The Best Monitor Deals This Week*
- Dell S2721QS 27" 4K IPS FreeSync Monitor — $229.99 (List Price $299.99)
- Alienware AW2724HF 27" 1080p 360Hz IPS Monitor — $379.99 (List Price $449.99)
- Asus ProArt PA278QV 27" 1440p 100% sRGB IPS Monitor — $288.99 (List Price $319)
- LG UltraGear 27GP850-B 27" 1440p 165Hz IPS Monitor — $279.00 (List Price $379.99)
- Samsung Odyssey G9 49" DQHD 240Hz Curved Gaming Monitor — $999.99 (List Price $1,299.99)
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
In recent years, curved monitors have gone from being rarities to familiar sights. They tend to be panels for gaming and professional design and content-creation applications, but some general-purpose home and business monitors have adopted a curved design, too. And while they're certainly ultramodern-looking, their appeal goes beyond mere appearance.
Below, we'll get into everything you need to know about buying a curved display. Look for a breakout of our top tested picks, followed by a buyer's guide and detailed specs on our choices. Let's dig in.
Table of Contents
HP E45c G5 DQHD Curved Monitor
Best Curved Productivity Monitor Overall
Why We Picked It
The HP E45c G5 DQHD Curved Monitor ($1,099), a 45-inch business-centric ultrawide monitor, makes a good substitute for two individual QHD monitors while retaining some of the benefits of multiple monitors via unique virtual dual-display and KVM features. Its image is bright, with full sRGB color coverage. The E45c has good ergonomics for an ultrawide, too, and a range of connection choices that you'd expect from a separate laptop docking station.
Who It's For
The HP E45c G5 is a great fit for either a traditional office setting or a home office. Its super-ultrawide 32:9 screen renders a very bright, color-accurate image with good contrast. Its stand provides as much ergonomic flexibility as you can expect from such a wide monitor. The E45c's screen isn't quite as wide as the more common 49-inch monitors we have reviewed, but its size is more manageable, particularly for home offices or other tight spaces.
PROS
- Bright
- Full sRGB color coverage
- Two USB-C ports provide up to 100W USB power delivery
- USB-A hub
- 165Hz refresh rate
- Unique software, including KVM functionality
- Intuitive mini joystick controller
CONS
- No webcam
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) | 44.5 inches |
| Native Resolution | 5120 by 1440 |
| Aspect Ratio | 32:9 |
| Screen Technology | VA |
| Rated Screen Luminance | 400 nits |
| Rated Contrast Ratio | 3,000:1 |
| Pixel Refresh Rate | 165 Hz |
| Adaptive Sync | AMD FreeSync |
| Video Inputs | USB-C, DisplayPort, HDMI |
| USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) | 4 |
| VESA DisplayHDR Level | N/A |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 20.5 by 42.7 by 12.1 inches |
| Weight | 32 lbs |
| Height-Adjustable Stand? | |
| Tilting Stand? | |
| Swiveling Stand? | |
| Landscape/Portrait Pivot | |
| Warranty (Parts/Labor) | 3 years |
Samsung Odyssey OLED G9
Best Curved Gaming Monitor Overall
Why We Picked It
The slim, feature-rich Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 is a feast for the eyes, and the 32:9 aspect-ratio curved monitor to beat for immersive PC gaming. Its slim, sleek frame, paired with a gorgeous OLED panel, means that this 49-inch curved monitor is sure to impress even the staunchest of ultrawide naysayers. The OLED G9 has exceptional color accuracy and color-gamut coverage for a gaming monitor, not to mention the magnificent contrast that we’ve come to expect from an OLED screen. It is also a smart monitor, which means it has access to Samsung’s online gaming hub, as well as other media features you might see on Samsung TVs, including plenty of streaming apps. If money’s not an object and you need to go big and broad, the Odyssey OLED G9 is the one.
Who It’s For
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9’s rarefied price puts it out of reach of most casual gamers; it’s geared to aficionados who are into as immersive a flight-sim or racing experience as they can get. Add in some OLED frosting, near-perfect color-gamut coverage and color accuracy, and high contrast ratio, and the recipe is perfect. Just be prepared to shell out some big bucks for this 49-inch curved behemoth.
