Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q1A Review: A Budget-Friendly 4K Monitor for Gamers and Content Creators

ASUS-VG289Q1A Monitor

Our Rating: 4.2

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q1A is a standout product in the world of gaming monitors. This 28-inch 4K monitor is designed to bring high-end gaming experiences to more budget-conscious consumers.
It offers a blend of quality, performance, and value that sets it apart in a crowded market.

Pros

  • Excellent 4K resolution and IPS panel
  • Smooth gaming performance with Adaptive-Sync and low input lag
  • Good build quality and design
  • Affordable price for a 4K monitor

Cons

  • Limited HDR performance and color gamut
  • No USB ports or height adjustment
  • Mediocre contrast ratio and black uniformity

Design and Build

VG289Q1A is a testament to ASUS’s commitment to quality and design. The monitor is primarily black, with a textured base and angular contours that give it a modern, gaming-oriented look. The aesthetics are sleek and the build quality is robust, making it a durable choice for gamers.

The monitor measures 25.1 x 16-22.9 x 9.2 inches (WxHxD with base) and has a panel thickness of 2.1 inches. It weighs 16.8 pounds, which is relatively lightweight for a monitor of this size and quality. This makes it easy to handle and adjust, whether you’re setting it up for the first time or moving it around your gaming space.

ASUS VG289Q1A dimensions

One of the standout features of the VG289Q1A’s design is its slim bezel. The top and sides measure just 0.3 inch, while the bottom measures 0.6 inch. This slim bezel design enhances the immersive experience, especially in multi-monitor setups. It allows for seamless transition from one screen to the next, making it ideal for gamers who prefer a multi-monitor setup.

The build quality of the VG289Q1A is commendable. The monitor exhibits no signs of flex or creaking, even when adjusted or moved. The stand is robust and provides a stable base for the display. This stability is crucial for gaming, where intense action can lead to vigorous mouse movements and potential desk shaking.

In terms of color, the VG289Q1A is predominantly black. This gives it a sleek, modern look that fits well with most gaming setups. The black color also helps to enhance the perceived contrast of the display, making colors appear more vibrant and blacks deeper.

Overall, the ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q1A impresses with its design and build quality. It combines a sleek, modern aesthetic with a robust and durable build, making it a great choice for gamers on a budget who don’t want to compromise on quality.

Display Quality

It features a 28-inch 4K (3840×2160) IPS display that delivers stunningly crisp and detailed visuals. This high-resolution display offers four times the pixels of similar-sized Full HD 1080p displays, providing more detailed images when playing games or watching movies, as well as more onscreen desktop space for your various work windows. It draws you into immersive virtual worlds, with greatly-textured elements and terrain maps that boast impressive levels of detail.

One of the key strengths of this monitor is its color accuracy. The VG289Q1A supports the DCI-P3 color space, which is widely used in the film industry. This means it can display a wider range of colors than typical sRGB monitors, resulting in more vibrant and lifelike images. The monitor also supports HDR10, a standard for high dynamic range content. This allows it to display a wider range of brightness levels, resulting in more detailed highlights and shadows.

However, it’s worth noting that while the VG289Q1A supports HDR, its performance in this area is only slightly better than SDR (Standard Dynamic Range). This is likely due to its average contrast ratio, which is a common limitation of IPS panels.

You can also choose from multiple HDR modes to adjust HDR performances depending on the current viewing scenario.

ASUS HDR modes

Overall, the ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q1A offers excellent display quality for its price range, making it a great choice for gamers and content creators alike.

Performance

This is a monitor that performs as good as it looks. It’s designed for gaming and general use, and it excels in both areas.

For gaming, the VG289Q1A offers a refresh rate of 60 Hz, which is standard for 4K monitors. Wile this might not be as high as the 144 Hz or 240 Hz offered by some high-end gaming monitors, it’s more than enough for most gamers, especially those playing at 4K resolution. The response time is 5ms, which ensures smooth motion with minimal ghosting.

One of the standout features of the VG289Q1A is its support for Adaptive-Sync technology. This technology synchronizes the monitor’s refresh rate with the GPU’s frame rate to eliminate screen tearing and provide smoother gameplay. The VG289Q1A is compatible with both NVIDIA GeForce and AMD Radeon graphics cards, making it a versatile choice for gamers.

For general use, the VG289Q1A performs admirably. The 4K resolution provides plenty of screen real estate, making it great for multitasking. The IPS panel ensures accurate color reproduction and wide viewing angles, making it suitable for content creation and media consumption.

