Asus TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A – Evaluation 2022 – PCMag Center East

As 2022 trundles on, an increasing number of high-refresh-rate gaming screens with 4K decision are elevating the bar. Whereas 4K gaming at excessive refresh charges was once a gradual, jittery, flickery expertise, panel developments like Speedy IPS are making it smoother and extra attractive. Chances are you’ll be tempted to miss plain IPS in favor of the unique new quantum dot expertise seen in shows just like the $1,299.99 Alienware 34 QD-OLED and the $899.99 MSI Optix MPG321UR-QD. However new entries just like the Asus TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A ($799) present us that IPS nonetheless has a number of methods left up its sleeve.
The Asus TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A is a 28-inch monitor with UHD (3,840-by-2,160-pixel) decision and a 144Hz refresh fee, constructed round a Speedy IPS panel. Although the TUF model is mostly related to Asus’ budget-friendly screens, gaming laptops, and equipment, the usage of Speedy IPS brings the VG28 properly into midrange pricing for a 4K gaming monitor.
The VG28UQL1A is mounted on a small, sq. steel stand with three choices for adjustability: a tilt of -5 to twenty levels, left and proper swivel from -15 to fifteen levels, and 4.72 inches of peak adjustment. The monitor additionally pivots 90 levels between panorama and portrait mode, although we might suggest searching for one thing extra budget-friendly for those who’re looking for a second show.
The again of the TUF, characteristically, is minimally styled with no RGB stripes or different aptitude to brighten the smooth black plastic.
Alongside the again proper of the show you possibly can entry the VG28UQL1A’s full set of options, a lot of them clearly catering to 1 crowd: console avid gamers. From the addition of variable-rate refresh (VRR) to Excessive Low Movement Blur (ELMB), most of the obtainable settings are meant to compensate for the dearth of customizability in console graphics settings, quite than including to the expertise to which PC avid gamers have lengthy been accustomed.
Give that that is an ostensible “funds” mannequin amongst 4K-resolution, high-refresh-rate gaming panels, we had been shocked to see what number of ports Asus stuffed into this show. The TUF has no fewer than 4 HDMI ports. (Simply what number of units do they assume we’re hooking as much as one show?) Plus, you get two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Kind-A ports, subsequent to a 3.5mm headphone jack to be used with the HDMI audio pass-through, in addition to a mic-in port and an audio combo jack.
As talked about, this 4K monitor encompasses a Speedy IPS panel with a local refresh fee of 144Hz. (There is not any refresh-rate overclocking assist.) We put the TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A via our customary gaming-monitor checks utilizing a SpyderX Elite spectrometer and its companion Datacolor software program. Here is what we noticed…
Testing the show in its default image mode with an SDR sign, the panel managed a peak brightness of 310.8 nits (simply above its rated 300) and a black degree of 0.37 nit, which works out to a distinction ratio of 840:1. That is OK for a gaming monitor, however falls wanting Asus’ claimed 1,000:1.
HDR testing returned a max brightness of 433.5 nits, once more topping the monitor’s HDR 400 ranking. Time for some shade gamut and accuracy runs:
The TUF’s outcomes of 100% protection of the sRGB gamut, 82% of Adobe RGB, and 87% of DCI-P3 (proven above) are properly underneath what we think about the monitor’s closest competitor, the MSI Optix MPG321UR-QD. If you’d like extra vivid shade for each video games and content material viewing, the Optix will do a greater job for under $100 extra.
Coming off these so-so shade protection outcomes, the Asus posted a surprisingly on-point Delta E common of 0.98 in shade accuracy testing.
With a little bit of tuning, we suspect that teal accuracy could possibly be introduced down significantly, making the Asus fairly correct in the fitting circumstances.
With quantitative testing out of the best way, we moved onto our subjective content material and gaming evaluations. In HDR, our 4K Costa Rica check footage (output at 4K to match the monitor’s native decision) regarded wonderful, however frankly my eyes are nonetheless recovering from the wonder that was burned in final week when testing the MSI Optix.
AAA video games like Purple Useless Redemption 2 regarded fairly good in each HDR and SDR, although once more not so good as the MPG, and the distinction was higher than I might enable for the Asus’ $100 lower cost. Video games like Forza Horizon 5 that assist native HDR and Elden Ring, which makes use of Auto HDR, additionally regarded good however not nice.
Talking of snappiness, we check enter lag (the period of time between when a monitor receives a sign and the display screen updates) with an HDFury 4K Diva HDMI matrix. Given a 144Hz check sign, the VG28 proved to be one other Speedy IPS panel that hit the boundaries of our {hardware}, with lag registering as underneath 1.95 milliseconds.
Lastly, to see how that low enter lag felt in motion, I attempted a number of rounds of Counter-Strike: International Offensive, Valorant, and Overwatch. It is clear from each this gaming session and my earlier one with the MSI Optix that most of the considerations that 1080p and 1440p multiplayer avid gamers have historically had about 4K responsiveness are disappearing. Certain, a 1080p panel with 390Hz refresh provides you with a greater shot within the rankings than a 144Hz high-res show, however the hole is getting tighter by the 12 months.
The Asus TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A is a little bit of an odd duck. Finances-friendly, high-refresh 4K gaming is not but a factor, however by way of reductions, this monitor is technically more cost effective than different decisions within the class that meet the identical specs.
However viewing the TUF as a direct competitor to the latest Editors’ Alternative award-winning MSI Optix MPG321UR-QD, the quantum-dot writing is on the wall. Whereas the MSI Optix is barely $100 extra for its cutting-edge QD-IPS panel, the Asus is caught with decrease distinction, decrease brightness peaks, and general poorer image high quality.
In case your funds has a tough ceiling of $800, the TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A will serve simply wonderful as a quick, responsive 4K monitor with robust shade accuracy. But when yow will discover the MSI Optix in inventory and may spare the additional money, you will discover it does all the things the TUF does however fairly a bit higher.
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