The Ultimate Gaming Guide: Finding the Best 27-inch 1440p Monitor Under $300

It all comes down to gaming, and when you get the perfect monitor, nothing will ever be the same again. In the race for picture-perfect gaming at prices we can all afford, gaming enthusiasts on a budget have never had more choice in the hunt for the best 27-inch 1440p gaming monitor for under $300. There is one strong contender that stands out amongst many competitors: Acer, Samsung, Dell, LG, AOC, Gigabyte and many more are all competing to come out on top. However, ASUS manages to muscle its way into this highly competitive position with a contender that could just win the fight.

ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS: Design That Packs a Punch

It seems that I have come to expect ASUS gaming gear to nail that sweet spot between looks and play: it might not be the least attractive monitor I’ve seen, with narrow bezels and a sturdy feel, but also it doesn’t scream “gamer” the way, say, an RGB LED-bedecked Razer gaming monitor does. It never seems to cede ergonomics, though, and in this case the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS wins back points from me with its impressively adjustable stand. Gaming monitors might give you height, tilt and swivel adjustability; this one also pivots.

Connectivity and Features: ASUS Takes the Lead

And by including a USB-C port – something very few rival gaming monitors have – the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS gets extra connectivity brownie points. With this jack, you can connect to everything from desktop PCs to laptops to gaming consoles. That isn’t to say the power delivery is a gaming laptop dream come true; you’re not going to want to use it to charge your money pit energy vampire portable rig. But it’s better than nothing, and that, in 2020, should be enough to give ASUS an assist.

Gaming Image Quality: Where ASUS Shines

At a little over $250, the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS manages to stay affordable while still delivering fantastic image quality, especially for a CMR monitor. The Strix sports some of the best colour performance seen in any monitor we’ve tested thus far, with the necessary extra vibrancy and accuracy that really makes games pop. Its peak brightness is high enough to keep your gameplay sharp even in brighter rooms, and while the IPS panel’s blacks can’t plummet quite as deep as some VA panels, its overall contrast and sharpness make it worth a looksie for those who value clarity first.

HDR Image Quality: Keeping Expectations in Check

Meanwhile, the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS is VESA DisplayHDR 400 certified, but don’t get too excited about the HDR performance – you just can’t get a lot out of the technology at this price point, and though brightness is decent, the contrast problems result in less than full-on HDR performance. ASUS even includes a brightness adjustment in HDR mode, which is pretty unusual on an affordable monitor.

Motion Performance: A Clear Winner

A reason that could sway you toward the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS is its outstanding motion clarity, made possible by ASUS’s very own Extreme Low Motion Blur technology. This peripheral is truly a boon for fast-paced gaming, a smoother experience that you’ll definitely appreciate once you’ve tried it on any other monitor. Coupled with official support for both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync, it can serve a wide range of gaming setups pretty nicely for a smooth, tear-free gameplay experience.

Day-to-Day Versatility

As for everyday tasks, the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS actually makes a fabulous monitor for everyday browsing, watching YouTube, Netflix or even productivity; it shines in sharp resolution and plenty of brightness. Professional content creators might complain about its 1440p resolution which does make 4K work a little bit more tricky. But for most other tasks, it is quite the happy medium.

Facing the Competition

The ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS is great in a lot of ways, but it also isn’t operating in a vacuum. There are other options from other brands that offer up to similar performance or better in certain areas, namely things like the Acer Nitro XV271U and Samsung Odyssey G50A. But despite some close competition, ASUS makes its monitor stand out with better motion clarity than its rivals and the convenience of having USB-C connectivity. And for a gamer who wants both of those things, it’s a competitive entrant.

Discover More with ASUS

ASUS is an industry leader when it comes to gaming tech, which is evident in its dedication to producing a whole host of products for gaming enthusiasts. From laptops and desktops – such as the top-of-the-class ROG Strix GL502VS – to gaming peripherals such as mice, the premium brand ASUS aims to bring new experiences to the world of online gaming.

And the pricing of the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS, the latest iteration in their line of gaming monitors, reflects the brand’s dedication to delivering high quality and performance at an equally high value. The next time you’re in the market for a gaming monitor, it might be worth not only taking a closer look at the ASUS booth at E3, but at ASUS altogether.

Tracking down the screen with the best gaming value for cash is no mean feat for online gamer–budgeteers. But it’s clear that you can get a top–notch experience with the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS, which does a brilliant job of keeping up with all your moves, whether you’re immersing yourself in the latest AAA game experiences or live-streaming your exploits into the wider world. Pick up the monitor and level up your game.