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I remember when days ago the first curved monitor came out in 2013; it was a truly innovative design that promised a whole different gaming experience with the best gaming monitors. Today, we’re blessed to have better technologies that gave the potential for beefier specifications. In this article, I’ll give you my 100% honest reviews of the five best-curved gaming monitors in 2023. Read more about it in our latest curved monitors review, or look for more info about the ones made for gaming. For 32" monitors exclusively, check out this page, or for more budget-friendly options, check out this additional info.
You’ll get to know about the resolution, HDR compatibility, color accuracy, refresh rates, adjustable syncing, and much more. If this sounds complicated, don’t fret; I’ll explain everything you need to know about the best-curved gaming monitors in the buying guide section. This might become the best 2023 read for you.
Without wasting any more time, let’s skip to the main review!
3 Top Curved Gaming Monitors
1. [Best Curved Monitor Overall]
4.9/5
This best gaming monitor right here is one of the best gaming monitors for you gaming PC. With its ingenious Nano IPS panel, LG 34GN850-B has amazed me with its unbeatable color accuracy. This panel scored 98% in the DCI-P3 color spectrum range, which corresponds to about 135% sRGB!
2. [Best For The Money] LG 49WL95C-W 49” Curved Ultrawide DQHD Monitor
4.8/5
LG opted for a super clean and professional design. The front bezels are colored in black, while the rest of the monitor features a mesmerizing off-white shade. Despite being minimal, the stand is sturdy enough to hold that 33-pound monitor.
3. [Best For The Flawless Gaming] LG 34WN80C-B 34” UltraWide WQHD Monitor
4.7/5
If the LG 34GN850-B exceeds your budget gaming monitor limit, you may want to consider the LG 34WN80C-B that comes at half the cost.
Instead of the Nano panel, this monitor features an AH-IPS panel with a 99% sRGB color spectrum coverage and a 178° viewing angle.
What You Should Look for in the Best Curved Gaming Monitors
If you're up to learn about the best curved monitors for your MacBook Pro or a gaming PC, here are the most crucial attributes that you should be familiar with. If you have a games console, look into the best monitors for Xbox One X.
Size, Aspect Ratio, and Resolution
To truly benefit from the curved gaming monitor, you shouldn’t get one that is smaller than 32 inches. 24 inch or 27 inch are not ideal. Bigger sizes would be preferable since they’ll mimic a “cockpit” setup. But of course, you must make sure you have enough space before getting a large model. For ultra wide monitors, check out this page, and as for FreeSync monitors, look closely into these models.
To enhance the curved gaming effect, most curved gaming monitor feature 21-9 resolution or 32:9 resolution aspect ratios. As you might’ve deduced, this is the ratio of the monitor’s width to its height. I like to stick with 21:9 aspect ratio since the other one usually feels a bit overwhelming for my eyes.
After considering the size and aspect ratio, you’ll have to think about a pretty similar attribute — the screen resolution. This denotes how many pixels the monitor has horizontally and vertically. As the display gets larger and wider, it has to have more pixels to guarantee sufficient image clarity.
For 21-9 resolution aspect ratio 32-inch monitors, don’t go lower than 3440 into 1440 pixels. If you’re buying a 32:9 49-inch gaming monitor, your baseline should be 5120 x 1440 pixels.
If you want the best clarity, aim for the best 4k gaming curved monitor with a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. On the downside, most 4k curved gaming monitors come only in the aspect ratio 16:9. It’s not that bad, but it won’t be as immersive as other curved gaming monitor.
Best Curved Gaming Monitor Review
[Best Curved Monitor Overall]
4.9/5
Image Quality
This best gaming monitor right here is one of the best gaming monitors for you gaming PC. With its ingenious Nano IPS panel, LG 34GN850-B has amazed me with its unbeatable color accuracy. This panel scored 98% in the DCI-P3 color spectrum range, which corresponds to about 135% sRGB!
But of course, if you’re playing on the normal sRGB mode, you can restrict the colors to the standard 100% range to prevent overly saturated images.
Features:
- The 98% DCI-P3 coverage provides excellent color precision.
- The wide viewing angle makes for relaxed gaming performance.
- The AMD FreeSync is officially certified by NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility, guaranteeing excellent performance and works with any graphics card.
