Meet the ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM. Asus South Africa hosted local media at a launch event last week for its newest entry into the market – an OLED gaming monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate.

What makes this monitor particularly impressive, is the fact that it’s the first of its kind in the country. A few other brands bring OLED monitors aimed at gamers into the market, including Samsung’s G8 Odyssey, the Gigabyte Aurus and two Alienware monitors – but none feature a refresh rate higher than 240Hz.

The ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM is the first standalone monitor offering from Asus that features OLED technology. We know that the brand has been working to include OLED tech into its laptop range – from the high-end right down to the lower-end.

In addition to the display tech, it comes in at 27-inches with a Quad High Definition (QHD) resolution. In other words, 1440px1080p.

Fastest OLED around
The monitor features a 240Hz refresh rate and a rapid 0.03ms (GTG) response time. This means gamers can expect smooth visuals and ultra-responsive gameplay. We had some hands-on time with the monitors, and the experience was pleasurable.

Our only gripe we have with it, is that the anti-glare matte layer takes away from the crisp OLED experience. Nevertheless, the screen is brilliant and ideal for a gaming setup in a dimly lit room.

The design is also nothing to scoff at. It’s obviously designed with gamers in mind, but with that said, it seems ergonomic and won’t take up too much space on your desk. Below the foot, it’s proudly displaying the ROG logo using LEDs, which is a nice touch.

Then on the inside
Asus is also promoting its advanced cooling system, which is designed to help the OLED panel last longer. It’s made up of a custom-built fanless heatsink that manages the heat to reduce the risk of burn-in.

Thanks to the increased airflow, the monitor is capable of displaying 17% higher peak brightness compared to previous ROG OLED displays.

Then there’s something called ‘intelligent voltage optimization’, which allows consistent and uniform brightness across the panel. “ROG worked closely with the panel maker to determine the correlation between OLED brightness, voltage level, and operational temperature,” reads a press release.

Availability
The ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM is available for preorder from Incredible Connection from 18 September, while the in-store launch date is 30 September.

If you’re after the monitor in-store, you’ll have to head to Incredible Connection Sandton from 30 September, and IC Canal Walk from 7 October. There is only one spec available and it will retail for R34,999.

As for those eager to get their hands on one, Asus is offering pre-orders via its local site at a reduced price of R32,999 using a R3,000 cash-back incentive. This is only for eligible orders placed before 30 September.

If you’re keen to test it before you buy it (which is something we suggest doing), the brand is offering a Forza 5 Mini Tournament at Sandton City on 30 September and at Canal Walk on 7 October. The fastest racer will receive a R3,000 cash prize.