Gaming monitors have spent years chasing one goal: higher refresh rates. Asus just pushed that race into new territory with what it calls the world’s first OLED monitor built specifically for esports players.
Unveiled under the ROG banner, the new Strix OLED XG259QWPG Ace combines a compact 24.5-inch panel with a staggering 540Hz refresh rate, bringing OLED’s rich visuals to a category that has traditionally favored speed over image quality. But that’s not the only unusual display Asus announced. The company also introduced a color ePaper monitor designed for productivity, reading, and low-fatigue viewing. It’s an odd pairing on paper, but both products show how display technology is moving beyond traditional LCD screens.
OLED finally enters the esports arena
For years, competitive gamers have relied on TN panels because they offered the fastest response times available. The trade-off was always image quality. The new XG259QWPG Ace appears to challenge that compromise. Its 1080p OLED panel delivers a 540Hz refresh rate and an ultra-fast response time while retaining the deep blacks and vibrant colors OLED technology is known for. Asus says the latest-generation panel also improves brightness, color volume, and longevity compared to earlier OLED implementations.
What’s particularly interesting is how much of the monitor’s design was reportedly shaped by feedback from professional players. Simple additions, such as measurement markers on the stand and quick-access display settings, may seem minor, but they’re exactly the kinds of details esports athletes obsess over when dialing in tournament setups. The result is a monitor that feels purpose-built for games like Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, and Overwatch 2, where every frame matters.
Asus wants to replace your second screen
The bigger surprise might be the ZenScreen Color ePaper MP13UC. Unlike a conventional portable monitor, this 13.3-inch display uses color ePaper technology, similar in spirit to what you’d find on premium e-readers. The difference is that Asus is positioning it as a secondary productivity display rather than a device solely for reading books. With a high-resolution panel, touchscreen support, and a smoother refresh rate than traditional ePaper screens, it could be an appealing option for reviewing documents, reading research material, or keeping reference notes visible throughout the day.
The absence of blue light and screen flicker is another notable advantage, especially for users who spend hours staring at displays. In an era when people regularly work across two or three monitors, a low-fatigue secondary screen starts to make surprising sense.
One product is built for split-second reactions. The other is designed to reduce screen fatigue. This shows Asus is experimenting with two very different visions for the future of displays — and both are far more interesting than yet another standard LCD monitor.