Why this monitor still matters

The PG27AQDM sits at a very specific intersection: 27-inch (26.5" viewable) OLED, 2560×1440, and 240Hz—a combination that was built to make competitive games feel “locked in” without giving up the deep contrast and instant pixel response that makes OLED look special. Multiple reviewers land on the same big idea: this is a performance-first esports OLED, not a do-everything productivity display. When you buy it for the right reasons, it’s borderline addictive; when you buy it for the wrong reasons (bright office, heavy text work, HDMI 2.1 console expectations), its compromises can feel louder than its strengths.

RTINGS’ verdict is one of the clearest summaries: it’s incredible for PC gaming thanks to near-instant response, VRR, and 240Hz—as long as you keep firmware current—but it has noticeable VRR flicker, HDMI 2.0 bandwidth limits, and text clarity issues from the RWBG subpixel layout.

The rest of the review below expands that into a full “buying guide style” deep dive—using the best points and measurements from your listed sources (RTINGS, Tom’s, TweakTown, PCWorld, PCMonitors, TechRadar, MonitorNerds, TechPorn, TFTCentral, plus ASUS official specs/tools).

1) Quick specs: what you’re actually buying

Core panel + speed

  • Panel size: 26.5" (27" class)

  • Resolution: 2560×1440 (QHD)

  • Refresh rate: up to 240Hz

  • Response (quoted): ~0.03ms class (marketing), with measured response times essentially “instant” in practice

Ports & bandwidth (critical reality check)

From ASUS’ official spec sheet:

  • DisplayPort 1.4 (DSC) ×1

  • HDMI 2.0 ×2

  • USB hub: 2× USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A

  • HDMI signal frequency: up to 120Hz

  • DP signal frequency: up to 240Hz

That “HDMI up to 120Hz” line is the most important practical limiter for many buyers. It doesn’t mean consoles won’t work; it means the monitor doesn’t have full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to do the “4K120/1440p240 over HDMI” style experience people associate with newer premium displays.

Gaming & OSD features (ASUS toolkit)

ASUS lists a full ROG gaming feature set—Adaptive-Sync/VRR, GamePlus, GameVisual, Shadow Boost, and GameFast Input—plus DisplayWidget Center support for OSD control.

2) The “design philosophy”: why 27" QHD + 240Hz OLED is so compelling

The PG27AQDM is part of a trend that exploded once OLED panels became viable at monitor sizes: a push toward high refresh + perfect per-pixel contrast without the motion artifacts you see on many LCDs.

Why 1440p (not 4K) makes sense here

1440p at 27" gives you a pixel density around ~109–111 PPI (RTINGS lists 109 PPI)—sharp enough for games, not so demanding that you need a top-tier GPU to hold high FPS. RTINGS and other reviewers frequently frame this as a sweet spot: it’s easier to drive 240fps at 1440p than at 4K, which is exactly what competitive players want.

Why OLED changes the “feel” at high refresh

240Hz is great on any display, but OLED adds something extra: the pixels transition so quickly that motion looks cleaner at the same frame rate. Tom’s Hardware praises the “next-level video performance” and overall image quality, calling it one of the best gaming monitors they’ve reviewed—even while acknowledging the price.

TweakTown emphasizes that the refresh rate is only half the story—the 0.03ms-class OLED pixel response combined with 240Hz is what makes it feel hard to fault “on panel performance.”

3) Build, ergonomics, and daily usability

Stand and adjustment

This is a “ROG Swift” class product—built like a flagship. Several reviewers mention solid construction and robust ergonomics; Pokde calls out a wide range of stand articulation and solid build.

TechPorn adds a practical desk-space note: with the default stand, maximum depth is about 37 cm, which matters if your desk is shallow.

Aesthetics & gamer styling

TechRadar calls out a sleek OLED look and gamer-oriented features; MonitorNerds describes the design as true flagship styling that feels premium.

If you like “ROG vibe,” you’ll probably love it. If you want minimal studio aesthetics, this is still not the most understated OLED monitor out there.

4) Picture quality in SDR: contrast perfection, brightness limitations

OLED’s headline feature is still the same: true blacks and no blooming. RTINGS repeatedly highlights perfect black uniformity and near-infinite contrast, and this is the foundation of why the PG27AQDM looks so clean in dark scenes.

SDR brightness: two truths at once

RTINGS’ SDR brightness measurements show why people have different experiences:

  • In their SDR Brightness table, Real Scene: 238 cd/m² (with their chosen settings).