Moreover, the VG289Q1A features ASUS Shadow Boost technology, which enhances image details in dark areas of the game without overexposing brighter areas. This feature improves overall viewing while also making it easier to spot enemies hidden in dark areas of the map.

In terms of gaming performance, the VG289Q1A has been praised for its fluid gameplay without tearing and stuttering, thanks to its FreeSync/Adaptive-Sync technology. This feature is particularly beneficial for fast-paced games where every frame counts.

Monitor also features Flicker-Free technology, which reduces the flicker effect to alleviate eye strain, enhancing comfort during prolonged gaming periods.

Flicker-Free Technology

The monitor’s performance is not just limited to gaming. For professional work and content creation, the VG289Q1A’s high resolution and color accuracy make it a suitable choice. The monitor supports 90% DCI-P3 color space, which is widely used in the film industry. This means it can display a wider range of colors than typical sRGB monitors, resulting in more vibrant and lifelike images.

Connectivity

VG289Q1A comes with extensive connectivity options to support a wide array of multimedia devices. It includes a DisplayPort 1.2 and two HDMI (v2.0) ports, allowing you to connect multiple devices such as a gaming console, PC, and external audio devices. In addition to these, there’s also an earphone jack for private listening or to connect external speakers.

ASUS VG289Q1A connectivity

These connectivity options make the VG289Q1A a versatile monitor that can cater to various user needs, whether it’s for gaming, content creation, or entertainment.

Ergonomics and Adjustability

This monitor is not just about performance and display quality, it also scores high on ergonomics and adjustability. The monitor stand is designed to offer extensive swivel and tilt. This allows you to set the monitor at the perfect position for your comfort, whether you’re gaming for long hours or working on a detailed project.

The tilt feature allows you to adjust the angle of the screen to avoid glare and find the most comfortable viewing angle. The swivel feature lets you rotate the monitor left or right, which can be particularly useful if you need to share your screen with others. Only downside is lack of the height adjustment feature.

ASUS VG289Q1A ergonomics

Overall, VG289Q1A goes beyond delivering excellent performance and display quality, it also provides a comfortable and customizable viewing experience.

Comparisons

VG289Q1A holds its own when compared to other monitors in the same category. When compared to the Asus TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A 28″, the VG289Q1A has a 20% higher static contrast ratio and consumes 3W less power during operation.

In a comparison with the Samsung UJ590 LU32J590UQNXZA 32″, the VG289Q1A comes out on top with support for color calibration, a 14.6% higher pixel density, and a higher resolution.

However, when compared to the Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q 28″, the VG289Q1A lacks some of the ergonomic features like a bigger range of height adjustment.

ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q1A Specifications

FeatureSpecification
Panel Size28 inch
Aspect Ratio16:9
Display Viewing Area (H x V)620.928 x 341.28 mm
Display SurfaceNon-Glare
Backlight TypeLED
Panel TypeIPS
Viewing Angle (CR≧10, H/V)178°/ 178°
Pixel Pitch0.160mm
Resolution3840×2160
Color Space (DCI-P3)90%
Brightness (Typ.)350cd/㎡
Contrast Ratio (Typ.)1000:1
Display Colors1073.7M (10 bit)
Response Time5ms (GTG)
Refresh Rate (Max)60Hz
Flicker-freeYes
SpeakerYes (2Wx2)
I/O PortsDisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI (v2.0) x 2, Earphone Jack
Power Consumption30W
Power Saving Mode<0.5W
Power Off Mode<0.5W
Voltage100-240V, 50/60Hz
TiltYes (+20° ~ -5°)
SwivelYes (+15° ~ -15°)
Height AdjustmentNo
VESA Wall Mounting100x100mm
Kensington LockYes
Net Weight5.7 kg (12.57 lbs)
Net Weight without Stand4.73 kg (10.43 lbs)
Gross Weight7.8 kg (17.20 lbs)

Conclusion

This is a monitor that delivers on many fronts. It offers a high-quality 4K display, excellent performance for gaming, and a robust design.

This monitor delivers everything you need for satisfying gameplay in a 28-inch IPS panel. The high-resolution display provides more detailed images when playing games or watching movies, as well as more onscreen desktop space for your various work windows. It draws you into immersive virtual worlds, with greatly-textured elements and terrain maps that boast impressive levels of detail.

VG289Q1A offers great value with its high-resolution display and accurate color reproduction.
Whether you’re a gamer looking for a high-performance monitor, a content creator in need of accurate color reproduction, or a general user seeking a high-resolution display, the ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q1A stands out as a versatile monitor that caters to a wide range of user needs, making it a strong contender in its category.

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