AOC has unveiled a new esports gaming monitor boasting 1,000Hz refresh rate at native FHD resolution. Powered by BOE’s panel technology, the Agon Pro AGP257FT will be among the first to cross this milestone without reverting to a lower 720p resolution.
One of the first 1080p displays to deliver such a high native speed and associated clarity without smoothness-enhancing technology such as Nvidia’s Pulsar, further enhancements should be possible, using Pulsar or black-frame insertion, to make fast movements even clearer. If at some point AOC offers a dual-refresh mode that trades some resolution (720p mode) for a much higher refresh rate, perhaps exceeding 1,500Hz may be possible.
Even in its native configuration, the Agon Pro AGP257FT displays a new image every 1ms, which means that pixel refresh needs to be way below the usual 1ms GTG associated with LCD panels. AOC claims that this new BOE panel is rated for 0.2ms GTG, which should be sufficient after accounting for any processing latency. Understandably, other aspects of the performance, such as pixel overshoot, will need to be tested before giving a final verdict, but the specs are promising so far.
The Agon Pro AGP257FT will join LG’s UltraGear 25G590B, surpassing existing FHD 600Hz displays like BenQ’s XL2586X and even the 720Hz 720p dual-mode options. This should give LCD-based panels more margin to differentiate themselves from OLEDs and QD-OLEDs, which are climbing the speed ladder rather fast, all while carrying other advantages in pixel refresh, inky blacks, and contrast.
Speaking of pixel refresh, to compensate for some of its inherent switching latency, the monitor features BLMB black-frame insertion technology, which strobes the backlight between each frame to reduce motion blur. AOC also carries wide viewing angles, 99% sRGB gamut coverage, and VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification. The company also advertises a hardware circular polariser, said to simulate the spiral diffusion of natural light to reduce the stimulation caused by directional polarised light.
While AOC hasn’t shared a release window or price bracket, we expect the Agon Pro AGP257FT to launch sometime this year alongside LG’s and other competitors’ products.
