ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQR 27-inch 4K 160Hz Monitor: specs and who it suits

The ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQR is a 27-inch gaming monitor with a 4K (3840 x 2160) Fast IPS panel and a native 160Hz refresh rate. It is aimed at players who want sharp detail and smooth motion on the same screen, whether the source is a gaming PC or a current console.

What 4K at 27 inches looks like

A 3840 x 2160 image on a 27-inch panel packs in roughly 163 pixels per inch. Text, interface elements and fine texture are typically much crisper than on a 1080p or 1440p screen of the same size. The trade-off is that the graphics card has to render four times as many pixels as 1080p, so reaching high frame rates in demanding games takes a capable GPU.

Refresh rate, response time and tear-free play

The refresh rate is how many times per second the screen redraws. ASUS lists 160Hz native, above the common 144Hz tier. The panel uses Fast IPS technology, and ASUS rates it at 1ms grey-to-grey (GTG), the usual lab measure of how quickly a pixel changes shade. Real-world blur depends on the content and settings, but IPS panels are generally valued for their wide viewing angles.

For tear-free frames, the monitor supports FreeSync Premium Pro, and ASUS also describes it as NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible. Both let the screen follow the frame rate the graphics card produces instead of a fixed schedule. Variable Overdrive, also listed, adjusts pixel response as the refresh rate changes.

HDR and colour

The monitor is DisplayHDR 600 compliant. That tier is a step above entry-level HDR badges, but it is not the same as the deepest-contrast panels, so expect a noticeable improvement in bright highlights rather than cinema-grade black levels. Colour coverage is given as 95% DCI-P3 in the description (96% in the title), which points to a wider palette than standard sRGB displays. That helps with games and with photo or video work.

Connections and console use

ASUS says the monitor supports HDMI 2.1, allowing native 4K at up to 120Hz on the latest consoles without chroma subsampling. For PCs, Display Stream Compression (DSC) is what lets a 4K signal reach high refresh rates over DisplayPort. Check your graphics card's DisplayPort version and DSC support to see whether you can use the full 160Hz.

Who it suits

It suits PC players with a strong graphics card who want image quality alongside speed, and console owners who want 4K at 120Hz. It is less obviously suited to players who care only about the highest possible frame rates in competitive shooters, where a lower resolution is typically easier to drive.

What to check before you buy

• Your graphics card: confirm it can output 4K at the refresh rate you want, including DSC support if you plan to use 160Hz.
• Cables and ports: use a DisplayPort cable or HDMI 2.1 cable rated for the bandwidth.
• Desk space: the listing gives about 24 inches wide and 20 inches tall with the stand, and a weight of 16.3 lb.
• Operating system scaling: at 4K on 27 inches, you will probably use display scaling for a comfortable text size.
• Adaptive sync on your setup: confirm that your GPU and drivers support the variable refresh technology you intend to use.

The short version

• 27-inch 4K (3840 x 2160) Fast IPS panel with a native 160Hz refresh rate.
• 1ms GTG response time, FreeSync Premium Pro, Variable Overdrive and G-SYNC Compatible.
• DisplayHDR 600 and about 95% DCI-P3 colour coverage.
• HDMI 2.1 for 4K 120Hz on consoles; DisplayPort with DSC for PC use.
• Needs a capable graphics card to use the resolution at high frame rates.

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