The ASUS VG278Q is one of the first G-SYNC compatible FreeSync enabled displays to launch this first quarter of the year. Coming in hot with 144Hz support at around $350 USD or about 16995 Pesos, the latest display from ASUS also sports ELMB at 120Hz.

ASUS markets the ASUS VG278Q as an eSports gaming monitor and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be one based on the specifications alone. That includes a 1ms response time, the 144Hz refresh rate, adaptive sync support and a slew of other gaming centric features. Are ASUS’s claims really on point? Are better choices out there? We will find that out on this review.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

Display‎

Connectivity

Size 24″
Aspect Ratio‎ 16:9‎
Resolution ‎ 1920 x 1080
Refresh Rate 144Hz
Display Area 597.6 x 336.15mm
Pixel Pitch 0.311mm
Brightness 400cd/㎡
Contrast ‎Ratio 1000:1‎‎
DCR 100000000:1
Panel Type‎ TN
Response Time‎ 1ms‎‎
Input/Output Connector‎ HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI-D
USB/Audio‎ 3.5mm audio out
Ergonomics
VESA Wall Mount‎ 100 x 100mm
Pivot -90°/+90°
Swivel -90°/+90°
Tilt -5°/+33°
Hight Adjustment 0-130mm

DESIGN, LAYOUT AND CONNECTIVITY:

The ASUS VG278Q looks like one of their standard gaming monitors. Design is neat, doesn’t stand out much and will most likely fit any desktops nicely. At 27″ inches, the display is pushing 1080P at its limits. The not so great PPI at 81.59 is something that you need to be aware of.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

Screen coating used is a blend between gloss and a matte finish. A usual feature found on most gaming displays. Bezel is rather thin, which is a nice contrast compared to my aging ASUS MG278Q.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

Ergonomically, the ASUS VG278Q could tilt, swivel and pivot on top of the VESA mountable design. This weights in at 3.2 kilograms without the stand so standard VESA mounts could lift it without a fuss.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

As for display options, ASUS went with a single HDMI, Display and a DVI-D port. We also got an audio out but I’d rather see a USB option here.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

Power is unfortunately external but we do have dual 2W RMS speakers.

ON-SCREEN DISPLAY MENU:

The ASUS VG278Q features a familiar easy to use joystick enabled OSD. We have 8 main menus here with the GameVisual, Color and Image menus being the most important ones out of the bunch.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

Perhaps what I find annoying are the locked Color options for certain GameVisual presets. The lack of Gamma adjustment settings doesn’t help either so perhaps ASUS could really use an overhaul of the OSD. Maybe ASUS could just add another preset that we could use to fine tune everything on our own?

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

TEST SETUP AND METHODOLOGY:

Our test setup relies on the Blur Busters TestUFO Motion Tests and the Data Color Spyder5ELITE Display Calibration System. The cameras used throughout the review for the motion artifact and high speed assessments are the Fujifilm XE-1 and the Nikon 1 J1.

TEST SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS
PROCESSOR Intel Core i5 6600K
MOTHERBOARD ASUS Z170-A
COOLER Cryorig C1 Top Flow
MEMORY Crucial Ballistix Tactical DDR4 @ 2666MHz 2x4GB
GRAPHICS ASUS ROG STRIX GTX 1060 OC 6GB
STORAGE  Crucial BX200 480GB
POWER Corsair RM850X 850W
DISPLAY ASUS MG278Q
OS Microsoft Windows 10 Pro

Target for calibration is a 2.2 Gamma value, with a White Point at 6500K and a Brightness value set at 120 cd/㎡. Calibrated values are then analyzed with the Spyder5ELITE Display Analysis tool. Do note that Dynamic Contrast Ratio and other extra features built within the OSD are disabled during the tests. The following OSD values are selected for the display calibration.

