Palmer Luckey is said to be in talks with investors to raise funds for ModRetro at a $1 billion valuation, according to the Financial Times. The news comes as the retro gaming company prepares to ship its second product, an FPGA-based Nintendo 64 clone called the M64.

Luckey, who co-founded defense contractor Anduril Industries and previously sold virtual reality headset company Oculus to Facebook for $2 billion in 2014, has been building ModRetro since 2023 as a side venture. The company launched its first device, the Chromatic, in 2024, which is a Game Boy-compatible handheld that drew strong reviews and sold through GameStop. The M64 is a considerably larger project, both in product scope and financial ambition, however.

According to the FT, which cited people familiar with the matter, ModRetro is in early discussions about backing the business ahead of devices including the M64. The company has previously raised around $19 million, per PitchBook data, making a $1 billion ask a significant step up in scale.

The M64 is an Open FPGA-based console designed to play original N64 cartridges, outputting at 4K over HDMI. Unlike traditional software emulators, FPGA implementations replicate the original hardware's chip logic directly, which generally results in higher accuracy and lower latency.

ModRetro has confirmed the M64 uses an AMD FPGA chip running a modified version of the open-source MiSTer N64 core, well and truly setting it apart from the Analogue 3D, its primary competitor, which uses a proprietary closed-software implementation. Luckey has also said the M64 will be more open to third-party cores than Analogue's platform.

The M64’s “early bird pricing” is $199, matching the Nintendo 64's original U.S. launch price from 1996, and a waitlist is open at modretro.com. No firm release date has been set, though it’s understood that mass production is underway with a spring 2026 launch window expected. The console will initially come in three translucent colors — Arctic White, Jungle Green, and Grape Purple — with a fourth red variant added based on community feedback. Each comes with a recreation of the N64's distinctive three-pronged controller, a contrast to the Analogue 3D's controversial partnership with 8BitDo, which produced a more modern gamepad design.

The Analogue 3D, which began shipping in late 2025, recently raised its price from $250 to $270, citing tariffs, giving ModRetro a $70 price advantage going into its launch window. Analogue's console is currently sold out. ModRetro did not respond to requests for comment, the FT reported.

You can find the AOC C27G2Z 27-inch gaming display for one of its best prices yet. This monitor has been going for around $199 lately but today it’s discounted to $179. This is a notable deal given both its price history and specifications that set it apart from other displays in its class.

We reviewed the AOC C27G2Z and appreciated its value which makes today’s discount that much more beneficial. This gaming monitor is AMD FreeSync Premium certified which gives it a little bit of a leg up over other monitors with specs like a minimum FHD resolution and high refresh rate. In this case, the AOC C27G2Z can reach up to 240Hz. It also features low latency as well as support for low framerate compensation (LFC). 

The AOC C27G2Z features a 27-inch curved VA panel with a curvature of 1500R. It has an FHD resolution which measures up to 1920 x 1080px. The refresh rate is notoriously high, reaching up to 240Hz and is accompanies by an MPRT of .5ms.

Users have a couple of input options to take advantage of including one DisplayPort input and two HDMI ports. A 3.5mm jack is included for external audio peripherals. The purchase is supported by a limited 3-year manufacturer’s warranty from AOC alongside Amazon’s 30-day return policy.

Visit the AOC C27G2Z 27-inch curved gaming monitor product page at Amazon for more details and purchase options.

Gaming monitors are an ever-expanding and exciting category when it comes to computer hardware. Not only are promising panel technologies like Mini-LED and OLED coming to even lower price points, but we’re seeing refresh rates shoot through the roof for the most dedicated enthusiasts. Now, AOC is throwing down the gauntlet with its new Agon Pro AG276QZD, which features a 26.5-inch OLED panel that is certain to be a stunner among the best gaming monitors.

The AG276QZD has a QHD (2560 x 1440) resolution (110.8 pixels per inch) and a heady 240Hz refresh rate. As you might expect from a gaming-centric monitor, that 240Hz refresh rate is backed by Adaptive-Sync and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility. The use of OLED technology ensures incomparable contrast with inky blacks and improved color accuracy versus competing panel technologies (IPS, VA, etc.). AOC says that the AG276QZD can hit 98.5 percent of the DCI-P3 color space and 100 percent of sRGB.

AOC also boasts a 0.03ms GtG response time for the 10-bit panel (1.07 billion colors). For those wondering, the AG276QZD uses an anti-glare coating on the display rather than the glossy finish seen on some OLED monitors.

Regarding connectivity, the AG276QZD features two HDMI 2.0 and two DisplayPort 1.4 ports. There’s also an integrated two-port USB 3.2 (Gen 1) hub and a 3.5mm headphone jack. For those who don’t want to be bothered with adding an external speaker setup, the AG276QZD features two built-in 5-watt speakers. Other features include a Kensington lock and a 100x100 VESA wall mount pattern.

Given that this is a gaming monitor, you won’t be surprised to learn that AOC has integrated Light FX RGB lighting in the AG276QZD. You can sync lighting with other AOC peripherals such as gaming keyboards and mice using AOC's G-Menu software.

The AOC Pro AG276QZD is currently available, priced at $999 from Amazon. That price gets you a 4-year advance replacement and zero dead pixel warranty.

Enthusiasts know that three of the most important criteria for choosing the best gaming monitors are speed, contrast and resolution. All will affect price, so how can one find the best bang for the buck? Where’s the sweet spot where performance and price are most advantageous?

Of the three major panel technologies, IPS, VA and OLED; VA offers the most contrast for the least money. IPS can provide stunning contrast when paired with a Mini LED backlight, but it is expensive. OLED has the greatest dynamic range of all with its infinite black, but it is also expensive. A VA panel can deliver a great picture for relatively little money.

AOC offers a few VA monitors in its budget line and one of the latest examples is the CQ27G3Z. It’s a 27-inch curved monitor with QHD resolution, 240 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR, wide gamut color and retails for less than $400.

AOC CQ27G3Z Specs

The CQ27G3Z doesn’t have much in the bells and whistles department, but like any good budget screen, it delivers it where it counts. The picture is excellent thanks to a VA panel with around 4,000:1 native contrast. It’s curved tightly at 1000R to create a more immersive effect. I put that in the realm of individual preference when talking about any 16:9 aspect curved monitor. There is some slight image distortion with a tight curve in this screen size. But for games, it delivers an enhanced experience.

Color is wide-gamut, with over 86% coverage of DCI-P3. You can find larger gamuts for a little more money, but the extra color is also an enhancement. Accuracy is decent with calibration and there is a usable sRGB mode.

The most significant value-add is the CQ27G3Z’s 240 Hz refresh rate. There aren’t a plethora of 240 Hz QHD screens out there, and most of them are premium displays. AOC is undercutting the competition with a price of $375 at this writing. You also get Adaptive-Sync with FreeSync from 48 to 240 Hz and G-Sync compatibility, as confirmed by my tests. The CQ27G3Z has not been certified by Nvidia.

Additional features are sparse. You get a frame counter and an aiming point. In addition. blur reduction via backlight strobe can be used in lieu of Adaptive-Sync. The full 240 Hz can be enjoyed over the two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs with HDR at QHD resolution, while two HDMI 2.0 ports support 120 Hz operation with VRR for consoles. There are no USB ports or speakers, nor is there LED lighting. But you get a solid package with everything needed for high-performance gaming for less than $400.

Assembly and Accessories

The CQ27G3Z comes from its crumbly foam in three parts. The panel snaps on after attaching the upright to the base with a captive bolt. The panel mount has a 100mm VESA pattern with fasteners included. The power supply is internal, so you get an IEC cord plus DisplayPort and HDMI cables.

Product 360

The CQ27G3Z is attractively styled with simple molded shapes and a smooth curve across the back. Red trim signals its gaming intent, but no additional LED lighting exists. The front bezel is nearly frameless on three sides, with 7mm borders on the top and sides and 23mm on the bottom. The red trim is also visible from the front, with accent strips and a hole in the upright for cabling.

The stand is lightweight and solid with a 5.1-inch (130mm) height adjustment, 40 degrees swivel to either side and 5/23 degrees of tilt. There is no portrait mode. Movements are firmer than the CQ27G3Z’s light weight suggests. Build quality is definitely above the price point here.

The input panel is well stocked with two HDMI 2.0 and two DisplayPort 1.4. You’ll need the latter for full 240 Hz operation with HDR and Adaptive-Sync. The HDMI ports support 120 Hz with HDR and VRR for consoles like the PS5 and Xbox One. There are no internal speakers, but you can plug headphones or powered speakers into the 3.5mm audio jack.

OSD Features

The CQ27G3Z’s OSD is controlled by four keys which you’ll find across the bottom right part of the panel. They are a bit clunky compared to the joysticks found in many of the latest displays. The ribbon-style menu is the same one I’ve used in AOC monitors for the past ten years. It’s intuitive and divided into seven sub-menus.

The Luminance menu controls brightness and contrast, offers seven picture modes, three gamma presets, a dynamic contrast option and HDR modes that appear when an HDR signal is present. I don’t recommend the dynamic contrast as it clips highlight and shadow detail. The CQ27G3Z has plenty of contrast already. The HDR modes are Display, Game, Movie and Picture. The default and best option is Display. It has the best color accuracy but also presents one downside, edge enhancement. I’ll discuss that more in the hands-on section below and in the HDR tests on page five.

In Color Setup, you can adjust the white point with presets or RGB sliders. Also here is the sRGB mode, which has a fixed grayscale. It correctly renders the sRGB gamut if you want to use it for SDR content or color-critical tasks.

Picture Boost is something unique to AOC monitors. You can create a window on the screen, size and move it, and adjust its brightness and contrast independently of the rest of the image. It’s handy for highlighting areas of the picture.

OSD Setup has the expected options but also includes the DisplayPort version and a break reminder. This is a timer that pops up on the screen when it’s time to stop fragging and get a drink or snack.

The CQ27G3Z adds a PIP option; not all AOC monitors have one. You can size and move the window and swap between two video sources.

In Game Setting, you’ll find additional game modes, which are picture presets. Hint, leave this off lest you become lost in the many possible combinations of picture and game modes. The Standard mode from the Luminance menu is all you need. Also here is a three-level overdrive, FreeSync toggle and the frame rate counter. If you’d rather use a backlight strobe for blur reduction, that’s also here with 20 intensity settings. As you increase the value, the screen gets darker, and motion becomes smoother as the pulse width changes. It works well with almost none of the phasing artifacts common to backlight strobes. It is a viable alternative to Adaptive-Sync and overdrive, especially when speeds exceed 200fps.

In the Extra menu, there is an off timer, factory reset and basic signal information. You can also change inputs here or by pressing the leftmost control key.

AOC CQ27G3Z Calibration Settings 

In the CQ27G3Z’s default Standard picture mode, grayscale is a bit green in tone, with visible errors in the brighter parts of the image. Gamma is slightly dark on its number 1 setting, which is fine for a high-contrast panel like this. I achieved much better grayscale with a few tweaks of the RGB sliders in the Color Setup menu. More importantly, color accuracy and contrast are improved as well. My recommended settings are below.

In HDR mode, the default mode, Display, offers the best color accuracy but also adds visible edge enhancement. You can avoid this by selecting the Game mode, which introduces some clipping in the red primary. I’ll explain this with charts on page five. Ultimately, I preferred the look of the Display HDR mode.

Gaming and Hands-on

When considering the CQ27G3Z for daily productivity, I had expected some image distortion given its 1000mm radius, which is tighter than most curved screens. I was pleasantly surprised that I could barely notice a difference. It helps that the screen is 16:9, so you won’t be moving document windows out to the edge of your peripheral vision. After a few hours of use, I concluded that the CQ27G3Z is as useful for work tasks as any other 27-inch flat screen. So, don’t let the curve dissuade you.

The curve is undoubtedly welcome for gaming. Though I would choose a 21:9 monitor over a 16:9 one for play, the CQ27G3Z’s curve clearly enhances the experience. I had no trouble finding a good position for the screen since the stand has plenty of height. I could keep it vertical and have my eyepoint in the center, the optimal setup for curved display gaming.

Once I had spent a few hours playing Doom Eternal and Call of Duty WWII, I found the CQ27G3Z to have excellent feel and response. 240 Hz is clearly smoother than 165 or 144. And with reasonably low input lag, I could keep my aim true and consistent. Stopping on target was easy, and I had no trouble making out fine detail in distant objects thanks to the 109ppi pixel density.

The HDR experience was average compared to all the monitors I’ve experienced, meaning that contrast and color were very good but not at the level of a premium screen. That’s no surprise given the CQ27G3Z’s $375 price tag. When that is considered, it’s a champ. The HDR image popped nicely with clear detail at all brightness levels and nicely saturated color.

During the SDR tests, I noted that calibration is required for best results. The default image is a bit flat, thanks to grayscale errors. But if you plug in the settings above, you’ll see a much better picture.

Video processing delivered an average experience with one positive exception that I’ll note in a moment. Adaptive-Sync worked perfectly on both FreeSync and G-Sync systems. The overdrive is a bit weak because it doesn’t completely remove black trail artifacts from moving objects. But in most cases, this issue did not distract from gameplay. I also noted a better-than-average use of backlight strobing when I tried the blur reduction. Like most monitors, it requires you to turn off Adaptive-Sync but at 240 Hz, but this isn’t a big deal. The CQ27G3Z’s backlight strobe is much better than average because the phasing artifact common to this feature is almost entirely invisible. AOC’s MBR option is one of the best examples of blur reduction I’ve seen.

Test Takeaway: The CQ27G3Z delivers high frame rates with solid video processing and low input lag. Its HDR image is of average quality for the price, but it’s nice that the support is there. Aside from a weak overdrive, it is a good gaming monitor and well-suited for daily tasks. 

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The QHD 240 Hz category isn’t large, so to compare the CQ27G3Z’s performance, I’ve included 165 and 170 Hz monitors. All are 27-inch QHD panels with IPS technology. The AOC is the only VA monitor here. The group is BenQ’s EX270QM, AOC’s AG274QG, HP’s HyperX Armada 27, Cooler Master’s GP27Q and Gigabyte’s M27QP. 

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

I was slightly disappointed to see the CQ27G3Z draw a full white screen in 5ms versus 4ms, but in practice, this is a minor point. The top three screens cost more and will be a touch smoother, but their advantage is small. 5ms is still a guarantee of high motion resolution. The CQ27G3Z’s only flaw here is its overdrive which doesn’t quite clean up the black trail artifacts behind moving objects.

The CQ27G3Z’s overall control lag is mid-pack and trails the 170 Hz Gigabyte by 2ms. That difference is also quite small and as you can see, the other 240 Hz screens aren’t much quicker. All the displays are speedy and will deliver a solid gaming experience, but the CQ27G3Z will do it for a lower cost.

Test Takeaway: Input lag is about average for the class, but the CQ27G3Z suffers from an overdrive with undershoot. Luckily, its backlight strobe feature is better than most, so it can help compensate for losses in motion resolution.

Viewing Angles

If off-axis image quality is crucial to you, VA is rarely the best choice. IPS will always have an advantage when viewed from off-center. The CQ27G3Z shows typical performance in this area. At 45 degrees horizontal, light output is reduced by 40% and the screen has a slight green/red tint. Gamma remains constant, so there is no loss of detail. This behavior is amplified in the vertical plane, where the picture is quite dark with the same green/red tint.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My CQ27G3Z sample had slight hotspots in its corner zones that I could see in an all-black field displayed with room lighting off. The artifacts were invisible when the lights were on or there was content on the screen. This is slightly below-average performance but is also sample specific. Other CQ27G3Zs may do better in this test.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The CQ27G3Z falls into the “not super bright, but bright enough” category. It’s rated for 300 nits and easily surpasses that with 323. In a super bright environment, it might not excel but for a typical office or media room, there is more than enough light.

In the black level test, it is far darker than any of the IPS screens. Only OLED has more contrast than a VA monitor. Within that category, the CQ27G3Z renders higher than average contrast with nearly 3,900:1 out of the box. That is measured in the Standard mode at default settings.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration manages to increase the CQ27G3Z’s dynamic range by a nice amount. The contrast ratio rises to 4,129.2:1 after adjustments to the RGB sliders. That’s exceptional performance, even among VA panels which rarely crack 4,000:1 in my tests. Good quality control is also demonstrated in the ANSI test with a solid 3,496.2:1 score. Compared to any IPS display, the CQ27G3Z’s image has truer blacks, greater depth and realism. It also has more perceptual clarity. In other words, it looks sharper than an IPS screen of the same size and resolution.

Test Takeaway: The CQ27G3Z delivers a ton of contrast, even compared to other VA monitors. This all-important metric is the key to superior image depth and color saturation, and AOC excels for the price. 

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I tested the CQ27G3Z’s color accuracy in its default Standard picture mode. I left Game mode off as it did not improve performance in any of its presets. 

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

The CQ27G3Z’s default grayscale tracking is disappointing with visible errors from 20% and higher. A purple tint can be seen in areas of gray and white which aren’t truly neutral. This makes the image somewhat flat despite solid gamma tracking and high contrast. This monitor’s full potential can only be unlocked with calibration.

Luckily, the RGB sliders offer some relief. Grayscale errors are now reduced to invisible levels and gamma rides closer to the 2.2 reference line. I had to reduce the contrast slider one click, which raised the luminance of the 90% step. This is a minor error but one that should not be there. Though calibration makes an improvement, the CQ27G3Z has some upward potential.

The sRGB preset is slightly warm in tone with red errors in the 30 to 100% steps. Gamma tracks well except for an elevated level at the 10% step. This translates to slightly grayer shadow areas in some content.

Comparisons

The CQ27G3Z is well behind the top three screens for grayscale accuracy, but the other AOC and the Cooler Master aren’t much better when out-of-box performance is compared. All three of the bottom monitors require calibration for the best possible image.

Though the CQ27G3Z is still in last place, calibration has removed any visible grayscale errors from the equation.

The gamma test is a little better. The CQ27G3Z is in the mix for a range of values that are very tight and only spoiled by the 90% error I noted earlier. And its near-perfect average value is a definite plus. I am talking about very fine differences here. Once calibrated, the CQ27G3Z holds its own with the other monitors. This speaks well to the value quotient since it’s the least expensive screen here.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

The CQ27G3Z’s color gamut performance starts at a decent point with only minor errors in the out-of-box test. The grayscale errors noted above contribute to color points that are slightly off their hue targets. But saturation points are close to the mark, which is a good thing.

With the grayscale calibration complete, color errors become invisible. In fact, only green is a tad under-saturated, typical of all wide-gamut monitors, especially those at lower price points like the CQ27G3Z. This is excellent performance.

AOC usually provides a usable sRGB mode, and that statement includes the CQ27G3Z. The red primary is slightly over-saturated but well within the realm of qualification for color-critical use.

Comparisons

The CQ27G3Z’s 1.96dE color error puts it in the middle of the group. All the screens have invisible gamut errors, but the CQ27G3Z is the least expensive option. It delivers superb results for the price.

In the gamut volume test, the CQ27G3Z falls short of the others only in its green saturation. The Cooler Master is an over-achiever here with its Rec.2020 gamut but the other screens just have a bit more green. The difference is small, and users will find the CQ27G3Z very colorful for both SDR and HDR content. And its near-perfect coverage of sRGB is a nice bonus.

Test Takeaway: The CQ27G3Z is a bit disappointing out of the box, with an image that isn’t up to its full potential. A green push contributes to a flat image and off-hue color. With calibration, these issues are resolved with a significant improvement in picture quality. 

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The CQ27G3Z fully supports HDR10 signals with an automatic switchover to the appropriate mode. There, you’ll find four settings called Display, Game, Movie and Picture. Display is the most color accurate so that is what I used for testing. The caveat is that it has visible edge enhancement, which reduces motion resolution slightly for gaming. You can eliminate this artifact in the Game HDR mode, but then there is significant clipping of red detail. I’ll show you this issue in the color charts below.

HDR Brightness and Contrast 

The CQ27G3Z’s HDR luminance performance is solid. It won’t show you searingly bright highlights like the Mini LED-based GP27Q, but it beats the HyperX and Gigabyte screens for HDR contrast. At 330 nits, it’s the least bright screen of the bunch, but with deep blacks and excellent dynamic range, the HDR image is clear and vivid. You won’t find much better than this for less than $400. The only bummer is there is no dynamic field dimming in HDR mode which would broaden the dynamic range even more.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The CQ27G3Z’s Display HDR mode has no grayscale or EOTF tracking issues. The tone is a tad warm but does not negatively impact picture quality. Luminance tracks the reference almost perfectly with a soft transition to tone-mapping at 65%. This is solid performance.

Looking at the color charts, you can see why Display HDR is the preferred mode. Color points are close to targets except for a bit of over-saturation in red. Looking at the DCI-P3 chart in HDR Game reveals a problem. The red points are so over-saturated that 60, 80 and 100% targets are all the same level. This means any red areas past a mid-tone will be lacking in detail. I highly recommend avoiding this mode even though it is the only one free of edge enhancement. For some reason, the Rec.2020 charts are a bit better, so AOC could possibly fix the color issues with DCI-P3 content in the HDR Game mode.

Test Takeaway: The CQ27G3Z doesn’t use a field dimming feature in HDR mode, so there is no more dynamic range. But its VA technology still delivers a decent HDR image that is superior to budget-oriented IPS displays. HDR color is accurate only in the Display HDR mode. The other presets should be avoided. Overall, HDR impact is just OK with an image that looks slightly different than its SDR counterpart.

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Achieving high frame rates at a low price requires some sacrifices. But leaving out the right options means you can get a great gaming monitor for little money. Do you need USB ports or speakers? Do you need perfectly accurate color? Do you need super high brightness or a ginormous color gamut? If the answer to these questions is no, AOC provides a great solution for just $375 at this writing.

The CQ27G3Z doesn’t have any of those things, but it does have a reliable 240 Hz refresh rate, perfect FreeSync and G-Sync operation, decent HDR, color accuracy with calibration, a superb backlight strobe and solid build quality. And its curved screen enhances gameplay. I noted a weak overdrive feature during testing, but in practice, it turned out to be only a minor distraction. Many hours later, after many frags, I was impressed by the performance AOC offers for less than $400.

I noted some visible grayscale errors out of the box. But with calibration, they were eliminated with an improvement in contrast, gamut accuracy and gamma tracking. If you pick up a CQ27G3Z, I recommend using the settings I posted back on page one.

Pixel density is certainly a high point with the ideal 109ppi that every 27-inch QHD panel delivers. That’s a sweet spot for both clarity and frame rates. You can hit 240fps without an expensive video card and the picture is razor-sharp with strong detail and a true three-dimensional look in HDR mode. Though you won’t get the 1000-nit highlights of a Mini LED panel, the CQ27G3Z still makes the image pop.

If you’re in the market for a solid gaming monitor that’s kind to the wallet, the AOC CQ27G3Z is hard to beat for less than $400. Fans of high frame rates and sharp pictures should definitely check it out.

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When shopping for a gaming monitor, it’s easy to get caught up in the many specs and features used to market them. If you have the budget for a premium display, you can get everything – high resolution, high speed, high contrast, high performance, lots of color and the latest bleeding-edge tech. But if you are looking for value, it’s best to prioritize the features you desire.

The gaming experience hinges mainly on panel speed and response, so spending money on a fast refresh rate is wise before considering screen size or resolution. AOC has just the ticket with its C27G2Z. This 27-inch VA monitor has a curved screen with a 3,000:1 contrast ratio along with 240 Hz, Adaptive-Sync and wide-gamut color. And it sells for $200 at this writing.

AOC C27G2Z Specs

While high pixel density adds to the sharpness and clarity of an image, you won’t be disappointed in a 27-inch FHD panel. It sports 82ppi, just enough to produce a picture without visible pixel gaps when viewed at a three-foot distance. The C27G2Z also has a 1500R curvature which is a nice value-add. The subtle curve adds a slight immersive effect without any noticeable distortion.

240 Hz and Adaptive-Sync are the specs of greatest interest. High frame rates are the surest ticket to smooth motion resolution and fast response. Now that 360 and 500 Hz monitors are available, 240 Hz should be considered a starting point for competitive gaming. The C27G2Z achieves this rate without overclocking. It also supports FreeSync and G-Sync from 48 to 240 Hz. It hasn’t been certified by Nvidia, but I can confirm that it runs G-Sync just fine.

Image quality is enhanced by a VA panel that met its claimed 3,000:1 contrast ratio in my tests. The C27G2Z does not process HDR10 signals, but it does include three HDR emulation modes that tweak gamma to produce a little more punch to the image. Either way, the deep blacks and saturated color promised by VA technology are fully present here.

The feature set is pared down, as expected at this price point. There are no integrated speakers or USB ports. And there is no LED lighting. You get an aiming point and a frame counter in the OSD, fairly accurate color, and good results from calibration. The performance needed for both gaming and image fidelity is there. The C27G2Z seems like a decent value, so let’s take a look.

Assembly and Accessories

The C27G2Z arrives packed in crumbly foam in its three components: base, upright and panel. They assemble without tools into a reasonably solid and lightweight package. The power supply is internal, so you get an IEC cord along with HDMI and DisplayPort cables.

Product 360

The C27G2Z has a bit of red trim, reminiscent of AOC’s Agon line, to offset the black panel and silver base. There isn’t any LED lighting, but the trim is bright and creates a good effect. The monitor’s design intent is clearly game-focused.

The stand features good ergonomics with 5/23 degrees tilt, 30 degrees swivel and a 130mm height adjustment. You can just get the screen to a center eyepoint in the vertical position. This is my preference for all monitors, especially curved models. Setting the panel this way gives you the full potential of the curve’s immersive effect.

The input panel has two HDMI 2.0 ports and a DisplayPort 1.2. All will run at FHD resolution at 240 Hz, but you’ll need to use DisplayPort for G-Sync. FreeSync works through all three inputs. If you’d like to use headphones or powered speakers, a 3.5mm audio jack is provided. There are no built-in speakers, nor are there any USB ports.

If you look closely at the tiny white power LED at the lower right, you’ll see molded-in symbols for the five control keys. One toggles power, and I accidentally turned the monitor off a few times when reaching for the key that activates the OSD. The first three buttons provide quick access to input selection, game mode and the aiming point.

OSD Features

The C27G2Z’s fourth control key opens the ribbon-like OSD on the bottom of the screen. It is the same menu I’ve seen from AOC for the past decade, and it is relatively intuitive though a little clunky to navigate with buttons. I would rather have a joystick.

The Luminance menu includes seven picture modes that correspond to different activities. Standard is the default and best mode as it gives users access to all other picture and gaming options. Also here are three gamma presets, dynamic contrast and the HDR emulation modes. There are three options that look similar but add different levels of edge enhancement. Their approximation of HDR is just OK, but since the C27G2Z already has excellent contrast, I didn’t find that they improved the image, only made it look different. There is no actual HDR support here.

In Color Setup, you’ll find four color temp presets plus a user mode with RGB sliders. The C27G2Z doesn’t need calibration, but a small improvement is possible with a few tweaks. This is a wide-gamut display so if you want sRGB, it’s one of the color temp options and is quite accurate.

Picture Boost is something unique to AOC monitors. It lets you create a bright section on the screen that can be sized and moved about. Within it, you can adjust brightness and contrast to set it off from the surrounding area. It’s a great way to highlight something like a graphic or part of a gaming environment.

The OSD can be moved around the screen if you don’t like its default position at the bottom center. This menu also has the DP version toggle and volume control.

In Game Setting, there are six additional picture modes for different game types. My advice, leave that off to avoid confusion. If you start combining Eco and Game modes, it’s easy to become lost in the options. Also here is a three-level overdrive which I found too coarse in operation. I couldn’t find a setting free of either black or white ghosting artifacts. This menu also has the Adaptive-Sync toggle and a frame rate counter. If you turn off Adaptive-Sync, a motion blur reduction slider becomes visible. This is a backlight strobe with 20 brightness levels. Darker settings reduce blur further, but past level 10, the phasing artifact common to this feature becomes too distracting. I recommend leaving this off and sticking with Adaptive-Sync. 

AOC C27G2Z Calibration Settings

The C27G2Z delivers decent accuracy out of the box. It benefits from calibration, but it’s not strictly necessary. The grayscale errors are barely visible in content and gamma tracks very well. The color gamut is wide, covering over 88% of DCI-P3. If you want the smaller sRGB space, that option is available in the color temp menu. For my tests, I calibrated the user color temp using the RGB sliders. Gamma was fine on its default setting of 1. If you want a lighter look, choose 2; darker, choose 3. You can also experiment with the three HDR emulation modes; the C27G2Z doesn’t support HDR10 processing. Below are the settings I used for all content.

Gaming and Hands-on

I’ll get the question of resolution answered first. 27 inches is the largest FHD monitor I would care to use, but the C27G2Z’s 82ppi is enough to get the job done for both work and play. Unless you plan to sit less than two feet away from the screen, you won’t see the pixel structure, even in finely detailed images. Clarity is aided here by the panel’s prodigious contrast which is around 3,200:1.

I spent time using the C27G2Z before and after calibration and found the small adjustments required are worth doing. Yes, the picture looks fine out of the box. But the calibrated image is a little better.

The only issue I noted with productivity is that at 100% font scaling, you’ll have to scroll a bit more to see websites or to edit long documents. But this is a minor point that only someone accustomed to large high-res screens will experience. There is enough resolution here for whatever one wishes to do.

When taken in the context of a budget gaming monitor, the C27G2Z excels. It’s snappy and responsive with the reasonably smooth motion one would expect from a 240 Hz panel. Input lag was imperceptible to me and my average skills. A more talented player might benefit from a 360 Hz display or a 240 Hz QHD model. But with the FHD resolution in use here, frame rates are easy to maintain. You won’t need a premium video card to hit 240fps.

Picture quality is top-notch thanks to the C27G2Z’s excellent contrast and wide-gamut color. Accuracy is apparent with or without calibration, as everything looked natural and correct. Shadow detail is rich with deep blacks, and I saw bright highlights that added to the sense of dimension. Doom Eternal was well-detailed with good clarity. The overdrive artifacts I observed in test patterns were less evident during actual gameplay. I recommend avoiding the HDR emulation modes. They add a distracting level of edge enhancement that only reduces clarity.

Overall, the C27G2Z is a solid value among gaming monitors and affords a bit more speed and performance than a 165 Hz display of the same resolution. Since it is priced below 27-inch QHD monitors, it will certainly fill the bill for gamers seeking value.

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To compare the C27G2Z’s performance, I’ve selected monitors ranging in speed from 165 to 360 Hz. We have Dell’s S2422HG, ViewSonic’s XG2431, the HyperX Armada from HP, NZXT’s Canvas 27F and Alienware’s AW2523HF. 

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

As you can see, 240 Hz monitors are not created equal. The C27G2Z lags a bit in panel response with a 6ms result. This means motion is a tad less smooth than the others. It is visibly better than the 165 Hz Dell though. When testing the overdrive options, I noted that no setting was free of artifacts. I could either choose black or white trails behind moving objects. The MBR option is a little better but then you have to give up Adaptive-Sync.

Overall lag is only 1ms quicker than the Dell. The takeaway here is that the C27G2Z only performs slightly better than a typical 165 Hz monitor. So, it is qualified for competitive gaming but there are faster screens available. Of the 240 Hz monitors in the group, the AOC costs the least.

Viewing Angles

The C27G2Z’s off-axis image quality is just fair. An IPS screen would fare better though these photos show typical VA performance at this price point. At 45 degrees to the side, the image loses around 30% brightness and takes on a red tint. Gamma stays consistent, so you’ll still see full detail. The monitor is almost completely dark from the top. For this reason, you’ll want to be precise in how you place it relative to your eyepoint. A perfectly vertical position is best. 

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

Even value screens show good uniformity when measuring the latest models. The C27G2Z acquits itself well, with no visible bleed or glow in my sample. The meter shows slight elevations down the center of the screen, but I could not see this with the naked eye in either test patterns or content. There are no panel quality issues here.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The C27G2Z is bright enough for any indoor environment or intended use. Only the most sunlit room will need a peak level of over 350 nits. I noted a slightly higher level when using the HDR emulation of 373 nits. That is a tiny, almost imperceptible difference.

With super low black levels, the C27G2Z cracks the 3,000:1 contrast barrier with a 3,205.6:1 score. In this group, only the Dell boasts better and only by an infinitesimal amount. You can see that the IPS screens are strong performers relative to that technology but don’t even come close to VA in contrast. This is a difference that can easily be seen in actual content.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration has little effect on the C27G2Z’s contrast, which is good. I had to lower the contrast slider three clicks to correct the 100% grayscale step, which bodes well. It is well ahead of even the very best premium IPS monitors in this test.

Again, the IPS panels here do well in the ANSI test, but the Dell and AOC are far superior. Contrast is king and unless you put an OLED on your desktop, VA is the best way to achieve maximum image depth with true black levels and saturated color.

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I tested the C27G2Z in its default Standard picture mode, which provides access to all image controls. Other modes lockout different options.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

The C27G2Z shows only slight grayscale errors in the 70 to 100% brightness range. The chart indicates a purple tint, but it is tough to spot in both test patterns and actual content. The C27G2Z does not need to be calibrated. Gamma tracking is spot on with values that measure a tad light but look great in practice.

Calibration tightens up grayscale tracking to professional levels with all errors under 1dE. Gamma measures a tad lighter than before. The overall look is slightly better, so the adjustment is worth doing if you have the means or would like to try my settings from page one.

Choosing the sRGB mode from the color temp options renders that gamut but creates a light gamma value at 10% brightness. This translates to fully detailed shadow areas but a bit lighter in tone than before. This minor issue is offset by the C27G2Z’s extremely accurate sRGB color gamut.

Comparisons

The C27G2Z’s default grayscale error of 3.01dE is completely acceptable for any gaming monitor, and certainly for one at this price point. It finishes mid-pack behind three more-expensive screens. After calibration, it takes the crown in a group of very accurate displays. Once adjusted, there are no visible errors from any of them.

Gamma tracking is very tight with a small 0.11 range of values, good enough for second-best, and a 2.73% deviation from 2.2. The actual gamma average is 2.14. If you choose the gamma 3 preset, it gets darker, with an average of 2.31. You can get away with this when the panel has high contrast, like the C27G2Z. Some users will prefer this, so I suggest trying all three gamma settings to find your preference.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

The C27G2Z’s color gamut accuracy eliminates any real need for calibration. With an out-of-box average of 2.16dE, color is visually flawless. Like most wide-gamut screens, green is a tad under-saturated, but all other colors are fully covered. This is impressive performance for a $200 monitor.

Calibration tightens up the cyan and yellow secondaries a bit, but visually, there is no difference. Overall, calibration has a greater impact on grayscale tracking than color. We’re talking about minute changes here. The C27G2Z looks great whether you tweak it or not.

If you need an accurate sRGB gamut for photo grading, the C27G2Z delivers with a tiny 1.47dE average error. That’s pro monitor territory. This makes it fully qualified for color-critical applications.

Comparisons

The C27G2Z finishes fifth in the color comparison, meaning this is one impressive group of monitors. None of them have visible color errors. Again, the AOC costs less than all the rest except the Dell, which is around $170 but has a smaller screen.

When you consider color volume, the C27G2Z comes out on top with just a tad more coverage than the S2422HG. Can you see the difference between 88.76% and 88.49%? Unlikely. But it’s easy to see the top two screen’s advantages over the rest. These VA screens are defeating all comers here, and they cost the least. The C27G2Z is a tad undersaturated in green but fully covers the rest of the DCI-P3 gamut.

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If one prioritizes their needs for a gaming monitor, a lot of performance can be found for relatively little money. The gaming experience is most affected by speed and response so a high refresh rate and Adaptive-Sync are a must. Even players of average skill will benefit when a game runs consistently at 240fps.

To achieve this without putting an expensive video card in your PC, FHD resolution is the smart choice. Up to 27 inches, there is enough pixel density to render a detailed image. A refresh rate of at least 240 Hz ensures smooth motion resolution and low input lag.

By using a VA panel, AOC’s C27G2Z achieves solid picture quality thanks to high contrast and saturated color. Among budget screens, it boasts one of the largest color gamuts I’ve measured. With over 3,200:1 contrast, it delivers deep blacks and bright highlights. And its 240 Hz refresh rate maintains clarity when gaming action heats up. The overdrive has room for improvement because it doesn’t have an ideal artifact-free setting. But that is a minor point when the asking price is $200. The value-adds are a 27-inch panel with a 1500R curvature. Add a flexible stand and solid build quality and you won’t miss the USB ports or internal speakers as much. Though there is no HDR support, the emulation modes exist for those who like to experiment.

If you’re on a budget but want something bigger than a 22 or 24-inch screen, AOC’s C27G2Z is a great choice. It prioritizes speed over other factors and delivers a solid gaming experience for the price. Value-conscious users should keep this monitor on their shortlist.

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Undoubtedly, style is a consideration when shopping for a gaming monitor. Though I focus on performance and image quality, styling and design often affect how the user interacts with a display. Most gaming screens have some cues that signal their intent, along with LED lighting to go with the plethora of PC hardware that glows, flashes and shines in every color of the spectrum.

AOC is a significant player in this area, having partnered with the legendary design house Porsche Design. Its influence can be seen in many products like sportswear, sunglasses, golf bags and other lifestyle products. I’ve reviewed two other AOC Porsche Design monitors: the PDS271 and another, more recently, the PD27.

The latest offering is the Agon PD32M which boasts an impressive spec list packed into a very sexy 32-inch IPS Mini LED panel with DisplayHDR 1400, 144 Hz, Adaptive-Sync and a huge color gamut. It is premium in every way, including the price, delivering performance and image quality on par with the best. Let’s take a look.

