ASUS - ROG Strix 27" Dual Mode (5K 165Hz, 2K 330Hz) 1ms Gaming Monitor with FreeSync Premium Pro and HDR - Black

For the price, this is one of the best 5K high-refresh-rate monitors that are currently available. As of late 2026, there are not many options that are true 5K at 120+ HZ. If you are a macOS user, you know that desktop scaling works best on a 27-inch monitor at true 5K resolution (The UI will scale to look like 2560x1440). Unfortunately, until recently, most 5K monitors were capped at a 60 Hz refresh rate. In 2026, going into 2027, 120Hz+ is the norm for most displays. This is why I was so excited to see this monitor. Apple's Studio Display XDR is over 4x the price of this one. One monitor from Apple or 4 of these. Of course, the Apple display has many advantages, but is it worth 4x the money? I tempered my expectations, knowing this was not an Apple display: no true HDR, standard IPS (not mini-LED with localized dimming zones), "low" peak brightness, matte (not glossy) panel. All that being said, this monitor performs quite well for its price point. The 165Hz refresh rate is fluid, and it is pretty impressive considering this is a true 5K panel. If your computer and cables are capable of DSC (display stream compression), you can run this monitor at full 5K @ 165Hz without issue on a DisplayPort 1.4 cable. Even an 8K HDMI cable works well. I personally use a DisplayPort 1.4 to USB-C cable into my Mac, and it works without issue. The text is incredibly sharp, and UI elements look as they should on a "retina" display. The monitor supports WCG (wide color gamut), so colors do look as punchy as they can on a more traditional IPS monitor with a matte finish. Whites do not look white and appear somewhat gray unless brightness is near the maximum. Blacks do appear somewhat gray as well. Again, this is an IPS monitor, so it will not perform like an OLED with infinite contrast. I have seen reviews of hardware defects; however, I have not had any issues, and it does come with a 3- year factory warranty. The cons: As an edge-lit IPS display, brightness uniformity leaves a little to be desired. I noticed it when I first got it, but as I have become accustomed to it, it isn't a big deal. There is some ghosting/motion blur when navigating the UI. If your eyes are sensitive to this, the XG27JCG may not be the best fit. For me, it is another thing I got used to. The max brightness is not quite where I would like but again, it is a traditional IPS display and not a mini-LED or OLED display. Now, lets talk about what divides many monitor users, the display finish. The coating on this monitor is somewhat peculiar; it does appear like a traditional matte coating, but there is almost a shimmering, oily coating that can be seen clearly in some lighting conditions. This is not a huge deal to me, but if you're looking for that glossy finish, this will disappoint. Viewing angles are decent, but really nothing to write home about. I would say my previous Dell S2725QC (4K budget monitor) has better viewing angles and brightness uniformity, which is disappointing. Another thing to consider is the time to wake from sleep (Macs in my testing, Windows may be different). If you leave the default auto select for input source (HDMI 1 & 2, DisplayPort), the monitor takes about 12-15 seconds to wake up from sleep. If you change the input to only be the input that you use (say DisplayPort), it wakes up in about 5-7 seconds, but of course will not be near instant like it would on a Studio Display. Because I have owned and used IPS monitors before, these issues are not dealbreakers for me personally, but you must decide if those downsides are for you. Overall, I am pleased with my purchase, and as of this review, this is the best 5K high refresh rate monitor at this price point. I have read many reviews about the LG and this product that I am currently reviewing. It appears quite evident that these products are essentially the first of their kind, so I expect that as time goes on, there will be improvements to both quality control and display advancements (color, glossy coatings, viewing angles, mini LED options, etc.). I would proceed with caution if any of the downsides are dealbreakers; however, for me, the Retina sharpness and high refresh rate at this price point is worth it.

This monitor has been awesome. The build quality despite being mostly plastic is super sturdy. The 5k mode is amazing. I’ve used 4k monitors from OLED to mini led. 5k is so worth it. The clarity is insane. The colors are perfect with stock settings. It is IPS so there is a bit of ips light bleed when brightness of over 60 but that is easily over lookable considering the matte coating and very good brightness at 60 or below.

I've been waiting for a monitor with hidpi 'retina' style pixel density, 120hz+ refresh rate, and a glossy display that doesn't ruin text clarity for nearly a decade. I almost skipped this Asus because it is matte - but the matte coating is mild. But I took a risk out of desperation and this thing delivers. Text clarity is very close a glossy display. There is no rainbow sparkle or smearing common on matte coatings. The price point isn't cheap but is good compared to the closest options. No comments on prograde color accuracy in my use case, but the color feels nice and has solid contrast and brightness. The only thing I don't like is the heated chemical smell for the first couple of days. It's fine now, but ventilation is encouraged at first.

Picture quality is top notch! 5K is awesome & black level is great too!

During long-term use, a ghost image appears and then disappears.