AOC Agon AG322QC4 review: A monitor worth paying for

The AOC Agon AG322QC4 is similar to the Iiyama Prolite XUB249HSU – they both aim to be all things to all players. However, the AOC’s higher price allows this panel to tick lots of boxes without as many flaws.

AOC Agon AG322QC4 review: Design and display

The AOC is larger, for starters, with a 31.5in diagonal that dwarfs the 27in Iiyama and 24.5in Acer Predator. The AOC also improves on rivals by offering an 1800R curve. Both factors go a significant way towards making gaming more immersive.

This screen has a 2,560 x 1,440 resolution, which matches the Iiyama. The AOC’s increased size means it has a lesser density level – 93ppi rather than 109ppi – so games aren’t quite as sharp. But, aside from seeing pixels a little easier, there’s no real impact.

The AOC uses VA technology rather than TN, a move that should ensure better colour accuracy at the expense of response times. True to form, the AOC has a 4ms response time, which can’t match the 1ms of the Iiyama and Acer. However, 4ms is fine, with no visible ghosting. Only esports players will need a 1ms screen.

The AOC includes 144Hz AMD FreeSync 2. That refresh rate matches the Iiyama, and the inclusion of FreeSync 2 means HDR support and better performance at lower refresh rates. The Acer goes better, with 240Hz Nvidia G-Sync, but FreeSync 2 means that both AMD and Nvidia GPUs will work here. And 144Hz is enough for almost anybody – the Acer’s rate is only necessary for competition-level players.

The AOC supports HDR, but it only supports the Vesa DisplayHDR 400 standard. It’s an entry-level protocol, which means screens must deliver a peak brightness of 400cd/m2 and a consistent brightness of 320cd/m2. There’s also no localised dimming. Those figures aren’t much different to what many screens achieve anyway, so there’s barely any boost to HDR content. At most, on the AOC, you’ll only get a tiny improvement.

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AOC Agon AG322QC4 review: Features

Elsewhere, the AOC’s design is mixed. Positively, there are pairs of DisplayPort, HDMI, audio and USB 3 ports. The screen has decent versatility, with a broad range of movement – although it can’t pivot to portrait mode. Two 5W speakers are included, and they’re serviceable, but you won’t be in rapture listening to Mozart. Handily, a headphone unfolds from the screen’s right-hand bezel.

We like the aesthetics, with slim bezels, a tall stand, a plate of metal on the rear and a row of lights below the panel. It’s been designed for life on the move, too, with a rear handle and rock-solid build quality.

The onscreen display is fine, with well-organised menus that display all of the usual options alongside extra gaming settings. The big issue, though, is the USB remote control included for navigation – instead of the usual onscreen buttons. It’s a good idea, but awful in practice. Its two vertical banks of buttons don’t match the onscreen prompts, and they’re organised oddly – the cursor keys are needlessly separated, and AOC hasn’t included dedicated buttons to open the menu or select options. If you don’t plan on heading to the OSD a lot, it’s a rare irritation, and a joystick beneath the bezel can be used instead – but it could have been much better.

AOC Agon AG322QC4 review: Specs

The AOC has impressive image quality. Its average Delta E of 1.84 is the best of any gaming monitor in the Labs, and its maximum of 4.3 is better than its rivals. The colour temperature of 7,101K is a tad chilly, but not enough to cause problems – and the AOC’s 99.8% sRGB coverage is superb. This panel delivered great uniformity, too, with a maximum brightness deviation of 11% – the best in the entire Labs.

The contrast ratio of 2,683:1 is excellent – better than all rivals at factory settings, and easily enough to deliver punch and vibrancy. The black level of 0.12cd/m2 is great, too – extremely deep. In fact, it’s frustratingly good. If this AOC screen had also included localised dimming then it may well have been a brilliant choice for HDR content. So close and yet so far.

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AOC Agon AG322QC4 review: Verdict

Ignore the misfiring HDR, though, and there’s plenty to like. The AOC’s image quality is superb, its curved design is impressive, and it has good connectivity and features. We would choose the Asus ROG Strix XG249VQ for widescreen action and the Acer Predator XN253Q for esports, but the AOC is a better all-rounder than the Iiyama – so it will suit more people. Its quality and well-balanced design make it one of our favourite gaming monitors.