AOC Agon AG271QG Review: 27-inch G-Sync Gaming Monitor

AOC has its own line of premium-branded gaming monitors called Agon. If you are in search of a 1440p gaming monitor, you will not be able to skip the AOC AGON AG271QG. Though it was launched back in 2017, it comes with a high-end build quality and features that you get from premium gaming monitors.

When building a gaming rig, customers are in a position to choose which adaptive refresh technology they want. This will depend upon the particular video card they want to commit to. A monitor with support for Nvidia’s G-Sync will likely cost about $200 or more with similar features. AMD’s FreeSync can offer great performance but you should focus on the operating range. Some displays switch out adaptive sync mode below 40 or 50Hz which can impact the quality if a particular game or graphics card can’t sustain framerates above that number.

G-Sync monitors support from 30Hz up to their maximum refresh rate. In the case of the AOC AGON AG271QG, it supports a huge range of 30 to 165Hz after applying the overclock. Combine that with an IPS screen you have a gaming monitor that you shouldn’t ignore.

AOC AGON AG271QG Review

Specifications

Screen Size	27 Inches
Resolution	2560 x 1440 (Quad-HD)
Aspect Ratio	16:9
Response Time	4 ms
Refresh Rate	165 Hz
Display Type	WLED Backlit
Panel Type	IPS
Contrast Ratio	1000:1
Brightness	350 nits
Viewing Angles	178° horizontal 178° vertical
Screen Coating	None
Adaptive-Sync Technology	G-Sync
Speakers	2W x 2
Display Adjustments	Tilt (-3.5° to 21.5°) Swivel (-20° to 20°) Height (130mm) VESA
Connectivity	1 x DisplayPort 1.2 1 x HDMI 1.4 1 x Audio Out 4 x USB 3.0
Wall Mount	VESA
Power Consumption	45 Watt
Dimensions	623 x 433 x 218 mm
Weight	6.8 kg
Warranty	3 Years

Design & Ergonomics

If you have used or known other AOC monitors you will notice a similar design. In fact, at a glance, it is nearly impossible to tell them apart. The AG271QG being a hardcore, high-end gaming monitor doesn’t include the punch you expect from premium monitors. The 27-inch display is surrounded by thick bezels that are wider than on the Acer Predator XB271HU. It measures 11 millimeters on the sides and top and 18 millimeters on the bottom. We also found the bottom bezel to be slightly reflecting and can be a distraction if you use a backlight keyboard.

On the rear, it sports a red plastic shroud but mostly silver and black colors. The silver base of the monitor is made of metal which is wide and keeps the monitor stable. It measures 52 centimeters in width and 25 centimeters in-depth, so make sure your table has enough space to hold it. The display can be swiveled to right or left by 20 degrees to each side which is a tad less to the 60 degrees offered by its competitors. Another useful thing we notice is the connection between the base and the stand which is very easy to know if the screen is perfectly centered.

Like any other high-end monitors, you can adjust the height in AOC AGON AG271QG. When pushed all the way down, the distance between the screen’s bottoms edge and the table’s surface measures 6.8 centimeters. You can pull it all the way up with one hand which goes up to 19.8 centimeters. After finding your perfect height for the screen, you can mark it by moving the red arrow to the corresponding position. Now, even if somebody else uses and changes your screen position, you can adjust to where it was before.

It offers tilting angles between -3.5 degrees and 21.5 degrees. You can see a couple of numbers marked in the joint that connects the screen and stand. Their purpose is to make it easier to return to your preferred position if somebody changes it when you are not around. The stand also enables us to pivot the screen by 90 degrees. The front includes the markers for the on-screen display (OSD) controls. They are regular buttons rather than touch sitting on the underside of the frame.

Features

This 27-inch gaming monitor from AOC packs a host of premium features. The IPS LCD display has a QHD resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels that provides great image quality. It has a 165Hz refresh rate, 4ms response time and support for Nvidia’s G-sync technology.

AOC AGON has as LowBlue light technology to protect users from harmful blue light. Blue light has been found to cause eyestrain, headaches and sleep disorders if exposed for long durations. The built-in ‘Low Blue Light’ slider can be set between ‘0’ (off) and ‘20’ (maximum effect) in single-unit increments.

Though it is not the cheapest gaming monitor in the market, its long feature list puts it against popular gaming monitors like ASUS PG279Q. But considering how gaming monitors are priced right now at the market, this monitor is a steal.

Connectivity Options

Like other G-Sync monitors, the AOC AGON AG271QG is equipped with HDMI 1.4 and DisplayPort 1.2 inputs. The HDMI port is generally for gaming consoles while the DisplayPort is for users who plan to fully utilize its high refresh rate, 1440p resolution, and the G-Sync.

The manufacturer has placed a pair of USB 3.0 ports on the right side which remains usable when the screen is pivoted. There is also a plastic hook on the right side that can be tilted downward and used as headphones or headset hanger. The rest of the ports are placed on the underside of the rear panel. On the right when facing the rear of the display, there are video inputs (DisplayPort and HDMI) and microphone passthrough while the left contains the power socket, two more USB ports, and the USB hub’s input. The monitor uses an external power brick so you will need a room somewhere under your desk.

As for the built-in cable management, you have two options. First is to take it through the hole near the bottom of the sand. But it will remain visible unless you push the monitor all the way down. Alternatively, you can take the cables through the top of the stand using something like zip-ties to attach them to the rear of the stand. You can also opt for a VESA Mount instead of the provided stand, which can be fixed by removing the screws, detaching the stand and affixing the provided metal bracket.

OSD and Setup

The gaming monitor arrives with the stand not attached so be ready to get your hands dirty with a screwdriver. The package includes all the required cables you need for power, DisplayPort, HDMI, 3.5mm audio jack and USB uplink.

The menu is also a bit tricky to operate. There are buttons for Back, Right, Left and Menu. When moving horizontally there is no problem, but when moving through vertical lists it works the opposite way round to what you’d expect. Pressing right moves up to the top while you can go down pressing the left. The menu also fails to impress visually though logically laid out. There are options for color adjustments while for gaming, you can fine-tune the overdrive setting and switch on ultra-low motion blur (ULMB) along with overclocking the display. It essentially unlocks the display’s refresh rate and pushes it from defaults maximum of 144Hz to 165Hz.

Performance

Since the display on the AG271QG is an IPS rather than TN, it has better viewing angles and better colors but slightly higher response time. But at four milliseconds, it is better than most of the IPS monitors. The 144Hz refresh rate can be pumped up to 165Hz thanks to a factory overclock that can be applied in the menus. You have to pay a premium for G-Sync on any monitor but it’s worth it.

Overall, the monitor gives a fast, sharp, smooth and tear-free performance and really impresses when playing at high frame rates. You will notice the details to be crisp and define while the colors are vibrant. The AG271QG comes with support for 100 percent sRGB and 81 percent Adobe RGB color standards which is great for a gaming monitor. Considering the maximum brightness goes well above 400 nits, the power consumption is a bit high.

Final Verdict

The AOC AGON AG271QG is a bit less expensive than most of the 27 inches 1440p IPS 165Hz G-Sync alternatives that are available in the market. The monitor has its faults too: the lackluster backlight uniformity, confusing an OSD menu that lacks even basic factor picture profiles. If you can ignore these and concentrate on what it is actually built for, it is an awesome gaming monitor to serve your needs. So, if you are in need of a high-end 27” monitor and while wanting to save every penny as possibly can, you should definitely consider the AOC AGON AG271QG.