The world's number one gaming monitor and IT accessories brand AOC is relaunching its gaming portfolio, from monitors to headsets, mechanical keyboards, mice, mouse mats and more for gamers of all levels, under its new umbrella AGON by AOC. Recently announced, the first category AOC GAMING defines the needs of digital adventurers. Now, the AGON category of monitors and peripherals creates an ecosystem of products that are compatible with each other for a fully immersive and stylish gaming atmosphere and can satisfy demanding, competitive gamers.

Hence, the first models from the relaunched AGON series are two hero-worthy curved super-wides: the 49" (124.5 cm) AG493UCX2 with a whopping 165 Hz refresh rate, as well as the 49" AG493QCX with a 144 Hz refresh rate. With their 32:9 aspect ratio, the AG493UCX2 virtually combines two 27" QHD displays in one seamless panel with DQHD (5120 x 1440) resolution and the AG493QCX does the same for two 27" Full HD displays with DFHD (3840 x 1080) resolution. Both monitors employ VA panels for deep blacks, rich colors, and a high contrast ratio for stunning imagery, supported by their VESA Certified DisplayHDR 400 specification.

The title already says most of it, but here it is: the Acer EI491CR Amy be one of the most impressive monitors to grace this side of 2019, ticking most boxes considered relevant for a great gaming experience. The 49" monitor features a DFHD aspect ratio of 32:9. Those 40" of real-estate are populated by 38440 x 1080 pixels, in a VA panel with 8-bit color reproduction and 4ms gray-to-gray response time. A 1800R curvature keeps all parts of the screen within the same pupillary distance, enveloping your field of vision with what could otherwise be cropped screen edges.

The 144 Hz refresh rate (overclocked from a reference 120 Hz for the base panel this monitor employs) will enable ultra fluid gaming, especially when paired with FreeSync 2. FreeSync 2 that also makes an appearance in the monitor's display of HDR content, through its VESA HDR 400 certification. Typical contrast stands at 3000:1, and typical brightness at 400 cd/m² with color coverage hitting an impressive 90% DCI-P3 rating. 1x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI 2.0 and 2x HDMI 1.4 round out the inputs. The Acer EI491CR will be available, however, for a not-for-all-budgets $1199.

ASUS today unveiled the obscenely wide ROG Strix XG49VQ 49-inch curved gaming monitor, with an aspect ratio of 32:9, or what you'd get if you put two 16:9 monitors side-by-side. With a resolution of 3840 x 1080, or half the pixels of 4K UHD, the monitor features an 1800R curvature. There are two notable branded features associated with this display: VESA DisplayHDR 400, and AMD FreeSync HDR. There are some impressive display specifications on tap, too, such as 144 Hz maximum refresh-rate, 178°/178° viewing-angles thanks to its VA panel, 4 ms (GTG) response time, and 450 cd/m² maximum brightness. Display inputs include DisplayPort 1.2a, and two HDMI 2.0 ports. The monitor features the full suite of ASUS GameFirst OSD utilities. You also get 5 W stereo speakers a 2-port USB 2.0 hub. The company didn't reveal pricing.

ASUS at CES showcased their upcoming lineup of ROG Strix gaming monitors specifically crafted for usage with AMD's FreeSync 2. The new monitors look to cater to most of the market with their diagonals and resolutions. These are premium solutions, with the smallest, the XG32VQR, sporting a 32" 1440p panel, 144 Hz native refresh rate, and VESA's HDR400 certification. The XG438Q ups the ante to a 43" panel and 4K resolution screen, with a 120 Hz base refresh rate (overclockable up to 144 Hz) and HDR 600, while the XG49VQ is of the ultra wide variety, featuring a DFHD (3840 x 1080) resolution, 144 Hz base refresh rate, and HDR 400.

All monitors feature a FreeSync 2 range of 48-120/144Hz, all employ a VA panel and a 4 ms response rating. The 43-inch sports 10-watt speakers, the 49-inch model has a pair of 5-watt speakers and the 32-inch XG32VQR lacks the completely. No pricing was available at time of writing, but these are ASUS' premium offering s for the FreeSync ecosystem, and with those specs, they likely won't come cheap.

ASUS showcased their XG49VQ, a behemoth of a monitor with a 49" diagonal across a 32:9 aspect ratio panel. This aspect ratio and the panels' size are married to a 3840 x 1080 resolution (2x 1080p) with a 144 Hz refresh rate. There's a 1800R curvature (which is likely essential in such wide panels), support for Freesync 2, 125% RGB coverage, and ASUS' Shadow Boost feature which makes it easier to spot anything in darker corners of any given game. There's HDR support via VESA's HDR400 certification.

With those features, ASUS is catering to two markets at once: professional and gamer. The added resolution and screen real-estate will feel right at home with users that do much horizontal work (my 2560 x 1080 panel is already plenty enough for two pages to sit comfortably side to side). The increased frequency response won't do much for professional work, but does tick one of those gaming checklists of late. With the specs and exotic streak on this monitor, though, don't expect pricing to come cheap.

Philips is following in ASUS' footsteps in introducing an uber-wide 32:9 monitor with a 49" VA panel diagonal. Philips is picking up the same panel that Samsung is using on their CH90, DFHD (Double Full HD) monitor. Philips, however, is shaving some of the technologies that make its Samsung counterpart more expensive - but also much more interesting for the gamer inside you. While Samsung is including their QLED technology in the CH90, as well as support for AMD's FreeSync 2 technology, Philips shaves those, which will allow the company to reach a sub $1,100 price-tag. It keeps the 1800R curvature, however, which really, is likely mandatory in such a wide panel.

The panel offers an ultra-wide aspect ratio with its 32:9 ratio (good luck on finding many games that support that out-of-the-box), but it features a somewhat low vertical resolution of just 1080 pixels. Brightness is being reported at a maximum 600 cd/m², and contrast at up to 5000:1. Connectivity-wise, the Philips 492P8 features 1x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI, 1x USB Type-C input, 1x D-Sub connector, as well as built-in dual-port USB 3.0 and an Ethernet hub (the USB-C acts like an upstream port). 2x 3.5-mm audio connectors for headphones and a microphone. Philips plans to bring the 492P8 to the market sometime in Q2 next year and intends to sell the unit for about €899 ($1077). However, considering the time interval between now and launch, MSRP and specifications may be subject to change in the meantime.