Asus ROG SWIFT PG27UQ: UltraHD Monitor with DisplayHDR 1000 and 97% DCI-P3
[10:52 Tue,26.June 2018 by Thomas Richter]
Actually, the Asus ROG SWIFT PG27UQ is a monitor for hardcore gamers, but its features also make it attractive for professional work with video, because the 27 incher corresponds to VESA's DisplayHDR 1000 specifications, i.e. it has a peak brightness of 1,000 nits as well as local dimming, 10-bit image processing (also 8-bit with 2-bit dithering) and a color range of at least 99% of BT.709-color space and 90% of the DCI-P3 color space - the Asus ROG SWIFT PG27UQ surpasses these values.
The average brightness is very good 600 nits. Using the "Local Dimming" function with 384 individually controlled zones, dark image areas can display real black by completely dimming the backlighting of the display at these points. However, the value of the highest brightness always refers only to small areas of the screen, not the entire area - a distinction is made in the specifications not only between the peak brightness of small areas and the entire screen area, but also between short-term total brightness and the highest brightness, which can be maintained over longer periods of time without overheating the display - with DisplayHDR-1000, for example, this is 600 nits.
Asus ROG SWIFT PG27UQ
The non-glare 10-bit IPS panel displays UltraHD (3,840 x 2,160) at up to 144 Hz (via the DisplayPort only) and covers 97% of the professional DCI-P3 color space and 99% of the AdobeRGB color space. However, the panel only creates the 1.07 million colors by dithering, so it is not a real 10-bit color depth. However, the factory calibrated (Delta E<3) Asus PG27UQ lacks the ability to perform color calibration for truly professional use. The viewing angle is the usual 178° horizontal and vertical.
The interface equipment is rather thin: the Asus PG27UQ has only one HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 1.4 as well as two USB 3.0 ports. As a novelty, the Asus ROG SWIFT PG27UQ, like the Acer Predator x27, which is similar in technical data (4K, HDR10 and 144 Hz) and price, has a temperature-controlled fan to prevent overheating.
The top frame rate demands a price: when displayed at 144 Hz, the monitor restricts the bandwidth of diplay port 1.4 to 4:2:2 color scanning instead of the otherwise used 4:4:4. ASUS Aura Sync lighting technology can produce ambient lighting to match the monitor image. The Asus ROG SWIFT PG27UQ is height-adjustable by up to 120mm, can be pivoted 90°, tilted +/- 35" and tilted +20° to -5°.
Asus demands an impressive price for the Asus ROG SWIFT PG27UQ and its high frame rate: about 2,500 Euro should cost - it should be available from 9-12 working days. Another alternative that meets the DisplayHDR 1000 standard is the 4K 42.5 incher Philips Momentum 436M6VBPA, which is available from around 890 Euro and covers 97.6% of the DCI-P3 color space.
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