Would you like an enormous quantity of usable show house, but in addition wish to follow a single monitor? In that case, an ultrawide monitor is the ticket. These displays have a wider show panel that’s way more spectacular, and immersive, than your common widescreen. We’ve examined a bunch of ultrawide displays with the intention to title the most effective picks in varied classes. You may study extra about our analysis course of and what to search for in an ultrawide monitor beneath our suggestions.
Yow will discover much more monitor suggestions in our roundup of the most effective displays.
Up to date 06/15/2023: Take a look at our newest evaluation of the Philips Evnia 7000. This 34-inch ultrawide comes with wonderful SDR coloration efficiency and shiny HDR. However it falls wanting justifying its hefty price ticket.
Alienware AW3423DWF – Finest ultrawide monitor
Professionals
- Wonderful distinction ratio
- High-notch coloration gamut and accuracy
- Nice movement readability
- Respectable HDR efficiency
- Extraordinarily aggressive value
Cons
- Stand is a bit too giant
- No USB-C
- Most HDR brightness is lackluster
The Alienware AW3423DWF is a legendary monitor. It packs the unimaginable distinction and realism of OLED in a 34-inch widescreen panel, but it’s priced at simply $1,099. That’s not cheap, nevertheless it’s higher worth than different OLED displays obtainable proper now.
Picture high quality is the place it stands out. It delivers a vivid, immersive, wealthy expertise with deep black ranges and shiny highlights, that are enhanced by the show’s shiny end. Motion pictures and video games appear practically three-dimensional—as when you’re trying by way of a window, not watching a monitor.
What’s the catch? The monitor shouldn’t be shiny, particularly in SDR, so it’s a foul selection for a brightly lit room. We additionally observed the OLED panel has hassle rendering small fonts easily. These are minor points, although, and shouldn’t hassle most house owners.
This monitor targets players, so it affords an enhanced refresh fee of as much as 165Hz and helps AMD FreeSync Premium Professional for clean body pacing in video games. Nonetheless, its wonderful picture high quality can be spectacular in on a regular basis use, as properly.
It has good connectivity, with two DisplayPort inputs and one HDMI, in addition to a USB-A hub with 4 ports. There’s even a wholesome vary of calibration choices that assist demanding house owners dial within the picture to their private specs.
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Alienware AW3423DWF evaluation
Asus ProArt PA348CGV – Finest ultrawide monitor for professionals
Professionals
- Wonderful SDR picture high quality
- Sturdy, hefty design
- Big selection of customization
- 120Hz refresh fee
Cons
- USB-C hub lacks video-out or ethernet
- HDR is merely satisfactory
The Asus ProArt PA348CV surpassed our expectations. Priced at simply $729.99, it’s in direction of the low finish of pricing for an expert ultrawide show—but its efficiency is close to the highest of the pack.
This monitor has a large coloration gamut, wonderful coloration accuracy, and a digital buffet of image-quality calibration options that permit customers exactly tune the picture. It’s additionally a shiny and vivid monitor, making it simple to make use of in practically any workplace. Admittedly, it doesn’t set any information in picture high quality exams—nevertheless it ties or comes near options which are a whole lot of {dollars} dearer.
Asus throws in a helpful USB-C port that helps DisplayPort Alternate Mode and delivers 90 watts of USB Energy Supply. It additionally drives a USB-A hub with 4 downstream ports. Extra video connectivity consists of two HDMI and one DisplayPort for a complete of 4 enter choices.
Surprisingly, Asus throws in an enhanced refresh fee as much as 120Hz. It’s not offered as a gaming monitor, however it may possibly deal with gaming properly sufficient. That’s excellent news when you want one house workplace monitor for each work and play.
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Asus ProArt PA348CGV evaluation
LG Ultragear 34GN850 – Finest funds ultrawide for players
Professionals
- 21:9 panel with a 34-inch display
- Curved monitor
- Spectacular gaming efficiency
- Ergonomic adjustment choices
Cons
- Solely common energy consumption
- Costly
The LG Ultragear 34GN850-B, launched in 2020, was as soon as the king of ultrawide gaming. It was dethroned by Alienware’s AW3423DWF—and in consequence LG has slashed the value. Initially $999.99, this monitor is now obtainable for $699.99 (and typically much less).
