4K resolution has been around for almost two decades now, but many gamers, content creators including us are hesitant to make the switch. The continued popularity of 1080p resolution for streaming and recorded gameplay footage can be attributed to several factors, as well as older generation GPUs couldn’t really provide a decent frame rate in 4K. However, with the release of the new generation of GPUs, DLSS 2.0 technology, next-gen Consoles and faster internet bandwidth, 4K gaming/streaming is finally becoming a reality for many people.
There are lots of 4K Gaming monitors available in the market, but one specific is from Asus, the TUF VG28U 28 inch 4K Gaming Monitor (VG28UQL1A) which offers 4K HDR, plus a blistering speed of 144 Hz refresh rate for gaming, an IPS Ultrawide Angle where colors are the same no matter the angle you are looking, features free sync/adaptive sync technology from AMD and NVIDIA, and many more – all at a price of PHP 52,400 in the Philippines.
Asus sent this over to us for review, and we will give you a complete rundown on all of the features that will help you decide if it is worth switching for.
Packaging
The ASUS TUF VG28U 4K Gaming Monitor comes in a large, black/silver box. The front of the box shows off its monitor as well as the ASUS logo and the TUF Gaming logo. The back shows the same pictures.
While the side of the box lists all of the monitor’s many features.
Inside the box, the monitor is well-protected with foam padding. The included stand is also well-protected. In addition to the monitor and stand, the box also includes an HDMI cable, a DisplayPort cable, and a USB cable for the monitor’s built-in USB dongle.
The monitor is very well-packaged and comes with everything you need to get started. The included stand is also very easy to assemble.
Look and Feel
The monitor is designed for gamers and streamers in mind. It features a black plastic exterior that looks modern and sleek. The sturdy stand provides good stability for the weight of the monitor. It is also a VESA-compatible that allows you to mount to walls or other surface mounting.
The monitor has a matte-black screen, just like other monitors you’ll find on the market. The stand unique shape gives the monitor a modern appearance. It can be swivel up to 15 degrees for both sides.
This monitor can be pivoted vertically at ease. This is convenient if you want to use this monitor as your second screen for checking chat messages while streaming, or creating content in portrait mode.
What’s more, the height can be adjusted up to 4.72 inches.
The VESA-compatible mount comes with 4 screws, which can be covered by a rubber cover to conceal their presence for an uncluttered look.
On its stand, you’ll find a design worth mentioning: the TUF logo. It’s subtle, but it adds a premium feel.
The top of a monitor is where you’ll find its ventilation grills, which are designed to remove heat. This location is strategic because you won’t feel the heat when using your keyboard and mouse. The Small vents on the bottom also help with cooling but these hardly feel any heat upon our testing.
The stand has a cable management underneath, where you can insert the wires and tie them up in order to keep them tidy and out of sight.
The physical buttons for the menu are found on the right side of the monitor. They are big and easy to identify, as the position of the buttons matches what you’ll see on the screen. This makes it easy to navigate the menu without having to take your eyes off to see the labels on the side.
The overall look of the monitor is satisfactory, with no major flaws. The stand has a wide range of adjustability, ensuring that you’ll be able to view the screen from any angle no matter the environment.
Connectivity
As for the connectivity, the ASUS TUF VG28U 4K Gaming Monitor has multiple ports. For the display, it has 4 HDMI port and 1 DisplayPort. This makes it easy to connect your PC, gaming console, or other devices without removing their HDMI. The audio jack lets you connect headphones or speakers for an immersive gaming experience.
At the left corner, you’ll find the connection for cable to your PC and the two USB dongle. You can also find here the power port.
The power adapter is big and heavy – it’s like the large power bank, but it gives the display of a 4K monitor enough power.
With its multiple connectivity options, this monitor is a great choice for those who need to connect to a variety of devices.
4K Display
Let’s first introduce the main feature of ASUS TUF VG28U 4K Gaming Monitor. 4K is a display resolution of 3840×2160 pixels, which is four times as many pixels as 1080p, and is the highest resolution supported by mainstream consumer TVs and gaming monitors. When we first turned on the monitor, we were blown away by how clear and sharp all of the content on the screen.
