Asus ROG Swift PG279QM Review: Fantastic 240 Hz Performance, Color, and Flexibility

The Asus ROG Swift PG279QM is a 27-inch QHD/IPS gaming monitor with 240 Hz, Rec.2020 color, HDR, Adaptive-Sync, and fantastic performance.

Reviews
By Christian Eberle
published
Asus ROG Swift PG279QM
Editor's Choice
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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When considering a premium gaming monitor purchase, the discussion always comes down to resolution and refresh rate. While an Ultra HD monitor running at 240 Hz would be amazing, the video card to drive it isn’t here yet. It’s important to balance monitor and system capabilities, and QHD resolution is still the best way to accomplish that. I’ve played games on literally hundreds of monitors, and I always enjoy the ones that deliver the highest frame rates best.

(Image credit: Asus)

The Asus ROG Swift PG279QM defines the fast QHD category. For around $900, it delivers truly smooth motion because it can top 200 fps. No Ultra HD monitor can do this yet. When coupled with perfect G-Sync and FreeSync operation, you have a gaming experience that is completely addictive. I found no flaws in the PG279QM’s video processing.

Asus has devoted equal attention to image quality. With one of the largest color gamuts I’ve yet measured, the PG279QM sports rich hues and saturation in all situations. It comes amazingly close to filling the Rec.2020 gamut and tops DCI-P3 with over 112% coverage. The best part is the choice afforded to the user. If you’d rather keep sRGB for SDR content, you can do this automatically with one setting in the OSD.

HDR content looks stellar here as well. Asus keeps the cost under control by using an edge backlight but has a zone dimming feature that sends contrast over 34,000:1. HDR black levels are super-low and that means a deeply detailed and lifelike picture. And accurate HDR color tracking helps with that.

I failed to find any downside to the Asus ROG Swift PG279QM. With an addictive gaming experience and pro-level accuracy, it can serve as a monitor for all tasks and purposes. It’s premium-priced but completely worth it. If you’re looking for balanced gaming performance and top-shelf image quality, you've found it.

Christian Eberle
Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

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.

4 Comments Comment from the forums
  • waltc3
    Couple of major flaws for me @ an $840 price point: It's way too small, imo, but I'm prejudiced because once you go to 43" you won't go back...;) The HDR is really lacking...HDR 400 is barely into the DisplayHDR spec, frankly. I had a 32" BenQ with HDR 400, and it's nowhere near as nice as my present DisplayHDR 1000 monitor. Last, it's limited to 1440P--I think that 4k is a must in a monitor in this price range. I think that all too often people get side-tracked by supposed Hz of the monitor and forget about everything else...;) It's hard to beat a wide color gamut combined with DisplyHDR1000 certification, imo. Cut this price in half, and it would be far more interesting.
    Reply
  • Findecanor
    It could be worth explaining that Rec.2020 had been designed to be wider than what any available display is able to reproduce. It had been designed to cater to future improvements in display technology.

    Therefore, there is no actual "Rec.2020 display". like there are displays that support 100% sRGB or DCI P3.
    Reply
  • PRIFORCE
    No Hdmi 2.1?
    Reply
  • abufrejoval
    This is such a glowing review, I had to close my eyes before I could turn to page 2
    Reply