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An ultrawide monitor can greatly enhance your productivity and gaming experience by providing extra screen real estate. With more horizontal space to work with, you can easily view multiple windows side-by-side or immerse yourself in games with expanded peripheral vision.
But with so many options on the market, choosing the right ultrawide monitor can be tricky. This comprehensive guide reviews the 10 best ultrawide monitors across various price points to help you find your perfect fit.
How We Chose the Best Ultrawide Monitors
Several key factors went into selecting and ranking the best ultrawide monitors:
Resolution: A higher resolution like 3440 x 1440 provides sharper image quality and more usable on-screen space.
Refresh Rate: A 144Hz or higher refresh rate results in smoother gaming and video performance with less motion blur.
Curve: A curved screen immerses you more in your content and reduces eye strain over long periods.
Connectivity: Important ports like USB-C, HDMI, and DisplayPort provide flexibility for connecting peripherals.
Price: Monitors were chosen to fit various budgets without sacrificing key performance metrics.
The 10 Best Ultrawide Monitors of 2023
1. LG 34GP83A-B – Best Ultrawide Monitor Overall
Size: 34 inches
Resolution: 3440 x 1440
Refresh Rate: 144Hz
Curve: 1900R
LG’s 34GP83A-B strikes the ideal balance of performance and price for most users. It combines a sharp 1440p resolution with a speedy 144Hz refresh rate and FreeSync/G-Sync compatibility for smooth tear-free gaming. The monitor is also well-built with a clean, minimally-bezeled design.
2. Dell U3415W – Best Budget Ultrawide Monitor
Size: 34 inches
Resolution: 3440 x 1440
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Curve: 1900R
The Dell U3415W delivers an immersive 1440p ultrawide viewing experience at a budget-friendly price point. While its 60Hz refresh rate isn’t ideal for competitive gaming, it provides incredible productivity value, thanks to its massive screen real estate and curved design.
3. Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 – Best Super Ultrawide Gaming Monitor
Size: 49 inches
Resolution: 5120 x 1440
Refresh Rate: 240Hz
Curve: 1000R
The jaw-dropping Odyssey Neo G9 is the ultimate monitor for serious gamers. Its massive 49-inch panel with DQHD resolution surrounds you in your games, while the lightning-fast 240Hz refresh rate paired with FreeSync Premium Pro support enables stunningly fluid gameplay.
4. LG 38WN95C-W – Best Ultrawide Monitor for Productivity
Size: 38 inches
Resolution: 3840 x 1600
Refresh Rate: 144Hz
Curve: 2300R
LG‘s 38WN95C-W is an incredibly versatile pick perfect for creative and office work. Its spacious 38-inch screen size couples with a sharp WQHD+ resolution to let you view multiple full-sized windows side-by-side. Meanwhile, USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 connectivity allows single-cable docking.
5. Acer Predator X38 – Best Ultrawide Gaming Monitor
Size: 37.5 inches
Resolution: 3840 x 1600
Refresh Rate: 144Hz
Curve: 2300R
Acer‘s Predator X38 truly engulfs you with its 37.5-inch curved panel and cinematic WQHD+ resolution. Combined with vibrant colors covering 98% of the DCI-P3 gamut, a lightning-fast 144Hz refresh rate, and G-Sync support, it offers an exceptional, seamless gaming experience.
6. HP X34 – Best Ultrawide Monitor for Creative Work
Size: 34 inches
Resolution: 3440 x 1440
Refresh Rate: 100Hz
Curve: 1900R
The HP X34 excels for creative and design work thanks to its color-accurate IPS panel covering 100% sRGB and 98% DCI-P3 color spaces. This ensures content and media looks true-to-life. With AMD FreeSync support and a 100Hz refresh rate, it can also handle gaming reasonably well.
7. Xiaomi Mi Surface 34" – Best Budget Curved Ultrawide Monitor
Size: 34 inches
Resolution: 3440 x 1440
Refresh Rate: 144Hz
Curve: 1500R
For shoppers on a budget, Xiaomi‘s Mi Surface 34” delivers where it counts with a quality Samsung VA panel, QHD resolution, and 144Hz refresh rate starting under $500. AMD FreeSync and HDR support round out this curved ultrawide as an excellent value pick for gaming and media consumption.
8. Gigabyte M34WQ – Best Budget Ultrawide Gaming Monitor
Size: 34 inches
Resolution: 3440 x 1440
Refresh Rate: 144Hz
Curve: 1500R
The Gigabyte M34WQ punches well above its mid-range price with fantastic gaming features including a 1440p resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, FreeSync support, and 0.5ms MPRT spec. Its color-accurate panel and KVM switch are handy for productivity too.