- The Nano IPS panel has a minimal glow.
- It’s equipped with a blue light filter to prevent headaches and eye strain
LG 34GN850-B Monitor Specifications
Screen Size | 34-inch |
Display Panel | Nano IPS |
Max. Resolution | 3440 x 1440 pixels |
Refresh Rate | Base: 144Hz - Overclock: 160Hz |
Response Time | 1 ms |
Aspect Ratio | 21:9 |
Adaptive Sync | FreeSync with certified G-SYNC compatible |
In terms of brightness, however, I wasn’t equally satisfied as one of the good gaming monitors. The DisplayHDR 400 supplies enough brightness in well-lit environments, but it’s not as good as HDR 600 and HDR 1000. Then again, at this price point, I think the DisplayHDR 400 is pretty good!
Just like any IPS panel, this DisplayHDR 400 has a bit of edge glow. But the Nanotechnology managed to reduce it significantly. You won’t notice it unless you’re sitting in a 100% dark room.
Performance
it supports a base 144 Hz refresh rate, but you can overclock it to 160Hz to get an ultra-smooth performance. Unfortunately, the higher refresh rate will force you to bring the color depth down to 8-bit to fit the limited nature of DisplayPort HDMI 1.4.
To cover the potential drops in refresh rates, it features AMD FreeSync. By default, this technology can work with any graphics card, including those provided by NVIDIA. However, this one is officially certified by NVIDIA, which guarantees impeccable performance.
I really liked that LG placed a blue light filter over the flicker-free backlight; this allowed me to test the monitor for hours without experiencing that infernal headache and eye strain.
Design and Connectivity
LG has chosen a subtle yet attractive design. I like how the shiny plastic construction features discrete red accents that aren’t large enough to distract your eyes.
In terms of the ports, it has one DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports, a headphones jack, and a dual-USB 3.0 hub.
I won’t lie; I wanted to see a USB-C there. Then again, you won’t need it unless you own a modern laptop.
The provided stand allows for -5°/15° tilt and 110 mm height adjustment, which turned it into one of the good gaming monitors. It doesn’t support pivoting or swiveling, which isn’t ideal for curved screens anyways.
All in all, I think the LG 34GN850-B is the best ultrawide gaming monitor that money can buy!
LG 34GN850-B 34” Curved QHD Monitor Pros
LG 34GN850-B 34” Curved QHD Monitor Cons
[Best For The Money]
4.8/5
Back again with LG, this time with the 49WL95C-W ultra wide model.
Image Quality
Like most LG monitors, this one features a panel type IPS with a resolution of 5120 x 1440 pixels. As you might’ve deduced, this monitor feels like two 27-inches monitors placed next to each other, with each one having 2560 x 1440 resolution, which is still better than 1920 x 1080. But of course, you won’t have those annoying bezels interrupting your image flow.
However, I wish if LG had opted for a curved 4k gaming monitor. With its current resolution, the pixel density will be capped at 81 PPI, which isn’t ideal in terms of sharpness.
LG claims that its color calibration renders 99% of the sRGB color gamut range. But after testing, the actual percentage turned out to be 98.3%. To be fair, the difference is barely noticeable, but I always appreciate honesty and full transparency.
Features:
- You can easily adjust the monitor settings with a mini-joystick menu controller.
- The high color accuracy guarantees efficient gaming.
- The ultrawide screen space will give you an edge in competitive games.
- The fast response time guarantees excellent game flow with the low input lag.
- The wide viewing angle unlocks endless setup possibilities.
LG 49WL95C-W 49” Curved Ultrawide DQHD Monitor Specifications
Screen Size | 49 inch |
Display Panel | IPS |
Max. Resolution | 5120 x 1440 pixels |
Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
Response Time | 5ms |
Aspect Ratio | 32:9 |
Adaptive Sync | N/A |
With the HDR 10 support, this monitor provides 350 nits of brightness, which guarantees acceptable performance in well-lit environments.
Performance
The thing that annoyed me the most about this display was the refresh rate. At 60Hz, you may notice some minor choppiness with visually-rich games. Then again, the fast response time (5ms) dampens the screen tearing to a great extent.