AOC Porsche Design Agon Pro PD32M Specs

If you’re looking for the brightest and most colorful monitor technology, Mini LED is the current holder of the crown. The PD32M is VESA certified for DisplayHDR 1400, and in testing, I exceeded 1,600 nits when measuring a full white field. That’s seriously bright, especially for such a large monitor. In addition, thanks to 1,152 dimming zones, contrast is tremendous, with nearly unmeasurable black levels in both SDR and HDR modes.

Color is beyond what most screens are capable of producing. The gamut covers over 110% of DCI-P3 and makes a solid attempt at Rec.2020. This is thanks to a Quantum Dot layer that extends the color space. Accuracy also proved high in my tests, with only tiny adjustments needed to achieve a high-fidelity picture.

Gaming performance has not been overlooked here. The PD32M is both FreeSync and G-Sync compatible with certifications from AMD and Nvidia. The max refresh rate is 144 Hz like most 4K screens. With Samsung’s G8 hitting 240 Hz and a few others running at 160 Hz, that might be a stumbling block. But consider that to even achieve 144fps in a game running max detail, you’ll need a GeForce RTX 4090. Consoles can run VRR at 120 Hz through the two HDMI 2.1 ports and the DisplayPort 1.4 input includes Display Stream Compression (DSC) to accommodate 10-bit signals.

To put things in perspective, you can get similar performance from a few other displays, which I’ll discuss in the comparison tests. But you won’t get the PD32M’s high style. The Porsche Design influence is clear, with lots of heavy metal parts and a clean look that sets it apart from other gaming monitors. Even the LED lighting is special, with large panels on either side of the back. Little touches like dual headphone hooks and a wireless remote that feels machined from billet round out a package that costs around $1,800 at this writing.

Assembly and Accessories

The base and upright are a single piece, so all you need to do is snap it onto the panel, and you’re ready to rock. The remote gets two AAA batteries (included) and a tiny dongle goes into one of the USB ports. It pairs automatically the first time you use it. High-quality cables are bundled for HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C/A and audio. The external power brick is enormous, one of the largest I’ve seen yet and plugs in with a heavy-duty IEC cord. The packaging is spongy foam, not crumbly; so you won’t be vacuuming up those little white bits after installation.

Product 360

The PD32M truly looks good from any angle. No surface or feature has been left unattended. The panel is relatively plain in front with a narrow flush bezel and only the words Porsche Design molded in with a polished finish. The anti-glare layer is effective at its task and free of grain. The image is super sharp and clean.

The stand is aluminum with a matte gray finish. It looks thin from some angles, but it could support many times the weight of the PD32M. An integrated projector shines down on the center point with a Porsche Design logo or the word Agon accessed from a small dial. You can change the color of the projection if you wish. Ergonomics include a 130mm height adjustment, 15 degrees left or right swivel, 5/23 degrees tilt and a 90-degree portrait mode. Movements are firm and sure, the quality one expects in a premium display.

In the back, you’ll find large LED arrays across the top and down the side. The side panels are unique, in my experience. You can create a light show of any color with multiple effects and control the intensity, all from the OSD. A headphone hook pops out from either side. If you unsnap the stand, there’s a 100m VESA mount with fasteners included. Audio has also been given the premium treatment with two eight-watt speakers and DTS tuning. There are multiple sound modes and a multi-band equalizer.

A small wireless remote comes with the PD32M made from a substantial chunk of aluminum finished in matte black. It pairs automatically once you install the included batteries. It can control the OSD without a line of sight and is beautifully constructed.

There are two input panels up and underneath either side of center. One has two HDMI 2.1, one DisplayPort 1.4, and a microphone input. The other features a USB-C, which can act as a DisplayPort and support peripherals. There are also traditional USB ports, one upstream and four down. There is no KVM switch, unfortunately. A tiny dongle plugs into one of the USB ports to support the wireless remote. This panel also has a headphone output and a second mic input.

OSD Features

The PD32M has a tiny joystick on its back right side which toggles power and navigates the OSD. But it’s much easier to use the remote.

The PD32M’s OSD is laid out much like any AOC monitor, but instead of a band across the bottom of the screen, the sub-menus are arranged like cascading windows on the right side.

Game Setting offers six game modes which are picture modes that include different combinations of video processing options. Hint: leave this off and make your own tweaks for the best picture. Shadow Control can be adjusted to bring out shadow detail. You can also change color saturation. Again, leave these settings alone for the best image. There are three overdrive settings; Weak is the only one that doesn’t cause ghosting. You can turn on a frame rate indicator and set the HDMI ports to 120 Hz for consoles or 144 Hz for PCs.

The Luminance menu has contrast and brightness plus more picture modes. Leave that on Standard for the best picture. There are three gamma presets, of which 3 is the most accurate. DCR is a dynamic contrast feature that should be left off in favor of local dimming, which I’ll discuss in a moment.

In Image Setup, you can choose between five HDR picture modes. Luminous Max sets HDR brightness to one of three levels. You may find the full 1,600 nits too bright (I did), and since the brightness control is unavailable, this is the only way to take the edge off. You can also toggle local dimming for both SDR and HDR signals. It should definitely be engaged for HDR. This menu also has PBP, which lets you view two video sources side by side.

Color Setup includes a low blue light function, four color temp presets and a dynamic color feature that emphasizes shades like blue sky or green grass. Leave that one off if you want an accurate and natural image. A user color temp option includes precise RGB controls to dial in grayscale tracking.

The Audio menu includes five DTS sound modes that change the phase and frequency response coming from the two eight-watt internal speakers. As a result, they sound better than most with good bass presence and clarity. If you like to tweak, a five-band equalizer is there as well.

The light show has lots of options for effect, color and intensity. You can call up a predetermined routine or create your own. This menu controls the LED strip across the back and the two large side panels. The Extra menu is where you’ll find the color and intensity settings for the logo projector. It also includes an input selector, a factory reset option, and signal information.

AOC Porsche Design Agon Pro PD32M Calibration Settings

The PD32M is close to the mark out of the box, but a few minor tweaks will take it to a higher standard of accuracy. Whether you calibrate or not, stick with the Standard picture mode, Game Mode off. In the color temp menu, you’ll find a user mode unlocking the RGB controls I used to dial in a more precise white point. I also changed the gamma preset from 1 to 3 for better luminance tracking. The color gamut is large at over 110% of DCI-P3 and is used for all content, including SDR and HDR. If you want sRGB, that option is one of the color temp choices. It grays out the luminance controls but is at the right brightness for a well-lit indoor space and has good gamma and grayscale accuracy. My recommended SDR settings are below.

There are five presets in HDR mode, of which DisplayHDR is the best. There are three brightness presets too. By default, the HDR image is extremely bright and might be too much for darker environments. The HDR Color+ mode should be avoided as it makes the picture look very cartoonish with some detail clipping. I’ll show you more about that on page five.

Gaming and Hands-on

The PD32M looks good no matter what it’s doing: playing games, writing copy, editing photos, or just sitting there with the power off. If you like a well-appointed work-and-play space, it is a perfect example of the modern aesthetic with its clean lines and premium finish.

A 32-inch 16:9 screen is my preference for all-around use because it’s big enough to put two documents side by side, or to have app and video windows up simultaneously. Though there is a PBP function, I didn’t find much use for it. That feature is better suited for 21:9 monitors.

For photo work, one must be aware of the color space in use. The PD32M uses its full gamut for all content which covers over 110% of DCI-P3. That means the graphics you create on it won’t look the same when shown on an sRGB monitor. I reached for the sRGB setting in the color temp menu more than once to verify color for use on the web. It would be better to have an sRGB with SDR setting so you could switch automatically.

HDR is useful in Windows if you want to watch a movie or other video content shot in HDR. The PD32M rivals premium televisions in every way but size. This is a great monitor for those who enjoy the desktop theater experience. Its HDR image is stunning. I liked having three brightness level choices; most monitors don’t have that. But just leaving the brightness slider operational would be even better.

Gaming was fun in every respect. Though I’m a bit spoiled by faster refresh screens – 240 Hz has become my starting point – the PD32M is on par with the best 4K monitors I’ve used. My current test system is equipped with a GeForce RTX 4090, and it had no problem keeping frame rates at 144 with max detail in Doom Eternal and Call of Duty WWII. But, of course, this is what the PD32M is built for. It offers comparable response and input lag to any other premium 4K screen, so the extra money you’re paying for it won’t buy you extra performance. But it doesn’t lag behind in any way.

If I were to nitpick, a more precise overdrive would be a good addition. I couldn’t go past the Weak setting to avoid ghosting. But a bit more overshoot would create a better balance between blur reduction and artifacts. And there is no backlight strobe available. That’s rarely an issue, but some users may prefer the option for monitors with refresh rates under 200 Hz.

The picture, in every instance, is stunning. Using the local dimming for SDR effectively increases dynamic range with no visible downside. In addition, the brightness control remains available, so you can always tweak the output comfortably. Color is the star attraction of the PD32M. Not only is it one of the most colorful monitors I’ve reviewed, but its accuracy is also very high.

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The PD32M’s gaming performance is on par with the better 4K screens I’ve tested. To compare it, I’ve lined up the Gigabyte M32UC and Philips 279M1RV, which refreshes at 144 Hz like the AOC. At 160 Hz is Acer’s X32 and Cooler Master’s GP27U. Sitting alone on the throne is Samsung’s Neo G8 which still has no speed equal at this resolution.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

Panel response goes hand in hand with refresh rate as the PD32M, and the other two 144 Hz screens all draw a full white field in 7ms. These three panels will all deliver the same motion resolution and the same level of blur, which is minimal but less smooth than the 160 and 240 Hz models. The AOC’s overdrive is good but not great. On its Weak setting, there is a tiny bit of ghosting, which is hard to spot in game content.

The PD32M is at the back of the pack in the input lag test. This is not a negative, 29ms is pretty quick for all but the most skilled players. Gamers of average ability will have no complaints about control response. If you’re looking for a competition monitor in 4K resolution, the Acer X32 is the fastest I’ve tested, beating even the Samsung G8 for overall responsiveness.

Viewing Angles

The PD32M is an average IPS panel in the viewing angle test where you’ll see a slight red/green shift at 45 degrees off axis. Light falloff is minimal though and there is no significant change in gamma or detail visibility. The top view is good too with clear detail, almost no change in color, and a slight brightness reduction.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

The PD32M slayed my uniformity test, scoring one of the lowest results I’ve ever recorded. 3.62% is way below the visible threshold. Though a uniform compensation feature is hiding in the OSD, it’s completely unnecessary.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

Luckily, the PD32M doesn’t bring its full 1,600-nit capability to bear in SDR mode. But you still get a lot of headroom with 537 nits peak. That is more than enough output for any indoor or outdoor scenario. In addition, you can dial it down to a minimum of 52 nits for dark room play, so there’s plenty of range there.

Though the black level puts the AOC last, it has solid native contrast, 1,041.5:1 which is on par with most IPS monitors. However, the VA panels are on another level and the Samsung employs local dimming, which can’t be defeated to achieve a super high contrast ratio.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration makes little difference to the PD32M’s SDR contrast, which is good. It’s only a bit behind the X32, which looks the same in a side-by-side comparison when showing real-world content. If you want higher native contrast, a VA or OLED panel are your only options.

The PD32M shows its high level of quality control in the ANSI test where contrast is still over 1,000:1. That tracks with the Acer X32, the closest competitor. Considering the dynamic range, the Acer is around $600 cheaper but has fewer dimming zones, 576, versus the AOC’s 1,152. When showing actual content, the PD32M has a slightly deeper and more three-dimensional picture.

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The PD32M has multiple game and picture modes. Combining them can get confusing if you’re not careful. My suggestion: leave the Eco mode on Standard and turn the Game Mode off. Then calibrate from there.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

Most users will have no complaints about the PD32M’s default image. Grayscale is a tad warm, but that is an excusable error. Gamma is a little skewed with light shadows and slightly muted highlights. This disappears if you turn on the local dimming for SDR content. Though it’s on the edge, the PD32M doesn’t need to be calibrated.

But adjusting the RGB controls in the User color temp, and changing the gamma preset from 1 to 3, will make a visible improvement, albeit a small one. Perceived contrast is greater with gamma skewed in the other direction, darker shadows and brighter highlights. And grayscale is now visually perfect.

If you choose the smaller sRGB color gamut, it tracks well with a slight purple tint in the brighter steps. Gamma is right on the 2.2 reference line except for the 10 and 20% steps, which are too light. This makes shadow detail easier to see but makes blacks less dramatic.

Comparisons

The PD32M is mid-pack both before and after calibration. This is not a slight when the calibrated grayscale error is only 0.96dE. However, that’s well below the visible threshold, so when showing actual content, all the monitors look the same.

Gamma tracking could use some improvement but by changing the preset from 1 to 3, I’ve flipped the error to make shadows deeper and highlights brighter. It’s a compromise, but one that improves picture quality. As always, I would prefer to see straight gamma tracking that rides the 2.2 line from bottom to top. Unfortunately, the PD32M is slightly off the mark.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

The PD32M has a tremendously large color gamut, and after a few initial tests, I determined that it is going for the Rec.2020 specification. You can see this by looking at the green primary. A DCI-P3 monitor will track green towards yellow, as illustrated in the second chart above. The PD32M does not do that.

Calibration barely makes a difference in color; the improvement comes mainly in grayscale and gamma tracking. But the color error is now a tad lower, which is always good. The takeaway is that the PD32M is a little under-saturated when measured against Rec.2020 and a little over-saturated when compared to DCI-P3.

The PD32M tracks the sRGB gamut very well, with only a tiny error and nearly full coverage. All measurement points are on their targets. There are no calibration options in this mode.

Comparisons

All the monitors here are premium displays, so it’s no wonder that the PD32M’s excellent color accuracy puts it in the middle. A 2.35dE average color error is excellent in any category. And the sRGB error is even lower at 1.72dE. 

The PD32M is in an elite group of monitors that cover more than 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. While the top two screens cover even more, the visual difference is small. You will see a difference when viewing the smaller-gamut screens. The PD32M covers nearly 80% of Rec.2020 which is a lot of color. It only comes up a tad short in the red and green primaries and is one of the most colorful monitors I’ve yet tested.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

Mini LED displays like the PD32M deliver superb HDR. Not only do they offer tremendous dynamic range, but their full-array local-dimming backlights also allow far greater control of picture depth than backlights with only edge or field dimming. It doesn’t get better than this unless you’re an OLED.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The Samsung Neo G8 is still the output king at over 2,000 nits, but the PD32M is a close second at over 1,650. It’s a good thing there’s a way to dial it down in HDR mode because that is seriously bright. It more than delivers on its promise. Black levels are barely measurable and only when displaying a small info bug at the bottom of the screen. When the screen is fully black, the backlight is turned off. I recorded 216,784.8:1, which is tremendous contrast. Though an OLED panel has the deepest HDR contrast possible from current display technologies, the PD32M and its Mini LED counterparts are very close behind. There is almost no visual difference in a room with some ambient light. And the pictures are stunning in every respect.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The PD32M has five HDR picture modes, but the best one is the default, DisplayHDR. It conforms more closely to HDR10 standards than the others. Grayscale tracking is a tad purple, but the error is slight. Light output is so high that the tone-map transition point references to 80%. That means more of the content metadata will conform to the PD32M’s capability, allowing for better HDR. The measurement run makes a soft transition but is still within the realm of visual accuracy. Shadow detail is a tad dark but remains visible.

Color tracking is on-point for both DCI-P3 and Rec.2020. Saturation points are very close to target, meaning you’ll see maximum detail in all parts of the image. I included a chart for the HDR Color+ mode to show that it is not a good choice. It is extremely over-saturated at all the inner points, where most content lies. This gives the picture a cartoonish appearance and is very unrealistic. Bright areas devolve into featureless blobs that are not attractive. Stick with DisplayHDR and you’ll be happy. The PD32M delivers some of the best HDR quality I’ve seen.

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4K gaming monitors are still something of an enigma. They offer the highest pixel density and sharpest images but simultaneously deliver the lowest frame rates of any resolution category. If you can drive one to 144fps, it’s a great experience. And everything else you do with your computer or gaming console will be enhanced by a super sharp picture. Mini LED technology delivers the highest contrast short of an OLED and tremendous light output.

The AOC Porsche Design Agon Pro PD32M is a premium among premiums. Image quality and performance are on par with other high-end 4K monitors, but the PD32M has a look and feel that puts it on a different level. Not only is it built like a tank, it’s beautiful to look at whether there’s a picture on the screen or not. And a remote that feels like it's carved from billet aluminum is just icing on the cake.

Any concern that the PD32M places style over substance is unfounded. Performance is as good as it gets for a 144 Hz 4K gaming monitor. Though I would have liked a more precise overdrive, that is a minor point. Gaming is a pleasure, especially when the connected PC can keep the action flowing at 144fps.

The PD32M’s real strengths are revealed when the action is a little slower. It ultimately delivers on its promise of 1,600 nits in HDR mode and the 1,152-zone Mini LED backlight provides dramatically deep black levels. Flat panel imagery doesn’t get much better than this. Even an OLED will only be a tiny bit better.

$1,800 is a big ask for a 32-inch 4K gaming monitor. But if you want the high style that comes with the Porsche Design moniker, it’s the only game in town. At least there is no compromise in image quality or gaming performance. As a result, the PD32M is genuinely one of the very best.

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I’ve been reviewing monitors long enough that occasionally, I have a “remember when” moment. Remember when all monitors refreshed at a fixed 60 Hz? Remember when the 144 Hz Asus VG248QE was the bleeding edge with its TN panel and fixed refresh rate? You could also buy a $200 board to add G-Sync to it.

We’ve come a long way since then, and I now have the privilege of testing the world’s first 500 Hz monitor, Alienware’s AW2524H. It uses an IPS panel running at FHD resolution with G-Sync, Nvidia Latency Analyzer, HDR400 and something most super-fast monitors lack, high contrast and an extended color gamut.

Alienware AW2524H Specs

One thing that hasn’t changed since the VG248QE is the FHD resolution. The fastest monitors still employ a smaller pixel count to keep frame rates high. In a 25-inch panel (24.5-inch viewable), that means a density of 90ppi. That’s not bad, but you will see the pixel structure if you sit closer than three feet away. The extra motion resolution afforded by these high frame rates means the picture always stays sharp, no matter how fast one pans the camera. Motion blur is simply not an issue over 200fps.

How much will you gain with the AW2524H’s 500 Hz over a 360 Hz display? It’s enough to see a difference, but the the main draw is almost non-existent control lag. Alienware has produced the fastest monitor I’ve yet tested, and in practice, it delivers an advantage. In fact, the panel response is so quick that I wish I could turn off the overdrive; it just isn’t necessary. It includes the latest G-Sync module and the Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer, but these enhancements are also unnecessary. At frame rates over 400fps, you will never see a frame tear or motion blur. And yes, you’ll need a serious gaming rig to achieve those numbers.

Picture-wise, the AW2524H doesn’t cut corners. Unlike other panels in this category, it has a bit of extra color. There’s not enough to call it a DCI-P3 display, but it’s certainly more than a 360 Hz monitor. HDR has been given good attention as well. The backlight is an edge array that employs zone dimming to increase contrast. You can use the dimming in both SDR and HDR modes; in the latter, it produces dynamic range of over 82,000:1. That is also a huge advantage over any 360 Hz screen currently available. Color proved accurate in my tests with no need for calibration in the monitor’s default picture mode.

The AW2524H will sell initially for $830, which is nearly double the price of the AW2523HF that I reviewed in October 2022. The AW2524H is better in every way, but is it twice as good? Let’s take a look.

Product 360

Alienware’s familiar shapes and accents adorn the AW2524H without drawing too much attention. The front view is all business with a super thin 5mm bezel and “500Hz” displayed on the bottom strip. A soft glowing light rings the power toggle at the right. In the center, underneath, is a joystick that controls all monitor functions.

You’ll find the lighting feature in the back: an Alienware head logo and the number 25. You can choose from multiple colors and effects or turn the whole thing off. It’s not too bright and shouldn’t distract you even in a darkened room.

The stand is a solid piece that snaps in place. Underneath is a 100mm VESA mount with fasteners included. Adjustments include 4.3 inches (110mm) of height, 5/21 degrees tilt, 20 degrees swivel and a portrait mode where you can rotate the panel in either direction. Movements feel firm and of the high quality that befits a monitor at this price point.

Inputs include a single DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.1 and USB ports on the main jack panel and underneath the bezel. You get one upstream and four down. One is labeled for the Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer, where you would plug in a compatible mouse. A headphone jack is also found under the bezel. The HDMI ports are limited to 240 Hz but include VRR for consoles.

Speaking of headphones, a hook pops out from the upper left side and is beautifully damped in its movement. This is a small feature, but the attention to detail here is impressive.

OSD Features

Pressing the AW2524H’s joystick brings up a quick menu at the bottom of the screen and a status window at the top. A click up opens the full OSD, which includes many options for picture control and video processing.

We begin our journey in the Game menu, where you can choose from 12 picture modes. Standard is the default and is accurate enough to be used without calibration. G-Sync Esports engages the G-Sync Processor, which I’ll discuss in a moment. The three Game modes allow six-color adjustments and custom setting of the overdrive and dark stabilizer. Custom Color has RGB sliders for precise grayscale calibration and is the mode I used for testing.

Game Enhance is where you’ll find timers, a frame rate counter, and display alignment marks for multi-screen setups. There are no aiming points included.

To run at the full 500 Hz, turn on the overclock. The panel’s native rate is 480 Hz, which delivers the same performance to my eyes. Response Time is the overdrive, and I quickly found that it is completely unnecessary when frame rates exceed 400fps. In fact, it caused slight ghosting on its lowest setting, and I was sad that I could not simply turn it off. Here also is the variable backlight with three levels that effectively increases contrast. In SDR mode, it went from around 1,000:1 to over 8,000:1. HDR contrast is over 82,000:1 in Mode 1, which is impressive.

AlienFX lighting can be used to control the behavior of the power button and the two graphics on the back of the panel. Each can have a different color and you can change the effects to your liking.

The G-Sync Processor offers Nvidia’s Reflex Latency Analyzer. When paired with the correct mouse, it shows real-time input lag on the screen. You can also engage ULMB, a blur-reducing backlight strobe, at refresh rates of 360 Hz and below. You must first turn off G-Sync to make the controls available. Then, you can vary the pulse width to find a balance between blur reduction and brightness. Less blur means lower brightness. As I said earlier, this is unnecessary at frame rates over 400fps. Even 300fps is so smooth you wouldn’t be motivated to turn on ULMB.

There are five shortcuts in the quick menu to set to user preference. This makes jumping right to things like brightness or picture modes easy. Though there is a volume control, there are no integrated speakers. That slider controls only the headphone output.

Alienware AW2524H Calibration Settings

You can enjoy the AW2524H right out of the box without adjustment in its Standard picture mode. If you want a slight improvement, reach for Custom Color as I did and tweak the RGB sliders. There are no gamma options though I measured excellent tracking there. It would be nice to have options, but you can change the dark stabilizer if you have difficulty seeing fine shadow detail. Below are the settings I used for SDR. HDR locks out all picture controls except for contrast, but I recommend leaving that alone. The AW2524H is very accurate in HDR mode as well.

Gaming and Hands-on

We used an Alienware Aurora R15 Gaming PC equipped with a GeForce RTX 4090 to test the AW2524H. I also have an RTX 3090 system on hand, so I started with a few comparisons. Obviously, you’ll need a lot of power to run this monitor to its full potential. The RTX 3090 is very capable, but with Doom Eternal set on full detail in HDR mode, the best I could do was around 200fps. This is super smooth and incredibly responsive, but 200fps is so yesterday.

Once the R15 was up and running, I could play Doom Eternal between 450 and 500fps with detail maxed, which is a superlative experience. First off, you will not notice that the resolution is only FHD. Motion is perfectly smooth. There is no blur, and the ghosting I saw in test patterns did not appear in the game. Though I would still like the option to turn off the overdrive, it isn’t a problem in its current state.

I spent several hours mowing through monsters in Doom’s horde mode and enjoyed instant control response. It’s not a huge jump from a 360 Hz screen, but I perceived a more precise connection between my mouse hand and the screen. Not only are inputs instantly translated, but you can also stop your movement exactly where you want. This means greater efficiency as you’ll spend less time overcorrecting when action gets intense. Changing direction is also a more natural and fluid process.

The image quality matches the best HDR monitors I’ve played on. The AW2524H ups the ante among its 360 Hz competition with more saturated color and better contrast, especially for HDR content. It offers more color volume than anything else at this speed and resolution.

As an everyday screen, FHD resolution is tolerable in the 25-inch size. I’m a bit spoiled by 4K monitors, but I had little trouble reading the fine text in Microsoft Edge or distinguishing between stylish fonts in Word. Spreadsheets take a bit more scrolling than I’m used to, and I would prefer a larger and more pixel-dense monitor for Photoshop. But the AW2524H can get you through work tasks.

I briefly tried out ULMB but quickly found no improvement at any of its pulse width settings. You’ll want to set that value no lower than 30%, or the picture will be too dark. And when frame rates are over 300, it makes no difference in motion resolution.

My final takeaway from the AW2524H’s video processing is that it works best when you can take advantage of its high frame rates. Once you cross 400fps, there is no need for overdrive, ULMB, or even Adaptive-Sync.

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I found a group of 360 Hz monitors in my database to compare with the AW2524H’s performance. They are Alienware’s AW2523HF, AOC’s AG254FG, Asus’ PG259QN, MSI’s NXG253R and Acer’s X25. All are IPS panels with HDR capability. 

Pixel Response and Input Lag 

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

A 500 Hz panel does not draw the screen any quicker than a 360 Hz one. When viewing Blur Busters test patterns, the level of smoothness is about the same at 360 and 500 fps. I noticed slight ghosting in the UFO pattern on the AW2524H’s lowest overdrive setting. I would prefer to turn this off, but that option is unavailable.

The advantage comes in control lag, where the AW2524H has a 2ms advantage over the next fastest monitor from MSI. If you’re looking for every possible edge in competition, 500 Hz is unmatched. The difference is subtle for casual gamers like me, but I did notice it during play. Alienware’s claim that this is the world’s fastest monitor is confirmed.

Viewing Angles

The AW2524H has superb off-axis image quality with no more than a 10% reduction in brightness and only a slight purple color shift. Shadow detail remains clear, and there is no significant change in gamma. The vertical plane shows a red/green tint with a 40% reduction in light output but only a small change to detail rendering. This is one of the better-performing IPS panels I’ve seen in this test.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

There were no visible uniformity issues with my AW2524H sample. An 8.41% deviation means you won’t see hotspots, bleed or glow. I would expect this from any high-end screen, and clearly, Alienware and Acer don’t disappoint. Only the AOC had any visible issues in this group, and it was slight.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The AW2524H is an HDR400 monitor, but it saves a bit of output in SDR mode with a peak of 378 nits. Though it is last in the comparison, there is more than enough light for any environment or application. Anything over 300 nits is quite bright, even in a sunlit office like mine.

Black levels are respectable in the AW2524H’s native configuration with the dimming turned off. The contrast is just over 1,000:1, which is average among IPS panels. The others, save the Acer, are a bit higher. With dimming engaged, I measured 8,273:1 with no loss of highlight or shadow detail.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration doesn’t affect the black level or contrast scores visibly. That scores the AW2524H points for consistency. Again, you’ll want to check out the image with dimming engaged, which I did after testing was complete. I used Mode 0, which delivered the highest contrast.

The ANSI score is the same whether dimming is on or off. It’s only a tad lower than the static score, another point for consistency. The AW2524H is built from solid components and is subject to good quality control, which is appropriate when spending $830 on a 25-inch FHD display.

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The AW2524H comes out of the box with pro-level color accuracy in the sRGB realm. You can use it without adjustment in its Standard mode. Tweakers can adjust a six-color control in the three Game modes or dial in grayscale using the Custom Color mode, as I did.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

For an initial measurement, it doesn’t get much better than this. There are no visible grayscale errors and RGB tracking is nearly identical at every brightness step. My only nitpick is the slight gamma variations. Shadow detail is a tad light and highlights are a bit dark. These errors are hard to spot but perfection is always a good thing and the AW2524H comes a little short of that.

After calibration, which only required slight changes to the RGB sliders, grayscale tracking is reference level, but gamma remains the same.

Comparisons

Going from a grayscale error of 1.55dE to 0.47dE just means that the AW2524H goes from great to greater. Visibly, there is no difference in the actual image. That is true of all the displays here except the Asus. In the world of high-end monitors, this is how it should be.

Though the AW2524H’s gamma tracks with an average value of 2.2 (0% deviation), there is a 0.30 range of values. This is not a grievous error, but there is a little room for improvement.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

In the spec table on page one, I termed the AW2524H an “sRGB+” monitor. It doesn’t quite qualify as a DCI-P3 display, but it delivers more saturated color than the 360 Hz monitors I’ve tested. Extended color hasn’t yet come to this category, but Alienware is trying the hardest. You can see some bonus red that remains inside the realm of visual accuracy but gives the image a bit more verve in the warmer shades. All other colors stick close to their targets.

With calibration, the AW2524H looks the same but measures a little better. However, you don’t need to calibrate this monitor unless you really want to. And there are no gamut options here. What you see above is what’s used for all content.

Comparisons

Calibration takes the AW2524H’s color error from 1.5dE to 1.2dE. You won’t see a difference in practice, but it looks good on a CIE chart. The price may be high, but you are getting a professional grade monitor.

In terms of color volume, the AW2524H is the clear class leader. If you are considering upgrading from any 360 Hz screen, you’ll get more color. There is a visible difference in both SDR and HDR content, so it is worth considering. Most DCI-P3 monitors cover 85-90% of that gamut so the Alienware’s 81.08% coverage represents progress at the bleeding edge of gaming performance. Also notice the significant jump up from the AW2523HF.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The AW2524H delivers the best HDR I’ve yet seen from any monitor of 360 Hz or faster. This is a major point in its favor because you aren’t sacrificing image quality for frame rate.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

In HDR mode, the AW2524H retains access to all its picture modes and most settings. You can tweak the grayscale in the Custom Color mode and adjust the dark stabilizer. The only slider grayed out is brightness, which is locked to its maximum delivering over 462 nits peak. That’s comfortably over its 400-nit claim.

Dimming defaults to Mode 1, which is the one that offers the lowest black level. It’s quite a bit deeper than the others, resulting in a stunning 82,623.5:1 HDR contrast ratio. This is far better than any 360 Hz monitor, and it’s a difference easily seen. This is the best reason to consider buying one of these, even though it’s nearly double the price of its main competition.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color 

The RGB settings I settled on in Custom Color mode carried over to HDR and gave me visually perfect grayscale and near-perfect EOTF tracking. There are no visible white point errors, and only the deepest blacks are slightly dark. You can increase the dark stabilizer in-game if you’re having trouble seeing in the dark. The tone-map transition is at 65%, and the AW2524H hits that closely.

In both DCI-P3 and Rec.2020 reference tests, the AW2524H excelled. Color is slightly over-saturated, which gives HDR more impact. Even Rec.2020 content benefits until the monitor runs out of red, just past 80%. This is the best HDR color performance I’ve seen from a monitor that doesn’t have an extended color gamut. Imagine one of these things with a quantum dot layer! HDR is clearly the star here.

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Will we ever see the limit to how fast a monitor can refresh? Alienware’s promotional video talks about the limits of human perception, and after spending time with a 500 Hz monitor, I’m starting to see what that means. While it’s easy to say, “you can’t have too many frames per second,” there will be a point where higher rates won’t make a visual difference. I thought that might be true when 360 Hz monitors first appeared on my desk. However, I can now say that 500 Hz does make a visual improvement.

The AW2524H is clearly better than the 360 Hz screens I’ve reviewed. It’s not a huge difference, but when you’re going for every possible ounce/milligram of performance, this monitor delivers it. I didn’t see a big jump in motion clarity since 360 Hz is already fast enough to eliminate any need for blur reduction, overdrive or Adaptive-Sync. But with sustained frame rates over 450, the control response is quicker and better. Movement is more natural and efficient. It absolutely provide a competitive edge.

It would be easy to finish this review with, “The Alienware AW2524H runs at 500 Hz, what more do you need to know?” But it is much more than just a fast monitor. With greater color saturation and tremendous HDR contrast, it delivers a better image in all scenarios than any 360 Hz display I’ve reviewed. Since you’re looking at nearly double the price for that 500 Hz, I’m glad Alienware has made an effort to improve image quality. You’re getting a better picture all around.

The final consideration for purchasing an AW2524H are its system requirements. To explore its full potential, a PC with an RTX 4090 and a fast CPU is an absolute must. I only managed around 200fps with an RTX 3090 running Doom Eternal at full detail. With that system, a 500 Hz monitor is wasted. But if you’ve already spent the money on a bleeding-edge PC, the AW2524H is the way to maximize its potential. You can buy a high-end 4K screen and pack in the pixels, but the fastest you’ll go is 240 Hz if you buy Samsung’s Neo G8.

The Alienware AW2524H is a next-level gaming experience when paired with the proper hardware. Gamers seeking the highest possible frame rates should definitely check it out.

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If you’re looking for a high-contrast computer monitor, there are two technologies that deliver maximum dynamic range: OLED and Mini LED. I’ve covered OLED screens before, and while they have the deepest blacks of any flat panel, they can’t get as bright as some LCDs. For peak ratings over 1,000 nits, only full-array local dimming (FALD) models can compete. And OLED burn-in is still a concern for many users looking for the best gaming monitors.

ViewSonic already impressed me with the XG321UG 32-inch flat screen, and now, I have a curved example of its Mini LED Elite line, the XG341C-2K. This 34-inch VA panel with WQHD (3440x1440) resolution and 1500R curvature promises peaks of 1,400 nits in HDR mode along with 200 Hz operation, Adaptive-Sync and a wide color gamut. Let’s take a look. 

ViewSonic Elite XG341C-2K Specs

It’s easy to surmise that high brightness ranks as Mini LED’s chief advantage, but the more important aspect is its greater number of dimming zones. A traditional 21:9 aspect FALD display might have 384 zones, but the XG341C-2K has 1,152. When it comes to high contrast and HDR, the more addressable zones, the better. Self-emitting panels like OLED can dim every pixel, creating millions of zones, but Mini LED is the next best thing. And don’t think it’s a distant second. In my experience so far, the gap in image quality is small. The XG341C-2K also ups the ante with a VA panel, starting with 3,000:1 native contrast before applying dynamic dimming.

In addition to high brightness, the color gamut is extensive. In my tests, I measured only a hair under 100% coverage of DCI-P3. That puts the XG341C-2K in a small group of more colorful monitors than most wide-gamut screens, which cover around 90%. The only thing missing on that front is an sRGB mode. Though most users won’t have an issue, you’ll be using the full gamut for all content, SDR and HDR alike.

The XG341C-2K also delivers gaming performance with a 200 Hz overclock mode, significantly improving from the native rate of 165 Hz. You also get Adaptive-Sync and blur reduction, which ViewSonic calls Pure XP. It’s a backlight strobe with multiple settings, so you can find the right balance between smoothness and brightness. A five-level overdrive also works with AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync to reduce blur. The monitor carries FreeSync Premium Pro certification and I verified G-Sync operation in my tests. The XG341C-2K has not been certified by Nvidia.

Contrast is the XG341C-2K’s forte, and with dimming disengaged, it hit nearly 4,000:1 in testing. With dimming turned on, the dynamic range is infinite for both SDR and HDR content. The dimming has five levels of aggressiveness to find just the right setting for your environment. This feature really ups every image's depth and pop, whether moving or static, SDR or HDR.

The XG341C-2K is a premium product, but it isn’t quite as expensive as its predecessors. The closest example is Acer’s Predator X35 which sells for over $2,000. The ViewSonic comes in at around $1,500. Interestingly, that’s the same price as Samsung’s Neo G8, which offers similar brightness and contrast with 240 Hz operation. The choice will come down to resolution and size. The ViewSonic’s ultra-wide screen is hard to ignore.

Assembly and Accessories

The Elite XG341C-2K ships in a large clamshell carton with lots of protective material inside. Unfortunately, it’s the crumbly stuff, so keep a vacuum handy when unpacking. The upright and large base are solid metal and mated with a captive bolt. The panel then snaps in place. If you’d rather use a monitor arm, there’s a 100mm VESA mount with fasteners included. The power supply is internal, so you’ll find an IEC power cord in the box. You also get USB-A/B, USB-C, DisplayPort and HDMI cables.

Product 360

The XG341C-2K sports a slim flush bezel of 8mm around the top and sides. At the bottom is a wider trim strip with Elite silk-screened in the center. On the right is a tiny power LED that glows blue when the power is on and orange in standby mode. ViewSonic is printed on the base in small letters, and there are no other graphics or physical features to distract from the gameplay experience.

You’ll find a single joystick control that covers all monitor functions in the back. It works a little differently than others I’ve used. Pressing it toggles the power, but once on, pressing it again turns it off rather than displaying the OSD (you click up or down to access the OSD). Once in the menu, don’t press the joystick since it will power off. I made that mistake a few times before adapting to these peculiarities. Also in the back is the Elite RGB lighting feature with its four diffused strips that glow in all colors of the spectrum with four different effects available.

The stand is beautifully styled and finished in a matte black powder coat. The base and upright are slender but rock solid. The base is quite deep, with the panel set well forward. On a typical desk, you’ll find yourself about two feet from the screen if you push the base all the way back. The panel sits high enough that I could make it perfectly vertical and center my eyepoint. That is my preferred way to play on a curved monitor because it keeps more of the image focused at any given time.