OSD Settings
Brightness 28
Contrast 80
Saturation NA
Temperature User
Gamma NA
Preset Racing

GAMUT:

The Gamut test evaluates the color spaces the display exactly covers. That includes industry standard spaces such as sRGB and AdobeRGB. Higher percentage values are better.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

The ASUS VG278Q’s color space coverage is generally good. We got a 100% sRGB coverage while AdobeRGB results are at 76%.

TONE RESPONSE:

Tone response is where we check the display’s Gamma values and or presets if there are any. We then compare the results with industry standards of 1.8, 2.2 and 2.4. Closer to these values are better.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

The ASUS VG278Q doesn’t feature any gamma level adjustment option but you may get a lower or higher level depending on the presets you choose. For an instance, a gamma level of 2.4 is the mainstay level on our selected Racing mode.

BRIGHTNESS AND CONTRAST:

The result of the tests shows us an overview on how the display actually performs in terms of Brightness and Contrast ratio on varying brightness levels. Higher is better.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

Brightness at 100% using our calibrated profile is rated at 373.1 cd/㎡. Contrast ratio at 100% contrast on the other hand is at 900:1. Good values we got here to be honest.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

SCREEN UNIFORMITY:

This test shows us an overview of the screen’s uniformity at the calibrated brightness level. The closer this value to 0, the better the performance of the panel.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

Screen uniformity is what I could say near the middle of the pack with a Delta-E value of 1.47 average.

COLOR ACCURACY:

This test shows how well different basic color hues are being reproduced by the display. These color tones correspond with the Datacolor SpyderCheckr. Lower Delta-E values are better.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

The ASUS VG278Q scored an average of 1.40 Delta-E value. Decent result we got here, even beating some of the most popular displays on the review.

POWER CONSUMPTION:

The power consumption is checked with a power meter. Measurements are taken at maximum brightness level.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

The ASUS VG278Q power consumption is at 30.9W. The most power efficient 27″ 1080P display we’ve tested so far.

BACKLIGHT BLEED AND VIEWING ANGLES:

Backlight Bleed is the phenomenon where backlighting from a display leaks. This is prevalent with LED backlight enabled displays where the LEDs used to light the panel are situated at the edges of the display. Testing the Backlight of the display is conducted on a dim room, simulating the recognizable amount of bleed for such scenario.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

Viewing angles are also tested to check out how the display panel performs on various positions. This should be helpful if you are looking for a panel that could be used on multi-monitor setups.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

The backlight bleed of the ASUS VG278Q at 120 cd/㎡ is hardly noticeable. Viewing angles however are horrendous. The worst so far even compared to other TN panels we’ve tested.

BUTTON TO PIXEL INPUT LAG:

The Button to Pixel Input Lag is a combination of system latency from the point of input, processing and display output. That is the basic of it and to quantify the approximate Button to Pixel Input Lag, we utilized Quake 3 Arena as our main shooter. The game is set at the native resolution of the panel with the FPS locked at 250. We check how much delay in milliseconds it took the display to actually output the signal via a 1200 FPS high-speed camera with ~0.83ms of accuracy.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

Our button to pixel lag results shows that the ASUS VG278Q has an average of 17.6ms of latency. The worst button to pixel lag result we’ve got.

FRAME SKIPPING:

Frame Skipping is the phenomenon where dropped frames and missing refreshes occur due to ineffective refresh rate overclocking. If your display exhibits such issues, it should be perceptually similar to in-game frame skipping. We are are utilizing the Blur Busters Frame Skipping Checker to test if there is any.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

Unfortunately, the ASUS VG278Q also suffers from frame skipping at 144Hz (120Hz is flawless). I asked ASUS if this is just a problem with my unit, but I have yet to receive a concrete answer. This could also explain the mediocre button to pixel lag result we got from the display. Is my unit a lemon? Highly possible, since it also appears to be a retail unit. Only ASUS could tell.

