7 Best Curved Ultrawide Monitors

1. Top Pick: BenQ EX3501R

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

The BenQ EX3501R is a great monitor for all-around use, though BenQ markets it as a gaming monitor first and foremost. It has a 100 Hz native refresh rate, FreeSync support, and good overall picture quality with superb contrast. If you are not a fan of IPS monitors in general, check out this curved VA display instead.

A 35-inch monitor with HDR support, this BenQ product has a more subdued aesthetic compared to other gaming monitors. The well-built chassis is simple and will look good even in an office setup, featuring thin bezels at the top and sides. The screen, which has a curve radius of 1800R, features an anti-glare coating for better viewing in a well-lit room.

The unit comes with a stable stand that easily supports the heavy screen. There is cable management integrated into the stand, in the form of a circular hole. Regarding ergonomics, this BenQ curved display is not that great, only offering height adjustment and tilt. On the bright side, you can easily adjust the screen out of the box. And speaking of adjustments, the EX3501R features a decent on-screen display with a good amount of options. For navigating the menu, there is a set of buttons at the bottom of the frame, on the right side.

Compared to G-Sync monitors, the EX3501R has a more impressive list of input options, featuring two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, and most notably, one USB-C port. The USB-C port supports power delivery, data transfer, and video input using only one cable, which is convenient. In addition to the inputs, the monitor also features an audio out and two USB 3.0 down ports. All ports are down-facing on the back panel, which is a common setup among monitors.

Featuring a suitable screen estate for easy multitasking, the EX3501R is a great curved monitor for gaming, office work, and general use. The overall picture quality is great, with superb contrast, good color accuracy, and good peak brightness. On the other hand, the viewing angles, while better than that of TN panels, are narrow, which isn’t really surprising considering the panel tech.

For gaming, the EX3501R is an excellent monitor. It has a fast response time for a VA monitor and a low input lag, which is great if you mostly play fast-paced competitive games. And as mentioned earlier, this unit supports FreeSync for screen-tear-free gaming. The FreeSync range is 48-100 Hz over both HDMI and DisplayPort. The EX3501R is also ideal for games with a lot of dark scenes, such as survival horror games, thanks to its high contrast ratio.

In all, the EX3501R offers good value for the money and is a recommended product if you are in the market for an all-around display with good picture quality and gaming performance. It has a good build quality and features multiple input options for versatility. If you can afford to spend around $700-800 for a curved ultrawide monitor, the EX3501R is a great option.

2. Best Budget: LG 34UC79G-B

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 4.1/5.0

When shopping for budget monitors, curved ultrawide monitors shouldn’t be the first item on your shopping list. There are few budget options on the market, so don’t expect to see a lot of them. If you want a curved ultrawide monitor but can only spend about $500 on one, check out the LG 34UC79G-B, a 34-inch monitor with an IPS panel and a 3800R curve radius.

Although LG clearly markets it for gaming use, the 34UC79G-B is also a decent monitor for non-gaming tasks, such as watching movies and office work. Compared to our top pick here, it has a much simpler design, featuring a narrow bezel and a wide stand with red accents. While the stand is good and easily supports the monitor, it has limited adjustment options. You can adjust the height and tilt the screen, but not by much.

All the connection ports are at the back, positioned outward for easy access. The ports include a pair of HDMI ports, two audio out ports for external speakers and headphones, a DisplayPort, and a USB hub with two USB 3.0 ports. The sturdy monitor stand has a protruding hole for cable management. The 34UC79G-B can also be mounted on the wall, courtesy of the VESA mount at the back.

Out of the box, this LG curved ultrawide monitor has good settings. But you can easily change the settings using the intuitive joystick control, slightly hidden at the bottom of the frame, similar to many other LG monitors. There are lots of customization options available, so feel free to tinker with the settings according to your preferences.

Of the products included in this list, the 34UC79G-B has the least impressive max native resolution at just 2560 x 1080, which translates to a low pixel density, considering the screen size. This means graphic designers, and photographers might not like this monitor. The 34UC79G-B is best suited for gaming, not only because its native resolution makes it easier for the graphics card to maintain a stable output but also because it has a high refresh rate. In addition to that, it has a low input lag and fast response times, both of which are important for serious gaming.