That’s nice information. Though surpassed by the Alienware, LG’s Ultragear 34GN850-B is a horny monitor with wonderful coloration efficiency, good picture readability, and a shiny, vivid image. It has an enhanced refresh fee of as much as 144Hz (with a 160Hz overclocked mode) and helps each AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync for clean gameplay.
Its weak point? Distinction. The IPS panel scores decrease in distinction than different displays on this checklist, together with the Asus ProArt PA348CV, which additionally has an IPS panel. The picture can look hazy in darker scenes.
Connectivity is respectable with two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, and two-port USB-A hub for connecting wired peripherals. The monitor additionally retains lots of the options that may be anticipated of a high-end monitor together with a sturdy ergonomic stand and enticing design.
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LG Ultragear 34GN850 evaluation
AOC CU34G2X – Finest funds ultrawide
Professionals
- Gaming monitor in ultrawide 21:9 format
- Spectacular gaming efficiency
- Giant 34-inch curved panel
- Ergonomic adjustment choices
Ultrawide displays have many perks, however low pricing shouldn’t be amongst them. Thankfully, funds consumers have one good possibility: the AOC CU34G2X, which retails at or beneath $349.99.
This monitor has a 34-inch ultrawide VA panel that, by most measures, performs surprisingly near dearer options. It offers a superb distinction ratio and delivers vivid coloration efficiency. It additionally has the identical 3440×1440 decision as the opposite displays on this checklist, so it seems to be simply as sharp. In fact, much less demanding consumers could discover it troublesome to note any distinction between this monitor and dearer choices just like the Asus ProArt PA348CV.
The AOC CU34G2X is marketed as a gaming monitor and has an enhanced refresh fee of as much as 144Hz. It doesn’t formally assist AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync, nonetheless, so players could have blended outcomes when making an attempt to make use of these adaptive sync requirements.
Although it punches above its value in picture high quality, the AOC CU34G2X’s design seems to be low cost. It leans a bit too laborious on an aggressive red-and-black gaming theme. That can annoy consumers preferring a calmer, much less obtrusive look.
Connectivity is nice, although, with two HDMI and two DisplayPort inputs plus a four-port USB-A hub. The monitor additionally has a peak adjustable stand, a must have perk that isn’t assured on funds ultrawide displays.
Learn our full
AOC CU34G2X evaluation
What to search for in an ultrawide monitor
Ultrawide displays are a favourite of PC fanatics, however stay a distinct segment throughout the bigger monitor market. This leaves consumers with fewer choices. Most ultrawide displays have a 34-inch panel with a decision of 3440×1440, and related connectivity.
Nonetheless, these displays can differ in a number of key areas. Right here’s what to search for.
Panel kind is an enormous deal
Ultrawide displays provide much less selection in some regards however that script is flipped on the subject of panel kind. Ultrawide displays are available quite a lot of panel sorts: IPS, VA, and OLED.
IPS panels are frequent in mid-range and premium ultrawide displays. This panel kind delivers nice coloration efficiency, excessive most brightness, very good sharpness, and good movement efficiency. It’s weak in distinction, nonetheless, which might disappoint when viewing TV reveals or films.
VA panels are sometimes a funds possibility, although some are present in premium ultrawide displays. They’ve higher distinction than IPS panels and ship related coloration efficiency and brightness—nonetheless, funds VA panels are usually merely okay in these areas. Most VA panels fall quick in movement efficiency and should look blurry when taking part in fast-paced video games.
OLED is king of the hill. It leads in coloration, distinction, and movement efficiency. Sharpness is usually barely decreased in comparison with IPS and VA, however most individuals will discover it a minor downgrade. OLED is also the only option for HDR.
Typically, OLED is healthier than IPS, and IPS is healthier than VA. Nonetheless, some individuals may desire VA over IPS as a result of it has a greater distinction ratio and appears darker in darkish content material.
A height-adjustable stand is a must have
All of the displays on this checklist present an ergonomic stand that adjusts for peak, tilt, and swivel. It is a must-have characteristic, however one which isn’t discovered on the least costly ultrawide displays.
As tempting as it could be to save cash on a funds mannequin with no height-adjustable stand, you’ll remorse it.
Ultrawide displays are cumbersome and have a tendency to require a bigger, heavier stand, which in flip makes them tougher to put on an elevated platform. The outdated faculty trick of sticking a monitor on a shoe field gained’t work.
Search for USB-C, however don’t anticipate it
USB-C compatibility is a wonderful characteristic, and USB-C hub displays can clear away tons of muddle in your desk. Sadly, many ultrawide displays don’t assist USB-C but, or have limitations that detract from the USB-C port’s usefulness.
