5 Best Curved Monitors of 2019

1. Best Pick: Dell U3818DW

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Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5

If money is not an issue for you, the Dell U3818DW is the best curved monitor that you can get right now. It’s an outstanding display for productivity and general office work, featuring multiple input options and a great screen real estate for easy multitasking. It sells for about a grand, easily making it the most expensive item on this list.

A 38-inch display, this Dell UltraSharp monitor has an IPS panel with a 3840 x 1600 resolution, a 21:9 aspect ratio, and a 60 Hz refresh rate. It’s got a professional design similar to other Dell UltraSharp monitors, such as the U2718Q and the U3417W, with thin bezels at the top and sides and a basic stand with a flat base. The screen features an anti-glare coating and a curve radius of 2300R, while the sturdy stand has the familiar cable management hole commonly seen in Dell monitors.

The stand supports the monitor well and offers decent adjustment options, with options to tilt, swivel, and adjust the height. While the adjustment ranges are not on par with the best monitors with a fully adjustable stand, they are adequate enough and are better than with many other ultrawide monitors out on the market. Due to the stand base’s slim profile, you can easily place small belongings – such as smartphones, pen cases, and power banks – under the screen.

If you want to mount the U3818DW to a monitor arm, there is a VESA mounting interface at the back, which has a 100 x 100 mm pattern. You can easily remove the stand, thanks to its quick-release design, which is a common feature among Dell monitors. However, keep in mind that this monitor is on the heavy side, weighing around 20 pounds without the stand, so make sure your monitor arm will be able to comfortably handle it.

Regarding connectivity, this Dell product is generous, offering multiple input options. It has two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, and one USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode, data transfer, and power delivery up to 95 watts. With the latter port, you can connect a compatible laptop to this monitor for video input and charge it at the same time using only a single cable, which is convenient.

In addition to the input ports, the monitor features one audio port and four USB 3.0 down ports. Of the four USB down ports, two of which are located on the monitor’s left side for quick access, with one of the ports offering fast charging support. All the other ports, including the analog audio out port, are down-facing on the back panel, just below the VESA mounting interface.

Overall, the U3818DW is a well-designed unit with good built quality. Setting it up out of the box is easy, with the stand assembly only taking a few minutes. The on-screen display is also organized and features a good selection of options, while the control buttons on the bottom-right corner of the monitor are easy enough to use. The U3818DW also comes with surprisingly decent-sounding internal speakers, which is a nice bonus. While the speakers are not on par with external speakers and headphones, they are decent enough for listening to music and watching video clips on the internet.

Designed specifically for multitasking, the U3818DW is an excellent monitor for productivity and general use, featuring a great screen real estate for easy management of multiple windows. You can connect two computers at the same time and control everything using only one keyboard and mouse, which is very convenient. The overall picture quality is good, with wide viewing angles, decent contrast for an IPS panel, good peak brightness, and superb color accuracy both out-of-box and after calibration. The U3818DW works well in a bright room – like in a typical office environment.

For regular gaming, the U3818DW is also a good option, with its curved screen allowing for more immersion, but don’t expect it to be on the same level as monitors built specifically for gaming. It has a fast response time and a low input lag, which is great for gaming. However, hardcore gamers will be disappointed by the 60 Hz refresh rate and the lack of adaptive sync tech, which is useful in graphically intensive games.

Overall, the U3818DW is a fantastic monitor for productivity and general use, featuring a well-built chassis, multiple input ports, and good picture quality. If you can afford to spend around $1,000 for the best curved monitors, this Dell monitor is one of the top options on the market.

2. Best Budget: Samsung C27F398

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Editor’s Rating: 3.7/5

Selling for just around $200, the Samsung C27F398 is a great option if you want a cheap curved monitor. While limited in features, it works well for office work, general use, and even regular gaming, featuring decent picture quality for the price and dual input options.

The C27F398 is a 27-inch VA monitor with a 1920 x 1080 (FHD) resolution, a 16:9 aspect ratio, and a standard 60 Hz refresh rate. Like with most other low-end displays, the monitor’s design is stripped down to the basics and won’t get awards for style. The bezels are fairly narrow while the back panel is very basic, with none of that lighting system found in the Samsung CHG70. The curve radius is 1800R, which is sharper than that of the Dell U3818DW.

For input, this Samsung display offers one HDMI port and one DisplayPort, both of which are outward-facing on the back panel for easy access, along with the analog audio out port. The menu control, which comes in the form of a small joystick, is also located on the back panel. Compared to the physical buttons seen in our top pick, the joystick is more intuitive and makes for faster menu navigation, which is great if you find yourself constantly tinkering with the settings.

The monitor comes with a decent stand that connects to the bottom of the back panel. The stand’s base has a wide footprint and supports the monitor well. Sadly, the stand is very basic, with limited adjustment options. You can only tilt the screen, which might disappoint some of you, considering there are some budget monitors that offer a fully adjustable stand. If you want more flexibility, you can mount the unit to a monitor arm or wall mount, with the 75 x 75 mm VESA mounting interface at the back allowing for easy compatibility with almost all monitor arms and wall mounts.