If you want the best curved ultrawide monitor that sells for just around $500, the 34UC79G-B is the best option on the market. It has a straightforward design, with a sturdy stand and multiple connection options. It’s an excellent ultrawide monitor for gaming, courtesy of its high refresh rate, fast response times, and low input lag.

3. Best Value: Dell U3417W

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5.0

The U3417W is another solid product from Dell. Compared to our top pick (also from Dell), this product is more affordable, selling for around $700. It’s great for office work, but not so much for hardcore gaming, considering its technical limits.

Like most other Dell monitors, the U3417W has a minimalist design, featuring a narrow bezel and a curve radius of 1900R. It’s got a well-built stand which, unlike with most of the best curved ultrawide monitors, has a relatively small footprint. The stand has a hole near the base (which is meant for cable management) and offers multiple adjustment options. You can adjust the height and swivel and tilt the screen, but the range is very limited, so don’t expect a lot.

Almost all the connection ports are at the rear, positioned downward, which makes them a little difficult to access. The U3417W has two HDMI ports, two Display Ports (one for out), a Mini Display Port, an audio out, two USB 3.0 upstream ports, and four USB 3.0 downstream ports. Of the four USB downstream ports, two can be used for quick-charging compatible devices. Furthermore, two of the USB downstream ports are separate from the other ports and are instead at the bottom-left corner for quick access.

Unlike most curved ultrawide monitors, the U3417W comes with a built-in audio system, which is actually good for a monitor audio system. The integrated speakers can be very loud, but for a much better experience, we recommend using headphones or external speakers, especially when watching movies or streaming TV shows.

The U3417W has a simple but well-designed on-screen menu. Sadly, the control buttons, located at the bottom-right corner, can make navigating the menu a little annoying. The buttons are too small and too firm. It’s not a deal-breaker, of course, because it’s not like you’ll be adjusting the settings multiple times every few hours.

As mentioned, the U3417W is great for office work. The 34-inch ultrawide screen and 3440 x 1440 native resolution make it a useful tool for multitasking. It can easily fit two windows, allowing you to work on your spreadsheets while watching videos of kittens on the internet. It has low input lag and good response times for an IPS monitor.

For serious gaming, the U3417W is not recommended, and one of the chief reasons for that is the low refresh rate, which is only 60 Hertz by default. On top of this, there’s no AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync support. For casual gaming, the U3417W should be good enough. But for competitive gaming and those who want the smoothest experience during action-packed games like first-person shooter games, this monitor is not the best candidate out there.

All in all, the U3417W is a great curved monitor. It has a minimalist design with a handsome curve and works well for both office work and casual gaming. It’s easy to set up out of the box and has good picture quality and good viewing angles. If you don’t like our budget pick because of the low max resolution but can’t afford to spend too much on a curved monitor, go for the U3417W.

4. Dell AW3418DW

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5.0

Often considered one of the best monitors currently out, the Dell AW3418DW is the best curved ultrawide monitor you can get today. It works great for both gaming and office work, featuring excellent picture quality, multiple connectivity options, and fast response times. If you can afford to spend a grand on a monitor, you can’t go wrong with the AW3418DW.

An IPS monitor with a 34-inch screen and a 1900R curve radius, this Dell monitor features a futuristic design – a common theme among Alienware products. It has a thin bezel, an RGB lighting system, and a well-built stand with a cable management hole. The function and power buttons are on the bottom-right corner while most of the connection ports are at the rear, positioned downward and covered with an easily removable plate.

The AW3418DW includes a DisplayPort, an HDMI port, two audio out ports (one for external speakers and one for headphones), and four USB 3.0 ports. The four USB ports are grouped into two: one pair is at the rear together with the main connection ports while the other pair is at the bottom of the frame, along with the headphones port.

For a more comfortable setup, the AW3418DW can be easily adjusted. The screen can be tilted forward and backward and swiveled left and right, with a height adjustment option. For settings adjustment, the AW3418DW has a well-designed on-screen display with a lot of options for a more customized setup.

With the high-resolution, 34-inch screen, multitasking on the AW3418DW is not only convenient but also enjoyable. It has superb picture quality and viewing angles, with the capability to produce vibrant and crisp visuals with excellent contrast. It has a native refresh rate of 100 Hertz, which can be overclocked to 120 Hertz, and supports Nvidia G-Sync. Additionally, it has fast response times and a low input lag, making it a suitable monitor for serious gaming.

