ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A monitor

A well spec’d and designed monitor is one of the most important peripherals for gamers. Gaming monitors are meant to be fast, responsive, and provide the clearest images to gamers so that they can react to the world around them. Today I’m going to review the ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A gaming monitor. I’ll discuss its set-up, design, performance, and of course sharing my final thoughts.

ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A specs

  • 29.5 inches
  • 1500R curved VA Panel
  • 2560 x 1080 pixels
  • Freesync premium
  • 127% sRGB
  • HDR-10
  • 200Hz refresh and 1ms response
  • Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB)

Unboxing and setting up the ASUS TUF VG30QL1A 

The unboxing and set-up process for the ASUS TUF VG30QL1A is straightforward. Inside the box you will find the monitor, base, power supply, 1x HDMI cable, and 1x display port cable.

After removing the packaging, setting up the monitor is surprisingly simple. In my test unit the monitor arm was already attached to the back of the monitor, all I needed to do was connect the base. What I really appreciated in ASUS’s design is that assembly doesn’t require any additional tools. The base is connected to the monitor arm using 2x pre-installed thumb screws. Once you tighten both screws the base is securely attached.  

Overall the set-up process is quick and simple, you can have the monitor on your desk and ready to use in less than 5 minutes.

ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A monitor ergonomics and adjustments

Something that’s often overlooked is the quality and design of a monitor stand. In the case of the ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A, this monitor has a well designed stand with plenty of adjustments. Fine tuning is simple and the stand allows you to adjust the monitor height, tilt, and swivel. The stand also allows you to pivot the monitor 90 degrees from landscape to portrait mode.

ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A connectivity

Plentiful connectivity on the ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A

Connectivity is plentiful on the ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A. For video input there are 2x HDMI 2.0 ports and 1x Display port. There’s also  2x USB-A 3.0 ports for users to connect peripherals. Given that USB-C is becoming the new standard for many devices it would’ve been nice to see ASUS include a thunderbolt port for audio/video or at least a regular USB-C port to connect peripherals. 

A monitor designed for gamers in mind

The ASUS TUF VG30QL1A sports a 30 inch VA panel with a resolution of 2560 x 1080. ASUS’s decision to use a VA panel reflects their target demographic of gamers. VA panels provide faster refresh rates, higher brightness, and better viewing angles. Gamers that need a fast monitor will definitely appreciate the ASUS’s 200Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time. 

The ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A also comes with Freesync premium ensuring that the monitor will match the frames per second (FPS) produced by your graphics card. Adding to this the monitor also comes enabled with Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) which is meant to eliminate ghosting of on screen images. With these features gamers should experience near flawless images while playing any games.

The ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A also has a 1500R curve. Given how wide the monitor is I like the decision to make the screen curved. The curve adds more immersion to your games giving you easy visibility to the corners of your monitor without having to turn your head. 

ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A gaming

Gaming and media performance of ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A

In my testing with the ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A I played some of my favourite games including Call of Duty and Tomb Raider. The monitor is HDR-10 compatible and looks amazing while playing games and watching movies, the colors are punchy, the contrast provides deep blacks in dark areas, and the image is sharp. 

The high refresh rate of the monitor and ELMB really came through while playing both games. I’m able to clearly see what was happening during fast action sequences and the ELMB ensures that I’m not distracted by ghosting. 

What I’ve really come to love with the ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A is the ultra wide curved panel. Having an ultra wide panel gives you a wider field of view allowing you to see more of the game in your peripherals. When you add the curved nature of the screen it greatly improves your immersion, spatial awareness, and allows you to react more quickly to the environment. 

Watching movies is equally enjoyable on this monitor. On traditional monitors with 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratios, when watching movies you will see black bars on the top and bottom of the screen. However, with the ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A the 21:9 aspect ratio means that when watching movies the image fills up the entire screen.

Average built-in speakers

I’m surprised to see that ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A also comes with built-in speakers. These speakers are on the average side, they have a slightly hollow sound and lack bass. If your computer doesn’t have speakers then the ASUS VG1A’s speakers will do in a pinch.

When comparing the ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A speaker quality to my 2019 MacBook Air, the MacBook speakers are superior. The MacBook speakers produced clearer sound, more rich audio, and stronger bass. 

Overall, the built in speakers of the ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A will be adequate for general use. Hardcore gamers and movie enthusiasts will want to use dedicated headphones or external speakers to better enjoy their content.

ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A portrait

ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A and productivity

The ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A performs equally as well when it comes to day-to-day productivity. As someone who’s working on multiple spreadsheets, video calls, and building PowerPoints throughout my day I can’t say enough good things about this monitor. The wide viewing angles, curved screen and adjustable stand make it easy for me to swap between applications, and comfortably multitask. I find portrait mode is most helpful when working on vertical designs or reading long documents.