PROS
- Dazzling OLED display
- Exceptional color-gamut coverage and color accuracy
- Samsung's gaming and media hub included
- Sleek, thin design
CONS
- A whopper of a price
- Few I/O ports
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) | 49 inches |
| Native Resolution | 5120 by 1440 |
| Aspect Ratio | 32:9 |
| Screen Technology | OLED |
| Rated Screen Luminance | 250 nits |
| Rated Contrast Ratio | 1,000,000:1 |
| Pixel Refresh Rate | 240 Hz |
| Adaptive Sync | AMD FreeSync Premium Pro |
| Video Inputs | HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C |
| USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) | 2 |
| VESA DisplayHDR Level | DisplayHDR 400 |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 20.8 by 47.0 by 9.3 inches |
| Weight | 28.4 lbs |
| Height-Adjustable Stand? | |
| Tilting Stand? | |
| Swiveling Stand? | |
| Landscape/Portrait Pivot | |
| Warranty (Parts/Labor) | 1 year |
Dell UltraSharp 38 USB-C Hub Monitor (U3824DW)
Best Ultrawide Curved Productivity Monitor
Why We Picked It
The Dell UltraSharp U3824DW, a 38-inch ultrawide productivity monitor, is ideal for a home office. Its modestly curved screen is more compact than the more common 45-to-49-inch productivity panels, yet is capable of multitasking wizardry. Its IPS Black panel provides superior contrast, and it covers the full sRGB color space with plenty of room to spare. Add in a terrific range of ports, and you have a near-perfect monitor for home offices and small businesses.
Who It's For
Dell’s U3824DW is for home offices, sole proprietorships, and small businesses with some space limitations. It is more compact than the super ultrawide panels in the 40-to-50-inch range—offering a screen that's narrower yet taller for its width—but still gives you great leeway in tiling multiple windows.
PROS
- Expansive 38-inch ultrawide panel
- IPS Black provides great contrast
- Massive range of ports
- Rich, well-saturated images
- Dual built-in speakers
CONS
- Height adjustment is a little balky
- Lacks HDR support
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) | 37.5 inches |
| Native Resolution | 3840 by 1600 |
| Aspect Ratio | 21:9 |
| Screen Technology | IPS Black |
| Rated Screen Luminance | 300 nits |
| Rated Contrast Ratio | 2000:1 |
| Pixel Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Adaptive Sync | NA |
| Video Inputs | DisplayPort, HDMI (2), USB-C |
| USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) | 7 |
| VESA DisplayHDR Level | N/A |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 22.2 by 35.2 by 9.9 inches |
| Weight | 29.3 lbs |
| Height-Adjustable Stand? | |
| Tilting Stand? | |
| Swiveling Stand? | |
| Landscape/Portrait Pivot | |
| Warranty (Parts/Labor) | 3 years |
Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 QD OLED Gaming Monitor
Best Ultrawide Curved Gaming Monitor
Why We Picked It
With an eye-catching cabinet design and a jumbo ultrawide OLED panel, the Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 is a top-notch monitor that will delight cost-no-object gamers seeking the best available display. It turned in dazzling test results, delivering excellent SDR and HDR image quality, very accurate colors, and wide color-gamut support. Plus, its unique lighting system helps improve picture quality.
Who It's For
The Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 doesn’t come cheap, but it is an outstanding ultrawide gaming monitor and a good choice for anyone dreaming of a jumbo curved OLED. Its eye-catching design and modestly curved 34-inch screen with a gorgeous color range make it easy to overlook some of the display's minor issues, such as longer-than-ideal input lag.
PROS
- Excellent color gamut results
- Unique, useful lighting feature
- Attractive design
- Plenty of connectivity options
CONS
- No HDMI 2.1 port
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) | 34 inches |
| Native Resolution | 3440 by 1440 |
| Aspect Ratio | 21:9 |
| Screen Technology | OLED |
| Rated Screen Luminance | 250 nits |
| Rated Contrast Ratio | 1,000,000:1 |
| Pixel Refresh Rate | 175 Hz |
| Adaptive Sync | AMD FreeSync Premium Pro |
| Video Inputs | DisplayPort, HDMI |
| USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) | 4 |
| VESA DisplayHDR Level | DisplayHDR 400 |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 21.8 by 32 by 11.6 inches |
| Weight | 19.4 lbs |
| Height-Adjustable Stand? | |
| Tilting Stand? | |
| Swiveling Stand? | |
| Landscape/Portrait Pivot | |
| Warranty (Parts/Labor) | 3 years |
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9
Best Extreme-Ultrawide Curved Gaming Monitor
Why We Picked It
A massive, magnificent gaming display, the 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9's 7,680-by-2,160-pixel resolution gets you halfway to a true 8K picture. A litany of ports, including a cutting-edge DisplayPort 2.1 jack, makes the monitor a productivity powerhouse, but it's truly meant to maximize your gaming experience. Its vast, immersive curved screen is a sight to behold—it's remarkably bright, with exceptional color coverage out of the box. The only downside to this bleeding-edge monitor is that it requires bleeding-edge tech to go along with it. You must ensure your GPU utilizes the new DisplayPort 2.1 version to experience the full breadth of what this mega-monitor can do.
