Best Curved Monitors For Gaming – Ultimate Winners List
As technology progressed, monitors improved in a number of ways: They became bigger, thinner, faster, visually more appealing, et cetera. But one of the more weirder “improvements” was the release of the curved TVs and monitors. Despite being a little bit different, curved screens captured the love of a lot of people in a short amount of time, especially gamers, since curved monitors enhanced our immersion in video games. Today we will look at our best picks for the curved monitors for gaming.
Curved Monitors vs. Flat Monitors
If you have never used a curved screen before, you are probably not familiar with the obvious differences between flat and curved screens. First of all, curved monitors will usually offer more immersion. The slight curvature in the edges provides a wider perspective and gives you a sense of depth. Also, depending on where you put it in your room, curved screens will usually reflect much less light which also distracts you less from the game. Plus, curved monitors generally have at least a 21:9 aspect ratio as opposed to the classic 16:9, meaning that curved screens will take you into the ultrawide world.
Of course, curved displays are not all good. If you do not play games often and/or on a tight budget, curved displays can prove to be a poor choice since they are considerably more expensive than their flat counterparts and do not offer a lot to people that do not play games often. Also, some people just do not like curved monitors.
Best Curved Monitors For Gaming
Even though we love them, the best choice for you ultimately depends on you. Some people just do not like them and to see if you like them or not, we suggest that you check one out in your local store.
[amazon table=”3890″]1. Asus ROG Swift PG348Q
I do not think we need much of an entrance when talking about Asus’ Republic Of Gamers series. They almost never disappoint, be it in design or the features. Asus ROG Swift PG348Q is the company’s flagship model and it shows. The first thing that catches the eye is the phenomenal design. The base of the monitor has a copper-colored drill-like design while the back of the monitor -even though you will never look at it- has futuristic markings. For the ultimate extravagantness, you can turn on the Light in Motion feature which projects a red ROG logo from the monitor’s neck onto the desktop.
When it comes to performance, ASUS does the job. The monitor features a 34″ 3440×1440 IPS panel with a 100Hz refresh rate that has 5ms response time. It also fully supports G-Sync so FPS drops caused by its huge 3440×1440 resolution will not affect your gameplay smoothness. The only complaint we have about this monitor is its relatively low curve radius of 3800mm. It is curved, yes but it is really subtle and we wish it was curved a bit more. Except that, Asus ROG Swift PG348Q is an excellent choice for those looking for extra immersion.
2. Alienware AW3418DW
Dell’s Alienware series, much like Predator and ROG series, never seem to get out of the “premium” line, be it with their design or performance. Alienware AW3418DW is, unsurprisingly, both elegant and of high quality. Alienware series are known for their distinct design and this does not change in this model. AW3418DW features pointy feet with a triangular neck, coupled with customizable LED lighting strips along the monitor’s rear panel, stand and underside.
Apart from its design, Alienware AW3418DW features a 34″ 3440×1440 IPS panel with a 4ms response time. The refresh rate is 100Hz but you can overclock it to 120Hz without going out of warranty. It has a curve radius of 1900R and supports G-Sync. Brightness and color accuracy is amazing. I think these features speak for themselves. If you have the money and the system to support it, Alienware AW3418DW is one of the best curved displays out there.
3. Samsung CHG90
During 2017, curved monitors became a lot more popular and as the time passed, their price dropped. While we were still getting used to normal 21:9 curved monitors, Samsung did its thing and dropped the CHG90. It is huge 49″ 32:9 display just left us in awe. Design-wise, CHG90 is quite simple. There are no flashy design choices like ROG or Predator series. It has a simple design with just grey plastic and really thin bezels.
This monitor is a versatile monster. While being primarily aimed at gamers, it can multitask like no other. Samsung offers a software called EasySettingBox that allows you to set up multitasking on the screen. You can run 2 games at once or run a game while browsing social media. Feature-wise, the monitor has a 49″ 3840×1080 VA panel with a lighting-fast 144Hz refresh rate. It also has a 1ms response time and supports FreeSync 2 (Which is just FreeSync with a support for HDR games.). The QLED display has great color accuracy with a wide color gamut and increased brightness. The only downsides are its 1080p vertical resolution and huge size. We would expect an at least 1440p resolution vertically. Also, its size is just not for everyone, your desk can be too small for it or you may just do not like it. But if these 2 things are not an issue, Samsung CHG90 is just a whole another dimension.
4. Acer XR382CQX
Since 2016, both ultrawide curved screens and 4K monitors are developing like crazy, but the saddest thing is that we still do not have any true 4K curved ultrawide monitors that are suitable for gaming, but we are slowly getting there. Acer’s XR382CQX is the newest addition to Acer’s ultrawide monitors with a middle ground between 1440p and 4K with a 3840 x 1600 resolution.
Even though this is a monitor aimed at gamers, it is not a Predator and it shows in its design. It does not carry the flashy visuals of a Predator. It is really simple, yet elegant. Feature-wise though, it is far from simple. It features a 37.5″ 3840 x 1600 IPS panel with a maximum refresh rate of 75Hz. It supports AMD FreeSync and has a response time of 5ms which is typical for its panel type. Its huge display fills your entire field of view. Unsurprisingly, its IPS panel has outstanding color accuracy and great viewing angles. All in all, other than its fairly low refresh rate of 75Hz -which is a fair trade-off considering the increased resolution and screen size-, Acer XR382CQX is just another excellent choice for those looking to graduate from 16:9 monitors.
5.Samsung C27F591
For our last pick, we decided to go for a budget curved monitor since our other choices in this list usually cost around -or more than- $1000. Samsung C27F591 provides an above-average gaming experience with its FreeSync support and curved display for just around $250-$300. Its design does not reminiscent of a gaming monitor; it is extremely simple, more like an office monitor. While you can use this in an office, you can enjoy games on it more than a lot of monitors. It features a 27″ 1920×1080 VA panel with a 72Hz maximum refresh rate. It supports AMD FreeSync and has a response time of 4ms. Some of these features such as the 1080p resolution and the refresh rate can be seen as cons but you have to keep its price in mind. As a plus, it has a much steeper curve than a lot of other curved displays with a curve radius of 1800R (The lower “R” means the screen is more curved.) which increases the immersion a lot more. Overall, if you are a budget gamer who really wants a curved display, Samsung CF591 is one of the best choices you have.
Conclusion:
There you have it, we listed our best picks for curved monitors suitable for gaming. If you are not sure whether you will like curved monitors or not, we suggest that you check one out in your local store. Chances are, you will love them and if you do, we hope our little guide can help you make that jump on your next purchase.