In the last photo above, you can see the XG341C-2K’s curve of 1500R. This is a good balance between immersion and image distortion. You can expect a normal computer monitor experience when working on spreadsheets or writing tasks. And it’s fine for photo editing and web browsing too.

The input panel is fully stocked with two HDMI 2.1, a DisplayPort 1.4 and USB-C, which can support peripherals or emulate DisplayPort. Additionally, there are three downstream USB-A and a single upstream USB-B port. A 3.5mm headphone jack supports audio from either DisplayPort or HDMI streams and there are two internal speakers that play with reasonable volume before sounding distorted.

OSD Features

The XG341C-2K’s OSD has a business-like appearance that is free of graphics. An almost retro-styled font delivers all the information necessary for use. To open it, click the joystick up or down. Don’t press it, or the power will turn off. Ask me how I know.

There are six sub-menus that are well organized, though a lot of convenience features have been grouped into the setup menu at the end.

We start with Game Modes, of which there are 10. I only needed the default, Custom 1, to run my tests and use the XG341C-2K for both work and entertainment. What you won’t find is an sRGB mode. All picture modes use the full native gamut, which covers nearly 100% of DCI-P3. That’s colorful to be sure, but not entirely accurate for SDR content. Custom 1 makes all other picture controls available.

The Display menu has gaming options like a FreeSync (Adaptive-Sync) toggle, HDR modes, local dimming, Pure XP (blur reduction) overclocking to 200 Hz, overdrive, and color controls. There are a few caveats to note here. If you want to run at 200 Hz, you can’t have Adaptive-Sync or Pure XP. To use these, 165 Hz is the limit. And Pure XP works instead of Adaptive-Sync. In practice, the XG341C-2K is a 165 Hz monitor, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. 200 Hz doesn’t provide a huge bump in speed, but I’ll cover that in the response and lag tests. Further details on video processing options can be found in the Gaming & Hands-on section below.

You can choose from four color temp presets or adjust the RGB values for picture tweaks. Six gamma options range from 1.8 (light) to 2.8 (dark). Color saturation is also adjustable, and you can raise the black level if shadow detail is obscured. Image Adjust is where the brightness and contrast controls are, and there’s a sharpness option that should be reduced, as the default setting creates noticeable edge enhancement.

Three HDR modes engage automatically when an HDR10 signal is present. DisplayHDR is the best choice, providing a superb image with deep blacks and bright punchy highlights. HDR is clearly the XG341C-2K’s forte.

The next menu, ViewMode, alters the picture further depending on the Game Mode selected. I recommend leaving that one alone because if you start tweaking it, there are hundreds of possible combinations, most of them poor. Custom 1 and Standard are the best options.

The Setup Menu has four screens of options like aiming points (three shapes in three colors), RGB lighting, USB power, and OSD settings. The joystick can have its left and right clicks set to several functions for quick access. Here, you’ll find a PIP and PBP option that lets you view two video sources simultaneously. On the last screen, the Memory Recall option resets the XG341C-2K to its factory defaults.

ViewSonic Elite XG341C-2K Calibration Settings

The XG341C-2K showed me a cool grayscale and dark gamma during initial testing, indicating that it needs calibration for the best image. This is easily accomplished by tweaking the RGB values and changing the gamma preset to 2.0. The color gamut is not adjustable, so you’ll always see around 100% of DCI-P3 (over 140% of sRGB), even in SDR mode. There is no sRGB setting. In HDR mode, there are no picture options save the three preset picture modes that look very similar. I recommend the default, DisplayHDR. The only other nitpick is that you’ll need to switch the local dimming on and off manually. You’ll want it for HDR but not always for SDR as it makes the picture very bright. My recommended SDR settings are below.

Gaming and Hands-on

With its 1500R curvature, the XG341C-2K is well suited for work and productivity. There is no visible image distortion, even when sitting closer than three feet away. And the 109ppi pixel density is perfect for detail and fine lines. I never saw any jaggies or pixelation in graphics or when rendering small fonts. In practice, a 34-inch 21:9 monitor is nearly the size of two 27-inch 16:9 screens, and you don’t have a line down the middle.

Though the color gamut is larger than SDR’s sRGB standard, the extra saturation isn’t a problem unless you need accuracy for photo work. The picture has a nice glow with deep blacks and plenty of depth for typical tasks. The text is easy to read against white backgrounds, and if you turn on the local dimming in SDR mode, the picture becomes very bright. It might be too much for long work sessions, but your experience may vary from mine.

Switching back and forth between HDR and SDR revealed a few quirks. The XG341C-2K goes to HDR without an issue. But returning to SDR, the monitor remained stuck in HDR mode, which distorted the color palette significantly. I had to manually turn off HDR, meaning the next time I wanted to view HDR content, I had to re-engage it in the OSD. So, in its current form, it does not switch back and forth automatically.

The same is true of the local dimming. If you want to use it for SDR, you’re good. It will remain engaged for SDR and HDR all the time. But if you’d rather switch it off for SDR, you must turn it on after switching to HDR mode and back off when returning to SDR.

Another thing I noticed is that turning on Adaptive-Sync grays out the brightness control, which is unusual. The set white level is higher than 200 nits, settling in around 275. If you work in a dark room, the XG341C-2K will be quite bright with Adaptive-Sync engaged.

Those experiments took me to gaming, where I tried a few different video processing options. My experience has shown that below 200fps, you need Adaptive-Sync. That isn’t a problem since the XG341C-2K runs it up to 165 Hz. However, at 200 Hz, Adaptive-Sync is off the table. In practice, if you can keep frame rates close to 200, it isn’t essential. But you’ll need a fast video card to run 200fps at 3440x1440. I was able to do this with a GeForce RTX 3090. I chose to forego Adaptive-Sync since motion is a bit smoother at 200 Hz vs 165 Hz. In either case, the overdrive did a decent job keeping artifacts at bay. Though I saw some black ghosting in test patterns, it didn’t come up during gameplay.

If you’re tempted to try Pure XP, you’ll find that its phasing artifact is prominent enough to be a distraction. In fairness, very few monitors have a good backlight strobe. Nearly all show extra lines behind moving objects. I didn’t use it after my initial trial.

Playing Doom Eternal, I looked for accuracy in aiming and response when clicking the mouse. I got ample quantities of both. I had no trouble working through familiar maps quickly and dispatching enemies in large numbers. The XG341C-2K is a very accurate monitor for moving and shooting. It also presented a superb HDR image with rich, bold color and super-low black levels. The Mini LED and its 1152 dimming zones help this monitor impressively impersonate an OLED panel. HDR contrast here is among the best I’ve seen.

I also observed better-than-average audio. The internal speakers are distortion-free up to a reasonably loud volume and clearly present ambient sound and dialog. Though I prefer headphones for the best experience, these would do well in a pinch.

Despite a few extra steps in switching between HDR and SDR, the XG341C-2K proved to be an excellent gaming tool that will suit gamers of all skill levels up to competing professionals. Here are my recommended settings for SDR and HDR gaming.

• FreeSync Premium Pro – on for 165 Hz, off for 200 Hz (dependent on video card speed)
• Local Dimming – off for SDR, level 2 for HDR
• HDR mode – DisplayHDR
• Overdrive – Fast (setting 3 of 5)

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I’ve lined the XG341C-2K up against similar screens, 34-inch ultra-wide 165 Hz refresh rate monitors with WQHD resolution. The Acer X35 Mini LED, AOC CU34G3S, MSI MPG343CQR and ASRock PG34WQ are VA panels, while the Alienware AW3423DWF is an OLED.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

I tested the XG341C-2K at 165 and 200 Hz. Remember that overclocking means you can’t run Adaptive-Sync or the backlight strobe; however, you get overdrive in all cases.

The Acer is a costly monitor, but it’s worth including here for its excellent performance. It doesn’t have the limitations of the XG341C-2K; you can run it at 200 Hz with Adaptive-Sync for a $1,000 premium.

The difference between 165 and 200 Hz is clearly small, too small to give up Adaptive-Sync. In both tests, the XG341C-2K came out on top for total input lag, which is good. This a very responsive monitor, and overdrive quality is about average for the category. On its Fast setting, it showed slight black ghosting, but in practice, gaming was smooth and free of tearing or stutter. Motion resolution clarity was also average for the category.

Viewing Angles

The XG341C-2K has better off-axis image quality than most of the VA panels I’ve reviewed. It isn’t entirely up to the best IPS panels in this test, but it comes close. You’ll see a 20% light reduction and a slight green shift at 45 degrees to the sides. Gamma remains constant, so no detail is obscured in highlight or shadow areas. The vertical plane shows a washed-out picture with a shift to red and green.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My XG341C-2K review sample showed uniformity befitting a premium monitor with just a 3.83% variation in brightness from the center, which is well below the visible threshold. No glow or bleed could be seen. The image is free of grain or variation, and all patterns I checked were perfectly toned from edge to edge.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The XG341C-2K boasts a very bright 656 nits peak at its default settings, which is too bright for any indoor setting. Fatigue will set in quickly at this level. The downside is that the minimum level is 72 nits which is a little hot for a darkened room. It also means each click of the brightness control changes the level by 4-6 nits, making it harder to find a precise setting.

With local dimming turned off, the black level is respectable and results in a native contrast ratio of 3,742.1:1, above average for a VA panel. If you engage the dimming, the black level can’t be measured, and contrast is infinite.

After Calibration to 200 nits

With peak white set to 200 nits, the XG341C-2K displays the deepest blacks of the VA panels in the group. A native contrast ratio of over 4,000:1 means you can see a very high-quality image without resorting to local dimming. If you engage it, the black level can’t be measured. And you’ll definitely want it on for HDR content.

ANSI contrast is much the same at almost 3,900:1. This is one of the better VA monitors I’ve tested. Even without a dimming feature, it would look better than most of its competition. With dimming on, ANSI contrast is infinite. The XG341C-2K is well-engineered and built with excellent quality control. Only the Alienware OLED monitor can claim picture quality this good.

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The XG341C-2K doesn’t ship with a factory-certified calibration. In its default mode, I found it needed some tweaking to achieve the best possible image.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

This is the XG341C-2K’s Custom 1 gaming mode and Standard view mode, the default settings. Grayscale tracks visibly blue and gamma is quite dark. This gives the image a murky appearance and negates much of the monitor’s contrast advantage.

After adjusting the RGB values and changing the gamma preset from 2.2 to 2.0, the measurements and image quality are greatly improved. This is what’s expected from a premium monitor sporting the latest Mini LED technology. Aside from a slight dip at 90% brightness, this is perfect grayscale and gamma tracking.

Comparisons

The XG341C-2K is firmly in the “needs-calibration” category. While you can turn up the brightness or engage local dimming to make the picture less murky, the blue grayscale still makes it look flat. Once adjusted, it looks much better.

The gamma presets are off by one click, as the default 2.2 option yields 2.4. This is too dark, and it robs the XG341C-2K of some of its contrast advantage. Luckily, changing the setting to 2.0 solves the issue neatly. With a 0.14 range of values and just 1.36% deviation, it ranks among the best in the gamma test.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

The default color gamut run shows hue errors consistent with the blue grayscale I noted earlier. Red and cyan are off hue. Red and magenta are also a bit over-saturated though most users won’t mind the extra punch of color that affords.

Calibration mostly takes care of the hue errors, but red is still a bit off. Again, this won’t bother most users as it makes the picture extremely vivid. It isn’t entirely accurate, but it will pump up the look of all content, SDR and HDR. My only complaint is that there’s no sRGB mode. You have to use the full gamut for all content.

Comparisons

Calibration brings the XG341C-2K’s color gamut error from 4.35dE to 2.38dE, a visible gain in quality. Though reds are a bit over-saturated, the picture is not unnaturally vivid. When compared to other extended color monitors, it delivers just a little bit more vibrance.

That is explained by its near 100% coverage of DCI-P3. Most currently available wide-gamut monitors have less color volume than the XG341C-2K. The over-saturated red primary means you’ll need a software profile for color-critical work, but this monitor can be used as a professional tool. An sRGB mode would be welcome, but that omission can also be solved with software.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The XG341C-2K, like other Mini LED monitors, can display very bright highlights in HDR mode. When an HDR10 signal is applied, it switches automatically and opens up three HDR-specific picture presets. I found them very similar in look and measurement, so I did my tests in the default DisplayHDR mode.

HDR Brightness and Contrast 

The XG341C-2K is certified DisplayHDR 1400, and it manages that feat when measuring a 25% window pattern. This shows that it has more than enough power to deliver super-bright highlights in HDR mode. Most LCD panels with traditional LED backlights struggle to provide this much light from any onscreen object bigger than a few pixels. To achieve this, I had to engage local dimming. Any level from 1 to 5 will engage the full dynamic range. That means when a 0% black pattern is displayed, the backlight is turned off, rendering contrast infinite. Even displaying a small white object like an info bug won’t turn on the LEDs in the surrounding zones. ViewSonic has implemented its Mini LED technology extremely well here.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color 

The XG341C-2K’s HDR grayscale tracking runs a bit warm in brightness steps above 55%. This is a more excusable error than blue or green because red is less visible in practice. All three HDR modes exhibit the same behavior. The EOTF runs slightly dark but not enough so that detail is obscured. The tone-map transition point is 75% which means more of the content meta-data can be used to determine luminance levels. This always bodes well for picture quality, which is excellent.

The XG341C-2K shows some over-saturation in HDR mode in the red, magenta and blue areas of the gamut. This warms up the image in a good way. Though not completely accurate, the picture is pleasing and natural, with vivid color and depth. With such low black levels, well-mastered content looks three-dimensional. You can see in the Rec.2020 chart that the XG341C-2K covers a good portion of that large gamut, coming up short only in green and cyan.

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There is no doubt that Mini LED is fast becoming the go-to tech for high-contrast monitors. Though OLED will always have the advantage with its self-emissive pixel structure, LCD, in the minds of most users, is the more practical screen type. Add in wide color gamuts and high brightness, and the fact that a good Mini LED screen isn’t vastly different from an OLED in quality, and you have something truly compelling.

Following in the footsteps of the stunning XG321UG Ultra HD monitor, the XG341C-2K brings the goods to the curved ultra-wide category. Gamers like curved screens, and this is one of the best. The picture is stunning in both SDR and HDR modes. With 1,400 nits available, highlights always pop and black levels are deep thanks to 1,152 dimming zones and well-implemented local dimming.

Large color gamuts are a must in the premium gaming monitor genre and the XG341C-2K delivers there too. It covers nearly 100% of DCI-P3, putting it in an elite group. Appropriate then that ViewSonic calls it “Elite.” Though I noted a few initial inaccuracies and a missing sRGB mode, color is rich and vibrant, and I doubt anyone will complain about the picture.

The XG341C-2K is a gamer’s tool as well. With low input lag and smooth operation, I found it very accurate for moving and shooting. Its generous width and 1500R curve deliver immersive play with a picture that wraps around the user’s eyepoint. The only flaws here are the inability to run Adaptive-Sync at 200 Hz and the lack of brightness control when Adaptive-Sync is turned on. These are unusual quirks but not deal-breakers. I enjoyed every minute of gaming on this monitor.

Premium ultra-wide screens like the XG341C-2K are still expensive, but progress is being made. At $1,500, it costs the same as a Samsung Neo G8 and undercuts the Acer X35. And it offers almost as much contrast as the Alienware AW3423DWF with higher brightness than that OLED monitor. Operational quirks aside, this is an excellent gaming monitor with a stunning picture. Users seeking a high-performance 21:9 screen should definitely check it out.

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The large-format ultra-wide gaming monitor is starting to explode in popularity, and AOC is fielding a new entry with the Agon AG455UCX. AOC uses a large 44.5-inch VA panel with a 5120x1440 (DQHD) resolution, which is slightly smaller than its existing 49-inch DQHD monitors. This resolution has also been adopted by the 49-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 and 49-inch MSI 491C, although those monitors use Quantum Dot OLED panels.

With a monitor this large, AOC employs a 1500R curvature to increase immersion, while viewing angles are the typical 178 degrees (horizontal and vertical). However, gamers will likely be seated front and center with this display and won’t be sharing it, where light/color fall-off can occur towards extreme angles with VA panels.

Designed to compete with the best gaming monitors, the Agon AG455UCX has a 165Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time. The monitor is listed as supporting AMD FreeSync, although we’d imagine it is also Nvidia G-Sync compatible. The typical contrast ratio is 2,400:1, while the maximum is 3,000:1. Brightness tops out at 400 nits, which is about average for a VA panel of this size.

On the connectivity front, AOC outfits the Agon AG455UCX with three HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4 port, and a USB-C connector (DisplayPort Alt-Mode compatible). There’s also a four-port USB 3.2 Gen 1 hub onboard for connecting all your peripherals. Rounding things out are an integrated KVM switch and dual 5-watt speakers.

The Agon AG455UCX also features a broad base to support its 22-pound heft. The stand is also adjustable for height, tilt, and swivel. There’s even a stand sprouting from the left side of the monitor to hold your headphones.

AOC hasn’t announced pricing or availability for the Agon AG455UCX at this time. However, we imagine it will come in a little below the 49-inch Agon AG493UCX2, which has a street price of around $1,000.

When new technologies saturate the marketplace, prices inevitably go down. It took a few years, but some of the best gaming monitors feature curved ultra-wide panels at reasonable prices. 34-inch WQHD (3440x1440) gaming screens run fast and deliver solid gaming performance for less than $500.

Known mainly for its PC hardware, ASRock introduced a line of monitors branded Phantom Gaming in 2022. The curved entry, and my review subject, is the PG34WQ15R2B, hereafter known as the PG34WQ. It’s a WQHD VA panel with a 1500R curve, 165 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR 400, and extended color.

Specifications

The PG34WQ gets off to a great start with a VA panel boasting a native contrast ratio of 3,000:1. The LED backlight has a field dimming feature that extends dynamic range for SDR and HDR content. In HDR mode, it’s always active and, in my tests, delivered nearly 17,000:1. There’s plenty of light output, with just shy of 500 nits peak. SDR mode tops out at just over 300 nits.

A wide color gamut covers about 85% of DCI-P3, which is average for the category. ASRock engineered the gamut to strike a good compromise between sRGB and P3. This makes it well suited for SDR content mastered in the smaller color space. You can see the extra color without going too far past the mark.

The PG32WQ is a great value at $430 with just about everything a gamer could want without added bells and whistles. You get Adaptive-Sync which works equally well on Nvidia and AMD platforms. The 165 Hz refresh rate is achieved without overclocking. And tweakers will appreciate the inclusion of MPRT, also known as a backlight strobe, to reduce motion blur.

You won’t find things like aiming points, timers or frame counters. And there’s no LED lighting, so you’ll have to relegate any pyrotechnics to your PC and other peripherals. But there are a few interesting and unique things here that set the PG34WQ apart.

Assembly and Accessories

The first thing that caught my attention when unpacking the PG34WQ were two slim coax cables. After turning to the quick start guide, I discovered that ASRock integrated Wi-Fi antennae into the stand. The cables run between the monitor and the coax connections on your PC. That’s a first, in my experience. You also get HDMI and DisplayPort cables with an IEC cord for the internal power supply. The stand and base couple with a captive bolt, and the panel snaps in place for a solid fit. 

Product 360

The PG34WQ’s 1500R curve is neither subtle nor overt. It hits the balance point between immersion and image distortion, with a good deal of the former and none of the latter. The anti-glare layer is aggressive but not grainy, and the image is sharp without any edge enhancement to reduce resolution. Pixel density is 109ppi, the same as a 27-inch 16:9 flat panel. The bezel is thin at 8mm and flush; you’ll barely notice it when viewing content.

The bottom trim strip features a Phantom Gaming logo and little else save a tiny blue LED to indicate power status. You’ll find an OSD joystick in the back, two control keys and a power toggle. ASRock announces itself in polished lettering set under a thin grill that vents heat near the top of the panel.

The two Wi-Fi antenna ports are at the bottom of the upright so that the cables won’t intrude once connected. The stand is solid with firm movements that include -7/20 degrees tilt, 20 degrees swivel and a 100mm height adjustment. The Phantom Gaming logo is featured in the front and in the back. A small hole helps tidy any wiring. Under the panel mount is a 100mm VESA pattern with fasteners included.

Inputs are sparse, with just two HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 1.4. For 165 Hz operation, you must use DisplayPort. The HDMI inputs only go up to 100 Hz. If you’d like to use headphones instead of listening to the tiny two-watt internal speakers, a 3.5mm jack is provided.

OSD Features

The PG34WQ’s OSD is one of the most efficient I’ve ever seen, with just four sub-menus and only the most necessary features needed for high-performance gaming. Pressing the joystick brings it up. The keys take the user straight to the brightness slider or picture modes. Click the joystick left to change inputs or right to adjust the audio volume.

The PG34WQ has six picture modes, all of which are fixed except the default Standard preset. That one allows adjustment of luminance and color temperature. The only thing missing from the calibration suite is gamma, which is unfortunate because this monitor looks and measures too light. Gamma is off by almost 10%, which makes the picture a bit washed out and lacking in saturation. DCR is an effective dynamic contrast option that enhances picture quality and has no apparent downside. I recommend using it for SDR content. It’s locked on for HDR. MPRT delivers a backlight strobe that reduces blur but causes a very visible phasing artifact.

The Image Setup menu lets you change aspect ratios, toggle the overdrive & Adaptive-Sync, and set HDR to Auto mode. The overdrive has just one setting, which didn’t make a difference. I saw slight black ghosting in test patterns, but most gaming content ran smoothly with minimal blur.

The Color Temp menu has four fixed options plus an adjustable user mode with RGB sliders. They can be used to dial in the PG34WQ precisely with accurate grayscale tracking. You can improve the image by selecting the sRGB setting if you don't calibrate. I’ll explain why below.

The final menu has an auto setting for the input selector, DDC/CI toggle, and a factory reset option. At the bottom is input signal information.

ASRock PG34WQ15R2B Calibration Settings

I discovered a few interesting things when calibrating the PG34WQ. In the default mode, the picture is cool, and gamma is light, reducing depth and color saturation. I calibrated the user color temp and saw a significant improvement without gamma presets. However, turning down the contrast slider from 50 to 35 increased static contrast, which shouldn’t happen, but my test results don’t lie. ASRock should add gamma options in a future firmware update for sure; this monitor sorely needs them. Here are the settings I used.

If you don’t calibrate, I recommend setting the color temp to sRGB. This fixes the grayscale errors and improves gamma slightly. You can improve the image further by turning on DCR. Unlike most monitors, the PG34WQ makes good use of its field-dimming feature in SDR mode. The only downside to this approach is that the brightness slider is grayed out. Without DCR, peak brightness is around 150 nits. With DCR, it’s 210 nits.

HDR mode comes up automatically when an HDR10 signal is applied. Color accuracy is excellent there, with dynamic contrast of nearly 17,000:1. HDR content looks excellent here, better than most sub-$500 screens I’ve tested.

Gaming and Hands-on 

Right off the bat, I enjoyed the PG34WQ’s ideal curvature. I’ve tried monitors ranging from 2300R to 1300R and in the 34-inch 21:9 size, 1500R is my favorite. There was no image distortion in apps like spreadsheets or word processors, but I felt a sense of immersion in games because I didn’t have to turn my head quite as far to keep peripheral objects in view.

I tried out a few different configurations to get the best possible SDR picture from the PG34WQ. The Standard picture mode out of the box is not the best choice. The light gamma and cool color temp put a damper on any sense of dimension. The detail was less sharp, and the color was less saturated.

My tests revealed a couple of fixes. The easy one is to set sRGB in the color temp menu and turn on DCR. That makes a huge difference with better detail and more color. The only downside is that brightness is fixed. You’ll see around 150 nits with DCR off and 210 nits with it on. I went for the latter in games but turned it off in Windows to quell the extra brightness when browsing the web.

The best choice is calibration, and if you don’t have the means, try my settings shown above. That allows you to dial in brightness to taste and delivers the best color of all. The gamut compromises between sRGB and DCI-P3 for all content, and ASRock did a good job here.

The PG34WQ’s strongest attribute is its HDR image quality. The DCR option is locked, which ups the contrast ratio to almost 17,000:1. Highlights are much brighter, almost 500 nits, which in turn pumps up color saturation and depth. In the sub-$500 category, this is one of the best HDR monitors I’ve seen.

Video processing options are basic, which is fine because they work. Overdrive can be on or off, but I didn’t see a difference either way. Blur is minimal, and on par with most other 165 Hz monitors I’ve tested. I saw some slight phasing in vertical lines, not frame tears since Adaptive-Sync works just fine. But there was an occasional doubling of thin lines as I panned quickly from side to side. It wasn’t a distraction, and my success in familiar games like Doom Eternal and Tomb Raider was equal to monitors with better overdrives. 

MPRT, or backlight strobing, does not work well here. It cancels out Adaptive-Sync, which at 165 Hz is a questionable choice. It also causes phasing, like most monitors with the feature. I found it distracting, though it doesn’t reduce brightness too much. I still preferred to stick with AS and overdrive. And I had equal success with both FreeSync and G-Sync platforms.

Over my time with the PG34WQ, I found it capable in all areas, work and play. It performed comfortably above its price class with excellent HDR and a solid gaming experience.

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To compare the PG34WQ’s performance, I’ve created a group that includes Monoprice’s 42772, AOC’s CU34G3S and MSI’s MPG343CQR to represent 165 Hz. BenQ’s EX3415R and EX3410R are here to cover 144 Hz, but you’ll soon see that 144 Hz isn’t necessarily a disadvantage.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures. 

The BenQ EX3415R manages to draw a full white field in 6ms despite running at 144 Hz instead of 165 Hz. And it takes first place in the overall lag contest with 27ms. But the PG34WQ is close behind at 7 and 30ms. For all but a world-class player, that’s an imperceptible difference. The ASRock is quick to be sure. Its overdrive isn’t the best I’ve seen, but it delivers smoothness that’s on par with the competition. Gamers of average skill will see little difference in video processing performance between any of the six screens.

Viewing Angles

The PG34WQ looks better than most VA panels I’ve photographed at 45 degrees off-center. The image is dimmer and more washed out, but the color shift is only slightly to red. The vertical plane shows much of the same behavior with slightly less light output. Few people would want to share a 34-inch ultra-wide monitor, but if you do, an IPS model will serve better.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

In general, VA panels have slightly weaker uniformity than IPS. You’ll see the occasional glow in one corner or a center hotspot. My PG34WQ sample had the former with a bit of extra light in the upper right. I could only see it in a full black field, not in actual content. There were no aberrations in color field patterns or neutral patterns of higher intensity.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The PG34WQ hits about 305 nits in SDR mode, which is plenty of light for any work or gaming application in an indoor environment. There’s more output available for HDR content, nearly 500 nits, so the headroom is there.

The default black level is great compared to an IPS monitor but a bit below average among VA panels. That limits contrast to 2,219.3:1.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibrating the RGB sliders and turning down the contrast slider from 50 to 35 makes a huge difference in image quality. I still wished for darker gamma, but the contrast increases to almost 3,100:1, which helps with depth and color saturation.

ANSI contrast stays consistent at 2,886.4:1, a solid result. Though the other VA monitors score higher in the contrast tests, the PG34WQ delivers decent quality. A darker gamma would move it up the rankings.

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The PG34WQ comes from the box in its Standard mode, which looks too cool and is a bit washed out overall. Luckily, it only takes a few tweaks to make things better.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking 

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

The PG34WQ’s white point is cool with visible blue errors from 30% and higher. It isn’t a huge problem, but there is room for improvement. Some adjustment is needed. Gamma is light at around 2.00, making the image a bit hazy.

Changing the color temp to sRGB makes a big difference. Now, there are no visible errors, while gamma remains the same. You can enjoy the PG34WQ this way, with the only limitation being that the brightness slider is grayed out. Peak output is around 150 nits, or 210 if you turn on DCR, which I recommend doing.

If you’d rather have finer control of brightness, calibrate the user color temp as I did. Then, you can set any output level you want and have the best possible grayscale tracking. There’s still no help for gamma, though. Regardless of your path, turn on DCR; you’ll be glad you did.

Comparisons

The PG34WQ starts a bit down the order, but with calibration, it takes second place for grayscale accuracy. If you just select sRGB from the color temp options, it would finish fourth, still respectable.

In the gamma test, it tracks straight with a very narrow value range which is a good thing. But with an actual value of 1.99, it’s off the spec by almost 10%. ASRock, please add gamma presets to the OSD. It would make such a difference.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

When testing a monitor, I usually know going in its intended color gamut. Most of the latest screens use DCI-P3 and often advertise their coverage of that gamut on the box. The PG34WQ makes no such claims, but I can see that it is a DCI-P3 monitor. It takes a different approach than most to provide balanced color that works well for SDR content while still adding saturation.

The first chart above shows the default gamut when graphed against DCI-P3. Notice that inner points (20-80%) are under-saturated while the 100% target almost gets there. There’s a broader gap between 80 and 100% than the other points.

The second chart shows the same test graphed against sRGB. The inner points are closer to the targets now and indeed, the Delta E error is lower.

The third chart shows what happens when you select the sRGB color temp. The PG34WQ still hits most of DCI-P3, but the inner points are right on the sRGB spec (and the error is lower). This is the right choice for most users, as further calibration isn’t required.

The last chart shows the result of a grayscale calibration. It’s nearly identical to the sRGB-only chart. So, you get the same accuracy level but with adjustable brightness if you change the RGB sliders. Use my settings if you want to do this without instruments.

Comparisons

The PG34WQ compares well in either sRGB mode or with calibration. With only the AOC showing slightly better numbers, this is excellent performance. I can’t fault the color accuracy here. And I like the concept of balance between sRGB and DCI-P3. It looks great with all types of content. The light gamma is a bummer but other than that, ASRock has done well.

The PG34WQ is about average for the category in the gamut volume calculation. For less than $500, you won’t find much more color than this. You’ll need a software profile to use any of these screens for color-critical applications. But for gaming, they all provide plenty of color.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

HDR is where the PG34WQ truly shines. It has effective dynamic contrast and accurate color that hits most targets in the DCI-P3 and Rec.2020 gamuts. Switching between SDR and HDR signals is automatic. You won’t find any adjustments for HDR content but as I discovered, they aren’t necessary.

HDR Brightness and Contrast 

ASRock’s website claims 550 nits peak, but the PG34WQ is rated for VESA DisplayHDR 400, and it comfortably exceeds that metric. At just under 500 nits, it’s plenty bright. With a best-in-group black level, it goes well beyond the HDR contrast capabilities of most budget screens with nearly 17,000:1. Only the MSI shows better. The Monoprice, BenQ and AOC monitors have no dynamic option, and it shows. ASRock has put its efforts into HDR here and it clearly pays off.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The PG34WQ’s excellent HDR performance extends to color too. Grayscale tracking is without visual error. That’s a good thing since there are no adjustments available. The field dimming feature is a little too aggressive at the dark end of the scale, as you can see in the EOTF chart. Though shadow detail is still visible, it’s hard to see in the heat of battle. Users should tweak their in-game settings to compensate for this. In most areas of the picture, detail is solid and pops well. The tone-map transition point is spot-on at 65%.

In the color tests, the PG34WQ is reasonably close to the targets for DCI-P3 and Rec.2020. Saturation is very good and better than SDR, with no visible hue errors. This is an HDR monitor for sure and looks its best when showing that material.

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Now that curved ultra-wide monitors have become a de facto standard for gaming, there are many product choices and that has translated to lower prices. What used to be a $1,000 purchase is now easy to find for less than $500, and that’s progress.

Another thing that is commonplace among budget screens is high refresh rates. While I am spoiled enough to consider 240 Hz a starting point, there is a lot of fun gaming to be had at 144 and 165 Hz. A wide variety of affordable hardware is available to power a monitor to 165fps at QHD and WQHD resolutions.

In this crowded market, the PG34WQ15R2B is an excellent first effort from ASRock. It delivers on its promises with solid performance, low input lag and accurate color. There is the light gamma issue which is something that could be fixed with a firmware update. But if you engage the sRGB color temp, or calibrate, and turn on DCR (dynamic contrast), the SDR image is pretty good. And its 1500R curve is ideal for any application.

HDR is the star with bright highlights approaching 500 nits and well-saturated color. HDR black levels are low, meaning almost 17,000:1 contrast, one of the best in class. The PG34WQ looks better in HDR mode than most of its budget-friendly competition.

Video processing is solid as well. Though the overdrive is a bit weak, it reduces blur enough for decent motion resolution. Adaptive-Sync works perfectly with either Nvidia or AMD hardware. And input lag is lower than average, making the PG34WQ a very capable gaming display.

At less than $500, it’s hard to find fault. I enjoyed my time playing and working with the PG34WQ. If you have a mid-tier gaming PC or console, it’s a great choice. Definitely check it out.

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When OLED panels first arrived, bendability was one of their promised features. Theoretically, one could have a TV or monitor that could bend or roll up. LG demoed a rollable television at CES in 2020 that rises from a cabinet. It’s available today in a 65-inch size for an eye-watering $100,000. And, of course, we have foldable phones available for sale.

However, Corsair is the first company to introduce a bendable computer monitor. It eliminates the issue of choosing between a flat or curved panel. With the Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240, you can have both. At 45 inches wide, 21:9 aspect ratio, it’s the largest ultra-wide I’ve seen yet among the best gaming monitors. The bend goes to 800R, which is a very small radius. It also has serious gaming cred with 240 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR and wide gamut color. Let’s take a look. 

Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 Specs

In the world of unique computer monitors, the Xeneon Flex is a standout. As an OLED, it joins a small and elite group of displays with fantastic contrast and rich color. The Flex has the same infinite dynamic range as other OLEDs I’ve reviewed and covers slightly under 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. With a few tweaks, it delivers reference-level accuracy and also offers a usable sRGB mode.

Though OLEDs aren’t known for high brightness, the Flex can hit 1,000 nits in HDR mode when showing small highlights. SDR brightness is lower, as is appropriate. In my tests, a 25% window measured around 437 nits, which is respectable.

Gaming cred comes courtesy of a 240 Hz refresh rate with Adaptive Sync. The Flex is certified by Nvidia and AMD for both G-Sync and FreeSync Premium operating over a 48-240 Hz range. It also has extremely low input lag. In my tests, it proved to be quicker than other 240 Hz monitors by a comfortable margin.

The big story is the bend, of course. The Flex is the first, and for the moment only, bendable computer monitor available. You can leave it flat and enjoy a vast screen perfect for productivity. Or you can bend it as tightly as 800R for immersive gaming. You can leave it anywhere between those extremes or just bend one side. It is, effectively, several monitors in one. The bend is accomplished manually with two handles that extend from the sides.

According to Corsair, the life cycle of the Flex is at least 10,000 bends, which in theory, would take many years to achieve. The warranty is three years for both zero dead pixels and zero burn-in. Pixel orbiting and refresh features are included to maintain the panel’s health while in standby mode.

There’s a lot to see here, so let’s get unpacking.

Assembly and Accessories

The Flex is a one-unit display with an integrated stand. There’s no assembly required, nor can you remove the stand since it incorporates both inputs and controls. The box is a lift-off style, like a TV, that protects the contents with blocks of crumbly foam. A beefy 240-watt power supply and DisplayPort, HDMI, USB A-C and USB C-C are included.

Product 360

The Flex is an impressive sight once you find a spot big enough for it. Some room on the sides is required to fit the handles that slide out when you want to bend or unbend. My initial reaction was a bit fearful because it’s hard to wrap one’s mind around bending a computer monitor. The panel is only 6mm thick, but it has a prominent component bulge in the back and two stabilizing arms that manage the bending action. To bend, simply pull the handles. You can bend only one side if you wish. An audible click sounds when you’ve reached the limit of 800R. The Flex is so large that its maximum bend is just about right for gaming from a three- to four-foot viewing distance.

The build quality is certainly premium, with a solid metal base over a foot deep. Stability is not an issue. A bit of texturing adorns the back of the upright, which is quite wide. A metal handle sits at the bottom center, which is handy for tilting the screen. It comes forward seven degrees or back 15. There is no swivel or height adjustment.

WQHD resolution, or 3440x1440, is more commonly seen in 34-inch screens. At 45 inches diagonal, the Flex gives up some pixel density. The 83ppi is less than the more familiar 109ppi one sees in a 34-inch ultra-wide or a 27-inch 16:9 QHD panel. This means you don’t want to sit too close lest you see the pixel structure. The screen surface is also unusual for an OLED because it’s matte. Most are very shiny and easily show reflections, but the Flex bucks this trend.

The Flex’s panel and stand are a single unit that cannot be disassembled. The controls are on the front beneath the screen and include an input selector, power toggle with LED, and a joystick for menu control. Two USB ports and a headphone jack are also provided, which is very convenient. There are no built-in speakers. In the back, there are two HDMI 2.1 inputs, a DisplayPort 1.4, a USB-C video and a second USB-C for peripherals. The screen sits a little low for me to get it perfectly vertical without a small stand underneath.

OSD Features

The OSD is completely text-based, with just a small Corsair graphic in the upper left corner. Pressing the joystick summons the menu. You can also go right to the input selector with a press of the Input key or a right click. Up selects brightness, Left adjusts volume, Down is image mode and Right is input.

The Flex has six image presets, including Standard, which can be calibrated using the DCI-P3 gamut and sRGB, which employs the smaller color space. Unlike most monitors, the Flex’s sRGB mode can be independently calibrated, which is great for professionals who need reference quality for both color standards. You also get three color temperature presets, a custom mode, and three gamma options. Refresh Overlay is a frame counter, and you can create your own aiming point with different shape combinations shown in the second photo above.

A monitor this large is perfect for PIP and PBP functions, which allow viewing two sources at once. The Flex can easily replace two monitors with its vast screen area.