Who It's For
While multitaskers, flight-sim fanatics, and other big-screen customers might covet the Odyssey Neo G9, its whopping price restricts it to the realm of well-heeled gaming enthusiasts who have the proper gear to take full control of this monitor's power.
PROS
- Native resolution equivalent to twin 4K panels
- Impressively huge screen
- 240Hz peak refresh rate
- Excellent color gamut and accuracy
- Attractive design
CONS
- Pricey
- Requires DisplayPort 2.1 to make full use of 240Hz refresh rate
- Most modern graphics cards can't push enough frames at native resolution to max out the G9's frame rates
- Small control stick makes OSD navigation difficult
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) | 57 inches |
| Native Resolution | 7680 by 2160 |
| Aspect Ratio | 32:9 |
| Screen Technology | VA |
| Rated Screen Luminance | 1000 nits |
| Rated Contrast Ratio | 1,000,000:1 |
| Pixel Refresh Rate | 240 Hz |
| Adaptive Sync | AMD FreeSync Premium Pro |
| Video Inputs | HDMI, DisplayPort |
| USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) | 2 |
| VESA DisplayHDR Level | DisplayHDR 1000 |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 23.7 by 52.3 by 19.7 inches |
| Weight | 41.9 lbs |
| Height-Adjustable Stand? | |
| Tilting Stand? | |
| Swiveling Stand? | |
| Landscape/Portrait Pivot | |
| Warranty (Parts/Labor) | 3 years |
Samsung 24-Inch CF396 Curved LED Monitor
Best Budget Curved Productivity Monitor
Why We Picked It
Twenty-four inches is small for a curved monitor, but its compact size keeps the price of Samsung's CF396 Curved LED Monitor down. It's limited to full HD (1080p) resolution and doesn't have a slew of ports, but it's bright for a budget monitor and has excellent sRGB color coverage. Its gently curved screen and mini-joystick controller are uncommon among panels of its price.
Who It's For
The CF396 is a good fit for users looking for a bright, versatile monitor at an affordable price. This Samsung screen would be at home in a home office, a study, a living room, or a game room. It provides some convenience features usually limited to costlier displays and is a good choice for video viewing and light photo editing as well as general office work.
PROS
- Curved screen
- Great sRGB color coverage
- Bright for a budget monitor
- Mini-joystick controller
CONS
- Sparse port selection
- Stand limits you to tilt adjustment
- Meager one-year warranty
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) | 23.5 inches |
| Native Resolution | 1920 by 1080 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Screen Technology | VA |
| Rated Screen Luminance | 250 nits |
| Rated Contrast Ratio | 3000:1 |
| Pixel Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Adaptive Sync | AMD FreeSync |
| Video Inputs | HDMI, VGA |
| USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) | 0 |
| VESA DisplayHDR Level | NA |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 16.7 by 21.6 by 8.6 inches |
| Weight | 6.8 lbs |
| Height-Adjustable Stand? | |
| Tilting Stand? | |
| Swiveling Stand? | |
| Landscape/Portrait Pivot | |
| Warranty (Parts/Labor) | 1 year |
Dell 27 Curved Gaming Monitor (S2721HGF)
Best Budget Curved Gaming Monitor
Why We Picked It
The Dell 27 (S2721HGF) is a surprisingly high-quality curved gaming display at a modest price. It offers stellar 1080p gaming performance at a 144Hz refresh rate, supporting both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync. Its contrast isn't outstanding, but you'd be hard pressed to find any gaming monitor with better contrast in this price range. Its colors are balanced and natural, its motion is smooth, and its input lag is extremely low. It ticks all the boxes for a satisfying and very affordable gaming monitor.
