR mode when measuring a 3% window pattern. I got 465 nits from a 25% window, which tracks with the competition. The PG27UCDM is plenty bright, and you can see that same output in SDR mode if you turn off the Constant Brightness option. That adds another option for picture enhancement that isn’t universally available. One thing you won’t find in more than a handful of monitors is Dolby Vision. While that codec is widely supported by televisions, gaming screens rarely include it. Its dynamic tone mapping delivers a superior HDR image to HDR10’s static metadata.

Video processing starts with a 240 Hz refresh rate that can be enjoyed over any of the four video inputs. The DisplayPort is version 2.1 with 80 Gbps bandwidth, and the two HDMI 2.1 ports can move 48 Gbps. The USB-C port covers the same DisplayPort functions and adds 90 watts of power. You also get KVM with one upstream and three downstream USB 3.2 ports. And a 3.5mm headphone jack delivers audio. There are no internal speakers. ELMB is included, which operates a black frame insertion routine up to 120 Hz. And Asus has included its anti-flicker tech that maintains consistent brightness during frame rate transitions.

Peripheral features include Asus’ full array of LED lighting with Aura RGB and Light In Motion displayed by a large ROG logo in the back. The show can be synced with on-screen action if you like. Panel longevity is supported by multiple OLED care options like logo protection and pixel refresh. Extensive cooling via heatsink is also provided. Gaming aids run the full array with aiming points, sniper mode, timer, stopwatch, frame counter, and multi-display alignment marks. You can control all the fun through an extensive OSD, or with Asus’ DisplayWidget Center app

Assembly and Accessories

Asus is transitioning to fully recyclable packaging, and the PG27UCDM is from the new generation with molded pulp forms protecting the contents. The base and upright mate with a captive bolt, and the ROG log projector lens attaches with magnets. The panel snaps on to create a solid package. An included adapter provides a 100mm VESA mount if you’d rather use an arm. The accessory bundle comes in a nice zippered pouch and includes USB cables, DisplayPort, HDMI, and IEC for the internal power supply.

Product 360

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The PG27UCDM’s front view is minimalist with thin flush borders around the panel and no graphics except a backlit ROG logo on a small protrusion at the bottom center. It also contains a proximity sensor to dim the screen when no user is present as part of the OLED care option package. The front layer is shiny like most OLEDs, with an optical coating to cut glare. It’s reasonably effective, but some thought should be given to optimal placement by avoiding sunny windows and bright light sources.

The stand features classic ROG styling with a cast metal base and a stout upright with a cable hole in the middle. A logo projector shines onto the desktop at the bottom. It’s part of the lighting system and can show in multiple colors and effects. More lighting adorns the base and back, where you’ll find a large, pixelated ROG logo that reminds me a bit of the Lite Brite toy from the 60s and 70s where you’d stick colored pegs into a light box to make pictures. Ah, the nostalgia! Ergonomics include 5/20 degrees tilt, 30 degrees swivel, 4.4 inches of height range, and a 90-degree portrait mode. Movements are smooth and solid as I’d expect from a high-end display.

Underneath you’ll find a well-stocked input panel with a DisplayPort 2.1 (80Gbps), two HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps), a USB-C (DP functions with 90 watts of power), a 3.5mm headphone jack and USB 3.2 ports, one upstream and three down. You can also see the OSD joystick and two control keys, which toggle power and exit the menu.

OSD Features

The PG27UCDM’s OSD is extensive and includes everything imaginable to control gaming, image parameters, KVM and more. You can also download Asus’ DisplayWidget Center app, which mimics the OSD and adds firmware updates and app sync.

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GamePlus delivers a full set of gaming aids with multiple aiming points, sniper mode, timers, stopwatch, FPS counter and display alignment marks. GameVisual is Asus’ term for picture modes, and you get nine of them aimed at specific tasks or game types. The default is Racing, and it is spot-on accurate for color and grayscale with a slightly light gamma. It can be calibrated to an even higher standard with fixed color temps, RGB sliders, gamma presets and gamut options.

The only video processing options are an Adaptive-Sync toggle and ELMB. Extra Low Motion Blur is the same as backlight strobing for an LCD, but in OLED form, it’s black frame insertion. At speeds above 150fps, it’s unnecessary because, like all fast OLEDs, there is no motion blur to remove. It’s useful at lower frame rates though and that’s a good thing because it’s limited to a maximum of 120 Hz.

The PG27UCDM includes both uniform and variable brightness options for both SDR and HDR. Using the latter punches up contrast noticeably, but can be harsh for workday tasks. The uniform setting keeps the light level constant regardless of content. A super cool touch is that the brightness slider setting stays where you set it when switching Constant Brightness on and off. That way, you can balance output without readjusting every time. This is something all OLEDs should have. Asus is the only company I know of that includes Anti-Flicker. It’s a subtle enhancement that appears during rapid changes in frame rate by keeping brightness consistent.