System Setting lets you toggle Adaptive-Sync on and off and manage the panel maintenance options. A pixel orbiter shifts the image up and down to prevent burn-in. You’ll never notice it in action. I stared at the screen for quite a while and could barely see anything happening. The Refresh option works while the Flex is in standby mode. Corsair warrants the Flex for three years against burn-in, so it is confident in these features. In my own experience, I have seen no burn-in on my two-year-old LG OLED TV.

Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 Calibration Settings

The Flex has a factory-certified calibration, but I found some improvement with adjustments. The RGB sliders work precisely and allowed me to calibrate the Standard and sRGB modes separately. I could then switch back and forth between them at will. Gamma and color tracking were very good out of the box. I’ve provided my settings below.

There are no adjustments in HDR mode, but I found solid grayscale tracking there with good color saturation.

Gaming and Hands-on 

It’s hard to experience a monitor like the Flex and not lapse into an adjective stream where I spend hours coming up with ways to describe it in as many words as possible. Rather than bore you with that, I’ll just say that there’s absolutely nothing like it.

First is the size. I’ve reviewed lots of ultra-wide monitors. Most are 34 inches diagonal and provide a decent wrap around the viewpoint. 49-inch mega wides wrap more but lack height which can take the user a bit out of the experience. The Flex, with its 45-inch screen and 800R curve at full bend, takes immersion to another level. Nothing else can compare, nothing.

As far as bend versus flat, I found myself going back and forth a few times, then settling on bent. Most of my work happens in the center of the screen, so the bend isn’t distracting when editing a Word document. For spreadsheet tasks, it’s nice to see all the numbers without too much scrolling. Graphics editing is best with a flat screen. Then you can properly judge proportion and perspective. The Windows desktop was bright and vivid in the Standard picture mode with true blacks and bright but not harsh highlights. I turned down the brightness to 75% at night, but l left it at 100% during the day.

The Flex’s gaming prowess is tremendous. Input lag is low enough to be imperceptible. Screen response is free of any visible blur. Precision movement is this monitor’s forte. Wading through monsters in Doom Eternal’s horde mode was an addictive experience. I literally could not stop playing until my chihuahua finally demanded her dinner. The Flex drew me in completely. You will need to keep a timer or alarm clock handy to remind you when it’s time to eat.

And like other OLED panels, it plays more smoothly at lesser frame rates. I saw around 160fps in Call of Duty WWII, but it was as good or better than an LCD running over 200fps. Of course, the image was stunning with its rich color, true blacks and deep contrast. Though pixel density is relatively low, the picture’s dynamic range erases any perception of pixel structure.

The Flex is one of the very best gaming monitors I’ve experienced. It fits my skill level and style of play which is casual at best. It will appeal to a wide variety of players of all abilities right up to competition professionals.

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To compare the Flex’s performance, I’ve included two OLEDs, the Alienware AW3423DWF and Aorus FO48U. The remaining screens are VA panels, AOC CU34G3S, Samsung G8 and Monoprice 42772. 

Pixel Response and Input Lag 

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures. 

I included the G8 because it is one of the few speedy VA panels available, and it has contrast and performance on par with the Flex. It and the Corsair can draw a full white field in 4ms thanks to their 240 Hz refresh rates. Observing BlurBusters test patterns show equal smoothness in horizontal movement. The Flex doesn’t need an overdrive to accomplish this and the G8 has a perfectly implemented one. The gaming feel will be equivalent between these two monitors.

In the input lag test, the Alienware sneaks into second place thanks to its snappy OLED screen. The Flex, however, is one of the fastest monitors I’ve tested. Only a 360 Hz screen will be quicker. In practice, it is incredibly responsive and smooth. No matter how rapidly I moved the mouse, the picture never blurred, nor were there any artifacts. The Flex is easily qualified for esports or competitive gameplay.

Viewing Angles

OLEDs have a considerable advantage over LCDs because their polarizing layer is much thinner when viewed off-axis. The Flex looks the same at 45 degrees horizontal as it does head-on. This is a very shareable monitor, especially if you employ the PBP function. It is almost equal to two 32-inch 16:9 panels in total area. From the top, the image looks a bit green and washed out.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

I have no complaints about the Flex’s screen uniformity. I had to display a 10% brightness pattern to measure it properly. Black field patterns are too dark to be detected by my instruments. The Flex’s uniformity is visually and measurably perfect in every way.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The Flex varies its brightness depending on the average luminance of the image. That means a full white field will measure around 180 nits. As the window gets smaller, the brightness goes up. I measured a 25% window to get 437 nits. At 3%, the Flex tops 1,000 nits.

Since the black level can’t be measured, OLED contrast is theoretically infinite. The G8 has a zone-dimming backlight that can’t be turned off, hence its high contrast score.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Deciding on a peak output level for the Flex required some trial and error. On the maximum setting, a full field was only 180 nits, as I stated earlier. Setting a 25% window to 200 nits made the image too dark. My room is sunlit, so I can run high brightness without visual fatigue. I eventually settled on the maximum brightness setting as my preference. Your mileage will vary depending on your viewing environment.

With unmeasurable black levels still in play, the Flex’s static and ANSI contrast ratios cannot be determined.

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The Flex ships with a calibration data sheet for each sample. I noticed that mine was calibrated to 8500K, which is cooler than the typical standard of 6500K. It is simple to adjust the Standard and sRGB picture modes to the correct specs. 

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking 

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here. 

Standard is the mode to pick if you want the Flex’s full-color capability. It covers almost 100% of DCI-P3, so I expect most users will go that route. The default grayscale is visibly cool with blue errors from 40 to 100% brightness. Gamma tracks almost perfectly except for a tiny rise at 90%, which only the meter can see. Calibration sets the white point to the correct 6500K with all errors below 1dE.

In sRGB mode, the white point is warm in tone with visible errors between 40 and 100% brightness. Gamma tracks well except for the 10% step, which is slightly light in tone. Calibration gets the error below 1dE and lightens gamma a bit across the range. In practice, shadow areas occasionally look a tad light, but this is a minor issue.

Overall grayscale and gamma performance in both Standard and sRGB modes is excellent.

The Flex’s default grayscale error of 4.62dE is due to its factory calibration to 8500K rather than 6500K. The other monitors can be used without calibration, but the Flex should be adjusted for the best possible picture. Once completed, it rises to second place here and is equal in quality to any professional screen.

In all cases, gamma tracking is nearly perfect, with a miniscule 0.07 range of values and average tracking just 0.45% off the 2.2 standard. The actual value was 2.19. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here. 

The Flex has superb color coverage in Standard mode and out of the box; it just needs some tweaking to its secondary hues. This is accomplished by grayscale calibration, which takes color gamut accuracy to the reference level. Unlike most wide-gamut LCDs, the Flex has a fully saturated green primary.

sRGB mode exhibits similar behavior but is closer to the mark before calibration. After grayscale calibration, it’s even better, with one of the lowest error levels I’ve recorded for any monitor’s sRGB mode. This is excellent performance.

Comparisons

Clearly, the OLEDs here have a color accuracy advantage. This is partly due to their superior gamut volume, which covers the entire green primary in all three cases. That the Flex is in third place with a volume score of almost 100% speaks volumes about the technology. The bit of extra volume in the sRGB test is from some bonus green. The Flex can easily be used for color-critical applications without a software profile.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors. 

The Flex supports HDR10 signals with an automatic switchover into HDR mode. There are no picture adjustments available, but I found decent grayscale accuracy.

HDR Brightness and Contrast 

I had to measure a 3% window to see a peak number over 1,000 nits that Corsair promises. I had to do the same thing when measuring the Samsung. The other two OLEDs don’t vary brightness with picture level and therefore top out at around 400 nits. The Flex has superb HDR contrast with the expected unmeasurable black level and infinite contrast ratio. 

Grayscale, EOTF and Color 

In the HDR grayscale test, I observed no visible errors with all values under 2dE. This is well above average performance for HDR monitors as a whole. The EOTF tracks too light until its tone-map transition point at 55%. I measured both window and field patterns and got the same result.

In the color tests, red measured a bit over-saturated but hit the 100% mark for DCI-P3 color, which many wide gamut monitors cannot do. Green and blue also filled their volume targets with linear saturation tracking. Hues are slightly off the mark for some colors. Red looks slightly orange, as does yellow. Cyan drifts toward green, while magenta is a bit too red. In practice, this makes colors look somewhat muted. There’s plenty of vibrance, but warm tones look slightly unnatural. The Rec.2020 chart shows similar behavior, but since saturation targets track evenly, you’ll see more vivid hues until the display runs out of color at around 80%.

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OLED technology has come a long way since it was first introduced. Early panels suffered from various teething problems and were very expensive. But today, there are some truly compelling choices available at more affordable prices.

A bendable screen could be considered the answer to an unasked question, but many thought the same thing when curved displays first appeared. Now, curved monitors are everywhere and are a top choice for gaming enthusiasts and professionals. Corsair has combined the best parts of flat and curved panels into a single monitor.

The Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 represents multiple displays in a single chassis. For graphics work and productivity, it’s a huge flat panel with nearly the same area as two 32-inch 16:9 screens. High color accuracy and contrast make it ideal for creatives and number-crunchers alike.

Gamers can grab the handles and bend the screen to an ideal 800R curvature. With so much width and height available, the image truly envelopes the user. Video processing is equal to the very best screens with 240 Hz, perfect Adaptive-Sync and smoother motion than an equivalent LCD monitor. It also has lower input lag than nearly every 240 Hz display I’ve reviewed. The Flex is equally well-suited for casual gamers or esports pros. The only flaw here is HDR color which was a little off-hue mark in both real-world content and in testing.

The Corsair Xeneon Flex is one of the very best gaming monitors I’ve ever reviewed. At an initial price of $1,999, it’s a premium purchase, but once you’ve tried it, you won’t care about that. Its addictive gameplay and gorgeous screen are simply unmatched by anything else.

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If you’ve budgeted around $750 for the best gaming monitor for you, you have several categories to choose from. For maximum resolution, there are plenty of 4K 144 Hz screens available. However, that option will give you the lowest motion resolution. Why? Frame rates, pure and simple. You can put a lot of pixels on the screen, but if the best you can do is 120 fps, that fine detail will be lost when you move the mouse in a first-person game.

To satisfy the need for speed, you can go with an FHD 360 Hz screen, as this option will deliver the smoothest performance of all. However, sitting in the middle is QHD at 240 Hz. It’s a great option because it puts 109 pixels per inch onto a 27-inch panel and, with a fast enough video card, delivers frame rates over 200 fps. That’s a performance sweet spot and one I’ll be exploring in this review of AOC’s Agon Pro AG274QG. It’s a 27-inch IPS panel with 240 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR 600 and a wide color gamut. It also includes Nvidia’s Reflex Latency Analyzer and a whole raft of gaming features.

AOC Agon Pro AG274QG Specs

The AG274QG starts with a fast IPS panel that has a claimed response time of 1 ms. In my test, the draw time from full black to full white was 4 ms which is only 1ms slower than a 360 Hz monitor. I also measured very low input lag, which puts this display in contention with the professional competition. While a 360 Hz screen will be the ultimate gaming tool, this Agon Pro is only slightly behind in speed. Adaptive-Sync comes in G-Sync Ultimate form with an Nvidia certification. You can also run AMD FreeSync, 48-144 Hz over HDMI, and 48-240 Hz through DisplayPort. Consoles are supported up to 120 Hz over HDMI with Adaptive-Sync.

AOC also didn’t skimp on image quality. The AG274QG is rated for 600 nits in HDR mode and met this spec while testing. It’ll also get close to 450 nits for SDR content, so it works in the brightest environments with plenty of punch and clarity. The color gamut is larger than most, with a measured 95% coverage of DCI-P3. A near-perfect sRGB mode can automatically engage for SDR if you want even more precision.

Amping up the contrast quotient is an edge-dimming backlight with 32 zones. This action increases contrast to 5,000:1 in SDR mode and over 33,000:1 for HDR, putting the AG274QG ahead of many HDR monitors I’ve tested. You can improve the image further with the included rigid light hood that snaps in place. It provides a real advantage in all but the darkest rooms by preventing any light from hitting the screen from the sides or above.

Other features include a very nice LED lighting system that has effects on the back of the panel and a projector built into the stand that displays two different Agon logos on the desktop. There are many choices for color and effect available in the extensive OSD. Premium build quality abounds with a rock-solid stand, full ergonomics and a decent pair of built-in speakers. All your peripherals are supported by USB 3.2 with four downstream ports, one of which is colored green for the Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer feature.

Assembly and Accessories

The light hood comes in its own carton, which sits at the top of the AG174QG’s box. Another small box contains the external power brick and a nice collection of cables. You get USB, HDMI and DisplayPort, along with a pair of stand clips to keep your wiring tidy. Also in the box is the Quick Switch control puck that provides fast access to the OSD. It plugs into its own dedicated port underneath.

Product 360

With the light hood installed, the AG274QG has an impressive presence. The hood is lined with light-absorbing material and once snapped on becomes part of a very solid unit. The stand is super solid with a very wide and deep base. You won’t be tipping one of these over, no matter how intense the gameplay gets. Styling is very angular, with nary a curve in sight. Corners are just rounded enough to keep them from being sharp, but flat surfaces are the order of the day. The front bezel is thin at just 5 mm around the top and sides and 10 mm at the bottom. There’s just enough room for a tiny Agon logo in the center.

If you doubt the AG274QG’s origin, a projector built into the stand puts either a graphic or the word “AGON” on the desktop. A little slider on the barrel switches between images. You can change the color and intensity or turn it off in the OSD. Additional lighting is located in the back on six geometric shapes arrayed to the sides. They can be any color and be left static, flashing or breathing. A slick metal headphone hook that slides out is also found on the back. An Agon logo tops the panel, and you can see red trim on the stand.

Ergonomics include -3/21 degrees tilt, 20 degrees swivel and 120 mm height. The upright has soft click stops to make it easier to repeat an adjustment, and there’s a 90-degree portrait mode. The OSD can be controlled by a tiny joystick around the back right or by a large puck called Quick Switch, which plugs into its own dedicated port. The puck adds some quick access buttons configured by the user. If you prefer using an aftermarket arm or bracket, a 100 mm VESA mount is provided with included fasteners.

The input panel features a single DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 ports. DisplayPort supports G-Sync Ultimate from 1 to 240 Hz, while the HDMI ports work from 48 to 144 Hz with either G-Sync or FreeSync. USB comes in version 3.2 with one upstream and four downstream ports. The photo doesn’t show it, but one of the ports is meant for Nvidia’s Reflex Latency Analyzer and is color-coded green. To use this feature, you’ll need a supported mouse. Read more about it in our overview here.

OSD Features

The AG274QG uses the same style menu as other Agon Pro displays, with eight sections arranged in a grid that appears at the lower right when you press the joystick or the center button on the Quick Switch puck.

Game Setting is where you’ll find the picture modes, called Game Mode. There are seven presets, but the default and best option is Off. You can still adjust all image and video processing parameters so there’s no real need for the other modes except the three user memories, which the numbered buttons can call up on the Quick Switch puck. Dial Point is an aiming reticle that appears as a tiny red cross at the center of the screen. You get a three-level overdrive which I found unnecessary. The AG274QG has superb video processing without it. Even the Weak setting caused ghosting artifacts. Surprisingly, there is no backlight strobe option, but this monitor doesn’t need it. When frame rates are high, motion resolution is nearly perfect.

In the Luminance menu, you can adjust brightness in nit values. They measure relatively close to the mark. There are five gamma presets, with the default one being slightly light in tone. Adding +.2 fixed that issue neatly. The SDR Colors sRGB option, when turned on, automatically selects the sRGB gamut for SDR content which is the correct way to do it. If you prefer the larger gamut for everything, just turn it off. You can also engage the zone dimming feature for SDR, and it does increase contrast visibly. The Auto Brightness and Auto Black Level options use a sensor to adjust those parameters according to your room’s lighting conditions.

The Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer has several options for monitoring sensitivity (how often the timing is sampled) plus the size and position of the measuring rectangle. The numbers appear in small font in the upper right corner of the screen. You can monitor your input lag in real-time while playing.

Color Setup has a 6-axis color adjustment plus three color temp presets. The user mode has precise RGB sliders that help achieve pro-level grayscale accuracy for both SDR and HDR. The Audio menu includes a toggle for DTS sound processing. Turning this on improves the audio by expanding the soundstage. It also sounds a little less tinny though you won’t hear any serious bass from the internal speakers.

The Light FX menu has lots of options for the color and effect of the LEDs in back. You can create any color you wish with RGB values and choose from multiple patterns and effects like breathing or flashing. The Logo Projector refers to the light built into the stand. It can be any color and there are three intensity levels, or you can turn it off.

AOC AG274QG Calibration Settings

If you leave Game Mode off, there are no picture modes to contend with, which is a good thing. The brightness slider is ticked in nit values fairly close to the actual light level. To improve gamma, I set the option at +.2 and adjusted the RGB sliders in the user color temp. The result was pro-level accuracy for color, grayscale and gamma. My instrument-derived settings are below.

In HDR mode, you can use the same RGB settings which worked well for me. There are three modes for the backlight dimming feature. Gaming is the default and best choice. It follows the correct luminance curve and keeps color from becoming over-saturated. With little effort, the AG274QG can be a very accurate monitor with premium image quality and fidelity.

Gaming and Hands-on

27-inch QHD monitors are very versatile in that they will fit on nearly any desk while providing enough screen area for just about any task or form of entertainment. Resolution is fine enough to sit at a comfortable distance, around three feet, and experience sharp detail and clarity. Though other form factors are more suitable for gaming, like 21:9 ultra-wides or 43-inch jumbo panels, the 27-inch QHD display is a staple.

The AG274QG is a premium example in this category. It delivers a bright picture with saturated color and best of all, quick response and some of the smoothest video processing I’ve seen. It’s one of the few monitors that doesn’t need overdrive or any kind of blur reduction to maintain high resolution during fast camera pans and movements. The picture remains razor sharp no matter what kind of game you’re engaged in, and that comes down to the frame rate. Granted, I’m testing with a GeForce RTX 3090, which keeps the action around 200 fps in full detail. But this is the key to the best gaming experience, and this monitor provides that.

It also delivers superb HDR. With a 32-zone edge dimming backlight, it is well above screens that only offer full-field dimming or no dimming. I would put the AG274QG against a full-array local-dimming FALD monitor and defy most users to tell the difference. Its HDR is that good. Doom Eternal played with a very bright and colorful image that revealed every texture and nuance. There was no apparent hit to performance either, as I saw around 200fps playing the same scenes in SDR and HDR. The AG274QG is a great choice if you want to upgrade to an HDR-capable display.

Call of Duty WWII was a similar experience. Its natural color was the star of the show, with bright sunlight during daytime battles and deep shadows at night. Detail was always visible, and I never needed the shadow enhancer option.

For workday tasks, the AG274QG is a great tool. Its 109 ppi pixel density is well suited for text or graphical documents. Whether running Photoshop or Word, you’ll see your work clearly with excellent contrast and vivid color where appropriate.

I also noted the built-in speakers with DTS mode. They put out decent volume without distortion and the DTS option expands the sound field a bit beyond the edges of the screen. There isn’t much bass, but the midrange and high frequencies are well-balanced.

Ergonomically, the AG274QG is a solidly built piece that easily earns its place in the premium category. My only nitpick is the extra-large base. While it provides a lot of stability, its nearly 14-inch depth is a bit intrusive. The wide legs are skinny enough to allow objects to live below the screen, but a smaller base would likely work just as well.

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To compare the AG274QG, I’ve mined my database for three more 240 Hz QHD screens – Gigabyte’s M27QX, AOC’s PD27 and Asus’ PG279QM. To see how 165 Hz QHD screens stack up, I’ve included the HyperX Armada 27 and Cooler Master’s GM27-FQS.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

A 1 ms difference in response time translates to a visible improvement. A 240 Hz monitor is clearer and quicker than a 165 Hz one. While 2 ms may not seem like much, but it truly is better at higher frame rates. Of course, running over 200f ps in QHD resolution will require a decent video card.

Overall input lag scores are visually closer between the six displays. The AG274QG is one of the quickest monitors I’ve tested, eclipsed only by the PD27 by just 1 ms. I was impressed to see this result with the overdrive turned off. Since any of its options result in ghosting, I don’t recommend using it. But it’s not needed because all the motion patterns I viewed were crystal clear, making it a seriously smooth gaming monitor.

Viewing Angles

The green color shift seen above is typical of IPS panels, but the AG274QG retains brightness at 45 degrees off-center better than most screens. The gamma is unchanged, which means detail won’t be harder to see if you’re not sitting on-center. The top view is quite blue, with some image washout observed.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

The AG274QG’s screen uniformity is generally good except for a slight hotspot I saw in my sample’s lower right corner. It wasn’t an issue in actual content, nor could I see it in brighter field patterns. Color uniformity was visually perfect, with no variation in hue.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

AOC specs 450 nits for the AG274QG’s SDR brightness, but my sample only got to 390 nits. This isn’t a deal-breaker because that’s a lot more light than one would need indoors. Even at 390 nits, you could play in a sunlit space, especially with the light hood installed.

Black levels are about average for the category, with the AG274QG finishing mid-pack. You can see the advantage held by the PD27’s VA screens, as its blacks are much deeper. With over 3,000:1 contrast, it has an impressive image, but the other screens are nearly identical in their dynamic range. The AG274QG has a usable dimming feature that ups SDR contrast to around 5,000:1 with no visible downside.

After Calibration to 200 nits

After calibration, the AG274QG gained a second-place finish in the black level contest losing only to the PD27’s VA screen. Contrast is about the same as before but is slightly ahead of the other IPS displays. This is solid performance that can be enhanced by turning on the dimming feature.

ANSI contrast remains strong at 1,043.5:1, very close to the static number. The AG274QG is an excellent monitor with premium components and quality control. Its price isn’t low, but you are getting a high-end screen for sure.

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The AG274QG comes with its Game Mode turned off. There are seven presets, but none improve accuracy as much as a calibration.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

The default color temp setting is Warm, but my tests showed a cool grayscale with blue errors visible from 30% and higher. Gamma is a touch light as well though it tracks straight which is a good thing. The image looks a bit flat but the tools to fix this are provided.

By adding +.2 to the gamma and adjusting the RGB sliders, tracking is now at the professional level and visually perfect. I verified these results with the native color gamut and in sRGB mode. You can switch gamuts without affecting either white point or gamma, which is as it should be.

Comparisons

For a premium monitor, the AG274QG is slightly disappointing out of the box. It has good default color accuracy, which you’ll see on the next page. However, its grayscale and gamma leave room for improvement. A 5.32dE average error is higher than most screens in the category. After calibration, it’s firmly in contention with a low 0.74dE average.

Gamma tracking is tight, with just a 0.24 range of values and a 1.36% deviation from 2.2. The actual average value is 2.23, which is visually perfect.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

The AG274QG truly excels in gamut accuracy with a bit of adjustment. The default grayscale error pulls magenta and cyan off their hue targets, but saturation points are close to the mark. The gamut is quite large as well, with only a very slight green under-saturation.

After adjusting gamma and the RGB sliders, the gamut is well into the visually perfect range. Every point is in contact with or inside its target box, representing 1dE. It doesn’t get much better than this.

The sRGB mode is even better, with a tiny average error of 1.06dE. That is equal to any professional screen I’ve tested. And since you can set up the AG274QG to switch color gamuts automatically between SDR and HDR, it’s one of the few gaming monitors that provides perfect color for every kind of content.

Comparisons

As much as I am impressed with the AG274QG’s color accuracy, the other screens are excellent too. This is a premium category so this is how it should be. None of the displays have visual errors. The AOC delivers the bonus of perfect color for both DCI-P3 and sRGB, so that’s something to consider.

There are a handful of monitors that have larger color gamuts than the AG274QG, but most wide gamut screens are closer to 90% coverage or a little less. This is the main disadvantage of the PD27. The Asus and Gigabyte have a bit more green available but for most content, the visual difference will be slight. The AG274QG is qualified for color-critical work in either DCI-P3 or sRGB color spaces.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

When comparing LCD monitors, HDR quality is often determined by peak brightness. The more light you have, the more highlights will pop against darker content. The AG274QG is rated for 600 nits, giving it a little more juice than other screens at this price point.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The AG274QG just crests the 600-nit mark with a 603.1987-nit result. I’m more interested in the black level, which is lower than the VA-based PD27 and within striking distance of the PG279QM. This is thanks to the very effective 32-zone edge dimming backlight, which AOC uses properly here. With a measured static contrast of 33,142.8:1, you can see a clear difference in quality over the remaining four screens. If you want good HDR, this is the way to go. Only a full-array backlight or OLED panel can deliver more dynamic range than this. The difference is easy to see in actual content with deeper blacks, brighter highlights and more saturated color.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

In HDR mode, the AG274QG inherits the RGB settings from SDR mode, which managed to keep grayscale tracking on-point until the tone-mapping range above 70% brightness. I could not reduce the extra blue without affecting the lower levels, which is where most content lies. Real-world picture quality is excellent, with just a hint of blue in the brightest areas but neutral grays everywhere else. The EOTF follows the spec almost perfectly when you select the Gaming option for the HDR Variable Backlight. Shadows are deep, dark and detailed while the brightest bits pop as they should.

The DCI-P3 saturation chart shows slight over-saturation in general but excellent tracking with no points too far off their targets. This means there will be no obscured detail in any kind of content, bright, dark or mid-toned. The Rec.2020 chart is similar. The AG274QG tracks the inner targets correctly until color runs out around 95%. This is how it should be since a lot of HDR content is mastered to the full Rec.2020 gamut. This is excellent performance.

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It’s hard not to be spoiled by super-fast gaming monitors. Though FHD/360 Hz and QHD/240 Hz screens are expensive, they provide an addictive gaming experience with their instant control response and smooth motion processing. If you subscribe to the axiom that higher pixel density is always better, then the QHD category strikes the best balance between detail and frame rate. Consoles and popular opinion have vaulted Ultra HD/120 Hz screens to the top of the must-have list. But when you’re ripping through a battlefield or speeding down the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans, their extra pixel count only serves to reduce the fps count, which increases motion blur.

Though a 360 Hz screen is the ultimate in smoothness and response, the AG274QG’s 240 Hz QHD panel is so close in feel as to be equal. I qualify that with “in my experience” because a gamer with superior skill may only be satisfied by a higher frame rate. However, after a lot of frenetic gameplay on my part, I doubt there are many players who would not become instantly addicted to this monitor.

Picture-wise, it ticks all the boxes except for the one next to out-of-box accuracy. There, it could use some improvement. But once calibrated, it is extremely precise. A large color gamut enhances both SDR and HDR content, and the zone-dimming backlight creates superb contrast, especially for HDR, where I measured over 33,000:1. And the 600-nit output doesn’t hurt either.

Video processing is the standout. The AG274QG doesn’t need overdrive or a backlight strobe to deliver motion resolution that’s among the best I’ve experienced. With super-low input lag and fast panel response, it really doesn’t get better. Its gaming feel is that of a fine sports car.

If you have the budget for a high-performance gaming monitor and the need for a usable desktop display, the AOC Agon Pro AG274QG is hard to beat. Speed-hungry players should definitely keep it on their short list.

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There are plenty of gently curved monitors available for people who don’t want an extreme wraparound effect. Since radii tighter than about 1300R can produce image distortion, that’s understandable. But for hardcore gamers who want to replicate VR goggles without hanging a bunch of bulky tech on their heads, 1000R ultra-wide screens do an excellent job of filling one’s peripheral vision and surrounding the player with the virtual environment.

The AOC CU34G3S is one such monitor. It features a 34 inches diagonal with a VA panel that delivers over 3,000:1 contrast. It has HDR and wide gamut color for a punchy and realistic image. In addition, gaming performance is enhanced with Adaptive-Sync and a 165 Hz refresh rate. The best part is the price – just $430 at this writing – makes it a great contender to join the ranks of the best gaming monitors.

AOC CU34G3S Specs

With a high contrast VA panel, the CU34G3S brings plenty of dynamic range to the party. Though it doesn’t have a dimming feature for HDR, it still has more image depth than any IPS panel can boast. Vivid color is assured by a wide gamut that covers nearly 87% of DCI-P3. And for purists, there’s an accurate sRGB mode hidden in the color temp options. The color is quite accurate, and I found no need for calibration in either mode.

To keep games running smoothly, AOC includes both flavors of Adaptive-Sync. AMD FreeSync is the native tech, operating over a 48 to 165 Hz range. Nvidia G-Sync works fine, as confirmed by my tests, although the CU34G3S has not been certified by Nvidia. For play aids, you get an aiming point, frame counter and a backlight strobe for blur reduction if you prefer that instead of Adaptive-Sync. Also included is an effective three-level overdrive.

AOC has left out LED lighting, which doesn’t detract from the CU34G3S’s functionality. There are internal speakers and a plethora of USB 3.2 ports, one upstream and four down, to support your peripherals. With a solid and adjustable stand completing the package, this looks like a good deal for users looking to curve their images to the max.

Assembly and Accessories

The CU34G3S comes well-protected in a large carton with its three pieces surrounded by crumbly foam. After mating the base and upright using a captive bolt, the panel snaps in place. Under the attachment point is a 100 mm VESA mount that works with aftermarket arms and brackets. Bundled cables include HDMI and DisplayPort but not USB. The power supply is internal though unusually, the interface is IEC C5-6, commonly seen in power bricks. This is a first for me; I’m more accustomed to seeing IEC C13-14. No matter, with everything hooked up, the CU34G3S worked just fine.

Product 360

A thin flush bezel surrounds the image with an eight-millimeter border around the top and sides and 22 mm across the bottom. Red trim is featured here and on the base’s cable hole. There’s more red on the back where they offset the stand and the small grills on either side. The AOC logo is displayed on the front and back in silver. The base is also silver in color with a matte finish. It looks like solid metal but is actually a plastic shell over a cast metal core.

The stand is a solid piece with -5/22 degrees tilt, 30 degrees swivel and a 130 mm height adjustment. Movements are firm, but there is some wobble where the panel attaches to the stand. The screen may shake a bit if you pound on your desk while playing.

The side view shows how the component bulge is angled upwards so you can easily access the USB ports. They’re on the side opposite the one in the photo above. The inputs are closer to center and include two DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0. You also get a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The control buttons are also visible here, a power key plus four controls for menu navigation. The internal speakers boast five watts of power and do indeed play loudly. Distortion is minimal, but there isn’t much in the way of bass or lower midrange frequencies. Players who want good sound are better served by headphones plugged into the 3.5 mm audio jack.

OSD Features

The CU34G3S has four buttons to navigate the OSD rather than a joystick. It’s a bit old-school by today’s standards, but it gets the job done. The menu is AOC’s familiar ribbon-style graphic that appears in the bottom center of the screen.

The seven sub-menus begin with Luminance, including brightness & contrast, plus gamma, dynamic contrast (SDR only) and the HDR modes. There are also eight picture modes, called Eco, focused on specific tasks or game types. Standard is the best place to be and is also the default mode. Coupled with the Game modes detailed below, changing Eco modes can be confusing. And as it turns out, there’s no benefit to tweaking the CU34G3S’s image settings. There is no improvement to be found by calibration, but luckily, the default image is quite accurate.

In Color Setup, you can choose between five presets, one of which is sRGB. This is the way to go if you prefer the correct setting for SDR content. Other options use the monitor’s full native gamut, which covers 87% of DCI-P3. The default option, Warm, is very accurate and cannot be improved.

Picture Boost is unique to AOC monitors. It lets the user create a frame in the center of the screen that’s brighter or dimmer than the surrounding image. Within the frame, you can adjust brightness and contrast along with size and position. Hidden in the OSD Setting menu, you’ll find a DisplayPort version option and a break reminder setting.

Ultra-wide displays are great for viewing multiple sources, and the CU34G3S lets you have two images up simultaneously. It’s picture-in-picture, so you can size the secondary window and change its position.

In Game Setting, you can choose between multiple game modes which alter image and video processing parameters. They get confusing when combined with the Eco modes. I suggest leaving Game Mode off and setting the overdrive to your preference. Strong works fine with no ghosting, but I saw a slight black trail behind moving objects in test patterns, a symptom of undershoot. You can turn on a frame counter here and set up a backlight strobe too. It has 20 levels which provide more blur reduction as the picture darkens.

AOC CU34G3S Setup and Calibration

The CU34G3S is quite accurate out of the box in its Standard mode and Warm color temp with Game Mode turned off. Trying various settings, including the User color temp, produced no gains in performance. It is best to leave the monitor on its default settings and set brightness to taste. I’ve provided the settings for commonly used levels below. If you want the sRGB color gamut, there’s an option for SDR content among the color temp settings. It renders that smaller gamut to near perfection.

In HDR mode, the default option is DisplayHDR which comes closest to the mark. Other settings include Game, Picture and Movie. Those three add edge enhancement which reduces picture quality. Stick with DisplayHDR for the best image with HDR content.

Brightness Settings

• 200 – 91
• 120 – 45
• 100 – 31
• 80 – 18 (min. 54 nits)

Gaming and Hands-on

If you’ve never used a curved monitor, or the one you’ve been using is gently curved, it would be wise for you to check out a 1000R ultra-wide screen before committing. This is the tightest curve currently available, and it is extreme. Thanks to that tight curve, spreadsheets and text documents will have a pincushion effect. It’s unavoidable, but it isn’t necessarily a problem. Once you get used to it, you’ll barely notice it unless you have flat screens nearby. And that’s another consideration. If you plan to have multiple monitors, they all should have the same curve and size. Three CU34G3S’s make an excellent cockpit for driving and flight simulators. Two screens are ideal for first-person shooters.

Shape aside, the CU34G3S provides plenty of screen area for work. Putting windows side by side is a natural state of affairs, as you’re essentially looking at two 27-inch QHD monitors. Pixel density is the same at 109 ppi, so the image will have the same sharpness.

Color and contrast are pleasing, with true blacks and sharp delineation of dark objects against light backgrounds. Black text on a white field renders cleanly without visible jaggies or anti-aliasing. Just avoid the additional HDR modes if you use HDR in Windows. Only DisplayHDR shows without edge enhancement.

Gaming proved to be an extreme pleasure. The CU34G3S has balanced performance with smooth motion and very low input lag. Though it didn’t blow my tests away (it was solidly average in response and lag scores), it matched my play rhythm with no perceivable lag and no loss of detail in fast-moving sequences. I always go straight to Doom Eternal’s Horde Mode and in this case, I ripped through the first few arenas in seemingly record time. The extra peripheral information certainly helped, and having it closer to my eye was a plus.

Games where I had more time to explore the environment, like Tomb Raider, further showed the value of a 21:9 screen. There is no better way to game than with an ultra-wide. The best 16:9 panel can’t match the extra width and the AOC’s tight curve accentuates the effect.

If you’re willing to accommodate some image distortion in workday tasks, it’s hard to top the gameplay experience offered by a monitor like the CU34G3S.

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All monitors in this comparison group are 34-inch ultra-wide screens, mostly VA, with one IPS panel. In addition to the CU34G3S, we have Cooler Master’s GM34-CW, BenQ’s EX3415R and EX3410R, and the Monoprice 42772. Speeds are either 144 or 165 Hz.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

Higher refresh rates deliver smoother motion and lower input lag. But for most players, smoothness is the thing that most impacts the experience. 144 and 165 Hz deliver roughly the same look to the moving image. The top two panels will be slightly better at keeping motion resolution high. But all the displays look solid as long as frame rates stay high. The AOC has the same panel response as most 144 Hz monitors.

In the input lag test, the CU34G3S is in last place with a 32 ms total score. This performance is by no means poor, as anyone with moderate to good skills will find the monitor snappy and eager to play. The top three monitors are over-achievers with low lag despite their 144 Hz maximums. However, the 165 Hz screens aren’t far behind. Again, it comes down to frame rates. If your system can keep the action at 140 fps or higher, you’ll enjoy a great play experience. Professional players may prefer the lower input lag, however.

Viewing Angles

The CU34G3S’s viewing angles are weakened by its extreme curve and VA panel. The green shift I usually see from VA monitors is there and brightness drops by around 40%. Though there is plenty of width here, I don’t recommend sharing. The curve would distort the image for anyone not sitting at the center. The top view is equally poor, with the same green shift and light reduction. On the upside, detail remains visible in the brightest and darkest parts of the image.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My CU34G3S sample showed very good uniformity except for slightly visible hotspots in the upper left and lower right corners. These issues couldn’t be seen in anything but a black field pattern. Shadowed areas in graphical content looked smooth-toned. Color and white uniformity were visually perfect.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

AOC rates the CU34G3S at 300 nits, but I could not find that value in any of the Eco or game modes. This isn’t the brightest monitor out there, but it is bright enough. Large screens like this don’t need a ton of light output for SDR content. The only bummer is that there isn’t any more brightness for HDR material.

With deep blacks, the CU34G3S delivers excellent contrast of over 3,300:1. That’s good enough for third place here though, in the larger picture, it is higher than average among all the VA panels I’ve tested.

After Calibration to 200 nits

I didn’t calibrate the CU34G3S; a change in brightness to 200 nits was the only adjustment I made. The other monitors had their RGB sliders tweaked to remove grayscale errors. That slightly levels the playing field but still puts the AOC in a strong position. Obviously, the IPS-based BenQ is at a disadvantage here.

The CU34G3S’s ANSI contrast score stays over 3,100:1, which is excellent performance. Though it is a value-priced display, it doesn’t skimp on component selection or quality control. The image has lots of depth, true blacks with strong highlight and shadow detail, and well-saturated color.

