ASUS TUF Gaming VG27VH1B 27-inch Curved Monitor: features and specs

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27VH1B is a 27-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) gaming monitor with a gently curved screen and a 165Hz refresh rate. It is aimed at gamers who want smooth motion on a screen that is large without being too wide for a typical desk.

The 1500R curve

The screen has a 1500R curve. The number is the radius of the curve in millimetres, so 1500R matches a circle with a radius of 1.5 metres. A tighter curve wraps more around your view. At typical desk distance, a curve like this keeps the edges of a 27-inch screen at a similar distance from your eyes as the centre.

165Hz refresh rate

ASUS lists 165Hz and says the monitor supports 144Hz as well. Refresh rate is the number of times per second the image updates. Compared with a standard 60Hz screen, higher rates generally make fast movement look smoother, provided your graphics card produces enough frames per second to take advantage.

Motion blur and tearing

ELMB (Extreme Low Motion Blur) is ASUS technology that aims to reduce motion blur, and ASUS pairs it with a 1ms response time (MPRT) and Adaptive-sync. MPRT, moving picture response time, is measured differently from grey-to-grey figures, so avoid comparing the two directly.

FreeSync Premium is AMD's variable refresh rate technology. It makes the monitor's refresh follow your graphics card's frame rate, which reduces screen tearing and stutter. ASUS says the monitor supports Adaptive-Sync with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10 series, GTX 16 series, RTX 20 series and newer cards, and FreeSync with AMD Radeon cards.

Shadow Boost

Shadow Boost brightens dark areas of the image to bring out detail. ASUS says it does so without over-exposing the bright parts. It tends to be most useful in games with dim environments.

Connections

The listing names HDMI 2.0 and D-Sub (VGA). That is a short list: no DisplayPort is mentioned, so check that your computer and graphics card have a matching output. HDMI 2.0 is generally enough for 1080p at high refresh rates, though you should confirm that your cable and source can carry 165Hz. D-Sub is an older analogue connection that mainly helps with older equipment.

Size and weight

The listed dimensions are 18.7 x 24.0 x 8.4 inches (47 x 61 x 21 cm) and the weight is 11.8 lb (about 5.4 kg).

Who it suits

It suits gamers moving up from a 60Hz screen who play fast-paced titles at 1080p, and anyone who wants a larger curved display for general use. At 27 inches, 1080p has a lower pixel density than higher resolutions, so text and fine detail look less sharp.

What to check before you buy

• Ports: confirm your computer has HDMI or a suitable adaptor, as no DisplayPort is listed.
• Graphics card: make sure it can supply enough frames per second for 144 or 165Hz.
• Desk: measure for the width and the stand depth.
• Adjustability: check the manual for tilt, height and wall-mount options.
• Cables: check which cables are included.
• Software offers: the Adobe Creative Cloud offer mentioned in the listing ran only until 2024.

The short version

• A 27-inch 1080p curved (1500R) gaming monitor from the TUF Gaming line.
• 165Hz refresh rate, with 144Hz supported.
• ELMB with 1ms MPRT, Adaptive-sync and FreeSync Premium.
• Shadow Boost for dark scenes.
• HDMI 2.0 and D-Sub inputs; no DisplayPort listed.

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