The best gaming monitors with 4K resolutions usually value an absolute fortune as of late, principally due to all of the RGB bells and Nvidia G-Sync whistles that are inclined to accompany them. The delightfully plain 28in AOC U2879VF, nonetheless, sits on the reverse finish of the spectrum, ditching a number of of the flowery extras you’d discover in your typical 4K ‘gaming’ display in favour of a cheaper price: £273 / $277 at time of writing, with additional reductions available over the ever-wonderful Black Friday interval. Is it price taking the plunge when the offers practice comes round? Let’s discover out.
There are, naturally, a few compromises to be made on a 4K display at this worth. It has a TN panel for starters, so color accuracy isn’t going to be amazingly excessive, and its black, shiny, plastic bezel each appears and feels a bit low-cost in comparison with its weighty silver base. You’re additionally solely getting a hard and fast stand as a substitute of a height-adjustable one (although you do get a little bit of forwards and backwards tilt), and its refresh fee is a daily 60Hz as a substitute of something larger.
Still, I’d argue a 60Hz refresh fee offers greater than sufficient headroom for many graphics playing cards as of late, and AMD graphics card house owners additionally get the added bonus of FreeSync help, too, which can assist eradicate any stutter or screen-tear if the body fee begins to battle a bit. Another good further is that each single one among its ports are good and simply accessible around the again as a substitute of being hidden inside an annoying alcove, making it simple to arrange no matter whether or not you’re connecting a DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI or VGA.
The AOC U2879VF has a wide array of ports, nevertheless it’s a disgrace the DisplayPort solely helps the 1.2 customary as a substitute of the newer 1.Four customary.
About that picture high quality, then. It’s been some time since a TN monitor’s crossed my desk – most have both been IPS or VA screens in current months – nevertheless it was instantly apparent which sort of panel the U2879VF was in possession of virtually as quickly as I switched it on. Its viewing angles have been noticeably narrower than different displays I’ve reviewed recently, and even the slightest shift of my head to the aspect was sufficient to provide a shift in color and total distinction.
The identical goes for its vertical viewing angles as properly. Luckily, I discovered the quantity of tilt on supply was greater than sufficient to repair any issues right here, nevertheless it may be extra of an issue if you happen to’re notably tall the place the ahead tilt won’t be sufficient to compensate the steeper angle you may want.
For essentially the most half, although, the viewing angle situation was simply handled. More problematic was its lacklustre color accuracy. There’s loads of brightness on supply – as much as 355cd/m2 by my X-rite i1 DisplayPro’s measurements – and its distinction is fairly respectable (917:1, if you wish to be actual about it), however on its default settings (the Standard Eco mode paired with the Warm color temperature setting), the U2879VF is simply able to displaying 88% of the usual sRGB color gamut.
This isn’t horrible for a TN display. If something, it’s positively common. It does imply, although that colors seem just a little washed out at instances, and that they lack a way of heat and depth.
Fortunately, it doesn’t take a lot to enhance on that determine of 88% so long as you’re prepared to place up with AOC’s mildly irritating onboard menu system. You’ll wish to depart the Eco mode on Standard, however if you happen to drop the Shadow Control setting right down to 40 (one other hangover from AOC’s correct gaming displays that brightens/darkens the display that will help you spot any nasties hiding at nighttime) and change over to the User color temperature to tweak its inexperienced worth a bit (43 supplied the perfect stability towards its pink and blue values of 50, in keeping with my i1), you’ll push its sRGB protection over the 90% mark to a way more pleasing 91.4%.
Once I’d finished this, colors appeared much more vigorous. Perhaps nonetheless not fairly as vibrant as another TN screens on the market (or, certainly, IPS or VA displays), nevertheless it’s positively higher than languishing across the 88% mark. Indeed, the autumnal landscapes of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey appeared completely pretty within the U2879VF’s newly calibrated state, as did the brilliant, major colors of comedic level and clicker Chuchel and puzzling level and clicker Gnog.
The solely actual drawback is that the similarly-priced BenQ EL2870U is additionally being discounted this Black Friday and may presently be snapped up for simply £240 within the UK (it’s nonetheless $450 within the US, however that will change within the coming days). This is one other 4K TN display with AMD FreeSync help, however does 91.2% sRGB protection straight out of the field and has a less complicated, simpler to make use of menu system as well. If that wasn’t convincing sufficient, the BenQ has the added bonus of HDR up its sleeve, too – a reasonably common implementation of HDR, all informed, however that’s nonetheless greater than will be mentioned of the AOC.
Of course, with AOC’s Black Friday offers but to kick in, it’s tough to say whether or not it’s going to finish up being low-cost sufficient to make it price choosing over the BenQ. At £273 / $277, it’s actually an honest method of getting a variety of pixels per penny, however I think that even with a hefty low cost utilized, the BenQ EL2870U might be the higher worth display total – not less than within the UK. I’ll replace this verdict within the coming days if the U2879VF is immediately accessible for foolish cash, however if you happen to’re searching for a 4K monitor on a budget this Black Friday, I’d advise sticking with the BenQ.
Be positive to test our usually up to date Black Friday: Best monitor deals hub web page for much more offers on gaming displays over the approaching days, too.
