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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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