Asus presents first monitors with Tandem OLED

Samuel Buchmann

22.8.2025

Translation: machine translated

The Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W probably achieves a full screen brightness of over 300 nits and has a frame rate of 540 hertz. It is a harbinger of the next generation of OLED monitors.

At Gamescom, Asus presented its first monitors with a tandem OLED panel. The panel from LG achieves a higher maximum brightness and is said to be less susceptible to burn-in. The technology can already be found in other displays - for example the M4 iPad Pro or new OLED TVs.

The two screens are called Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W and the Asus ROG Strix OLED XG27AQWMG - hey Asus, your product names have finally exceeded the limits of clarity. Both have a diagonal of 26.5 inches and a resolution of 2560 × 1440 pixels. The difference between the two models:

• The PG27AQWP-W has a bright design with a transparent back and a frame rate of 540 hertz. Optionally, you can even increase the latter to 720 hertz - although this halves the resolution to an old-fashioned 1280 × 720 pixels. Asus has equipped the monitor with DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20 for the many frames per second.
• The XG27AQWMG comes in black, has a smaller stand, a fixed frame rate of 280 Hz and only DisplayPort 1.4. Just like its brother, it also has two HDMI 2.1 ports.

Does it need DisplayPort 2.1?

DisplayPort 2.1 supports higher data rates than version 1.4 - exactly how much depends on the standard: UHBR10 comes to 40 Gbps, UHBR13.5 to 54 Gbps and UHBR20 to 80 Gbps. However, the high data rates are not absolutely necessary. Alternatively, the image signal can be reduced in size using Display Stream Compression (DSC) - according to most experts without any visible loss of quality. With DSC 3.0, the bandwidth of DisplayPort 1.4 is sufficient even for 4K at 240 hertz. Uncompressed, this signal would necessarily require UHBR20.

Longer life, deeper black

Asus says the new panel of the two monitors is 15 per cent brighter than the last generation and covers a 25 per cent larger colour volume. The last WOLED generation achieved a full-screen brightness of 270 nits in my tests. Accordingly, the two new models should achieve around 310 nits - and around 1400 nits HDR peak.

The biggest advantage of Tandem OLED for many is probably the reduced burn-in risk: Asus claims a 60 per cent longer lifespan, as the panels get less hot. For this reason alone, the two Asus monitors are likely to be harbingers of the next generation. I expect that we will soon see the technology in larger screens too.

Another innovation: While WOLED monitors all had a matte coating until recently, Asus has opted for a high-gloss finish on the new models. «The manufacturer calls this TrueBlack Glossy». I was impressed by the new combination when I first saw it at Gamescom: the glossy coating looks sharper and crisper than its matte counterpart. And unlike QD-OLED, black does not turn purple when there is a lot of ambient light.

Official information on prices and availability of the two new monitors is still pending. The cheaper XG27AQWMG is rumoured to be released in the fourth quarter of 2025 and will cost USD 699. The price of the PG27AQWP-W is likely to be in the four-digit range.

Samuel Buchmann

Senior Editor

Samuel.Buchmann@digitecgalaxus.ch

My fingerprint often changes so drastically that my MacBook doesn't recognise it anymore. The reason? If I'm not clinging to a monitor or camera, I'm probably clinging to a rockface by the tips of my fingers.

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