Expert's Rating
Pros
- Gaming monitor in ultrawide 21:9 format
- Impressive gaming performance
- Large 34-inch curved panel
- Ergonomic adjustment options
Cons
- High power consumption
Our Verdict
The AOC CU34G2X is a good gaming monitor that promotes an immersive gaming experience with its ultrawide 21:9 aspect ratio and large 34-inch curved screen. It provides near-excellent image quality due to it’s high contrast and accurate colors. The fast 144Hz refresh rate and FreeSync compatibility also make this a solid option for gamers. The only real downside is the price, which is high, but still better than most competitors with similar features.
Price When Reviewed
450
Best Prices Today: AOC CU34G2X
The impressive image quality and the fast-reacting panel make for a great gaming experience, and the ergonomic setting options allow flexible adjustment to any location. However, the power consumption is quite high. AOC is known for producing high-performance displays and the CU34G2X is no exception. And even though it costs around $450, it’s still a reasonable price for the quality offered.
Note: This review is part of our ongoing roundup of the best gaming monitors. Go there to learn more about competing products, what to look for in a gaming monitor, and buying recommendations.
AOC CU34G2X: The specs
The AOC CU34G2X has some impressive specs. It sports a curved ultrawide screen 21:9 format and 1440p resolution covering up to 119 percent of the RGB color range. FreeSync technology ensures synchronization with AMD graphics cards, with refresh rates of up to a maximum of 144 hertz being possible. The response time of the VA panel is 1 millisecond, and the electronic function “Low Input Lag” can also be used to reduce possible input delays in high-reaction games.
| Display size | 34-inch |
| Native resolution | 3440×1440 |
| Panel type | VA / 21:9 |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz |
| Adaptive sync | Compatible with FreeSync |
| Ports | 2 DisplayPort, 2 HDMI, 4 USB, 1 analog audio jack |
| Stand adjustment | Height, tilt, swivel |
| VESA mount | Yes, 100x100mm |
| Speakers | No |
| HDR | Yes, HDR support |
| Price | $450 |
AOC CU34G2X: Image quality
We rated the basic image quality for the AOC CU34G2X as good in our test. The wide color range ensures neutral and natural color reproduction, and the brightness and contrast are also above average. In addition, the brightness distribution over the entire screen is minimal and can be rated as excellent.
This good image quality especially comes into play to great effect when gaming. It also masters fast and responsive games up to the maximum frame rate of 144 hertz without any visible delays or image errors.
AOC CU34G2X: A large gaming monitor in 21:9 format.
PC Welt
AOC CU34G2X: Ports
Compared to most other current gaming monitors, the 34-inch display offers two DisplayPort inputs instead of just one. There are also two HDMI ports and a headphone jack on board. Four USB 3.0 outputs supplement the range of interfaces, but you won’t find any speakers, so you will need to provide your own.
The 21:9 gaming monitor has two DP and two HDMI ports and four USB 3.0
ports.PC Welt
AOC CU34G2X: Features and menu
The tabular and clearly structured screen menu offers various special game settings. There are six predefined game modes, including FPS, RTS, and racing games. There are also two game presets that the player can define on their own for further customization. One shortcoming is that the setting buttons on the bottom-right of the case are too small to allow quick and easy configuration.
The AOC CU34G2X can be adjusted in height by just over 5 inches, rotated, and tilted, and it can thus be adapted very well to any desktop situation, guaranteeing fatigue-free gaming even over a long period when set up correctly.
The curved monitor also offers special gaming settings.
PC Welt
AOC CU34G2X: Power consumption
The power consumption of the gaming monitor is quite high at around 65 watts at maximum brightness. Accordingly, the curved monitor only gets a lowly “C” on the energy label. In standby mode, consumption drops to a low 0.5 watts.
Final thoughts
The AOC CU34G2X monitor will no doubt impress gamers with its list of gaming presets and how well the top games perform on it. The refresh rate is more than adequate for most fast-paced games, which means you can shoot or race your way to victory without worrying about screen tearing or input lag. To take advantage of this monitor’s full range of features, you’ll need a decent gaming setup with top-quality hardware, though.
While the video processing and image quality are not exactly outstanding, they are still very solid. The CU34G2X teeters on the edge of premium quality, both in regards to its performance and its price, but relatively speaking it will run you about the same or slightly cheaper than other 34-inch ultrawide displays. You could upgrade to get better HDR performance and better image quality, but you would pay significantly more for both. So for the money, there aren’t many other ultrawide options that offer better value.
This review originally appeared on PC-Welt, PCWorld’s German sister site.