ASUS ROG Strix XG27WCS 27” Curved 1440P 180Hz 1ms FreeSync Gaming Monitor

First off, the most important thing anyone should know is that this monitor has a VA panel and not an IPS panel like Best Buy claims. If you go to the ASUS website, the model XG27WCS has a VA Panel. XG27ACS has the IPS panel. In addition, this model (XG27WCS) is not G-Sync compatible like Best Buy claims. XG27ACS is G-Sync compatible. Not that G-Sync really matters anymore but still it is an inaccuracy that Best Buy should correct. I spoke with several people from Best Buy who all claimed the XG27WCS has an IPS panel and claimed the website is correct. This is false, they are just reading off of their spec sheets which are mistaken and are probably just the spec sheets for the XG27ACS. Someone at Best Buy needs to correct this information before someone gets really mad and claims false advertising especially when so many Best Buy reps keep doubling down on the inaccuracy.

Now to the review. I was someone who actually wanted the VA panel monitor. After reaching out to Best Buy a handful of times and getting information that was factually incorrect, I just decided to go to the store and see for myself. This is the XG27WCS and the monitor is fantastic, the contrast ratio is amazing. The colors are incredible especially for a VA panel. The response time is great for a VA panel. ASUS really put some decent technology into this VA panel and it shows. This monitor really feels like something that was made in 2024 and for the price, I think it is hard to beat.

I am only taking away one star because of the inaccuracy on Best Buys website. If they correct that info then this is truly a 5/5 product.

Do you need a budget-friendly gaming monitor with a 2k resolution and high refresh rate? If that sounds enticing, I would certainly look into this model. While it may not be the brightest monitor or have the best HDR, this is a solid gaming monitor for those who have a budget in mind. This is my review of the ASUS – ROG Strix 27” Curved Gaming Monitor.

*TLDR at the bottom

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IN THE BOX/SETUP:
In the box, you get a monitor power cable, display port cable, ASUS small storage bag, some documentation, and stickers. There is no HDMI cable included which I thought was unusual considering most monitors have both cable types included. Regardless, the small storage bag that can be used for cables or miscellaneous item storage is a neat addition!

Setup is quick and easy, It’s simply all plug-and-play! Of course, you can set how the display appears, using the monitor’s built-in settings. On the monitor, there are 4 buttons, and a joystick to navigate the settings menu. Do note that you will need to provide your own HDMI cable if you plan to use this for console gaming.

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DISPLAY:
The gaming monitor has a 2k resolution, a refresh rate up to 180Hz, and a 1ms response time. These features are usually seen in higher-tier models but am glad to see these features get included in a budget-friendly monitor like this one. Of course, not everything is sunshine and roses. The monitor is not as vibrant as some other monitors. At peak brightness, the monitor is seemingly dimmer compared to other monitors. Viewing angles are also decent. This monitor is best used when you sit directly in front of it. Viewing the image from a different angle does “wash” away the image. This gaming monitor uses a VA panel which is the reason for the aforementioned items but that doesn’t take away from its performance and crisp quality.

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PERFORMANCE:
Performance-wise, the monitor performs well. I mostly tested the monitor in Destiny 2. I’m a quality over-performance person but I did want to max out the monitor’s refresh rate. I adjusted a couple of in-game settings and obtained the 180Hz refresh rate, which to the eye, gameplay appeared buttery smooth. I also did the opposite and maxed out the graphics and even with the maxed-out graphics, I was averaging about 125 FPS. I also love the deep colors that the monitor provides!

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CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, this is a solid gaming monitor that doesn’t break the bank. The 2k display and up to 180Hz refresh allow for buttery smooth gameplay with crisp quality. This gaming monitor is best placed in front since viewing the monitor from an angle does tend to “wash” away the image. The monitor is also not the brightest but if you don’t mind these two minor nuances, I recommend you give this one a shot!

It’s a surprise that this monitor isn’t being talked about more. With a 95% color accuracy in DCI-P3, and 125% sRGB the colors you’re seeing seem flat and impressively natural. The frame generation is incredibly smooth with ALMOST no ghosting. It feels like true 1ms response time and the 1440p resolution is crystal clear. Even the build quality is better than others in this weight class. It is a shame that Asus decided to roll with HDR400 instead of HDR1000, but there is still plenty of brightness and the other features help carry this monitor far past the finish line.

If you want to get started with QHD but don’t want to put a hole in your pocket, this is the DEFINITIVE place to start.

Rapid VA is nice and very good colors. Mine came with bunch of loose screws rattling and inside the monitor though. Also these modern fast va panels are going to suffer from more backlight bleed which this one does have in very dark areas though will not be noticeable for most gaming.

Love it. Decent size, not to big not to small. Pixels and refresh rate are amazing!

