AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Gaming Monitor Review: Color or Contrast - Pick One
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Conclusion
Usually when a company updates a monitor with new features they retain the best parts of the outgoing model. In the case of AOC’s AG352UCG6, that isn’t completely true. You still get a VA panel with solid contrast, and there’s a tighter 1,800R curve versus the previous 2,000R, plus rich color and G-Sync. Further, the 120Hz AG352UCG6 improves on the AG352UCG’s 100Hz refresh rate. However, AOC failed to improve a few areas, and some aspects of performance were weaker.
Our AG352UCG6 was reasonably color-accurate but required calibration to reach full potential. Out of the box, its primary colors were a little off the mark when compared to other monitors at the same price point. Grayscale and gamma tracking were the culprits here. Fortunately, we were able to solve most of the issues with careful adjustment. Our recommended settings should take care of any problems you might encounter.
But improving color required some compromise. To see the best color, we had to sacrifice some contrast. Without adjustment, the AG352UCG6 delivered similar contrast to most other VA monitors. But when striving for accurate color, that dynamic range dropped by about 30%. It’s still better than any IPS panel but not by as much as it should be.
The good part is you get completely reliable G-Sync performance up to 120Hz. And with a tighter curve than the AG352UCG, the AG352UCG6 draws gamers in just a little more. Improvements in screen draw time and input lag meant a gaming experience free from artifacts or other factors that would reduce competitiveness.
If you already have last year’s AG352UCG, an upgrade is only necessary if you want a higher refresh rate; you might be able to pick up the old one for around $820. But if you opt for the new model, you’ll get decent gaming performance and good picture once you dial it in. Though this new Agon didn’t significantly improve upon its predecessor, it’s still a good gaming monitor and a decent value in its class.
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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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TheDane Aren't you calibrating monitors using a HW calibration unit - like iDisplay Pro - or are you only using the monitor settings to modify gamma etc?Reply -
saunupe1911 Any gaming monitor without HDR is a failure.Reply
Toms Hardware,
You guys need to review the Monoprice 32in 4K 3840x2160 HDR AMD FreeSync monitor. It's by far the best bang for buck monitor on the market.
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=27772 -
wifiburger AOC is garbage ! Dont buy any of their turd products ! The warranty is only 1year !Reply