The 34-inch ultrawide OLED monitor market is brimming with options, making it crucial for shoppers to focus on the details. Gigabyte’s MO34WQC, armed with a QD-OLED panel, delivers image quality and motion clarity comparable to its rivals. Its extra USB-C and USB connectivity enhance its appeal, but ultimately, its price will likely be the deciding factor.
Gigabyte MO34WQC: Specs and Features
The Gigabyte MO34WQC features a Samsung QD-OLED panel with a 3440×1440 resolution and a 175Hz refresh rate. This aligns with most current QD-OLED monitors, though it falls short of the latest panels reaching 240Hz and beyond.
Gigabyte also offers the MO34WQC2, a similar model with a 240Hz QD-OLED panel. While we haven’t reviewed the MO34WQC2 yet, its higher refresh rate comes at a premium, typically retailing around $1,000.
Here’s a breakdown of the MO34WQC’s key specifications:
- Display Size: 34-inch ultrawide (21:9 aspect ratio)
- Resolution: 3440×1440
- Panel Type: Anti-reflection QD-OLED
- Refresh Rate: Up to 175Hz
- Adaptive Sync: Adaptive Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
- Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and 18W USB Power Delivery, 2x USB-A 3.2 downstream, 1x USB-B 3.2 upstream, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack, 1x 3.5mm microphone jack
- VESA Mount: 100x100mm
- Speakers: Yes, 2x 3-watt speaker system
- Price: $949.99 MSRP, $849.99 typical retail
Beyond the panel, the MO34WQC boasts four video inputs: two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, and a USB-C port with DisplayPort support. This versatility caters to various setups. The USB-C port also offers power delivery, although its 18W output is insufficient for fast laptop charging. The inclusion of built-in speakers is a welcome addition.
Gigabyte MO34WQC: Design and Ergonomics
Marketed as a gaming monitor but lacking Gigabyte’s Aorus gaming branding, the MO34WQC adopts a basic, functional design. Slim black bezels frame the panel on three sides, with a small plastic chin below. The rear panel’s sturdy black plastic feels unremarkable compared to design-forward competitors like the Alienware AW3423DWF or Samsung Odyssey G85SB.
The included ergonomic stand offers height, tilt, and swivel adjustments. Its wide, flat base occupies considerable desk space, but allows for item placement on top. The stand’s robust construction ensures easy adjustments. A 100x100mm VESA mount accommodates third-party monitor arms, stands, or wall mounts.
The monitor’s 1800R curvature is noticeable without being distracting. This radius, common among 34-inch QD-OLED monitors, provides a comfortable viewing experience.
gigabyte mo34wqc 1
Gigabyte MO34WQC: Connectivity and On-Screen Display
The MO34WQC’s four video inputs offer ample connectivity for most use cases, with all ports supporting the maximum refresh rate. Two USB-A downstream ports, powered by either the USB-C port or a USB-A to USB-B connection, provide additional flexibility. A KVM switch function allows for keyboard and mouse sharing between connected devices.
Navigating the on-screen display is effortless thanks to an intuitive joystick. The menus are large and well-organized, though the thin font can be challenging to read. The MO34WQC offers a comprehensive range of image quality adjustments, including color temperature, gamma presets, and six-axis color calibration, which is standard for this price point.
gigabyte mo34wqc menu
Gaming features like a black equalizer and on-screen crosshair are included. Multiple aspect ratio modes and picture-by-picture/picture-in-picture functionality enhance versatility. While the built-in speakers are adequate for basic audio, external speakers or headphones are recommended for a richer audio experience.
Gigabyte MO34WQC: SDR Image Quality
The MO34WQC delivers impressive SDR image quality, though it doesn’t surpass its QD-OLED counterparts. Its measured sustained SDR brightness of 245 nits is typical for OLED monitors, sufficient for moderately lit rooms, but potentially dim in brightly lit environments.
gigabyte mo34wqc brightness
As expected from an OLED panel, the contrast ratio is effectively infinite, thanks to its ability to achieve perfect black levels. This contributes to the immersive depth characteristic of OLED displays.
gigabyte mo34wqc contrast
The MO34WQC’s color gamut coverage is excellent, boasting 100% sRGB, 98% DCI-P3, and 94% Adobe RGB. This wide color range makes it suitable for content creation professionals.
gigabyte mo34wqc color gamut
While color accuracy is generally good, the MO34WQC’s out-of-the-box accuracy lags behind some competitors. A gamma of 2.4 and a color temperature of 6100K result in slightly darker and warmer visuals than ideal. Calibration can address these issues.
gigabyte mo34wqc color accuracy
The standard 3440×1440 resolution offers good sharpness, but QD-OLED’s subpixel structure can cause minor pixelation around high-contrast edges or small fonts.
Gigabyte MO34WQC: HDR Image Quality
The VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certified MO34WQC supports HDR. However, its peak HDR brightness of 402 nits in a 10% window, while typical for QD-OLED, falls short of LG’s WOLED panels and Mini-LED displays.
HDR content appears reasonably bright, but luminance detail is noticeably reduced compared to higher-end alternatives. While adequate for casual HDR gaming, discerning viewers might find its HDR performance lacking for movies.
Gigabyte MO34WQC: Motion Performance
The MO34WQC excels in motion clarity, boasting a 175Hz refresh rate, a 0.03ms response time, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support. Motion in fast-paced games is generally smooth, with minimal blurring. The enhanced refresh rate also benefits desktop responsiveness.
Should You Buy the Gigabyte MO34WQC?
The Gigabyte MO34WQC is a solid QD-OLED monitor offering excellent SDR image quality and motion clarity. However, its generic design, lower HDR brightness, and occasional sharpness issues prevent it from truly standing out. At its current $850 retail price, more compelling alternatives exist. However, if its price drops below $750, the MO34WQC becomes a more attractive option.
