165 Hz 2560x1440 Curved 27" G-Sync TN - Asus PG27VQ

Panel Size : Wide Screen 27.0"(68.47cm) Auto
Color Saturation : 72%(NTSC)
Panel Backlight / Type : TN
True Resolution : 2560x1440
Display Viewing Area(HxV) : 596.74 x 335.66 mm
Display Surface Non-glare
Pixel Pitch : 0.233mm
Brightness(Max) : 400 cd/㎡
Contrast Ratio (Max) : 1000:1
Viewing Angle (CR≧10) : 170°(H)/160°(V)
Response Time : 1ms (Gray to Gray)
Display Colors : 16.7M
Flicker free
LCD ZBD Warranty : Yes
Curved Panel : 1800R

Mine arrives Wed and I will post my thoughts.

Is there supposed to be something special about this other than another 144/165hz g-sync TN?

Nope. Basically just a curved version of the PG278QR. I'd like to test to see if the pixel speeds are any faster though since this is a new panel.

Does it still use the same overly grainy matte coating?

Apparently so. For whatever reason, the industry loves to put that crap on TN panels.

This monitor is a dream for ULMB lovers!

I'm not sure what to think of curved TN. Does that amplify or mitigate the angle issues? It should lessen the issue if you're dead center I suppose.

Here is my quick overview of the PG27VQ versus the PG278QR:

1. Curve! - Obviously the largest difference. At first I thought 27" 16:9 curved would be a bit of a gimmick, but after having used it some hours now I do prefer it. Granted, I have always preferred curved screens so this will be personal preference.

2. AR film - unfortunately the same matte film applied to seemingly every TN panel these days.

3. Backlight uniformity - VQ struggles a little bit on the left and right edges compared to the more uniform QR.

4. Backlight bleed - slightly more on the VQ, but nothing egregious such as on most IPS-type gaming displays.

5. Response time - This one I was hoping would be slightly better, but I found identical to the QR at around ~4.8ms MPRT. Supposedly there is new iteration TN technology coming out in Q2 2018 that can lower MPRT down to the ~3ms range.

6. Monitor overclocks flawlessly just like the QR.

7. Back case lighting, as does the image shooting down from the stand. I turn those off first thing. I use a true bias lighting system.

8. OSD - controls/joystick on the back right hand side are still top notch. ASUS has my favorite control system.

9. Stand - quite sturdy / tri-pod design. Although I quickly put it on my VESA arm. If I kept it on the stand I probably would have liked another inch in height adjustment.

10. Monitor feels sturdy and gives a feeling of quality.

11. Neither monitor had any dust, stuck or dead pixels.

12. Backlight - flicker free and this baby can get up to ~400 cd/m2.

13. ULMB - A dream on this monitor. Actually usable during the day as it can reach ~300 cd/m2! You set your brightness to 100% and then control luminosity with the backlight pulse duration. This allows the most clarity possibly under varying light conditions. Night time ~120 cd/m2 brightness is around the 35 pulse width setting, allowing for sub 1ms pulse duration for exceptional motion clarity. Strobe ghosting is also minimal on the display, given the fact ULMB pairs the best with TN panels due to their speed. Most of the strobe cross-talk is limited to the bottom 1/3rd of the screen, allowing for the center-top to be the clearest (preferred). One slight disappointment is that ULMB is capped at 120 Hz. I would have preferred 144 Hz as an option along with 100/120. 120 is still perfectly fine and so far this monitor is the best motion clarity experience yet I've had for gaming.

14. Viewing angles - normal TN characteristic from top to bottom. For the sides, a bit of contrast shift that I believe is exasperated by the slight loss of brightness on either side edge.

Final thoughts - If you want superior image quality, go with an OLED 4K TV. If you want "ok" image quality in the realm of the maximum quality LCD can provide, go with a high end VA or IPS (with the obvious speed/clarity trade-offs). If you want the best ULMB gaming experience, the PG27VQ is your huckleberry.