Overall, the ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A brings a lot of comforts and features that productivity professionals would like in their day to day workflow.

ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A controls

Easy to use controls

Using the ASUS VG1A’s controls is simple and easy to use. On the back right hand side of the monitor you will find 4x buttons and a navigation joystick. While this is a standard layout ASUS made two key design decisions that made this style of navigation more user friendly. The first change is that the buttons are much larger than other computer monitor buttons. Secondly, ASUS staggered the buttons which improves the tactile feel and prevents accidental presses. 

Aside from the standard computer monitor options the ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A offers some gamer centric features. For example the shortcut menu allows users to select game specific presets including racing, real time strategy, and first person shooters. Another feature that’s offered is the ability to enable a frames per second counter and the ability to have an on screen crosshairs for first person shooter games.

Overall, I found the controls on the ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A to be easy to use, navigate, and offer helpful features for gamers.

ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A back

Final thoughts on the ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A

The ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A is a great monitor for gaming, media, and productivity. I love the flexibility of the monitor stand, the 1500R curve, its fast 200Hz refresh rate, and the 1ms response time. These features add up to a fantastic monitor that will satisfy even the most hardcore gamers. The only disadvantage I can find with the ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A is it’s average speaker. This is a minor complaint in an otherwise feature rich and quality monitor.

If you’re in the market for a new monitor I strongly suggest checking out the ASUS TUF VG30VQL1A. If you’d like to see what other gaming accessories are made by ASUS you can check them out here.

Marcus Wong
Marcus Wong
Marcus is a tech blogger whose goal is to help his audience find the right technology for their needs. Since 2007, Marcus has been producing videos on his YouTube channel where he discusses a wide range of tech products including smart home devices, cell phones, and laptops.
Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

447 COMMENTS

  2. The 200mhz refresh rate and low motion blur would make this great for games, but for my setup the usb 3 ports and portrait mode swivel would actually make the most difference.

  9. Most interesting feature is that you can swivel the monitor into portrait mode. This is great because I could use for graphic design and email design, etc or reading documents.

  11. I love the curved monitors because they allow you to feel fully immersed in a game. And the ability to switch easily between landscape and portrait view means it would be extremely handy for working from home.

  12. The size and refresh rate of the screen.
    The size would fit well for my setup and the refresh rate always makes a difference when watching vids

  16. I love that the monitor comes enabled with Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) so that my actions films look more realistic.

  17. I love the 21:9 aspect ratio and the 1500R curved screen so I can immerse myself in some Netflix binge.

  21. That size and curvature is just awesome. Best setup to dive into the games.
    Plus, I like the back of the monitor; it looks pretty cyber and sick. I would move my desk so the back would face the door of my room if I had that monitor.

  23. Would definitely say the Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) stands out the most for me! A feature that ensures blur and tear-free gaming, a must have for all competitive gamers.

  26. Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB), 200MHz refresh rate, 1 ms response time and beautiful 21:9 aspect ratio are amazing.

  28. Fav feature: Many included ports are 2x USB-A 3.0 ports, 2x HDMI 2.0 ports and 1x Display port. REally need thse because my old computer have very few ports. This is a game changer

  29. The most interesting feature of this monitor to me is that it can be adjusted for height, and can change from landscape to portrait mode simply and easily

  30. The 1500R curved screen stands out for me as the most interesting feature because it allows gamers to become fully immersed in the game!

  31. Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) would be a huge benefit in fast moving games like warzone to gain the edge.

  32. I am just blown away by the curved screen. I actually saw it in the store and wow. I felt like I was immersed in the game. I could see things that you could not on the monitor with the same game next to it. I know it has so many other features that are brilliant but that was memorising to me. My son would freak out and now I know why he wants one so bad lol

  34. Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) is the feature that stands out to me which I know my husband would appreciate. The fact that it will eliminate ghosting of on screen images creating an experience with near flawless images while playing any games is so great!

  39. I really like the wide screen and the high 21:9 aspect ratio! This pc will be great for gaming and watching several things like movie. The pc being good for gaming and other things make it the perfect for for me. I am really into gaming but care about other things to and I really need a new pc. My old own is not that great anymore so I would be happy it I win it! Thank you!

  49. Besides the great specs, the other interesting feature that stands out for me is the well designed stand because of it’s multiple adjustments for height, tilt, swivel, and pivot from landscape to portrait mode. This is sometimes overlooked, but is very important to get the best ergonomic setup possible.

« Older Comments Newer Comments »

Comments are closed.