ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q

ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q Review

Kyle Bank

The ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q is a monitor designed to turbo-charge your gaming experience. The only downside to making this beast a part of your gaming artillery is its steep price. Four years since its release, Is the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q still the best gaming monitor in 2020?. Let’s find out. 

ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q Review at a glance:

  1. Image Quality
  2. Performance
    1. Gameplay with G-SYNC on
    2. Motion Handling
    3. Contrast
    4. Backlight Bleeding
  3. Is the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q suitable for longer sessions of gaming?
  4. Is the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q monitor good for photo editing?
  5. Is ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q Suitable For Multimedia Usage?
  6. Design and Build Quality
  7. Connectivity
  8. Features
  9. Final Thoughts

SPECIFICATIONS

Screen size: 27-inches | Panel Type: IPS | Resolution: 2560×1440 | Refresh Rate: 165Hz | Brightness: 350 cd/m2  | Response Time (G-t-G): 4ms | Color SRGB Coverage: 100% | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Signal Input: 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x HDMI, 2x USB3.0

PROS
Pros Icon Highly Responsive Gaming Monitor
Pros Icon Accurate Color Reproduction
Pros Icon Plethora of Gaming Features
Pros Icon G-Sync Monitor

CONS
Cons Icon Average Contrast

Check Price On Amazon 		ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q

Image Quality

  • Pixel Density:  The advantage of packing 2560×1440 pixels in a 27” screen is a high pixel density value of 108ppi.The monitor displays crisp visuals with well-defined contours. The images look sharp and the high resolution has a flattering effect on photos. It is easy to spot enemy movement across the map in games like Battlefield. The monitor has excellent text clarity and there is no hint of pixelation whether you choose to sit very close to the monitor or a few feet away from it. 
  • Color Performance: The ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q has been promoted as a gaming monitor, yet it distinguishes itself with a premium color performance that is not typical of gaming monitors. The PG279Q covers 100% of the sRGB color gamut (Note: sRGB is by far the preferred standard because its input and output incur very little lag time).  The monitor has a true 8-bit color depth which is particularly suitable for those eyeing to do some editing on this monitor besides gaming off course. The color rendering is fairly accurate out of the box, although minor tweaks are needed. The colors are vivid and appear uniformly across the cross-section of the display. No color shift is observed from wider viewing angles.
  • Brightness: The monitor has a peak brightness rating of 350 cd/m2. The PG279Q brightens up sufficiently for use in moderately lit rooms. Out of the box, brightness is a bit too high alongside some color inaccuracies. At high brightness the backlight bleed becomes prominent. We found a fix to Backlight bleeding by lowering brightness settings to approximately 28% of the peak value
  • Contrast: The contrast is definitely not one of PG279Q’s strengths. The contrast is average, with blacks often represented as dark gray. The backlight bleeding worsens the contrast especially whilst playing titles with dark scenes like the Witcher. The backlight bleed is common in IPS panels, which though not overly annoying can be distracting at times, especially during dark scenes.
  • Viewing Angles and Color Shift: The monitor’s wide-angle viewing is flawless. No color shifts are noticed when viewed at wide angles. The monitor is perfect to share with colleagues at the office or watching movies together. It also handles screen reflection well. The anti-glare is also well done.
  • Overall Impression: The monitor has excellent picture quality to recommend it for diverse uses that include multimedia, photo editing, video editing, office use, and ofcourse gaming.

  Performance

With a combination of high refresh rate, low response time alongside vibrant colors that come with an IPS panel, the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q is a monitor you don’t want to miss.

  • G SYNC: This is a G-Sync monitor. The monitor delivers a buttery smooth performance whether it is set to run at 144Hz or at the overclocked 165Hz refresh rate with G SYNC ON.  The frame rate fluctuations are handled flawlessly and there is no evidence of screen tearing or stuttering.
    • G SYNC is available through Display Port only
    • The power indicator LED turns RED to indicate G SYNC is active
  • MOTION HANDLING: The monitor’s motion handling is stellar, eliminating any concerns about ghosting. The ULMB feature works great, however, it reduces the brightness of the monitor because of backlight strobing. To use the ULMB feature
    • G Sync must be turned off
    • The refresh rate of the monitor must be set to either 85Hz, 100Hz or 120Hz.
    • The monitor must be connected through the Display Port.
    • The power indicator LED turns Yellow to indicate ULMB is active
  • CONTRAST: By its own high standards the PG279Q’s contrast is lackluster. Games like Resident Evil 7, Witcher3 which consist of plenty of dark scenes do not bring out the best experience. The blacks are not deep but resemble dark gray. That said the monitor’s contrast is not a deal-breaker by any means. The low contrast is largely due to the shortcomings of the IPS technology which struggles to match the superior contrast we are so accustomed to seeing in VA monitors like the much cheaper AOC CQ27G1.
  • Backlight Bleeding: Most IPS panels suffer from backlight bleeding and the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q is no exception either. Since backlight bleeding varies from unit to unit, we have used data from customer reviews on different platforms to assess the problem.
    • Backlight bleeding has been observed in plenty of cases and though it varies from one monitor to another, it can be distracting.
    • One effective way of reducing Backlight Bleeding is to lower the brightness level of the monitor. A good value we figured was 28% of max brightness. While this might not be a preferred option for you the adjustment does make a difference in the visual quality during darker scenes. Levitra 20 mg http://kendallpharmacy.com/levitra.html
  • Overall Impression: The PG279Q is one of the best gaming monitors available in the market today. If you are on the fence because of its high price, don’t be, this monitor is well worth your money.

