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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 AG276QZD2 offers five HDR modes, three of which can also be used with SDR content. The extra two are Display and 1000 Max and have their own unique characteristics that I’ll explain in a moment. Once you select a mode, the switch between SDR and HDR is automatic.
Of the five HDR modes, I strongly recommend avoiding Movie and Picture. They add a lot of unattractive edge enhancement that ultimately reduces sharpness. Game is free of artifacts, but it has a very light luminance curve that dulls the image. 1000 Max suggests a higher peak level, but it is no brighter than the others. It also has very dark shadows that make it unsuitable for gaming. Display is the default and best choice for its accuracy and correct tone mapping.
HDR Brightness and Contrast
It’s hard to ignore the AG276QZD2’s relatively low peak output level in the HDR brightness test. This is because there is no variable brightness feature. That omission is shared by the AG276QZD, but it is visibly brighter in HDR mode, as are the other screens. Black levels and contrast are the same across the board, so you still get the deep image OLED is known for. But the highlight areas don’t quite have the pop that they should.
Grayscale, EOTF and Color
In the HDR grayscale test, there are no errors of consequence, just a slight warmth in the brighter steps which does not adversely affect content. The EOTF tracks a bit dark, but shadow detail remains visible.
Color rendering is similar in all five HDR modes, so I’m showing the results from Display. Saturation is on target except for the 100% points, which are a bit under the mark. Most content is unaffected, but images with a lot of bright primary colors will have a little less verve. The BT.2020 chart is much the same with coverage that extends to 85% red, 75% green and 95% blue.
Test Takeaway: Though the AG276QZD2’s color gamut is wider than last year’s AG276QZD, its HDR rendering doesn’t take full advantage of the extra saturation. It definitely looks more colorful in SDR mode but HDR comparisons between the two screens are more alike than they should be. Other than overall saturation, the AG276QZD2 shows excellent color accuracy and solid tone mapping.
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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.
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Dasboot5 Does the new model require the Mandatory Pixel refresh maintenance after 4 hours of use, and can that be accessed by the OSD or only the rear OSD button?Reply
Discussion of Pixel Refresh Maintenance -
GTwannabe Reply
You can safely disable the 4-hour Pixel Refresh nag screen. The monitor has a power-on counter. When it exceeds 4 hours runtime and you let the screen go to sleep for 2 hours it automatically runs a panel maintenance cycle.Dasboot5 said:Does the new model require the Mandatory Pixel refresh maintenance after 4 hours of use, and can that be accessed by the OSD or only the rear OSD button?
Discussion of Pixel Refresh Maintenance