9. Philips 346B1C – Best Curved Ultrawide Monitor for Business
Size: 34 inches
Resolution: 3440 x 1440
Refresh Rate: 100Hz
Curve: 1500R
Philips‘ 346B1C tailors towards office use with its business-minded feature set: a Windows Hello webcam and secure microphones for conferencing, USB-C docking, and flicker-free low blue light modes to reduce eye strain. Gamers can still benefit from the immersive 1440p display and 100Hz refresh with Adaptive-Sync.
10. Monoprice Dark Matter 49 – Best Super Ultrawide Monitor for Gaming
Size: 49 inches
Resolution: 5120 x 1440
Refresh Rate: 120Hz
Curve: 1800R
For all-out immersion without completely breaking the bank, consider Monoprice’s Dark Matter 49. This budget super ultrawide envelops your peripheral vision with its 49-inch 1800R curved VA panel and DQHD 5120 x 1440 resolution. The 120Hz refresh and FreeSync support power smooth high-fps gameplay too.
How to Choose the Best Ultrawide Monitor
Screen Size
Typical ultrawide sizes range from 29 to 49 inches diagonally. The most popular options are:
- 34-35 inches: Ideal for most desks, offering ample extra workspace while remaining easily viewable up close without excessive head movement.
- 38-40 inches: Provide even more generous screen real estate for extreme multitasking but may feel overly wide for some users.
- 48-49 inches: Massive super ultrawides for maximum immersion. Require some distance for comfortable viewing without excessive neck craning.
Aspect Ratio
Whereas traditional monitors have a 16:9 aspect ratio, ultrawides use 21:9 and 32:9, which provide more width:
- 21:9: The most common ultrawide aspect ratio that strikes a great balance between workspace and immersion. Examples include 3440 x 1440 and 2560 x 1080 resolutions.
- 32:9: Super ultrawide aspect ratio equivalent to putting two 27” 16:9 monitors side-by-side without bezels interrupting your view. Provides maximum wraparound immersion. Uses 5120 x 1440 resolution.
Resolution
Higher resolution ultrawides like 3440 x 1440 (WQHD) offer extra visual workspace and look beautifully sharp for gaming, videos, creative work, coding, and office use. Standard resolutions include:
- 2560 x 1080: Basic entry-level resolution that‘s easier to power. Provides a noticeable upgrade over a 1920 x 1080 (1080p) 16:9 monitor.
- 3440 x 1440: The most popular choice providing substantial added real estate while remaining easy for consumer graphics cards to drive in games. Looks wonderfully crisp thanks to higher pixel density.
- 3840 x 1600: Extra-tall resolution well-suited for productivity. Enjoyably sharp but requires a more powerful GPU for gaming.
For the ultimate gaming experience, consider an HDR-capable screen too for vivid colors, brighter highlights and enhanced contrast. Popular specs are DisplayHDR 400 and VESA DisplayHDR 1000.
Refresh Rate
Higher refresh rates (Hz) deliver much smoother motion handling and gameplay:
- 60Hz: Standard for office work and console gaming.
- 100-144Hz: Ideal for PC gaming and movies. Allows you to max out the frame rates from powerful GPUs for a buttery smooth experience.
- 240Hz+: Prized by esports pros and competitive gamers. Further reduces input lag and motion blur. Requires incredibly powerful hardware to leverage fully. Diminishing returns beyond 144Hz.
Adaptive Sync
To prevent screen tearing and lag while gaming, choose a monitor with adaptive sync such as AMD FreeSync (for AMD cards) and Nvidia G-Sync/G-Sync Compatible certification (for Nvidia cards). This dynamically matches the monitor’s refresh rate to your GPU‘s output for smooth, glitch-free visuals.
Conclusion
Boosting workflow efficiency with ultrawide monitors is tremendously beneficial while also providing captivating gaming and movie viewing. This guide shone the spotlight on all the best options available to upgrade your desktop.
The LG 34GP83A-B ultrawide monitor struck us as the most ideal pick for the majority of shoppers. With its combination of a dense 1440p resolution, lightning-fast 144Hz refresh rate, and G-Sync/FreeSync support, it delivers outstanding versatility from office work to intense gaming sessions.
Those craving maximum immersion should instead check out the state-of-the-art Samsung Odyssey Neo G9. Its 49-inch, 240Hz panel utterly surrounds your field of view for next-level gaming you have to see to believe.
Hopefully this breakdown gives you the info you need to discover your perfect ultrawide companion. Expand your creativity and make playtime more exciting by taking the plunge with these uniquely wide displays. Game on!