Asus - Asus MG278Q

Asus

Asus MG278Q: a FreeSync and G-Sync compatible player monitor

Aprox. 599€

See specifications

The Asus MG278Q is not very young, but it has been brought up to date thanks to its G-Sync compatibility certified by Nvidia. This model thus becomes a serious competitor of the PG278Q while being a little cheaper.

Positive points

Finish.

Maximum frequency of 144 Hz.

Reactivity.

FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility.

Ergonomics.

Bad points

No backlight scanning.

Limited contrast ratio.

Reduced viewing angles.

Our review

Presentation

The Asus MG278Q is quite similar to the Asus PG278Q that we tested. It has the same 27-inch TN panel displaying a Quad HD definition of 2,560 x 1,440 px and offers the same ergonomics with a foot adjustable in all directions (height, tilt, rotation and pivot mode). The difference is made in terms of connectivity. The Asus PG278Q only has an HDMI input and a DisplayPort input while the MG278Q offers two HDMI inputs, a DisplayPort input and a DVI input. Both monitors have a headphone output and two USB 3.0 ports. This model supports a refresh rate of 144 Hz. It is also compatible with FreeSync technology and keeps the G-Sync between 35 and 144 Hz.

This monitor is in direct competition with the AOC Agon AG271QX and the Iiyama G-Master GB2760QSU-B, which both have a 27 inch TN 144 Hz FreeSync Quad HD panel. The AOC Agon AG271QX is sold for just under € 500, while the Iiyama G-Master GB2760QSU-B is trading around € 430. The Asus MG278Q monitor is sold for around € 500.


Ergonomics

The Asus MG278Q adopts a very linear design, with very angular edges to give it an aggressive side that visibly pleases players.

Ergonomics is clearly the strong point of this model. The foot is adjustable in height by 15 cm, the inclination varies between -5 and 20 ° and the rotation by ± 60 °. This screen also benefits from a pivot for switching to portrait mode, but this has little interest on a TN panel where the closed angles clearly limit this use.

This monitor has a very classic cable passage at the base of the stand. It does not hide the cables, but allows them to be gathered at the back of the foot in order to clear the desk a little.

The connection includes two HDMI ports, a DisplayPort 1.2 input, a DVI input, an audio input and a headphone output. Asus has also integrated a USB hub offering two USB 3.0 ports. The monitor also has two 2 W speakers - whose rendering is very average. They can only be used as a backup to watch short videos.

A clickable joystick allows you to navigate the OSD menus. We can thus move from one menu to another very quickly. It is the most efficient system to date for quickly adjusting a monitor. The other buttons give direct access to a source, to GamePlus functions (display of a viewfinder in the center of the screen, of a timer or of the number of frames per second in real time) or to the choice of the mode of rendering ( RTS, race, etc.). The OSD also allows you to adjust the blue light filter to four levels and change the basic settings (brightness, contrast, saturation and temperature).

The Asus MG278Q is very comfortable on our reference desk measuring 140 x 60 cm. The foot, only 24 cm deep, leaves enough space for the keyboard and mouse. The definition Quad HD is very comfortable to play, but can pose some problems in office automation. Indeed, if it is very pleasant on a 32 inch (≈81 cm) monitor, it may turn out to be a little fine for some users on a monitor of only 27 inches (≈69 cm).

This monitor consumes about 25 W with a white set at 150 cd / m². Relative consumption thus reaches 124 W / m², a fairly high value given that the average of the monitors tested is around 100 W / m². At minimum brightness (45 cd / m²), the monitor consumes 15 W and goes up to 44 W maximum (351 cd / m²).


Colors and contrast

By default, the Asus MG278Q displays an image in the high average, with an average temperature measured at 6,990 K, quite close to the 6,500 K reference, but the curve lacks stability, with dark gray too cold - which is always less visible than light gray too cold. Same observation for the gamma whose average measured at 2.1 is close to that of reference (2.2), but the curve lacks stability slightly, with in particular light gray slightly plugged. The colors as a whole can be considered as faithful (delta E measured at 2.9). Remember that below a delta E of 3, the eye no longer differentiates between the colors requested and the colors displayed. The bright red, green and yellow still exceed a delta E of 4.

Once the brightness set to 31 and the light filter set to 1 (for a warmer rendering), we obtain a white at 150 cd / m² on our test pattern. The average temperature drops to 6,760 K, closer to the reference 6,500 K. The gamma curve maintains the same profile and the same mean at 2.1. The colors are identical and there is no way to correct the defect found on certain colors.

Calibrating the monitor to the probe makes it possible to perfectly smooth the gamma and temperature curves on the target values (6,500 K and 2.2). The colors do not really gain in fidelity. If the average of Delta E gains a few tenths, blue and magenta now see their Delta E exceed the value of 3. You can download the color profile by following this link.

The TN panel has a relatively low contrast ratio since it is limited to 850: 1, which is common to all the TN monitors we have tested (they do not exceed 1000: 1). In absolute terms, this contrast is weak and the blacks lack depth. This has no impact when used in daylight, but in the dark, blacks appear gray. This contrast remains very far from that measured on the best VA panels. For example, the contrast of AOC Q3279VWF, Textorm TX32 and Philips BDM4037UW monitors exceeds 4000: 1.

The average difference in brightness uniformity is measured at only 5% over the entire 27-inch panel; a benchmark that few monitors achieve. The model we tested was not affected by a clouding phenomenon.


Reactivity

The MG278Q does not use Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) to adjust the brightness; it is therefore devoid of flicker. Asus has also integrated a Low Blue Light mode to reduce the emission of blue light.

This screen is compatible with FreeSync technology and G-Sync (since the release of the latest drivers) between 35 and 144 Hz, which dynamically sets the screen refresh rate on the number of frames per second produced by the graphics card in order to avoid the phenomenon of tearing of the image (tearing) and micro-slowing down (stuttering). One of the advantages of this monitor is clearly the double compatibility FreeSync and G-Sync since it is one of the rare FreeSync monitors which have been certified "G-Sync compatible" by Nvidia, which guarantees the absence of bug. We simply regret the absence of a backlight scanning system on this model.

The reactivity measured at 5 ms is very good, but it is far from the best measured on a TN monitor. Indeed, the Alienware AW2518HF with its 240 Hz panel was flashed at 3 ms. This value is obtained with an overdrive setting (called Trace Free at Asus) on the maximum value of 100, without showing any reverse ghosting effect. Below, the ghosting (drag effect) is slightly visible. We measured the delay in display (input lag) at 10.2 ms. There is therefore no lag between the action performed with the mouse or the keyboard and its repercussion on the screen.


Conclusion

In 2019, the Asus MG278Q remains a very good monitor for the game by offering good responsiveness, support for FreeSync and now G-Sync between 35 and 144 Hz, all for a measured price. It remains to accommodate small defects in TN technology, such as low contrast and especially closed viewing angles.


Specifications