ASUS RoG Swift PG35VQ Monitor review - Conclusion

Final Words & Verdict

As always, we'll be the first to admit that our monitor reviews are more subjective rather than objective. I mean, it's great to get all the data from the colorimeter hardware including precise brightness levels and color gamuts. In the end though, often once you've calibrated a monitor, you'll still alter settings to match your personal preference. Also, there will be media outlets available with far more in-depth measurements. So please do look at my review more as a personal experience with my view on this product. That said, for me, a monitor works out the best if it offers a combo of features. I am an IPS / AHVA man myself, TN for me is a gnarly word, for you however that might be exactly the opposite as you care less about dark blacks, viewing angles but are all for incredibly fast refresh rate screens. Then you have people that are willing to chuck down 1500 even 2500 bucks for a monitor, others go "hell nooo" and find their limit at 300 USD. It's all these variables that make choosing the right monitor very difficult and, yes, subjective. But man, Quantum-dots, HDR, 200 HZ and then 512 local dimming zones, it is easy to be swayed towards this chunk of hardware. What ASUS offers here, purely seen from a hardware point of view and sheer design, is pr0n for PC gamers. Good looks, RoG logo projections and a monitor that simply draws all the attention in the room.

I am also extremely comfortable with 3440x1440 as a resolution. It's less heavy on your graphics card compared to Ultra HD at 3860x2160 pixels and, at 200 Hz, you're going to need that horsepower! Let me show you some numbers with the new GeForce RTX 2080 Super (founder edition):

Yeah, that is all pr0n; until you run into the price and suddenly that bubble will burst. ~2750 USD/EUR, is what you need to hand over to be able to grab one of these puppies. For that kind of cash, this monitor needs to be able to make me cappuchino's as well.

Negatives

You know it, price.

I am still trying to understand why monitors of this class need to cost that 2750 bucks. I mean, writing that number made me a bit nauseous and it is way out of my comfort zone. Then there are two other caveats with the monitor, the color compression thing is a nag, as this monitor really should have supported Display Stream Compression IMHO. Leave Windows desktop in standard 8-bit mode, and when you game you switch to 10-bit mode. That way you'll never even see the effect, that's a promise. My last nag is the stupid active ventilator, fans in monitors need to die. 

The Verdict

Sometimes when you test a monitor and look back at the results the values do not tell you how good a monitor is. I had that experience with this one, as the second you fire up an HDR game at 200 Hz, you cannot be anything other than awed and amazed. The colors drip off your screen, you reach color effects you thought did not exist. In that respect, the PG35VQ is AWESOME, period. Now, I do hate the fact it has a fan, but I got bothered less by it after a day up-to-the point where I did not notice it anymore. Color compression; well, at this price level the monitor should have had support for Display Stream Compression, period. But would I notice the effect in games? Nope, and that is the honest truth. As stated, you need to see the Asus RoG Swift PG35VQ in HDR action for you to believe me, it is an amazing screen loaded with a unique collection of features. For uber high-end gaming, Ultra widescreen at 3440 x 1440 pixels is the nicer balance to game at as you put less stress on the GPU compared to Ultra HD. The 35" screen size versus resolution also means a good pixel density. The PG35VQ shines at HDR. Not only does this screen offer a very high peak brightness that brings HDR scenes the necessary impact, there is also highly granular 512 zone meshed local dimming. And herein is a big difference and advantage to be found in the race against halos. Now don't get me wrong, look hard and you can still see stray light around contrast-rich transitions, but in its current state it is so small. The only alternative to be 100% halo free is OLED, but OLED cannot reach the required nit levels and neither 200 Hz refresh rates. Ultimately, the biggest bother is the price level. It is so high that the PG35VQ is unreachable for 99.99% of you/us. However, the combination of a 1440p ultra wide screen, 200 Hz refresh rate and an excellent (really excellent) HDR display makes this monitor something really special.

My allergic reaction to price is severe, the monitor does have some (small) concerns. But I'll still hand out a top pick award as, once you fire up that HDR-enabled game, you will have forgotten everything and anything, as it is that good. Go watch/test it in a store, it is a beauty (and a bit of a beast). 

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