Who It's For
The Dell 27 Curved Gaming Monitor gives wallet-conscious gamers a solid midsize screen plus an immersive curve as a bonus. It's not the fanciest, but it's a fine choice.
PROS
- Inexpensive for a 27-inch high-refresh gaming panel
- Very low input lag
- Excellent Nvidia G-Sync performance
CONS
- Mediocre contrast
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) | 27 inches |
| Native Resolution | 1920 by 1080 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Screen Technology | VA |
| Rated Screen Luminance | 350 nits |
| Rated Contrast Ratio | 3,000:1 |
| Pixel Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
| Adaptive Sync | Nvidia G-Sync Compatible |
| Video Inputs | DisplayPort, HDMI |
| USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) | 0 |
| VESA DisplayHDR Level | NA |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 19.4 by 24 by 7.5 inches |
| Weight | 9 lbs |
| Height-Adjustable Stand? | |
| Tilting Stand? | |
| Swiveling Stand? | |
| Landscape/Portrait Pivot | |
| Warranty (Parts/Labor) | 3 years |
NZXT Canvas 32Q Curved
A Solid Alternative to the Dell 27 (S2721HGF)
Why We Picked It
NZXT's first foray into the monitor market, the Canvas 32Q Curved, is capable and affordable enough to earn high marks as a budget gaming display. It combines a 1500R curvature with QHD (1440p) resolution, a 165Hz refresh rate, and low input lag. The display supports both AMD's FreeSync Premium and Nvidia's G-Sync, added bonuses for playing at frame rates above 60fps with a compatible graphics card. It provides full sRGB color coverage (though its color accuracy isn't the greatest) and an excellent contrast ratio. Fast-paced games looked great in our testing, without any ghosting to speak of.
Who It's For
Gamers on tight budgets will appreciate the NZXT Canvas 32Q Curved for its appealing design as well as its solid performance, capped by minuscule input lag. It strikes a good balance among performance, visual clarity, and affordability, and it looks good to boot. If you're hunting for a gaming display with a subtle curve and high 1440p refresh rate, it's well worth checking out.
PROS
- Attractive design
- Affordable price
- Good color range and low input lag
- DisplayPort-capable USB-C included
CONS
- Limited screen settings
- Color accuracy, HDR implementation don't impress
- No built-in speakers
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) | 31.5 inches |
| Native Resolution | 2560 by 1440 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Screen Technology | VA |
| Rated Screen Luminance | 300 nits |
| Rated Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 |
| Pixel Refresh Rate | 165 Hz |
| Adaptive Sync | AMD FreeSync |
| Video Inputs | HDMI, DisplayPort |
| USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) | 4 |
| VESA DisplayHDR Level | HDR10 |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 16.6 by 27.9 by 4.4 inches |
| Weight | 18.6 lbs |
| Height-Adjustable Stand? | |
| Tilting Stand? | |
| Swiveling Stand? | |
| Landscape/Portrait Pivot | |
| Warranty (Parts/Labor) | 3 years |
Asus ProArt PA34VC Professional Curved Monitor
Best Curved Monitor for Creative Pros
Why We Picked It
The curved, ultrawide Asus ProArt PA34VC is a top choice among professional monitors for photographers, videographers, and other creative pros. Features such as a 100Hz refresh rate and support for AMD's FreeSync adaptive-sync technology will appeal to game designers and make it suitable for dual duty for artistic workers who enjoy some light gaming after hours. The ProArt is bright with HDR enabled, offers excellent contrast, and covers the full sRGB color space.
Who It's For
Creative professionals and digital content mavens will find the Asus ProArt PA34VC Professional Curved Monitor a cool, sprawling display with a classy 1900R curvature and ultrawide aspect ratio. It combines first-class color accuracy with a brisk 100Hz refresh rate.
PROS
- Excellent color accuracy.
- Software calibration tools.
- Ultra-wide screen with 100Hz refresh rate, 1900R curvature, and HDR support.
CONS
- Does not cover the full Adobe RGB color space.
