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AOC U28G2XU Review The Budget 4K 144Hz Monitor

The AOC U28G2XU is the cheapest 144Hz 4k display we’ve yet seen. As you’d expect for this price, the U28G2XU isn’t a particularly flashy monitor. Its build is simple and minimalistic, but not to the point we’d be concerned about any build quality failings. The stand offers height, pivot, rotation and tilt adjustment, as well as a 100 x 100mm VESA mount for using alternative stands.

AOC U28G2XU Review

Connection options are decent too, with one DisplayPort 1.4 input and two HDMI connectors. However, only the DisplayPort 1.4 input can handle 4I< at 144Hz – the HDMI inputs are only HDMI 2, so they’re limited to 60Hz at this resolution. You also get a 4-port USB 3.2 hub, and the power supply is internal and uses an IEC C14 (kettle lead) connection, so it doesn’t have an annoying power brick.

A pair of 3W speakers is also included, and they don’t sound too bad. In addition, there’s a headphone jack, which sounds clear and undistorted, if lacking the finesse of higher end sound devices.

This 28in screen’s extra inch of diagonal measurement over a 27in panel is welcome when working with such a fine resolution, although it doesn’t have quite the impact of a 32in screen, such as the Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX. Meanwhile, across the board, image quality is generally excellent. The IPS panel technology keeps viewing angles wide, while contrast ratio is notably high, measuring 1,105 5:1 in our tests. 

The display has an extended colour gamut of up to 86 percent DCIP3 (120 per cent sRGB), but this can be reduced back to 100 percent sRGB and sRGB, although this fixes the brightness at 50 per cent (150 nits). Whether or not you choose to have more vivid colours, this display produces a superb colour balance, so there should be no need to adjust any of the settings (you get a 6,484K colour temperature and 2.24 gamma). The only letdown is poor panel uniformity, with the display dropping in brightness by up to 19 per cent at its outer edges.

The Gaming Display

As for gaming, this display doesn’t set any response time records, but it doesn’t suffer from any distracting smearing or ghosting. Meanwhile, the jump up from 60 Hz to 144Hz at 4K is immediately noticeable, even just on the Windows desktop, making for some wonderfully smooth, pin-sharp gaming. Adaptive sync (FreeSync and G-Sync) support is included too, so you can eliminate tearing and stuttering in most scenarios, plus there’s a backlight-strobing blur reduction mode to further increase the snappy feel.

However, using this comes at the expense of adaptive sync. If there’s one problem, it’s this monitor’s on-screen display (OSD) control system. The controls consist of five tiny buttons on the underside of the screen’s edge and they’re fiddly to use. It’s a struggle to find the right button when you start, and then it’s all too easy to hit the wrong one or tap the power button and turn off the whole display. Thankfully, the menus themselves at least have all the options you should need.

Conclusion

Bringing the world of 144Hz 4K gaming to a new low price, the AOC U28G2XU is a compelling proposition for those seeking the next level in image clarity and gaming performance. Its fiddly OSD controls and slightly iffy panel uniformity can’t detract from what is otherwise an excellent monitor at this price.

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  • Areesha

    Areesha is a tech enthusiast and a freelance writer who loves to share her insights on the latest gadgets and innovations. She has been reviewing tech products for over five years, covering everything from smartphones, laptops, cameras, smartwatches, headphones, and more. She enjoys testing out new features, comparing different models, and giving honest feedback to her readers. Areesha’s reviews are always informative, engaging, and easy to understand. Whether you are looking for a new device, a gift idea, or just curious about the tech world, Areesha’s reviews will help you make the best decision. You can find her work on various websites and blogs, such as [TechCrunch], [CNET], [The Verge], and [Gizmodo]. You can also follow her on [Twitter] and [Instagram] to get the latest updates on her reviews and projects. Areesha is always open to suggestions and feedback from her audience, so feel free to contact her anytime. She is looking forward to hearing from you!

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