AOC Agon Pro Porsche Design PD49 49-inch OLED gaming monitor review: High style and even higher performance

The AOC PD49 is a 49-inch 32:9 mega-wide DQHD 5120x1440 QD-OLED gaming monitor with 240 Hz and HDR400.

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AOC Agon Pro Porsche Design PD49
Editor's Choice
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The PD49 accepts HDR10 signals and switches modes to reveal four additional presets. TrueBlack is the default and best choice because it’s color-accurate and follows the correct luminance curve so that detail remains clear in all parts of the image. The other modes have slightly different looks and can be used as emulators with SDR content if you wish.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

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AOC Agon Pro Porsche Design PD49
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

In my travels thus far, only the AG456UCZD has exceeded the 600-nit barrier for ultra-wide monitors. And it’s 21:9 versus the others’ 32:9 so it’s something of an outlier. All the 49-inch models look the same in a side-by-side comparison with nearly the same output levels. The only difference will be in color saturation, where the QD models stand apart. The PD49 is one of those so its HDR image is a sight to behold. I measured the other modes and found no differences in peak output or contrast. There is no brightness penalty for sticking with TrueBlack.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

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AOC Agon Pro Porsche Design PD49
(Image credit: Portrait Displays Calman)

The PD49’s HDR grayscale tracking has the same slight warm tone that I saw in the SDR tests. This is a minor issue that will be hard to spot in content. There is no calibration option, but that’s not a problem. The EOTF chart shows tight tracking with slightly dark levels from zero to 40%, then a tad above the line until the tone-map transition at 65%. This is excellent performance.

In the color tests, the PD49 is a bit over-saturated across the board which is typical of the HDR monitors I’ve tested. This gives the image more impact and sets it further apart from SDR content. Detail rendering remains sharp and clear with no loss of detail. In the BT.2020 test, the PD49 covers 90% red, 80% green and 95% blue. This is more than any non-QD monitor can boast. You won’t find more color anywhere.

Test Takeaway: The PD49 delivers a stunning HDR image with bright highlights, sharp detail and beautifully saturated color. Accuracy is high and there are no visible issues to report. If you want the best possible HDR, get an OLED like this and you’ll never go back to LCD.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

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Christian Eberle
Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.

2 Comments Comment from the forums
  • OneMoreUser
    I would be interest... if the vertical resolution had been 2160 or higher.

    Now for gaming a 32:9 1440p sure brings something, but for productivity there is no going back one you tried 2106p, only where are the screens. You can have 16:9 with 2160p, but not more than that except there is a few 5K monitors only to small and crazy expensive.
    Reply
  • SomeoneElse23
    OneMoreUser said:
    I would be interest... if the vertical resolution had been 2160 or higher.

    Now for gaming a 32:9 1440p sure brings something, but for productivity there is no going back one you tried 2106p, only where are the screens. You can have 16:9 with 2160p, but not more than that except there is a few 5K monitors only to small and crazy expensive.

    Yeah, I agree. I was almost going to say this type of monitor would replace my Acer 32" 4K when it's time to retire it, but that 2160 high is really nice for productivity.
    Reply