Players are falling in love with ultra-widescreen screens however the cash-sized barrier to entry has been enormous. Aorus hopes to buck the pattern with its 49-inch CD49DQ QD-OLED gaming monitor by specializing in efficiency whereas eschewing ‘pointless’ glitzy RGB-like paraphernalia. So, has it succeeded?
Set-up is straightforward because of the clip-on stem and single-finger-screw stand system that ought to be necessary on all screens. Connecting the three elements within the field makes it comparatively easy to extricate the mechanical albatross-like show, however have a superb have a look at the downward-facing ports earlier than you set it in your desk as you will battle to see (or entry) them once more. If it’s good to plan your set-up earlier than buying, know that the kettle-lead energy connector (there’s no energy brick) attaches to the correct of the display screen (as you face it) whereas all of the A/V cables connect on the left.
As soon as set-up, you are left wanting a 49-inch, QD-OLED panel with a mild, 1,800R curve, an ultra-wide 32:9 side ratio, a 5,120 x 1,440 picture and a 144 Hz refresh price. It is a 2nd-Technology Samsung QD-OLED panel that appears similar to the one Asus utilized in its ROG Swift OLED PG49WCD. It is also just like the first-gen panel within the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9, though the specs say the CD49DQ has a 1.5M:1 distinction ratio (moderately than 1M:1) and the Samsung has a sooner 240Hz refresh price.
The anti-glare, semi-gloss coating means there are impressively few distracting reflections in darkish scenes. Additionally, it goes some strategy to maintain small textual content wanting neat and never spidery—though some fonts carry out higher than others on this space. We actually had no points working and writing utilizing it and having a number of home windows open directly severely helped with productiveness. Spreadsheets may also work effectively on this display screen and music and video editors will like the flexibility to have a doubtlessly life-sized, digital mixing desk displayed all of sudden. Regardless of being a game-designated show, we discovered it simple to stay with for day-to-day work, too.
Aorus CO49DQ specs
Display screen measurement: 49-inch
Decision: 5,120 x 1,440
Brightness: 250 nits full display screen SDR
Colour protection: 99% DCI-P3
Response time: 0.03ms
Refresh price: 144Hz
Distinction ratio: 1.5M:1
Options: QD-OLED panel, adaptive sync, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 2x HDMI 2.1, 1 x USB-C, USB hub, 1800R curve
Worth: $999 | £1,400 | AU$1,799
The practicality of getting such a large, single-screen for gaming is preferable to utilizing two or three screens linked collectively—anybody who has needed to commonly re-sync such monitor layouts will know why.
The huge display screen real-estate advantages totally different genres in several methods. Flight simmers obtain a more-lifelike world view, FPS gamers get real-world-like peripheral imaginative and prescient and RTS gamers obtain extra on-ground intel than many opponents. For sim racers the CD49DQ is an analogous measurement to some actual racing vehicles’ cockpits, which means laps round well-known tracks really feel that rather more immersive. It’s also possible to more-easily hit apexes by turning your head and see rival vehicles in your peripheral imaginative and prescient. Extra video games additionally now mechanically configure a 32:9 discipline of view and use compatible-sized menus with out ugly letter-box bars on the facet.
Caveats embrace having HUD readouts situated in your visible periphery which means you need to flip your head to learn them. Moreover, the slight curve would not assist eyeball-refocus-based straining an excessive amount of—that was an early, acknowledged good thing about curved shows.
When it comes to efficiency, we have been very impressed. Colours are vibrant and the show is uniformly vivid. It is rated at 250 nits (typical) however we felt extra comfy turning it all the way down to 85 per cent in day-to-day actions when utilizing (predominantly) white-backed browser home windows. It ought to be famous that Aorus provides some automated APL (Common Image Stage) settings that goal to equalize display screen brightness if a window will get too vivid (to assist forestall extended publicity of the QD-OLED panel to vivid spots which might blight the show), but it surely did this with minimal impression, whether or not set to Low, Medium or Excessive.
It is a 10-bit panel that works very effectively with Home windows HDR settings to the purpose the place we steadily left it turned on as a result of it did not obliterate the Home windows Desktop as many screens are wont to do. Spectacular quantities of particulars are concurrently revealed in each highlights and shadows, vivid lights nearly shine out of the display screen in darkish scenes and transitions and gradients are rendered easily with no stepping.