MOTION CLARITY: DISPLAY PERSISTENCE

Motion Picture Response Time (MPRT) is the numbered approach to demonstrate the level of perceived motion blur on a display. Basically, a lower persistence value indicates less motion blur. Refresh rate and the sampling method plays a major part here whereas a higher refresh rate nominally features better display persistence values.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

Assessing the typical display persistence is easy enough with sample and hold displays, while CRT and Strobe Lighting enabled displays are quite difficult to test with the current tools available. That said, these are still good references to check out. Especially true if we’re looking for differences based on refresh rates alone.

MOTION CLARITY: PURSUIT CAMERA

Setting up a pursuit camera courtesy of Blur Busters allows us to a great extent, perceive the actual motion blur of the display. Using such method also allows us to check out for other motion artifacts including ghosting, inverse ghosting and other artifacts. This pursuit camera test is a peer-reviewed invention.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

Motion clarity wise, we are looking at a display with around 1-2ms MPRT. That’s with the Trace Free at 50% and ELMB turned on. Trace Free is best used at 50% under 144Hz, while it is just painful at 100%.

SOFTWARE, LIGHTING AND SPECIAL FEATURES:

The ASUS VG278Q comes equipped with support for Adaptive Sync which means it supports AMD FreeSync and is certified Nvidia G-SYNC compatible. This means that if you have an Nvidia or an AMD graphics card, you could use the adaptive sync technology of the monitor regardless. This is a great feature if you absolutely hate screen tearing but be aware of the input lag it may induce.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

The VG278Q also features ASUS’ own ULMB called ELMB. This is an excellent feature to reduce motion blur, even better when paired with the ASUS Trace Free at 50%. The drawbacks though is that you have to maintain your frame rate, it is technically locked at 120Hz and cannot be used with Adaptive Sync.

asus, gadgets, gaming, reviews, microsoft, monitor, nvidia, windows, microsoft, windows, microsoft, review | asus vg278q 144hz tn gaming monitor

Other features includes flicker-free backlight, hotkeys for the ASUS GamePlus in-game enhancements and many more. Please refer to the official product link for more information.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

The ASUS VG278Q is supposed to be an excellent gaming display for its price point. We have Adaptive Sync support for both AMD and Nvidia, an in-house Anti-motion Blur technology built-in and a panel that offers good color space coverage and zero backlight bleed on top of its other game centric features. But we have one concern here and that’s frame skipping at 144Hz.

Granted, it shouldn’t be an issue since I may be dealing with a lemon unit here and ASUS appears to conclude the same. Regardless and if it is indeed the case, then it is possible that other units might suffer the same issue. I have tried everything to check out the cause of the issue (changed cables, ports, components, etc) but alas, I couldn’t figure out what’s up with it. The only solution I could find is to either lower the refresh rate at 120Hz or have it configured using a custom resolution tool.

The poor viewing angles and button to pixel input lag are also nothing to scoff at. I could actually live with the viewing angles but the input lag is just insane on top of the frame skipping issue. If you are not heavy invested on a competitive level this certainly wouldn’t hurt as a daily driver but if you are like me who thinks that every millisecond and frames count then this is not the display to go with. Then again, the unit I got could be a lemon.

Overall the ASUS VG278Q is still a value oriented 27 inch TN display at 16995 Pesos with clear trade offs. If you have the cash to spend and you already got that cpu and gpu combo for competitive 144Hz gaming, then you need to look elsewhere.

ASUS VG278Q Gaming Monitor Review
  • 6/10 PERFORMANCE – 6/10
  • 6/10 BUILD QUALITY – 6/10
  • 8/10 FEATURES – 8/10
  • 9/10 AESTHETICS – 9/10
  • 8/10 VALUE – 8/10

7.4/10

Summary

Overall the ASUS VG278Q is still a value oriented 27 inch TN display at 16995 Pesos with clear trade offs. Definitely not a competitive grade gaming monitor though with the issues in-tow.

