It's a VA panel, most of those have lots of black smearing. The VG248QE you're used to is a TN panel. Get an IPS or TN panel instead (or a Samsung Odyssey VA panel).

Ah okay thank you so much, I was not aware that this is a common artifact on VA panels. I'll definitely look for another TN panel.

Don't buy a new monitor LOL

https://blurbusters.com/faq/lcd-overdrive-artifacts/

Turning up TraceFree to max is likely the reason you are seeing such terrible ghosting

the monitor they're demonstrating this with is still a TN panel, the fact of the matter is that cheap VA panels are prolly gonna have really shitty response times and so you're gonna get ghosting at high refresh rate no matter what

I couldn't find its exact response time but I assume this 27 inch one is pretty similar for instance, and it looks abysmal particularly the dark avg
https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/asus/tuf-vg27vq

I played around with and without tracefree, and tried the ELMB settings. It looks horrendous either way since my issue not just ghosting, but black smearing as well. I was completely oblivious to the fact that VA panels are notorious for this, my fault for not doing my due diligence when buying new monitors :/

I've been looking and it seems like the Acer Nitro appears to have low input lag and seems to be a good option. I was also looking at the BenQ monitors but they are out of stock mostly everywhere, which isn't super helpful.

As I mentioned above I used to have a VG248QE (TN panel) and it was fantastic. It had no noticeable input lag and I never had any problems with it but after reading around on forums recently it seems like the consensus is that it has terrible color and picture quality. I am just not up to speed on decent 144Hz 1080P monitors these days, and I don't want to get a 4K one since I feel like that would really knock my FPS down.

I have a VG248QE, and I bought an Acer Nitro VG240Y because I was looking for a 1080p IPS display, and it was only slightly more to get that and have 144hz refresh. I wasn't intending to buy a new primary monitor, but it has taken that role.

Picture quality is noticeably better than the VG248, but that is to be expected. It has minimal bezel unlike the Asus. A few things to keep in mind though;

• On advanced monitor settings in Windows, you should be able to set the refresh to 165hz, while the box claims it is a 144hz. 165hz works, but I personally was getting occasional random flickers, so I toned it down to 144hz.
  
• The NA model does not come with internal speakers. When you plug it in, Windows will tell you there is a speaker, but the monitor's settings won't have any speaker settings. Of course, this may be irrelevant to you.
  
• If you don't use a VESA mount, prepare to use books to prop it up. The plastic stand that comes with the monitor is a joke. That said, you might get away with canabalizing an Asus monitor stand. I haven't tried, just thought about it.
  
• What is made more annoying with a VESA mount, however, is the monitor's power and menu buttons which are located on the back of the monitor. They're a little annoying to reach and press with the monitor suspended on a mount in comparison to the Asus button placement on the bottom right.

Overall, I'm not disappointed in the monitor, just those shortcomings do reflect in its slightly cheaper price.