Asus’s ProArt PA348CV, our favourite ultrawide for professionals, is one exception. It has a USB-C port with as much as 90 watts of Energy Supply, and the port drives a USB-A hub with 4 downstream ports.
Dell, HP, and BenQ additionally provide ultrawide displays with USB-C. Most of those lack an enhanced refresh fee, nonetheless, and so they’re sometimes dearer than the Asus.
Pricing is necessary—and may swing wildly
Monitor pricing is at all times necessary, nevertheless it’s key for ultrawide displays. Though very costly at MSRP, ultrawide displays routinely see large value cuts throughout seasonal gross sales. Additionally they obtain main semi-permanent value cuts later of their life.
The LG Ultragear 34GN850-B is an instance of this. Initially offered for $999.99, it’s now routinely obtainable for $699.99, and went as little as $599.99 throughout Amazon’s Black Friday sale. That’s a 40 p.c discount in value! Ready for a deal can prevent a whole lot.
Don’t purchase an ultrawide for console gaming
A fast phrase of warning: You shouldn’t purchase an ultrawide monitor when you plan to attach a sport console ceaselessly.
Sport consoles don’t assist ultrawide facet ratios, so that you’ll see black bars on both facet of the picture. That’s unattractive and wastes the monitor’s potential. It’s greatest to stay with a widescreen monitor if console gaming is a precedence.
How we check displays
PC World’s staff of workers and freelance reviewers conduct in-depth testing to check displays throughout a variety of classes and value factors. We check dozens of displays every year to seek out the most effective choose for each class and value level.
Our testing makes use of a SpyderXElite coloration calibration device. It delivers goal, unbiased measurements for a variety of metrics together with brightness, distinction, coloration gamut, coloration accuracy, coloration temperature, and gamma. Outcomes are recorded and logged for future comparability. This enables our consultants to simply evaluate many displays without delay and eliminates subjective bias from the outcomes.
FAQ
What measurement of ultrawide gaming monitor is greatest?
Most ultrawide displays have a 34-inch panel with a 21:9 facet ratio, which is the best choice for many players.
Some ultrawide displays can be found in bigger sizes, however these sometimes aren’t the only option for players. Many don’t assist excessive refresh charges. People who do are costly and sometimes use the identical 3440×1440 decision discovered on smaller ultrawide displays, which implies they seem much less sharp than a 34-inch show.
What’s the greatest decision for an ultrawide monitor?
Practically all 34-inch ultrawide displays have a show decision of 3440×1440. This is a wonderful selection for players.
It’s sharp sufficient to look spectacular in fashionable video games. Nonetheless, this decision stays considerably decrease in whole pixel rely than 4K, which makes it much less demanding on graphics {hardware}. That’s excellent news when you’ve got a mid-range graphics card like an Nvidia RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 6650XT.
Bigger 38-inch fashions have the next decision of 3840×1660—nonetheless, practically all these displays lack assist for top refresh charges, making them a foul selection for players. LG affords a line of 34-inch 5K2K ultrawide displays with 5120×2160 decision, however this line additionally lacks assist for enhanced refresh charges.
Just a few new 45-inch ultrawide displays can be found with 3440×1440 decision. This could be a drawback, as a result of stretching the identical decision throughout a a lot bigger show reduces sharpness. We suggest 3440×1440 just for 34-inch ultrawide displays.
What’s the most effective refresh fee for an ultrawide gaming monitor?
A refresh fee of 144Hz to 165Hz is good for many ultrawide gaming displays.
Only a few ultrawide displays exceed this refresh fee, and those who do are too costly to make it a superb worth.
Additionally, players searching for an ultrawide gaming monitor are prone to desire immersive and graphically demanding video games that make it troublesome to see the total good thing about a refresh fee above 144Hz. You’ll want a high-end video card, like an RTX 3080 or AMD Radeon 6800, to drive most ultrawide gaming displays at body charges above 144 frames per second.
Does an ultrawide gaming monitor want HDR?
HDR isn’t a must have for an ultrawide gaming monitor, nevertheless it’s a pleasant addition.
Gaming is a good use case for HDR—arguably the most effective, in reality—and it may possibly ship improved picture high quality. We suggest shopping for an ultrawide gaming monitor with HDR assist in case your funds is $500 or extra.