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The CU34G3S is one of the few monitors I could not improve with calibration. That is of little matter because it’s spot-on out of the box.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

The default Eco mode is Standard with Game mode turned off. That delivers grayscale tracking that’s nearly perfect. Only two tiny errors at 90 and 100% can be seen in test patterns. You’re unlikely to see an issue in actual content. Gamma is also a tad dark at the 80 and 90% levels, but this too is a tiny error. I attempted to calibrate the User color temp but had no success. It’s best to just leave the preset on Warm with Gamma 1 and set brightness to your preference.

The CU34G3S is a rare gaming monitor with an accurate sRGB mode. You’ll find it hidden in the color temp options. It leaves the Brightness control available, which is also a rarity. If you’re a color purist and want the correct gamut for SDR content, that is the option to choose. It has no visual errors and only a dip in gamma at 10% brightness to mar an otherwise perfect chart.

Comparisons

The CU34G3S wins the out-of-box contest with a 1.73dE score. That’s definitely above average for the category. Since I couldn’t improve that performance, it slipped to fifth place. However, none of the displays have visual grayscale errors, so the comparison is a wash. All the screens perform well.

Gamma tracking is mid-pack with a reasonably small 0.18 range of values and a 2.27% deviation from spec. The actual gamma value is 2.25.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

The CU34G3S’s color gamut accuracy is exemplary. It’s visually without error and only shows a slight red under-saturation in the chart. Green is also a tad under, typical of all wide gamut screens. While the monitor doesn’t cover the entire DCI-P3 gamut, it comes close.

The sRGB gamut is worthy of a professional display. There are no visual errors, and every point is no more than 1.5dE off its target. With a 1.35dE average, it doesn’t get much better. Remember that to use the sRGB option, select it in the color temp menu.

Comparisons

Noting that all the other monitors are calibrated makes the CU34G3S’s performance more impressive. Plenty of displays can’t hit 2.10dE with adjustment. That AOC delivers it out of the box just adds to its value quotient.

In the volume calculation, the CU34G3S is about average for the category, covering almost 87% of DCI-P3. Green is the main weakness, typical of the genre. The Cooler Master and Monoprice definitely have more visible color, but they don’t have sRGB modes. The AOC covers both equally well.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The CU34G3S supports HDR10 content with four HDR modes. The default is DisplayHDR, which follows the standard more closely than the others. The remaining ones are Movie, Game and Picture. However, they were a non-starter for me because they added edge enhancement. All this does is reduce resolution; it does not make the image sharper.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The CU34G3S leaves some performance under the table in two areas. First, there is no more brightness available in HDR mode. It tops out at around the same 234-241 nits. Second, there is no dynamic dimming feature. SDR content gets a dynamic contrast option, but that setting is grayed out in HDR mode. Though the VA panel manages almost 3,400:1 contrast, it could be much better with a dimming option. Though I found that HDR content looked vivid and saturated, it didn’t look much different than SDR.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The CU34G3S retains its color accuracy in HDR mode. There are slight blue errors in the brighter steps, but these issues don’t impact actual content much at all. The EOTF curve shows a gradual transition to tone mapping, meaning some highlights will be a tad muted. Again, this is a minor error. The other HDR modes aren’t as precise with their luminance tracking which in practice, obscures some detail. DisplayHDR is the best choice.

HDR color tracking is quite good with just a slight under-saturation in red and magenta. The saturation points are arranged linearly so the picture is loaded with detail. For Rec.2020 mastered content, the CU34G3S tries to match the saturation points but comes up a bit short. This contributes to the observation that SDR and HDR look similar. There is some untapped potential here, but HDR performance is adequate.

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With so many different kinds of gaming monitors available, it can be hard to choose. There is no single category that gets everything right. And there is user preference to consider. What works for one player may not work for another.

After trying monitors in every conceivable shape, size, speed and resolution, I can say that curved screens are the most fun for me. They provide a great view of the action, and most have balanced performance and quick response. So, if you’ve decided you want a curved display, the question becomes, "how curved should it be?"

The curviest screens are 1000R or 1000 mm radius like the AOC CU34G3S. In the 21:9 aspect ratio, this gives you the most impactful wraparound effect. Aside from VR goggles, you’re not going to find a more immersive experience. Luckily, the CU34G3S delivers a lot of features and performance for a relatively low price.

With color that’s visually perfect out of the box, no tweaking is needed. That is good since I could not improve the picture with calibration. The VA panel delivers over 3,100:1 contrast which is about triple that of the average IPS screen. That’s a lot of dynamic range with really deep and realistic blacks. The wide color gamut is a great asset as well. You can use the CU34G3S’s nearly 87% coverage of DCI-P3 for all content or switch on the very accurate sRGB mode if you wish.

I found the video processing to be equally impressive. With WQHD resolution and 165 Hz, I was able to max the frame rates and enjoy super smooth movement with no blur and very fast control response. Though there are some monitors that are slightly quicker like the Cooler Master GM34-CW, the visual difference is pretty small. I spent many hours playing games on the CU34G3S and enjoyed every minute.

At this writing, the AOC CU34G3S is selling for around $430. That’s a great value considering its feature set and performance. And those things are wrapped up in a great-looking screen with an immersive feel. If you’re looking to take your curve to the max, definitely check it out.

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Monitor specialist AOC has launched a pair of new gaming screens into its Agon 5 series. There are two new 27-inch models featuring flat 1440p screens and attractive specs such as 240 Hz refresh rates, 1 ms GtG and 0.5 ms MPRT response times. However, one is based on a QD-IPS display panel, and the other more affordable model uses a VA panel.

AOC’s new Agon AG275QZ/EU is the higher-end model among the new pair. Its fast IPS screen features a quantum dot layer for 1.07 billion colors, and HDR400 support. It has a standard 240Hz refresh rate, but can be overclocked to 270 Hz. Some other performance niceties include the screen’s response time of 1 ms GtG and 0.5 ms MPRT. These performance features facilitate fluid visuals with minimal ghosting or motion blur. Both FreeSync Premium and G-SYNC Compatible are supported, free-slowing and tear-free gaming visuals.

Turning our attention to the new AOC Agon AG275QZN/EU, a lot of the great features mentioned above are carried through. This model is built around a VA panel with the same resolution and headlining performance stats. It isn’t overclockable, or such a feature isn’t mentioned, but the max 240 Hz refresh is very respectable. It keeps up with the IPS version in terms of response times though, with 1 ms GtG and 0.5 ms MPRT. This screen supports AMD FreeSync Premium, but no mention of G-SYNC is made. It is also HDR400 certified, but the display is limited to 16.7 million colors.

To avoid confusion, please refer to the comparison table below to see the where the key specs of the Agon AG275QZ/EU and Agon AG275QZN/EU align and differ.

The two monitors appear to share the same ergonomic stand; with -5/23 degree tilt, -20/20 degree swivel, pivoting functionality, and 150 mm of height adjustment. Users can also use these monitors with standard 100x100 VESA mounts.  As Agon series gaming monitors, these also have multiple gaming modes and presets, G-menu features such as color equalizer settings, motion blur reduction, low input lag, shadow control, crosshairs, frame counters, and more.

AOC says its new Agon 5 monitors will be available this month. We only have Euro prices at this time, with the Agon AG275QZ/EU carrying an MSRP of €819, and the  Agon AG275QZN/EU at €569. Whether the price / performance combinations on offer here will get these monitors into our regularly updated Best Gaming Monitors 2022 feature, remains to be seen.

HP has long operated its line of HyperX-branded gaming peripherals, which include headsets, microphones, mice and keyboards. However, the brand is looking to branch out with the release of 25-inch FHD 240 Hz Armada 25 and the 27-inch QHD 165 Hz IPS Armada 27 gaming displays. The Armada 25 is the panel I’ll be testing here.

Users looking for speed over resolution will want to take notice. The Armada 25 offers 240 Hz operation with G-Sync certification and FreeSync compatibility. It has an effective overdrive and also includes a backlight strobe blur reduction feature. There’s no HDR or extended color, but when it comes to response and clean video processing, HyperX has you covered. Let’s look at this new contender for the best gaming monitors list.

HyperX Armada 25 Specs

At $449 for the 25-inch and $499 for the 27-inch, the choice between them comes down to speed, and 240 Hz is significantly smoother than 165 Hz in my experience. Some may decry the Armada 25’s FHD resolution but when the picture is moving quickly, blur becomes a real factor. With a reliable 240 Hz refresh rate and one of the better overdrives I’ve seen, it delivers extremely smooth motion processing with no ghosting. And if you prefer a backlight strobe over Adaptive-Sync, HyperX obliges with a five-level option that lets you balance brightness with clarity. It has no real downside, as I didn’t notice any phasing problems.

The Armada 25 is certified by Nvidia for G-Sync operation between 48 and 240 Hz. I also verified AMD FreeSync compatibility in my tests.

Though there is no HDR or extended color, HyperX didn’t skimp on image quality. I measured around 1,200:1 contrast which is higher than most IPS panels can muster. Color accuracy is excellent as well. You can enjoy the Armada 25 without calibration and its color gamut covers nearly 110% of sRGB according to my measurements.

What sets it apart from other gaming monitors is the inclusion of a monitor arm instead of a stand. I was initially surprised to see this but once set up, the Armada 25 is a seriously rugged and solidly-built display. The arm is easily the best example I’ve experienced. It can clamp to your desk’s edge or use the included adaptors if you have a hole available. HP makes an extra arm available if you want to mount a second screen on a single column.

HP is no stranger to gaming, as it already has success with the Omen series. On the surface, the new HyperX Armada 25 looks like a home run, but only a deeper dive will tell for certain.

Assembly and Accessories for the HyperX Armada 25

HyperX ships the Armada 25 in recyclable packaging with no crumbly foam or plastic bits aside from the slick envelopes that protect the parts from scratches. The arm clamps easily to a table or desk 15 to 50 millimeters (0.6-2 inches) thick. It’s quite substantial, and the assembly is rated to hold up to 20 pounds per arm. You can slide a second arm on the column if you wish. A movable ring sets the height of the fulcrum and includes a hook for cable management. The power supply is internal, and you get long HDMI and DisplayPort cables. The DP cable is red, which is a nice touch.

Product 360: HyperX Armada 25

The panel is largely unadorned with simple and functional styling. Only HyperX logos on the front and back announce the brand. A G-Sync label in the lower right verifies the Armada 25’s Nvidia certification. A few polished bits form a large X on the back with a large logo at the top. The controls consist of a single power toggle key and a joystick for all other functions.

The arm allows for a wide range of movement and positioning. Each joint is firm and smooth, with no play. The arm slips over the column and is retained by a quick-release ring that can be raised and lowered. The panel fulcrum can be tilted from -20 to +60 degrees, rotated 90 degrees for portrait mode and swiveled 90 degrees to either side. The arm can swivel 180 degrees as well. The lift range is 12.5 inches, and the arm can sit in a 10-inch window on the column. Each arm can hold up to 20 pounds and works with both 100mm and 75mm VESA bolt patterns. For edge mounting, the desk needs to be between 0.6 and 2 inches thick. A hole mount should be between 0.6 and 2.4 inches. The column and single arm weigh just over 10 pounds. It is well-built and extremely flexible; you can position the panel almost anywhere.

The panel comes off with the push of a button for easy access to the inputs. The Armada 25 offers only video access, two HDMI 2.0 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4. There is no audio output jack, no speakers and no USB. Cables are run through clips on the arm to keep everything neat and tidy.

OSD Features of HyperX Armada 25

The Armada 25’s OSD is clearly from HP but sticks to the branding with HyperX logos. It’s divided into eight submenus and comes up when you click the joystick twice. A quick menu gives access to brightness, picture modes and input selection. At the bottom, you can see the input resolution and refresh rate always displayed.

The HyperX Armada 25 has one of the best overdrives I’ve seen. It works best at evel 3, where you’ll get no real motion blur or ghosting. If you prefer a backlight strobe, turn off Adaptive-Sync and turn on MPRT. It has five levels which deliver varying levels of brightness. Level 2 is only about 5% dimmer and smooths motion further with no phasing artifacts. HyperX delivers excellent video processing overall.

The crosshair can be created from four available shapes and comes in eight different colors that can be placed anywhere on the screen. You can also turn on a frame rate indicator.

There are eight picture modes, of which Standard is the default. It’s accurate enough to be used without calibration, but you can achieve greater precision in Custom RGB where you get RGB sliders to adjust color temperature. I missed a gamma setting because the included luminance curve is a tad light. But this is a minor nit on my part. The only color gamut is sRGB, and thanks to a bit of bonus blue, it is nicely saturated for all types of content.

Calibration Settings for HyperX Armada 25

The Armada 25 ships in its Standard picture mode, which is close enough to spec that it doesn’t require calibration. However, I saw a visible improvement when I adjusted the sliders in Custom RGB. They have fine resolution, which makes precise adjustments very easy. Gamma is a tad light, averaging around 2.11 after calibration. Given the panel’s excellent contrast, I’d love to see a darker option, but this is a minor point. My instrument-derived settings are below. I used them for all testing and gaming.

Gaming and Hands-on with HyperX Armada 25

Gaming on any 240 Hz monitor, regardless of resolution, is a lot of fun. The response and smooth motion are such an enhancement that resolution becomes a secondary consideration. An 4K monitor will be sharper, but the clarity of an FHD display running at a high frame rate is more consistent. There is never any visible blur, and every control input meets with instant action. With my frame rates around the 240 fps mark, I could freely switch between G-Sync and MPRT (backlight strobe) and see little difference in motion quality. Adaptive-Sync is barely a factor over 200 fps, and the Armada 25’s superb overdrive kept things clean no matter how fast I moved the mouse.

Though the image was softer than a QHD or 4K screen, there was more than enough contrast and color to make it look deep and dimensional. Textures popped off the screen and accurate color ensured a natural look. The Armada 25 looks slightly better than most IPS monitors thanks to its contrast advantage. 200:1 doesn’t seem like a big upgrade, but visually, it’s significant. Only a VA panel will be any better than this.

The arm system was also a pleasure to use. With essentially no desktop footprint, you can let objects live under the panel without getting in the way. And if you want to change positions for different games, it’s easy to do. The Armada 25’s arm is one of the best I’ve experienced. It’s super solid, firm in movement and built to last.

Workday tasks are easy to get through as well. Though pixel density isn’t super high at 90ppi, it’s enough to read small text or render fine detail in photos and video. The Armada 25’s excellent contrast helps make things look sharper than one would expect. Accurate color is a bonus too. For all-around use, work and entertainment, this monitor gets the job done.

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The Armada 25 competes with a large group of fast monitors that run from 240 up to 360 Hz. For comparison, I’ve included AOC’s 360 Hz AG254FG and Pixio’s 280 Hz PX259P. The remaining panels are 240 Hz – ViewSonic XG2431, AOC C32G2ZE and Monoprice 40778.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

The Armada 25 is one of the quicker 240 Hz monitors I’ve tested with a 4ms response time. The 360 Hz AOC is a tad faster, but I’ve observed that visually, the difference between 240 and 360 Hz is less significant than the difference between 165 and 240 Hz. You’ll pay a good bit more for 360 Hz and only get a tiny bit more smoothness.

In the lag test, the Armada 25 equals the 360 Hz AOC which means that it delivers a similar feel when gaming. Reaction time is everything on the battlefield, and the HyperX will provide nearly all the advantages of a 360 Hz monitor without the higher price tag or the requirement for a high-end video card.

Viewing Angles

Though I am a fan of VA’s high contrast, there’s no denying the superior viewing angles of a good IPS panel like the Armada 25. The color shifts slightly blue at 45 degrees to the side, but the reduction in brightness is only around 10% and barely noticeable. The top-down view has a green tint with a 30% light drop and less definition, thanks to a lower gamma.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My Armada 25 sample aced the uniformity test with less than 9% deviation across the screen; I couldn’t see any bleed or glow with the room completely darkened. Color patterns showed only smooth, even tones and brighter gray fields were also free of visible aberration.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

HyperX rates the Armada 25 for 400 nits, but my sample maxed out at just over 350. I had to switch to the Custom RGB mode to achieve this. Standard mode was a tad lower at 328 nits. Both modes are more than bright enough for any indoor environment. If you’re a fan of dark room gaming, you can go down as low as 33 nits by turning the brightness to zero.

The Armada 25 has a great-for-IPS black level of 0.3054, giving it 1,147.7:1 contrast, just a tick below the class-leading AG254FG. Though it may not seem like a significant difference on paper, that extra 150:1 makes a visual improvement in depth and color saturation.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration elevates the AOC and Monoprice screens, while the Armada 25 remains about the same. But this is not a negative result in any way. Putting these three monitors side by side would reveal nearly identical picture quality. The AOC is on another level contrast-wise, but you must decide if you want a 32-inch FHD monitor with its relatively low pixel density.

The Armada 25 excels in the ANSI test as one of the few monitors to score higher than its static value. Only a tiny handful of IPS panels have ever topped 1,200:1 in my experience. This is an exceptional display with a deep picture, solid blacks and excellent color saturation.

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The Armada 25 keeps its picture modes simple. The default one is called Standard, and it delivers decent accuracy without calibration. Only the Custom RGB mode has any options for adjustment.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

The default chart shows a barely visible blue tint in the brighter steps. This error will be tough to see in actual content. Gamma is a little light but tracks close to the reference line.

After calibration of the Custom RGB mode, tracking is now visually perfect with all errors below 2dE. Gamma is nearly the same, with a slight dip at the 90% step. Gamma presets would be a nice addition here to give users the option of a darker presentation. But overall, this is excellent performance.

Comparisons

I can’t complain about the Armada 25’s out-of-the-box grayscale error of 2.70dE. It’s lower than the other screens and puts the monitor in the calibration-not-needed category. The 360 Hz AOC is a high achiever, but it will cost you around $240 more. The final error of 1.01dE puts it in line with the other screens.

Though the Armada 25’s gamma tracking is a tad light, it stays close to the reference line with a tight range of values. 0.15 is about as close as it gets. The actual average is 2.11, not too far off the mark. And it’s closer to 2.2 than the bottom three screens.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

The Armada 25 closely follows the sRGB specification with full gamut coverage and a little bonus blue. In Standard mode, the magenta and cyan secondaries are slightly off hue, but saturation points are on target. There is no visible error here.

Calibration slightly improves the result, with all points now inside or in contact with their target boxes. The boxes represent 1dE, so this is an excellent test result.

Comparisons

The Armada 25’s third-place finish with a 1.80dE color error speaks to the quality of all the monitors here. The AOC is certainly an overachiever, but I have no problem recommending the HyperX or any of the competition. It doesn’t get much better than this.

Only the 32-inch AOC attempts extended color with its 85% coverage of DCI-P3. The other screens fully cover sRGB except for the AG254FG, which comes up short. The Armada 25 has a little extra blue saturation, making cool tones a little more vibrant and giving sky and water textures more brilliance. There’s no HDR here, so this is an appropriate color presentation that stays close to standard while providing a little extra vividness.

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In the speed versus resolution debate, I take the side of speed. After playing games on every type of monitor, fast, slow, hi-res, low-res; I always find that a higher frame rate makes for a better gaming experience. Seeing fine detail clearly as it flashes across the screen makes a big difference when the action gets frenetic. If you want to enjoy the virtual environment at a slower pace, 4K is undoubtedly the way to go. But if you want to raise the frag count, there’s no better tool than a monitor running above 200fps.

The HyperX Armada 25 presents a minor conundrum. From a performance standpoint, it checks every box. It has excellent contrast and color accuracy. Video processing is well into the premium level with a clean overdrive, effective backlight strobe and Adaptive-Sync for Nvidia and AMD systems. Build quality is as good as it gets, and the inclusion of a high-quality mounting arm is a real bonus, especially if you plan to add a second panel.

My only complaint is the lack of speakers, audio connections and USB. Though these things aren’t necessary for a high-performance gaming display, they are convenient. And most other monitors include at least two of them. Indeed, the Armada 25 is the first monitor I’ve seen lately with no 3.5mm headphone jack. Users will have to resort to the audio output of their PC or console to hook up external speakers. And USB will be relegated to the connected system as well.

That aside, I can heartily recommend the HyperX Armada 25. It delivers fantastic performance, image fidelity and build quality. Users looking for a speed advantage and about $200 savings over a 360 Hz screen should definitely check it out.

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Today’s gaming consoles are mighty impressive. They render Ultra HD graphics at 120 frames per second with HDR and wide gamut color. However, they don’t represent the ultimate level of performance. Any serious esports player will prioritize speed and response time over everything else, including pixel density. For competitive gaming, especially at the professional level, only a 360 Hz screen will do.

Many choices are available among the best gaming monitors, but they are often expensive. $650 for a 25-inch FHD panel can be hard to wrap one’s mind around. Fortunately, Alienware has an alternative. The Alienware AW2523HF delivers all the performance of the premium screens, including a 360 Hz IPS panel, AMD FreeSync, and Nvidia G-Sync for just $450, which sounds like an incredible bargain in this day and age and could probably be even more of a bargain with a Dell and Alienware coupon.

Alienware AW2523HF Specs

The other 360 Hz monitor in Alienware’s stable is the AW2521H, reviewed here nearly two years ago. It costs $650 at this writing for one principal reason, the inclusion of Nvidia’s Latency Analyzer. The AW2523HF I’m looking at here doesn’t have that feature. But here’s something surprising; it supports both flavors of Adaptive-Sync. While that is pretty common in gaming monitors of all prices, the AW2521H supports only G-Sync. My testing also found that the less expensive screen had no dimming feature to increase HDR contrast. But in every way that matters to a gamer, the two monitors are the same.

The Alienware AW2523HF has an IPS panel running at FHD resolution covering the sRGB color gamut. Since there has yet to be a 360 Hz display with DCI-P3 coverage, that isn’t significant. I measured over 108% sRGB volume, so there is plenty of color here. The panel also has slightly above average contrast with ratios nearing 1,200:1, not bad for IPS in general. Though the HDR image won’t impress, HDR10 signals are supported with three different HDR modes and a VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification.

Gamers buy a 360 Hz monitor because of its video processing, which is akin to the performance one gets from an exotic sports car. At 300 frames per second or more, motion blur is simply non-existent, and Adaptive-Sync is barely needed. The smoothness and response are on another level compared to 240 Hz screens. 144 Hz? Yeah, I remember when the first such monitors appeared, and reviewers like me said the same thing about them. Today though, 360 Hz is the pinnacle.

The AW2523HF is certified for FreeSync operation but is not yet on Nvidia’s list. I suspect it soon will be since its slower cousins are certified G-Sync compatible. My sample proved flawless in all the G-Sync tests I performed.

There are plenty of features useful to gamers, like a headphone hook, USB ports, viewing enhancements, an aiming point, timers, and a large selection of picture modes. And color proved accurate in my tests, so picture quality will not be a concern.

Assembly and Accessories for Alienware AW2523HF

My AW2523HF sample arrived in a large clamshell-type box with Dell’s usual packing made from molded pulp. Everything is recyclable and there is none of that annoying crumbly foam. The base, upright and panel assemble quickly with no tools needed. Bundled cables are of higher-than-average quality and include USB, DisplayPort and an unusual Mini DisplayPort cable which will work with some gaming laptops. The power supply is internal, so you also get an IEC cord.

Product 360: Alienware AW2523HF

The AW2523HF has a super-thin bezel that’s just 6mm wide around the top and sides and 14mm wide at the bottom. It’s just enough to accommodate the Alienware name written in thin white letters. Underneath is a joystick controlling all monitor functions except power which is handled by a lighted button at the right.

The upright is a large, curvaceous piece that bolts firmly to a stable base. Lozenge shapes abound at the attachment points and in the large cable hole, which could almost be called a tunnel; it’s that deep. Ergonomics include -5/21 degrees tilt, 40 degrees swivel, a 4.3-inch height adjustment and a portrait mode.

The back features the Alienware head graphic and a large “25” set off in polished black. The lozenge shape around the attachment point hides a 100mm VESA mount and is textured like a grill. For heat dissipation, there is a row of holes along the top edge of the panel to keep things cool.

Underneath, there’s plenty of connectivity with one upstream and four downstream USB 3.2 ports. Two USB ports are on the bezel, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is very convenient. In the usual spots are the remaining USBs, two HDMI 2.0, one DisplayPort 1.4 and a 3.5mm audio output. There are no internal speakers.

OSD Features

The AW2523HF’s OSD is similar to the one found in most Dell and Alienware gaming screens, with a few extra features added. As I mentioned earlier, you won’t find the Nvidia Latency Analyzer, but everything else needed for performance and convenience is there.

Pressing the joystick brings up a quick menu on the bottom and status info across the top of the screen. Scrolling left or right lets you change brightness & contrast, color mode, dark stabilizer and access the AlienVision feature. More on that in a moment.

There are 12 color modes in total, some game-type specific and some suited for reading or other work tasks. Three Game modes let you customize color and video processing options separately. A Custom mode has a two-point white balance plus hue and saturation sliders. I discovered that there is a gamma control in the Console Mode sub-menu, which is not usually found on Dell gaming monitors. It can be turned on and adjusted without affecting other image parameters.

Game Enhance includes timers and a frame rate indicator. There’s no aiming point here, but there is one in the AlienVision menu. It’s huge at almost four inches across. Clichés about hitting the side of a barn are now struggling to get through…

A three-level overdrive barely makes a difference at any of its settings. With such high frame rates, motion blur is a non-issue. The Console Mode offers gamma presets and RGB sliders for white balance. AlienVision offers the aforementioned crosshair plus the ability to alter the appearance of a large rectangle at the center of the screen. You can have a night vision look, a sharpened appearance, or a bizarre chromatic effect whose use I cannot fathom. Try them out and see if you like them.

HDR is supported by three modes: Desktop (the most accurate), Movie, and Game. The latter two add visible edge enhancement, so I do not recommend them. If you turn off Smart HDR, the AW2523HF will not switch modes when an HDR10 signal is applied. The user can program the five shortcut keys for a variety of functions. Plus, you can toggle through the AlienVision options without going into the OSD if you want.

Calibration Settings for Alienware AW2523HF

The AW2523HF needs very little in the way of adjustment. In fact, you can enjoy it just fine in either Standard mode (the default) or Custom Color. Both options offer a visually neutral grayscale, error-free sRGB color and near-perfect gamma. 

For my purposes, I tweaked the RGB Gains (you get Offsets, too) for a reference-level result. My settings are below. There are no image options for HDR content other than the three additional picture modes, but HDR is close to the mark.

Gaming and Hands-on with Alienware AW2523HF

This is always my favorite part of any 360 Hz monitor review. Testing is certainly impressive when I sit down to analyze the response and lag videos. And BlurBusters patterns take on a next-level look with absolutely no motion blur in evidence in the moving UFO and photo tests. 360 Hz is definitely better than 240 Hz. And though you’re paying a lot for a little more performance, you won’t care once you’ve experienced it yourself.

As an everyday monitor, the Alienware AW2523HF is perfectly suited. 25 inches is a little smaller than I’m used to but for most desktops and workspaces, it’s plenty of screen. The portrait mode can be used to good effect for word processing or music scores. Two of these monitors would be great for Photoshop or video editing. I look forward to the day when a 360 Hz panel comes with a wide color gamut. But the extra bit of sRGB volume here makes a positive impact in color saturation. The extra contrast helps too. Though not in VA territory, the AW2523HF looks better than most other IPS panels with greater dimension and deeper blacks.

If only one thing can be said about a 360 Hz gaming monitor, it’s that it is hard to stop playing. Motion is so smooth and so perfect as to be addictive. There is truly no other kind of monitor that provides an experience like this. I turned on the AW2523HF’s frame indicator to monitor rates and saw around 300 fps when playing Doom Eternal. There seemed to be no performance penalty for HDR though admittedly, it was hard to look at the numbers all the time.

My gaming skills are decidedly average, but I felt like a king when mowing through monsters and zombies. Every mouse movement is met with instant response. And I noted that stopping my turn to shoot was super precise. I almost never overshot the mark. Circle strafe movements are much easier when the panning image stays in focus. You can control your position much more finely than even a 240 Hz monitor allows.

Comparing HDR and SDR showed some visible difference. Contrast was about the same, but the HDR version of Doom Eternal was generally darker. Some shadowy areas lacked detail so crawling through caves was a little sketchy at times. Color seemed a bit more saturated though. Making the HDR/SDR choice will depend on the game content. If you want to be sure to see the most detail in every situation, SDR is the way to go.

The AlienVision is an interesting feature. The giant aiming point did not help me in any way. Though you can’t miss it, its large size was a distraction in fast-paced battles. The other settings where you can alter the look of a window at the screen center didn’t make their benefits obvious to me. Perhaps in a sniper game, one might use the Clear setting, which sharpens the picture in the rectangle, to line up a shot. But a zoom mode might be a more useful option.

As a gaming monitor, the AW2523HF excels at what it's designed to do, deliver screamingly fast frame rates, smooth motion and imperceptible input lag. It’s an addictive display that will have you fragging your time away.

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To compare the AW2523HF’s performance, I’ve rounded up all the 360 Hz monitors in my database and put in a lone 240 Hz screen as a reality check, ViewSonic’s XG2431. The others are AOC’s AG254FG, Alienware’s AW2521H, MSI’s NXG253R and the Acer Predator X25. All are IPS/FHD panels.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

These charts show why we’re here; this is as fast as a gaming monitor gets today. A 3ms panel draw means zero motion blur. Overdrive is not really necessary, but the AW2523HF has it and uses it for a very subtle improvement. Motion resolution is visually perfect; moving images are as clear as static ones.

Input lag is also nearly non-existent. The MSI wins the contest at 17ms total lag, but the AW2523HF matches its $200 more expensive stablemate with an equally impressive 19ms. This is otherworldly performance that must be seen and experienced to be fully appreciated.

Viewing Angles

The AW2523HF offers viewing angles similar to other premium IPS panels. The image cools off a bit at 45 degrees to the side but doesn’t get any dimmer. The top view is poor, like most, with a green tint and washed-out picture.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

The AW2523HF’s screen uniformity is what I expect from any premium display. There are no visible variations in a black field pattern, nor are there any issues viewing other colors and brightness levels. The image maintains smooth tones throughout.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

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MORE: How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

One might have an issue with the AW2523HF’s lower brightness, but few users will see a difference between 460 and 413 nits. If you max the brightness slider, it will give you a searingly bright image. There is plenty of headroom here, and HDR brightness is slightly higher.

The AW2523HF has the lowest black levels of the group and the second-highest contrast ratio at 1,212:1. This is above average for the IPS category, which is a very impressive performance. It adds image depth and dimension that can be seen in a side-by-side comparison. The top three screens will look better than the bottom three.

After Calibration to 200 nits

After calibration, the AW2523HF and the AOC increase their advantage over the others keeping by contrast around 1,200:1. It doesn’t get much better than that until you go VA or OLED, and you won’t find 360 Hz linked with either screen type.

The AW2523HF finally wins the ANSI test with 1,154.1:1 intra-image contrast. There is no fault here since you get the speed and some of the best IPS contrast available.

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The AW2523HF has the same picture modes and calibration options as most other Dell and Alienware displays. I tested the Standard and Custom picture modes and found that calibration wasn’t essential but made a slight improvement when performed.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

The initial grayscale run shows a bit of coolness in the brightest steps, but that doesn’t translate to the actual content. It is visually without error. Gamma tracks perfectly against the 2.2 reference. If you want a darker or lighter look, the AW2523HF has a Console mode that offers presets, something I hadn’t seen before in other Dell gaming monitors.

With a two-click reduction to the blue gain control, grayscale is now perfect, and gamma is visually the same. It doesn’t get much better than this.

Comparisons

The AW2523HF’s 2.34dE default score puts it firmly in the calibration-not-needed category. The monitor can be enjoyed right out of the box with no fiddling. Of course, calibration does produce an improvement in the measurements to a very low 0.59dE, not enough for first place here, but since all the monitors are under 1dE, they are visually identical.

The AW2523HF has a slight gamma tracking advantage over the others with an extremely tight 0.06 range of values and a 0.9% deviation from the 2.2 reference. The actual average was 2.18, which is excellent performance.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

The AW2523HF has just as much to offer in the gamut accuracy tests. Though I would have loved to see a wide gamut option, no other 360 Hz monitor has one, so that consideration is moot. Out of the box, there is slight under-saturation in red and a hue error in magenta. But with an average of 2.24, these issues are invisible in actual content.

Calibration tightens up the chart nicely with more vivid reds, and the magenta hue error is nearly fixed. A visual improvement here manifests as a slightly warmer and more vivid image. The adjustment is definitely worth making. Just reduce the blue gain to 98%, and you’ll likely replicate my results.

Comparisons

Color accuracy won’t be a deciding factor in purchasing any of these monitors. They all exhibit superb behavior with visually perfect color that is bright and vibrant. In the volume chart, you can see that none of the screens really approach DCI-P3 coverage, but five of them exceed 100% of sRGB. If you want a wide gamut, you won’t get 360 Hz.

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MORE: How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor

Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The AW2523HF includes HDR support, as do all the 360 Hz screens here. Without a wide gamut, though, the effect is more subtle. Honestly, HDR isn’t the reason to buy a fast gaming monitor, but as you’ll soon see, the AW2523HF is missing something that the others have.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The first chart shows nothing special. All the 360 Hz screens have roughly the same peak brightness, with the ViewSonic delivering about 112 more nits. But the black level chart shows something that raises an eyebrow. Indeed, the AW2523HF is the only one with no dynamic contrast. 

There’s no field or zone dimming feature, which means that SDR and HDR contrast are the same. This defeats the purpose of HDR support. But since one would buy this monitor for its performance, the solution is simple. Don’t play games in HDR. You’ll save some processing load which will deliver higher frame rates. And I’d probably extend that advice to all these screens. 360 Hz is about speed. The panels offer enough contrast to make games look amazing.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

I tested all three HDR modes and found that color-wise, they were nearly identical. I recommend Desktop because it is the only one without edge enhancement. Game and Movie attempt to sharpen the image, but the net result is less motion resolution, which is not the reason one buys a 360 Hz monitor. Grayscale tracking is slightly blue, but the errors aren’t visible in content. The EOTF starts too light, so shadow areas are gray rather than black. The line then tracks the reference up to a 65% tone-map transition, also to spec.

Though the AW2523HF is an sRGB monitor, it does a respectable job with wide-gamut content. For material mastered in DCI-P3, it follows the saturation targets until the display runs out of color at around 80% for red and green. Blue is slightly over-saturated. It shows the same behavior with Rec.2020 content running out of red at around 70% and green at 60%. So, it’s making its best effort to show you the more saturated color, which is as it should be.

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Now that I’ve reviewed several 360 Hz monitors from all major brands, it is clear that for their intended purpose, performance is very similar. From a video processing perspective, picking one over the others will be hard. They are all free of motion blur, frame tearing or hesitation. Input lag is uniformly low, and they all provide an addictive gaming experience.

If picture quality is the deciding factor, that’s tough, except for one metric, HDR contrast. The Alienware AW2523HF does not have a dimming feature, so it won’t have more contrast in HDR mode. The other 360 Hz displays I’ve tested all increase their dynamic range for HDR games and video. The AW2523HF has roughly the same color volume but a little more contrast than most SDR displays. And it’s quite accurate too. No calibration is needed, but performing one will make a small improvement.

The consideration then comes down to price. There, the AW2523HF is a standout at $450. The others are $650 and up, except for one - the MSI NXG253R, which does include the Nvidia Latency Analyzer and a nearly 8,000:1 HDR contrast ratio. At this writing, it can be found for around $410. But it and the AW2523HF are the only two 360 Hz screens I could find for a price beginning with the number 4.

Of course, once you’ve tried any 360 Hz monitor, you’ll want it regardless of cost. The genre provides a truly unique gaming experience that can’t be replicated by other means. Yes, you will need a stout PC with a powerful graphics card to drive the fun. But you’ll be rewarded with something that goes way beyond any console. The AW2523HF delivers on that experience.

So, if you’re already a fan of Alienware components, and they are extremely well-engineered and well-made kit; you will definitely want to check out the AW2523HF. It delivers the same next-level gaming as its more expensive competition.

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 It’s the weekend before Amazon Prime Day and vendors are already marking down the prices of plenty of quality hardware like this AOC 24G2 23-Inch IPS gaming monitor. It usually goes for around $179 but today is marked down to $157 at Amazon. This is one of the best prices we’ve seen for this display since it first debuted and one of the lowest you’ll find on a monitor in this spec range right now.

Overall this is a reasonable offer on a 24-inch IPS as it offers a slew of additional features that make the investment well worth the price including a FreeSync Premium certification and high refresh rate that caps out at 144 Hz. If you’re looking for something specific, you can check out our list of best computer monitor deals to see what else is dropping in price during the Prime Day sales.

Its high refresh rate lends to its FreeSync Premium certification which also ensures a minimum FHD resolution, low latency as well as low framerate compensation support. The brightness can reach up to 250 Nits while color-wise it covers 123% of the sRGB color space.

There are multiple input options to choose from including two HDMI 1.4 ports, one D-SUB and a DisplayPort 1.2 input. It has no built-in speakers, however, a 3.5mm audio jack is available for external audio peripherals.

Visit the AOC 24G2 24-Inch IPS Gaming Monitor product page at Amazon for more details and purchase options.

Be sure to check back throughout the weekend as we share the best discounts we can find for early Prime Day deals and during Prime Day for more best tech deals. We have pages dedicated to the best monitor deals, best gaming PC deals, and even specific hardware components like the best deals on SSDs.

It's midweek and today we're focusing our attention on some of the best deals on high-resolution gaming monitors. To get the ball rolling we have a brilliant deal on a large 49-inch gaming monitor for under $800. The AOC AG493UCX 49-Inch 120Hz Ultrawide Gaming Monitor is now only $699 — with impressive specs and large screen size, this is an amazing deal at this price. 