The ASUS 27” curved monitor is excellent for flight simulation. I’ve used it with both Microsoft Flight Simulator and X-Plane 11, and it renders scenery without any jutter or motion blur, even when flying high speed and low altitude through the mountains weaving through tight valleys. Color performance is also excellent with lifelike images and beautiful depth.

The monitor arrived securely packaged with all required cables (power and display port) and a helpful quick start guide. Attaching the stand to the base was just a matter snapping it in and installing a captive thumb screw. The monitor then attaches to the stand by clicking in a round socket. The monitor can be removed by releasing a single button.

Once up and running, exploring the menus which allow many different modes specific to the activity you are performing. For flight sim, I like scenery mode. Race mode also looked great. There’s a cinema mode, and several others as well. I was very happy with performance right out of the box , but also enjoyed experimenting with the various modes and settings.

I really like this monitor and find it excellent for my use. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to a friend.

The Asus XG27WCS is one of Asus’s latest offerings in the budget/mid-price range that offers 1440p resolution, very high refresh rate, HDR, curved design for optimal viewing, three input methods, and lots more. My experience using the monitor was overall very positive although the number of inputs on the product listing is incorrect.

Inputs:

1x HDMI 2.1 (Product Listing Says 2, which is not the case)
1x USB-C 3.2
1x DisplayPort 1.4
1x 3.5mm Headphone Jack

In the Box:

– Stand (Height, Tilt, Rotation + Threaded mount on top)
– Monitor
– Power Cable
– Display Port Cable
– Zipper Bag + Manuals

Setup:

Setup is very easy as with nearly every monitor. Just place the stand where you want it, and clip the monitor in. Cord management is as expected with a slot for everything to pass through. The top of the monitor stand has a threaded 1/4-20? Mount for accessories which is great for those that might stream or use a camera/light a lot. The base of the stand also has a phone slot which you can use horizontally for your other thin device. Also included is a zipper bag with the display port cable and a place to store other accessories.

Usage:

I first tried connecting the display via HDMI as this is what my previous monitor was using perfectly fine to achieve it’s 165hz refresh rate at 1440p. Unfortunately, I was unable to get anything more than 60hz out of this monitor using HDMI. No biggie, I switched to Display Port and everything immediately went to 1440p at 180hz. This monitor also has the option for USB-C input at maximum display settings.

The buttons on the back of the monitor to adjust settings and use some of the gaming features are easy to use compared to other monitors out there. I like the fact it has a little joystick for navigation.

The display itself has a nice picture with lots of customization depending on your use case or person preference. I really like the amount of presents available in the menu’s which allows easy switching between gaming and casual use. During my use I found no issues with gameplay or causal browsing. It’s snappy with just about as little lag as one could ask for. 1440p at 27” offers a good PPI of 108 which is the equivalent of a 1080p monitor of 20” is size. I find 27” is a great size for most use cases as 32” can be a little overwhelming only a couple feet from your face while smaller can be tough to feel immersed.

Pros:

– DisplayPort cable included
– Good colors, brightness, resolution
– 180hz refresh rate capable
– Stand features/quality
– HDMI, DP, USB-C inputs

Cons:

– HDMI limited to 60hz?

Overall:

I would certainly recommend this monitor to anyone looking for a somewhat inexpensive, curved, QHD gaming monitor. With tons of gaming features and a quality stand, it feels like a quality monitor. Despite my issues with HDMI, I find the number of inputs above average for the price with some monitors limiting you to two input methods so having three is great to see for a monitor of this price.

The Asus ROG Strix XG27WCS is a budget gaming monitor that offers great visuals, and a variety of features that are sure to appeal to most gamers.

Design

The XG27WCS has a sleek and stylish design built with mostly plastic, but it’s easy to look at and will blend in with most gaming setups. The monitor features a 27-inch Fast VA panel with a resolution of 2560×1440. The panel is surrounded by a thin bezel that helps to create a more immersive gaming experience, and the curve of the screen definitely catches the eye.

Performance

The XG27WCS offers decent performance for gaming. The monitor has a fast refresh rate of 180Hz and a low response time of 1ms. For a VA panel, there is very minimal ghosting, it’s so slight that I think you’d only notice it if you’re actively looking for it. It’s there, but is one of the best performing VA panels I’ve ever used.

The other variant of this monitor is the ACS, which comes with an IPS panel, so please be aware of which one you are purchasing. If you want deeper blacks and better contrast ratio, I’d stick with a VA panel, like this WCS model. The IPS variant (ACS) will be almost completely ghost and blur free, but have much lower contrast ratio and black will look like gray most of the time.

Features like HDR are present, but at only 400 nits, I wouldn’t recommend using HDR since the panel doesn’t get bright enough to truly experience it. VRR support is present and if you have AMD card you will get Freesync support. If you have an Nvidia card, this monitor is G-Sync compatible, so turning it on will enable VRR as well.

