AOC Agon Pro AG346UCD Ultra-wide OLED gaming monitor review: Maximum color and solid value

The AOC Agon Pro is a 34-inch WQHD 21:9 ultra-wide QD-OLED display with 175 Hz, adaptive sync, HDR, and wide gamut color.

AOC Agon Pro AG346UCD
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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To avoid confusion, I recommend turning off the AG346UCD’s Game Mode and sticking with the default Standard picture or Eco mode. This mode is relatively close to the mark but has a little room for 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 AG346UCD’s default chart is slightly deficient in green, but the errors barely crest the visible threshold of 3dE. This is an acceptable performance. The gamma trace rides a bit below the reference line, but since contrast is so high, you won’t see a problem with actual content.

Calibration doesn’t affect gamma which is a good thing. Grayscale tracking is now extremely close to perfection with all errors well under 1dE. This is reference-level performance.

The sRGB gamut option grays out all picture controls but measures well with a 3.29dE average grayscale error and near-perfect 2.2 gamma. Only a slight dip at 90% can be seen in the chart. This makes the AG346UCD suitable for color-critical work in the sRGB realm.

Comparisons

The AG346UCD’s default score of 3.18dE is reasonably close to the mark and shouldn’t be seen as a negative. It can be enjoyed without calibration. But with the tweaks I provided earlier, you can take it to a class-leading 0.26dE. That’s one of the lowest scores I’ve ever recorded. Gamma tracking is extremely tight with a 0.06 range of values and an average that’s 2.73% off the reference. The actual value is 2.14. This error is hard to spot in actual content.

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 first chart shows that the AG346UCD is super colorful in its default state. This represents the Native option in the color gamut menu. There is a little oversaturation in all three primaries but not enough to cause a visual problem. The points track in a linear fashion which means all fine detail is fully rendered. The 2.16dE average error is quite low. Calibration tightens up the chart nicely with near-perfect hues across the board. The sRGB chart shows slight oversaturation in red but no visible hue errors. Overall, we’re seeing reference-level color here.

Comparisons

It’s hard for any OLED to stand out in the color accuracy test when the numbers are this good and this close. It is not an exaggeration to say that you won’t find a bad example. The AG346UCD’s 1.62dE score is average among this group but well above average when compared to all other monitors and technologies. This is excellent performance.

It seems the gamut volume record just won’t stand for more than a few days. Quantum Dot OLEDs typically cover around 110% of DCI-P3 and I’ve had some touch 111%. The AG346UCD is the first to crack 112%. While these are minute differences, the numbers don’t lie. The AG346UCD is officially the most colorful OLED monitor I’ve tested. And its near-perfect 100.95% sRGB volume qualifies it for critical applications.

Test Takeaway: Concerns about brightness are largely soothed with color results this good. The AG346UCD is beautiful to look at thanks to deep blacks and color saturation for days. It’s accurate without calibration and even better when adjusted. Gamma is nearly spot on as well which means you’ll see every fine detail the image has to offer. Color accuracy can’t get much better than this.

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Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.

  • Deflott
    I bought this monitor for 590€ and im super happy with it, only thing I'm not used to is when i play game like kcd without brightness setting and there is night I can't see anything :/
    Reply
  • dave.rara66
    I'm sure it's a nice monitor, but for the same price you can buy the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF. While it's capped at 165Hz (hardly a noticeable decrease) it has great HDR performance and a better warranty.

    Not better as in longer, but better in that they will never make you send in a monitor for repair. They instead ship you a new replacement panel (no deposit required) and you just drop the defective one in the same box and send it back - all prepaid. Best warranty ever (3 years).
    Reply
  • Deflott
    dave.rara66 said:
    I'm sure it's a nice monitor, but for the same price you can buy the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF. While it's capped at 165Hz (hardly a noticeable decrease) it has great HDR performance and a better warranty.

    Not better as in longer, but better in that they will never make you send in a monitor for repair. They instead ship you a new replacement panel (no deposit required) and you just drop the defective one in the same box and send it back - all prepaid. Best warranty ever (3 years).
    I bought agon for 590€ while Alienware one you sent cheapest i could find for 786€
    Reply
  • dave.rara66
    Deflott said:
    I bought agon for 590€ while Alienware one you sent cheapest i could find for 786€
    I should have clarified that the prices I'm seeing are in the USA
    Reply