When you think of ‘PC monitors‘ you usually think of a screen size between 21 and 27 inches. When you think of gaming monitors, you probably think of a size between 27 and 34 inches. And that wouldn’t be a bad thing because this is the most popular screen size on the market for these parts. For ample screen real estate, most people generally opt for dual- or triple-panel displays, which allow them to multitask and play ultrawide games. But now trends are changing rapidly. While some people prefer to use a 42 to 55-inch TV as a monitor, those who do not want to compromise on response time, long viewing time, or high refresh rate (without using any resources) prefer the SuperWide Monitor.
To serve this particular market, Gigabyte has recently released the AORUS CO49DQ gaming display. Please keep in mind that this beast of a gaming monitor is not for the weak. The CO49DQ, which retails for Rs 1,29,000 in India, has a ton of gaming functions, but it can also easily take the place of a multi-monitor configuration for professionals in the workforce. Now, without further ado, let’s get into the thorough analysis.
Rating: 8 / 10
Quality of design and construction
It is not possible to conceal the Gigabyte AORUS CO49DQ monitor in a room corner. This display needs to be the focal point of your workspace or gaming setup since it demands attention. The panel in question is 49 inches in diameter and has an 1800R curvature. Because of the SuperWide screen (Dimensions: 1194.78×372.23×160.51 mm), this monitor’s vertical height is comparable to that of a standard monitor. Thus it can easily fit vertically at most workplaces, especially with the adjustable stand. Horizontally, even with its curved design, you will need to make room before you can appreciate the CO49DQ.
It can be a little difficult to unpack it yourself because the monitor weighs 8.33 kg even without the stand. Moreover, it is difficult to even take the monitor out of its box due to its incredibly large form factor and curve. I would suggest that you set up this priceless panel with a trustworthy helping hand because you wouldn’t want to handle it roughly.
The stand is beautifully constructed, with five inches of height, a five-and-twenty-degree tilt, and a thirty-degree swivel.
To access the OSD functions, there is a single joystick control located in the center of the monitor at the bottom. You have the following connectivity choices at the back:
- Two HDMI 2.1 ports
- Displayport 1.4 port, one
- One USB Type-C port (Alternate Mode; Upstream; 18W Maximum Power Delivery)
- Two USB 3.0 downstream connectors
- 1 Upstream USB 3.0 port
- One earphone jack
The monitor has many connectivity possibilities (including a KVM switch), as you can see. However, cable management is a factor to take into account in this situation. The use of many downward-facing ports may result in an aesthetically unappealing entanglement.
Features, use cases, and display quality
Considering that the quality of the display is the most crucial component of any monitor, let’s talk about the AORUS CO49DQ. This model has a 49-inch QD-OLED display panel with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz and a screen resolution of DQHD (5,120 x 1,440 pixels). It can reproduce 99 percent of the colors in the DCI-P3 color space, giving you impressive color accuracy. It also has an anti-reflection coating, though it is still fairly reflective overall. With a brightness of 250 cd/m2 under normal conditions, this is more than enough for indoor use. The display has a viewing angle of 178 degrees and an amazing contrast ratio of 1500000:1.
The panel has deep black levels, a peak brightness of up to 400 nits in HDR, motion clarity, and a wide range of brightness and color thanks to its VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 and ClearMR 8000 certifications.
Even with its basic settings, I found the display to be fairly accurate in terms of color fidelity. But, you can always visit the OSD menu and change the picture settings to suit your needs if you wish to make any specific tweaks. You can quickly adjust the display’s calibration to your preferences thanks to the good amount of customization options.
Gaming experience
In my opinion, the QD OLED panel produced a visually stunning display by combining vivid colors and deep blacks. This display provides a degree of immersion that is difficult to explain unless you experience it in person, whether you’re playing games or watching a movie in 4K HDR. You may see even the games you’ve played before from an almost unnatural angle because of the 32:9 aspect ratio. The experience was unmatched when I was able to play God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, and Horizon Zero Dawn: Forbidden West on the monitor in the incredibly wide aspect ratio.
You may improve your gaming experience by turning on a few options specifically designed for gamers from the OSD menu on the display. For instance, the monitor’s Black Equalizer enhances the details in the darker regions. This feature can be quite useful in first-person shooter games, but it should be turned off when viewing movies because it brightens dark places. Then there is the HDR mode, which allows you to precisely change the output according to the content (games, movies, and HDR 400 mode for maximum brightness), the Crosshair for improved shooting, and the Timer to help you keep track of the passing time.
You have a 6-axis color control if you would rather calibrate your screen. You can change the following colors in this setting to suit your preferences: Magenta, yellow, cyan, green, blue, and cyan.
Experience at work
I must admit that connecting my laptop (a MacBook Air M1) to the monitor was, for want of a better phrase, an addictive experience. The display allowed me to easily use two apps side by side because it could completely support the equivalent of two 27-inch 16:9 windows. I even succeeded in cramming Slack, another software, in between these windows. With the HDMI/Display port, you can also have two input sources side by side in a 16:9 aspect ratio. In essence, the AORUS CO49DQ can replicate the same outcome—which is often attained with a two/three-monitor setup—without the need for bezels in between.
This screen is a dream come true for anyone who has to edit music or videos because it is so convenient. You can simultaneously view multiple video sources on the screen thanks to the PIP and PBP technologies.
Panel protection
Since we’re discussing QD-OLED panels, burn-in is a big issue that needs to be addressed. This problem can occur on OLED monitors if your workstation with your laptop or PC has a lot of static components on the display (QD-OLED monitors are notoriously known for showing this issue even quicker than W-OLED panels). In order to address this problem, Gigabyte has integrated an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm into the AORUS CO49DQ to reduce the likelihood of burn-in problems and to apply it to several OLED-protecting features on the display. It is impossible to evaluate the implementation’s efficacy during the evaluation because these problems typically surface months or even years after initial use.
Sound
I usually recommend that instead of using a monitor’s built-in speakers, gamers should use gaming headphones. However, people who wish to watch TV shows or movies should get a soundbar. If you’re not feeling either of them, you can use the AORUS CO49DQ’s dual 5W speakers instead. With the surround sound feature, the speakers manage to provide a respectable listening experience, and they do get rather loud for an interior environment.
Verdict
To put it simply, one of the greatest gaming monitors available right now is the Gigabyte AORUS CO49DQ. This device is a gamer’s dream because of its remarkable response time, deep blacks, infinite contrast ratio, support for virtual reality, sophisticated AI panel protection measures, and larger-than-life aspect ratio. Even for working professionals who wish to edit photos, films, or other media, this monitor’s large panel makes it unnecessary to use two monitors in tandem.
That being said, the monitor is currently somewhat expensive, costing about Rs 1.3 lakhs. Additionally, just a few titles presently support a 32:9 aspect ratio. Therefore, before you get this enormous 49-inch screen, make sure you are comfortable with viewing some content that has thick black bars on the side (particularly when using gaming consoles). The Gigabyte AORUS CO49DQ is designed for enthusiasts who demand the best available technology, and it delivers on that promise without compromising. A unique and immersive gaming experience is what this display offers, so if you have the money, it’s a no-brainer.
