ASUS ROG has a new monitor for gamers called the ROG Strix XG27ACS, boasting a 27″ 1440p screen with a 180Hz refresh rate. While gaming monitors are common nowadays, ROG made this model more enticing by combining utility and performance.

Starting with the design, I like how the ROG Strix XG27ACS looks. It’s ergonomic, looks clean with slim bezels, and doesn’t scream ‘gaming’, at least on the front (we’ll talk about that in a bit). It should blend well in a home office or a gaming room.

However, if you’re looking for its gaming personality, you can look at its base, the stand, and the rear. They’re angular and feature futuristic ROG accents. It would have been cooler if ROG added built-in RGB at the back, but that may be asking too much considering its price.

Let’s start talking about its utility. The base of the ROG Strix XG27ACS is not just an ordinary base as it has a phone stand, which is perfect for your ROG Phone or other smartphones. However, I don’t think it will be able to accommodate those with thick smartphone cases. The stand, on the other hand, can smoothly swivel from the base, which makes it easier to adjust the angle without having to lift the whole monitor. It also lets you adjust the angle and height, as well as tilt the monitor up to 90 degrees for vertical setups. It’s also VESA-compatible and has a provision for mounting your streaming camera.

For the ports, we have a Type-C port that supports DP Alt mode for video out and power delivery, DisplayPort 1.4 for high-resolution and high-refresh-rate connections, and an HDMI 2.0 port for connecting consoles and other multimedia devices.

Also found at the back are the physical buttons for controlling the monitor’s settings. Or you can use the DisplayWidget Center app, so you don’t need to use the physical buttons.

Having more accustomed to a 34-inch curved monitor, my initial impression is that a 27-inch screen is not enough but the ROG Strix XG27ACS made me reconsider. Given the slim bezels and 2560 x 1440 resolution, the screen is sharp and immersive. With Fast IPS, Display HDR400, cinema-standard DCI-P3 97%, and sRGB 133% color gamut, the colors and contrast are superb.

Gamers will surely appreciate the 180Hz refresh rate, 1ms (GTG) response time, and G-SYNC & FreeSync compatibility. Additionally, the ELMB-SYNC technology eliminates ghosting and tearing for sharp visuals and high frame rates while gaming. On the other hand, the integrated ASUS Variable Overdrive 2.0 dynamically adjusts the monitor’s overdrive setting as frame rates fluctuate, to ensure optimal results for any game.

Those into competitive FPS games can also take advantage of the AI-powered GamePlus technology, which analyzes the scene on-screen in real time and adjusts the GamePlus crosshair for improved targeting. The Dynamic Shadow Boost also brightens dark areas without overexposing bright areas for a clearer view in low-light environments.

To sum it all up, the ROG Strix XG27ACS is one of the most interesting 27-inch monitors I’ve used. Partnered with a good gaming PC or laptop (like the ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2024) G834, it was easy to appreciate the features such as the high refresh rate and G-Sync compatibility. Even when you’re just using it for work, the high resolution and accurate colors should serve you well in photo and video editing tasks. Lastly, it’s competitively priced at PHP 19,190. I’m tempted to get two of them for a cool dual-monitor setup.

Read more about the ROG Strix XG27ACS here.