Some have famous on comparable panels that blacks might be washed out in comparison with different OLED screens. We did detect this however discovered it barely distracting. The one time it reared its head was when letterbox bars have been up towards the not-thin, jet-black outskirts surrounding the display screen—the distinction is minor however purists would possibly object. You’ll be able to see the difficulty when the sunshine hits the darkish display screen.
The anti-glare, semi-gloss coating signifies that there are impressively few distracting reflections in darkish scenes.
The display screen has a 144 Hz refresh price and a acknowledged, 0.03ms, GTG pixel response time that is adequate to maintain most video games wanting silky-smooth. Nevertheless, ultra-competitive FPS varieties could lament the absence of extra velocity afforded by sooner screens however they will often be utilizing a lot smaller screens anyway. Nonetheless, for pure immersion and a aggressive increase, it is laborious to beat.
When it comes to certifications and image-augmenting acronyms, the Aorus CO49DQ helps FreeSync Premium Professional plus Vesa’s ClearMR 8000 (movement blur) and DisplayHDR True Black 400.
Console players will recognize ALLM and VRR compatibility to maintain photographs {smooth}, clear and lag-free.
Loads of commonplace image-adjustment options and pre-sets are included. Key ‘GameAssist’ gaming instruments embrace on-screen crosshairs (that are nice for video games like Hardcore CoD) and a ‘Black Equalizer’ for distinction flattening (to cease enemies leaping out of highlights and shadows). There’s each Image-in-Image and Image-by-Image performance. Designers will like that it helps 99 per cent of the tough DCI-P3 color gamut and we discovered the corresponding setting finest for normal utilization. We have seen extra elaborate changes settings on different screens, however many can even recognize the shortage of overcomplexity on show right here.
There are additionally loads of ‘OLED Care’ settings to stop picture burn-in and so they’re primarily based round two headings on the Aorus OSD. ‘Normal’ is absolutely automated and makes use of Aorus’ Ai applied sciences to mechanically shield you with minimal interference. ‘Care+’ offers you choices for monitoring utilization time, pixel cleansing, static management, pixel shift, emblem dimming and APL stabilization adjustment.
Caveats embrace having HUD readouts situated in your visible periphery which means you need to flip your head to learn them.
As for connectivity, the Aorus CO49DQ has two HDMI 2.1 ports, a single DisplayPort 1.4 port and a 3.5mm audio jack. There’s additionally a USB-C port which helps DP-Alt with 18-Watt PD. Plus, there are two USB-A 3.0 pass-through ports which work at the side of a USB-B port for KVM performance. The latter additionally works when sharing the three.5mm headphone jack.
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There are additionally two, 5 Watt audio system. Whereas audiophiles will not recognize the shortage of bass or low-end constancy, they’re helpful to have when sudden movies and music clips seem on display screen.
Purchase if…
✅ You need one of the best view in gaming: Having the ability to see extra in a recreation is all the time extra immersive and (nearly) all the time boosts your efficiency. The colourful colours and spectacular distinction solely improve issues additional.
Do not buy if…
❌ It’s essential to get monetary savings: The variety of excellent, giant, 32-inch gaming screens is rising quickly and it can save you some huge cash on a lovely monitor that provides even higher picture high quality and velocity.
When it comes to ergonomics it has a beneficiant quantity of motion together with +20° -5° tilt, +15° -15° swivel and a top adjustment vary of 130mm. The stand could be very secure and would not characteristic a lot ornament or RGB thrives. We do not thoughts this because the display screen itself captured our consideration the entire time and the comparatively basic-design helps maintain the prices down.
As for pricing, we have seen rival 49-inchers costing masses however Aorus has efficiently stored the value down (comparatively) with the CO49DQ. Within the US it is out there for $999. Within the UK its RRP is £1,200 however we have seen it on sale for £1000. In Australia it is dropped from $2,095 to $1,799. For those who evaluate that to the rival Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 G93SC it is usually less expensive. That mentioned, it is price procuring round we discovered each fashions with reductions in several shops in several locales.
Finally, whereas it doesn’t have luxurious objects like RGB, thin-bezels, high-concept design components and G-Sync, it is lots of of {dollars} cheaper than many rivals but it nonetheless excels at every part.
