ASUS TUF Gaming VG24VQE 23.6" Black 2022

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG24VQE is a 23.6-inch curved VA gaming monitor with a 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms MPRT response time. It's fast, immersive, and cheap, especially at the low end of its USD 240 to USD 288 US price range. Color performance is weak at 72% NTSC, and brightness tops out at 250 nits. Buy it for gaming on a budget, skip it for anything color-critical.

The headline number here is 165Hz, and it's legit. That refresh rate puts this monitor in the 77th percentile for performance, which is well above average for its class. For fast-paced games like Valorant, Apex Legends, or Rocket League, the difference between 60Hz and 165Hz is night and day. Motion stays smooth, and the 1ms MPRT response time helps keep ghosting to a minimum. ASUS pairs that with ELMB, which strobes the backlight to reduce motion blur further. It works, though you can't use ELMB and FreeSync at the same time, so you'll need to pick your poison depending on the game.

The VA panel is a double-edged sword. You get deep blacks and decent contrast, which is great for darker games and movie watching. But VA panels are known for slower pixel transitions in certain color ranges, and this one is no exception. The 250 nits brightness is fine for a dim room but underwhelming in a bright office. Color coverage sits at 72% NTSC, which lands in the 17th percentile. That's not a typo. This monitor is not built for color accuracy, and you'll notice washed-out tones if you're used to an IPS panel. For gaming, it's passable. For anything else, it's a compromise.

The competitors in our database for this monitor are mostly OLED and QD-OLED panels like the MSI MAG 271QPX, LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B, Samsung Odyssey G60SD, Gigabyte MO27U2, and Alienware AW2725D. Those are all significantly more expensive and significantly better in color and contrast. The VG24VQE isn't really competing with them directly. It's competing with budget 144Hz and 165Hz VA and IPS panels in the USD 200 to USD 300 range.

Against those budget rivals, the VG24VQE holds its own on speed but falls behind on color and brightness. An IPS panel at a similar price will give you better viewing angles and more accurate colors, but you'll likely lose the curve and maybe a few hertz. A flat VA panel might match the contrast but won't have the 1500R immersion. The trade-off is clear: you're buying speed and curvature on a budget, and you're accepting mediocre color and a dated OSD to get it. If color matters even a little, look at IPS alternatives. If you just want fast and curved for cheap, this is a solid pick.

Pricing on this monitor is all over the place depending on where you live. In the US, you're looking at USD 240 to USD 288 across two listings. That's a USD 48 spread, which is enough to matter. Memory Express and Newegg both carry it, and the lower end of that range is where this monitor makes the most sense. At USD 240, you're getting a 165Hz curved gaming display for less than many 144Hz flat panels. At USD 288, the value proposition gets shakier because you're creeping into territory where better color performance starts to appear.

In Canada, the spread is even wider. CAD 220 to CAD 392 across four listings is a CAD 172 gap, which is frankly ridiculous. If you're in Canada, shop around. The CAD 220 price is a steal for this spec sheet. The CAD 392 price is a bad deal, full stop. European pricing is much higher, EUR 503 to EUR 565, and at that point you should seriously consider stepping up to a better panel. The value here is entirely dependent on getting the low end of the price range.

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG24VQE is one of those monitors that makes you do a double take at the spec sheet. A 23.6-inch curved VA panel running at 165Hz with a 1ms MPRT response time, and it's priced like a budget office display. That combo is rare, and it's exactly why this thing has been quietly popular with gamers who want speed without selling a kidney. The 1500R curve is subtle enough for daily use but adds a bit of immersion when you're locked into a racing sim or an FPS.

But here's the thing. This monitor is a specialist, not an all-rounder. Our scoring puts it at 49.6 out of 100 overall, with gaming at 45.4 and office work at 47.3. The creative score is a rough 22.8, which tells you everything about where this panel struggles. If you're editing photos or doing color-critical work, this is not your monitor. If you're fragging enemies at 165 frames per second and don't care that the reds are a little off, keep reading.

What makes this interesting is the price-to-speed ratio. You're getting FreeSync Premium, ELMB (Extreme Low Motion Blur), and Shadow Boost on a curved VA panel for what amounts to entry-level money. The catch is that some corners got cut to hit that price. Build quality feels cheaper than older ASUS models, the button system is dated, and the color performance lands in the 17th percentile. We'll dig into all of that below.

If you do any kind of creative work, photo editing, video editing, or graphic design, skip this monitor. The 72% NTSC color coverage and 22.8 creative score mean you'll be fighting the panel constantly. Colors will look off, and you'll never trust what you're seeing. Look at an IPS panel with 99% sRGB or better coverage instead.

Also skip this if you work in a bright room. The 250 nits brightness is a real limitation, and you'll find yourself squinting or cranking the brightness to max just to see details. If you need a monitor for a sunlit office or a room with big windows, look for something with 350 nits or more. And if you switch inputs frequently, the lack of a quick source change button will drive you nuts. This is a gaming-first monitor, and it makes no apologies for that.

For pure gaming on a budget, the VG24VQE is easy to recommend at the right price. If you can find it at the low end of the US or Canadian range, you're getting a 165Hz curved panel with FreeSync Premium and ELMB for less than most competitors charge for 144Hz flat screens. Competitive gamers who play fast shooters or racing games will feel the difference immediately, and the Shadow Boost feature genuinely helps in dark scenes. Just don't expect it to wow you in a bright room.

For anyone doing mixed use, office work, or creative tasks, this monitor is a harder sell. The color performance is a real weakness, and the 250 nits brightness will frustrate you if your workspace has windows. If you're splitting time between gaming and photo editing, save up for an IPS panel with better color coverage. If you're a student or a gamer on a tight budget who just wants high refresh rate and a curve, this is one of the best deals out there right now.