AG271QG, the new flagship of the AOC gamer monitor series - a field report!
26.8.2016
Translation: machine translated
With the newly created gamer monitor series, which runs under the name "Agon", AOC is venturing into a (price) class in which Acer and Asus in particular have or had a dominant position up to now. I would like to share my first impressions of the AG271QG with you below.
AOC Agon AG271QG
Look & Feel
At first glance, I actually thought it was an Asus monitor from the ROG series that had been mislabelled. Nothing against AOC (or Asus), but the whole tam-tam around Agon seems very suspicious to me and clearly comes across as a declaration of war in the direction of Asus ROG. Anyway, I personally really like the dark grey and black tones, together with the red in the lettering and on the back of the monitor - yes, I'm a simple person. The simple, slim stand is also impressive and fits into any gaming cave and almost all gamer setups. The monitor is also rotatable, tiltable and height-adjustable, with markings on the stand to help you easily find the optimum settings after transport. Overall, the product has a high-quality appearance and the placement of all the extras has been carefully considered. [[image:6329491]]
Specs & Features
The gaming display impresses with a large 27-inch screen in 16:9 format and WQHD resolution (2560x1440 pixels). Okay, to be honest, 4K would have been even better, but it still suits my needs: Gamer, but not enthusiast or high-end gamer. Nvidia G-Sync is also supported, which made the corners of my mouth go up and is supposed to prevent distortions and guarantee smooth gaming (according to my first short test, it actually does - a real treat for the eyes). The IPS panel with a brightness of 350cd/m², a contrast ratio of 1,000:1, 4ms response time and a maximum refresh rate of 165Hz will make gamers' hearts beat faster. I haven't tried out the integrated speakers and the fold-out headset holder, as I currently only work or play with external speakers. [[image:6331920]]
Pros
The design appealed to me at first glance (well, this is rather subjective) and of course the 165Hz and Nvidia G-Sync are absolute killer features that completely won me over. The markings for optimum height and tilt settings are "nice to have", but not indispensable, and the same applies to the headset hook. I also like the colour combination and the simple exterior: it doesn't always have to be tons of LEDs, hundreds of different colours and dozens of switches and buttons - simplicity comes first with this display. However, I think that some gamers might be annoyed by this, as they would have preferred a somewhat more grim, colourful and impressive appearance. I would like to note that I found myself just standing there in Tomb Raider, taking in the scenery.... breathtaking, the pictures! [[image:6331927]]
Cons
As the non-plus-ultra, I would of course have liked a 4K resolution here, and the whole thing in a curved design would have been the icing on the cake. These two things will probably be essential for AOC in the near future if they want to keep up with the competition. Although the workmanship appears relatively solid and robust overall, some individual parts do make a somewhat cheaper impression on closer inspection (although this is hardly a problem as you rarely touch the thing - apart from the on/off switch). For example, and above all, the protruding frame seems too flexible and movable here and there when viewed from the front, which of course shouldn't necessarily be the case. I would also have liked to see a cable routing option behind the monitor - I admit that I am a big enemy of tangled cables and visible cabling. In the picture below I show you the connections, as I couldn't get the missing 4K and the flexible frame on a photo. [[image:6334895]]
Conclusion
I am positively surprised throughout and would definitely not want to give the screen away. The picture quality is absolutely outstanding, even without 4K, and the switch from my 24-inch business monitor to this gamer device has paid off across the board. Even though I have not yet been able to carry out any long-term tests with high-end games and the above-mentioned feedback should therefore be taken with a grain of salt (as always when someone ventures into new territory), I am extremely satisfied with the display. The advantage of a non-4K monitor is also that games run more smoothly even with significantly inferior hardware and thus promote gaming fun without falling into the clutches of poverty. Provided that all monitors in the AOC Agon series are convincing, I can definitely see a serious competitor for the established players here. The developers at AOC have achieved a respectable feat... I take my hat off! [[image:6336531]]
Raphael Knecht
Senior Editor
raphael.knecht@digitecgalaxus.chWhen I'm not stuffing my face with sweets, you'll catch me running around in the gym hall. I’m a passionate floorball player and coach. On rainy days, I tinker with my homebuilt PCs, robots or other gadgets. Music is always my trusted companion. I also enjoy tackling hilly terrain on my road bike and criss-crossing the country on my cross-country skis.
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