Given the price point, I was a bit disappointed when I learned that this screen doesn’t have adjustable syncing technology. But to be fair, you don’t really need it if the refresh rate is capped at 60Hz.
Design and Connectivity
LG opted for a super clean and professional design. The front bezels are colored in black, while the rest of the monitor features a mesmerizing off-white shade. Despite being minimal, the stand is sturdy enough to hold that 33-pound monitor. And much to my delight, this stand accepts height, tilt, and swivel adjustment.
The featured ports include two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, four USB 3.0 ports, and a USB Type-C port.
LG 49WL95C-W 49” Curved Ultrawide DQHD Monitor Pros
LG 49WL95C-W 49” Curved Ultrawide DQHD Monitor Cons
[Best For The Flawless Gaming]
4.7/5
If the LG 34GN850-B exceeds your budget gaming monitor limit, you may want to consider the LG 34WN80C-B that comes at half the cost.
Image Quality
Instead of the Nano panel, this monitor features an AH-IPS panel with a 99% sRGB color spectrum coverage and a 178° viewing angle.
Although LG claims that it has 10-bit color depth, it actually supports 8-bit only. The additional color depth is achieved by the frame rate control (FRC). Don’t get me wrong, though; I absolutely like that feature, especially because it saves an awful lot of money!
Features:
- The 99% sRGB color spectrum coverage provides accurate colors.
- The minimal response time guarantees smooth performance.
- The FRC feature mimics the 10-bit color depth.
- You can charge your laptop with the USB-C port.
- The thin bezels widen the screen space.
LG 34WN80C-B 34” UltraWide WQHD Monitor Specifications
Screen Size | 34 inch |
Display Panel | IPS |
Max. Resolution | 3440 x 1440 pixels |
Refresh Rate | Base: 60Hz - Overclock: 75Hz |
Response Time | 5ms |
Aspect Ratio | 21:9 |
Adaptive Sync | N/A |
Although this monitor is HDR-compatible, it can’t give more than 300-nits of brightness. This is bright enough to ensure flawless gaming in well-lit rooms, but the contrast ratio will struggle to a minor extent.
Performance
The most prominent drawback of this display is the refresh rate. With a maximum of 75Hz, you’ll have an excellent gaming experience at baseline specs. But if you ramped up the frame rates, you’ll surely see some choppiness here and there.
When operated at the maximum overdrive mode, this monitor will have response time 4ms, which is no mean feat for curved ultrawide monitors.
However, if you decided to ditch the overclocked refresh rate, you’d want to use the normal overdrive mode. The change in the response times wasn’t noticeable, but the smearing artifacts drastically diminished.
How would that affect your gaming? Well, if you run a fixed frame rate, you won’t notice anything different. But if your gaming PC struggles to keep up with heavy games, you may start seeing screen tearing and stuttering from time to time.
When I tested this monitor in a partially dark setting, the typical IPS glow was pretty noticeable, especially around the corners. However, I have to admit that it clearly excels over most IPS monitors at the same price point.
And just like my top pick, this monitor has a built-in filter that protects your eyes from the harmful blue light.
Design and Connectivity
The 34WN80C looks absolutely clean with ultra-thin bezels. The stand has a curved base with a brushed finish that adds a nice professional touch. And just like the previous monitor, you can adjust the stand’s height and tilt within 110mm and -5°/15° ranges.
Much to my delight, LG decided to add a USB-C port to this display, which totally fits its intermediate performance. You’ll also find one DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports, a headphones jack, and two USB 3.0 ports.
All in all, I think that the LG 34WN80C-B is the best budget-friendly curved monitor for gaming.
LG 34WN80C-B 34” UltraWide WQHD Monitor Pros
LG 34WN80C-B 34” UltraWide WQHD Monitor Cons
If money isn’t an issue, you should definitely consider getting the Asus Rog Swift PG35VQ.
Image Quality
Asus used a panel type VA that follows the standard demands of DisplayHDR 1000. This means that it can deliver a whopping 1000 nits of brightness with negligible black levels.
And of course, you can bring it down to the default of 350 nits since higher values might feel a bit overwhelming with mainstream games. But even at this low setting, you’ll get a fascinating black point of 0.13 nits, making your experience much better in 100% dark rooms.