Next, we have the Gigabyte M32U for $649which is the cheapest I've ever seen this 4K 32-incher. You can pick up the M32U at Newegg using code FSJBTA535 at the checkout. 

One of our favorite super-large monitors that even received an Editor's Choice when we tested it, the Gigabyte Aorus FO48U is currently down to $949 at Newegg. This a huge monitor with a 48-inch OLED screen and 4K resolution. See our review of the Gigabyte Aorus FO48U for more information.

More monitor deals below, so scroll down for more bargains.

TL;DR — Today’s Best Deals

• AOC AG493UCX 49-Inch 120Hz Ultrawide Gaming Monitor: was $1,037, now $699 at Amazon
• Gigabyte M32U 32-Inch Gaming Monitor: was $799, now $649 with code FSJBTA535 at Newegg
• Aorus FO48U 4K OLED 48-Inch Gaming Monitor: was $1,500, now $949 at Newegg
• Asus TUF Gaming VG27WQ 27-Inch Gaming Monitor: was $289, now $229 at Newegg after rebate
• Dell UltraSharp UP3218K 31.5-Inch Gaming Monitor: was $5,029, now $3,769 at Dell

Today’s best deals in detail

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If you are looking for some of the best gaming monitors and are willing to spend between $650 and $750, some seriously high-performance options are available to you. You can go for a 360 Hz FHD panel for the highest possible frame rate that will deliver the smoothest moving image currently available. Or you could go for more pixel density with a QHD display at 240 Hz. We've seen a flood of QHD/165 Hz monitors to review of late, but some of those models are being supplanted by 240 Hz versions.

Early in 2021, we tested Gigabyte’s M27Q, which offered 170 Hz and KVM for around $350. For 2022, there is a new player called M27Q X with the same Adaptive-Sync, HDR and extended color, but a 240 Hz refresh rate for $650 at this writing. It’s an expensive upgrade, but it’s the only way to wring out maximum performance if you have a high-end video card. Let’s take a close look.

Gigabyte M27Q X Specs

The M27Q X starts with an IPS panel made by Sharp with native 10-bit color, QHD resolution and 240 Hz max refresh. The color gamut is advertised as “Super Wide,” and it does indeed cover nearly 103% of DCI-P3. There is a caveat, though, that I'll touch on later in the color gamut tests. HDR10 signals are supported up to a peak white level of 526 nits, earning it VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification. Like its predecessor, there is no dynamic contrast, so HDR in this case doesn’t look much different than SDR. Out-of-box color is accurate enough that calibration is not required.

The main story here is speed, and the M27Q X delivers plenty of it. 240 Hz is a clearly visible upgrade over the M27Q’s 170 Hz maximum. Paired with a variable overdrive, the moving image is super-smooth with very high motion resolution. FreeSync is the native Adaptive-Sync tech over a range of 48 to 240 Hz. G-Sync also works without issue, as we saw in testing. But the M27Q X has not been certified by Nvidia at this time.

Though there is no RGB lighting here, the M27Q X has plenty of gaming aids to enhance the play experience. Aiming points are provided, of course, with the added bonus of custom reticles that can be created in Gigabyte’s OSD Sidekick app. Unique to the brand is GameAssist Dashboard, which can display CPU and GPU information on the screen. It can even monitor the resolution of a connected Aorus mouse. You also get a sniper mode that enlarges the center of the screen like a rifle scope.

The M27Q X has a blur reduction backlight strobe feature called Aim Stabilizer. It’s one of the few monitors that lets you use the strobe in concert with Adaptive-Sync. It also keeps the overdrive in play. The only limitation is that it’s not available in HDR mode.

If you run multiple PCs, an included KVM feature has a USB-C input that can provide power, video and peripheral support. And with two HDMI 2.0 and a DisplayPort 1.4, you can run 10-bit color and HDR up to the full 240 Hz. The M27Q X is a full-featured display that looks to provide an ideal balance of resolution and speed.

Assembly and Accessories

The M27Q X assembles easily with a captive bolt to join the base and upright, and a panel that snaps into place. If you’d rather use your own stand or arm, a 100mm VESA mount is provided. You’ll need to source your own fasteners for it though. The in-box cable bundle has DisplayPort, HDMI and USB-A to B. Since KVM and USB-C are part of the feature list, I expected a USB-C cable, but there was none. Also in the box is a small external power supply.

Product 360

The M27Q X features simple and unassuming styling with an 8mm-wide flush bezel for the main panel and angular accents on the triangular base. All parts are finished in matte-textured plastic. The upright is a solid piece with a 130mm height adjustment and 5/20 degrees of tilt. There is no portrait or swivel functionality. The panel can be placed high enough to use vertically with the eyepoint at center-screen. The anti-glare layer is matte and keeps reflections at bay while maintaining a sharp, grain-free image.

The back is finished at the top with a polished strip featuring the Gigabyte logo in white ink. A few lines are molded into the plastic as accents, and you can see the model designator there too. A small joystick controls the OSD and toggles power. A KVM button switches between the connected systems. And you can manage that functionality in the OSD.

The side view is angular and slim. The M27Q X is a bit thinner than typical 27-inch flat panels. Compared to most I’ve reviewed, it’s about one inch shallower. Unfortunately, there are no USB ports on either side.

Underneath, you’ll find a reasonably well-stocked input panel. I say this because there are only two USB downstream ports, which seems a little light. Most of the KVM-capable monitors I’ve seen have four. On the upside, the USB-C port can be used for video, giving the M27Q X a total of four video inputs when you include the two HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 1.4.

OSD Features

Pressing the M27Q X’s joystick brings up a quick menu that can open the full OSD, the KVM controls and GameAssist functions. The OSD has everything needed for image control, gaming enhancement and convenience.

Every sub-menu features different information at the top. In the Gaming menu, you get resolution, refresh rate and the status of different gaming aids. Aim Stabilizer is another term for blur reduction via backlight strobe. It has the plus of working along with Adaptive-Sync and the variable overdrive. It also costs almost nothing in light output or artifacts. Enabling Aim Stabilizer only reduces blur slightly at 240 Hz, but it’s very useful for keeping motion resolution high. The only limitation is that it won’t work in HDR mode. Also here is Black Equalizer, which increases black levels to enhance shadow detail. The overdrive is very well done with a variable setting called Smart OD. It works in both SDR and HDR modes, with Adaptive-Sync and Aim Stabilizer.

There are six picture presets plus three custom memory slots. Standard is close to the mark with no need for calibration. sRGB is even closer to spec if you want the smaller color gamut for SDR content. With five gamma options, three color temps and RGB sliders, you can tweak the image to your heart’s content. If you want multiple configurations at your fingertips, you can quickly save and load settings using the three custom modes.

The M27Q X offers a few HDR adjustments. Light Enhance increases the overall brightness. Use it sparingly; dial in too much and highlight details will disappear. Color Enhance bumps up saturation to make warm tones more vivid. It can also crush detail if you set it too high. Dark Enhance raises the black level if shadow areas are too hard to make out.

Game Assist

The M27Q X’s GameAssist menu has useful features for gaming and system monitoring. You can display a collection of time and frame rate values at the top of the screen. Crosshairs come preset or you can create your own in Gigabyte’s OSD Sidekick app. Eagle Eye is a center-screen zoom function best used as a sniping aid. It limits the refresh rate to 165 Hz. Finally, the Dashboard displays temperature, frequency, fan speed and usage for your CPU and GPU, along with DPI info if you’re using an Aorus mouse.

Gigabyte M27Q X Calibration Settings

The M27Q X can be used without calibration in its default Standard mode. It has only slight grayscale and gamma errors which cannot be seen in content. The native color gamut is larger than DCI-P3 but is a bit undersaturated in the red primary. It increases volume by over-saturating green and blue. However, the resulting error is relatively small. I achieved near-perfect grayscale tracking with a few tweaks to the RGB sliders.

The M27Q X is one of the few monitors I’ve seen where it’s necessary to reduce the default sharpness setting. I could see hints of edge enhancement in test patterns and high contrast content. Dropping from 5 to 4 cleared up the artifacting. My recommended settings for SDR mode are below. HDR has a few tweaks available for white, black and color levels. I suggest leaving them alone for the best HDR image.

Gaming and Hands-on

I reviewed the AOC Agon AG254FG right before the M27Q X, so it was easy to compare the feel of 360 Hz FHD against 240 Hz QHD. The AOC was definitely smoother in operation with framerates hovering around 300fps. But the Gigabyte was close behind and to me, had the same level of responsiveness to control inputs. The two monitors cost around the same, so the choice would come down to skill level. My abilities are about average, so I’d choose the screen with a higher resolution.

The M27Q X delivers on its wide gamut promise. Color is bold and vibrant in both SDR and HDR modes. The difference between the two isn’t much, so that’s a downside. If Gigabyte added a dynamic contrast feature for HDR mode, it would give that format more impact. Contrast is just average, which compared to other monitors in this price range is a negative. Though it is close to the 1,000:1 benchmark, newer IPS screens have demonstrated 1,200:1 and even a few are over 1,300:1 so the bar is being raised.

Clarity was never in question. A 27-inch QHD monitor has an ideal 109ppi pixel density, so whether you work or play on it, the image is always sharp. It’s important to visit the M27Q X’s menu to lower the sharpness slider from 5 to 4 though. It’s a subtle but visible improvement in cleanliness. And the change removes all signs of font anti-aliasing.

HDR is usable in Windows with very little change in color and contrast from SDR. If you need to leave HDR on for video or gaming, it’s perfectly fine for productivity apps. Some monitors wash out the Windows desktop image in HDR, but the M27Q X does not.

For HDR gaming, I had a mixed experience. Doom Eternal looked a little better than SDR, with slightly more saturated color. Tweaking the in-game HDR sliders helped make blacks a little deeper though I lost a little detail in the process. The M27Q X’s HDR adjustments were also useful here. The Color Enhance control made reds much deeper and warmer though it had little impact on blue or green. In Call of Duty WWII, a sunlit battlefield looked somewhat pasty and washed out. It lacked in warmer hues and contrast as well. In this case, playing the game in SDR was an improvement.

Trying out the different video processing options showed the M27Q X’s flexibility. Running Aim Stabilizer with Adaptive-Sync and Smart Overdrive made the moving image a hair smoother. It was a small difference but if you stick with SDR mode, there are no downsides to this setup. With frame rates hovering around 200fps on my GeForce RTX 3090 system, I never saw any blur or hesitation. Control inputs were firmly connected to on-screen movement.

The M27Q X is a superb example of the QHD/240 Hz market. Unless you are a seriously skilled gamer, it’s close in feel to an FHD/360 Hz screen. And its extra pixel density comes in handy when work needs doing. Plus the extra color gamut volume is welcome too. Only its HDR performance fell short for me. But I was perfectly happy to use it as an SDR-only display.

To compare the M27Q X’s performance, I had to go back in time a bit to find other QHD/240 Hz monitors. I’ve included Samsung’s 32-inch Odyssey G7, AOC’s PD27 and Asus’ PG279QM. At 165 Hz is BenQ’s EX3210R and Monoprice’s 43548. The comparison panels are a mix of IPS and VA technology.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

240 Hz will get you either a four- or five-millisecond response time. That’s fast enough that if you keep the frame rate over 200, overdrive and Adaptive-Sync are barely necessary. The M27Q X scores in the faster category and since it can run its blur reduction along with AS and overdrive, it’s nearly impossible to make it blur during fast camera pans or when objects move quickly across the screen. Only a 360 Hz monitor is smoother.

For total control lag, the M27Q X scores in the top percentile of all gaming monitors. A 360 Hz display might shave off a millisecond or two, but the difference is miniscule. Since both cost about the same, the 240 Hz panel with greater resolution sounds like a winner. The Gigabyte is a great example of the genre.

Viewing Angles

The M27Q X has excellent off-axis image quality with no apparent light reduction at 45 degrees to the sides. A slight green/red shift can be seen in the photos but in colorful content, this will be hard to spot. The top view is a bit murky with a blue tint and a 40% reduction in brightness.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My M27Q X sample had a slight glow at the bottom of the screen. It was visible in a full black field pattern (0% brightness) but disappeared at levels above 10%. It was not apparent in actual content, and detail rendering was not affected.

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The M27Q X is an extremely bright monitor with just over 516 nits peak output in SDR mode. It outshines its predecessor, the M27Q, in this regard. With a minimum measured value of 47 nits and a brightness slider with 100 clicks, that’s three to four nits per click. This makes the light level hard to set with precision. I’d rather see a maximum of around 350 nits for SDR and save the higher level for HDR.

The black level is high as expected and the resulting contrast is a tad below average at 992.4:1. This is close to the mark for IPS in general, but the newest panels have been inching closer to 1,200:1 which is visibly better.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration does not result in any change to the contrast ratio, which is a good thing. But the M27Q X is still on the low side of average in this test. Obviously, the VA panels have a technological advantage, but IPS panels can be better than this.

The ANSI contrast value is slightly lower, which is typical for any monitor. In the M27Q X’s case, overall image depth and dimension are good but not great.

In the M27Q X’s Standard picture mode, grayscale, gamma and color are close enough to perfect that calibration is not required. The native gamut is large on the blue and green side of the triangle, and red is slightly under-saturated. But overall accuracy is quite high.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

Out of the box, the M27Q X’s white point looks a tad red on the chart, but the errors are below the visible threshold. Calibration is unnecessary. Gamma is the tiniest bit light, but that error is also invisible.

With calibration, grayscale tracking is about as good as is possible. The M27Q X posts one of the best calibrated grayscale results I’ve ever recorded. Gamma is unchanged.

If you need an accurate sRGB mode, the M27Q X provides one. It locks out all adjustments except brightness but that’s OK because it’s nearly flawless. The only error is a dip in gamma at 10 and 20%. This is excellent performance.

Comparisons

With an out-of-box grayscale error of 1.61dE, the M27Q X is ready to go with an accurate image. The 0.28dE result I achieved after calibration is the second-lowest score I’ve recorded of the 292 monitors I’ve reviewed since 2013, impressive! Only the Asus VG259QM was lower with 0.24dE.

Gamma tracks well regardless of color mode. A 0.08 range of values is excellent, and the deviation from 2.2 is only 2.72%. This means all detail present in the original signal will be clearly and accurately rendered.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

The M27Q X advertises a super wide gamut, and it is indeed large, but there’s a catch. Blue and green are over-saturated to compensate for an under-saturated red primary. On the chart, you can see this behavior. Red meets its targets up to 60%, but 80 and 100 are short of the mark for DCI-P3. This isn’t wholly bad as SDR content mastered in sRGB will benefit. In fact, the overall error is low, so I have no complaints. I noted that the M27Q exhibited this same response.

Calibration improves the slight hue error in magenta but doesn’t fix it entirely. The average color error only changes a little. The takeaway is that there is no problem here and calibration only makes a tiny and mostly invisible difference.

The sRGB mode has pro-level accuracy with every point inside or in contact with its target box. The box represents 1dE, so this mode is visually perfect.

Comparisons

A 2.14dE score puts the M27Q X mid-pack in a group of excellent screens. Only the Monoprice has any visible issues, and they are small. The other monitors have very accurate colors and will look about the same in a side-by-side comparison.

With 102.76% coverage of DCI-P3, there is plenty of color for both SDR and HDR content. The red under-saturation is more than compensated for by extra green and blue. Since only two targets are a little off the mark, the final presentation is a good one. The only downside is that the M27Q X is not a great choice for color-critical work in DCI-P3. A software profile can’t add in the missing red hues. sRGB would be fine though. For general use, color is vibrant and saturated.

Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The M27Q X supports HDR10 signals and switches modes automatically with no need for user intervention. Traditional picture adjustments are locked out, but a few new options appear if you want to tailor the look of the HDR image.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The M27Q X is rated for 400 nits in HDR mode, but my sample topped 526 nits. That’s very bright, so highlight areas will pop nicely. Unfortunately, there’s no dynamic contrast here so the black level is also quite bright. HDR contrast is no higher than SDR. The picture looks a tad more saturated in some content, but it is mostly the same feel. The top Asus and Samsung screens vary the backlight to improve black levels, so their ratios are much higher.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The M27Q X’s HDR grayscale tracking is solid until the mid-point, where blue starts to diminish. The picture looks a bit warm but not too far off the mark. You can increase the Color Enhance slider in the HDR menu to add some blue, but red and green will also be increased. This helps some content look better. The EOTF tracks closely to spec except for the 0 and 5% steps, which are too light. Here is where dynamic contrast would be a benefit. HDR black levels are too high. Though shadow detail is plainly visible, it’s more a dark gray than true black.

HDR color saturation is very good, with reds a little past their targets. Only 100% red comes up short. Blue and green are almost exactly on their targets. The yellowish-white point pulls magenta and cyan off a little, but this is a minor error. The M27Q X’s HDR color is a little more accurate than most of the HDR monitors I’ve tested.

In the $650 to $750 price bracket, there are two major display options. You can go for a 25-inch FHD/360 Hz display or a 27-inch QHD/240 Hz screen. For most gamers, the performance advantage of the 360 Hz panel will be minimal if any. It’ll take some serious skill for an extra couple of milliseconds of lag to make a difference in competition. 240 Hz still delivers tremendous motion clarity and a smooth experience.

The Gigabyte M27Q X is a worthy upgrade from its 170 Hz predecessor. Though the M27Q is a bargain, the X model's extra speed is easy to see in gameplay. And it’s a benefit. That super-low input lag is a real asset when the action gets intense.

The other advantage of the M27Q X over 360 Hz screens is color. Wide gamuts haven’t quite made their way to the faster refresh category yet, so if you want DCI-P3, QHD is the way to go. Though the Gigabyte comes up slightly short in red, it fills out the gamut volume with green and blue. And overall accuracy is excellent. No calibration is required in the Standard picture mode, which is nice. And if you make some adjustments, you’ll see one of the most accurate grayscale performances of any monitor I’ve ever reviewed.

If RGB lighting effects are important to you, there are none to be had here. But a collection of unique and substantive gaming aids more than make up for that. The Dashboard feature with its CPU and GPU monitoring is something you won’t find with any other brand. And the ability to use blur reduction along with Adaptive-Sync is a rarity. My only complaint here is the lack of punch in HDR mode. You get a bit of extra color but no more contrast. Though HDRt is supported, the M27Q X doesn’t do it justice.

If you’re looking for maximum gaming speed and performance, and FHD resolution won’t cut it for you, the 240 Hz QHD category is an appealing alternative. The Gigabyte M27Q X is an excellent example of the genre and early adopters will want to check it out. I had a ball gaming with it, and you will too.

There are so many great gaming screens today, with such a wide array of focus and features, that it can be hard to choose the best gaming monitor. My recommendation is always to consider your needs/wants and pick the right tool for the job. With a large array of screen sizes, shapes, resolutions, speeds and features, it’s safe to say that displays have become more specialized in their design intent.

While most people consider resolution foremost, competitive gaming has its own set of requirements. If an esports player wants every possible advantage, they’ll need a stout PC and a high-performance display. 144 Hz is now a starting point. 240 Hz is fast, but 360 Hz is the current pinnacle (although even faster displays are coming soon). When motion resolution is the main focus, nothing available today can beat a 360 Hz monitor, even though they all currently run at FHD (1080p) resolution.

There are a number of these premium panels available, but here we'll be looking at the latest addition to AOC’s Agon Pro line, the AG254FG. It’s a 24.5-inch IPS panel with 360 Hz, Adaptive-Sync and HDR. While it may be difficult for some to wrap their minds around a 24.5-inch FHD panel that costs $750, you won’t care about the price once you’ve seen it in action.

AOC Agon AG254FG Specs

The two things that separate rank-and-file gaming monitors from the high-end models are response and motion resolution. The resolution of a moving image is far lower than a panel’s static resolution. Pixel count takes a back seat to refresh rate. The higher the rate, the greater integrity a moving picture has. 240 Hz is very good and dominates the QHD genre, but 360 Hz is another level entirely.

The AG254FG employs a Fast IPS panel with FHD resolution. The 360 Hz refresh rate is achieved here without overclock. Adaptive-Sync comes with a certification from Nvidia for G-Sync and FreeSync operation from 48-360 Hz, as confirmed by my testing. Also included is the latest G-Sync module, which has DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 ports. 

In the OSD, you’ll find a G-Sync Processor sub-menu which gives you access to the Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer. Using a compatible mouse, you can monitor actual control lag in real-time. Here’s a more in-depth look at Nvidia Reflex. The module also enables ULMB, a blur-reducing backlight strobe at speeds up to 240 Hz with variable pulse width. Put simply: less blur means less light as the black frame insertion time increases.

Image-wise, the AG254FG is an sRGB display. That means it will not provide extended color for HDR content. HDR10 is supported, though with an effective dynamic contrast feature that topped 11,000:1 in my tests. That makes it the top-performing HDR screen of all the 360 Hz displays I’ve tested. It also delivers super-accurate color out of the box. I was able to calibrate the AG254FG, but the adjustment is completely unnecessary. There’s plenty of light available with over 400 nits peak in SDR and HDR modes.

The feature list rounds out with a slick lighting effect that includes a desktop projector, lights on the back and an LED bar on the bottom of the bezel. It’s all controllable from the OSD or AOC’s G-Menu desktop app with a myriad of effects and colors. You also get an aiming point, frame counter and the already-mentioned Reflex Latency Analyzer. The AG254FG is a premium gaming screen, and nothing short of another 360 Hz monitor can do what it does. Let’s take a look.

Assembly and Accessories

The AG2564FG ships in a substantial carton that is a bit taller than expected. That’s to accommodate the rigid shading hood packed in its own box. The panel, upright and base don’t require tools to assemble, but I found the captive bolt in the base to be too recessed for my fingers. The included Phillips-head screwdriver will make this step easier. Another box houses the accessories, external power supply, cables for USB, DisplayPort and HDMI, and a pair of stand clips to keep the wiring tidy.

Product 360

AOC’s Agon gaming monitors have their own set of styling cues that include red trim, sharp angles and specific graphics. In fact, the front bezel only says “Agon;” AOC does not appear anywhere. In case that logo isn’t enough, a small projector on the stand displays the Agon logo or the word Agon on your desktop. A little slider switches between the two images, and you can make it any color you want at three intensity levels. Additional lighting is found in a diffused bar across the bottom edge of the panel and on the back, where you’ll see six bracket shapes. Light effects can be static or moving. You’ll notice on the closeup photo of the back contacts for the base’s projector. They maintain their connections no matter where you rotate the panel.

The stand is rock solid and one of the best I’ve seen from AOC. The base appears thin from the front. But change your angle of view and you’ll see it’s quite stout. It’s solid metal, as is the red collar that wraps around the upright and supports the panel. That part is finished in a matte red that looks very high-end. At the top of the upright is a handle, also made from red-finished metal. On the left side is a tiny slide-out headphone hook. Around the back right is the AG254FG’s tiny joystick. You can also plug in an included controller puck to navigate the OSD. Power status is indicated by a white LED on the front.

Ergonomics include a 90-degree portrait mode, which I rarely see from new monitors. You also get 5.1 inches of height range, 30 degrees swivel to either side and 5/23 degrees tilt. Movement feel and quality are befitting a monitor of this price and status. The AG254FG is a premium piece of hardware in every respect.

The three-piece shading hood is a pro-quality piece, rigid with a light-absorbing felt lining and a door on top to accommodate a light meter. It even has a slot on the left side to allow the headphone hook to come out. The hood snaps in place and can be easily removed if desired. Using it keeps the screen completely free of reflections and enhances perceived contrast.

The input panel offers two HDMI 2.0 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4. USB is version 3.2 and includes one upstream and four downstream connections. The yellow port is for charging and the green is for the special mouse needed for the Reflex Latency Analyzer. Audio is supported by two 3.5mm outputs and one microphone input. The mini-USB port next to the DC jack is for the OSD controller puck called QuickSwitch.

OSD Features

The AG254FG’s OSD uses large icons for its eight sub-menus. It pops up in the lower-right corner, but you can move it anywhere on the screen you like. To make it appear, press the joystick or the puck’s center button.

The picture modes are called Game Mode and there are seven choices, plus Off. The latter is the default and best choice because it’s spot-on accurate out of the box and leaves all image controls available. Also in this menu is Shadow Control to enhance dark detail, Dial Point (aiming reticle), Overdrive (three levels, Weak is best) and a frame counter. QuickSwitch LED activates a red ring on the OSD controller puck.

In the Luminance menu, you’ll find Peak white (nits) which is another term for brightness or backlight level. It’s ticked off in nits ranging from 40 to 450. It’s close to the measured value so if you want 200 nits, a setting of 200 is about right. My sample was 192. You can change the gamma by relative values. Default is 2.2 and you can go above or below that in 0.2 increments. Though there is an option for SDR colors sRGB, the AG254FG is an sRGB monitor, so this control has no effect on the color gamut. The SDR Variable Backlight helps with contrast, but some shadow detail can be hard to see when it’s turned on. HDR Variable Backlight is very effective for HDR content and creates a broad dynamic range with no downside.

The Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer has its own sub-menu. Once activated, you can change the size of the monitoring window as well as its size, location and sensitivity. The control latency value, in milliseconds, displays whenever you click inside the window. Also in this menu is ULMB. It works after you turn off Adaptive-Sync in Windows Control Panel and lower the refresh rate to 240 Hz. A variable pulse width slider changes the amount of blur reduction and light output.

In Color Setup, you can pick from three color temp options plus a user mode. There is also a 6-axis color adjustment. If you leave the color temp on warm, there is no need for calibration. The AG254FG is pro-level right out of the box.

LightFX refers to the LEDs on the back of the panel and the bezel’s bottom edge. There are many effects and colors to choose from. You can tailor the effects in the OSD or AOC’s G-Menu app. The projector is controlled separately from the Extra menu.

The signal info screen is more complete than most monitors with resolution, refresh rate, Adaptive-Sync type, signal bit-depth, dynamic range, EOTF standard and overdrive and analyzer status.

AOC Agon AG254FG Calibration Settings

The AG254FG sports pro-level accuracy right out of the box with Game Mode turned off and the color temp on Warm. A tiny gain can be had with calibration, but visually, there is no difference. Gamma is a tick on the light side, but the adjustments are too coarse to get it right on 2.2. I found I preferred the default setting when playing games. Color is sRGB for both SDR and HDR content and is also spot-on. HDR signals switch modes automatically and leave the picture presets active. Game Mode Off is the best choice for HDR content as well.

Gaming and Hands-on

The AG254FG is a specialized tool for gaming. But even though it is narrowly focused, it works fine for productivity if you don’t require high resolution. The pixel density is 90ppi, so word processors and spreadsheets look fine. Small lettering isn’t jagged unless you sit very close to the screen. No edge enhancement or anti-aliasing is apparent, which is a good thing. Those features don’t really make the image sharper. What does help is contrast, something this monitor has plenty of. Though it isn’t in the realm of a VA panel, it has more visible and measured dynamic range than most IPS monitors. Accurate color is a bonus here as well. The gamut is sRGB, but for any kind of work outside high-end photo and video editing, that’s plenty of color.

HDR can be used in Windows for most applications. It didn’t enhance or detract from things like web browsing or email, so you can leave it turned on all the time if you wish. Some SDR video content looked a bit harsh with HDR engaged. That’s to be expected when the luminance curve is altered from the original content spec.

Gaming is what the AG254FG is designed for, and there, I have no complaints. 360 Hz is an order of magnitude better than slower refresh rates. 240 Hz comes close, but I could see a visual improvement when frame rates were sustained above 300fps. To do this in a resource-demanding game like Doom Eternal, I had to play in SDR mode if I wanted to turn on max detail. With the extra load of HDR processing, I saw around 240fps, which is still amazing because the control response was instantaneous. Ultimately, I preferred to play with HDR because it did look better. Contrast was deeper thanks to the monitor’s dynamic mode and color was more saturated. The sRGB gamut didn’t seem to be a limiting factor in this game.

In Call of Duty WWII though, I did see slightly less bright color in daytime scenes. On a sunny day, greens and reds weren’t quite as bold as I’m used to seeing from wide gamut displays. This did not spoil the experience because I reveled in the AG254FG’s lightning-fast reflexes. For this and all games, I set the overdrive to Weak. Faster settings cause too much ghosting. I also tried ULMB and found it worked well, but with occasional artifacts. They manifested as outlines that lagged behind objects contrasting with the background like light fixtures or dark-colored birds against a bright sky. After trying this for a while, I went back to G-Sync.

It’s speculation to say that a 360 Hz monitor makes me a better gamer. But it seems that I make more progress in the suite of games I use for testing whenever I review one. Sharp motion resolution makes precision movement and aiming much easier. I don’t overshoot the mark as often when the action is really intense. I can focus weapon sights on the target more quickly and when I press the mouse button to take the shot, it lands true more of the time.

The AG254FG is the fifth 360 Hz monitor I’ve reviewed. The others are MSI’s NXG253R, Acer’s X25, Alienware’s AW2521H and Asus’ PG259QN. To provide a bit of perspective, I’ve included ViewSonic’s 240 Hz XG2431. All are FHD resolution.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

The main reason to go 360 Hz is motion resolution. Though the response between it and 240 Hz is just two milliseconds, that translates to a visible difference. Overdrive and Adaptive-Sync are barely necessary when the frame rate tops 300fps. Control lag is also super-low. Though the AOC is a bit slower than the others, it still provides an advantage for skilled players over a 240 Hz screen. Also consider that test results don’t tell the whole story. You really must try a 360 Hz monitor in person to fully appreciate its capabilities.

Viewing Angles

The AG254FG uses a high-quality AHVA panel for enhanced viewing angles. You can see that there is almost no change in color at 45 degrees off-axis. Light drops by about 10%, but that is the only effect. You’ll have a hard time seeing this when viewing actual content. A 25-inch monitor is a bit small for sharing, but if you get close to your opponent, it can be done. The top view is about 50% darker, with a green shift and a loss of detail.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My AG254FG sample had a visible hot spot in the lower-left that increased the uniformity number. In content, it could only be seen when that part of the screen had very dark material. It was not a distraction during gameplay. This is a sample-specific anomaly; not all panels will be the same. Color uniformity was visually perfect, and I could not see any bleed or glow in test patterns above 0% brightness.

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The AG254FG is rated for 400 nits and my sample beat that with a 446.4176-nit peak value. That’s very bright, more than enough for any indoor setting. With a minimum measured value of 37 nits, there’s plenty of range for any user to find their ideal level. The brightness slider is ticked in nit values from 40 to 450 and measures close to those numbers. In my case, I had to set it to 192 for 200 nits.

The black level is very good relative to other IPS panels, good enough to push contrast to 1,252.7:1. That puts the AG254FG among the very best IPS monitors for dynamic range.

After Calibration to 200 nits

I calibrated the AG254FG with its RGB sliders and set output to 200 nits with no visual change in contrast. This is one of the best IPS monitors I’ve measured of any size or resolution. With best-in-class black levels, it delivers a textured image with nicely saturated color and sharp detail.

The AOC also wins the ANSI test over the next-best Asus. Though I noted a hotspot in my sample’s lower left corner, it still looks fantastic when viewing real-world content. This is excellent performance.

In addition to excellent contrast, the AG254FG sports some of the best out-of-box color accuracy I’ve experienced. It’s a pro-level display for sure.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

I’m always satisfied when I can calibrate a monitor to less than 1dE grayscale error. When one comes from the factory at that level, I’m impressed. The AG254FG clearly doesn’t need to be calibrated. Just leave Game Mode off and color temp on Warm to get the same great result I did.

Of course, I tweaked the RGB sliders just to see if I could make it better, and I managed a 0.26dE gain, tiny and completely invisible. Gamma in either case is a tad light with dips at 10 and 90%. This doesn’t have a huge impact on image quality as the tracking is straight. If you want a darker presentation, change Relative Gamma to +0.2 in the Luminance menu.

Comparisons

The AG254FG clearly needs no adjustment, but if I can lower the value from 0.94dE to 0.68dE, I call that progress. Yes, it’s just a matter of ego. There is no visual difference in the image after calibration. Unchanged, the AOC wins the day. After all the screens are calibrated, it slips to fifth, but since all the screens are under 1dE, there is no actual difference in their images when compared side by side.

The AG254FG’s gamma tracks straight enough to beat out the other screens in the range of values test, but with a 4.09% deviation from 2.2, it places fifth. Again, that’s a small difference in a group of monitors that are all excellent. The AOC’s advantage is that it can run with the group at its default settings.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

The AG254FG has astoundingly accurate color gamut accuracy. It’s rare that any monitor, even a professional one, can beat 1dE in my color test. The AOC is already at the highest level before I’ve changed a single setting. Calibration makes no visual difference but drops the value slightly. It truly doesn’t get better than this. My only wish is that the gamut was larger. The 360 Hz monitor class has not yet embraced extended color.

Comparisons

The AG254FG would win this comparison with or without calibration, and that’s impressive. It’s also impressive that all the screens here are below 2dE average gamut error. There’s nothing to complain about with any of them.

The one bummer here is that the AG254FG doesn’t have a wide gamut. The other screens are sRGB also, but they push the envelope more, up to 112.83% from the Alienware. A bit more color would be nice here.

Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The AG254FG switches automatically to HDR mode when an HDR10 signal is present. You can still change the picture presets, but no calibration is possible. Brightness is fixed, but you can turn off the variable backlight if you wish.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The AG254FG easily tops the VESA DisplayHDR 400 standard with over 447 nits peak output. Variable Backlight is turned on by default in HDR mode and you’ll want to leave it on for maximum dynamic range. With the lowest black level here, it hits a best-in-class 11,767:1 contrast ratio. No detail is obscured in either highlight or shadow areas. There is an occasional shifting of the brightness level when content changes quickly, but it is not a distraction during gameplay. Of all the 360 Hz screens I’ve reviewed, this one has the best HDR contrast.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The AG254FG’s excellent SDR color accuracy is repeated in HDR mode. The grayscale run shows a bit of coolness at the top, but I could not see that in content. The EOTF tracks perfectly, ensuring full detail rendering at every brightness level from the darkest to the brightest parts of the image. The tone-map transition happens at around 65% which is as expected given the AOC’s peak output.

Most HDR content is mastered with either DCI-P3 or Rec.2020 color. The AG254FG tops out at sRGB but manages to differentiate between Rec.709 (same as sRGB) and DCI-P3 in my tests. This means HDR content will show more saturation in all but the brightest scenery. That encompasses most material, so only the most saturated hues will be missing. This is the best one can hope for when displaying HDR content on an sRGB monitor. Though I wish the gamut were larger, it is as accurate as it can be.

For $750, there are all kinds of gaming monitor options avaiable – you could go for a 240 Hz 27-inch QHD, a 34-inch curved, or even a 32-inch 144 Hz Ultra HD panel if you shop around. But none of those can do what the AG254FG and other 360 Hz screens can do: produce the cleanest and smoothest moving image while delivering responsiveness that makes the game seem directly connected to your brain.

Beautiful images with lots of color and detail are great when they’re not moving. But start mowing through hordes of alien monsters at breakneck speeds, and suddenly that 144 Hz Ultra HD image looks soft. And those extra 10 to 15 milliseconds of control lag are felt when you need more attempts to get through the toughest levels.

The AOC Agon AG254FG is a supremely capable gaming monitor. Its 360 Hz refresh rate is totally reliable. G-Sync and FreeSync work equally well, which is to say flawlessly. The overdrive is barely necessary, but it makes a slight improvement in clarity. The G-Sync Reflex Latency Analyzer is handy when you want to see the input lag values in real time. And since color is spot-on out of the box, no image tweaks are required.

My only wish is for a wide gamut. Though that is something that no 360 Hz monitor has currently, the AG254FG has a tad less color volume than its competitors. But it has higher contrast, especially for HDR content. So, in many cases, image depth comparisons are a wash.

Of all the gaming monitors I’ve tried, the 360 Hz ones are the most fun. When you’re trying to reproduce moving reality on a two-dimensional screen, frame rate is king. Competitive esports players already know this, and now they have another excellent choice when shopping for a premium tool. The AOC Agon AG254FG is a superlative gaming display. Highly Recommended.

Another attractive Porsche Design monitor has been released by AOC. The latest addition to the range is the Porsche Design AOC Agon Pro PD32M. From the name you will able to deduce that this is a 32 inch monitor joining the gaming-centric Agon Pro family. 

The 'M' suffix in the codename might not be so obvious a clue to a big feature of this product, but this is one of the new breed of mini LED display panel monitors. Some other essentials to know are that this is a 4K monitor with Display HDR 1400 certification, it has a 97% PCI-P3 gamut, 1ms response time, and can run at up to 144Hz. Porsche Design says this monitor is designed "for gaming, streaming, and graphics." Will it be good enough to win a pace on our Best Monitor Deals 2022: 4K, Gaming and More? If we get one in the labs we will let you know.

We reviewed the Porsche Design AOC Agon PD27 just over a year ago, and it scored very highly, winning an Editor's Choice award. That was a 27 inch 1440p screen with VA panel and its only negatives were that the backlight strobing caused some image smearing, and the price.

This new PD32M is a completely different beast, using different panel technology, so we won't be able to extrapolate our previous review findings to this model. However, the model we reviewed last year and the new model might make a handy comparison, to highlight the differences the mini LED technology panel can bring along, so please check below and see the differences tabulated.

The official product page doesn't include all the specs we would like. A major gap concerns detail about the contrast. As we mentioned in a Mini LED monitor news story in February, the large number of dimming zones these increasingly popular panels feature makes monitors appear more contrasty, as they can turn off backlight areas for 'true black'. We don't know how many local dimming zones are present in this panel either, but mini LED monitors typically have between 576 and 2000 zones. As a reminder, OLED and micro LED panels allow for every individual pixel to be turned off, rather than relying on backlight zones.

