The Asus ROG Swift PG279QM is one of the best gaming monitors because it’s heralding a new age of panels. It combines the high refresh rates of Nvidia G-Sync with a QHD resolution and HDR400 (high dynamic range) support for fantastic image quality.
With the PG279QM, you get HDR400 support and DCI-P3 color gamut for vivid colors, a high 240Hz refresh rate for smooth gameplay, and an Ultra HD resolution of 2560 x 1440. If you have a gaming rig that can keep up – and it needs to be beefy – then the Asus ROG Swift PG279QM is an exceptional monitor indeed. It’s one of the best 27-inch QHD IPS monitors around.
Asus ROG Swift PG279QM Specs
| Panel Type / Backlight | IPS / W-LED, edge array |
| Screen Size / Aspect Ratio | 27 inches / 16:9 |
| Max Resolution & Refresh Rate | 2560×1440 @ 240 Hz |
| G-Sync: 1-240 Hz | |
| FreeSync compatible | |
| Native Color Depth & Gamut | 8-bit / Rec.2020 |
| HDR10, DisplayHDR 400 | |
| Response Time (GTG) | 1ms |
| Brightness (mfr) | 350 nits SDR |
| 470 nits HDR | |
| Contrast (mfr) | 1,000:1 |
| Speakers | 2x 2w or None |
| Video Inputs | 1x DisplayPort 1.4 |
| 3x HDMI 2.0 | |
| Audio | 3.5mm headphone output |
| USB 3.0 | 1x up, 2x down or None |
| Power Consumption | 41w, brightness @ 200 nits |
| Panel Dimensions WxHxD w/base | 24.2 x 16.3-20.2 x 10 inches (615 x 414-513 x 254mm) |
| Weight | 17.9 pounds (8.1kg) |
Asus ROG Swift PG279QM Review: Design
The ROG Swift PG279QM sports an all-screen front view with a thin 8mm bezel around the top and sides and a 21mm strip across the bottom with an ROG logo in a shiny metallic finish. You barely see the power LED at the bottom, but you’ll find the large control buttons and OSD joystick around the back. The base has the styling of all other ROG monitors, with a twist, wide-set legs, and copper-colored trim.
Around the back, there’s a large ROG logo that lights up in a myriad of colors and effects. The RGB colors are controlled in the OSD and Asus’ Aura Sync app. Here, you can also see the control buttons, joystick, and lighting effect which can be turned off if you prefer.
The sides are rounded in shape but they don’t attempt to look thin at all. The panel is deeper than most, at around 3.5 inches. The stand is rock solid with full ergonomic features: A 100mm height adjustment, 5/20 degrees tilt, and 25 degrees swivel to either side. You can also rotate the panel 90 degrees to portrait mode.
Connectivity options include a single DisplayPort 1.4 that works up to 240Hz with HDR, G-Sync, and 8-bit color. Three HDMI 2.0 ports operate up to 144Hz. It also comes with three USB 3.0 ports, one upstream and two down. The red one is where you plug in the mouse for the Nvidia Reflex Analyzer, it requires a USB connection to your PC. For audio, the monitor has two-watt integrated speakers or plug headphones into the 3.5mm jack.
Asus ROG Swift PG279QM Review: Performance
The Asus ROG Swift PG279QM proves its worth as a productivity or gaming monitor, but its gaming prowess that sets it apart from competitors. In 2022, we’ve seen consoles achieve milestones with their 120Hz refresh rates, and we can say 144Hz on an Ultra HD monitor looks cool. But nothing looks as good as 240 Hz, not even close. The Swift PG279QM does a good job proving that pixel count doesn’t matter as much as frame rate.
Playing Doom Eternal at around 200 fps is altogether a different gaming experience. With the monitor’s low input lag and high motion resolution, it’s easy to pick off target while scoring the environment is much enhanced. Of course, the HDR400 image helps a lot. The Swift PG279QM’s zone dimming feature paired with impressive color saturation makes every detail and texture very visible.