  • But RTINGS also shows that enabling “uniform brightness / ABL reduction” behavior can bring real scene brightness down significantly (their bullet list shows Real Scene ~149 cd/m² in that mode/config context).

So the monitor can be “decent” in moderate lighting, but it’s not designed to overpower direct sunlight or harsh glare. RTINGS says it isn’t bright enough to fight intense glare, even though reflection handling itself can be good.

Reflection handling vs “bright room”

This is an important nuance: “not bright enough for well-lit rooms” isn’t the same as “unusable in daylight.” It’s more like:

  • In a dim-to-moderate room, it looks fantastic.

  • In a bright room, it can look washed or simply not “punchy,” because OLED full-screen luminance is limited and ABL behavior can be distracting.

If your setup is a gaming room or controlled-light desk, this is fine. If it’s a glass-walled office with overhead LEDs, you’ll want to think carefully.

5) HDR: impressive highlights, but ABL is the deal you accept

HDR on OLED monitors is a topic where expectations can get mismatched. If your reference point is a high-end Mini-LED monitor that blasts large bright scenes, OLED can feel “dimmer.” But if your reference point is contrast and black-level control, OLED HDR can look more “three-dimensional.”

RTINGS HDR brightness numbers (real measurements)

RTINGS shows the PG27AQDM can hit excellent brightness for small highlights:

  • HDR Real Scene: 739 cd/m²

  • Peak 2% window: 904 cd/m²

  • Peak 10% window: 923 cd/m²

But brightness drops hard as more of the screen turns bright:

  • Peak 25%: 480 cd/m²

  • Peak 50%: 200 cd/m²

  • Peak 100% (full screen): 197 cd/m²

That is the classic OLED story: stunning highlight “pop,” limited full-screen luminance.

“Aggressive ABL in HDR”

RTINGS explicitly lists aggressive ABL in HDR as a con under HDR Picture.
PCWorld also says HDR brightness falls well behind Mini-LED, even though contrast is top-notch.
TechRadar goes further and calls HDR “negligible” relative to the price expectation—this is a perspective rooted in how bright and impactful you want HDR to be.

Practical HDR takeaway

If you play HDR-capable titles (Cyberpunk, Forza, Resident Evil, etc.), you’ll likely love the contrast and highlight sparkle—especially in darker scenes with bright accent lighting. If you want “sunlit scenes that look like they’re backlit by a spotlight,” Mini-LED can still win on that specific metric.

6) Motion clarity, response time, input lag: the real reason it’s famous

This is where the PG27AQDM earns its reputation.

Response time (measured)

RTINGS measures:

  • First Response Time: 0.2 ms

  • Total Response Time: 0.2 ms

  • RGB Overshoot: 0

Translated: the pixel transitions complete so fast that you don’t get the normal LCD “smear,” and you don’t need aggressive overdrive modes that introduce inverse ghosting.

Input lag (measured)

RTINGS measures (with VRR enabled):

  • 2.5 ms @ max Hz

  • 4.4 ms @ 120Hz

  • 8.8 ms @ 60Hz

That’s in the elite tier. It explains why competitive players love it: aiming feels immediate, and fast flicks don’t leave blur trails.

Why firmware matters for input lag

RTINGS notes that input lag performance varies significantly by firmware: they show much higher lag on older firmware (MCM102) at 120Hz and 60Hz, and they stress updating.

7) VRR, G-SYNC/FreeSync behavior, and OLED flicker (what to expect)

Most modern premium gaming monitors support VRR; OLED adds one extra wrinkle: VRR flicker in darker scenes when frame rate fluctuates.

RTINGS says VRR flicker is noticeable with changing frame rates and can be distracting in dark scenes.

ASUS “OLED Anti-Flicker” and what it really means

ASUS has published guidance on OLED flicker and how its anti-flicker approaches work, including algorithmic compensation in newer implementations (ROG OLED Anti-Flicker 2.0 is described as using luminance compensation based on real-time detection).

Even with anti-flicker tools, flicker isn’t always “solved”—it’s often reduced or shifted into a different tradeoff (for example, less flicker but more stutter or slight luminance behavior changes). RTINGS hints at this tradeoff in how they discuss VRR flicker being a persistent behavior across OLED monitors.

How to reduce VRR flicker in real use

You usually get the best results by controlling frame-time volatility:

  • Cap FPS close to refresh (or use a frame limiter).

  • Avoid huge swings (e.g., 240 → 90 → 240) in dark scenes.

  • Use VRR + a sensible cap slightly below max refresh if needed.

