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Are Ultrawide Monitors Worth it? | It All Depends On Your Viewing Needs

If you are an avid gamer, the increased field view from ultrawide monitors is an advantage, especially in competitive gaming.

The ultrawide display is also useful for everyday use as it gives you the extra space to open multiple windows simultaneously. It is an excellent choice for digital artists and makes multitasking effortless, helping to boost your productivity.

But is the ultrawide monitor worth the money and investment? Does it offer the best option for your setup? Here is a guide to help you decide.

Is Purchasing Ultrawide Monitors Worth It?

Yes, it’s worth investing in an ultrawide monitor. Although the monitors come at a premium price, they come with lots of benefits that make them a worthy investment. For instance, it enhances your productivity at work by enabling you to open several windows simultaneously for multitasking. 

If you are a movie enthusiast, you’ll also find the ultrawide monitor worth it. The massive screen enables you to enjoy the actions and an immersive watching experience. Ultrawide monitors are monitors with a 21:9 aspect ratio. The standard monitor has a 16:9 aspect ratio.

The ultrawide monitors are more expensive than their standard counterparts, but they mostly have the same height.

Before the ultrawide monitors, people would opt for a dual monitor setup when looking for more screen real estate. The ultrawide monitors offer the same experience as a dual monitor setup but in a single product.

You can get flat-screen versions of ultra-wide monitors, but you can also get curved alternatives. The curved models enable you to see the entire screen without turning your head. Thus, you can enjoy a more immersive gaming experience.

On the other hand, flat-screen monitors are better suited for wall mounting, and they offer better viewing angles which give you a competitive advantage in gaming.

What Is the Point of Buying an Ultrawide monitor?

Although ultrawide monitors are pricey, they are still a perfect choice for various reasons, including:

Ultrawide Monitors offer an Immersive Gaming Experience

Ultrawide monitors provide an immersive gaming experience. Ultrawide curved gaming monitors enable you to see all the actions on the screen without turning your head.

Although the ultrawide monitors are seen as gaming monitors, it's worth noting that most of the monitors feature low refresh rates. The low refresh rate can affect your smooth gaming with stuttering and screen tearing.

However, you can remedy the situation using a graphics card that helps to sync the refresh rate and the game's response time.

An Excellent Choice for Video Editing and Photography

If you are a video editor or a photographer, a dual-monitor setup may not be the best for your job. The boundaries of individual monitors may cause inconsistencies in your work.

Additionally, photo editing programs require lots of extra horizontal space that you can't get with a multimonitor setup. The ultrawide monitor will offer horizontal space without the interruption of a bezel.

Color consistency is also an essential aspect of photography and video editing. With a single ultrawide monitor, you are sure to get color accuracy. Individual monitors in a multimonitor setup have differences in color, which causes inconsistencies.

Ideal for Watching Movies 

If you want a monitor for watching movies, the ultrawide monitors offer you more screen space as they are bigger than standard monitors. Additionally, the ultrawide monitors provide a better shape for watching movies.

Most movies have a 21:9 aspect ratio. Although you can watch the movies on any screen, you'll have to adjust the aspect ratio or end up with black bars. With an ultrawide monitor, you don't require any adjustments. You'll watch the movie as it was initially shot.

ultrawide monitor on the desk in workspace

Programming

Due to the increased display space offered, modern programmers and coders also frequently choose for ultrawide monitors to enhance their workflow. Programmers can use an ultrawide monitor to have several windows or programs open at once, just like writers and researchers do. For instance, a Google search can be launched simultaneously with a programming suite.

As a word of caution, programmers accustomed to working with an upright display may need a standard monitor or a two-monitor arrangement since ultrawide monitors cannot function in portrait position.

The Ultrawide Monitors Are Easier to Use

Ultrawide monitors are more effortless and straightforward to use than dual-monitor setups. For instance, you don't have to deal with any bezels in the setup. You can also have more organization by using virtual screen dividing software.

Although there are software applications for multimonitor setups, they're not as user-friendly as the ultrawide monitors.

Most of the software applications in the market aren't for use in multiple monitors simultaneously. Therefore, it can be frustrating to repeatedly move a program from one monitor to the next.


Why You Shouldn't Invest in Ultrawide Monitors 

Although ultrawide monitors come with enhanced screen real estate advantages, they may not be the best for everyone. Here are the reasons:

Not Much Added Height

Ultrawide monitors offer more horizontal space and aspect ratios, ideal for multitasking and movie watching.

However, there isn't much difference in terms of height. Additionally, the space isn't helpful for particular reading or video editing activities. If you are looking for more vertical space, a standard monitor is better.

an image on the wide screen

Some Software Applications Don't Support Ultrawide Monitors 

Ultrawide monitors are a recent invention. Thus, some applications may not work with ultrawide monitors.

Other software applications can work but may not use all the available space.

Pricey

Ultrawide monitors are expensive. You may buy the monitor at a premium price and not get the best features.

If you are looking for a budget monitor, an ultrawide monitor isn't the best deal.

It'll be best to go for a dual monitor setup as it is more affordable and offers better features. For instance, the two monitors in a dual monitor setup will offer you a higher refresh rate for a more immersive experience. The monitors also offer more pixels and higher resolution, offering better image quality.

