ASUS VA27VQSE 27-Inch Curved Monitor: features, specs and who it suits

The ASUS VA27VQSE is a 27-inch curved monitor with a Full HD (1920x1080) panel. It targets everyday desktop use: documents, web browsing, films and casual games. The curve and thin borders are meant to make the screen feel larger and more enclosing than a flat panel of the same size.

What the curve and size do

The VA27VQSE has a 1500R curvature. The "R" number is the radius in millimetres of the circle the screen would form, so 1500R means a curve with a radius of about 1.5 metres, which is fairly gentle. ASUS says the curve and frameless design give more immersive, 3D-like images. The listing also quotes a 178° wide viewing angle, which means that the picture should stay readable when you look at it from the side.

At 27 inches with a 1080p resolution, text and images are a little less sharp than they would be on a higher-resolution panel of the same size, because the pixels are spread over a larger area. Seated at a typical desk distance this is normally fine for general use, but it is worth keeping in mind if you do a lot of detailed text work.

Refresh rate and Adaptive-Sync

The monitor refreshes up to 75 times a second. That is a step up from the 60Hz of basic office screens, and it makes cursor and scrolling movement a little smoother. ASUS lists Adaptive-Sync and FreeSync support, which let the monitor match its refresh rate to the frames the graphics card produces, to avoid tearing. The listing says it works with AMD Radeon graphics cards using FreeSync, and with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10 series, GTX 16 series, RTX 20 series and newer cards using Adaptive-Sync.

Eye Care features

ASUS Eye Care is the name for a group of settings. The listing says the monitor has TÜV Rheinland-certified flicker-free and low blue light technologies, plus a Color Augmentation mode for telling similar colours apart and a Rest Reminder that prompts you to take screen breaks. These are the brand's descriptions of the features, so check the manual for how to enable them.

Ports, stand and mounting

Video inputs are HDMI and DisplayPort. The stand tilts, swivels and adjusts in height, and the monitor can also be mounted on a VESA wall or arm mount. The listing gives dimensions of 8.3 x 24.0 x 15.1 inches (about 21 x 61 x 38 cm) and a weight of 8.8 lb (about 4 kg). In the box, ASUS lists a DisplayPort cable, a power cord and adapter, a warranty card and a quick start guide. An HDMI cable is not mentioned, so you may need one if your computer lacks DisplayPort.

Who it suits

It suits a home or office desk where a big, curved Full HD screen is wanted for work, streaming and light gaming. It is less suited to anyone who needs a high refresh rate for fast competitive games or very high resolution for design work.

What to check before you buy

• Desk space: the panel is about 24 inches wide, so measure the desk and the stand footprint.
• Connections: check that your computer has HDMI or DisplayPort, and that you have the right cable.
• Graphics card: confirm Adaptive-Sync compatibility if you want variable refresh with NVIDIA hardware.
• Mounting: if you want a wall or arm mount, check the VESA pattern in the manual.
• Resolution: decide if 1080p at 27 inches suits how you work.
• Curve: a curved panel can look different from a flat one when you view it at an angle, and it can affect wall-mount fit.

The short version

• A 27-inch curved (1500R) Full HD LED monitor with thin borders.
• Up to 75Hz with Adaptive-Sync and FreeSync support.
• HDMI and DisplayPort inputs; a DisplayPort cable is in the box.
• Tilt, swivel and height adjustment, plus VESA mounting.
• Eye Care features: flicker-free, low blue light, Color Augmentation and Rest Reminder.

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