ELMB can also help with motion blur, but will limit the screen brightness and lock you out of other features, which some users won’t like. Experiment with all the features to find the ones that best suit you, but right out of the box the monitor provides a bright, vivid picture that’s ready for gaming.

Features

The XG27WCS is packed with features that are designed to enhance the gaming experience. The monitor has a variety of gaming-specific features, such as GamePlus and GameVisual, which can put a crosshair on your screen or an FPS counter, amongst other things. I’m a pretty minimalistic person when it comes to features like these, so I don’t usually turn them on, but they are there and they do function.

Features like blue light filtering are also present for those that will use this monitor later at night or for productivity instead of gaming. These additional features are all just icing on the cake as Asus doesn’t seem to skimp out on packing this budget monitor full of high end features.

The adjustable stand is solid and works like a charm. This is a huge bonus because a lot of monitors at this price point come with a fixed stand that can be uncomfortable if you’re a little too tall or short.

You’ll also get 1 DP, 1 HDMI and 1 USB-C port on the back for connectivity. USB-C is great to see on a monitor of this price and will allow for future connectivity as well.

Overall
The Asus ROG Strix XG27WCS is a fantastic choice for the budget friendly gamer and offers a lot of features for its price point.

Pros
Great contrast, vivid colors, deep blacks
Fast refresh rate and low response time
Variety of gaming-specific features
Adjustable stand
Cons
Slight ghosting still present, even with Fast VA technology
Questionable build quality

I decided I wanted to get myself a proper gaming set up, so per usual, I started with trying to find an ASUS monitor. This one has exceeded all expectations!

Features
The ROG Strix is a curved gaming monitor that boasts a maximum resolution of 2560×1440 for a spectacular picture all-around. My model is 27″ and includes FreeSync Premium synchronization, a 180Hz refresh rate, and a 1 millisecond pixel response time to make the visual aspect of gaming a breeze.

Pros
The refresh rate is lightning fast with a much better response time than any other monitors I have tried! FreeSync Premium synchronization is a feature I haven’t experienced before, but it helps the syncing of a visual display to a game’s frame rate and makes it seamlessly combine for a smooth visual experience. As always, a curved monitor helps give a better perspective of how our eyes naturally see things and therefore makes gameplay much more immersive. Pixel response is also very fast, to the point where I am seeing no delay.

Cons
I wish there were more HDMI ports. It only includes two, but I can use as many as I can get. I love being able to have one seamless set-up for whatever I need and by preparing a gaming set-up, I’m able to do just that. I can easily get an external accessory to correct it, of course.

Conclusion
I’d definitely recommend this monitor! It’s a bit high tech for simply browsing the internet, but if you game or watch a movie with it once, you’ll be hooked.

I currently use a 25” Alienware display for gaming. This ASUS ROG Strix is my first curved monitor. I’ve been wanting something a little bigger. I’m not utilizing the stand as I mounted it on a dual monitor stand next to my Alienware. Going over it, and checking out the quality of the asus stand that came with this monitor, it appears well made, and both the base and neck swivel for easy adjustment.
This monitor came with a very decent zippered bag for cord storage, or whatever you want to use it for honestly. (see photo) Strange as I’ve never seen any bag quite so nice with any other monitor I’ve purchased. Come to think of it, they don’t usually come with a zippered bag.
I really really wanted to like the picture quality since it’s now my biggest monitor, and I plan on some serious gaming on it. Spent a considerable amount of time on it, adjusting the display levels , trying the presets, and testing it on a few games. At first I noticed there are very nice buttons for adjustments/menus on the back of the monitor. (see photo) These are well made and very responsive. I tried the FPS preset and Cinema, Racing presets while gaming. I tried the HDR, but after a long time of farting around, determined that it barely edged out the SDRGB clarity when compared. Even downloaded a Windows 11 HDR Calibration program. There is a side by side photo showing the best picture for both monitors (see photo) The Alienware is the monitor on the left and the ASUS ROG is on the right. It’s not even a comparison between the two images, due to the Alienware being so much better quality . Sorry Asus, Im just not too impressed with the quality of the image on this monitor. My 2 hours of learning how monitors are made, and how to set the image parameters, must not have been too fruitful otherwise. Tried everything I could to tweak it. Finally ended up on the best setting I could come up with, which was I believe full 180 Hz, HDR definition, and I believe Cinema mode. (see photo)
Monitor speed there was absolutely no issue at all. Played hours of games and never any slowdown of the monitors capability of 180 Hz. That said it’s a decent enough display for those who aren’t too picky and it’s at your price point.
For me I’ll use it as a backup gaming monitor instead, and as a 2nd screen for when I work from home.