By All of the cutting-edge technologies that make PC gaming so enjoyable are included in the Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM ($1,199) monitor: a 4K screen, a 240Hz peak refresh rate, and DisplayPort 2.1 technology to connect with the newest GPUs. It also has other notable benefits, such as a QD-OLED screen that offers a very brilliant and vibrant color gamut. When reduced input lag is taken into account, the PG27UCDM emerges as an Editors’ Choice winner and an incredibly powerful high-end gaming monitor. Our top recommendation in this category is now the HP Omen Transcend 32 OLED, while the Omen might be a better option if you’re looking for a larger screen.
Design and Specs
The dimensions of the 27-inch PG27UCDM monitor are 21.6 by 24.03 by 8.61 inches (HWD), and its weight is 16.8 pounds. In addition to being significantly lighter, it is marginally smaller than the MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED. The lighter tripod support, as opposed to the flat, hexagonal metal bases of other monitors, such as the Alienware 27 4K QD-OLED (AW2725Q), is probably the cause of the weight difference. Although I prefer those larger, flatter bases, I like how Asus made use of the extra space by shining an RGB light in the middle of the tripod area from above, creating the illusion of an alien abduction beam.
Comparing favorably to the Asus ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG (111ppi), the PG27UCDM has a pixel density of 166 pixels per inch (ppi). Even the 4K 32-inch screen from last year, the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM, has a lower density of 140 ppi. Sharper photos, more readable text, and more detail are all influenced by higher pixel density.
The design language of the PG27UCDM and the previously mentioned ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM is mostly identical. The Anime Matrix RGB lighting over the back of the monitor cabinet is part of the return of the cyberpunk look that has characterized numerous Asus ROG products in recent years.
The port hub has two HDMI 2.1 inputs, two USB-A 3.2 ports, an upstream USB-B connector, a headphone jack, a USB-C connector that supports 90 watts of power delivery and DisplayPort Alt Mode, and a DisplayPort 2.1 input. There are no built-in speakers on the monitor.
Thanks in part to the new generation of Nvidia GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards that support it, DisplayPort 2.1 technology has finally made its way onto popular gaming monitors this year. The bandwidth of DisplayPort 2.1 is double that of DisplayPort 1.4 (80 Gbps against 32.4 Gbps). You can keep better resolutions and refresh rates without the compression that comes with DisplayPort 1.4 thanks to DisplayPort 2.1’s more bandwidth.
Unlike the groundbreaking Neo Proximity Sensor, the port selection isn’t especially outstanding, but it is everything we would anticipate. To prevent panel burn-in, the sensor instantly switches to a black image when you move away from your screen. When you get back, the monitor switches on automatically without you having to touch any controls. Along with the proximity sensor, the PG27UCDM also features a Target Mode setting that lowers the screen’s brightness overall, with the exception of a chosen pinned window.
With its three unique gameplay-enhancing modes—AI Visual, Dynamic Crosshair, and Dynamic Shadow Boost—the PG27UCDM makes use of artificial intelligence. The most straightforward mode is AI Visual, which automatically modifies settings to fit the action on the screen. In a similar manner, the Dynamic Shadow Boost modifies the scene’s dark regions. The Dynamic Crosshair, which dynamically adjusts the crosshair to contrast with the surroundings, is arguably the most helpful feature for gamers. Similar AI-infused features have been seen before—MSI’s MPG brand of gaming monitors was among the first to introduce them—and while some people may find value in them, if you don’t, they’re generally simple to overlook.
Performance Testing
In our first test, we benchmarked the brightness with the monitor’s default gaming profile over an SDR signal. Under these conditions, we saw an average brightness of 412 nits, well above recently reviewed OLED monitors like the HP Omen Transcend 32 OLED (264 nits) and Alienware AW2725Q (275 nits). Asus lists a maximum brightness of 450 nits in SDR, though it also advertises a rating of 250 nits at a 100% window size (which means the display is showing a full-screen, all-white image). We test OLED monitor SDR brightness at a 10% window size unless otherwise noted.
In our initial test, we used an SDR signal to compare the brightness against the monitor’s preset gaming profile. We observed an average brightness of 412 nits under these circumstances, which is significantly higher than recently evaluated OLED displays such as the Alienware AW2725Q (275 nits) and HP Omen Transcend 32 OLED (264 nits). Although Asus promises a brightness rating of 250 nits at 100% window size (meaning the display is exhibiting a full-screen, all-white image), it lists a maximum brightness of 450 nits in SDR. Unless otherwise specified, we test the SDR brightness of OLED monitors with a window size of 10%.
Gaming and Media Performance
The PG27UCDM has a wide color gamut and a nice appearance, but how does it perform? We used the Leo Bodnar 4K Input Lag Tester to evaluate the input lag of the monitor and played a few games from our library to look for any obvious issues.
Using the Bodnar device, we were able to capture an exceptional 2.5 milliseconds (ms) of input lag at 1080p/240Hz. We measured input lag of 4.7 ms at 1080p/120Hz and 9 ms at 1440p/120Hz. Lastly, we captured input lag of 14.7 ms at 1080p/60Hz and 14.5 ms at 4K/60Hz.
For casual gaming at 60Hz, we believe input lag of 16 ms or less to be more than playable. At every resolution/refresh-rate combination we tested, you will be able to accomplish this. Additionally, at 1080p/240Hz, 2.5ms of input lag is a great result that matches specialized esports panels like the LG 27 UltraGear OLED (27GX790A). The HP Omen Transcend 32, which records 2.3 ms at the same resolution, is still marginally quicker, though. In contrast, the MSI MPG 272URX performs poorly in this area, recording 6 ms of input lag at the same refresh rate and resolution.
The PG27UCDM is G-Sync compatible and supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. The images that were displayed during our ad hoc testing truly caught my attention. New games like Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered looked amazing on the monitor, as did benchmark titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Returnal. Additionally, our standard 4K videos featured deep, inky blacks and rich reds that looked stunning in a variety of lighting conditions. Furthermore, there was no noticeable glare; it always looked fantastic.
Conclusion
Although the Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM is pricey, if you’re already spending a lot of money on a high-end GPU like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, you’ll get the most out of your investment if you get a 4K OLED monitor like this one.
The PG27UCDM is a great choice for all kinds of games because of its great graphics and little input lag. On the monitor, slow-paced RPGs, fast-paced shooters, and everything else will all play smoothly and look good. With this Editors’ Choice winner, Asus has surpassed itself by providing about every feature we could possibly need in a gaming monitor within its price range.