And, with the latest crop of high-end graphics cards, QHD at 240Hz is at the top end of speed and response. Sure, you can go 360 with an FHD monitor, but it’s a little softer by comparison. QHD remains the sweet spot for image quality and frame rate. Black levels on this monitor are deep and detailed, highlights are bright and spectacular, and the color is simply irresistible. It’s hard to imagine better on a 27-inch QHD monitor. And even with the smaller sRGB gamut used in Tomb Raider, the experience doesn’t take a hit.
- 27-inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) Fast IPS gaming monitor with 240Hz refresh rate designed for...
- NVIDIA G-SYNC processor provides smooth, tear-free gaming at refresh rates up to 240Hz
- NVIDIA Reflex Latency Analyzer gives competitive gamers an accurate measurement of system...
Elsewhere, video processing leaves very little to fault: You can play with equal precision on G-Sync and Freesync platforms. With a strong video card like a GeForce RTX 3090, you can keep frame rates over 200 fps, making for perfectly smooth motion with no blur or stutter. Input lag is perceptibly non-existent. The overdrive feature works well on all settings when frame rates are that high. The highest option offers blur-free operation without ghosting if you decide to play below 200 fps.
Used as a general productivity monitor, the Swift PG279QM equally shines. It’s one of the few HDR monitors that don’t suffer from color distortion on the Windows desktop. I don’t recommend leaving HDR on all the time if you plan editing photos or SDR videos. But for word processing or spreadsheets, it adds a little more brightness without becoming harsh or oversaturated. The only issue is you can’t reduce brightness when working in the dark.
It is also great to have some level of control over the HDR image. The available picture modes (Game Visual) are all present, as are contrast and color temperature. Most HDR monitors lock out their image options and assume you’ll be OK with the resulting picture. With the Asus ROG, users have a choice and that’s a rare thing. Also, there’s a selectable color gamut option, yet another unusual feature. SDR content should show I. sRGB, and it does by default.
Asus ROG Swift PG279QM Review | Verdict
The Asus ROG Swift PG279QM is one of the best 27-inch IPS monitors on the market, thanks to its combination of 1440p resolution and G-Sync adaptive technology, which delivers astounding visual fidelity and high frame rates.
For any PC gamer who envied the PS4 and Xbox One games getting HDR support, while their ages-old platform remained overlooked, the fact that companies like Nvidia and Asus are pushing for HDR support is much welcome.
It’s an incredibly forward-thinking monitor, and as an increasing number of PC games come out with up to 4K and HDR support like the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9, QHD is a sweet balance in the midst, and the Asus ROG Swift PG279QM is one such monitor. Simply put, it’s an absolutely wonderful rendition of the potential of gaming on PC.
That said, you’ll need a powerful machine to run it. If you don’t have RTX 3060 or higher, you really will struggle to hit 1440p at even 144 frames per second. Also, in an era where monitors are getting even larger (and wider thanks to 21:9 ultra-wide aspect ratios), the relatively sensible 27-inch screen size and 16:9 aspect ratio may be a disappointment. This tech is already available in larger monitors, and we are already feeling the high price tag it attracts.
Should you buy the Asus ROG Swift PG279QM?
If you need the best 27-inch gaming monitor – and have the hardware –, the Asus ROG Swift PG279QM will blow you away with the image quality this monitor brings to your favorite games. For the rest of us, it remains a very exciting experience of what the future holds for gaming monitors.
The Review
Asus ROG Swift PG279QM
The Asus ROG Swift PG279QM is a fantastic 27-inch gaming monitor, thanks to the Nvidia G-Sync technology inside it, HDR support, a high 240Hz refresh rate, and a short 1ms response time, all at a very reasonable price.
Recommended Configuration
ASUS ROG Swift 27” 1440P Gaming Monitor (PG279QM) - WQHD (2560 x 1440), Fast IPS, 240Hz, 1ms, G-SYNC, NVIDIA Reflex Latency Analyzer, DisplayHDR400, Eye Care, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB, Height Adjustable
$424.99 in stock
8 used from $308.79
PROS
- Great image quality
- Low response time
- Huge color gamut with selectable modes
CONS
- No flaws of consequence
Review Breakdown
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EDITORS RATING
Last update on 2024-12-21 at 20:06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