Another change between the older Porsche Design AOC Agon Pro PD27 and the new PD32M is that the stand had been redesigned. Apparently the new design is influenced by the shape of a Porsche sports car steering wheel. If they hadn't mentioned it one might not notice, as it looks pretty standard as far as gaming monitor stands go.

Some less essential specs which you might like to know about are the built-in Light FX and LED logo projection features. There is a wireless input source switching capability too, and users have access to a heatset holder on either side of the monitor.

The Porsche Design AOC Agon Pro PD32M is available to pre-order now in several world regions. In the US it costs $1,799 and should ship from mid-June. UK pricing is £1,750, and Euro pricing is €1,999 including taxes.

Aside from a pair of virtual reality goggles, there is no better way to fill your peripheral vision with a gaming environment than the 49-inch 32:9 monitor class. These screens are nearly four feet wide and the best of them sport 5120 x 1440 resolution, with the same 109 pixels per inch density as a 27-inch QHD display. Couple that with Adaptive-Sync, 120 Hz, extended color and HDR, and you have a unique and wonderful way to enjoy your favorite first-person experience.

I’ve looked at 49-inch mega-wides from AOC, Viotek and AOC and found they provide a unique perspective for gaming that you can’t find anywhere else. These monitors aren’t inexpensive but Monoprice, with its focus on value, has entered the fray with its $999 Dark Matter 49-inch, product 43305. 

Designed to compete with the best gaming monitors, the 43305 uses a 5120 x 1440-pixel VA panel running at 120 Hz with both FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility down to 48 Hz. The Monoprice has not been certified by Nvidia, but I had no trouble running G-Sync with HDR and overdrive at 120 Hz. In addition, it offers Monoprice’s one-year perfect pixel guarantee where you can get a replacement panel if you get even a single dead pixel during the first year of use. That’s something you can’t get from many other companies.

Monoprice Dark Matter 49-inch 43305 Specs

The VA part ensures high contrast, which, in my tests, measured just shy of 3,000:1. That, along with a substantial color gamut that covers nearly 97% of DCI-P3 means a well-saturated image rich with depth and detail. Though I did not find additional contrast in HDR mode, the 43305 looks great when showing all types of content. The 1800R curvature contributes a smooth wrapping effect beyond one’s peripheral vision when sitting three feet away. Image distortion is minimal since the radius isn’t too extreme.

The 43305 is still in the premium range at $1,000, which is within a few bucks of AOC’s AG493UCX and Viotek’s SUW49DA. Though the Samsung 49-inch G9 is the over-achiever in this category with its 240 Hz refresh rate, it has a smaller color gamut and will set you back an additional $200.

In addition to game-focused video processing, you also get a cool lighting effect built into the stand, aiming points, four total video inputs with picture-by-picture (PBP) windowing, and solid build quality. If you’ve ever considered putting two 27-inch QHD flat panels on your desk, the 43305 can replicate that experience without the line in between. It is a unique way to game and interact with a computer. Let’s take a look.

Assembly and Accessories of Monoprice Dark Matter 49-inch 43305

The Monoprice Dark Matter 49-inch 43305 is packed efficiently in a long, slender carton with plenty of crumbly foam to protect the curved panel. The metal stand and base are packed separately and fit together with a Phillips-head screwdriver and the included bolts. 

The panel then snaps in place, or you can use the 75mm VESA mount and included adapters to attach it to an arm or wall bracket. If you wall mount, the panel comes out around 6.3 inches plus the depth of the bracket. The power supply is internal, so you get an IEC power cord for it, plus two DisplayPort cables. The monitor supports up to four video sources simultaneously if you activate the PBP multi-window function in the OSD.

Product 360: Monoprice Dark Matter 49-inch 43305

A 49-inch mega-wide – Monoprice uses the term DQHD (Dual Quad HD) – monitor requires a substantial amount of desk space. It’s nearly four feet wide (1.2 meters) though it has similar depth to other curved screens, around 10 inches with the base. The stand is quite solid, more than up to the task of supporting the panel. The complete package weighs 32.6 pounds. 

The base is deep enough to keep everything stable. The only ergonomic adjustment is tilt, -5 and 15 degrees. There is no height adjustment which is typical for this class. My preference is to set curved screens perfectly vertical, so every part of the image is equidistant from my eyes. To do this here, I’d have to use a monitor pedestal or a very low office chair.

The screen has an effective anti-glare coating, which is important with this much panel area. It’s still best to avoid sunny windows which will degrade picture quality. My sample had no grain or softness; the image was crystal clear, no surprise given the excellent 109ppi pixel density.

Styling is simple and clean, with a flush bezel around the top and sides and a plain trim strip across the bottom. The OSD controls are under a central bulge with four keys plus a power toggle and a blue LED that glows steadily for power-on and flashes in standby. Additional lighting is installed atop the stand in a unique feature that looks a bit like a floating saucer. It can be steady or flashing in any of six colors selected in the OSD.

The back is smooth, with just a thin grill for airflow across the top. A copper color ring frames the stand’s attachment point and a cover snaps on over the input panel to keep cables tidy. There are four total video inputs, two HDMI 2.0 and two DisplayPort 1.4 (see HDMI vs. DisplayPort). All support FreeSync at 120 Hz with HDR, but G-Sync requires DisplayPort (see FreeSync vs. G-Sync). You also get a 3.5mm audio port for headphones. There are two built-in speakers which play cleanly at polite volumes. There are no USB ports for peripherals. The one pictured above is for service only.

OSD Features of Monoprice Dark Matter 49-inch 43305

To summon the 43305’s OSD, press the leftmost key twice. The menu system is logically laid out with many options for video processing, image adjustment and convenience.

Pressing any key brings up this icon-based quick menu. The house represents the full OSD. The game controller offers a group of aiming points in red or green. The middle icon operates the LED lighting effect, and the fourth icon controls the PBP windows. You can arrange up to four video sources at once on the screen.

The second sub-menu has a black level control that can help enhance shadow detail, raising black levels and reducing contrast. I did not need to use it during my review. DCR is a dynamic contrast feature for SDR content. Using it increases dynamic range a little and grays out the brightness and contrast sliders. I found no need for that feature either. The 43305’s contrast is already excellent.

Color Setting contains calibration options like gamma presets, color temps, six picture modes, low blue light and color hue & saturation. The default gamma is very dark, forcing me to try a lower number to improve the image. 2.0 is the better setting as you’ll see below in my test results.

The Monoprice Dark Matter 49-inch 43305 has three overdrive levels. The Middle setting strikes the best balance between ghosting and blur reduction. There is no backlight strobe available, but Response Time keeps the moving image smooth and free of obvious blur. Dynamic Luminous Control is an option I’ve seen on most Monoprice monitors. The manual states that it “strengthens the expression of grayscale.” While that makes no sense, my observation is that it changes gamma and not in a positive direction. It removed some mid-tone detail and made the picture look flat.

The fifth photo shows the multi-window menu, which lets you display the signals from four sources at once. You can swap their positions on the screen as well. This is something a mega-wide monitor does particularly well.

If you’re looking for the Adaptive-Sync and HDR controls, they’re hiding in the Other menu at the bottom. HDR is turned off by default but if you set it to Auto, it will detect HDR10 signals and switch modes without user intervention. Adaptive-Sync is also off by default. Turn it on to eliminate frame tears.

Calibration Settings for Monoprice Dark Matter 49-inch 43305

In the Monoprice Dark Matter 49-inch 43305's default Standard mode, the picture looks quite dark with a slight purple tint. Clearly, calibration is necessary. I changed the gamma preset from 2.2 to 2.0 and tweaked the RGB sliders in the User color temp to achieve very good results. 

While not quite at the reference level, I obtained fairly accurate color with good grayscale and gamma tracking. Calibration also improves image depth and brings out more color detail. I strongly suggest using my settings below or calibrating your 43305 if you can. You cannot calibrate HDR mode, but it has the correct luminance tracking, a greenish-white point and very good color gamut accuracy within the DCI-P3 standard. There is no sRGB mode, so you’ll be seeing the full gamut in all content.

Gaming and Hands-on with Monoprice Dark Matter 49-inch 43305

On the surface, a 32:9 monitor like the 43305 seems only suited for gaming, and that is certainly its main focus. But as a workhorse, it has the unique ability to window up to four video sources on the screen. It is, after all, two 27-inch QHD monitors melded into a single panel. I tried this out by putting a Windows desktop on the left and the output from an UltraHD Blu-ray player on the right. Lo and behold, it worked perfectly. 

I was able to play a movie while I worked. While this might qualify as questionable multi-tasking, it’s nice to know the flexibility is there. One could monitor the activities of two, three or four servers, for example, or run a laptop along with an enterprise PC. Audio can be routed from any connected source to the 3.5mm output and the built-in speakers.

The 43305’s 1800R curve isn’t too extreme so image distortion is minimal. Spreadsheets have a bit of a barrel effect but I adapted to it quickly. Word processing isn’t an issue, though I wouldn’t want to work on something too far to either side since it requires a head turn. Photo editing is very cool since you can put the image in the center and lots of toolbars on either side, or window multiple pictures. Video post-production would be super easy on this monitor.

Gaming is a completely different experience than any other kind of display. A 21:9 ultra-wide approaches the virtual reality effect but the 43305’s 32:9 aspect ratio is second only to actual VR goggles. You’ll be turning your head a lot just to take in the vast environment on the screen. Doom Eternal had no problem recognizing the correct aspect ratio, resolution and HDR capability. The picture has good contrast though it won’t compete with the best HDR screens I’ve seen. If this panel added zone dimming to its edge backlight, it would be a big improvement.

What cannot be faulted is the 43305’s color. The gamut covers almost all of DCI-P3 which means lots of lush red and green hues. Blood red is something you won’t see on many monitors, but this one takes gore to another level. Grass and foliage textures in Call of Duty WWII also pop like nothing else. Remember that most extended color screens fall short in the green primary, but the Monoprice does not. When you’re fighting your way through the woods, you can almost feel the rustling of leaves and the crunch of grass beneath your feet.

The 43305 has no issues with video processing. Its 120 Hz refresh rate is fast enough to keep things smooth though it won’t match responsiveness with a 240 Hz display like Samsung’s 49-inch G9. However, for my gaming skill set, I had no complaints. I racked up about the same number of frags as usual and had to respawn an equal number of times. As a pure gaming monitor, the 43305 is more focused on image quality than raw speed.

I rounded up the widest monitors in my database for comparison to the Monoprice 43305. Running at 120 Hz are AOC’s AG493UCX and Viotek’s SUW49DA. Samsung’s LC49G95T runs at 240 Hz. To bring the count to six, I added Acer’s X38 and Alienware’s AW3821DW, two 38-inch 21:9 IPS screens.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

Response times are in lockstep with refresh rates here with the Samsung drawing the screen in just 5ms. 8ms is typical for a 120 Hz display of any size or shape. You won’t find a performance advantage or penalty with a 32:9 panel.

The Monoprice is a tad slower than the other two 120 Hz screens, but 2ms of control lag is hard to perceive by any normally skilled player. If you plan to engage in high-level competition, the Samsung G9 is clearly the best tool for the job with just 23ms of total lag. But for the rest of us, the 43305 is more than qualified for fragging duties.

Viewing Angles

With a screen as wide as the 43305, viewing angles are a bit harder to judge. The point of a curved monitor is to keep all parts of the screen equidistant from the eye and an 1800R radius accomplishes that. When sitting 45 degrees off-center, the picture fades a bit and takes on a pink hue. Detail washes out a little, but all steps are clearly visible. The top view isn’t useful for much but how often would one look down on a monitor that’s four feet wide? This is typical VA performance but when a screen is this wide and curved, it’s hard to find a bad seat.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My 43305 sample had excellent screen uniformity when I measured a full black field pattern. There was no visible bleed or glow, and every part of the panel looked the same. Other brightness levels showed the same behavior and there was no color shift from edge to edge.

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

Brightness is not an issue for the 43305, or any other monitor in the group. Only the Viotek failed to top 400 nits, but its 360-nit score is plenty bright enough for such a large panel. The Monoprice can light up a room easily and puts out enough light to hurt your eyes. Dialing it down to 200 nits or less is preferable, but it’s good to know that the extra headroom is there for HDR content.

The 43305’s black levels are second-best in the group, pipped only by the Viotek. You can see VA’s advantage clearly in this test. The resulting contrast is a decent 2,551.1:1, which is firmly in the hunt for this class. If you want more contrast than this, you’ll either need an OLED or a jumbo VA display like Philips’ 558M1RY.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration doesn’t affect contrast, which is a good thing; it’s still over 2,500:1 with a very low black level. My adjustments included a lower gamma setting which lightens up the picture in a good way. You’ll see the effect of that later in the color tests. Again, it doesn’t get much better than this. Only a few monitors have greater contrast.

The 43305 over-achieves in the ANSI test, which represents a more real-world image. The score has risen to 2,900.5:1, which is enough for first place. When you add in the huge color gamut, the resulting picture is very saturated, detailed and lifelike. Shadow and highlight details are clear, and there is no need for the dynamic contrast feature.

I ran all the tests in the 43305’s Standard picture mode. It comes closer to the D65 color temp than the other modes but still needs some tweaking for best results.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

Default grayscale isn’t too bad with a purple tint visible in steps from 40% on up. What needs more attention is the gamma tracking which is too dark. This makes the picture look dull and murky. A lot of highlight detail is obscured, and there is no texture. Normally, I would like a VA monitor’s gamma to be around 2.25 to 2.30, but 2.62 is much too high.

Setting the gamma preset to 2.0 fixes the problem. While a measured average of 2.20 would be ideal, 2.12 is closer to the mark. The tracking is also straight now, making a huge difference in quality. I adjusted the RGB sliders to get all grayscale errors below 3dE. They have coarse resolution, so perfection isn’t quite in the cards, but this result is very good.

Comparisons

The 43305’s 4.76dE default grayscale score puts it in last place. I would calibrate all these monitors except the Samsung and Acer, which are already visually perfect by default. They are also more expensive. At a minimum, one should change the gamma preset from 2.2 to 2.0 to bring out more picture detail.

After calibration, the 43305 is still last. However, since none of the monitors have visible grayscale errors, it’s of little matter. Gamma is the real beneficiary with tighter tracking and only a 3.64% deviation from 2.2.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

You can see how gamma affects color in the first CIE chart. Thanks to the grayscale errors, hue values for magenta are off, but red saturation overshoots its targets by around 10%. Color luminance is quite low too, which doesn’t show in the charts above. The picture looks lifeless at the default settings. A 5.11dE average error indicates room for improvement.

With calibration, all color errors are now below the visible threshold. Though the 100% red and magenta points are still over-saturated, the other targets are greatly improved. Color luminance is also much better with neutral values across the spectrum.

Comparisons

When a monitor finishes last in a comparison with a 2.19dE color score, you know it’s in excellent company. This is superb color accuracy by any standard. I’d call the Acer reference level for sure, but the other screens provide excellent fidelity. Visually, it would be hard to discern between any of them.

It is possible to see a difference in the volume test though. The 43305 and the Viotek have just a bit more color than the rest, with almost 100% coverage of DCI-P3. In the 49-inch mega-wide category, they are the most colorful. The Samsung has a speed advantage but isn’t quite as vivid. The 43305 lacks an sRGB mode, so SDR content will be over-saturated. That won’t be an issue for most users, but a profile will be necessary to tame that wide gamut if your work includes color-critical tasks.

Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

Once you set the 43305 to HDR Auto, it will switch modes automatically when an HDR10 signal is detected over either HDMI or DisplayPort. There are no image adjustments available for HDR content and no dynamic contrast.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The 43305 has decent HDR brightness over 450 nits but can’t quite pump out the super-white highlights of the Alienware or Samsung screens. However, it is bright enough to create an impact. That impact would be even greater if HDR black levels were lower. But since there’s no dynamic contrast, they are about the same as their SDR counterparts. 

With a ratio 2,911.6:1, the 43305 looks good in HDR mode but doesn’t offer much improvement over its SDR image. But it does look better than most IPS screens that don’t have dynamic contrast. There are standouts like the Samsung and Alienware monitors in this group, which have super-low HDR black levels and very high peak output numbers.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The 43305’s HDR mode doesn’t offer any calibration options, but the picture is reasonably color accurate. Grayscale runs a tad green, but this error is hard to spot in typical content. The EOTF curve tracks true with a soft transition to tone-mapping at 65% brightness. This means detail in HDR images will be strong and clear.

HDR color gamut tracking is quite good as well, with most targets on-point. There is slight over-saturation in the upper red values, but this does not have a negative impact. Hue targets are very close to standard, which means HDR color is very accurate. This also helps bring out detail and texture in the image. This is excellent performance.

49-inch 32:9 monitors are still an unusual product category, but they offer something no other display can. Not only are they the next most immersive gaming experience after VR goggles, but they can also easily mimic two 27-inch QHD panels. If you’ve ever wanted multiple monitors but didn’t want the dividing line, it’s a great way to go.

Monoprice continues to up its game in the monitor biz with offerings that get better with each new introduction. The Dark Matter 49 43305 delivers solid gaming performance, a sharp bright picture, a huge color gamut and a super-useful four-window feature for multiple video sources. And its 1800R curve means you get the wraparound effect without much image distortion.

For workday tasks, the 43305 is best used like two 27-inch QHD screens. You can either manage app windows from a single PC, or connect a second PC or a video player. If I hooked up an Apple TV to this thing, I’d probably get a lot less work done!

However, gaming is the 43305’s best feature. Its huge gamut, 97% of DCI-P3, provided richly saturated reds and greens in my favorite first-person games. Though it didn’t offer any more contrast for HDR content, the VA panel still rocks at around 3,000:1, more than any IPS monitor can boast. The only flaw there is that calibration is required. At a minimum, one should set the gamma to 2.0 to brighten up the picture.

The 43305’s 120 Hz refresh rate is typical of the price category and provides smooth movement with decent control response. If you need a more competitive tool, the Samsung G9 is a better choice with its 240 Hz. But if you want maximum flexibility and maximum immersion with tons of color for $1,000, the Monoprice Dark Matter 49 43305 is a great choice. Definitely check it out.

Typically, the best gaming monitors cost more than televisions on a dollars-per-square inch basis; but that isn’t always the case. In the 32-inch class, it is possible to buy a dedicated computer monitor, with a curve and 165 Hz and Adaptive-Sync, for about the same price as a 32-inch smart TV that has none of those features. We’ve reviewed a couple of examples already: AOC's C32G2ZE and Pixio’s PXC325. Now to be clear, we’re talking about FHD resolution here. That may be an issue for some, but if you’re seeking performance value, this category has some good products to offer.

Dell comes to this party with its S3222HG. It’s a 32-inch VA panel with a FHD resolution, an 1800R curve, 165 Hz, Adaptive-Sync and extended color. There’s no HDR or a huge list of features, but you get everything needed for gaming fun with a budget PC or console. Does Dell have what it takes to appeal to budget gamers?

Dell S3222HG Specs

Before we get into the Dell S3222HG’s specs, there’s the price, which is comfortably under $300, around $268 at this writing. That’s roughly what you’d pay for VIZIO’s latest 32-inch Smart TV, the D32f4. The Dell has DisplayPort, 165 Hz, Adaptive-Sync and extended color. The VIZIO has none of those features but includes an HD tuner and Smartcast for streaming. So yes, you can happily play console or PC games on it, but the Dell is far better suited to the task.

The S3222HG sports a VA panel for high contrast, over 3,500:1 according to my measurements, and extended color, which is unusual at FHD resolution. Pixel density is relatively low, 70ppi, but the picture looks very good with nicely saturated color and excellent contrast.

With 165 Hz available, gamers won’t need an expensive video card to see high frame rates. I observed a well-implemented overdrive which keeps blur to a minimum and motion resolution high. 165 fps isn’t hard to achieve, and that goes a long way towards making up any resolution deficit. I also found the curve to be in the category of, “doesn’t enhance or detract.” It’s gentle at 1800R, so you won’t see any image distortion.

Extended color is a nice thing to see here. I measured over 88% coverage of the DCI-P3 gamut, which is slightly above average for wide gamut monitors as a category. Among FHD screens, it is one of the highest volumes I’ve recorded. Color accuracy seems solid at first glance; I’ll get into those results on page four. HDR is a no-show, but for $268, that’s no surprise.

Adaptive-Sync is included; FreeSync works over a 48-165 Hz range as does G-Sync. The Dell S3222HG has not been certified by Nvidia, but I had no issues using it. Dell also includes an MPRT backlight strobe option. It’s an alternative to the overdrive and Adaptive-Sync. It doesn’t reduce brightness too much, but I noticed some artifacts. The better choice is Active-Sync with the overdrive set to its fastest setting. That delivered good motion resolution and a smooth response during gameplay.

Assembly and Accessories for the Dell S3222HG

The S3222HG comes in Dell’s environmentally-conscious packaging, made from molded paper pulp and cardboard. The panel, upright and base are separate pieces that assemble without tools into a solid package. Thankfully, build quality feels better than the price tag would suggest. The power supply is internal, so an IEC power cord comes in the box alongside a high-quality DisplayPort cable.

Product 360: Dell S3222HG

Styling is typical Dell which is always simple and to-the-point. The only nod to the S3222HG’s gaming intent is a triangular louver pattern in the back that reminds me of a Cylon from Battlestar Galactica, circa 1978. The panel has a very thin flush bezel in front at just 8mm wide and a strip across the bottom just wide enough to accommodate the Dell logo.

Controls are in the back on the right side and consist of a joystick and four control keys. The power toggle doubles as an LED and protrudes from the bottom right edge. The light’s function can be tweaked in the OSD.

The stand is solid and monolithic. It offers a 5-inch height adjustment and 5 to 21 degrees of tilt. There is no swivel or portrait mode. Movements are firm and clean, very suggestive of a more expensive monitor. Dell has not skimped on the build or feel of the S3222HG; it exudes quality in every physical respect.

The input panel is tucked well up and under and features just two HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 1.2. There are no internal speakers, but you get a 3.5mm audio jack, and the OSD can control headphone volume. There are also no USB ports.

OSD Features of the Dell S3222HG

The S3222HG’s OSD is typical Dell which means it’s logically laid out and easy to navigate. It’s divided into eight sub-menus with most of the options you’ll need to dial in a good picture and set the proper video processing parameters for gaming.

The Dell S3222HG has eleven picture modes. Standard is the default, followed by four game-specific presets. Three memory slots accommodate user settings. Then there are options for warm or cool color temp and Custom Color, which opens up sliders for RGB gain & offset and color saturation & hue.

In Custom Color mode, you can adjust a very precise set of RGB gain and offset sliders to achieve excellent grayscale tracking (not that it’s poor from the factory). The default color temp is a bit cool but isn’t too far off the mark. The only thing missing here are gamma presets. I would have liked at least one darker option because there is some potential for improvement in that regard. Look for my detailed test results on page four.

In terms of gaming options, the Dell S3222HG provides a countdown timer, frame rate indicator and display alignment marks. There are no aiming points that would be a help for novice players. You can toggle FreeSync on and off in this menu. Under Response Time, there are two speeds plus MPRT which is the backlight strobe. 

The overdrive works very well, with only slight ghosting observed but MPRT causes a more obvious artifact which manifests as ringing outlines behind moving objects. It’s a flaw common to this feature on many monitors and reinforces the notion that Adaptive-Sync is a better option than backlight strobes. It certainly is in this case.

Calibration Settings for the Dell S3222HG

Like most Dell monitors I’ve reviewed, precise calibration can be performed in the Custom Color picture mode. The default Standard mode is OK, but I found it a little cool which made the image flat. 

Once I selected Custom Color, I could adjust RGB gain and offset sliders. I did not need to change the hue or saturation controls. My suggested settings are below along with brightness values for commonly used peak output levels. The S3222HG uses its full native color gamut for all content; no sRGB mode is included.

Gaming and Hands-on with Dell S3222HG

After reviewing a few 32-inch FHD monitors over the past year, I’ve found that they are fine for gaming but a little less useful for workday tasks. Though I can easily read small fonts and see fine graphical detail, my close-up seating position of three feet means I can see the pixel structure. To put it another way, I can see the pixel gaps; something often referred to as the “screen door effect.” It isn’t severe by any means, but I wouldn’t choose a monitor like the Dell S3222HG for general use, mainly because I’m so accustomed to a 32-inch Ultra HD screen for things like writing or photo editing.

However, the high frame rates easily achieved with an FHD monitor are a big draw for entertainment. Running at 165 fps makes any game look better and smoother. While I have experienced smaller monitors that run faster, there’s nothing like a big 32-inch screen to immerse oneself in the game environment. The S3222HG’s curve helps with that a little, though I’ve had similar experiences when playing on 32-inch flat screens.

The Dell’s color and contrast are first-rate no matter what the activity. Even though I noted a light gamma anomaly, it didn’t detract from the quality of YouTube videos or Netflix shows watched in a browser. I’ll always favor a VA panel for entertainment, even though the highest-performing gaming screens are IPS. There’s just nothing like contrast that tops 3,500:1.

The Dell S3222HG’s video processing is definitely better than most monitors in its price category. Its overdrive works very well at keeping motion clean in fast-paced titles like Doom Eternal. I never noticed any ghosting artifacts, and there was no breakup of sharp edges. I saw occasional jaggies due to the relatively low resolution, but they were never a distraction. Control response was instantaneous, and I had no trouble racking up frags.

I went through my favorite sequence in Call of Duty WWII where my squad and I sneak through a train yard at night, avoiding patrols rather than engaging in full-on firefights. Shadows were dark and detailed, with true blacks in just the right spots. It’s always clear when I’m playing this game on a VA monitor, and I didn’t miss HDR at all. Color was nicely saturated here too. Though the gamut was larger than the game’s intended one, it didn’t shroud any detail or look unnatural.

There aren’t many 32-inch FHD monitors out there, but I found two in my testing database, AOC’s C32G2ZE and Pixio’s PXC325. They are close in price to the S3222HG. I also included two 32-inch QHD screens, Corsair’s 32QHD165 and Pixio’s PXC327. To bring the panel count to six, I added Monoprice’s 42771, a 27-inch FHD/IPS panel that runs at 165 Hz.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

The S3222HG has average response for a 165 Hz monitor. It’s also equal to most of the 144 Hz screens I’ve measured. The Corsair and Monoprice displays are a hair quicker, while the 240 Hz AOC is two hairs quicker. The difference is noticeable when objects or scenery move quickly from side to side. A one- or two-millisecond difference in response translates to more or less motion blur. 7ms delivers a smooth experience, but more Hertz is always better.

The S3222HG proved very responsive to control inputs in the total lag test. More skilled players than I will benefit from a 240 Hz or faster screen, but for casual players like me, 144 or 165 Hz gets the job done. This Dell will deliver a very good gaming experience for the price.

Viewing Angles

VA panels don’t usually impress me with their off-axis image quality, but the S3222HG is better than most. There is a roughly 30% light fall-off to the sides, but the color shift isn’t severe. A slight red/green tint can be seen in the middle brightness steps. The same is true of the vertical view and you can see a reduction in detail. This is caused by a change in gamma, which is typical of all LCD panels viewed from above.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

When looking at full black screen patterns in a dark room, I saw no issues with the S3222HG’s screen uniformity. There were no visible hotspots, edge bleed or glow areas on the screen. The meter detected a little extra brightness in the center zone, but I could not see this. Color uniformity was also excellent, with no aberrations observed. This is a very high-quality screen, especially considering its low price.

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The S3222HG is in the “not super bright but bright enough” category. It’s rated for 350 nits, and that’s what it achieves with a little room to spare. There is plenty of light available, and one should consider that a large panel like this won’t benefit from greater output, especially when HDR isn’t part of the feature list.

The 0.0981-nit black level is the principal reason to buy this monitor. It’s an excellent example of VA technology, the only LCD panel type that can achieve true blacks without shutting off its backlight. The resulting 3,591.3:1 contrast ratio means you’ll see a picture that pops with a wide dynamic range and saturated color.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration resulted in a small gain in contrast which is a rare and good thing. Now, the S3222HG is sporting 3,685.1:1 which makes a small but visible difference in picture depth. Calibration is certainly worth performing here, which results in this excellent performance.

The S3222HG slips one spot in the ANSI test, but 3,298.2:1 is excellent. Though my sample showed a gamma anomaly that hurt performance slightly, it delivered a satisfying picture with realistically saturated color and three-dimensional qualities. I’ll talk about the gamma results on the next page.

You can leave the S3222HG in its Standard picture mode and see a decent but cool-looking image. I found it a little flat but with solid contrast and plenty of brightness; some people will be satisfied to leave the monitor in its out-of-box state. But calibration, or the suggested settings, will make a visible improvement.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

The first chart shows minor grayscale errors from 30 to 100% with a bluish-green tint. The error isn’t grievous since it can be corrected. Gamma tracking is also on the light side. 30 and 40% come close to the 2.2 line, but most values are a little too low (bright). While the visual impact is small, it would be nice if Dell added at least one darker gamma preset. VA panels usually benefit from gamma that’s either right on 2.2 or a little higher (darker).

Calibration doesn’t change gamma at all, but grayscale tracking is now exemplary. That improves color saturation slightly, which helps make the picture more vivid. These are small differences, but they are visible.

Comparisons

The S3222HG is right on the edge of the decision to calibrate or not. If you’re a nit-picker like me, the answer is “yes, it needs it.” For most users though, a 3.83dE default grayscale error isn’t a big deal. It’s enough to win the out-of-box contest in our group of budget monitors (minus the Corsair, which is premium-priced). This is very good performance.

The Dell drops to fifth place with calibration, but there’s no reason to complain about a 0.99dE score. That’s well below the threshold of visibility.

Though I complained about the S3222HG’s gamma errors, it sits mid-pack in this group. Very few monitors have perfect gamma tracking, and at this price point, it’s rare. A 0.18 range of values and 5.9% deviation is average for the category.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

In the S3222HG’s Standard picture mode, you can see excellent coverage of the DCI-P3 gamut with only a little under-saturation in green. Red is also under in the inner targets, which takes a little warmth out of the image. The hue errors in yellow and magenta are slight but should be correctable with a grayscale adjustment.

With a few changes to the RGB gain & offset sliders, color tracking is improved. Though the change in error value is small, I could see a difference when viewing real-world content. Reds are more vibrant, and overall color saturation is better. A slightly darker gamma could make this even better, but that is a minor point. We’re looking at excellent performance for less than $270.

Comparisons

With an average gamut error of just 1.80dE, the S3222HG snags second-place in our budget panel comparison. Dell certainly hasn’t skimped on quality to achieve a low price. All the panels here deliver accurate color. The Monoprice has slightly visible issues but is still a satisfying screen to play on.

We don’t see a lot of FHD monitors with extended color, but it is becoming more common. The S3222HG has higher than average coverage of DCI-P3, which makes it a compelling choice in the sub-$300 segment. There is no sRGB mode, so you’ll need a software solution if a smaller gamut is required in your work. But for gaming and entertainment, the extra color volume helps increase perceived contrast and image quality.

When shopping for value-priced displays, the choice comes down to size, resolution and speed. You won’t get a lot of all three for less than $300, but if you consider what good gaming performance means, a satisfying monitor can be had that won’t break the budget.

If a 32-inch screen is at the top of your checklist, FHD resolution is pretty much a given. So, you can buy a TV or a dedicated monitor for around the same price. But the monitor will deliver fast frame rates, which translates to higher motion resolution and smoother play. Dell’s S3222HG fulfills that promise and adds extended color and Adaptive-Sync to the feature list; something you won’t get in a sub-$300 television.

The S3222HG delivers excellent contrast, well-saturated color and smooth gaming in a well-built package for less than $300. Dell has added a curved screen, wide color gamut, 165 Hz and Adaptive-Sync to that package. If you are still stuck on the resolution question, yes, there is a screen door effect. However, it’s mainly visible in static content. Those pixel gaps disappear when objects and backgrounds are moving on the screen. A monitor with a higher resolution but a lower refresh rate won’t look as good when you’re moving through a battlefield or driving down city streets.

Though the S3222HG didn’t quite rank among monitors that don’t need calibration, it came very close. Most users will be satisfied with its image, and those that choose to make the recommended adjustments will be rewarded with an accurate and colorful picture. My only complaint was a slightly light gamma and the lack of an sRGB mode. Neither are deal-breakers. The image was a tad flat but not objectionable, and a darker gamma preset would be welcome. The absence of an sRGB mode is also no big deal. Though not strictly accurate, most users will enjoy the bonus color saturation delivered by the Dell’s wide gamut, something that’s not common in FHD monitors.

If you’re looking for a large screen to finish off a budget gaming rig or console-based system, Dell’s S3222HG is a great choice for under $300. Definitely be sure to check it out.

Gamers desiring the big screen experience have the inevitable dilemma concerning the size-to-price ratio. For the most part, a larger display costs more money. So, where is the sweet spot? A 32-inch panel is the perfect size for both work and play on my desktop. I can display two documents at once, keep email open while editing an article, or see a large spreadsheet. And gaming is loads of fun when one’s entire peripheral vision fills with a richly-detailed virtual environment.

Available for the impressive price of $270, the Pixio PXC325 features a 32-inch curved FHD VA panel that runs at 165 Hz with Adaptive-Sync, HDR and extended color. Strong contrast and accurate color make the PXC325 a great value, but mediocre overdrive performance and a low-for-the-size 1080p resolution keep it from taking a place among the best gaming monitors.

Pixio PXC325 Specs

The first thing people will notice is the PXC325’s FHD resolution. It’s unusual to see 1920x1080 on a 32-inch screen. You will see individual pixels at this size if you sit 2 to 3 feet away, but is that a deal-breaker? Not when you consider this panel’s 4,000:1 contrast ratio. The PXC325 delivers deep blacks and a wide dynamic range by using VA technology. This goes a long way to mitigating the effects of its relatively low pixel density.

There’s plenty of color here too, with nearly 87% coverage of DCI-P3 according to our measurements. That color gamut is used for both SDR and HDR content. Though there is an sRGB option in the color temp menu, it does not reduce the size of the color space.

The PXC325 supports HDR10 signals, but there is no dynamic contrast feature in HDR mode (which means no more contrast). HDR images will look much like their SDR counterparts. Additionally, you must manually switch the panel into HDR mode before activating HDR in Windows or your favorite game.

Pixio hasn't sacrificed gaming features to keep the price low. The PXC325 supports both FreeSync and G-Sync, but the monitor has not been certified by Nvidia. You also get a standard suite of play aids that includes a frame rate indicator, aiming crosshairs and a countdown timer. A backlight strobe is also present that can reduce motion blur by inserting a black frame between each active one. The tradeoff is you don’t get Adaptive-Sync, and brightness is reduced by half.

The PXC325 looks like a solid, value-oriented package with decent specs and a very low price given its size. As always, we’ll see how the monitor performs in our tests to see how it compares to its immediate rivals.

Assembly and Accessories on Pixio PXC325

Pixio is one of the few manufacturers to pack its monitors in flexible foam that doesn’t crumble. The contents are well protected from shock and vibration. The upright and base are mated with two fasteners that require a Phillips-head screwdriver. Then, the panel snaps on to create a solid chassis that is light and free from wobble or play. An external power supply is included, along with a DisplayPort cable.

Product 360: Pixio PXC325

From the front, you can see the Pixio PXC325’s super-thin, flush-mounted bezel that is just 8mm wide. The screen curve isn’t extreme; 1500R is relatively gentle, especially in the 16:9 aspect ratio. It’s enough to wrap the image a little but not so much that there is distortion. It’s a feature that neither detracts from nor enhances the experience.

You can see a few styling cues on the back, including subtle molded-in lines that resemble spaceship hull plating, a common theme for gaming monitors. It’s framed by a chevron-shaped bulge that focuses the eye on the Pixio logo in the center. A 100mm VESA mount is provided but you’ll need your own bolts to use it.

The stand and base are made from solid cast aluminum and finished in Pixio’s signature crinkle coat. The screen sits a little low for my taste, so I had to angle it upward a bit to get comfortable (the only adjustment is 5/15 degrees tilt). My preference for curved monitors is to keep them perfectly vertical. To do this with the Pixio PXC325 would require a pedestal about six inches high.

The input panel has two DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports and a 3.5mm audio jack for headphones. There are no USB ports or internal speakers, but you can control volume from the OSD.

OSD Features of Pixio PXC325

The PXC325’s OSD has a gaming style with its beveled corners and control panel shape. It’s divided into six sub-menus and always shows the current refresh rate along with resolution and FreeSync status.

There are seven picture modes of which User is the default and best. Movie and Photo are color accurate, but they and the gaming modes lock out the brightness and contrast controls. Only User lets you control the backlight. Black Equalizer can help bring out shadow detail if the image is too dark. I didn’t need it as the PXC325 has very accurate gamma. I could always make out fine shades of black with no problem. The last two options, Sharpness and Ultra Vivid, add edge enhancement and should be avoided. They create outlines around areas of high contrast that reduce resolution.

The Color menu has a full set of color temp and gamma presets. You can also adjust the hue and saturation of all colors together though I found this unnecessary. However, I did need to perform a calibration. The default grayscale tracking is also very blue in tone.

Gaming features reside in the Gaming Setup menu. You can toggle Adaptive-Sync on or off, set one of three overdrive levels, turn on timers, frame counter or aiming points, and engage HDR and dynamic contrast for SDR material. MPRT is the backlight strobe, and though it does reduce blur, it cuts brightness by half. It’s better to leave it off and stick with Adaptive-Sync.

