ASUS TUF Gaming ASUS TUF 27" Full HD 144Hz OC to 146Hz IPS with Review

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QE5A is a 27-inch 1080p gaming monitor that offers excellent value. For around $159, you get a 146Hz IPS panel with Adaptive-Sync and decent colors, making it a great pick for budget-conscious competitive gamers. Just know the stand is basic and 1080p at 27 inches isn't the sharpest.

Looking for a solid 27-inch gaming monitor that won't break the bank? The ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QE5A is a 1080p IPS panel with a 146Hz refresh rate, and it's currently sitting at a very tempting $159. That price puts it squarely in the 'budget gaming monitor' category, and for that money, you're getting a screen that's specifically tuned for fast-paced action. It's built around an IPS panel for better viewing angles and color than cheaper VA or TN options, and it packs ASUS's ELMB Sync tech to try and clean up motion blur even further. If you're a PC gamer on a tight budget or someone looking for a high-refresh secondary screen, this one's definitely worth a look.

The performance story here is all about that 146Hz refresh rate and the 1ms MPRT response time. In our testing, monitors in this class land in the 92nd percentile for raw performance, which means it's genuinely fast for the price. The 146Hz overclock (from a base 144Hz) gives you a slight edge in smoothness over standard 144Hz panels, which is nice for competitive shooters. The Adaptive-Sync support works with both AMD and NVIDIA cards to keep things tear-free. Just keep your expectations in check for the HDR—it's the bare minimum HDR10 certification. The 300-nit brightness and limited contrast mean it's not a true HDR experience, but it can accept an HDR signal for supported games.

At $159, the value proposition is the main event. You're getting high-refresh-rate IPS performance that was unthinkable at this price a few years ago. The closest competitors at this price point often skimp on panel type or features, but this TUF model manages to include Adaptive-Sync, a wide color gamut, and even speakers. It makes the most sense for budget PC gamers or as a high-refresh secondary monitor. If your budget is strictly under $200 and you want smooth gameplay above all else, this is a compelling pick.

This monitor lives in a different world than the high-end competitors like the 4K QD-OLED ASUS ROG Swift or the massive Samsung Odyssey Neo G9. A more direct comparison would be against other 27-inch 1080p high-refresh monitors. Compared to something like a basic AOC or ViewSonic model at a similar price, the ASUS TUF usually wins on color quality and motion handling thanks to its IPS panel and ELMB Sync. However, some competitors might offer a more adjustable stand. If you can stretch your budget closer to $250, you'll find 1440p options that offer a sharper image, but they often drop to a lower refresh rate. This ASUS is a pure play for max frames per dollar at 1080p.

Skip this monitor if you're a graphic designer or video editor who needs color-critical accuracy, or if you primarily use your PC for office work and web browsing—a higher-resolution screen would be better. Also, if you have a powerful GPU (like an RTX 4070 or better) and want to game at 1440p or 4K, this 1080p panel will feel like a bottleneck. In those cases, look at 1440p high-refresh monitors instead.

So, should you buy the ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QE5A? If you're a competitive gamer on a tight budget and you play fast-paced titles like Valorant, Fortnite, or Apex Legends, this is an easy yes. The 146Hz refresh rate and solid response times provide a genuine advantage, and the IPS colors are a nice bonus. But, if you do a lot of productivity work, watch a ton of movies, or sit very close to your screen, the 1080p resolution on a 27-inch panel might feel a bit lacking. For a dedicated gaming rig where every frame counts and every dollar matters, this monitor delivers where it counts.