AOC Agon AG493UCX2 review

The AOC Agon monitor AG493UCX2 is an absolute monster. Its curved 49-inch display screen with a 32:9 facet ratio is immensely spectacular, and for those who’re seeking to immerse your self in your video games (and you’ve got loads of desk area) you is likely to be questioning whether or not it deserves your consideration.

So is larger, higher? The display screen decision is 5120 x 1440 pixels throughout the 48.8-inch useable display screen and regardless of its dimension, the curvature is extra refined at 1800R. It’s not all about sheer dimensions for the AG493UCX2, although. As an improve on the present AG493UCX, its 165Hz refresh charge places it within the increased ranges of the market, among the many best curved gaming monitors, whereas six gaming modes may be tailor-made to completely different genres.

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What lets this monitor down is the essential HDR assist within the type of DisplayHDR400. It isn’t unhealthy, but it surely lags when in comparison with opponents just like the Asus ROG Strix XG32UQ. If you need the perfect display screen high quality potential, it would be best to look elsewhere. However there’s quite a bit to love concerning the Agon AG493UCX2, which we’ll delve into beneath.

Specs

AOC Agon AG493UCX2 specs:

Options

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As you’d anticipate, the Agon is available in a large field, with cables for HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C to USB-C for connectivity. There’s additionally a distant management, an influence adapter, and, after all, a base so the display screen can stand by itself.

Should you’re getting it out of the field by yourself you then would possibly battle resulting from how the 31lbs is distributed. I discovered myself having to put the monitor facedown or lean it in opposition to my physique, and having somebody to assist will make setup a smoother course of. After you have the display screen out of the field, attaching the sturdy steel base is easy and I didn’t must learn via the included directions to get it up and working.

After plugging within the energy and HDMI cable, the Agon is able to rock. The in-built show menu may be very detailed and nicely thought out. Along with the standard display screen controls, resembling brightness, distinction, and shade settings, there are a number of different quality-of-life choices. 

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Preset profiles exist for motion pictures, video games, sports activities, and many others, whereas there are three customizable gaming profiles to dial in your most popular settings. Even for every sport style for those who’d like. Or if you wish to use the preset settings, then there are alternatives for first-person shooter, real-time technique, and racing. Throughout my time testing the Agon, I didn’t discover vital variations between these modes, however your mileage might differ.

AOC has designed the Agon with players in thoughts because the gaming-specific settings are myriad. You possibly can overlay crosshairs, enhance shadow visibility (known as Shadow Management), and monitor your refresh charge.

Design

The design of the Agon is practical, however that can go well with many customers who desire a monitor for gaming and working. The 49-inch display screen feels well-built, and the attachment for the stand on the again is extraordinarily sturdy. It carries the burden of the monitor nicely and the rotation seems like it’s going to final the take a look at of time.

A skinny bezel strains the left, high, and right-hand facet of the show whereas a bigger bezel with the purple Agon emblem strains the underside. This design maximizes the show dimension. My one criticism is that the buttons on the underside of the monitor are pretty unresponsive and have to be firmly pushed to get them to react. Given the Agon additionally comes with a distant management, that is hardly a giant gripe.

Efficiency and performance

I’ll begin by speaking concerning the apparent spectacle offered by this monitor. On the danger of repeating myself, the dimensions is one thing. That’s the primary focus of this display screen, which is each its greatest professional and con. I’m not saying the Agon is horrible. It is vitally good. The colours pop, if they’re perhaps barely oversaturated, and the blacks are deeper than on an IPS display screen. Once I used the normal SDR mode, I discovered the neon lights in Cyberpunk 2077 to be very colourful and vibrant.

Variable charge refresh assist is assured via AMD FreeSync Premium Professional certification. Nonetheless, Nvidia graphics card customers can nonetheless run variable refresh through G-Sync, albeit with out official assist. Nonetheless, the DisplayHDR 400 certification does imply that you’re not getting a real excessive dynamic vary display screen. I generally discovered issues a little bit washed out or the element misplaced in actually shiny highlights. These are minor points and I solely observed them after I was searching for them.

The comparatively mild 1800R panel curvature is distant from the tighter 1000R of the Samsung G9, whereas the 165Hz refresh charge is quick sufficient for many on-line players. The 5,120 by 1,440 decision sounds good on paper, however over such a giant panel you solely get a 109DPI pixel density.

Must you purchase the AOC Agon AG493UCX2?

• Sure: If you need a large display screen for an immersive expertise
• Sure: It has options designed for gaming
• No: You desire a true HDR show
• No: If you need a monitor to be used with consoles

If you need dimension and a very good however not nice show then I extremely advocate the AOC Agon AG493UCX2. If you need a real HDR and the very best show potential then I might look elsewhere. These missing within the area will desire a monitor with a smaller footprint.

If the AOC Agon AG493UCX2 isn’t for you

Conclusion

The AOC Agon AG493UCX2 is designed to blow you away with dimension, spectacle, and immersion. The 49-inch show does that and extra. It’s cinematic in scope and AOC has specced some good options to make it attraction to players.

If you’re searching for the very best visible efficiency out of your gaming monitor then you can be higher off an OLED. Nonetheless, given the worth of $1100 and a refresh charge that by no means discovered me wanting, the AOC Agon AG493UCX2 is a good all-rounder.