ASUS VG27AQ Computer Monitor: Review, Pros & Cons

Summary

A 27-inch 1440p IPS gaming monitor with a 144Hz panel that overclocks to 165Hz, G-SYNC Compatible variable refresh rate and ELMB Sync motion-blur reduction that works at the same time as VRR. Check the exact model number and your GPU before buying: the 165Hz figure is an overclock ASUS does not guarantee, and sibling models with similar names use different panels and refresh rates.

Strengths

Sharp 108.79 PPI 1440p image with 99% sRGB coverage.
Low input lag around 4ms.
ELMB Sync runs together with VRR, so motion-blur reduction and adaptive sync can be used at once.
Flicker-free backlight with Ultra-Low Blue Light levels.
Fully ergonomic stand with height, tilt, swivel and pivot.
Seven GameVisual presets plus Shadow Boost.

Weaknesses

IPS glow and 1000:1 contrast, typical of this panel type.
No wide color gamut; 99% sRGB only.
No gamma control in the OSD.
HDR is basic emulation without VESA DisplayHDR certification.
165Hz is an overclock that ASUS does not guarantee on every GPU or content.
Overdrive needs manual tuning, and the panel is not as fast as modern 1ms GtG IPS displays.

Verified specifications

Screen	27-inch, 2560 × 1440 (QHD), 16:9, IPS, 178°/178° viewing angles.
Refresh rate	144Hz native, overclockable to 165Hz over DisplayPort 1.2.
Response time	1ms MPRT with ELMB/ELMB Sync; GtG not specified.
Adaptive sync	FreeSync 40–165Hz, G-SYNC Compatible, with LFC below 40Hz.
ELMB	ELMB alone needs at least 100Hz; ELMB Sync needs at least 75Hz.
HDR	HDR10, plus Multi HDR Mode.
Brightness	350 cd/m² typical.
Contrast	1000:1 static.
Color	99% sRGB, 1.07 billion colors (8-bit + FRC).
Pixel density	108.79 PPI.
Input lag	about 4ms.
Ports	DisplayPort 1.2, 2 × HDMI 2.0, 3.5mm headphone jack.
HDMI bandwidth	2560 × 1440 at 144Hz, 8-bit.
DisplayPort bandwidth	2560 × 1440 at 165Hz 8-bit, or 2560 × 1440 at 120Hz 10-bit.
Speakers	2 × 2W.
Stand	height 0–130mm, tilt -5°/+33°, swivel ±90°, pivot ±90°, VESA 100 × 100mm.
OSD	Shadow Boost, GamePlus, GameVisual (7 modes), Trace Free overdrive (0–100 in steps of 20), saturation, sharpness; no gamma control.
Flicker-free backlight; Ultra-Low Blue Light with 4 levels.
Gaming extras	crosshair overlays, sniper zoom, on-screen timer, refresh-rate tracker, three customizable profiles.
Xbox output	1440p at 120Hz VRR.
Security update support	3 years, until 31/12/2026.
Panel	AUO M270Q008 V002, per DisplayNinja.

Full research notes and sources

Refresh rate and overclocking

The 165Hz figure is an overclock over DisplayPort 1.2, not the native 144Hz, and ASUS states that overclocking performance depends on the graphics card and content displayed and is not guaranteed. The VRR range is 40–165Hz with low-framerate compensation below 40Hz, not 48–155Hz as one 2019 article states. Overdrive needs manual tuning: Trace Free 60 is recommended at 144–165Hz fixed, 0 around 60Hz and 40 around 100Hz under VRR. HDMI 2.0 limits 1440p to 144Hz and 8-bit, while DisplayPort 1.2 allows 165Hz 8-bit or 120Hz 10-bit. A 2019 PCMonitors.info article reports 155Hz and a 48–155Hz VRR range, which conflicts with ASUS and DisplayNinja; this is unresolved and may be an article error or an early variant.

Image quality and HDR

The panel reaches 350 cd/m² with 1000:1 static contrast and 99% sRGB coverage at 108.79 PPI, with 1.07 billion colors through 8-bit plus FRC. HDR10 input is basic emulation without VESA DisplayHDR certification, and DisplayNinja recommends disabling HDR for SDR content. There is no wide color gamut, so colors are not over-saturated versus DCI-P3 displays. Physical dimensions, weight, chassis materials and power consumption are not stated in the sources read.

Ergonomics and audio

The stand offers 0–130mm height adjustment, tilt from -5° to +33°, swivel ±90°, pivot ±90° and a 100 × 100mm VESA mount. Backlight is flicker-free, with Ultra-Low Blue Light at 4 levels. Speakers are 2 × 2W. There is no USB hub. Gaming extras include crosshair overlays, sniper zoom, an on-screen timer, a refresh-rate tracker and three customizable profiles. The monitor supports 1440p at 120Hz VRR on Xbox.

Value and alternatives

DisplayNinja estimates the VG27AQ usually sells for about $250–280 and judges that better options exist at that price, with newer 27-inch 1440p 160–180Hz 1ms IPS monitors at lower prices offering better-optimized overdrive, faster response and wider color gamut. The VG27AQ is most defensible below roughly $200, or when ELMB Sync running together with VRR plus a fully ergonomic stand are specifically needed. At $250 or more, siblings such as the VG27AQ1A, VG27AQ3A and XG27ACS are the better value on paper. Ownership costs beyond the purchase are minimal, with no proprietary consumables; power consumption is not stated in the sources read.

Which model this is

This page covers the original ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ, a 27-inch 1440p IPS monitor with a 144Hz native panel that overclocks to 165Hz. Do not confuse it with sibling models that use different panels and refresh rates: VG27AQ1A (170Hz, Innolux panel), VG27AQL1A/VG27AQL3A/VG27AQL5A (180–210Hz), VG27AQE, VG27AQ3A, VG27AQM5A (300Hz), XG27ACS/XG27ACG (180Hz), or the VG27AQL1A Zaku II Edition. DisplayNinja identifies the VG27AQ panel as AUO M270Q008 V002. ASUS provides an English user guide of 3.87MB dated 2026/10/15 plus guides in many languages through the product support page. Security update support runs 3 years, until 31/12/2026. The Amazon listing for this model is ASIN B07WQ4FXY9.