ASUS TUF Gaming VG247Q1A 23.8" Black 2022

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG247Q1A nails the basics with a 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, landing in the 75th percentile for performance. But display quality is near the bottom of the barrel at 11th percentile, and features are sparse. Worth it only if you're a budget esports player who cares about speed above all else.

The 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms MPRT response time are the real deal here. Our performance score puts this panel in the 75th percentile, which means it's well above average for smoothness and responsiveness. FreeSync Premium keeps tearing at bay, and the 3000:1 contrast ratio gives you deep blacks that IPS panels in this range just can't match. The catch is the display quality itself. At 11th percentile, the 1080p resolution on a 23.8-inch VA panel is fine for esports but underwhelming for anything else. Text looks soft, and the 350 nits brightness is okay but not going to wow anyone in a bright room.

Stacked against the Dell S2725QC, the ASUS wins on refresh rate but loses badly on resolution and overall polish. The Dell is a 27-inch 1440p panel with far better display quality, though it's not a gaming-first monitor. The Acer Nitro XV272U and HP OMEN 27qs G2 both offer 1440p at high refresh rates with better feature sets, making them more well-rounded picks if you can stretch your budget. The Gigabyte M27UP SA goes even further with 4K. The KOORUI 34E6UC is a different beast entirely, an ultrawide that trades raw speed for immersion. The ASUS is the budget speed demon of the group, but it gives up a lot to get there.

Pricing is all over the map. In the US, you can find this monitor between USD 110 and USD 180, which is a pretty wide spread for a budget panel. At the low end, that's a steal for 165Hz. At the high end, you're getting into territory where better-rounded monitors start showing up. The EUR listings are even wilder, ranging from EUR 357 to EUR 534, which honestly feels overpriced for what you get. If you're shopping in the US, hunt for the lower end of that range. If you're in Europe, maybe wait for a sale or look elsewhere.

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG247Q1A is a 23.8-inch 1080p gaming monitor that pushes up to 165Hz with a 1ms MPRT response time. It's got FreeSync Premium, 350 nits of brightness, and a VA panel with a 3000:1 contrast ratio. On paper, that's a solid recipe for smooth, punchy gaming on a budget.

But our database tells a more complicated story. Performance lands in the 75th percentile, which is genuinely good for the price. The problem is everything else. Display quality sits in the 11th percentile, features are at 21st, and social proof is basically nonexistent at 4th. This is a monitor that does one thing well and skimps on the rest.

If you need a monitor for anything beyond fast-paced gaming, skip this one. The 1080p resolution and weak display quality make it a poor fit for photo editing, video work, or even just long reading sessions. And if you want modern connectivity like USB-C or HDMI 2.1, look elsewhere. This panel is a one-trick pony, and that trick is speed.

If you're a competitive gamer on a tight budget and all you care about is refresh rate and response time, the VG247Q1A delivers where it counts. The 165Hz panel with FreeSync Premium is legitimately good for fast-paced shooters and esports titles. But if you want a monitor for mixed use, content creation, or even just crisp text for browsing, this isn't it. The display quality is a real letdown, and the feature set is minimal. This is a single-purpose tool, and it's honest about that.