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 C27G1
Ultra Cheap Curved Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 27″ 1800R Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 Panel type: VA FreeSync Brightness: 250cd/m2 Refresh rate: 144Hz Response time: 1ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 3,000:1 Inputs: 2 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 1 x D-sub Weight: 13.67 pounds Size: 24.09″ x 15.94″ x 9.65″
At about $275, this 27″ AOC C27G1 monitor (read our review) has a great feature set for the price. It has a humble 1080p resolution but makes up for it by offering a blistering 144Hz refresh rate for super-smooth gaming. Its curve is pretty subtle too, and that’s usually the case on smaller size monitors, though 27″ is perfect for most desks in terms of its footprint.As a bonus, this monitor offers AMD FreeSync too, and with the newest Nvidia drivers, even GeForce RTX and GTX users can run adaptive sync on it, though your mileage may vary.
4. Asus ROG Swift PG349Q
Best Curved G-Sync Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 34″ 1900R Aspect ratio: 21:9 Resolution: 3,440 x 1,440 Panel type: IPS G-Sync Brightness: 300cd/m2 Refresh rate: 120Hz Response time: 4ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 Color support: 10-bit (FRC), 100% sRGB Inputs: 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 Weight: 21.83pounds Size: 32.12″ x 18.11″ x 12.1″
Why go curved if you’re not going big? The Asus ROG Swift PG349Q is the follow up to the PG348Q (read our review), a monitor we loved, and this big monitor delivers a wide, 34-inch display for a cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio. If you’re going for a theatrical gaming experience, this monitor is for you.You’ll get a crisp resolution of 3,440 x 1,440 that can run at 120Hz. And, if your computer is struggling to run that fast, the display offers G-Sync to keep everything looking great. The monitor will also present colors well with 100% coverage of sRGB.
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 CRG90
Best Ultra-Ultrawide Curved Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 49″ 1800R Aspect ratio: 32:9 Resolution: 5,120 x 1,440 Panel type: SVA FreeSync 2 HDR compatibility: HDR10, DisplayHDR 1000 Brightness: 600cd/m2 Refresh rate: 120Hz Response time: 4ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 3,000:1 Color support: 10-bit, 125% sRGB, 95% Adobe RGB, 95% DCI-P3 Inputs: 1 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x DisplayPort 1.4 Weight: 32.19 pounds Size: 47.22″ x 20.59″ x 13.77″
Both of the monitors above have similar specs, and honestly so do the rest of the gaming LCDs on the market, for the most part. That’s where the Samsung CRG90 comes in, as it’s a radical departure from the typical gaming monitor, in many ways (read our review).First is its ginormous size; at 49-inch diagonally it’s so big you can’t see it all from your desk unless you stand up and take a few steps back. This creates a complete wraparound effect you just can’t get with a 34-inch panel. Second, instead of using a traditional backlight LCD it uses a Quantum Dot panel for increased brightness and a wider color gamut.
Finally, it also supports HDR content with an 1000-nit peak brightness, a first for an AMD’s FreeSync2 gaming monitor. It’s also one of the very first 32:9 monitors to jump up to a 1440p resolution, so you’re getting an immense 5,120 x 1,440 resolutionrefreshing at a rate of 144Hz no less. Just know that you’ll need a beast of a GPU to run games at this monitor’s native resolution.
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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