HDR10 and Dolby Vision are fully supported here, and the latter is a rare thing indeed. There aren’t many games that use it, but it is common in video, especially from Netflix. This makes the PG27UCDM great for content creators. HDR content enables four new picture modes with a toggle for brightness and contrast adjustment. You can also tweak grayscale if you like.

OLED care options are extensive and include screensavers, pixel cleaning, orbiter, logo and edge dimming and a proximity sensor. When activated, the screen dims if you aren’t sitting in front of the PG27UCDM. At the bottom, you can track panel hours and automatically run a refresh cycle every eight hours.

If you want to view two video sources at once, there are options for PBP and PIP with independent color settings. Lighting is controlled by Aura RGB and Light In Motion options where you can pick from different colors and effects, and sync the light show to what’s happening on the screen. The four joystick directionals can be programmed to a variety of quick access functions like picture modes and gaming aids. In the System menu is the KVM feature which gives you many options for configuring the USB hub and video/peripheral bindings. Finally, if you need backward compatibility for the DisplayPort, it can be set to version 1.4 or 1.2.

If you prefer to control the PG27UCDM from the Windows desktop, Asus offers DisplayWidget Center. It mimics all OSD functions and adds some extras like firmware updates and app sync. This lets you bind games or other applications to monitor settings for automatic mode switching when the appropriate program is run. This is something you won’t find anywhere else.

Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM Calibration Settings

The PG27UCDM has many calibration options and picture modes but the only one you really need is Racing. It can be used sans calibration out of the box, but I noticed that gamma was a tad light. I selected the User color temp and adjusted a very precise set of RGB sliders. This not only reduced color errors, but it also tightened up gamma tracking to perfection. The choice between variable and constant brightness is made easier by the fact that brightness settings made in each mode are independent. That allows one to equalize picture brightness without readjusting the slider each time, very cool. My settings below reflect both configurations.

You only need to pick between Dolby Vision and HDR10 in HDR mode. For HDR10, there are four picture modes, of which Gaming is the default and best choice. A True Black mode is included, but it measured almost identically to Gaming. HDR color was spot-on from my sample, but you can tweak RGB and gamma if you like. You can also engage a toggle to allow brightness adjustments.

Gaming and Hands-on

While it’s easy to be seduced by large and colorful monitors, I’m talking about 32 inches or more, there is something about high pixel density that is equally enticing. In the mainstream, there isn’t anything with more density than a 27-inch 4K panel and its sharpness and clarity is something you can see in a side-by-side comparison.

Though Doom Eternal is a frenetic fragfest, there is a lot of fine detail and texture in its virtual world that should be paused and enjoyed when playing on a monitor like the PG27UCDM. Compared to other OLEDs, it’s equally colorful and boasts equal contrast. But the 163ppi is something you won’t see on a 32-inch screen. I stopped many times, when I wasn’t being attacked, to appreciate what the game’s creators had done, especially on surfaces. Reflective metal looked particularly realistic with different levels of shine that depended on color and texture. Little chips and scratches were rendered clearly and the word “tactile” came to mind on many occasions. This is a case where size does not matter. Spend five minutes playing your favorite game on the PG27UCDM and you won’t wish for a larger screen.

Video processing is OLED-excellent with perfect motion resolution at all frame rates above 150fps. My test system kept the action above 220 and I never saw the slightest hesitation or blur. There are a few QHD monitors out there with less input lag but the PG27UCDM never failed to deliver on my wishes. I can’t imagine anyone not thinking it’s fast.

To test its Dolby Vision capability, I hooked up an Apple TV 4K. To enable the codec, I had to select the format in the OSD, then test it from the source. It worked without any issues when playing Netflix shows like Formula 1 Drive To Survive and Car Masters Rust To Riches. I also noted that it correctly matched frame rates with content mastered in 24p and 50p. The PG27UCDM is a great personal TV although since there are no internal speakers, you’ll need a good pair of headphones to enjoy the show.

I had installed Asus’ DisplayWidget Center during a previous review and noted that when I ran it, the PG27UCDM was instantly detected along with the settings I had already made in the OSD. It’s a super convenient way to make adjustments and I appreciated the added function of app binding where you can change picture modes automatically when running specific games or programs, very cool.

For productivity, there is nothing better than 4K when viewing fine photo detail or writing prose using ornate fonts. Pixel density is a clear asset for workday tasks and though my vision isn’t fighter pilot worthy, I had no trouble making everything out. That’s another instance where I didn’t notice the 27-inch size even though I’m accustomed to a 32-inch screen.

Takeaway: During my time with the PG27UCDM, I could find nothing to complain about. It serves incredibly well for gaming, entertainment and work and makes those activities a pleasure. Gameplay has the addictive quality I’ve come to expect from any fast OLED and that high pixel density is something you won’t regret paying extra for.

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