Curved gaming monitors might seem like a gimmick compared to flat-screen displays that work plenty fine, but there are some real advantages to them. With a screen that wraps around your field of view, you can see more of the display at a glance and reducing the need to shift your focus to different parts of the screen. On top of reducing eye strain, a curved monitor creates a more immersive, distortion-free viewing experience.We completed hours of hands-on (or eyes-on) testing with a huge collection of curved gaming monitors, ranging in size from 27″ up to a massive, (ultra-)ultrawide 49″ model. Based on our testing and consideration of price, features, and performance, here are our picks for the best curved gaming monitors.TL;DR These are the Best Curved Gaming Monitors:
1. Gigabyte Aorus CV27Q
Best Curved Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 27″ 1500R Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440 Panel type: VA FreeSync 2 HDR compatibility: DisplayHDR 400 Brightness: 400cd/m2 Refresh rate: 165Hz Response time: 4ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 3,000:1 Color support: 122% sRGB, 82% Adobe RGB, 90% DCI-P3 Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x 3.5mm Audio In Weight: 15.43 pounds Size: 24.17″ x 15.82″ x 10.23″
If you’re after a great gaming monitor, you might as well get the best, and this one is brand-spanking new with high-end specs to prove it. Gigabyte’s Aorus CV27Q boasts a 2,560 x 1,440 VA panel to deliver an exceptional contrast ratio while hitting a refresh rate up to 165Hz. When you’re not maxing out the frame rate, you’ll benefit from AMD FreeSync 2 support.This display’s 27-inch panel and 1440p resolution is a sweet spot for gaming, where you’ll get sharp visuals that can help you pick out enemies in games while also being able to push high frame rates much easier than with 4K. The Aorus CV27Q is also impressively bright at 400 nits and colorful with 122% coverage of the sRGB color space and even 90% of the DCI-P3 space.
2. Gigabyte G32QC
Best Budget Curved Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 32″ 1500R Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440 Panel type: VA FreeSync Premium Pro HDR compatibility: DisplayHDR 400 Brightness: 350cd/m2 Refresh rate: 165Hz Response time: 1ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 3,000:1 Color support: 16.7M colors, 8-bit, 124% sRGB, 94% DCI-P3 Inputs: 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 2 x HDMI 2.0 Weight: 17.2 pounds Size: 21.85″ x 33.86″ x 7.48″
Gigabyte’s G32QC sneaks under the radar by having a shockingly low price for everything it offers. At a good deal under $400, the Gigabyte G32QC is offering up a sweet amalgam of high resolution, fast refresh rate, low response time, and more premium features. This display delivers a 1440p resolution across 32 inches, and can run at up to 165Hz, giving you sharp, smooth gaming that’s aided along by FreeSync Premium Pro.If that wasn’t already making the visuals good enough, then the DisplayHDR 400 sure helps, as does the high coverage of the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces. Rounding out the already impressive package is an adjustable stand, 100×100 VESA mount support, and USB pass-through.
3. AOC C27G2
Ultra Cheap Curved Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 27″ 1500R Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 Panel type: VA FreeSync Brightness: 250cd/m2 Refresh rate: 165Hz Response time: 1ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 3,000:1 Color Support: 16.7M, 8-bit Inputs: 2 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 1 x D-sub Weight: 11.9 pounds Size: 24.1″ x 15.69″ x 8.95″
Curved gaming monitors can actually be perfectly affordable, as AOC has shown us more than once now. The AOC C27G2 follows up on its predecessor, the AOC C27G1 (read our review). It takes much of what we liked about the original and goes a little bit further. The curvature of the display is tighter, and it can now run at a refresh rate up to 165Hz a tidy jump over its 144Hz predecessor.You’re still getting a simple, 1080p resolution, but that makes it that much easier to drive at higher frame rates. And, you can enjoy clean frames with FreeSync support.
