Introduction & Specifications
AOC aims to answer that question with its new 29-inch Q2963PM display. Armed with an UltraWide In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel, this LED-backlit monitor boasts a 2560x1080 resolution with 21:9 aspect ratio, providing viewers with an extra long panoramic view. It's a cinematic screen, and with features like picture-in-picture (PIP) and picture-by-picture (PBP) built-in, workcaholics can multitask the night away from multiple video sources with plenty of horizontal real estate to play with.
AOC Q2963PM - a 29-inch display for productivity chores and movie buffs
The funky aspect ratio limits the appeal of the Q2963PM to gamers, though if developers were to jump on board, a 21:9 monitor could offer a new level of immersion. For now, however, power users and multitaskers are the true beneficiaries. It's true that some of the same benefits can be found on 30-inch monitors rocking 2560x1600 panels, but most will run you at least twice as much as AOC's 29-inch display, which retails for $500 MSRP (around $400 street). They're also quite a bit bigger, which we'll get to later on in this review. For now, let's digest the system specs and see where this panel falls in the grand scheme of things.
|
Display Size |
29" UltraWide |
Resolution |
2560 x 1080 |
Aspect Ratio |
21:9 |
Brightness |
300 cd/m2 |
Contrast Ratio |
50,000,000:1 |
Response Time |
6ms |
Viewing Angle |
178° vertical / 178° horizontal |
Display Type |
IPS (In-Plane Switching) |
Connectors |
VGA; DVI-D with HDCP; HDMI (MHL); DisplayPort; PC audio in; Headphone out |
Power Consumption |
45W (Typical); <0.5W (Standby) |
Speakers |
2 x 3W speakers |
Stand |
Tilt (-5 degrees to +20 degrees) |
I/O Ports | N/A |
Dimensions (with stand) |
714 mm x 388 mm x 214 mm (HxWxD) / 28.1 inches x 15.3 inches x 8.4 inches |
Weight |
6.9 kg / 15.2 lbs |
Included Accessories |
Power adapter; power cord; VGA cable; HDMI cable; audio cable; media (includes drivers, AOC software, user's manual, and warranty) |
Warranty |
3 years limited (panel 1 year, parts and labor 3 years) |
Price | $500 MSRP; $400 street |
On paper, this is a feature-rich display with a variety of ports to accommodate a wide range of systems. As we touched on earlier, you can connect multiple systems to the Q2963PM and, if desired, split the screen among two inputs. Going in a completely different direction, you can also use the DisplayPort connection to daisy chain several monitors to your system.
Flexibility is the name of the game here, and at a glance, AOC seems to have all of its ducks in a row. There's even a Mobile High Definition Link (MHL), so if you're stuck working late, you can connect and charge your phone, even as you stream videos from it.