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The ASUS ROG SWIFT PG35QV is a perfect argument for why the 3,440 x 1,440 ultrawide 21:9 format is fast becoming our favourite screen type. The first monitors we saw with this format forced you to compromise on refresh and gaming features, but the latest batch are just as well specified as their smaller, lower-resolution 16:9 alternatives. With this monitor, you can have it all – humungous desktop real estate, a hugely immersive ultrawide game view, but with the high refresh and enhancements of a true pro gaming screen.
The killer capabilities are 200Hz refresh alongside NVIDIA G-sync Ultimate, which goes beyond the adaptive refresh of regular G-sync to include HDR capabilities at up to 1,000cd/m2 brightness, although with standard dynamic range content the maximum is 500cd/m2, as we found during testing. No other screen we know of provides these features alongside a 21:9 3,440 x 1,440 resolution.
The PG35QV has comprehensive features elsewhere, too. The built-in ESS audio will keep sound quality high if your motherboard's chipset is mediocre, the gaming presets cover the main genres, and you have bonus extras like the FPS counter and hardware-delivered crosshairs. The colour uniformity and spot-on gamma settings indicate a quality panel. However, we would have liked to see the USB 3.0 ports and headphone minijack in a more accessible location than hidden behind removable plastic panel.
Our biggest concern is the bizarre gamut result, which makes no sense for a screen this good in every other respect. But at least you can fix it by changing the settings, and ASUS may have sorted it out soon anyway as our sample was an early one.
Or course, the elephant in the room is the price. For this screen's £2,700, you could get three MSI Optix MPG341CQR monitors. But that model maxes out at 144Hz and doesn't have the NVIDIA G-sync hardware, just FreeSync 2. You simply can't buy a screen with 200Hz NVIDIA G-sync Ultimate and a 35in curved 3,440 x 1,440 resolution for less elsewhere – or at all. In other words, this is going to be a screen that most of us long for. But only a few will be able to afford it.
The ASUS ROG SWIFT PG35QV is available from Overclockers UK for £2,699.99.
Pros:
- 200Hz refresh-rate.
- NVIDIA G-sync Ultimate.
- HDR-10 support up to 1,000cd/m2 brightness.
- Excellent colour accuracy, and even better when calibrated.
- Immersive 35in 3,440 x 1,440 21:9 superwidescreen.
- Curved panel.
- Gaming-focused presets.
- Built-in ESS Sabre HiFi audio DAC.
- Useful extra gaming functions including crosshairs.
- Comprehensive physical adjustment.
- USB 3.0 hub, with convenient side ports.
Cons:
- Incredibly expensive.
- Need to turn on Wide Gamut even if you're not using a Mac.
KitGuru says: The ASUS ROG SWIFT PG35QV sets a new high bar for premium gaming monitors, with silky-smooth 200Hz NVIDIA G-sync Ultimate adaptive refresh in a huge ultrawide format – but you pay an immense amount for the unique ability.