The AW3418DW allows for a more immersive viewing experience, turning watching movies and playing games into a real treat. Action-packed movies like installments from the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise become even more charming, while games such as Battlefield 1, Assassin’s Creed Origins, and Forza Horizon 4 become even more stunning on this curved ultrawide monitor.

Other than the common issues found in IPS monitors and the lack of built-in speakers, the only thing that might discourage you from buying the AW3418DW is its expensive price. It sells for around $1,000, easily making it one of the most expensive monitors on this list, but you definitely get what you pay for.

Overall, the AW3418DW is an excellent curved ultrawide monitor. It’s made of quality parts from top to bottom and is more than just a fancy-looking monitor marketed toward gamers. It has great viewing angles, a high native refresh rate, and multiple connection options. It works really well for gaming, media creation, office work, and watching movies, among others.

5. Acer Predator X34P

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5.0

If the Dell AW3418DW is too expensive for you, consider the Acer Predator X34P, which goes for around $150 less. It’s a fantastic ultrawide monitor that works well for office work and shines when used for gaming. Like our top three picks, it has a 34-inch screen and an IPS panel, with multiple connection options.

A curved monitor obviously marketed for gaming, the X34P is an eye-catching unit with a fancy design, which is common among gaming-focused products. It has a 1900R curve radius, a thin bezel, and a decent stand with height adjustment and swivel and tilt options. Although it appears to be unstable and flimsy at first glance due to its design, the stand actually does a good job at keeping the screen well secured.

The main connection ports – which include an HDMI port, a DisplayPort, and a USB hub – are all easily accessible at the back. The USB hub, composed of four USB 3.0 downstream ports, is separate from the DisplayPort and HDMI for quick access. For cable management, the monitor stand has a small hole near the base.

Along with the joystick control, the function buttons are also at the back. Considering its similarity to the joystick control seen on LG monitors, the joystick control appears to be an intuitive control mechanism. Unfortunately, Acer dropped the ball on that one, as the joystick not only feels flimsy but can also take a while to get used to.

Like the Dell U3417W, the X34P has built-in speakers, but they are far less impressive. Still, the 7-watt speakers should be serviceable enough for low-volume music while working on documents and casual internet browsing. But for gaming and watching movies and Netflix shows, the speakers are not up to the task; external speakers or headphones are more suitable for such activities.

When paired with the right graphics card, the X34P is a beast of a monitor, capable of producing fantastic visuals with vibrant and accurate colors. Since it has an IPS panel, it has much better viewing angles than a TN monitor. It has Nvidia G-Sync support, fast response times, and low input lag. Most notably, it has a native refresh rate of 100 Hertz, which can be easily overclocked to 120 Hertz. The older model, the X34, has a 60 Hertz refresh rate by default, with the option to overclock to 100 Hertz.

Although the X34P is clearly designed for serious gaming, it can also be used for productivity, with the ultrawide, high-resolution screen making multitasking easy and convenient. It has a max resolution of 3440 x 1440, which is just right for a 34-inch screen. It has Acer’s Eye Protect technology, which makes sitting in front of it for extended hours more forgiving on your eyes.

Overall, the X34P is an excellent ultrawide monitor, especially for gaming. It has a high refresh rate and fast response times and comes with good calibration out of the box. Like with the Dell AW3418DW – which the X34P is often compared to – you can’t go wrong with this monitor if you can afford it.

6. Samsung CHG90

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5.0

If a standard 21:9 ultrawide monitor is still not enough for you, check out the Samsung CHG90, a 49-inch monitor with an uncommon aspect ratio of 32:9. It’s like the equivalent of two regular 16:9 monitors placed side by side, but without the annoying black bar in the middle.

Unlike all the other monitors in this guide, the CHG90 has a VA panel, which translates to a fantastic native contrast. It’s a massive ultrawide monitor, featuring a sturdy stand as wide as a regular monitor and a curve radius of 1800R. It offers a good amount of screen position adjustability, with the option to adjust the height and tilt and swivel the screen for a more comfortable setup.

The slightly angled stand means the screen will sit far from the wall while the small hole in the stand allows for cable management. All the connection ports are at the rear, secured by a removable cover. The CHG90 has two HDMI ports, a DisplayPort, a Mini DisplayPort, a mic port, an audio out, and a pair of USB ports, one of which has a quick-charge feature. There are no integrated speakers on this monitor, which isn’t really a bad thing considering monitor speakers are not that great in the first place.

