The AOC Agon Pro AG276QZD bombs the OLED gaming monitor category with lower pricing and the same specs as the other QD-OLEDs. Its MSRP is $200 cheaper than its competitors, so it already has an edge against popular picks like the PG27AQDM. Let’s take a closer look to know if this newer offering also beats them in performance.
AOC AGON Pro AG276QZD Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: OLED
- Refresh Rate: 240Hz
- Response Time: 0.3ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1500000:1
- Brightness: 150 cd/m2 (1000 cd/m2 Peak)
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 5 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2, USB 3.2 x 3, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions with Stand (WxHxD): 23.8” x 15.61” x 9.2”
- Weight: 14.13 lbs
Design and Features
The AOC AGON Pro AG276QZD isn’t as flashy as the other AGON monitors since it now has a more mature aesthetic. The monitor has a matte black and gunmetal combination and a uniquely shaped RGB light ring at the back. The screen is bezel-free, although it still has inner borders if you look close enough.
It’s not humongous by today’s standards, so users with reasonably-sized desks should be able to accommodate it. The arm’s position towards the rear of the base makes it seem like it needs more space, but that’s not actually the case when you get to assemble it. It also only weighs 14.13 pounds, so it should be rather easy to move the product around if needed.
Its build quality is just as good, if not better, than some of the OLED monitors that are already in circulation. The plastic panels are sturdy and well-reinforced, and every piece and panel looks like they are machined with precision. The included stand is firm and stable, but it can still wobble slightly if you nudge it accidentally.
The AOC AGON Pro AG276QZD has an OSD joystick for easy access to its features and settings. Older AGON monitors had remotes, but those were unnecessary, and they would raise the price to a point where that $200 advantage would dissipate. You don’t need more than what was designed for this model, but we’re always happy to get extra gadgets whenever possible.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments for your convenience. It is also compatible with VESA mounts, but that is a separate purchase. However, very comfortable viewing angles should be readily available, so there is no need to spend more.
One thing where the AOC AGON Pro AG276QZD loses out is its connectivity layout. It has two slots each for DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0, along with three USB 3.2 ports and a 3.5mm jack. Its HDMI slots are PS5 and Xbox Series X-ready, but HDMI 2.1 is still better in the long run.
The monitor could also use a USB-C slot to make it more flexible, but at least it has 5-watt speakers, which its competitors do not offer. They can get louder than your standard built-in set, but they are not true gaming speakers. They are usable for watching videos or other simple tasks, so we still recommend a headset for better focus and immersion.
Display and Performance
The AOC AGON Pro AG276QZD boasts a 27-inch OLED panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate, and a .3ms response time. It doesn’t have a backlight, but the OLED panel’s brightness can go anywhere between 150 cd/m2 and 1000 cd/m2. Note that this model doesn’t have HDR certification, but it still will be better for HDR gaming due to its naturally high contrast ratio.
27-inch 1440p monitors are perfect for every computing task simply because they offer the best balance between 1080p and 4K. It is very easy to read and write with it, like on a full HD screen, but the higher pixel count and tighter density help with making games look crisp and cleaner. It is not going to be as demanding as a 4K screen on your GPU, so most will be able to get by with midrange cards.
The AOC AGON Pro AG276QZD covered 100% sRGB and 98.5% DCI-P3, enabling it to put out dazzling colors and saturation. Its default accuracy had a deltaE average of 1.65, so most users won’t need to calibrate it. You don’t have to do anything with it except to set it up, although some basic tweaks might be essential.
Calibrating it reduced the dE average to 1.13, which isn’t the best result but is still considered excellent for wide-gamut displays. This makes it more suited for editing work, but you will need a colorimeter to achieve it. The gadget itself is quite pricey, so we can only recommend it as an investment if you use this monitor for creative or business purposes.
The OLED panel’s brightness was steady at 339 cd/m2 when it was set to 100% output. Its HDR peak only managed to reach 405 cd/m2, but that isn’t an issue since its contrast was still infinite. It may not be as punchy as the Corsair or Asus models when showing bright scenes, but its black luminance is still on par with them.
The AOC AGON Pro AG276QZD doesn’t have uniformity issues like backlight leaks since it doesn’t have one. The panel’s individually dimming panels made this a possibility, making it more desirable for both games and movies. There is still some variance in the screen’s brightness per quadrant, but it was too little to notice this time.
Another strength of its OLED panel is its near instantaneous pixel response time. It doesn’t show blurring or ghosting like some IPS and VA panels, so it’s also perfect for E-Sports titles like Valorant or CSGO. There are some instances of it, but it is too hard to notice, so it shouldn’t be an issue.
The AOC AGON Pro AG276QZD is compatible with both G-Sync and FreeSync for stutter and tear-free gaming. It is essential to get compatibility with both GPU brands so you don’t have to ditch the monitor in case you want to switch to either AMD or Nvidia. Its input lag sits below 3ms at 240Hz, making it one of the fastest 1440p monitors around.
Thoughts on the AOC AGON Pro AG276QZD
The AOC AGON Pro AG276QZD is a wise choice if you want to get in on the OLED action. It’s cheaper, and yet it still offers the same benefits as its more expensive competitors. You don’t get desirable extra features like USB-C or HDMI 2.1, but we think the 240Hz OLED panel and its performance numbers are more important.
But its main weakness, aside from its lack of modern connectors, is its lower HDR brightness, which is observed on a lot of OLED-based products. It isn’t bad per se since you still get infinite contrast with it, but it can look slightly duller when set next to the Corsair 27QHD240 or the Asus PG27AQDM. However, we don’t think of that as a deal breaker since it is still a fantastic OLED gaming monitor.
Pros:
- Fantastic Image Quality and Contrast
- More Affordable than Other OLEDs
- Fast and Responsive
- FreeSync and G-Sync
Cons:
- Lower HDR Brightness
- No USB-C or HDMI 2.1
About the Author: 
Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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