This isn’t unique to ASUS—it’s an OLED/VRR reality many reviewers and users discuss, and RTINGS flags it as a known weakness for this monitor.

8) Text clarity and office work: why RWBG matters

This is the #1 surprise for buyers expecting “OLED perfection.”

RTINGS states clearly: office use is limited mainly by text clarity issues because operating systems don’t render text as well with the display’s RWBG subpixel layout, so text isn’t as sharp as on other displays with similar pixel density.

What that looks like in practice

Depending on your eyes and scaling:

  • You may see color fringing on text edges.

  • Fine UI elements may look slightly less clean than on a good IPS with standard RGB stripe.

  • Some people adapt quickly; others can’t unsee it.

If your day is 70% documents/code and 30% gaming, you need to be honest with yourself: there are better choices (including newer OLED generations and QD-OLED options) if text clarity is priority #1. RTINGS even frames newer alternatives as better in certain areas like SDR brightness or color volume.

9) OLED care, burn-in risk, and long-term use

OLED monitors require a different kind of “ownership mindset” than LCDs.

RTINGS explicitly reminds: OLEDs are prone to burn-in with constant exposure to static elements like taskbars or unchanging UI panels.

ASUS software angle: DisplayWidget Center + OLED Care

ASUS’ DisplayWidget Center page highlights OLED Care tools such as:

  • Pixel cleaning

  • Uniform brightness

  • Timer reminders
    …to prevent burn-in and image retention.

This matters because it changes the experience from “OLED is fragile” to “OLED is manageable if you use the tools.”

Practical burn-in minimization checklist (real-life habits)

If you want to keep an OLED monitor healthy for years:

  • Auto-hide taskbar (Windows)

  • Use dark theme and avoid static bright UI

  • Use screen saver / sleep timer

  • Let pixel cleaning run as recommended

  • Avoid leaving static HUD elements at high brightness for hours daily

None of this is about fear; it’s about using OLED as intended.

10) Firmware, updates, and stability (don’t skip this)

The PG27AQDM has a well-known firmware history.

RTINGS documents that they originally had trouble updating via the ASUS installer across multiple PCs, eventually succeeding on a fifth PC. They also note ASUS released firmware MCM104 (and an updated version) that can be installed via USB, which helps if the installer fails.

They further explain that firmware affects:

  • HDR behavior

  • Input lag at certain refresh rates

  • Some color temp / tint issues and brightness behavior in older revisions

Bottom line: If you buy this monitor, treat firmware update as part of setup.

11) Connectivity and console gaming: the “HDMI limitation” explained properly

This monitor is absolutely usable on consoles—but you must understand what you’re getting.

RTINGS console compatibility highlights

RTINGS shows for PS5:

  • 4K@120: No

  • 4K@60: Yes

  • 1440p@120: Yes

So if your console use is primarily 1440p120 (where supported), you’re fine.

PCMonitors perspective: “some HDMI 2.1 features, not HDMI 2.1 bandwidth”

PCMonitors explains that the monitor lacks HDMI 2.1, limiting certain modes (they mention 4K downsampling mainly with consoles and limited to 60Hz due to lacking HDMI 2.1), even though it includes some HDMI 2.1-era features like integrated VRR support.

ASUS’ own HDMI frequency spec

ASUS explicitly lists HDMI signal frequency up to 120Hz, reinforcing the practical ceiling.

If you’re a console-first buyer who demands full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, this isn’t the ideal match. If you’re PC-first and console-secondary, it’s much easier to justify.

12) Color performance and calibration: “great potential, varies out of the box”

Different reviewers emphasize different aspects of color.

  • PCWorld lists “out-of-box color performance isn’t great” as a con, but still praises motion clarity and contrast overall.

  • Pokde similarly notes color accuracy isn’t ideal out of the box on their unit, while praising the overall gaming balance.

  • RTINGS, however, reports excellent accuracy in sRGB mode and excellent results after calibration, and they provide a calibration profile and measured post-calibration metrics.

What this means for buyers

It’s safest to assume:

  • You’ll get a great picture immediately for games.

  • If you care about precise color (photo/video work), you’ll benefit from selecting the right picture mode and possibly calibrating.

This is pretty normal for gaming monitors: they’re tuned for impact, not always perfect color neutrality out of the box.

13) How it stacks up vs key alternatives (using the same sources)

A “combined sources” review should also answer: what else should I consider at this price?