Reviewing the color correctness wasn’t that straightforward. See, in the basic setting, this display rendered 72% of the DCI-P3 color spectrum range, which doesn’t live up to the standards of DisplayHDR 1000.
Features:
- The amazing 200Hz refresh rate gives the smoothest experience possible.
- The high DCI-P3 color gamut coverage makes for an excellent color vibrance.
- The DisplayHDR 1000 gives impeccable brightness.
- The G Sync Ultimate ensures consistent performance at the maximum capabilities.
- The lights on the back and the stand makes for highly attractive setups.
Asus Rog Swift PG35VQ 35” Curved HDR Monitor Specifications
Screen Size | 35 inch |
Display Panel | VA Panel (vertical alignment) |
Max. Resolution | 3440 x 1440 pixels |
Refresh Rate | 200Hz |
Response Time | 2ms |
Aspect Ratio | 21:9 |
Adaptive Sync | G Sync Ultimate |
However, after enabling the wide-gamut mode, it bounced all the way up to 88.8%. I know that some monitors achieve higher values, but this is the best performance for a panel type VA. Plus, I didn’t face any issues with all the games I tested at this rendering rate.
Performance
The refresh rate was, hands-down, the first thing that grabbed my attention about this monitor.
As you may already know, ultrawide displays usually don’t provide more than a 144Hz refresh rate. If you want to enjoy the smoothness of 200Hz, you had to settle for a narrower monitor.
Well, Asus was among the first to change this fact for good. Rog Swift PG35VQ has a base refresh rate of 180Hz, but you can overclock it to 200Hz without affecting the color correctness.
And to top it off, Asus used G Sync Ultimate — the best adjustable sync technology from NVIDIA. Unlike the regular version, G Sync Ultimate unlocks the maximum DCI-P3 color spectrum coverage while keeping the brightness level maxed out.
On the downside, since AMD doesn’t officially certify this monitor, the adjustable sync feature runs only with NVIDIA cards. And with the mentioned specs, you should opt for a beefy model, such as the RTX 2080 Super. If you can’t afford such an upgrade, consider a more affordable monitor with less fancy specs.
Design and Connectivity
Personally, I don’t think that curved monitor gaming reaches its full potential without a dope design — and that’s another box that Asus cleverly ticks!
On the back, Asus added an illuminating gadget that prints the catchy eye logo on your wall. With the right tweaks, you can get some crazy setup ideas with this perk. What's more, the stand generates another colorful pattern that shines beautifully on your disk.
I also like that the stand allows for a 35-degree swivel with a tilt range between -6° and 21°.
In terms of ports, you’ll find one HDMI 2.0 port, one DisplayPort 1.4, two USB 3.0 ports, and a single USB Type-B port.
All in all, the Asus Rog Swift PG35VQ is the best high-end monitor you can find today.
Asus Rog Swift PG35VQ 35” Curved HDR Monitor Pros
Asus Rog Swift PG35VQ 35” Curved HDR Monitor Cons
The CJG56 is the best budget gaming curved monitors of Samsung. The low cost sure takes a toll on some of the features but it manages to compete well with more expensive models.
Image Quality
First and foremost, this screen has a 16:9 aspect ratio with a resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels, which is way better than 1920 x 1080. Compared to the previous ultrawide curved monitors, this one felt less enjoyable, especially as a fast-paced shooter games monitor.
Features:
- The VN panel gives more vibrant colors.
- The wide viewing angle allows for more freedom with setups.
- The high refresh rate makes for a smooth gaming experience.
- The VESA compatibility gives better freedom with setup arrangements.
- The unique stand design occupies minimal space.
Samsung CJG56 32” Curved WQHD Gaming Monitor Specifications
Screen Size | 32 inch |
Display Panel | VA Panel (vertical alignment) |
Max. Resolution | 2560 x 1440 pixels |
Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
Response Time | 4ms |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
Adaptive Sync | N/A |
By using a VN panel, Samsung was able to dial down the price while maintaining acceptable performance. The used panel features an 8-bit color depth with a 100% sRGB color spectrum coverage. I was delighted with its vibrant colors and deep contrast and contrast ratio.
Although most VN panels disappoint me with inadequate viewing angles, Samsung surprised me with a generous 178-degree range. This should make the screen equally useful for gaming and professional work.
