4K native res, 144Hz refresh, IPS panel tech, HDR help, and HDMI 2.1. What extra may you presumably ask for from the brand new Asus TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A as a multi-platform, cutting-edge gaming monitor? Maybe a value that’s extra reasonably priced than earlier panels which have hit related targets? Hold that thought.
Asus’ newest monitor masterwork is a part of its TUF vary of gaming goodies. In different phrases, not the premium Asus ROG line, a number of of which already supply the same core characteristic set. That bodes properly for affordability, no less than in relative phrases. But what about efficiency and options? Does something go lacking?
In phrases of panel dimension, with the Asus TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A you’re truly getting an extra inch in comparison with the corporate’s earliest 4K gaming screens. This is a 28-inch mannequin, although Asus will now additionally do you a 32-inch 144Hz 4K mannequin. Going into this evaluate, the 28-inch diagonal was a little bit of a fear. We’ve seen a number of 4K IPS non-gaming screens on our productivity-orientated sister titles, together with the Philips 288E2UAE and Acer B287K, and all have shared no less than barely underwhelming static picture high quality by way of vibrancy and saturation.
TUF VG28UQL1A specs
Panel dimension: 28-inch
Panel know-how: IPS
Native decision: 3840 x 2160
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Refresh price: 144Hz
Response time: 1ms
HDR: VESA DisplayHDR 400
Contrast: 1,000:1
Color: 10-bit, 90% DCI-P3
Brightness: 450 cd/m2
Video Inputs: DisplayPort 1.4 x1, HDMI 2.1 x2, HDMI 2.0 x2
Other: AMD FreeSync Premium, Nvidia G-Sync Compatible, VESA DisplayHDR 400
Price: $800 | £749
Anyway, one apparent limitation on the spec sheet is VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification. It’s entry-level HDR stuff, if that, and means this panel makes do with a easy, monolithic backlight. There’s no native dimming of any sort, not to mention the newest mini-LED shizzle. Asus’ declare of 90% protection of the DCI-P3 digital cinema color house can also be indicative of relative limitations. HDR shows with increased ranges of certifications are likely to cowl 95% or extra of DCI-P3.
That mentioned, the VG28UQL1A is nice for as much as 450 nits of brightness, which exceeds the HDR 400 minimal requirement. More importantly, it is also a really fast show, on paper. Asus says it is good for 1ms pixel response by the grey-to-grey reasonably than much less demanding MPRT metric. You additionally get the aforementioned 144Hz refresh price and help for each Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, although this isn’t a full-fat G-Sync monitor with the requisite Nvidia module. It’s merely G-Sync appropriate.
The ultimate characteristic of be aware is HDMI 2.1 help. Along with the DisplayPort 1.4 interface, it means the Asus TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A can ship 4K high-refresh gaming on each PC and console, albeit the latter might be restricted to 120Hz reasonably than the complete 144Hz. All of which implies, with the controversial omission of true HDR functionality, this monitor appears to vow all of it.
Thankfully, it delivers fairly a bit in actuality, too.
Contrary to our fears in regards to the present crop of 28-inch 4K panels, this factor is vibrant, punchy, and exact by way of primary picture high quality and color stability. The panel’s static distinction is first rate, too, even when no IPS monitor can fairly compete with the perfect VA screens in that self-discipline.
It’s additionally correctly fast. As you’d count on from this class of gaming monitor, Asus has fitted it out with consumer configurable pixel overdrive, on this case through a fairly granular five-level choice within the OSD menu. While there may be some pretty apparent overshoot and subsequently inverse ghosting within the two quickest modes, ranges two and three ship actually sharp, snappy response and minimal overshoot.
Subjectively, then, the VG28UQL1A is certainly comparable with the perfect IPS panels for uncooked pixel response. Add within the 144Hz refresh and you’ve got a brilliant sharp, critically responsive answer for on-line shooters, battle royales and all that first-person jazz that advantages from a quick panel. OK, there are screens with far quicker refresh now that 240Hz is commonplace, 360Hz is accessible, and 480Hz is simply over the horizon. But until you’re significantly critical about esports, 144Hz is loads.
At the identical time, the 4K native res makes for the standard stellar picture element and sharpness. You’d must be very delicate to latency to surrender all that eye sweet for marginally faster responses, that’s for certain. If you need to get pleasure from a gaming graphics-fest like Cyberpunk in all its ray-traced glory, you want a 4K panel like this.
The solely slight query mark entails, inevitably, HDR efficiency. On the plus aspect, SDR content material does look good with the panel and Windows OS in HDR mode. So, you may run in HDR mode full time. And content material together with the aforementioned Cyberpunk does have that little bit extra depth and punch in HDR mode. But the distinction is marginal and we wouldn’t class this as a real HDR panel.
The internet result’s that this can be a robust all rounder. The additional inch of panel dimension in comparison with the preliminary entrants into the 4K 144Hz market is welcome, the HDMI 2.1 interface actually makes this a flexible panel for multi-platform gaming, even when we’ve some doubts relating to the lifelike utility of 120Hz 4K gaming on the newest consoles.
Perhaps extra of an apparent caveat is that the HDMI 2.1 interface will inevitably add price. If you’re solely planning to make use of this panel with a PC, that price will include little to no profit.
Which brings us neatly to our important reservation with the Asus TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A. Pricing. At £749 within the UK (US pricing has but to emerge, however will seemingly be across the $800 mark), it is not low cost sufficient to convey 4K excessive refresh to a brand new viewers.
Screens like this look significantly poor worth now that the likes of a 4K, 120Hz LG OLED display screen will be had for round £1,000 / $1,000. It’s not a direct comparability, but it surely’s awfully unflattering all the identical. In brief, the wait continues for a extra accessible 4K, 144Hz gaming panel for the lots. Because this, sadly, ain’t it.
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