Many of today’s gaming monitors are similar in features and performance. The differences seem to shrink with each new model introduction. The upside is that it’s more difficult to make a bad choice. Even HDR and extended color, namely DCI-P3, are easier to find with many value-priced models including both.
A deciding factor then is size and shape. Do you go with a traditional 16:9 flat screen or a curved one? Or perhaps an ultra-wide or a big-format gaming display if the budget allows. Now we have the mega-wide category. A few years ago, few would have imagined a 32:9 curved panel, but here we are, and the AOC Agon AG493UCX is a great example.
Putting two 27-inch panels on the desk is a dream of many. The extra width provides desktop real estate for workday tasks and a great feel for gaming. But there are the issues of cabling and that annoying line (aka bezels) between screens.The 32:9 curved screen solves these problems neatly. Obviously, there’s no line; and hookup is the same as any other single monitor.
The AG493UCX answered the wish we made after reviewing the Samsung CHG90 – more resolution. With 5120 x 1440 pixels, density is the same 109 pixels per inch (ppi) as a 27-inch QHD monitor. This is still our favorite because it hits the sweet spot between performance and image quality. 4K gaming monitors are great, but it requires substantial graphics hardware to achieve high frame rates. Our gaming experience with the Agon delivered over 60 fps with a Radeon R9 285 graphics card and FreeSync. We even got it to run G-Sync, even though it’s not officially certified to do so, and used a GTX 1080 Ti to hit 80-100fps with detail maxed in several demanding titles.
The Agon sells for around $1,000 at this writing. That’s at least 50% less than the next most expensive big-format display, the Acer Predator CG437K, and significantly cheaper than screens like the Acer Predator X35 ($2,180) or massive HP Omen X 65 Emperium ($3,800). If you can clear off enough desktop space, this mega-wide panel is an ideal gaming monitor for those who want maximum width without relocating to the living room. For desktop gaming, the AG493UCX is one of the best choices available now.
MORE: Best Gaming Monitors
MORE: How We Test Monitors
MORE: All Monitor Content