Keyword: Review | ASUS VG278Q 144Hz TN Gaming Monitor

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

Review: Reevaluating the Honda HR-V RS e:HEV - A pleasant surprise

A few months ago, we had the opportunity to test the Honda HR-V Turbo, which left us thoroughly impressed with its excellence among small crossovers. However, we must admit that our initial impression of the Honda HR-V e:HEV RS hybrid was less than favourable. Oh, how mistaken we were! The ...

View more: Review: Reevaluating the Honda HR-V RS e:HEV - A pleasant surprise

The 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor duo - 2.0L twin-turbodiesel & 3.0L EcoBoost V6 - tested in Sa Pa, Vietnam

We were lucky enough to be given the opportunity to experience the Ford Ranger Raptor with both the V6 petrol and twin-turbodiesel powertrains and compare them back to back in the dramatic backdrop of Sa Pa in Vietnam, full of challenging mountainous terrain. Here’s what we came away with. Only ...

View more: The 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor duo - 2.0L twin-turbodiesel & 3.0L EcoBoost V6 - tested in Sa Pa, Vietnam

Porsche & Microsoft unveil limited edition Xbox Series Xs

The Xboxes will also be part of the brand’s major auto & gaming-themed events across the globe. Porsche is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. To celebrate the occasion, the carmaker has announced a collaboration with Microsoft to launch a limited-edition line of the Xbox Series Xs. Both brands have ...

View more: Porsche & Microsoft unveil limited edition Xbox Series Xs

Five reasons to LOVE the 2023 Honda WR-V

It's no surprise that the 2023 Honda WR-V is coming to Malaysia very soon, which is why Honda Malaysia took some of the country's motoring media members to Thailand for a short taste of what the small SUV has to offer. Our trip's goal was simple – drive Thailand's range-topping ...

View more: Five reasons to LOVE the 2023 Honda WR-V

New F1 Manager 2023 game now available for pre-order

It’s less than two months until F1 Manager 2023, Frontier Development’s second officially licensed Formula 1 management game, launches digitally with a physical release for console versions coming at a later date. From July 31 players will be able to take charge of any one of the 10 teams on ...

View more: New F1 Manager 2023 game now available for pre-order

Siemens to supply Freyr with digitization technology

Siemens and Freyr Battery are cooperating on sustainable battery production as part of the Siemens Xcelerator open digital business platform. The strategic partnership, announced at Hannover Messe, will see Siemens become Freyr’s preferred supplier of automation and digitalisation technology. According to the agreement, Freyr will use hardware and software ...

View more: Siemens to supply Freyr with digitization technology

FIRST LOOK: 2023 Proton X90 Premium and Flagship variants

As we inch closer to the launch of the all-new 2023 Proton X90, we took a much closer look at the top two variants, the Premium and Flagship models. As announced previously, there will be four different variants to choose from when it comes to the 2023 Proton X90 three-row ...

View more: FIRST LOOK: 2023 Proton X90 Premium and Flagship variants

First Drive: 2023 Honda Civic RS e:HEV - Making My Job Difficult

Having driven the Honda Civic quite a number of times over these last 2 generations of the model shifting toward a predominantly turbocharged era, I did meet e:HEV version with a degree of skepticism. When I first heard about the car’s imminent launch, I reckon that fitting an RS badge ...

View more: First Drive: 2023 Honda Civic RS e:HEV - Making My Job Difficult

SDAC-Ford organises beginner's off-road experience for Ford Ranger owners

VinBrain joins NVIDIA Inception as premier member to drive HealthTech innovation in Southeast Asia

Installed JDM clock monitor on my Swift; found out its not compatible

Review: 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ AMG Line - The Luxurious EV that can cope without a charging network

First Drive: 2023 Perodua Axia - "Better, MUCH better"

Jeremy Clarkson finds Range Rover Sport no match for its big brother when it comes to carrying his shotgun

Five new racing games you need for 2023

These are the 50 best driving games of all time

Microsoft invests in Darwinbox, collaborates on product integration

Elizabeth Warren grills Tesla Board on Elon Musk’s alleged absence

Google rivals join forces in online maps

10Best Cars for 2023

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel