AOC 25G42E Gaming Monitor – Our Review

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The AOC 25G42E model represents a compact, 24.5-inch gaming monitor, joining a market that’s already bustling with options. What sets this one apart is its ability to offer top-notch gaming features at a budget-friendly price point of around £119.99.

Is there a price to pay when providing much with minimal expense? Of course, trade-offs need to happen for the cost to remain low. Here’s my take on the AOC 25G42E after giving it a try.

Unboxing and Design

To elaborate, the AOC 25G42E monitor boasts a sleek design, being compact and lightweight, nearly 25 inches in size. Its diminutive footprint and streamlined base consume very little desk area, rendering it a fantastic option for those working with limited space.

Setting it up was a breeze; all I needed to do was connect the two main sections, then attach the screen to the base, and voila! The monitor was all set for connection and usage.

Initially, I encountered an inconvenience while setting up – it wasn’t about the ports themselves, but rather the fact that there were only three available: one HDMI 2.0, one DisplayPort 1.4, a 3.5mm audio output, and the power input. In my gaming setup, I was hoping for more options to connect multiple devices simultaneously.

If you’re just setting up the basics, this might suffice, but if you wish to link several extras like an RGB light strip or extra devices, you might find the insufficient USB ports frustrating. Frankly, I found it annoying, but the level of frustration will vary based on how many additional items you own.

Regarding its design for comfort, the AOC 25G42E does quite well, providing various customizations to help you achieve an optimal viewing experience.

The tilt adjustment can be set anywhere between -5 to 23 degrees, making it convenient for my dual-screen setup. I adjusted it slightly upward and toward me for a more pleasant viewing position.

Furthermore, it can be mounted using a VESA standard (100x100mm). Although I haven’t personally verified this, the mounting points are cleverly hidden beneath a round panel featuring a red border, offering flexibility for both wall and arm mounting installation.

As a gamer, I gotta say, the one tiny hiccup here is that it doesn’t adjust in height. While this likely won’t be a problem for many gamers, if you find yourself needing to elevate it for any reason, you might need to find something to prop it up on.

As a gamer, I appreciate the frameless edge on this device, as it expands my gaming field without distractions and gives me an uninterrupted view. For those of us with multiple monitors, it means a smoother transition between screens, making gameplay more immersive.

One notable feature of this design is its anti-reflective panel, which performs incredibly effectively. Regardless of my desk being positioned near a big window, I’ve never encountered any bothersome reflections – not even under intense sunlight.

Features and Performance

To start off, let me clarify that for its cost, the AOC 25G42E has proven to perform exceptionally well. But, it took a while before it truly showed this.

Initially, when I plugged it in for the first time, I noticed significant screen tearing, even on a game like Football Manager that doesn’t require much graphical power. This was surprising, considering the monitor’s specifications, and left me baffled. I checked and rechecked the refresh rate and resolution settings, but everything appeared to be set correctly.

Following some adjustments and fine-tuning, particularly with the Overdrive feature, and after rebooting the device, the problem appeared to be automatically fixed. Since then, the screen has been operating flawlessly, free of any additional ghosting problems.

After accurate tuning, the Fast IPS panel in sync with Adaptive Sync tech performed seamlessly to fully utilize the 180Hz refresh rate. The motion appeared smooth and quick, making it an excellent pick for high-speed gaming.

The WLED screen performed well, particularly when using HDR. Initially, I noticed the colors seemed a bit dull, but luckily, it comes with various pre-set modes such as FPS, Racing, and three additional gaming-oriented adjustments. These settings are designed to optimize the display output.

Immediately activating both First-Person Shooter (FPS) and Racing game modes noticeably increased the vividness of the visuals. With High Dynamic Range (HDR) enabled, the difference in the 16.7 million colors was significantly more distinct.

It’s important to note that the resolution maxes out at 1080p for this gaming monitor. This is typical within this price bracket, and performance aspects such as speed and smoothness are usually more valued by competitive gamers compared to high pixel density.

Speaking of which, transitioning from a WQXGA (2560×1600) setup, I did observe a slight decrease in clarity and definition. However, this is not an issue for fast-paced competitive games, as I mentioned earlier. Yet, storyline-focused or immersive titles would certainly gain from a higher resolution, even if it means shelling out some additional funds.

I didn’t have the opportunity to thoroughly verify its 1ms GtG response time or 0.5ms MPRT, but based on my use, input delay was never a problem for me. Alongside its 180Hz refresh rate, everything felt swift and responsive, with no discernible delays hindering performance.

Software and Customization

As a gamer, I can vouch that the AOC 25G42E plays nicely with AOC’s user-friendly G-Menu. This nifty little tool lets me tweak and manage just about every aspect of my AOC device to ensure an optimal gaming experience.

With regards to this specific monitor, the G-Menu provided me an opportunity to customize aspects such as resolution, screen orientation, input sources, and even enabled additional features like a frame rate counter which could be positioned in any of the four corners.

It appears that some choices like Eco Mode and Game Sync were disabled on my screen, possibly because they’re not suitable for this particular model. However, their existence suggests a wider range of customization possibilities offered by other AOC monitors.

As a gamer, I’ve been finding this software quite delightful, even with some missing features. It’s sleek, visually appealing, and incredibly intuitive to use. What truly sets it apart is its practicality; instead of wrestling with the monitor’s cumbersome built-in menu, it offers a streamlined alternative that makes adjustments feel swift and effortless.

The G-Menu additionally features a Macro area, although it wasn’t applicable to this monitor. However, it could prove beneficial for AOC accessories such as mice and keyboards. If you’re immersed in the AOC ecosystem, this macro function could serve as an added advantage, allowing you to customize multiple devices from a single platform.

Verdict

As a gamer, I’ve found the AOC 25G42E to be a fantastic budget-friendly choice. It strikes a great balance between size, features, and performance that’s hard to beat at its price point. After addressing the initial ghosting issue, it became an absolute joy to use, providing smooth gameplay and reasonably good visuals.

That said, a few small drawbacks hold it back from being truly exceptional.

A potential issue for users wanting to connect various add-ons could be the restricted number of available ports. Regarding the display quality, although 1080p resolution is typically expected at this price point, some premium gaming monitors may provide even clearer visuals.

Additionally, it would have been nice to have more customization options, especially the ability to change height, to improve ergonomics even more.

On the plus side, though, it comes with a three-year warranty, which adds peace of mind.

In summary, this gaming monitor offers excellent value with its affordable price tag and high-quality performance, making it an attractive option for both gaming sessions and everyday tasks. It’s definitely worth a look!

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2025-02-27 18:14