The AOC Agon AG405UXC mixes value with flagship-level specifications via its 40-inch 144Hz IPS ultrawide screen. It’s a gaming model, but its also built to be taken advantage of by users who need a functional business solution. Let’s take a closer look to know if this should be your latest upgrade this year.
AOC Agon AG405UXC Specifications
- Screen Size: 40 Inches
- Resolution: 3440 x 1440 UWQHD
- Aspect Ratio: 21:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 144Hz
- Response Time: 1ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1200:1
- Brightness: 350 cd/m2
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 5 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot– No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 DSC x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2, USB-C PD90W x 1, USB 3.2 x 5, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions: 37.17” x 24.71” x 12.30”
- Weight: 21.73
Design and Features
The AOC Agon AG405UXC gets rid of the old Agon design in favor of a more mature and crisp aesthetic. The monitor has a matte black finish with very discrete red accents, so it looks cleaner and more suited for themed setups. The display has minimal bezels, although it still has inner bezels like most modern displays.
The first thing you will notice when you unbox this monitor is how gigantic it is in person. The device needs over three feet of width and over a foot of depth from your desk, so some might need to upgrade their desks as well. Its 21.73 weight isn’t much for its size class, but we still recommend asking for help since it’s easy to get outbalanced.
Its build quality is as great as what we’ve seen on most of AOC’s display products. The plastics used are thick and sturdy, and there were no cosmetic defects like uneven seams or gaps on any of its parts. There is some wobbling due to its size, but it is not a big deal if your desk is stable enough to support it.
One thing where the AOC Agon AG405UXC regressed is with its OSD control layout. It uses five buttons instead of a more convenient joystick, so it’s a little more inconvenient, especially for users who want to calibrate often. The keys are located at the front for easy access, but we still prefer joysticks or even a remote like what the older Agon models had.
The stand included with the package offers tilt, swivel, and height adjustments for your convenience. You can’t pivot the screen, but that’s understandable since it is unreasonable to set a 40-inch display into portrait mode. You can use VESA mounts, but it’s only necessary if you need to save space or have multiple monitors.
The monitor’s connectivity layout includes DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 slots, but it also has a 90-watt USB-C with DP Alt mode. It has four USB 3.2 ports and a type B slot, which go hand in hand with its KVM functionality for seamless multitasking with two computers. You also get a basic 3.5mm jack for headphones to complete the panel.
The monitor is rounded up by a pair of 5-watt built-in speakers for specific times, such as when it is too hot to wear headphones. The latter is probably better for maximizing the ultrawide’s immersive properties, but it is always nice to have a backup. The extra wattage gives the pair just enough power for basic tasks like videos or background music, although they still lack the oomph and clarity of a dedicated set.
Display and Performance
The AOC Agon AG405UXC sports a 40-inch ultrawide IPS panel with a 3440 x 1440 resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response time. Its backlight has a 350 cd/m2 output while its contrast is listed at 1200:1. This model doesn’t have true HDR capabilities, but that’s okay since it’s priced quite nicely.
One downside of the larger ultrawide screen is its looser pixel density, just like what we’ve seen with the LG 45GR99QE. It is not sharp and crisp like the more common 34-inch models, but the higher pixel count and extra peripheral viewing space are still there. You don’t need a top-end GPU to get to 144Hz nowadays, so you get to save some money if you are building a PC for this monitor.
The AOC Agon AG405UXC covers 99% sRGB and 85% of the DCI-P3 color space for decent color in games and movies. Its gamut is not as comprehensive as the company claims, but it doesn’t look watered down like some IPS monitors. Its default accuracy has a deltaE average of only 1.04, indicating that it was calibrated from the factory.
Using a colorimeter on it improved the dE average to 0.63, making it usable for editing work and content creation. However, it is impossible to get an identical result without the help of a colorimeter since each panel has minuscule differences in its outputs. It’s impractical to get one if you are only gaming, but the purchase is highly recommended for those into color-critical work.
The AOC Agon AG405UXC’s backlight reached 363 cd/m2 at 100%, while its contrast peaked at 1185:1 at 35% brightness. It can fight off glare in well-lit rooms, but it is not capable of deeper black luminance like OLEDs or even VA panels. This is a well-documented limitation of IPS technology, so it’s not treated as a deal-breaker this time around.
Its panel uniformity is excellent since there were no major backlight leaks on any of its edges. There is some variance in the backlight’s spread, but it is only noticeable in select instances. Note that this can vary with every unit made due to tolerances, so there are worse units out there.
The AOC Agon AG405UXC isn’t the fastest when it comes to refresh rate, but it’s still capable of great motion handling. You don’t need too much overdrive to clean up the minimal persistence, plus adding too much will induce overshoot. It is great for fast-paced games like Valorant, although we prefer the 16:9 models for that.
The AOC Agon AG405UXC is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync for stutter and tear-free gaming. It’s important to get dual compatibility so you don’t have to buy a new monitor if you switch to the other GPU brand. Input lag sits at 4ms at 144Hz, so it is fast and very responsive, like most E-Sports monitors.
Thoughts on the AOC Agon AG405UXC
The AOC Agon AG405UXC is great if you consider its price despite its lack of essential creature comforts. You get excellent connectivity and a vibrant 40-inch screen for the money, so it’s tough to beat. There aren’t a lot of 40-inch monitors out there, but it’s designed to be the top pick.
However, there are some missing features like an OSD joystick, but most of these are minor compared to what it offers. The loose pixel density is probably the biggest complaint we have, but that can be easily offset by a good seating position. Overall, it is an excellent buy if you need a massive screen for entertainment and productivity.
Pros:
- Excellent Price
- Large Ultrawide Screen
- USB-C Connectivity
- Reliable Build Quality
Cons:
- Limited Global Availability
- Low Pixel Density
- Not as Vibrant as Manufacturer Claimed
About the Author: 
Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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