Asus ROG Strix XG27JCG Review: Is It Truly Half 5K, Half 2K, or Just Meh? Discover Now!

One of the latest features that most manufacturers and panel makers are highlighting these days is the dual mode, aiming to offer the best of both worlds. Users can now choose between high definition and high refresh rate. You might think it would be ideal to have both, but the third variable to consider is the price.

Initially, 4K or 1080p PC monitors that doubled their refresh rate when reducing resolution were the first to hit the market. Now, 5K is entering the scene, allowing the preservation of QHD in reduced definition. This shift is more comfortable: using 1080p on 27-inch or even 32-inch screens was becoming outdated. However, the question of who really needs this type of display and who it is meant for still remains.

Technical Specifications

The monitor was provided by Asus for this review.

A Distinctive Asus Design

The Asus ROG Strix XG27JCG definitely fits within the overall Republic of Gamers range. Being an IPS panel, it is necessarily thick to accommodate all the technology, which requires space. However, this is well managed and does not look out of place, though it will never have the sleekness of an ultra-thin OLED panel.

As expected from an Asus ROG product, the design is immediately recognizable. The back of the monitor is black, with RGB lighting on the Asus ROG logo positioned at the top right. Small lines mimic a somewhat futuristic design around this logo, creating a unique appearance. Functionally, the design includes four buttons and a stick for interacting with the on-screen display (OSD), offering practical and quick access to important functions and deeper interface navigation through the joystick.

Connectivity

This is a high-end monitor, after all. The Asus ROG Strix XG27JCG thus offers appropriate connectivity options. For video, it includes a DisplayPort 1.4 DSC, two HDMI 2.1, and a USB-C port. Additionally, a headphone jack is available if needed, along with a USB hub consisting of three USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports. The audio jack is justifiable by the absence of built-in speakers in the monitor. The power supply is standard, the same as what’s used with desktop PCs and monitors.

Monitor Base

Initially, I attempted to use this Asus ROG Strix XG27JCG monitor on my monitor arm, as I usually do. The monitor is VESA compatible, but accessing this feature was somewhat cumbersome. It required removing two covers that protect the VESA mount, after which I could apply our dedicated VESA mount to the monitor arm. This process was more tedious than with most other monitors I’ve tested.

I quickly switched to using the included stand, which is always better for testing ergonomics. After testing, I might not even have bothered with the arm. The stand is relatively compact at the base to avoid taking up too much space on the desk. It adjusts easily in height and tilt with sufficient precision that I didn’t find it bothersome. Additionally, I was able to position it vertically when I was coding rather than playing games or watching content.

The stand is also designed with a recess at the back to allow cables to run directly from the connectors to your PC or power outlet. Overall, it seems sturdy and doesn’t move around on the desk. In short, it’s a solid choice, as the young people say.

On-Screen Display (OSD)

The OSD of the Asus ROG Strix XG27JCG is well-designed. The interface is very much in the ‘Asus ROG’ style, featuring a red and black theme. However, it’s easy to navigate through the settings to do what you want. With the joystick, navigation is quick, and the four additional buttons provide access to important settings. You can quickly switch modes, which is a key feature of this monitor.

This mode switch is quite abrupt since it disconnects the monitor to reconnect it with the changed resolution and refresh rate. I also noticed a surprising behavior from Windows, where my settings (the placement of the screen relative to others) were not preserved after this change. I had to reconfigure my screen settings in the manager every time (not just the first time), which was somewhat annoying.

Quality IPS Image, No More, No Less

On paper, this monitor features an IPS panel, and it feels like it in use. The contrasts are necessarily low, not matching OLED, but when measured, we find a contrast ratio of 1024:1, which is indeed low. Additionally, the colors are not very accurate across the different modes displayed on your monitor. Upon quick measurement, only one mode, the ‘Racing Mode’, is fairly accurate with a DeltaE of 1.86, which is excellent, falling below the target value of 3. The other modes perform less well, mostly exceeding 3, sometimes by a wide margin.

However, IPS technology allows for a very bright panel. In SDR, it reaches 450 cd/m², which is quite beneficial. Although I didn’t measure it, it’s evident in HDR that this peak is higher. The color temperature is very correct at 6352K, providing a standard hue close to the target value of 6500K (D65). Finally, the color spaces are also well covered, which will allow for decent image work, though it’s not quite a professional panel.

Gaming in All Forms (and Resolutions)

The core of such a gaming monitor is the ability to play all kinds of games, whether they require high resolution or high refresh rate. FPS games can be played with many FPS displayed, and contemplative games at a high resolution (up to 5K). To test such a monitor, it’s necessary to play a few games from both categories.

Starting with FPS games, Valorant and CS 2 are my go-to choices. The goal here is to have the maximum frames displayed on the screen, so I set it to QHD@360Hz. An IPS screen, 1440p, 360 Hz isn’t particularly new. However, it remains a reliable and highly effective choice. The enhanced reactivity provided by the 360 Hz is explicitly felt. During quick movements, where you need to turn around for a flick shot or wait for an enemy to peek, there’s a much stronger sense of fluidity, aiding in precise aiming.

However, it’s still 360 Hz. While not a novelty—it’s been around for a few years—if you haven’t experienced it yet, it’s convincing and useful. Beyond the high refresh rate, there are several features to assist the player. There’s a dynamic crosshair, for instance, which adapts to the game’s colors to always stand out and thus remain visible. I didn’t find this particularly useful, but it might vary depending on your profile.

To test the 5K mode, with a sufficiently powerful PC, I launched several different contemplative games. For example, I tried the title Clair Obscur. Regarding 5K on such a small screen, I didn’t feel a benefit beyond 4K. It seems somewhat overkill, and I mainly think it would be relevant on the 32-inch model. However, it allows staying at 1440p rather than 1080p in dual mode. Aside from that, it’s still very beautiful. This very precise resolution, with no visible pixels, and still at 180 Hz, is magical to the eyes.

In a different genre, I also launched Slime Rancher 2. Managing my farm and capturing slimes allowed me to test something more colorful, which goes much better on an IPS panel, where an OLED screen would have been more suitable for Clair Obscur, for example. In any case, watching my slimes explode and bounce around in 5K was very enjoyable.

Returning to FPS games (Valorant and CS 2), I also took the time to test them in 5K@180Hz. It’s in this mode that I questioned the usefulness of dual screens even more. Indeed, playing Valorant at 180 Hz is already very good. Wanting to push further is mainly for professional players. At most, 240 Hz is still relevant, but more is frankly not necessary. And even then, those who intensely play FPS games don’t often play many other types of games. I thus don’t understand who this screen is really for. A Valorant player would take a 1440p screen at 240, 360, or 480 Hz, and that would be more than sufficient. Other types of players could go for 4K screens at 144 Hz or 240 Hz, and that would be very good too.

Considering that this screen is priced over 750 euros, I’m not sure I see the added value compared to a 4K 240 Hz screen. OLED or QD-OLED panels are readily available at similar prices, offering a different but also very interesting experience for most situations.

Price and Availability

The Asus ROG Strix XG27JCG is available at a recommended retail price of 769 euros, and it’s generally found around 750 euros with occasional promotions.