Asus ROG Swift RGB Stripe OLED Review: Clarity King

I additionally really feel it comes throughout in how colours current. Technically, the monitor’s outcomes are modest for an OLED monitor: It has a colour gamut that spanned 94 p.c of DCI-P3 and 89 p.c of AdobeRGB. That’s a tad extra slender than prime QD-OLED displays, which may hit as much as 98 p.c and 95 p.c, respectively. Nevertheless, the ultra-clear, high-contrast look of the panel amplifies the sense of impression. I’m not saying it’s higher than the very best rivals, however the PG27UCWM’s total picture high quality is within the higher tier. That is no less than partially because of the truth that RGB Stripe OLED additionally improves “colour quantity,” which is a show’s capacity to keep up colour that gamut had max brightness.

Sadly, the vivid and contrast-rich picture is paired with mirror-like reflections. I might probably use the monitor to shave. It’s not an issue in a darkish room, however it’s noticeable when even modest ambient mild is current.

This is a vital, and divisive, level. Many OLED purists adore an ultra-gloss end as a result of it highlights the wealthy distinction and colour the know-how can present. Others, myself included, favor matte shows that cut back or eradicate discernible reflections.

There’s no proper reply to this query, however you’ll must resolve your choice earlier than you make a purchase order.

Nice for Sharpness, Nice HDR

Beneath the PG27UCWM’s shiny coat you’ll discover a tandem RGB Stripe OLED panel with a local decision of 3840 x 2160. It’s crisp. Earlier OLED displays have used an uncommon sub-pixel association that would harm picture readability, however the PG27UCWM has a extra typical RGB sub-pixel format that eliminates the problem. You will generally see this marketed as “Fifth-Gen QD-OLED,” and it initially launched in 34-inch displays just like the Alienware AW3426DW. However lastly, the PG27UCWM is bringing it to the extra normal 27-inch dimension.

Textual content readability, particularly, has all the time been one of many chief points about these looking for OLED displays, and I not have complaints in that regard. The decision helps, too, offering a pixel density of about 165 pixels per inch throughout the 26.5-inch panel. The panel’s sharpness was wonderful with the monitor linked to each my Home windows 11 desktop and my MacBook Air M4.

HDR is the place the PG27UCWM’s tandem OLED panel actually begins to earn its maintain. My testing discovered it may well hit as much as 800 nits of brightness. Whereas that’s not a record-setting consequence, it’s according to different premium OLED displays, which generally provide 800 to 900 nits in my testing (the very best barely clear 1,000 nits). The monitor additionally helps Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR, which is uncommon.

The PG27UCWM’s brightness, distinction, and backbone mix to ship actual impression in HDR video games. It’s so vibrant that it may well at instances really feel overwhelming. Thankfully, Asus consists of HDR brightness adjustment choices that allow you to tone down the brightness in the event you’d favor.

Asus’ PG27UCWM isn’t uniquely vibrant in HDR although. The Alienware AW3426DW, Acer Predator X27 X1, and MSI MPG 32URXW are among the many displays I’ve examined that ship related HDR brightness (and a few of that are considerably cheaper). Nonetheless, the PG27UCWM performs a lot better than least costly OLED displays just like the entry-level Alienware AW2726DM, which may solely ship roughly 400 nits in HDR.

Movement Readability Checks the Containers

{Photograph}: Matthew S. Smith

The PG27UCWM can attain a refresh fee of as much as 240 Hz at 4K decision. That’s normal for a high-end 4K OLED in 2026. It additionally offers a dual-mode characteristic that may cut back the decision to 1080p in change for a refresh fee of as much as 480 Hz. That’s much less frequent, although many OLED displays now provide an analogous characteristic.