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) | 34 inches |
| Native Resolution | 3440 by 1440 |
| Aspect Ratio | 21:9 |
| Screen Technology | IPS |
| Rated Screen Luminance | 300 nits |
| Rated Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 |
| Pixel Refresh Rate | 100 Hz |
| Adaptive Sync | AMD FreeSync |
| Video Inputs | DisplayPort, HDMI, USB-C |
| USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) | 4 |
| VESA DisplayHDR Level | HDR10 |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 21.2 by 32.1 by 8.8 inches |
| Weight | 25.1 lbs |
| Height-Adjustable Stand? | |
| Tilting Stand? | |
| Swiveling Stand? | |
| Landscape/Portrait Pivot | |
| Warranty (Parts/Labor) | 1 year |
What Are the Pros and Cons of Curved Monitors?
The biggest pro? The experience of using a curved display is often described as "immersive." It draws you into the scene, lending a feeling of dimensionality that you don't get with a flat panel. Many recent ultrawide monitors, including all the 49-inch gaming and business monitors we've reviewed, are curved, which gives the user a wider field of view with minimal distortion at the edges.
Not all curved monitors have the same amount of curve. General-purpose displays typically have a gentle curvature, while gaming and ultrawide productivity monitors tend to be more tightly curved.
As it turns out, the degree of curvature is a measurable stat. Many curved monitors have what's dubbed 1800R curvature, while more sharply curved ones have curvatures as tight as 800R. An 1800R curvature means that if you were to place enough of these monitors side by side to form a circle, its radius would be 1,800mm (1.8 meters or 5.9 feet). If you were positioned that far from the screen, the center, the right edge, and the left edge all would be equidistant from your eyes.
Few viewers would normally be that far from the screen, except perhaps when watching movies in a group. When you do move closer, especially with a large ultrawide monitor, the curve makes for a panoramic experience as the screen's edges almost seem to wrap partway around you. This creates a three-dimensional, immersive effect and is often said to reduce eyestrain.
The biggest con around curved monitors has to with multi-display use. It can be less convenient than with flat displays to arrange more than one curved monitor side by side, bezel edge to edge, due to the curvature and the amount of desk space required to accommodate the arc they would create. Curved panels also generally require a bit more space front-to-back on a desk because of their shape, but depending on the design and the degree of curve, that may not be much more than the depth of their stand.
What Is a Good Curved Monitor Size?
Curved monitors tend to be big. The smallest we've seen is 24 inches (measured diagonally); most are 27 inches or larger, with clusters at 30, 34, 35, and 49 inches.
There is a good reason for this. With a smaller monitor, you view the whole screen straight-on and can take it in at a glance, while with wider flat monitors, the ends extend outward, and you are viewing them at a bit of an angle. With a curved monitor, the ends are bowed toward you—to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the display's degree of curvature—making for a more comfortable viewing experience.
For most users, an optimal size for a curved monitor is around 35 inches, providing enough room for tiling multiple windows and providing an immersive gaming or video experience while being small enough to fit easily on most desks.
What Is the Best Resolution for a Curved Monitor?
You'll see several popular resolutions for curved monitors, and which is best for you depends on your own computing needs.
Most curved monitors are ultrawide panels, defined by having 21:9 or 32:9 aspect ratios instead of the 16:9 horizontal-to-vertical ratio of most ordinary widescreen monitors. Ultrawides are great for multitaskers as well as some gamers—they're particularly good for racing games and flight sims; you will want to avoid ultrawides if you're into esports. Most recent AAA games have native support at least for 21:9 panels. Curved 21:9 displays tend to offer HD (3,440-by-1,440-pixel) native resolution, while 32:9 monitors—which include all the 49-inchers we've reviewed—have native resolutions of either 5,120 by 1,440 pixels or 3,840 by 1,080 pixels. (The 32:9 displays, especially the larger ones, are sometimes referred to as "super ultrawide" panels.) You can watch movies on ultrawide monitors; they won't fill the full screen width, but you can run some other program in a window in the unused part of the screen.
Other curved monitors have a standard 16:9 aspect ratio, and generally come in either 1440p (2,160-by-1,440-pixel) or UHD, aka 4K (usually 3,840-by-2,160-pixel) resolutions. These are particularly good for photographers, artists, and videographers, as well as movie connoisseurs. (Movies and most video content are made to fit a 16:9 widescreen format.)