In the image above, you can see that the small circle contains all of the necessary pixels to display a high-resolution image that are still readable. All of these 8 million pixels are compressed into a 28-inch monitor. – making it a retina-like display found on Mac computers. If you’ve been using 1080p for so long, you will easily know the difference and once you experience it, you will be unlikely to want to go back.
60 to 144Hz Refresh Rate
This monitor is build with ASUS’s Fast IPS Display that can switches that can switches display up to 4x than the conventional IPS panel allowing it to achieved the fast refresh rate of 144Hz and 1ms GTG response time.
Monitor for your next gen game console or next-gen PC, It supports HDMI 2.1 that are compatible to PS5 which provides a native 4K resolution at 120Hz. While for PC, it supports 4K at 144Hz for the latest graphics card. But for those who are using old graphics card such as GTX 1080, you can get up to 120Hz Refresh Rate through the DisplayPort.
Screen Color
This monitor features a wide viewing angle that allows you to see the image from almost any angle without washout or color distortion. Whether you’re looking from the front, side, or back, you’ll be able to see a clear image with accurate colors.
It has HDR technology to deliver more vivid colors and higher contrast levels compared to traditional monitors. The monitor also features 90% DCI-P3 (Digital Cinema Initiatives – Protocol 3) coverage for more accurate color reproduction, and multiple HDR modes for different gaming scenarios.
Sync Technology
A monitor’s ability to synchronize with the graphics card is useful for gamers, particularly those who play competitive games. This monitor has four useful sync technology options that can help improve gaming performance. These options are adaptive sync, ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB), G-Sync (NVIDIA), and FreeSync (AMD). Adaptive sync is a technology that synchronizes monitor refresh rate with the GPU output, eliminating screen tearing and stuttering. ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) technology provides a 1ms GTG response time that reduces ghosting and blurring of fast-moving objects.
Then the other two technologies that support graphics card sync technology, the G-Sync for NVIDIA and FreeSync for AMD both use the same principles as adaptive sync but relies on their proprietary hardware. With all of this ultimate sync technology, games can enjoy the most immersive non-lag gaming experience possible which can improve their scores.
Gaming Tools
The monitor has 7 different color settings: RTS/RPG, FPS, Cinema, Scenery, Racing, MOBA, and SRGB. Each setting is designed to optimize the viewing experience for different types of content. We particularly like the SRGB setting, which offers 100% color display accuracy, making it ideal for content creation.
There are other tools that you can activate anytime, such as the crosshair for first-person shooter games, a timer, an FPS counter, and a display alignment tool. Among these tools, the FPS counter is very useful because it allows you to see how many frames per second (fps) your graphics card is producing at any given moment. This is so useful when recording gameplay because these counters won’t appear on your content; they only appear on the display.
If you are confused about using the physical monitor controls like us, ASUS Display Widget Lite can help you adjust your monitor settings from the software itself. This is a great feature for those who want to avoid having to fumble with the physical controls. With this software, you can make all the adjustments you need without to find the right buttons on the back of the monitor.
Conclusion
We were hesitant to make the switch to 4K resolution because we didn’t want to sacrifice frame rate for the sake of better graphics. But when we saw the TUF VG28U 4K Gaming Monitor from ASUS, we were blown away by the sharpness and clarity of the image. It’s like using a retina display on a Mac, but on a PC.
The ASUS TUF VG28U 4K Gaming Monitor is a great choice for gamers who want a high-quality, large-screen gaming experience. It features a black plastic exterior that looks modern and sleek. The sturdy stand provides good stability for the weight of the monitor. It is also a VESA-compatible that allows you to mount to walls or other surface mounting. It offers great features and performance, and is also very well-built and its fast refresh rate even in 4K display, it is perfect for next-gen gaming either for console or PC.
Is it worth the price? The price is really high and there are cheaper options out there with 4K displays. However, this monitor has all the bells and whistles and you will definitely not regret getting it if you can afford it. If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line 4K monitor that matches your fast gaming rig, the ASUS TUF VG28U 4K Gaming Monitor is definitely worth considering.