Take Up More Space

Due to their size, ultrawide monitors take up more space on your desk. They are also heavier than their standard counterparts, making them more challenging to install or mount on the wall. The extra weight will also require you to invest in a bigger monitor stand.

Before you can invest in an ultrawide monitor, it'll be best to ensure you have enough space to install it.

game on the ultrawide screen

Ultrawide Monitors Aren’t the Best for Console and Competitive Games

Ultrawide monitors aren't the best bet for gamers as they may not benefit from the extra width of the monitors.

Ultrawide monitors offer more field of view, which offers a competitive advantage. Competitive games like CS:GO, Overwatch, or Valorant now support ultrawide monitors. However, the support comes with other disadvantages, such as an odd perspective.

If you are a professional gamer, it'll be best if you stick to the 16:9 aspect ratio. Although the competitive games support the ultrawide monitors, the odd perspective is a disadvantage that will deny you chances of winning. A 16:9 aspect ratio ensures that all the gaming actions are clear. 

Modern consoles, such as the Play Station 5 and Xbox series X/S, don't support the 21:9 aspect ratio.

Instead of using an ultrawide monitor with your gaming console, it'll be best if you opt for a monitor with a split-screen option with multiple inputs. The split feature will enable you to split the 21:9 aspect ratio into a 16:9 aspect ratio for the game console and a 5:9 aspect ratio for the connected PC.

Samsung-Odyssey monitor closeup

Is an Ultrawide Monitor Better Than Two Monitors?

To decide whether an ultrawide monitor is better than a dual monitor setup, you'll need to consider some factors that include:

Resolution

Monitors come with varying resolutions. If you have a dual monitor setup, it'll be best if the two monitors have the same resolution.

However, the two monitors don't have the same resolution most of the time. That means as you move an image from one monitor to the other, you'll have to make adjustments, which can be annoying.

Dealing with the challenge will require you to match the resolutions of the two monitors using the monitor's settings. As such, you have to downgrade the monitor with a higher resolution to match the one with a lower one. The downgrade will also affect the quality of your images.

The ultrawide resolutions of ultrawide monitors will help you maximize the horizontal space.

Convenience

Before deciding which one is better, between an ultrawide monitor and two monitors, you should also consider the convenience they offer.

If you want to manage the settings on your monitor, doing so on a single monitor is more convenient. If you have a dual monitor setup, you'll have to make the adjustments on one monitor and then move to the next.

As such, an ultrawide monitor is more convenient than dealing with two monitors.

Consistency

When considering consistency, having a single ultrawide monitor is better than having a dual monitor setup.

For instance, in a dual monitor setup, you'll have to deal with the bezels that separate the screens. Additionally, you'll have issues with color accuracy between the two monitors. The inconsistency is a significant undoing for video editors and photographers as the color accuracy directly impacts the quality of their work.

Is an Ultrawide Monitor a Gimmick?

No, ultrawide monitors aren't a gimmick. The monitors come at a premium price.

If you are looking for more screen real estate and wide viewing angles, the ultrawide monitor is a perfect consideration. You can also opt for a curved screen that enables you to see the content at the edges of the screen without turning your head. The field of view offers you a more immersive gaming and watching experience.

Additionally, the monitors are best for watching movies due to their 21:9 aspect ratio. An ultrawide monitor also makes it possible for you to multitask. You can open multiple windows for analysis, helping you enhance your productivity.

However, the monitors come with a low refresh rate. Thus, they may not be the best choice for competitive gaming.

ultrawide screen monitor and laptop on the table

Conclusion 

Although ultrawide monitors are pricey, they are a worthy investment. The monitors come with various benefits, including a wider aspect ratio, wider field of view, and more screen real estate. They are an ideal choice for multitasking.

However, they are heavier and bigger, making them challenging to install.

FAQs

1. Are ultrawide curved monitors worth it?

Yes, ultrawide curved monitors are worth it. One larger curved monitor takes up less desk area than a multi-monitor setup. Ultrawide curved monitors are more plentiful than ultrawide flat displays. Curved displays don't always cost more than flat ones; in fact, they are occasionally less expensive.

2. Is a 34 inch ultrawide big enough?

Yes, a 34 inch ultrawide is big enough. The screen is substantially broader yet has the same height as a 24-inch screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio. You can run multiple windows side by side, play games in ultrawide mode, and view movies without black bars thanks to the 30% greater screen area this provides.

3. What resolution is best for 34-inch monitor?

The best resolution for 34-inch monitor is 3,440 x 1,440.

In general, 29-inch ultrawide displays have a resolution of 2,560 x 1,080; 34-inch monitors have a resolution of 3,440 x 1,440; 38-inch monitors have a resolution of 3,840 x 1,600; and 49-inch monitors have a resolution of 5,120 x 1,440. Once more, we believe that 3,440 x 1,440 is the ideal size.

About Dusan Stanar

I'm the founder of VSS Monitoring. I have been both writing and working in technology in a number of roles for dozens of years and wanted to bring my experience online to make it publicly available. Visit https://www.vssmonitoring.com/about-us/ to read more about myself and the rest of the team.

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