RTINGS directly compares the PG27AQDM to several close competitors:

vs LG 27GR95QE-B (same panel lineage)

RTINGS notes the ASUS is a nice upgrade over the LG 27GR95QE-B because ASUS gets much brighter in HDR and has less overshoot—but also has more aggressive ABL.

vs QD-OLED rivals (e.g., Dell Alienware AW2725DF)

RTINGS says QD-OLED options can deliver more vivid colors, and they point to QD-OLED competitors as better for “best picture quality,” while noting some QD-OLED panels can look slightly purple in brighter environments.

vs MSI MPG 271QRX QD-OLED (connectivity + USB-C advantage)

RTINGS highlights that MSI can be better if connectivity matters because it includes KVM and USB-C power delivery, and it has more vibrant HDR colors.

vs ASUS PG27AQDP (480Hz class)

RTINGS notes the PG27AQDP offers 480Hz and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and is brighter in SDR—making it better for bright rooms—while PG27AQDM can have lower input lag at 60Hz in their testing.

Interpretation:
PG27AQDM is still excellent, but newer OLED generations and QD-OLED competitors can outperform it in specific areas (colors, brightness, HDMI 2.1, USB-C). The PG27AQDM’s remaining edge is its “classic” matte esports OLED experience with proven speed and strong HDR highlights after firmware updates.

14) Recommended setup profiles (practical, not magic)

These are “starting points” based on how the monitor behaves per RTINGS and ASUS tools—not a one-size-fits-all, but a practical guide.

Profile A: Competitive esports (CS2 / Valorant)

Goal: maximum clarity, stability, consistency.

  • Use DisplayPort (DSC) for full 240Hz

  • Enable VRR (if your game benefits), but cap FPS if VRR flicker annoys you

  • Keep brightness comfortable (don’t chase max brightness if you play long sessions)

  • Consider Uniform Brightness for consistent desktop use between matches (accept lower luminance)

Profile B: HDR single-player immersion

Goal: best HDR pop without fighting ABL.

  • Update firmware (seriously)

  • Use HDR mode that RTINGS measured as stable in newer firmware (they mention results with MCM104+ and settings context)

  • Expect highlight pop, not daylight-level full-screen brightness

Profile C: Mixed work + gaming

Goal: reduce burn-in risk and improve text comfort.

  • Use dark themes, auto-hide taskbar

  • Use OLED Care features: pixel cleaning + reminders

  • Test scaling (125%–150%) if text fringing bothers you

  • Avoid leaving static bright windows full-screen for hours

15) Expanded Q&A (creator + gamer edition)

Q1) Is PG27AQDM still worth it in 2026?

If you’re buying primarily for PC esports performance and you like matte WOLED behavior, yes—it’s still a top-tier “feel” monitor. But you should cross-check newer options if you want USB-C, HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, or more vivid HDR colors (QD-OLED).

Q2) Does it need DSC? Will that hurt quality?

To hit 1440p 240Hz through DP 1.4, DSC is commonly used, and ASUS explicitly lists DP 1.4 with DSC. In practice, DSC is visually lossless for most users in gaming scenarios.

Q3) Is it a good PS5 monitor?

It works well for PS5 at 1440p120 (where supported) and 4K60, but it’s not a full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth display, so it won’t deliver 4K120.

Q4) Why do some reviewers say HDR is great and others say it’s negligible?

Because HDR “good” depends on what you value:

  • If you want sparkling highlights + perfect blacks, OLED HDR can feel amazing (RTINGS calls HDR picture incredible with firmware updates).

  • If you want very bright overall scenes, OLED full-screen brightness/ABL can make HDR feel less impactful (PCWorld/TechRadar critique this).

Q5) Is burn-in a real concern?

Yes, it’s a real OLED risk, especially with static UI. But ASUS provides OLED Care tooling (pixel cleaning, reminders), and sensible usage habits drastically reduce risk.

Q6) Can it be used for content creation?

Yes—RTINGS rates it excellent for editing and highlights strong color accuracy and wide color display, but also reminds about text clarity limitations and burn-in risk with static toolbars.

16) Final verdict: who should buy PG27AQDM today?

Buy it if…

  • You’re a PC-first competitive gamer chasing top-tier motion clarity at 240Hz.

  • You want OLED’s deep blacks with near-instant response and minimal motion artifacts.

Think twice if…

  • You need USB-C docking / power delivery (PCWorld and TechRadar both flag no USB-C).

  • You want full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth for console-first usage.

  • You do heavy text work and are sensitive to RWBG text rendering.

In short: PG27AQDM is a “buy for the feel” monitor—one of the fastest OLED esports experiences you can get, with HDR highlights that can look fantastic after firmware updates, but with connectivity and productivity compromises you must accept.