The C27F398 is a suitable curved monitor for office work and general use, but it’s not as versatile as our top pick. For editing spreadsheets, content writing, reading documents, and internet surfing, it can get the job done. It has decent picture quality for a budget VA monitor, with good color accuracy, decent peak brightness, and a high contrast ratio. On the other hand, it has narrow viewing angles and a low pixel density due to the 1080p resolution.

While not on par with other gaming monitors, this Samsung display is also a decent option for regular gaming on both PC and consoles. The response time is good while the input lag is low, which is great for gaming in general, regardless of what games you play. Furthermore, the monitor supports FreeSync over both HDMI and DisplayPort, with the max refresh rate automatically going up to 72 Hz when the adaptive sync feature is enabled.

If you mostly play turn-based RPGs, strategy games, and survival horror games, this monitor is up to the task. On the flip side, if you mainly play fast-paced competitive games like Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, this monitor is not recommended, with other budget-friendly products like the ViewSonic XG2402 being much better options.

All in all, the C27F398 is a budget curved monitor that offers good value for the money, especially if you want a unit that works well for both general use and regular gaming. Sure, it doesn’t have a long list of features, but considering the low price, it’s unfair to ask for more than what it offers.

3. Best Value: LG 34UC80-B

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Editor’s Rating: 4.1/5

If our top pick is way too expensive for you, check out the LG 34UC80-B, which sells for around half the price. It’s a 34-inch curved ultrawide monitor equipped with an IPS panel, featuring an ideal screen real estate for easy multitasking. It’s a good monitor not only for productivity but also for general use and regular gaming.

Concerning aesthetics, this product is not much different from many other LG monitors, with the well-built chassis featuring a minimalist profile. It has a thin bezel, a simple back panel, and a well-secured screen with an anti-glare coating and a sharp curve radius of 1900R. Like with our budget pick, all connection ports are outward-facing on the back panel, which makes them easy to access. The ports include two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, one audio out, and two USB 3.0 down ports. For basic cable management, there is a small loop in the stand.

Speaking of the stand, the 34UC80-B comes with a sturdy stand that’s easy to set up at the onset and features the familiar crescent base seen in many other LG monitors. The stand is stable and has the same color scheme as the monitor. Regarding ergonomics, the stand, which has a wide footprint, is not that great, only offering tilt and height adjustment. The good news is that the monitor has a 100 x 100 mm VESA mounting interface at the back, allowing you to mount the unit to a flexible monitor arm or wall mount.

As with many other LG monitors, this LG curved ultrawide display features a small joystick for faster menu navigation. Located at the bottom of the monitor, the joystick is more intuitive than the usual clickable buttons seen in most displays, though some of you might find it tricky to use at first. The on-screen display is also good, featuring an organized structure with a good selection of options, including a few gaming-focused options.

Overall, the 34UC80-B is a well-designed monitor with good build quality. The entire chassis is sturdy and doesn’t feel cheap. Setting up the monitor is very easy, with no need for special tools to connect the stand to the back of the monitor. The out-of-box colors are also good, which can’t be said for many other monitors out there.

For productivity, the 34UC80-B is a recommended monitor, especially if your work requires you to constantly look at references in a different window. With the monitor’s 34-inch screen and 3440 x 1440 resolution, you can easily multitask with several windows open at the same time. There are multiple screen-split options to choose from, giving you flexibility on how to utilize the entire screen.

The 34UC80-B has good overall picture quality, with great color accuracy, wide viewing angles, decent peak brightness, and good reflection handling, with the latter two being important factors when working in a bright room. On the flip side, the contrast ratio is subpar, which is a common issue among IPS monitors. If you want a monitor that can produce inky blacks, check out the best VA monitors instead – a high contrast ratio is a given for those monitors.

For regular gaming, this LG display is also a solid option, but it’s not as good as ultrawide gaming monitors such as the Dell Alienware AW3418DW. It has a fast response time for an IPS display and a good input lag. In addition, the monitor supports FreeSync, with the max refresh rate shooting up to 75 Hz when adaptive sync is enabled.

The FreeSync range is only 55-75 Hz, though, which is one of the narrowest ranges out there – and on top of that, adaptive sync is only supported over DisplayPort. If you are looking for an ultrawide monitor that’s a productivity monitor first and a gaming monitor second, then the 34UC80-B is a great choice. But if it’s the other way around, there are better (albeit more expensive) options out there.

Wrapping up, the 34UC80-B is a great option if you want a high-quality curved ultrawide display selling for just around $500. It offers excellent value for the money, featuring good connectivity, great color accuracy, wide viewing angles, and a large screen for easy multitasking.

4. BenQ EX3203R

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Editor’s Rating: 4/5

Of the products listed here, the BenQ EX3203R is the most suitable for gaming, featuring a 144 Hz refresh rate, a low input lag, and FreeSync support. You can also use it for movies and office work, with its 32-inch screen making it an ideal display for multitasking. It sells for around $500-600, which puts it in the same price range as the LG 34UC80-B.