4. LG UltraGear 34GN850-B
Best Curved G-Sync Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 34″ 1800R Aspect ratio: 21:9 Resolution: 3,440 x 1,440 Panel type: Nano IPS FreeSync, G-Sync Compatible HDR compatibility: HDR10, DisplayHDR 400 Brightness: 440cd/m2 Refresh rate: 144Hz Response time: 3.5ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 Color support: 1.07B, 10-bit (8-bit+FRC) Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 Weight: 16.76 pounds Size: 32.25″ x 18.27″ x 12.29″
If you’re going curved, you may as well go big as well. That’ll let the display really wrap around your field of view for extra immersion.The LG UltraGear 34GN850-B does just that with its 34-inch display, and it will work extra well with Nvidia graphics cards thanks to G-Sync support.The display itself is a strong option for gamers that love the meeting point between visual quality and performance, as it features a sharp 3,440 x 1,440 resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. The display’s 10-bit color depth and 440-nit peak brightness also add up to some HDR potential in games and other media.
5. MSI Optix MPG341CQRV
Best Curved FreeSync Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 34″ 1800R Aspect ratio: 21:9 Resolution: 3,440 x 1,440 Panel type: VA FreeSync HDR compatibility: DisplayHDR 400 Brightness: 400cd/m2 Refresh rate: 120Hz Response time: 1ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 3,000:1 Color support: 10-bit, 105% sRGB, 84% DCI-P3 Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x USB Type-C Weight: 21.16 pounds Size: 31.9″ x 12.76″ x 22.17″
If you need a big, curved monitor with FreeSync support, the MSI Optix MPG341CQRV is the one. This 34-inch display has a 3,440 x 1,440 resolution and 21:9 aspect ratio that’s just as good for playing games as it is for watching films without big annoying letterboxes. The 400-nit brightness and 3,000:1 contrast ratio will also offer great visual quality.The display can hit 120Hz and deliver a 1ms response time, making it ready for serious gaming. And, FreeSync will make it easier for you to enjoy games that take too much horsepower for your computer to run at full speed. The monitor also has a webcam built in that can automatically change display settings for different users.
6. Alienware 34 Curved Gaming Monitor
Best Ultrawide Curved Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 34″ 1900R Aspect ratio: 21:9 Resolution: 3,440 x 1,440 Panel type: IPS G-Sync Brightness: 350cd/m2 Refresh rate: 120Hz Response time: 2ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 Color support: 8-bit, 134.5% sRGB, 98% DCI-P3 Inputs: 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 Weight: 24.47 pounds Size: 32″ x 16.92″ x 10.77″
You can get the big-screen, ultra-wide, curved experience from Dell with some serious polish in the Alienware 34 Curved Gaming Monitor (AW3420DW), a follow up to the AW3418DW (read out review). It offers a cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio and a crisp 3,440 x 1,440 resolution. Your games and films will look sharp and fill your vision. It’s all the better when it comes to color, as the display covers an impressive 98% of the DCI-P3 color space.The Alienware AW3420DW has the specs you need for gaming with a 120Hz refresh rate and G-Sync. It also keeps a fast 2ms response time to ensure your visuals remain clear even as the action gets intense.
7. Samsung Odyssey G9
Best Ultra-Ultrawide Curved Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 48.8″ 1000R Aspect ratio: 32:9 Resolution: 5,120 x 1,440 Panel type: QLED FreeSync Premium Pro, G-Sync Compatible HDR compatibility: Samsung HDR 1000, DisplayHDR 1000 Brightness: 1,000cd/m2 Refresh rate: 240Hz Response time: 1ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 2,500:1 Color support: 1.07B, 10-bit Inputs: 1 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x DisplayPort 1.4 Weight: 36.82 pounds Size: 45.18″ x 16.42″ x 16.39″
Sometimes, you just want the most of everything, and that’s what you can get from the Samsung Odyssey G9. This display delivers a super-wide, 49-inch display with a 32:9 aspect ratio. That will see it stretch across your field of vision, but Samsung keeps it all aimed at you with an incredibly tight, 1000R curvature.Samsung didn’t leave the visual quality lacking. The display offers a 5,120 x 1,440 resolution on its QLED panel along with proper HDR support thanks to a peak brightness of 1,000 nits and a 10-bit color depth. All that would be enough to call this a strong gaming display, but it goes even further with a blistering 240Hz refresh rate. Whether you love racing games or FPS titles, this screen will wow you.
