ASUS TUF Gaming 27” 1440P Gaming Monitor

Refresh rate and inputs

DisplayPort is the only way to reach the full 240 Hz or the 260 Hz overclock; HDMI 2.0 tops out at 144 Hz. The manual warns that overclocking can flicker and suggests lowering the maximum if it occurs, and ASUS documents VRR only from 48 Hz to 240 Hz on DisplayPort and 48 Hz to 144 Hz on HDMI, so 260 Hz operation with VRR is not verified. There is no USB-C video input; the two USB-A ports need the Type-B upstream cable connected to a PC, and that upstream cable is part of the US box contents per Newegg’s listing. Cables and accessories are excluded from the LCD warranty.

Motion and HDR

The 1 ms gray-to-gray figure is an ASUS claim, not a measured worst-case transition. Independent testers preferred Variable OD at level 3, found level 4 reduced some visible trails, and considered level 5 unnecessary; ELMB and ELMB Sync add strobing options, but normal Variable OD becomes unavailable with ELMB on. HDR is VESA DisplayHDR 400 with HDR10 processing, on an IPS panel with roughly 1000:1 to 1420:1 measured contrast, so it does not provide pixel-level black control; one tester measured about 440 nits in an HDR mode versus 539 nits at maximum SDR brightness on that sample. sRGB mode locks brightness, contrast, saturation, color temperature, skin tone and ASCR.

Reliability and warranty

Several independent owner reports describe horizontal lines, banding or a failed image appearing after about one to two years, including cases where the defect showed in the monitor’s own on-screen menu with no source connected. A 2024 owner reported a dead pixel inside three weeks and an RMA that took over a month, with a new artifact on the returned panel; a 2026 owner reported ASUS denied an RMA for a single stuck red subpixel, consistent with the published non-ZBD policy of up to 3 bright and 5 dark dots. A Turkish owner reported service replaced the panel. These are small-sample anecdotes, not a proven defect rate or a prediction that all units fail at two years. ASUS offers 36 months of limited LCD hardware warranty from the original purchase with dated receipt, and may use equivalent new or reconditioned parts.

US asking prices checked in October 2026: GTR Simulator lists $369.00, a Newegg marketplace snapshot shows about $366.20, and NVIDIA Marketplace lists $399.99 but is out of stock. Value thresholds from the research: below $180 is potentially attractive if new with a 36-month US warranty and easy returns; $180–$220 only if the USB hub, stand and native 240 Hz matter specifically; above $220–$250 generally avoid, and at $369 skip it. Comparisons listed: LG UltraGear G6 27-inch QHD IPS 300 Hz at $209.99, Acer Nitro KGB271U 27-inch QHD IPS 200 Hz at $149.99, and Acer Nitro VG277U Xbiip 27-inch 1440p QD-OLED 240 Hz at $269. These are retailer offers reproduced by an editorial guide, not verified checkout totals or head-to-head proof of reliability.

Running costs

No subscription or scheduled consumables. Illustrative electricity only: 26 W × 8 hours/day × 365 days = 75.92 kWh/year, about $15.18/year at an assumed $0.20 per kWh. Standby under 0.5 W for the remaining 16 hours/day adds less than 2.92 kWh/year, or less than $0.59/year, for a combined under $15.77/year provided actual active power stays at 26 W. At measured 500-nit-plus SDR, HDR and USB loads, real annual cost may be higher. PC and GPU power are excluded.

Which model this is

This page covers the ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQML1A: a 27-inch 1440p Fast IPS monitor, not the VG27AQ, VG27AQM1A, VG27AQML5A or VG27AQM5A. Match on the exact model number when buying.

Sources

Manufacturer:

• ASUS VG27AQML1A technical specifications
• ASUS VG27AQML1A user guide (PDF)
• ASUS VG27AQML1A warranty page

Independent reviews:

• Zhihu hands-on test of VG27AQML1A
• SMZDM hands-on measurements (October 2024)
• PC Gamer US gaming monitor deals (October 2026)

Owner reports:

• Horizontal lines after about one year (r/ASUS)
• Lines and banding after about two years (r/Asustuf)
• Dead-pixel RMA and returned panel (r/ASUS)
• RMA denied for a single stuck pixel (r/ASUS)
• Panel replacement reported (Techolay)

Parts and stores:

• Newegg exact VG27AQML1A listing
• NVIDIA Marketplace out-of-stock offer