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Conclusion

I have yet to review an OLED gaming monitor I didn’t love. They are incredibly consistent in all the important areas: image fidelity, color accuracy, video processing, build quality, even styling is a cut above the rank and file. I always look for some standout feature, and though it is usually small, most displays have something that sets them apart.

In the case of Asus’ ROG Swift PG27UCDM, there are two things to recommend: high pixel density and Dolby Vision. The first one is easy, put 4K on a 27-inch screen and you get 163ppi. Add in OLED contrast, QD-OLED color and out-of-box accuracy and you get a fantastic image that makes you forget about jumbo monitors.

Dolby Vision is the big one here. I used to ding HDR monitors for leaving it out until I noticed that no one was including it. But it’s also something I’ve become spoiled by when watching my LG OLED TV. Dynamic tone mapping sets it above HDR10 enough that you can easily spot the difference. Though it isn’t supported by many games, it is common on 4K Blu-ray and streaming services like Netflix and Disney+. The PG27UCDM then becomes a premium personal television, just add headphones.

For gaming, it is on par with the best OLEDs I’ve reviewed. Its 18ms total lag score ties it with the HP Omen 32 OLED for fastest 4K monitor. It is lightning quick with perfect video processing. And if you happen to pair it with a less capable system, ELMB keeps motion blur at bay below 120 Hz.

Build quality and function are also at a high level. Like any ROG product, the PG27UCDM is a flagship. You get extra cooling, which ensures long life and the backing of a three-year warranty. Asus’ DisplayWidget Center is another value-add. And supreme tweakability means you can make it to your liking in every way.

The Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM is a premium purchase to be sure but it truly embraces the mantra, “you never regret buying the best.” If you have the budget and want one of the best OLED gaming monitors available, definitely check it out.

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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.

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4 Comments Comment from the forums

cknobman

For gaming this is just a waste of money IMO.
4k at this size does not offer much benefit unless you are a foot or less from the screen.
Reply
Energy96

cknobman said:
For gaming this is just a waste of money IMO.
4k at this size does not offer much benefit unless you are a foot or less from the screen.
I disagree, unless you have cataracts the difference is very noticeable. I have a 27” 1440p and a 32” 4k as well on other machines. The difference is very noticeable even at the usual 2-3 ft from the screen, side by side is even more noticeable.

I had a high end 27” 4k IPS ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQ before I picked this monitor up last month and it’s really good. This one is even better and so much more colorful, the blacks are unbelievable. Side by side (currently the old IPS is used as second screen) the difference is ridiculous and that was a $1500+ IPS ROG monitor. Comparatively $1200 was a bargain.

The only minor annoyance is pixel refresher reminder pops up pretty frequently and is annoying when in the middle of playing something. I probably should just disable the reminder. Also the proximity sensor is not sensitive enough. I have often had it go black while I am sitting there playing a game but must have been very still. It does come back instantly if I move though. It would be better if it cross referenced lack of motion with any screen or mouse movement. It should only go black if the screen is also still. Minor things and all can be adjusted or disabled I suppose.

I don’t think a better screen exists in 27” size.
Reply
PrazVT

I don't have space for a 32" but I game at 4k, so I did pick this one up. I came from the LG 27" mini led, which was a nice monitor, but still had black crush / blooming issues despite the large # of dimming zones. I love the PG27UCDM so far. Between the feature set and image quality / performance it's just been a joy to use. The only real bug right now is with the proximity sensor. Despite a recent firmware update, the monitor will go dark after the timer even if you're in front of it and you have to wave your hand to get the monitor to come back on. So I have it disabled until they fix that. Otherwise, between the OLED Care features and just me being more mindful of the static content (b/c I use this monitor for productivity during the day) I am generally happy with the burn-in prevention features.

Yes, the monitor is expensive for the size (ie...costs the same as my Sony OLED TV) ..but it is damn nice.
Reply
RTX 2080

cknobman said:
For gaming this is just a waste of money IMO.
4k at this size does not offer much benefit unless you are a foot or less from the screen.
I’ve owned several monitors, including a 27 inch 4K monitor. It does offer a benefit.
Reply