If you want to enjoy games and movies in a more immersive way, you’ll want to save up for an ultrawide curved monitor. Here’s all you need to know about these powerful devices.
The term “ultrawide” is something you’ll find in gaming monitor products, and it’s used to describe monitors that are much wider than your typical computer monitor. Technically speaking, it’s a type of monitor that has an aspect ratio of 21:9, as opposed to the standard wide-screen resolution of 16:9.
While not all ultrawide monitors are curved, many people prefer getting curved ultrawide monitors. This is because, unlike regular 16:9 monitors, you can’t as easily see the pixels and images on the side of the screen with a 21:9 aspect ratio. This is especially true if the monitor is large enough. Curving the monitor slightly will make it easier to see the edges of the monitor without ruining the overall perspective.
Ultrawide curved monitors are often sought after for their ability to immerse the viewer more efficiently. While a 16:9 monitor will only take up a certain amount of their range of vision, an ultrawide curved monitor will be much larger, and you’ll see more of the images and videos displayed on the screen.
Have you ever tried working with two monitors before? While a dual monitor setup may seem unnecessary for many people, it’s actually quite useful for many others. The added space can check data, watch videos, and multitask. Ultrawide Curved monitors offer a similar benefit; you can have one app open on one side of the screen with a second app open on the other. It’s also a lot easier to use than having two monitors as you won’t need to worry about setting two monitors up.
Because ultrawide curved monitors are quite expensive, they’re guaranteed to have all the features you want in gaming. Things like high refresh rates, low response times, HDR support, FreeSync and GSync and more. While these are all extra premium features in typical monitors, they’re the norm for ultrawide curved displays.
The refresh rate is the rate at which the display updates its pixels per second. The higher the refresh rate, the more frames the monitor can show per second. A monitor’s refresh rate is a direct indicator of the max FPS (or frames per second) it can support.
When a product listing mentions a monitor’s specs, it will usually include a size. The size, in inches, is the length from the top corner of one side of the monitor to the bottom corner on the other side, or vice versa. This gives you a general idea of how large the monitor is.
The response time of a monitor determines how fast the image on the monitor gets updated based on input. Response times are measured in milliseconds, and the faster the response time, the better. So, for example, a response time of 1ms will cause the screen to update 1ms after the input is sent to the computer.
To make the most out of your ultrawide monitor, try watching movies or playing games that support this resolution. Most AAA games and high-budget movies should have ultrawide support.
HDR is a technology that makes your monitor display bright colors. While this feature is useful for adding even more immersion to your viewing and gaming experience, not all games or media support it, so be sure to check in advance.
It’s difficult to find an ultrawide gaming monitor that combines resolution, performance, and a reasonable price, but Samsung seems to fit that bill. This gaming monitor has a 34-inch screen with a 165Hz refresh rate, making it perfect for games that need high frame rates for optimal performance. In particular, ultrawide monitors with this much refresh rate are great when playing MOBA games and other online games as they can give a slight competitive advantage. For just under $450, it’s definitely the best overall on the list.
LG makes everything from TVs to refrigerators, and their monitors are just as good, too. Their UltraWide monitor has a 34-inch display with support for sRGB 99% color gamut. It has on-screen controls for accessible settings whenever you need to make some adjustments.
You can use the monitor with or without a stand provided you have a supporting mount. Finally, USB-C support makes this monitor compatible with a lot of modern systems, which can be useful for futureproofing in a way.
What makes a monitor a “gaming monitor”? Is it the response time? The refresh rate? HDR support? You could make arguments for all of these things, but if there’s one way to really sell the “gamer” aspect of a monitor, it’s through the aesthetic. This gaming monitor by AOC may be like any other curved monitor on our list performance-wise, but its monitor stand makes it “stand” out. The sharp edges combined with the red flair on the base of the stand give the monitor this gamer-like look that’s perfect for any traditional gamer setup.
Unlike the computer monitors of the early 2000s, gaming monitors these days put a premium on thin and sleek designs. In particular, bezels are often seen as something that should be minimized or removed entirely, as they can ruin the immersion due to how noticeable they can be. Viotek’s gaming ultrawide monitor features thin bezels for something so cheap. In fact, it’s the cheapest monitor on our roundup, coming in at just $389. It has FreeSync and G-Sync support and comes with a 144Hz refresh rate, too, so you get the total package for something that’s relatively affordable.
If you’ve got a complex setup on your desk, you may need a monitor that can accept multiple sources of video. This could be useful if you wanted to use the same monitor for your PC and your multiple gaming consoles or even your laptop. Sceptre’s gaming monitor comes with multiple ports that can all display video at a 100Hz refresh rate. It’s a little slower in that regard compared to other monitors, but with HDR support, high brightness capabilities, and a wide 35-inch screen, you’re still getting a lot for your money.
A: No. While many ultrawide monitors are curved, there are also many ultrawide monitors with a flat screen.
A: The typical aspect ratio of an ultrawide monitor is 21:9.
A: If you enjoy immersing yourself in media and prefer a larger working space, ultrawide curved monitors may very well be worth the premium attached to them.