27-inch QHD display, with a 1ms response time and 165Hz refresh rate, all packed into an edgy gaming monitor with a curve that can’t be resisted.
- Manufacturer: AOC
- Reviewed on: Xbox One X and PC
- Supplied by: AOC
The AOC AGON AG273QCG (hereafter referred to as the AG27) is a culmination of everything I could dream of in a monitor.
Before I start raving about the minor details that made me fall head over heels for the AG27, there are a few key features that need to be rattled off if you do not have the time to listen to me purr over the RGB back ring (yeah, RGB back ring!)
The AG27 is a 27 inch TN panel, with a whopping QHD (Quad HD – 2560 x 1440) resolution.
The panel itself is fairly decent, and whilst QHD is by no means the pinnacle of what is available, it is widely regarded as the sweet spot for the size, with the added advantage of higher refresh rates than are currently available on all but the most expensive 4k monitors. It is impressive and does more than justice to all of the titles I tested on it.
With a 1ms G2G response and 165 Hz refresh rate, you will be sure to not only have a flawless connection to your games but also you will not be missing any frames or experiencing any screen tear. Colour distortion can occur when you view from off-centre, however, although with the beautiful curved display, you won’t want to be anywhere but right in the middle. These shifts in colour saturation are most apparent towards the top and bottom of the screen, with colours becoming over-saturated or slightly washed out respectively.
Contrast is average when compared to a VA or decent IPS panel, however, as the AG27 is aimed at gamers, those panels cannot offer the super-fast response times that competitive gaming requires. Whilst darker scenes can suffer some compression, you won’t experience any IPS glow that can be off-putting to many gamers. As always, it comes down to personal preference which panel type you prefer, but for serious gamers, the AG27 provides one of the best examples of a TN panel for the price.
I did spend time using the monitor hooked up to my PC, but the vast majority of the time I was a few hours deep in Call of Duty, Halo or Forza. The Xbox One X can’t take full advantage of everything the AG27 has to offer, but it still provided a noticeable improvement from the LG TV I have sat next to it being used as a second monitor. The AG27 feels silky smooth in comparison, though with its impressive spec list, that is no real surprise.
The AG27 has a curved display. It’s a fairly evident curve but does not go so far as to distract you. The AG27’s curve and size feel like AOC really found the sweet spot for desktop gaming. The curve provides comfort and naturality to FPS games that I hadn’t fully experienced for myself before.
There are a few other things that add to the AG27’s appeal: it is borderless; which gives it a really clean and modern look, and it also has a height and angle adjustable stand that has an attractive design. With red anodized-look feet and a matt black rail, it will fit into any gaming setup.
Next up is my personal favourite set of details that give the AG27 a real wow factor. It has a fully customizable RGB ring on the back which ties in with the front control knob lighting. They have a whole host of different effects available, such as water waves, flash, gradient fade, and motion point. These can be further customised with either set colours, rainbow, or a user-defined mix.
It doesn’t stop there. The back panel has a host of fancy bits and the down-facing inputs: it has one HDMI slot and a display port, along with a set of two-watt speakers, which despite being small, perform quite nicely in comparison to some other built-in speakers. Lastly, it has a stunning 3D AGON badge that just adds an official and quality feel to the monitor.
Moving on to some software features, if you click the centrally located joystick found underneath the screen of the monitor you will be met with an AGON branded menu with a multitude of options, as follows:
Game settings that allow you to change between pre-set screen modes catered to different game types.
Luminance that allows you to adjust contrast brightness and gamma.
G-sync set-up that will give you options such as deep sleep and USB charge.
Colour set-up and audio that are self-explanatory and quite standard for any display.
Light FX gives you all of the options for the RGB ring and front light previously mentioned.
Extra that gives you resolution information and allows you to change the display selection.
Last is the OSD menu that gives you all the options for the menu itself.
Last but not least, the AG27 has a whopping four USB slots, along with your normal audio inputs, including the aforementioned charging ports.
Moving on to issues, there are only two that I could find with the AG27. The first is that the matt non-glare layer does slightly affect the sharpness of the screen, but it is not enough of an issue that I would wish for it to not be included.
The second does not affect the monitor in its functionality and is more of a personal gripe. The AG27 has a stunning set of effects and lights that make the back of the monitor as eye-catching as the front, but the light is barely bright enough to show behind the monitor. Were you not to see them on the back, it quite possible that they would go unnoticed.
Summary
The AG27 is a stunning monitor in design and in functionality.
So far the AG27 has taken prime position as the apple of my eye in terms of displays, and I can honestly say I would rather work and play on the AG27 than my Sony Bravia 4K TV.
I can confidently say that the AG27 won’t disappoint anyone that has the pleasure of purchasing this monitor.
