Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS: Performance Review & Key Specs

The latest 27-inch 1440p gaming screen from Asus provides exceptionally fast response times, excellent image quality, and a robust set of features, all at a surprisingly affordable price.

Asus Rog Strix Xg27acs: Quick Review

Choosing a 27-inch screen with 1440p resolution is still considered the top option for most PC gamers. And now, it’s more affordable than ever, with high-refresh alternatives dropping below $200. Given this context, the new Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS might not seem like an immediate steal.

Certainly, it’s less expensive than Asus’s premium ROG line’s comparable model. However, at around $300, it’s still notably pricier than basic screens meeting the 1440p, 27-inch, and high-refresh criteria.

Yet, the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS boasts an impressive list of specifications to rival the finest gaming monitors. In addition to the 1440p, 27-inch setup, it offers a 180Hz refresh rate, surpassing the more common 144Hz found in cheaper models, along with a 1ms GtG response time. This latter specification suggests it’s likely an IPS rather than VA panel, which indeed it is.

Furthermore, it supports HDR400, enabling a peak brightness of 400 nits. While HDR400 is the lowest level of HDR compliance, realistic expectations should be set regarding what this type of screen can deliver. Nevertheless, it’s superior to having no HDR support at all.

Moreover, it features USB-C with power delivery and a highly adjustable stand. Combined with being a product from one of the top gaming brands, it presents a compelling overall offer. Admittedly, it’s not the most economical 1440p screen available. Nonetheless, it’s reasonably priced and appears very promising on paper.

Asus Rog Strix Xg27acs: Cost & Availability

What is the price? $299 / approximately £325 / AU$450
When can you buy it? It’s available now
Where is it sold? Currently available in the US

Priced at $299 in the US, and estimated to be around £325 in the UK and $450 in Australia (pricing in those regions has yet to be confirmed at the time of writing), the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS isn’t the most inexpensive high-refresh 1440p monitor on the market.

Nevertheless, it’s quite competitive considering its specifications, which include a 180Hz refresh rate from an IPS panel, and the fact that it’s manufactured by Asus. If you’re seeking something cheaper, you might consider the Gigabyte G27Q, which also features an IPS panel but is limited to a 144Hz refresh rate.

Asus Rog Strix Xg27acs: Design

Adjustable stand with full range of motion
High-quality construction despite the relatively low cost
Rated HDR400, but lacks local dimming

Being part of the more budget-friendly Asus ROG Strix series rather than the premium ROG Swift lineup, it’s not surprising that the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS doesn’t come with numerous RGB lights. However, you do get a top-notch and fully adjustable stand, offering height, tilt, swivel, and portrait mode pivot.

Overall, it appears and feels superior to other similarly priced 1440p options. This extends to the connectivity, which includes DisplayPort, HDMI, and USB-C with power delivery. While having USB-C at this price point is impressive, it only delivers 7.5W of power. Thus, it’s not sufficient to charge a laptop via a single cable.

Instead, Asus suggests using it to charge your smartphone, with a dedicated slot on the front of the stand base. While this is feasible, it’s not significantly advantageous compared to simply plugging your phone into a wall outlet. If the stand offered wireless charging or the USB-C port delivered more than 7.5W, its utility would be greatly enhanced.

Beyond the basics of 1440p and 27 inches, the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS offers a strong set of specifications. With a 180Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, it satisfies the needs of most gamers, surpassing cheaper models based on VA technology. For a significantly better response, you’d have to spend nearly three times as much on an OLED monitor.

Regarding HDR, it’s certified for DisplayHDR 400, providing 400 nits of brightness. Despite lacking local dimming, it’s not a true HDR display. However, with a claimed 97% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space, it offers fairly accurate color representation.

While there are gaming monitors with higher specifications, including other 1440p models, the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS meets all the essential criteria for an excellent gaming experience.

Asus Rog Strix Xg27acs Review: Performance

The factory color calibration is superb.
SDR visuals remain strong in HDR mode.
Response times are incredibly quick.

This monitor is beautifully calibrated. The colors are spot-on, and the display is vibrant, lively, and accurate.

While all of this applies to the default SDR mode, the HDR mode is even better. But perhaps not for the reasons you might expect. Being an HDR400 panel with no local dimming, it provides only basic HDR support. However, what’s most impressive is how SDR content is handled in HDR mode.

In essence, this monitor offers the closest experience to perfect SDR calibration in HDR mode among affordable HDR-capable LCD monitors. Often, this class of entry-level HDR monitor mishandles SDR content in HDR mode, necessitating constant mode switching based on content type. However, with this Asus Strix panel, you can leave it in HDR mode all the time. It simplifies things greatly.

Another standout feature is pixel response. It’s as good as it gets for IPS gaming monitors in terms of perceived pixel response—it’s incredibly sharp and clear. Even better, the OSD menu offers a choice of 20 levels of pixel overdrive. While it may seem excessive, it allows you to find the perfect balance between speed and overshoot according to your preference.

In truth, even with the overdrive set to the maximum, the overshoot and inverse ghosting are quite minimal. The only real downside in terms of response is that the ELMB (Extreme Low Motion Blur) mode only marginally improves subjective response, and like all other ELMB modes, it dims the brightness to the extent that it’s hard to see why anyone would use it.

In comparison, unless you’re willing to invest in an OLED monitor that costs about 2.5 times as much, you’ll struggle to notice the extra speed compared to pricier 1440p panels. Even in 2024, 1440p on a 27-inch screen remains a sensible choice for mainstream gaming. It offers plenty of image detail without burdening the GPU as much as 1440p. Therefore, you don’t need a $1,000 graphics card to fully enjoy this display.

Ultimately, the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS may not be the most affordable high-refresh 1440p panel available, but it excels above lesser alternatives in terms of speed, accuracy, and overall visual quality.

The only glaring flaw is the somewhat pointless USB-C interface with its limited power delivery (and the gimmicky phone slot in the stand, if that bothers you). However, setting those aside, this gaming panel offers excellent specs at a reasonable price. It comes highly recommended.