Calibration Settings for Pixio PXC325

The Pixio PXC325 has accurate color and gamma but is sorely in need of grayscale calibration. The default color temperature is very cool in tone, and you can clearly see a blue tint in all content. I spent some back-and-forth time with the RGB sliders, as they were a bit finicky. In the end, I made a visible improvement in both perception and measured values. I suggest using the settings below to set up your PXC325.

For HDR content, it is necessary to first engage HDR mode in the OSD before loading your game or activating Windows’ HDR. Once done, there are no image controls available, but color is reasonably accurate. I’ll show you those results on page five.

Gaming and Hands-on With Pixio PXC325

It’s inevitable that low pixel density will be the first concern potential buyers have about the Pixio PXC325. At 32 inches, the 1080p resolution gives you 70 pixels-per-inch, but is that enough? In my experience, yes, it is. I won’t say that I was fooled into thinking it was a QHD monitor, but its superb contrast eliminated any concerns I had.

In Windows, small fonts and graphics are perfectly readable up close using 100% font scaling. I could see slight jaggies on a few tiny letters, but I never had trouble discerning the smallest text. Graphics were well detailed, perhaps a bit softer than a QHD or UHD monitor would be, but still sharp. The 4,100:1 contrast really makes a difference, as an IPS or TN screen of this size and resolution would not look as good.

Trying HDR in Windows for productivity proved disappointing. After switching on the menu option, I made the change in Control Panel and was greeted with a washed-out image. There are some tweaks available (in Control Panel, not the PXC325), but I didn’t find HDR beneficial for workday tasks.

Turning to Doom Eternal, I compared SDR and HDR and found differences, but again, no benefit to using HDR. I had to make several adjustments in the game’s menu to keep both shadow and highlight detail from disappearing altogether. The extra pop of color was nice but, in the end, I preferred the SDR version of the game.

That color was presented in all its warm and fiery shades with great depth and contrast. Reds were flaming, greens were lush and blue, well, there aren’t a lot of cool tones in a game like Doom Eternal. It looked great with solid detail. 

My only complaint was a weak overdrive. No matter which setting I chose, it allowed some blur to creep in. It didn’t distract during intense battles, but it was visible when exploring the environment. Using MPRT didn’t help much, and since I didn’t want to give up Adaptive-Sync, I left it off after a brief test. Overall motion processing was just fair.

I had no trouble keeping frame rates at 165 fps. FreeSync and G-Sync worked equally well on AMD and Nvidia platforms, respectively. The main benefit of FHD resolution is that high speeds are easy to achieve. You won’t need a super-expensive video card to use the Pixio PXC325’s full potential.

I also made the SDR to HDR comparison in Call of Duty WWII. There, I preferred SDR because its shadow areas were far more realistic. Even with some tweaking in the game’s menu, I couldn’t get HDR black levels below a dark gray. The SDR blacks were deeper. The PXC325’s HDR quality is clearly game-dependent. Some titles will look fine in HDR and some will be better in SDR mode.

The general takeaway from my gaming and hands-on use of the Pixio PXC325 was positive. It’s a good-looking big screen monitor that delivers more than expected for the price.

The PXC325 is a bit unusual, making comparisons difficult. The only other 32-inch FHD screen I’ve covered is AOC’s C32G2ZE which is included here. The other Pixio is a PXC327 which is QHD and retails for $40 more. Also here is Viotek’s GNV30CBXA, which is a 30-inch ultra-wide. The other two are 27-inch flat screens from Monoprice’s Dark Matter line, products 40778 and 42771.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

165 Hz is not always faster than 144 Hz as the PXC325 proves. It draws a full frame in 7ms, which is typical performance. This will provide smooth motion but not as smooth as the faster monitors running at 200 Hz or higher. 

However, I was a bit disappointed in the total lag score. The PXC327 manages to break 30ms which is plenty fast for all but the most skilled players. But 35ms is a little slow for a 165 Hz monitor. I still enjoyed playing on the PXC325, and my casual skills did not exceed its capabilities. But better gamers than I might want to go for the PXC327 instead.

Viewing Angles

VA panels aren’t known for great off-axis image quality. The PXC325 is typical of the technology. The side view shows a 50% light falloff and a reddish-green tint. The top view is much the same and a bit more washed out. In practice, a viewer sitting on-center will see a bright and colorful image. But sharing with another person would not be ideal. IPS would be better of course, but you’d give up that 4,100:1 contrast ratio.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

The PXC325 sample I received had no significant uniformity issues. The center zone is slightly brighter than the rest of the screen. I could see this in a completely dark room when displaying a full black pattern. In actual content, there were no visible problems. There was no bleed or glow, and color was perfectly uniform from edge to edge.

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The PXC325 requires changing its default settings to achieve maximum brightness. You must select the Movie picture mode or the User color temp. If all settings are left at their factory values, the max brightness is closer to 270 nits. As tested, 352 nits is plenty of output for any environment, including sunlit windows like my office.

The PXC325 wins the black level contest convincingly. This monitor delivers deep blacks in all content making the picture pop with a wide dynamic range. The resulting 4,510.9:1 contrast ratio is one of the highest I’ve measured from a desktop monitor.

After Calibration to 200 nits

After calibration, the PXC325 is about even with the AOC for black levels and contrast. Visually, there is no difference and the picture looks fantastic. Contrast this high goes a long way towards mitigating the effects of the FHD resolution.

The ANSI score is only a tad lower than the static one. That bodes well for Pixio’s quality control which is very good for a monitor this inexpensive. Thanks to its superb intra-image contrast, I never saw an image I didn’t like here.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

I stuck with the PXC325’s User picture mode because it’s the only way to retain control of all image parameters. Out of the box, it has a very cool grayscale which you can plainly see in the first chart. A blue tint is visible in all but the very darkest images. It’s not a huge issue but one that should be corrected. Gamma is very good, with tight tracking near the 2.2 standard. Should one desire a brighter or darker image, the gamma presets are accurate to their labels (set 2.0, and you get 2.0).

Calibration proved a challenge because the RGB sliders are not terribly precise. I had to accept a compromise by leaving 100% brightness with a blue error. The other steps have no visible errors. Though 2.43dE is acceptable, but it is not quite as good as with most other gaming monitors. My adjustments left gamma unchanged, which is a good thing.

Comparisons

Given the low price points of these monitors, some out-of-the-box grayscale errors are expected, but the PXC325 is near the bottom. 7.54dE isn’t terrible, but other screens are a little better. All the monitors improve significantly with calibration, but the Pixio is still in last place. However, 2.43dE is acceptable performance.

Luckily, gamma tracking is very good, as its 0.10 range of values and 0.9% deviation are among the best any monitor can boast. This means all that contrast is put to good use. Details in every part of the image pop right out, creating the impression of a three-dimensional picture.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

The default color chart looks a bit askew at first glance, but that is due to the very blue white point I noted earlier. All the saturation targets are on or close to standard, and the hue errors should be fixed with a grayscale calibration.

Though the 100% white point is still a touch cool, all color targets are in contact with their boxes except for green. That primary is a bit under-saturated but no more so than nearly every extended color monitor I’ve tested, which is excellent performance.

Comparisons

All these budget-friendly monitors deliver good color accuracy. The PXC325 is solidly in third place with 2.11dE. Though the Monoprice screens cross the visible threshold of 3dE, their errors are minor. None of these displays will disappoint in the color department.

All the monitors offer extended gamuts except for the Monoprice 40778. That one is strictly sRGB. The PXC325 delivers respectable DCI-P3 coverage of 86.9%, which is average for all wide gamut screens. While it fully covers the red and blue primaries, it comes up short in green which is not unusual. There is no way to reduce the gamut to sRGB size so that volume is high. If you use a PXC325 for color-critical work, a software lookup profile will be required.

Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

Though the PXC325 supports HDR, it’s something of a process to engage it. You must turn it on in the OSD before engaging HDR in Windows or a game. There is no automatic switchover, which is not unusual in the value category.

HDR Brightness & Contrast

The PXC325’s peak light output is about the same for SDR and HDR. The black level is slightly higher, which means contrast is lower for HDR than SDR. The difference isn’t huge, but, unfortunately, there is no menu option to extend dynamic range. HDR looks a bit different because the luminance curve is altered, but it doesn’t look any better. The PXC325 supports HDR just fine, but it doesn’t enhance the image.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

There are no image controls available in HDR mode, so no calibration is possible. There are slight red/green errors visible from 25% brightness and higher. This only has a minor impact on content. Since the PXC325’s EOTF tracking is close to standard, there is no loss of detail or sharpness.

Color performance is better, with only slight undersaturation seen in the primary colors. The measurements are close to their targets, so it’s hard to see a problem in actual content. Again, the PXC325 supports HDR but using it offers no benefit.

For gaming and entertainment, it’s hard to argue with the cliché, “bigger is better.” Playing first-person titles on a large monitor is more engaging and more addictive, and I suspect few would argue with that statement. But desktops have limits. One can only sit so far back, and few offices can accommodate a 55-inch panel. 

In my experience, 32 inches is an ideal screen size. It fills my peripheral vision for gaming and video, lets me manage multiple document windows with ease and still leaves room on the desk for papers and other things.

If you’re running a budget-conscious gaming rig, a monitor like the Pixio PXC325 is a good choice. It fulfills the size requirement and comes in well under $300. It sacrifices pixel density with FHD resolution, which means high frame rates are easy to achieve with a reasonably-priced video card. And with around 4,100:1 contrast after calibration, it delivers a realistic image with deep blacks and solid detail. Though it needs a grayscale adjustment out of the box, it hits the mark for color gamut and gamma accuracy.

I was a little disappointed in the PXC325’s video processing. Adaptive-Sync was no problem with either FreeSync or G-Sync PCs, but a weak overdrive left me wanting in the motion clarity department. The MPRT feature didn’t improve things, and it cut brightness too much to be a viable option. Input lag scores were slightly lower than average in testing, but that did not translate to hesitation when I played fast-paced FPS games.

It’s hard to fault the PXC325 when you consider that it’s a 32-inch monitor for $270. The only consideration is that Pixio offers a QHD version of this screen for $40 more. Either way, it’s a great deal. Gamers looking to maximize performance at a low price should definitely check it out.

Another large-format gaming monitor is on the way from AOC (via TFT Central), and it looks promising. The company just announced the G4309VX/D, which measures 43 inches diagonally, with a 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution. For the gamers out there, you should know that the monitor boasts a 1ms response time and a refresh rate of 144 Hz with Adaptive-Sync (AMD FreeSync), which is competitive for this resolution and size class.

Thanks to its VA panel, AOC boasts that the G4309VX/D has a typical static contrast ratio of 4,000:1 (only edge-lit local dimming is supported). In addition, the G4309VX/D, which employs Quantum Dot technology, manages to cover 100 and 95 percent of the sRGB and DCI-P3 colors spaces, respectively, and supports 8-bit color as well as frame rate control (FRC). Regarding brightness, the monitor tops out at 720 nits for SDR content and bumps that spec to 1,100 nits for HDR content.

As for connectivity, the G4309VX/D features two HDMI 2.1 and two DisplayPort 1.4 ports for hooking up to your PC or game console (like the Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5). Likewise, you’ll find an onboard hub with four USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A) ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack and stereo speakers (7-watts each).

Unfortunately, there’s no word on pricing or global availability. At this point, the AOC G4309VX/D is only earmarked for the Chinese market. However, it’s highly likely to find its way to the U.S. and European markets, where it may get a warm welcome, especially if it can undercut some of the other big-screen gaming options on price.

Gaming displays with full-array local dimming (FALD) backlighting based on Mini LEDs have traditionally been very expensive since such a backlighting module is hard to make. But sooner or later almost every premium technology becomes cheaper and this is where it gets wider adoption. This week AOC introduced the industry's first gaming monitor with a Mini LED FALD that will be priced below $1000.

As its model number implies, the AOC Agon Pro AG274QXM measures 27 inches diagonally and has a QHD resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. The LCD uses an IPS panel with FALD backlighting via 576 LEDs that provide up to 600 nits luminance typically and up to 1000 nits in HDR mode to achieve VESA's DisplayHDR 1000 certification. To make the monitor more appealing to gamers, it supports a 1ms GtG response time as well as dynamic refresh rate between 48 Hz and 170 Hz enabled by Adaptive-Sync variable refresh rate technology with AMD's FreeSync Premium Pro with low latency and low framerate compensation (LFC) on top (needs to be AMD certified).

The panel used by the Agon Pro AG274QXM can display 1.07 billion colors and covers 98% of the DCI-P3 color space. The LCD also supports the AdobeRGB, sRGB, and NTSC color gamuts. To ensure fine colors in overly lit rooms and to keep prying eyes off your screen in LAN tournaments, the monitor can be equipped with a special hood.

As far as connectivity is concerned, the Agon Pro AG274QXM has DisplayPort 1.4, USB Type-C, two HDMI 2.0 connectors, a quad-port USB 3.0 hub, an audio input, and a headphone output. The monitor supports a 65W Power Delivery over USB-C, has a built-in KVM switch, and two 5W stereo speakers.

While AMD's FreeSync can work over HDMI, usage of HDMI 2.0 ports does not allow the latest game consoles to offer their VRR capabilities that rely on implementation which requires HDMI 2.1. Still, the LCD fully supports a 4Kp120 mode for Microsoft's Xbox Series X and Sony's PlayStation 5. 

Being a premium monitor, the Agon Pro AG274QXM comes with a a 120-mm stand that allows to adjust height, tilt, and swivel. The stand also has a Agon logo projection that complements RGB illumination (Light FX) on the backside.

Without any doubts, AOC's Agon Pro AG274QXM offers an impressive list of features, but one of its main selling points is its price. The product should be available shortly for a recommended retail price of £849.99 in the U.K., which corresponds to an MSRP of around $971 in the U.S., which is not expensive for a display with FALD.

AOC has marked 2021 as the year of gaming peripherals, entering the market with new keyboards, headsets, RGB mouse pads and gaming mice. The AOC Agon AGM700 is the premium gaming mouse carrying a $40 MSRP compared to the AOC Agon AGM500’s $25. A $40 price tag still puts the AGM700 on the cheaper side of gaming mice, especially when you consider its features.

The AGM700 tempts with a 3.17-ounce build that can increase by 0.18 ounce increments up to 4.09 ounces, thanks to five removable weights. There’s also a sniper button for instantly dropping sensitivity to a low 200 CPI for quick headshots. You also get a braided cable and three onboard memory profiles and eight programmable buttons. But you might also find that the AGM700’s shape and the positioning of its side buttons, including that sniper button, prevent it from being the best gaming mouse.

AOC Agon AGM700 Specs 

Design and Comfort of the AOC Agon AGM700

With every company even tangentially related to PC gaming offering some flavor of gaming mouse, design and shape are critical differentiators. AOC is seemingly targeting the FPS crowd, equipping the AGM700 with a sniper button on the left side, which quickly drops the CPI (counts per inch, often frequently called DPI or dots dots per inch) when held, allowing for instant precision for headshots. 

Its other big design factor is its adjustable weight. On its own, the mouse is 3.17 ounces, but with the option to add up to 5 weights weighing 0.18 ounces (5g) each, the mouse can weigh up to 4.09 ounces (115g). On the mouse's underside is a battery-like compartment, where you can pop out each weight using gravity. 

A sniper button and adjustable weight give the AOC AGM800 pretty clear rivals. The Logitech G502 Hero, (as well the wireless version, the Logitech G502 Lightspeed) also has these capabilities but is heavier than our review focus (3.3-4.5 ounces). Corsair’s M65 RGB Elite is also heavier (3.42-4.09 ounces), as is SteelSeries’ Rival 600 (3.39-4.52 ounces). 

However, all three of those mice came out a few years ago. Today, FPS mice are getting much lighter, from honeycomb mice like the Glorious Model O (2.08 ounces) to wireless mice that are so light, it’s in their name (see the 2.12-ounce Logitech G Pro X Superlight).

A lighter weight can make it easier to flick the mouse around quickly and locate a target during an FPS game. But at its heaviest weight, the AGM700 feels solid -- which some prefer, especially if you’re not ultra-competitive and want something that’s a little more versatile. With all 5 of its weights in, the AOC Agon AGM700 felt more solid than a honeycomb mouse like the Model O, for example, and also worked well as a productivity mouse. 

In this state, it felt hefty toward the palm but not too exhausting to move, with partial thanks due to its five slippery feet. They’re not as successful as PTFE feet, also known as Teflon, which provide extra glide and are available on some premium mice. Movements were still smooth though. Unfortunately, the feet seem like they’ll peel easier than others. AOC backs the AGM700 with a 2-year warranty. 

The AOC Agon AGM700’s slightly weird shape looks like it was crafted with intention but has room for improvement. It’s symmetrical, save for the two side buttons and sniper button on the left side. Strong curves enter the sides, and there’s a large hump in the center that results in a deep, downward slope toward the mouse’s rear, where the sides also come in a bit more.

I have longer hands for a woman and typically use a claw grip, but it was more uncomfortable than normal here. The large hump is a little too far north for my liking and dig into my middle and ring fingers’ lower knuckles. Additionally, the deep curves on the mouse’s sides force my fingers into an angle where my ring and pinky fingers lack support. My palm grip fared a little better, but, again, I wished the hump was further back in order to be closer to my palm, rather than under my lower knuckles. The AOC Agon AGM700’s plastic here is smooth (but not grimey), making it even harder to get the palm to stay near the hump. 

Rubber-like sides also make it harder to find a reliable grip because, despite their triangular inserts, they’re generally slippery. It’s not so bad that it’d make a claw grip, (which depends on holding the sides), or any grip impossible. But it added a consistent, minor sense of instability to using the mouse. The scroll wheel is similar but with its triangles sticking out. Scrolls aren’t unpredictable but are slightly more slippery than preferred. It’s also easy for both areas to attract dust.

Exacerbating my grip struggles was the large, red sniper button that’s easy to hit accidentally. It’s directly south of the forward button, and if I used a palm grip, there was nowhere for me to naturally put my thumb without touching one of those three buttons. The forward/backward buttons stick out more than the sniper and have a decent amount of resistance. But the CPI switch is flatter, and I found myself hitting it accidentally on rare occasions. But very frequently I’d come closer than I’d like, distracting me from my task and making using the mouse more stressful. 

The good news is that the sniper button is reprogrammable, and you can deactivate it via software. You can easily bring it back, thanks to the mouse’s three onboard memory profiles. 

The AGM700 follows the styling of other AOC gaming peripherals, like the AGK700 keyboard, by bursting with red. The hue is represented by the sniper button and intertwined with black in the hearty, but stiff, braided cable. Speaking of, it’ll take some time to get the bends from packaging out of the cable, as it’s not very malleable.

Diagonally brushed lines top the left and right click buttons to make it look more metallic. You can feel the texture, but it’s not bothersome and adds dimension to the mouse’s appearance. An M key lights up green, blue or red to tell you which of the three onboard memory profiles -- or Modes, (hence the M) -- you’re currently using. There are also six lines near the left click, to remind you which CPI setting is in play. 

The AOC Agon AGM700 has RGB lighting in its scroll wheel and in the more complex Agon logo by the palm area. However, both area’s lighting is muffled by white plastic, so it’s not very bright or inspiring. You can pick different colors for each zone, but they have to have the same effect: static, breathing or blink.

Gaming Experience on the AOC Agon AGM700

The AOC Agon AGM700 sports a PixArt 3389 sensor with 200-16,000 CPI (adjustable in 50 count increments) a max velocity of 400 inches per second (IPS) and max acceleration of 50g. Those specs put the AGM700 on par with the best gaming mice, including some that are much more expensive. I’m glad AOC went with a respected sensor brand, rather than making its own with extreme specs most don’t need. 

Whether weighing 3.17 or 4.09 ounces it feels solid, especially for an FPS mouse. Some rival mice can feel cheaper than expected because of ultra lightweight plastic, but the AGM700 doesn’t have that issue. Pulling all of the weights out made the mouse require much less effort to manipulate, and I preferred it this way for long gaming sessions.

The mouse’s sniper button can be a helpful asset but will take getting used to first, particularly if you’ve never used one before. It’s a flatter button with minimal travel, making it initially hard to hold down for longer than 0.5 second while pressing the left-click button to fire. But with enough practice, it’s possible for this to become a true advantage. I was able to reach it with both a palm, and claw grip, although accidental presses were likely with the former, where my thumb was always resting on the side buttons. And again, the mouse’s more slippery grip makes every movement more tedious. 

Under the left and right click are Omron-brand mechanical switches that made for tactile, precise clicks during gameplay without much of a plastic noise. Overall, the buttons are on the heavier side with some mild feedback after depressing, depending on where I pressed the button. It’s not too distracting, but made clicking feel slightly clunkier than on other mice 

The stylish cable’s braided fiber is a plus for durability, but it’s inflexible and will likely arrive with crimps from packaging that are hard to eliminate. I had to ensure the cable was in a good position before playing because it’s hard to manipulate during my gaming sessions.

The mouse’s rubber scroll wheel has a satisfying click in that’s also programmable. But it sounds rattily when scrolling rapidly, and my review unit’s wheel can wobble if nudged to the right. The less distracting CPI switch is reprogrammable but south of the M button to start. The lighting indicator on the left click button makes in-game switches easier, and I never had an issue with accidentally pressing the raised CPI switch or M buttons.

Features and Software on the AOC Agon AGM700

AOC’s first lineup of gaming peripherals are complete with their own software, AOC G-Tools. It’s easy enough to understand and navigate and hasn’t crashed in my experience using it with two different AOC peripherals. That’s better than we can say for a lot of peripheral apps, especially from newcomers. G-Tools isn’t the best-looking app and isn’t as well laid out or provide as much functionality as the likes of Razer’s Synapse, for example. But it’ll get the job done. 

The mouse supports three onboard memory slots called "modes" and dubbed M1, M2 and M3. You can also create five “profiles” in the software, and each profile has three modes. The AGM700 will carry over the last used profile’s three modes to another PC, even without redownloading G-Tools. However, RGB settings won’t carry over and will instead stay on the effect last used in software. Each software profile, (as well as its three modes), can be set to launch when opening a specific app, but this only works if G-Tools is open. 

G-Tools’ Buttons menu is where you set the AOC Agon AGM700’s eight programmable buttons. A macro manager allows for more advanced programming and is simple to use. You also get options like media control, launching the calculator or showing the desktop.

The Sensitivity section lets you set up to five DPI settings to scroll through when pressing the button south of the M button (if you use the mouse’s default settings), plus “Smart DPI,” which, according to an AOC spokesperson “refers to the fact that the mouse adapts to how you are using it, office setting slow, gaming quick.” However, many gamers prefer playing with a low CPI, and I prefer to know my mouse’s exact settings. 

You can also pick between a polling rate of 1,000, 500, 250 or 125 Hz, but there’s no option for an ultra-high polling rate like some premium gaming brands have begun to offer, (such as the 8,000 Hz Razer Viper 8K Hz). Additionally, there are sliders for double-click, Windows pointer and scroll speed. The calibration tool claims to calibrate the mouse with the way you move and your mouse pad, but I didn’t notice any immediate improvements after using it. 

G-Tools’ Light FX menu lets you play with RGB but doesn’t have many options. The Breathing, Static and Blink effects let you pick between “Random” or a “Single LED” color, where you can enter red, green and blue values or select from a color picker. There are also sliders for brightness, which you'll probably want at its highest to make the shades more accurate through their white encasing. The Static and Blink effects have the same customization options. You can also sync RGB with theAOC’s limited number of other gaming peripherals.

Bottom Line

The AOC Agon AGM700 is a promising first effort. Compared to modern rivals, it’s a little heavy for its FPS target market, but that also helps it feel more substantial than rivals that can feel cheap, even if they’re not. The sniper button is a nice inclusion, but combined with a slippery chassis and side grips, maintaining a precise hold over the mouse that allows smooth leverage of the sniper button will take work. 

Adjustable weights give the AGM700 versatility for work and other tasks, but the most serious gamers will need something with better grip and comfort. If you don’t need a sniper button, there are many mice geared toward FPS titles that are lighter too. 

Thankfully, the AGM700 has many programmable buttons and onboard memory, so you can tweak settings to make the sniper button less intrusive in various ways. The mouse’s $40 MSRP is also appealing, and we’ve seen it on sale for even cheaper.

As of this writing, you can find the Logitech G502 Hero for around the same price as the AGM700, and it has a better-placed sniper button. Corsair’s M65 RGB Elite is slightly more, with its aluminum frame and more sensitive sensor (up to 18,000 CPI). Although both mice are heavier than AOC’s option. 

If you’re set on a weight-adjustable mouse and a sniper button, the AOC Agon AGM700 is worth considering, particularly for its lighter weight compared to rivals and quality cable.

AOC raised some eyebrows this year when it announced it’s growing its presence in the gaming space beyond monitors and into smaller peripherals, namely mice, RGB mouse pads, headsets and keyboards. The AOC Agon AGK700, as well as the lower priced AOC Agon GK500, enter a crowded market of clackers claiming to be the best gaming keyboard. The AGK700 steps up to the plate as the power hitter, boasting a bulky look, premium Cherry MX Blue switches and commanding a high, $180 price tag.

AOC did some things right with the AGK700. At this price, we’re happy that AOC remembered to include a decent wrist rest, dedicated media keys, USB passthrough and even a macro bank. But there’s room for improvement among many of its features. And, as we mentioned, the competition was already stiff before AOC joined in.

AOC Agon AGK700 Specs

Design of AOC Agon AGK700

If there’s one thing you can’t say about the AOC Agon AGK700, it’s that it looks boring. Gaming keyboards get away with more outlandish looks than their office-geared brethren, and AOC has taken full advantage here.

I don’t mind the ginormous red volume wheel and can deal with the red of the media keys when in use and macro keys when programmed. Even the chunky, red and black braided cable is welcomingly unique. What I can’t reason with, however, is the illogicality of the media keys.

Let’s start with the big, red, circular elephant in the room. The massive volume wheel is untraditionally centered. I’m used to it being on the right corner, where it’s easy for my mouse hand to grab quickly. There’s something to be said for mid-typing adjustments though. With a central volume wheel, changing the volume when your hands are near the keyboard’s home keys require less reach. And while my colleagues have said that the volume wheel looks like a giant blemish, I don’t hate it’s appearance here. Generally, if you like red, the AGK700’s styling may win you over.

The bigger concern with the volume wheel is that despite its size, it doesn't get the whole job done. It has panic button vibes, (especially with flashing RGB at max brightness reflecting off the wheel’s underside), making me eager to smash it. That would serve well for muting a PC with speed and assurance, but although the knob presses in with a confirming click, doing so doesn’t mute the volume or do anything. Oddly, there’s a dedicated mute button isolated on the keyboard’s right edge, and it’s not quick to press because the key is quite stiff. It’s wasteful and counterintuitive to have two buttons for controlling volume and so far apart.

None of the media keys are programmable, and they’ll always have a red backlight when activated. From left to right, the home button smartly launches your web browser’s home page. Next, the button with arrows swap the W, A, S and D keys’ functions with those of the arrow keys. You might as well as forget about the button with the music key because it launches Groove Music. The key with the sun helpfully toggles RGB backlighting on or off, while the inexplicably labeled button next to it toggles through RGB presets, including one custom effect stored in the keyboard’s onboard memory if you first create one in the keyboard’s software (see the dedicated section below). Finally, the button with the F disables the Windows key.

On the left side of the keyboard are more helpful extra keys. The one labeled M toggles through your five onboard profiles and will display a different color to represent each one. You also get 5 five dedicated macro keys that will all light up red once programmed.

Continuing with the good news, the keyboard has a USB 2.0 passthrough port on top edge --- colored in red, of course -- likely providing a more conveniently located USB Type-A port than what’s on your PC. That also means a very chunky USB cable complete with a pair of thick, plastic USB-A connectors. All seem built for the long haul.

Topping off the AOC Agon AGK700 is an aluminum alloy top plate that’s brushed with diagonal lines for added personality that goes well with the raised, silver AOC logo on the top left corner. Combined with the concentric circles on the giant, metallic volume wheel, there’s a bit of a vibe here. The heavy duty look is amplified by the keys’ lettering that looks too blocky and dated for my liking, especially in keys labeled in all caps, like Tab. 

That lettering looks sprayed on in silver that still lets RGB shine through, but because it’s painted and not doubleshot, we can expect this to fade after extreme use. In fact, I noticed some paint chipping already chipping away on the edge of the profile toggling key. This isn’t uncommon, but at $180 we’d hope for something more premium feeling and long-lasting. At first, AOC mistakenly told us the keycaps were ABS plastic, which we easily believed because they don't seem high-quality. However, the vendor later told us that they're actually PBT, which should offer better durability, but the keycaps don't actually seem like much better quality than ABS. 

There’s an Agon logo on the keyboard’s bottom lip that has RGB (but is not programmable). If you use the detachable, magnetic wrist rest, that’ll be covered up. But don’t worry, there's also an Agon logo on the leather wrist rest. The magnets are strong, and you’ll never find it moving out of place mistakenly. It’s stuffed with the kind of foam you can hear softly crunching when pressed before feeling a hint of the hard plastic beneath. The wrist rest’s amply stuffed to provide the minimum cushioning required,but can feel hard, especially toward the bottom edge. If you want something noticeably plush, you’ll have to invest in something more thickly packed, like the HyperX Wrist Rest.

Overall, the AGK700 has a thick and chunky appearance, but compared to other full-size keyboards with media keys and a macro bank, the AGK700 is pretty average in size. Without the wrist rest, it’s about 17.99 x 6.41 x 1.3 inches and 3.58 pounds. That’s similar to the measurements of the Corsair K100 RGB (18.5 x 6.5 x 1.5 inches, 2.89 pounds) and Corsair K85 RGB Platinum XT (18.3 x  6.7 x 1.4 inches, 2.88 pounds) but notably heavier. Logitech’s G910, an older keyboard from 2015, is closer in weight at 3.30 pounds, however.

Considering the high price, it’s not too surprising to see AOC include a keycap puller and extra keycaps for the W, A, S and D keys. The keycaps’ red hue is also not a surprise, and they have the same silver lettering as the rest. These might be throwaways though; the red keycaps feel slightly less slippery and smooth than the rest of the keycaps, so using them gives the keyboard a slightly uneven feel.

Gaming Experience on AOC Agon AGK700

How much you like gaming with the AGK700 will depend greatly on how much you like playing with clicky mechanical switches. If the answer is not at all, you should move on -- for now. Currently, AOC doesn’t make a version of this keyboard with any other switches besides clicky Cherry MX Blues. However, it does make a version with linear Cherry MX Red switches in other geographies, so it’s possible we’ll eventually see that here too.

As it stands, the AGK700 is built with switches that are loud and a bit heavy. For a long time, MX Blues were the clicky mechanical switch, but today there are too many alternatives to count, and some may be even better for gaming. I often use Razer Green switches, which have similar travel specs to MX Blues (4mm total travel, 1.9mm pre-travel versus 4mm and 2.2mm, respectively), but Razer Greens require noticeably less force to actuate (50g versus 60g).

Similarly, we’ve become fond of Kailh Box Whites, which are both lighter than those switches and have shorter travel (3.6mm / 1.8mm / 50g). To successfully game with MX Blues, you’ll have to get accustomed to a stiff bump that you’ll feel as you press each key down and on its way back up.

You should already expect an MX Blue keyboard to be loud, but the AGK700 is extra loud. The sound of the switches’ clicks are amplified by a simultaneous, extra plasticy clack brought on by the keycaps. The sound grows with the larger keys you’ll be hitting when gaming, like Tab or Ctrl and Spacebar, where the stabilizers add an additional plastic noise that’s not quite in sync with the clicking of the switch and keycaps. Overall though it’s not too far off from what you hear with a lot of today’s prebuilt, clicky gaming keyboards and didn’t hinder my gameplay, but I also happen to be someone who loves loud keyboards. It was certainly noticeable while playing though, so beware.

One of the AGK700’s top advantages on the battlefield is its macro keys bank that can help execute complicated or specific movements and moves quickly and with minimal effort. Like with many keyboards with G keys, the bank is hard to reach, especially for small to medium sized hands, which will have to stretch. I have longer hands for a woman, and only G4 and G5 were easily reachable without looking.

On top of that, the G keys aren’t the same height as the rest of the keys, so they’re even harder to reach. Other keyboards with G keys, like Corsair’s K100 RGB and Logitech’s G815, make the keys the same height, meaning you can stretch your finger over and then feel it instantly, rather than have to reach both over and downward. They’re still better than nothing though, and there’s use for them outside of gaming too. But if you’re using it in-game, you may want to save it for something that can take a second to execute or slower paced games.

Typing Experience on AOC Agon AGK700

The AGK700 opts for quality switches from a well-known brand, the standard, in fact. The AGK700 uses Cherry MX Blue switches (4mm total travel, 2.2mm actuation point). These are the de facto loud, clicky switches, and they will make typewriting fans and shameless mechanical keyboard fanatics happy as clams.

If you like clicky noises when you type, Cherry MX Blues are a win. By comparison I found the switches get a bit tiring for long tying sessions, but your mileage may vary. Regardless, the keyboard did a good job of ensuring the only sound I heard were the MX Blue’s clicks. There were no obvious unwanted pinging noises. The larger buttons, like Backspace, Enter and Shift, had a more unpleasant clackety noise but nothing far from what most gaming keyboards’ larger keys sound like today. At least the clackety was in time with the click making for a louder, thicker, but not longer noise.

The AGK700’s keycaps are nothing special in terms of offering a pleasant texture. However, they don’t get as grimey as you might expect. They didn’t get greasy or slippery too easily. But their generally sticky feel isn’t very appealing. What saves them are their gentle grooves, which  brought noticeable comfort to long-term typing. Resting my fingers on the keys was pleasant and let me think better and was more noticeable than the cheaper plastic keycaps at times.

The spacebar, however, is a bit worse. There’s a lot of excess noise, from pressing the key down to hearing it forcefully pop back up. I feel like I hear the sound of the plastic stabilizers more than the switch’s click. That’s also the case with the other larger keys, but the spacebar is worse, due to the plastic-y noise heard when the key returns back to its original position.

On the 10fastfingers.com typing test, I averaged 120.33 words per minute (wpm) and 97.36 accuracy. This is fast for me, so obviously the extra weight of the MX Blues didn’t slow me down, even if I found it did make my fingers feel slightly more exhausted.

Features and Software of AOC Agon AGK700

AOC’s first keyboard comes ready to play with configuration software, AOC G-Tools. As, perhaps expected of a first peripheral app, the UI looks a little primitive, but, more importantly, G-Tools gets what it seeks to accomplish done and pretty painlessly.

You can store up to five unique profiles, including RGB settings, on the AGK700. Each can be set to launch automatically when you open a specific program, but this feature doesn't work unless you have G-Tools open. You’re also limited to five profiles onboard or offboard. While some more advanced peripheral apps let you store profiles on the software (via the cloud), the AGK700 is limited to its -- notably plentiful -- onboard storage.

Within every profile, all keys except for the media keys, M profile key, Windows and FN are reprogrammable. The software brings up a menu, where you can select various actions, including mouse clicks, moving the web browser backward/forward and cut and paste. But at the time of writing, you can’t set any program to launch with a key, except for Calculator. The macro manager, meanwhile, is basic but understandable and effective.

The Light FX section is where you play with RGB. Here, you can select and tweak 11 preset effects. You can also make your own effect, picking the color of each key (but none of the G keys or media keys). You can select individual colors, their brightness and how long those lights will turn off after pressing a button. However, you can’t bring individual effects to individual keys -- only a single color. Overall, that makes the RGB possibilities much less advanced than the likes of the Razer Synapse app’s Chroma plug-in, but still sufficient for creating a unique look. Still, with the keyboard’s $180 price tag, you may have expected more competitive customization.

G-Tools’ Sensitivity menu offers some options other apps leave out. You can reduce the polling rate from the 1,000 Hz standard (but can’t bring it higher, like the 4,000 Hz Corsair K100 RGB). You can also tweak the rate of repeated keypresses, which is oddly a big focus here.

Bottom Line

AOC is trying to carve out a spot in the gaming keyboard space with the AOC Agon AGK700, and it’s a decidedly red one. Looking at the keyboard evokes questions around its massive and conspicuously placed volume wheel, odd selection of media keys and traces of red everywhere. On paper, it sounds like what’d expect from a $180 gaming keyboard: a macro bank, programmable keys, a leather wrist rest and dedicated media keys. But these premium features’ inclusion lacks thoughtfulness.

The volume wheel could easily serve as a mute button, we’re missing more common media keys, such as Pause, the macro keys’ short stature makes them harder to reach than on rival keyboards, and the keycaps don’t seem to be of a premium plastic.

If you like red, the keyboard is a looker. And the AGK700 does bring some quality features to the table, like a USB passthrough port, hefty, durable braided cable and software that’s easy enough to use.

There aren’t many full-sized mechanical keyboards with a macro bank from a known brand for cheaper though. If you’re okay with tactile or clicky switches, the Corsair K85 RGB Platinum XT has a more accessible macro bank, the same switches as our review focus, more developed software and, currently, a cheaper price ($160). As of writing, you can still pick up 2015’s Logitech G910 for $100, but we’re not sure how long third-party stock will last.

For those seeking a similar design to the AGK700 but with linear switches, there’s the pricey ($200) Corsair K100 RGB. And the Logitech G815, (currently starting at $180) is a good option for gamers in favor of low-profile switches.

The AOC Agon AGK700 has a unique look that you just might fall in love with (even if I didn’t). If that’s the case, the vast majority of the keyboard is built to last, and it has a sprinkling of features worth smiling about. But most are better-suited with an alternative, even if you have to pay a little more.

Editor's Note August 2, 2021: AOC originally told us that this keyboard uses ABS keycaps but eventually corrected itself, saying the keyboard uses PBT keycaps. The review's been updated as such.