ASUS VG259Q Review: 1080p 144Hz FreeSync IPS Gaming Monitor

The ASUS VG259Q is a 1080p 144Hz IPS gaming monitor with a rapid pixel response time speed and certified G-SYNC compatibility which ensures stunning colors as well as fluid performance.

Image Quality

Based on an AHVA (IPS) panel by AU Optronics, the ASUS TUF VG259Q monitor features wide 178° viewing angles, a 400-nit peak brightness, a static contrast ratio of 1,000:1, and true 8-bit color depth support.

Further, the monitor’s color gamut is 72% NTSC, which is equivalent to ~99% sRGB gamut size. The colors are accurate, consistent, and vivid.

However, out of the box calibration isn’t great (depending on the particular unit of the monitor).

For the optimal image quality, calibration is required. If you want the best image quality right away, you can use the provided sRGB picture preset for precise color reproduction.

Note, however, that you cannot adjust the monitor’s brightness while using the sRGB preset, which is a shame as for some users, the picture may be too bright in this mode.

The 1080p resolution results in a decent pixel density of roughly 90 PPI (pixels per inch) on the 24.5″ viewable screen of the ASUS VG259Q.

This means that there’s a decent amount of screen real estate available and that text and details are sharp and clear.

Some minor IPS glow, and backlight bleed is visible, as expected from an IPS panel display.

This varies between different units of the monitor, but in most cases, it’s only noticeable in dark rooms with pitch-black backgrounds on the screen, and it’s completely tolerable.

Performance

While the picture quality of the ASUS VG259Q IPS monitor is nothing extraordinary (it’s good, but nothing special considering its price), its performance is where the things start to heat up.

With a pixel response time speed of 3ms (GtG), there is as little motion blur and trailing behind fast-moving objects as possible for a 144Hz monitor.

Now, to get the specified 3ms response time, you’d need to set the ‘TraceFree’ overdrive option to 100; it scales from 0 to 100 in increments of 20.

However, that introduces a lot of pixel overshoot. We recommend setting it to 40 or 60 as that way you won’t get any overshoot nor ghosting.

Alternatively, you can use the Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) technology to get 1ms MPRT (Moving Picture Response Time).

This technology further eliminates visible ghosting by backlight strobing and provides CRT-like motion clarity. However, it can only be used at fixed refresh rates of 100Hz, 120Hz, or 144Hz.

Additionally, it reduces the monitor’s maximum luminance while active, but with a 400-nit peak brightness, the monitor is more than bright enough even with this feature enabled.

The ASUS VG259Q supports AMD FreeSync with a 48-144Hz variable refresh rate (VRR) range and LFC (Low Framerate Compensation) support.

NVIDIA also certifies it as G-SYNC compatible, so you will be able to use FreeSync with compatible NVIDIA cards (GTX 10-series or newer) over DisplayPort.

FreeSync allows the monitor to change its refresh rate according to GPU’s frame rates, thereby eliminating screen tearing and stuttering without adding a hefty input lag penalty as VSYNC does.

Note that ELMB and FreeSync cannot be enabled at the same time on this monitor.

Finally, the ASUS VG259Q input lag amounts to ~4ms, which makes for imperceptible delay at 144Hz.

Features

The OSD (On-Screen Display) menu of the monitor is user-friendly and easy to navigate thanks to the 5-way joystick placed at the back of the monitor.

In addition to the joystick, there are four buttons that you can use to swap between input sources quickly, GamePlus and GameVisual features, and power on/off.

The GamePlus feature consists of on-screen timers, trackers, and crosshairs, while GameVisual offers pre-calibrated picture presets (Scenery, Racing, Cinema, RTS/RPG, FPS, sRGB, and MOBA).

You’ll also find three profiles to save/load your settings as well as other standard picture adjustment tools such as contrast, brightness, sharpness, color temperature, saturation, etc.

The monitor has a flicker-free backlight and an integrated low-blue light filter, which ensures a comfortable viewing experience on your eyes.

Lastly, there’s the Shadow Boost feature, which improves visibility of objects in shadows by altering the gamma curvature.

Design & Connectivity

The design of the ASUS VG259Q monitor features a fully ergonomic stand with up to 130mm height adjustment, +/- 90° swivel, 90° pivot, -5°/33° tilt, and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

ASUS applied a peculiar image filter to the screen, which makes the text seem a bit fuzzy and blurry. Some users might find it distracting, while others might not be bothered by it all, just something to keep in mind.  

Connectivity options include two HDMI 1.4 ports, a single DisplayPort 1.2 input, a headphone jack, and dual 2W integrated speakers. All three inputs support 1080p up to 144Hz.

Price & Similar Monitors

The ASUS VG259Q price amounts to ~$230.

For just $20 more, you can find a 25″ 1080p IPS gaming monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate, such as the Dell S2522HG.

If you’re looking for something similar but cheaper, the AOC 24G2 can be found for as low as $180 yet it offers similar image quality and performance as the VG259Q. It actually has a wider color gamut and no grainy screen filter.

Visit our best gaming monitor buyer’s guide for more options and information.

Conclusion

Overall, the ASUS VG259Q offers a great image quality and a responsive gaming experience. However, there are more cost-effective options out there.

Specifications

Screen Size	24.5-inch
Resolution	1920×1080 (Full HD)
Panel Type	IPS
Aspect Ratio	16:9 (Widescreen)
Refresh Rate	144Hz
Response Time	3ms (GtG)
Response Time (ELMB)	1ms (MPRT)
Adaptive Sync	FreeSync (48Hz-144Hz)
Speakers	2x2W
Ports	DisplayPort 1.2, 2x HDMI 1.4
Other Ports	Headphone Jack
Brightness	400 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio	1000:1 (static)
Colors	16.7 million (true 8-bit)
VESA	Yes (100x100mm)