Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Best Curved Productivity Monitor Overall
HP E45c G5 DQHD Curved Monitor
- 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
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.
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.
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
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
HP E45c G5 DQHD Curved Monitor Review
Best Curved Gaming Monitor Overall
Corsair Xeneon 34WQHD240-C QD-OLED
- Lots of ports
- Wide color range
- Gorgeous OLED screen
- AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible
- Pleasing all-white color scheme
- Low out-of-the-box color accuracy
The Corsair Xeneon 34WQHD240-C QD-OLED is a 34-inch 1440p gaming monitor that sports a dazzling curved ultra-wide screen that’s Nvidia G-Sync Compatible and has AMD FreeSync Premium support. A slim bezel with a slight 1,800mm curve gives the all-white monitor a commanding presence on any desktop. It is also a top performer, earning an Editors’ Choice award for high-end curved gaming monitors.
The Corsair Xeneon 34WQHD240-C QD-OLED is an excellent ultra-wide curved monitor and a nearly perfect choice for those who need a monitor for both work and gaming. With a sweet OLED screen that boasts excellent color coverage, it’s also a good choice for movie watching as well as photo and video editing.
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
34 inches
Native Resolution
3,440 by 1,440
Aspect Ratio
21:9
Screen Technology
QD-OLED
Rated Screen Luminance
450 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
1,500,000:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
240 Hz
Adaptive Sync
AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
Video Inputs
HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
4
VESA DisplayHDR Level
DisplayHDR 400
Weight
33 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
Corsair Xeneon 34WQHD240-C QD-OLED Review
Best Ultrawide Curved Gaming Monitor
Samsung Odyssey OLED G9
- Dazzling OLED display
- Exceptional color-gamut coverage and color accuracy
- Samsung’s gaming and media hub included
- Sleek, thin design
- A whopper of a price
- Few I/O ports
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.
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.
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
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
1 year
Learn More
Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 Review
Best Ultrawide Curved Productivity Monitor
Dell UltraSharp 38 USB-C Hub Monitor (U3824DW)
- Expansive 38-inch ultrawide panel
- IPS Black provides great contrast
- Massive range of ports
- Rich, well-saturated images
- Dual built-in speakers
- Height adjustment is a little balky
- Lacks HDR support
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.
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.
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
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
Dell UltraSharp 38 USB-C Hub Monitor (U3824DW) Review
Best Extreme-Ultrawide Curved Gaming Monitor
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9
- Native resolution equivalent to twin 4K panels
- Impressively huge screen
- 240Hz peak refresh rate
- Excellent color gamut and accuracy
- Attractive design
- 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
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.
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.
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
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 Review
Best Budget Curved Productivity Monitor
Samsung 24-Inch CF396 Curved LED Monitor
- Curved screen
- Great sRGB color coverage
- Bright for a budget monitor
- Mini-joystick controller
- Sparse port selection
- Stand limits you to tilt adjustment
- Meager one-year warranty
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.
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.
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
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
1 year
Learn More
Samsung 24-Inch CF396 Curved LED Monitor Review
Best Budget Curved Gaming Monitor
Dell 27 Curved Gaming Monitor (S2721HGF)
- Inexpensive for a 27-inch high-refresh gaming panel
- Very low input lag
- Excellent Nvidia G-Sync performance
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.
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.
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
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
Dell 27 Curved Gaming Monitor (S2721HGF) Review
Best Curved Monitor for Creative Pros
Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U4025QW)
- Magnificent image quality
- High contrast, thanks to IPS Black panel tech
- Higher-than-4K resolution and pixel density
- Two Thunderbolt 4 ports
- Hub of six USB downstream ports
- Low-impact audio from built-in speakers
- Pricey
Between high resolution and pixel density, the high contrast afforded by IPS Black, and impressive image quality in both our quantitative and experiential testing, the Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor U4025QW gets high marks for a monitor for videographers and other creative pros. Add to that a hub with two Thunderbolt 4 connectors and six downstream USB ports, plus Ethernet, HDMI, and DisplayPort, and it has all connectivity bases covered. It is an exceptional candidate for professionals seeking a killer large-screen ultrawide curved display.
The Dell U4025QW is a great choice for art directors, video editors, photographers, and other well-heeled creative professionals. It sports high ultrawide resolution (at 5,120 by 2,160 pixels), excellent contrast and pixel density, and earned top marks in our testing. To boot, it has one of the most thorough assortments of ports of any monitor we have reviewed, living up to the “Hub” part of its name, and provides all the connectivity for a laptop that you would expect from a standalone docking station. Plus, it provides the immersive experience of a curved monitor. It’s a solid match for the demanding workloads of creative pros.
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
39.7 inches
Native Resolution
5120 by 2160
Aspect Ratio
21:9
Screen Technology
IPS Black
Rated Screen Luminance
300 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
2000:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
120 Hz
Adaptive Sync
Yes
Video Inputs
DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 4 (2), HDMI
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
6
VESA DisplayHDR Level
DisplayHDR 600
Dimensions (HWD)
18 by 37.3 by 9.8 inches
Weight
30.4 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U4025QW) Review
Buying Guide: The Best Curved Monitors for 2024
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.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
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 do 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.
(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)
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.
(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)
For making brightness, contrast, and other adjustments, the controls to navigate the on-screen 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.
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.
Recommended by Our Editors
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.
(Credit: Chris Stobing)
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.
(Credit: Chris Stobing)
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.
Ready to Buy the Right Curved Monitor for You?
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. Also, check out the spec breakout of our curved favorites.
