AOC AG352UCG6 Black Edition Gaming Monitor Review

The AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition is the new edition of the AOC Agon AG352UCG with a slightly better equipment. The main differences between the two screens are the refresh rate (max. 120 Hz to max. 100 Hz) and the contrast (2500:1 as opposed to 2000:1). The 35″ VA panel has not changed with a response time of 4 milliseconds and a maximum brightness of 300 cd/m². The curvature is also 1800R like the predecessor. The price is currently Product.

But this review is not about the differences between the screens, but we unpacked the AOC Agon AG352UCG6 and tried it out.

Design

The design of the Agon AG352UCG6 has not changed compared to its predecessor. The sharp-edged stand and the typical stealth design are still very appealing. The illuminated elements behind the monitor and at the bottom of the panel can now be set to red, green and blue. Unfortunately the lighting is deactivated by default. Nevertheless, it is immediately obvious that this monitor is not just any monitor. It was specially designed for gamers.

The monitor itself can be adjusted in height by 120 mm and the inclination can be adjusted between -5.5 and 29°. A pivot function is not possible due to the curved design. There is nothing more to say about the well-known Agon design from AOC. Most gamers, like us, find it very appealing.

Somewhat disturbing, however, is the comparatively thick frame. If one compares similar models, these are often offered with almost rimless design.

Image Quality

Of course, a good design doesn’t make a good monitor. The quality of the picture is the main thing. After switching on the screen we first had to configure the image a bit better. It was much too bright and the colors were too bright, this setting matched, but you can’t use the monitor for long. But at low brightness we immediately notice that the panel is not illuminated evenly, especially if the image contains a lot of black. Here you need a little luck as a buyer to get a flawless model. The viewing angle stability is not one of the strengths of the AG352UCG6 either, but it’s not designed for it either.

The refresh rate of 120 Hertz is already offered by many manufacturers and is already standard at this price. The resolution of 3,440 x 1,440 pixels is almost necessary for a monitor with 35″, so that the image is really sharp. However, the combination of refresh rate and WQHD resolution is exactly what makes it special. Most other gaming monitors often offer only 100 Hz. In our test we were convinced by the very good combination. Not least thanks to G-Sync there are no jolts or hangs in the picture. Tearing and stuttering are completely absent with us.

Operation

The operating menu can be called up via the power button, which is located in the middle under the panel. Unfortunately, we have to realize that the operation is very spongy and it often happens that one performs a wrong action during the setting or even turns off the monitor by mistake. Here another operation would be desirable. The menu itself is clear and you can see directly where you can make the desired adjustments.

Equipment and Extras

In addition to some rather inconspicuous extras, such as the headset holder, which proves to be very helpful in practice, AOC also offers other extras. A hole in the foot mount offers space for cable management and the integrated carrying handle is also very helpful. Unfortunately it has to be said that the grip is understandably not in the centre of gravity and you always need two hands, but this is not tragic with the weight.

A further feature are the two 2-watt loudspeakers that are integrated. In terms of quality, they can’t be compared to a headset, but we find the speakers helpful, even if they’re a bit quiet.

The monitor has HDMI and DisplayPort as connection options. There are also two USB 3.0 ports and headphone outputs. For the price and the size we would have wished for a bit more connections, but it is sufficient for everyday use with a PC.

Conclusion of the AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Review

All in all, the AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition offers a lot you won’t find on other screens. It has a good format with its 21:9 ultrawide-format and 3,440 x 1,440 pixels and doesn’t look too clumsy with 35 inches. Only the wide screen edges disturb this impression. The picture itself is quite good, but could be improved significantly in some places. Especially the middle area, which is clearly darker and the left corner are to be criticized here. Otherwise the AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition has the typical VA disadvantages.

G-Sync is also on board, putting the AOC in a league with the Alienware AW3418DW and Acer X34P. In direct comparison, however, it is slightly more than 100 euros cheaper than both counterparties, which is about 10%. Both other screens would have an IPS panel and an almost rimless design.

In summary, the AOC is quite a good screen, but leaves a lot of room for improvement. It is up to each individual to decide whether more than 900 euros are justified for this, but in our opinion it is too much. Especially if you look at the above two screens, which are “only” 10% more expensive but offer more.