Like our budget pick, this BenQ product is a VA monitor. It’s similar to Dell office monitors in terms of appearance, featuring a minimalist frame with thin bezels at the top and sides and a round hole in the stand for cable management. The screen has a curve radius of 1800R, an anti-glare coating, and flicker-free technology. If you are building a multi-monitor setup for productivity and gaming, this monitor is a good candidate, due in large part to its thin bezels at the sides.

All connection ports are located on the back panel, down-facing on the bottom area, which makes them a bit difficult to access. The ports include two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, one USB-C port, one audio out, and two USB 3.0 down ports. The USB-C port is an all-in-one interface that supports power delivery, data transfer, and video input over a single cable, which is convenient if you have a laptop capable of connecting via USB-C for input.

For controls, the EX3203R has a set of physical buttons on the bottom-right of the monitor, neatly lined up on the underside. Although not as intuitive as the joystick control seen in the LG display above, the control buttons are easy to use, producing a satisfying click when pressed. The on-screen display is similarly well implemented, featuring a decent selection of options.

The EX3203R comes with a rigid stand with a wide footprint. Like the monitor itself, the stand has a minimalist profile, with the silver finish matching up well with the monitor. Unfortunately, there isn’t much in terms of ergonomics – the stand only offers screen tilt and height adjustment. If you want more screen adjustment options, you’ll need to mount the monitor to a flexible monitor arm or wall mount.

Featuring a QHD resolution, this BenQ display is a great monitor for gaming. The excellent contrast ratio translates to more vibrant images while the 144 Hz refresh rate and the FreeSync support allow for smoother gaming. The response time is good and the input lag is low, both of which are good news for gamers. Supported over both DisplayPort and HDMI, the adaptive sync tech has an effective range of 48-144 Hz.

In terms of overall picture quality, the EX3203R is good, but it’s got a couple of flaws that might not sit well with you. It has good color accuracy and brightness and boasts a high contrast ratio, which is typical for a VA monitor. On the other hand, the viewing angles are not on par with IPS panels while the HDR performance is not going to impress you.

Although it works best for gaming and watching movies, this BenQ monitor is also good for office work and productivity. The large screen allows for easy multitasking while the USB-C input is great if you plan to use it as a bigger screen for your laptop, assuming it supports USB-C for video input.

If you are in the market for a non-ultrawide curved monitor that works well for gaming, watching movies, and office work, check out the EX3203R. It has good picture quality and gaming performance and offers multiple inputs, including USB-C input.

5. Dell U3417W

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Editor’s Rating: 4.1/5

The Dell U3417W is a good alternative to the LG 34UC80-B, especially if you are in the market for a curved ultrawide display that will work well in a multi-monitor setup for productivity. It’s more expensive than LG’s product, though, selling for around $100-150 more, which makes it the second-most expensive item on this list.

A 34-inch monitor, this Dell UltraSharp monitor features an IPS panel with a 3440 x 1440 resolution and a standard 60 Hz refresh rate. It’s just as professional-looking as other Dell UltraSharp monitors, with narrow bezels at the top and sides and a clean back panel with zero hints of flashiness. The screen, which has a curve radius of 1900R, has an anti-glare coating, which helps when using the monitor in a bright room.

Composed of clickable buttons, the controls are located on the bottom-right corner of the monitor, on the underside. While some of you might find them too small or not as intuitive as a joystick, they are easy to use and don’t feel cheaply implemented. The on-screen display is also organized and easy to navigate and features a good selection of options to choose from.

Of the products in this guide, the U3417W is easily the most generous regarding connectivity. In addition to the two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, one audio out, and four USB 3.0 down ports, this monitor has one Mini DisplayPort and one DisplayPort Out. With the latter port, you can build a daisy-chained multi-monitor setup where only one monitor is directly connected to your computer, which translates to tidier cabling.

The connection ports are separated into two groups on the back panel. Of the four USB down ports, two are located on the monitor’s left side for easy access, with one port offering fast charging support for convenience. All the other connection ports are down-facing just below where the stand connects to the monitor.

The U3417W has a well-built stand that easily supports the 34-inch screen, which is thicker due to the curved design. The stand has decent ergonomics, with options to adjust the height and tilt and swivel the screen. If you want to mount the monitor to a wall mount to save desk space, there is a 100 x 100 mm VESA mounting interface at the back.

Like our top pick, this Dell UltraSharp monitor is best used for productivity, with its large screen and high resolution allowing for easy multitasking. You can use it as a standalone monitor or as the main screen in a multi-monitor setup. The overall picture quality is good, with outstanding color accuracy, good brightness, and wide viewing angles. For general use and media consumption, this product is also a good option, especially if you like having multiple windows open at the same time.

While not on par with the best gaming monitors, the U3417W is also a solid option for regular gaming, especially if you love to play action RPGs and adventure games. The response time is fast for an IPS panel while the input lag is good. The monitor does not support adaptive sync tech, though, and the refresh rate is only 60 Hz, which will disappoint hardcore gamers.

Overall, the U3417W is an excellent curved monitor that offers good value for the money. It’s great for productivity and is a decent enough unit for regular gaming. It has good out-of-box colors, offers lots of input options, and includes a sturdy stand with decent ergonomics. If you want something cheaper than our top pick but don’t like the LG 34UC80-B, get the U3417W instead.