This Dual-Mode Asus Gaming Monitor Is 33% Off As Part of Amazon’s Spring Sale.
Spending $300 on a gaming monitor usually means choosing between resolution and performance, making the tradeoff. The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UCG tries to make that choice easier. It’s currently marked down to $299 (originally $449) as part of Amazon’s big spring sale , which ends today, making it the lowest price ever, according to price tracking sites . The idea is simple: use it as a crisp 4K display most of the time, then switch to a faster 1080p mode when response time is more important.
In everyday use, you’ll spend most of your time in 4K mode. Text looks sharp, videos are detailed, and games have that extra clarity you immediately notice on a 27-inch screen. Colors are well-balanced out of the box, and while HDR support is fairly basic, it does slightly increase brightness in highlights.
1080p mode is more situational. On desktop, the image is so blurry that you’ll want to quickly switch back. However, in games, it starts to make sense—the switch to 320Hz is noticeable if you’re playing fast-paced shooters, and the lower input lag helps. It’s not for everyone, but if you switch between more sedate single-player games and competitive ones, it gives you flexibility without the need for a second monitor.
There are a few practical limitations to consider. There’s a USB-C port, but at 15W, it’s more of a convenience than a full-fledged charging solution. Furthermore, there’s no USB hub included, so it’s no substitute for a full-fledged docking station. A more serious issue is the actual switching between the two modes. Switching between 4K and 1080p takes a few seconds and forces the display to resynchronize, which can be annoying if you plan to switch frequently. Over time, this delay begins to disrupt the smoothness of the experience and makes the feature less practical than it initially appears.