Although the CHG90 was created with gamers in mind, Samsung didn’t go overboard with the design to make it more appealing to that particular audience. Except for the ring lighting at the back, the CHG90 is pretty straightforward and minimalist, with none of that eye-catching, futuristic design seen in Alienware monitors.

For navigating the on-screen menu, the CHG90 has a small joystick, similar to some LG monitors. But compared to the joystick on the Acer Predator X34P, it’s easier to get used to and doesn’t feel flimsy, making navigating the menu quick and easy. Additionally, the CHG90 has three function buttons, each configurable to a custom setting, allowing you to switch to a different setting on the go – an especially useful feature when gaming.

While it also works well for some office work, the CHG90 is best used for gaming. It has a high refresh rate, low input lag, fast response times, and AMD FreeSync 2 support. It’s got excellent picture quality, with vibrant colors and outstanding contrast. And with the HDR support, images pop out, making for a more immersive experience.

On the other hand, the viewing angles could be better, especially for such a massive monitor. Some might also find the 3840 x 1080 resolution and the pixel density disappointing. Moreover, the CHG90’s size is impractical for most people. Make sure you have the right amount of space before you buy it; otherwise, you’ll get a cramped desk.

Wrapping up, the CHG90 is a great curved monitor with an aspect ratio not commonly seen on the market. It’s a well-designed unit with multiple connection options, HDR and AMD FreeSync 2 support, a high refresh rate, and gaming-focused features. If you think a 21:9 monitor still won’t be enough to satisfy you, go for the CHG90.

7. Asus ROG Swift PG348Q

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5.0

Like the Acer Predator X34P, the Asus ROG Swift PG348Q is a curved ultrawide monitor often compared to our top pick, the Dell AW3418DW, which sells for a similar price. It’s a superb monitor with a 34-inch screen and a 21:9 aspect ratio, featuring a 3800R curve radius and a very thin bezel that makes it suitable for a multi-monitor setup.

Compared to the Samsung CHG90, the PG348Q has a much fancier design, which is not that surprising for a monitor primarily marketed toward gamers. It has a heavy stand with a modern design that makes it stand out (no pun intended). The stand, which has a dedicated hole for cable management, is rigid, with no wobbling issues to compromise the large screen. You can adjust the height of the monitor as well as swivel and tilt the screen for a more suitable setup.

The PG348Q’s back panel has a rather sophisticated design, featuring etched markings that give it a unique, futuristic look. You can mount the PG348Q on the wall, courtesy of the VESA mount at the back. The joystick and buttons for navigating the on-screen menu are also on the back panel. As with the Samsung CHG90, the joystick is well implemented, with no noticeable design issues that might make navigating the menu difficult.

When it comes to connection ports, the PG348Q is kind of a mixed bag. On one hand, it includes multiple ports, including a DisplayPort, an HDMI port, an audio out, and a USB hub with four USB 3.0 ports. On the other hand, the ports are not easy to access due to their location, most especially the USB hub.

The PG348Q has built-in speakers. But don’t expect them to be on the same level as the speakers on the Dell U3417W. It’s best to forget that this expensive monitor has a built-in audio system, as the speakers are far from decent. For gaming and watching movies, we suggest sticking to regular headphones or external speakers.

Being a curved ultrawide monitor designed for gaming, the PG348Q offers gaming-friendly specs and features. It has Nvidia G-Sync support, fast response times, low input lag, and a native 60 Hertz refresh rate that can be easily overclocked to 100 Hertz. The PG348Q also has a Turbo Key at the back, created for seamless switching between 60 and 100 Hertz, though it may not work on some operating systems.

An IPS monitor with a 3440 x 1440 resolution, the PG348Q is good for office work and is even better for gaming. The curved ultrawide screen allows for easy multitasking and translates to a more immersive gaming experience, especially when playing first-person shooters and racing simulation games. And as expected from an IPS monitor, the PG348Q has great viewing angles and color reproduction. On the negative side, the calibration is way off the mark out of the box, so don’t expect fantastic results at the onset.

If the Dell AW3418DW is not your cup of tea and you can spend a grand on a curved monitor, the PG348Q is an excellent second option. It’s got great picture quality, fast response times, multiple connection options, and an intuitive menu control. It’s one of the best curved ultrawide monitors out on the market, featuring a well-built frame with an eye-catching design.