Ergonomics, Connectivity, and Controls: What to Look for in a Curved Monitor
As for ergonomics, height and tilt adjustment are common, swivel control less so (it's seldom seen on the really wide monitors), and pivot control—allowing you to rotate the monitor from landscape to portrait orientation and back—is basically nonexistent. For obvious reasons, a curved screen doesn't make sense in a vertical orientation.
The ports or connectors on these displays tend to face downward in back, which is less than ideal considering that most of these monitors are large, heavy, and unwieldy. It's a good idea to connect any cables you might ever want to use during the initial setup process.
Whether they're gaming, productivity, or professional monitors, curved displays commonly have at least one DisplayPort and at least one HDMI connector; an upstream USB port for connection to your computer (commonly USB-C in newer monitors); and several downstream USB ports for flash drives and other peripherals. Most add an audio-out jack for plugging in a headset or external speakers. Some have their own built-in speakers, but these vary widely in quality.
For making brightness, contrast, and other adjustments, the controls to navigate the onscreen display (OSD) are either four-way mini-joystick controllers or small buttons. The button control system is most often found on general-purpose curved monitors, while gaming and professional displays usually provide the mini joysticks. The latter are easier to use. (See how we test monitors.)
Curved Monitors for Artists, Gamers, and Multitaskers: Factors to Consider
If you look beyond general-purpose use, you can lump curved monitors into three categories: for multitasking (productivity work with several application windows at once), for professional use (usually, with a high-quality panel geared toward content creators), and for gaming.
With a large, curved productivity monitor, you can have several documents (or one gigantic spreadsheet) open at a time, viewing them with a minimum of eyestrain. A few monitor makers provide software to let you easily size, tile, and configure windows. You could even take this multitasking to another level by adding a second identical monitor for a dual-monitor setup.
That said, you'll want to look with care at the size of the bezels and the degree of curvature if you are considering pairing up more than one curved panel. Obviously, you'll need a big, wide desk with adequate depth or front-to-back clearance to allow for the curve to align across two displays. Also, monitors with thick side bezels could put a big black bar in the center of your sightline.
As for graphic designers, photographers, and other creative professionals, they could have several illustrations or photos open side-by-side on a curved monitor. This would provide more natural viewing angles than on a flat screen, so the artist could examine, say, three images at once without the outside ones appearing stretched.
Gamers get a more three-dimensional, immersive view with a curved monitor than a flat panel provides. Curved gaming displays are particularly good for racing games, flight simulators, and other games (particularly non-shooters) that provide panoramic views. One thing to note, however, is that some older games don't support the ultrawide aspect ratios typical of curved gaming panels.
Are Curved Monitors Good for Your Eyes?
It has often been claimed that the immersive experience provided by a curved monitor makes for more comfortable viewing and reduces eye strain. There is some evidence to back this up. For instance, in a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study from 2016 pitting a flat panel against monitors of varying curvature, users viewing the flat panel reported more eye pain than those using curved monitors, with the least amount of pain reported by subjects using the most highly curved (1000R) display. Other ergonomic factors, such as placing the monitor at a proper height and distance from the user, also play a role in eye comfort.
Is It Worth Getting a Curved Monitor?
Curved monitors are generally more expensive than flat panels of similar size and feature set, but for many users, the premium is money well spent.
For monitors less than 27 inches, you will see less benefit to a curved display, but you will probably want to consider a curved panel if you go wider than 32 inches, and even more so a 40-inch or larger panel. Curved monitors are good for most gamers, artists, and multitaskers, and for anyone who likes their aesthetics and potential to increase eye comfort. As mentioned earlier, though, think twice if you plan to set up a multi-display array.
So, Which Curved Monitor Should I Buy?
Curved monitors aren't for everyone. They're a mixed bag for gamers, and they don't provide practical advantages at small to medium sizes. Apart from their aesthetic appeal, what sets curved displays apart from other computer monitors is that the edges of the screen face you, which isn't the case with a flat panel. This provides a more panoramic view with less distortion, which can be a boon to gamers, graphic artists, and multitaskers alike, and may help to reduce eye strain.
Now that you know the basics of curved displays, you're ready to dig into the details of some of our best-reviewed models. You can also find more information in our roundups of the best ultrawide monitors, gaming monitors, and 4K monitors we've tested. And below is a spec breakout of our curved favorites outlined above.
