There was a particular feeling of deja vu having this acquainted AOC monitor sprawled throughout my desk. That’s not essentially a superb factor, although, as a result of it was born of the final AGON ultrawide we examined, and simply how cross-eyed I acquired reviewing its hazy show. But whereas this new display seems equivalent on the surface its upgraded spec-sheet makes for a much more palatable panel.
A high quality show will possible outlast your present rig, so take a look at our information to the best gaming monitors to ensure you get the appropriate one for you.
The AGON AG35QCX used a totally completely different curvy VA panel to current its picture, however whereas it nailed a 200Hz refresh price, the hazy movement and restricted vertical decision made it unimaginable to suggest.
The dearer $960 (£720) AGON AG35UCQ has corrected all these faults, nevertheless, to ship a mighty spectacular monitor able to providing critical ranges of gaming immersion.
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AOC AGON AG352UCG specs
The AU Optronics Eight-bit AMVA panel that AOC have used of their newest ultrawide monitor can’t fairly match the 200Hz refresh price heights of the earlier panel. But if it will probably ship its personal 100Hz price with out muddying the display’s illustration of movement then I’m bought. We’ve been spoiled by latest panels hitting upwards of 144Hz even whereas utilizing VA or IPS-a-like display tech, however truthfully, something above the standard 60Hz refresh can nonetheless make an enormous distinction.
If you desire a fast refresher on panel know-how you may check out our guide, however principally it runs thus: TN panels are low cost, and sometimes nasty, however are able to super-low response charges and really excessive refresh charges. That makes them good for esports aficionados who care much less about picture constancy and extra about pace and fluidity. IPS (or AHVA) panels supply the very best color replica and total picture high quality, however will be slower and dearer. VA panels are a superb compromise providing slicker photographs with nearly the identical degree of constancy as IPS.
The different large change, and arguably the one which makes this panel a much more engaging buy that the earlier AGON, is the native decision. The AG352UCQ sports activities a max res of 3440 x 1440, which delivers a full 21:9 facet ratio, and means it’s acquired a way more usable vertical decision than the 2560 x 1080 of the AG352QCX. Now, that may not make a whole lot of distinction in-game, however when utilizing your display for anything on the desktop issues grow to be extremely cramped with a 1080 pixel excessive 21:9 panel.
The draw back is that you just’re going to wish slightly extra GPU energy to drive this show, but it surely’s truthfully not that far more taxing than a 2560 x 1440 monitor, and positively nowhere close to the GPU grind of a 4K decision. That additionally means you’ve acquired a superb likelihood of hitting the body price wanted to match the 100Hz refresh and profit from the monitor’s G-Sync help.
The AG352UCG makes use of the identical 2000R curvature because the earlier mannequin, which is extra pronounced than the likes of Asus’ Swift PG348Q or the Acer XR341CK, however the anti-glare panel coating means you don’t get too many bizarre reflections born of the panel’s sweeping arc. It additionally brings the sides of the display in in direction of your peripheral imaginative and prescient to assist immerse you within the sport.
I’m not massively taken by the comparatively massive, shiny plastic bezel, however the stand is stable and offers a full vary of motion so you may place it completely in your desktop. And, as a result of it’s an AOC of the AGON selection, it additionally comes with a headphone hook on the aspect of the chunky monitor surrounds. It’s slightly factor, however is beautifully helpful once you don’t need your costly gaming headset being dragged throughout the bottom.
AOC AGON AG352UCG efficiency
The AG352UCG is a totally completely different beast in contrast with the restricted top 200Hz display we examined earlier than. It shows not one of the ghosting and movement illness the opposite panel clearly suffered from, producing sharp, vibrant photographs throughout its curvy expanse.
The high-resolution panel delivers glorious distinction efficiency, displaying clear delineation between completely different colors and shades, and completely nails the black ranges too. It’s the identical story with the show’s white saturation too, which means you’re not going to lose any element whether or not you’re gaming within the olive drab surrounds of Battlefield 1, the oppressive darkness of Resident Evil 7, or the colourful environs of Overwatch.
There is, nevertheless, a specific amount of colour-shift throughout the 35-inch display once you’re taking a look at stable blocks. There is a really particular distinction to the color on the centre of the show in contrast with the acute edges of the wraparound panel. It isn’t significantly noticeable in-game, although – solely when there are massive chunks of color on show.
Even although it’s solely sporting a peak luminance of 300 nits, the precise picture on present stays crisp and clear, and the completely different sport mode settings supply solely very delicate tweaks to the show for various genres. With different displays, even different AOC ones, I’ve typically discovered producer’s built-in modes to be far too aggressive and determined to be clearly completely different to be helpful.
The on-screen show (OSD) additionally feels slightly extra feature-rich than earlier AOC displays I’ve examined. It doesn’t have an unwieldy degree of setting customisation, however lays out the essential goodies in a transparent and concise method. It’s all accessible through slightly joystick swap below the AGON label on the entrance, although I did preserve discovering myself turning off the display by urgent it down after I thought I might be deciding on a setting. I’m a sluggish learner…
Within the OSD are the settings for the screens LEDs. It’s a gaming-focused product in 2017, so, in fact, it’s going to have LEDs. There’s a strip below the entrance of the monitor’s surrounds in addition to 4 slashes on the rear to essentially piss off any event rivals in a LAN setting. You can alter the brightness and swap between pink, inexperienced, and blue too, relying in your allegiance.
AOC AGON AG352UCG verdict
The act of boxing up a evaluation pattern most likely informs my opinion of a product far more than the preliminary unboxing of it. My eye did develop moist as I cradled the show, gently decreasing it again into its packaging, in spite of everything.
It was undoubtedly not candy sorrow parting from the AG352UCG; it actually is a superb gaming display. It doesn’t fairly have the picture constancy of the IPS-based Acer or Asus ultrawides we additionally suggest, however the panel within the AGON isn’t far off and among the best VA screens I’ve examined. And it doesn’t have the identical extortionate price ticket both, at the least not within the UK. As ever, this AOC display is at present fairly expensive within the US, however preserve your fingers crossed as that might change as extra inventory ships throughout the pond.
I really like 21:9 ultrawide displays – they supply a superior gaming expertise than the standard 16:9 shows – however they want an important panel and the appropriate native decision to profit from that additional scale. Thankfully, the AGON AG352UCG has each, and I’m certain going to overlook it sitting on my desk.
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