8. LG UltraGear 38GL950G-B
Best Higher-Res FreeSync Curved Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 37.5″ 2300R Aspect ratio: 21:9 Resolution: 3,840 x 1,600 Panel type: IPS G-Sync HDR compatibility: DisplayHDR 400 Brightness: 450cd/m2 Refresh rate: 144Hz (175Hz OC) Response time: 1ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 Color support: 10-bit (FRC), 135% sRGB, 98% DCI-P3 Inputs: 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 Weight: 22.05 pounds Size: 35.3″ x 17.4″ x 11.29″
If going big isn’t enough for you and you also want to up the sharpness of your ultra-wide display, the LG UltraGear 38GL950G-B is primed and ready. It offers a 37.5-inch display with a 3,840 x 1,600 resolution. That makes for a cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio that’ll be great for games and movies alike.Matters only get better with this display when looking at what else it offers. It has a bright IPS panel that can hit 450 nits, earning it DisplayHDR 400 certification. It also supports 10-bit color, and covers 98% of the DCI-P3 color space. Better still, its 144Hz refresh rate can be boosted up to 175Hz through overclocking, and all the while it will support true G-Sync.
9. MSI Optix MAG301CR
Best Curved Gaming Monitor for Esports
Screen size: 30″ 1500R Aspect ratio: 21:9 Resolution: 2,560 x 1,080 Panel type: VA FreeSync Brightness: 300cd/m2 Refresh rate: 200Hz Response time: 1ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 3,000:1 Color support: 1.07B colors, 10-bit (8-bit + FRC), 127% sRGB, 98% DCI-P3 Inputs: 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x USB-C (DP alt) Weight: 18.1 pounds Size: 27.68″ x 11.3″ x 20.16″
MSI has esports gamers needing a big, curved display covered with the Optix MAG301CR. This gaming monitor provides a wonderfully wide picture at a 30 inches with a 21:9 aspect ratio, giving you more room to spread out HUD elements and see what’s happening in your periphery. It’s not just the size of the display that’ll help though, as this monitor also supports up to a 200Hz refresh rate, giving you the edge that higher frame rates can provide.You’ll be able to take advantage of those high refresh rates over DisplayPort or UBS-C, though an HDMI connection can still let you hit 180Hz. Modest GPUs should be able to manage those high frame rates too, as the display’s 2,560 x 1,080 resolution won’t be as hard to drive as a QHD or higher resolution. Plus, FreeSync will help prevent screen tearing. Though this monitor also boasts a wide color gamut, don’t read too much into MSI’s “HDR Ready” label, as the screen brightness here only maxes out at 300-nits As a little bonus, this monitor also has USB pass-through, letting plug in peripherals directly into the monitor for a tidier setup.
10. Asus ROG Swift PG35VQ
Best HDR Curved Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 35″ 1800R Aspect ratio: 21:9 Resolution: 3,440 x 1,440 Panel type: VA G-Sync Ultimate HDR compatibility: DisplayHDR 1000 Brightness: 1,000cd/m2 Refresh rate: 200Hz Response time: 2ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 2,500:1 Color support: 1.07B Inputs: 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 Weight: 30 pounds Size: 32.8″ x 17.7″ x 12″
Of all the best gaming tech of 2019, the Asus ROG Swift PG35VQ still stands out in 2020. That’s because there’s a lot going on behind its 35-inch, curved display. It comes at a premium, but that’s stands to reason for a massive 3,440 x 1,440 display offering G-Sync Ultimate and a 200Hz refresh rate, the fastest on this list.This monitor isn’t just the fastest but also the brightest. The display uses 512 local dimming zones to dramatically boost its contrast ratio while hitting a dazzling 1,000-nit peak brightness. That earns it DisplayHDR 1000 certification. This monitor will be great for just about anything you want to throw at it, but we wouldn’t stand for less from a monitor that costs well over $2,000.
Kevin Lee is IGN’s Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspamMark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark
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