Is the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q suitable for longer sessions of gaming?

The ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q is definitely one of the best options for longer gaming sessions and there are plenty of reasons for that

  • The monitor comes with ultra-low blue light filtering technology to reduce eye strain over longer periods
  • The monitor does not have any flickering issues reducing eyestrain thanks to its flicker-free technology.
  • The monitor comes with excellent ergonomic options that allow for monitor adjustments so that you can play your games comfortably for as long as you want.
  • To keep the monitor cool during marathon sessions the monitor comes installed with a large-sized custom heat sink and a Smart Air Vent Design that cools the monitor down with air circulation.

Is the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q monitor good for photo editing?

  • The IPS panel has excellent color reproduction with 100% sRGB color space coverage and true 8-bit color depth .
  • The monitor doesn’t fall prey to color banding.
  • It is a good photo-editing choice for wedding and event photographers.
  • Landscape shooters might prefer a monitor with a wide color gamut that would make the skies, grass, and foliage look even better.

Is ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q Suitable For Multimedia Usage?

The ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q is indeed a pretty good monitor when it comes to multimedia usage.

  • The high resolution, a 100% SRGB color gamut coverage and good color reproduction means you are in for a compelling experience.
  • In addition, the wide viewing angles mean that those at sides would also be able to enjoy without having to bear watching washed-out colors.
  • Moreover, the excellent ergonomics mean that you can position the monitor in whatever way you want and enjoy the movie/video at your comfort.
  • Furthermore, it has a high adjustable brightness thanks to which watching movies in bright rooms is not an issue.
  • Apart from that, its good reflection handling means that you won’t have to complain about irritating screen reflection!

Design and Build Quality

  • Aesthetics: The monitor is gorgeous, no denying that! The build quality is significantly good. Having an appealing design, it has slim bezels that provide for a larger viewing area. The narrow bezels are almost unnoticeable in a multi-screen setup. The stand is clean and sturdy and the base is adequately heavy, preventing it from wobbling easily. The stand has optional red LEDs at the base, which can be turned off if you aren’t a big fan of those.
  • Ergonomic Options: The monitor supports tilt (+20° ~ -5°), pivot (90° clockwise) and swivel (+60° ~ -60°) (swiveling might be a bit stiff), as well as easily slides up and down (0 ~ 120mm).It’s worth noting that overall the stand and base are pretty big and will consume ample space on your desk. So make sure you have enough space to accommodate this beauty!
  • Air Vent and Cooling: Moreover, it has a Smart Air Venting Design and is equipped with a double-sized custom heatsink. As no fans are involved, the setup is completely silent

Connectivity

The ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q comes with an HDMI port, a DisplayPort 1.2, and two USB3.0 ports. A smart cable management design feature is also to be found on the back of the monitor.  Although a DisplayPort cable is provided, it is recommended you buy another one with a better quality.

 Features

  • OSD Menu: The PG279Q has an awesome OSD menu. It has six pre-set display modes that can be conveniently selected through a hotkey or the OSD settings menu. Another great feature of the OSD is the fact that it can display it’s own frame count so you don’t have to rely on 3rd party programs to show you FPS. 
  • Joystick: The menu is pretty easy to navigate. The monitor comes with a joystick on the back of the monitor that allows convenient access to the menu settings. The joystick moves in 4 directions and pushes in to confirm settings.
  • Crosshair Overlay: It also provides some game enhancement features such as crosshair overlay as well as an on-screen timer. There are four crosshair options to choose from in the OSD menu. Aiming becomes simpler with built-in crosshair overlays, four of them to choose from using the OSD menu. A hotkey on the bezel provides quick access to the menu to select a  crosshair to your liking. 
  • FPS Counter: The OSD provides an FPS (frames per second) counter, meaning you don’t need any third-party software for it.
  • Speakers: The built-in 2-watt speakers are better left unused, though keeping in mind the bucks you are willing to spend on the monitor, you may expectedly have a better sound system setup already!

Final Thoughts

As far as gaming is concerned, the fast response time and refresh rate combined with superior colors indeed make ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q a top pick for gamers. For the gamers who are willing to trade 1-3ms of response time for vastly superior image quality, we recommend this monitor. The ACER PREDATOR XB271HU is another gaming monitor that matches the PG279Q in terms of gaming performance.

If you are a FPS gamer looking to play games at even higher refresh rates then the Dell Alienware AW2518HF might just be the monitor for you.

You may also want to read our reviews on some 144Hz monitor options such as the Acer Nitro VG271, Sceptre C305B-200UN, MSI OPTIX G27C2 that are included in our list of the Best Gaming Monitor Under 300 dollars.