The AOC AGON AG456UCZD offers vivid immersion with its 45-inch ultrawide OLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate. It boasts functionality for productivity as well, so it’s more than just a display for flight sims or FPS titles. It is not cheap, but let’s check to see if it’s a worthy investment for your 2025 gaming build.
AOC AGON AG456UCZD Specifications
- Screen Size: 45 Inches
- Resolution: 3440 x 1440 UWQHD
- Aspect Ratio: 21:9
- Panel Technology: OLED
- Refresh Rate: 240Hz
- Response Time: 0.03 ms
- Contrast Ratio: 150000:1
- Brightness: 200 cd/m2 (1000 cd/m2 Peak)
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 8 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot– No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 HBR3 x 1, HDMI 2.1 x 3, USB-C PD90W x 1, USB 3.2 x 4, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions: 39.06” x 20.04” x 14.14”
- Weight: 29.43 lbs
Design and Features
The AOC AGON AG456UCZD sports a more mature aesthetic than the red and silver on older AGON variants during its early years. The monitor has a matte black and silver combination, which looks classy, although it still has RGB lighting for customization. The screen doesn’t have bezels, although you will still see inner borders if you look closely enough.
It’s a massive monitor, so measure your desk space before pulling the trigger on this beast. It needs 14.14 inches of depth, and it’s almost 3.5 feet wide despite its deep curve. Its also very heavy at 29.43 pounds, so helping hands might be necessary in assembling and setting it up.
Build quality is as expected from a premium model, so you’ll get your money’s worth in this regard. The materials used are thick and sturdy, and there were no cosmetic defects on any of its parts. The included stand is stable, but it can still wobble if you nudge the screen since it is so big and heavy.
The AOC AGON AG456UCZD has a joystick for the OSD on the bulge at the back. It’s closer to the center of the screen, so it’s easier to reach compared to the ones posted on the sides. Older AGON monitors had remotes, but we think those are unnecessary yet very convenient for adjusting something on the fly.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. Pivoting wasn’t included, but that’s understandable since it’s not ideal to use a monitor like this in portrait mode anyway. You can use VESA mounts, but those only become necessary when space is limited or if you have multiple displays.
The AOC AGON AG456UCZD’s connectivity is a highlight since it allows both gamers and business users to utilize it. It has DisplayPort 1.4 HBR3, three HDMI 2.1 slots, and a 90-watt USB-C port with DP Alt mode for docking. You also get four USB 3.2 ports and a KVM that allows dual setups for this monitor.
The built-in speakers have 8 watts of power per channel, so they sound way better than most built-ins. They are usable for casual gaming and movies but are nowhere near a separate set when it comes to audio quality. However, it’s nice to have a capable backup for when it’s too hot for headsets.
Display and Performance
The AOC AGON AG456UCZD sports a 45-inch OLED panel with a 3440 x 1440 resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate, and a 0.3ms response time. It has a 200 cd/m2 output and a 1000 cd/m2 peak, while the contrast is listed at 1500000:1 like most OLED panels. This model did not list HDR certification on the official product page, but it did mention HDR10 compatibility.
3440 x 1440 ultrawides look clean and crisp, but that’s not the case for 45-inch models. It’s a bit more pixelated, but you can get around that by sitting a bit further than two feet from the screen. You will still need a top-end GPU to reach that 240Hz output, but the most expensive flagships won’t be necessary for many titles.
The AOC AGON AG456UCZD covers more than 100% sRGB and 99% DCI-P3 for stunning color in games and movies. Its default accuracy was excellent since the deltaE average is at 1.81, so most users won’t need to calibrate it. AOC did the homework for you, so you only need to plug it in and play.
Calibrating it reduced the dE average to 1.49, balancing out some minor oversaturation from the default setting. Its balanced, but not a huge difference or improvement from the default setting. It is not worth getting a colorimeter to get these numbers, but feel free to do so if you want to tweak it for color-critical work.
The OLED panel’s brightness reached 395 cd/m2 in SDR, but it peaked at 977 cd/m2 in HDR. Its contrast was incalculable due to the zero black luminance depth, enabling it to produce deep blacks and dark night scenes. It’s not VESA certified, but it’s just as capable in HDR as the alternatives that carry the True Black branding.
Panel uniformity for the test sample was excellent since there was no backlight to cause a leak like it would on regular monitors. The screen also did not suffer from clouding, so there were no issues during contrasting transitions. The only problem with OLEDs is their susceptibility to burn-in issues, but the monitor has safety features to prevent it.
its pixel response time is also excellent since there were no blurs or ghosting during testing. OLEDs do not suffer from this since it doesn’t have a backlight, which often causes delays and results in smudging or persistence. It also helps that it is very fast, making it perfect for shooters or racing games.
The AOC AGON AG456UCZD is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync for stutter and tearing-free performance. It’s nice to have both so you can use the monitor with both GPU brands and not lose VRR functionality. Its input lag sits at 3ms at 240Hz, making it one of the fastest ultrawides in the market.
Thoughts on the AOC AGON AG456UCZD
The AOC AGON AG456UCZD is a fantastic monitor for immersive gaming and some productivity. It offers excellent performance in both imaging and responsiveness, so there are only a select few that can be considered better. It’s designed quite well, and it has a hub for KVM and USB-C devices, so it’s perfect as an all-around option.
The only issue with this monitor is its low pixel density, which comes naturally with the large diagonal and 3440 x 1440 resolution. That’s not a fault of the manufacturer since it’s also an issue with the other 45-inch ultrawides. It’s a fantastic buy overall, especially since it has a lower MSRP than its closest competitors.
Pros:
- Excellent Color and Contrast
- Plenty of Connectors, Including USB-C
- Attractive and Functional Design
- Better Price
Cons:
- Expensive
- Low Pixel Density
- Overall
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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