AOC Agon Pro AG276QZD Review: Speedy and Responsive With Infinite Contrast

27-inch 240 Hz QHD OLED gaming monitor with Adaptive-Sync, HDR, wide gamut color and infinite contrast.

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AOC Agon Pro AG276QZD
Editor's Choice
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

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AOC Agon Pro AG276QZD
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

When measuring OLED light output, it’s essential to determine if the panel adjusts brightness according to average picture level. Most OLEDs do this to prevent overdriving in extremely bright content, like a 100% white field pattern, for example. In the AG276QZD’s case, a full field pattern measured around 230 nits, but a 25% window topped 375. This is a fairer comparison and it’s the way I measure all OLEDs so the results here are relevant to one another.

Only the 42M2N89 has a measurable black level, which is a design choice on Philips’ part to not completely shut off the pixel array for a zero-level signal. All other OLEDs do so their blacks are truly black. This, of course, results in theoretically infinite contrast. The Philips 27726.9:1 ratio is still quite high and will easily beat all but the very best Mini LED monitors.

After Calibration to 200 nits

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AOC Agon Pro AG276QZD
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Calibration makes no difference to the AG276QZD’s dynamic range. It just can’t get better than this. The ANSI test shows the same behavior from all monitors with a very high 45,170:1 ratio from the 42M2N89.

Test Takeaway: The AG276QZD has the same stunning picture quality as any properly engineered OLED panel. With true blacks and a vast dynamic range, the picture is as three-dimensional and realistic as a two-dimensional screen can make it.

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Christian Eberle
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.

1 Comment Comment from the forums
  • helper800
    I love my LG CX OLED mounted about my two monitors for pretty much everything. Not even the faintest bit of burn in on it after 2+ years of use either. I set my desktop background to black with a taskbar that hides, and no shortcuts or folders displayed on it seems to do the trick. If i were ever to replace my 27 inch gaming monitor below my CX it would be with something like this.
    Reply