With a maximum of 300 nits, the brightness could’ve been better. But like I said in previous review, this value should perform adequately in well-lit rooms, except that the contrast won’t be ideal.
Performance
Thanks to the VN panel, this monitor can achieve a maximum of 144Hz refresh rate. But unfortunately, it doesn’t feature any adaptive sync technology. And honestly, I can’t figure out why Samsung chose to omit such a valuable feature; FreeSync is a royalty-free technology that wouldn’t have made it pricier.
How would that affect your gaming? Well, if you run a fixed frame rate, you won’t notice anything different. But if your gaming PC struggles to keep up with heavy games, you may start seeing screen tearing and stuttering from time to time.
Is it that bothersome? This depends on your experience. For me, I instantly spot those visual artifacts. But if you’ve never tried adaptive sync before, you may not recognize the difference.
Design and Connectivity
Like most Samsung curved computer monitors, this one features a textured grey finish that adds a premium touch. The broad V-shaped stand takes minimal space without compromising on balance.
Over the back, you’ll find DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4, HDMI 2.0, and a headphones jack. There are no USB 3.0 or USB-C ports, which is pretty understandable at this price range.
All in all, Samsung CJG56 should be an excellent option if you’re looking to save some money. However, if you don’t have a powerful gaming PC, consider another monitor to prevent the display tearing.
Samsung CJG56 32” Curved WQHD Gaming Monitor Pros
Samsung CJG56 32” Curved WQHD Gaming Monitor Cons
Refresh Rate
Measured in Hertz (Hz), the refresh rate tells you how many times the monitor updates its image per second. As this number gets bigger, your gameplay on your curved gaming monitor will feel much smoother.
Nowadays, almost all screens have a refresh rate of 60Hz or higher. If you often play visually-rich games, aim for a 144Hz refresh rate or, preferably, 200Hz.
There’s a crucial “catch” here, though. Your gaming PC needs to be powerful enough to render as many frames per second as possible. If you have an average PC, a brawny monitor will have nothing to “refresh”.
Response Time
As you might already know, monitors deceive our minds into perceiving motion by changing the image quickly. The time each pixel needs to change color is called the response time.
As this time gets longer, your perception of motion will struggle. In other words, you may start noticing motion blur or choppiness, especially with fast-paced FPS games. Days ago, this used to be a burning issue for all the gamers.
That said, the time of response should be shorter than 5ms. You can find models going all the way down to 2 and 1ms response time, which are far better.
Panel Type
Here’s the part that confuses most people. The panel type describes the technical component of the monitor that generates the image.
The first most common type is twisted nematic (TN). This one provides the smoothest gaming performance since it has the shortest response time. But it struggles noticeably in terms of image quality.
In-plane switching (IPS) is the exact opposite. It has much high-end quality with a wider field of view angle, but it’s known for having a choppy response.
Vertical alignment (VA) a.k.a panel type VA has the best of both worlds. It can offer vibrant colors with satisfying contrast ratio while maintaining an acceptable response.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Is a curved monitor good for gaming?
Answer: Curved monitor is not only good for gaming, but it's also comfortable for your eyes too. You see, the arc of the curved monitor matches the natural curvature of your eyes. And that is why your eyes will feel more comfortable with a more natural viewing experience.
Question: What is the best-curved monitor for gaming?
Answer: Modern technology makes it hard to choose among so many great options that you have in hand. However, you can consider LG 34GN850-B 34” Curved QHD Monitor as your go-to monitor for gaming. It's an allrounder in the market without a doubt.
Question: What are the best-curved monitors?
Answer: LG 34GN850-B 34” Curved QHD Monitor, Samsung CJG56 32” Curved WQHD Gaming Monitor, LG 34WN80C-B 34” UltraWide WQHD Monitor, Asus Rog Swift PG35VQ 35” Curved HDR Monitor, and LG 49WL95C-W 49” Curved Ultrawide DQHD Monitor. From our research, these are the top curved monitors in the market right now
Question: Is there a benefit to a curved monitor?
Answer: Curved monitors have the greatest benefits of all. You see, a curved monitor directs light from all angles towards you, the viewer. You'll be able to take everything that's occurring in the best experience ever. It's also good for the eye as there's a larger field of view. Overall, it provides you with the greatest experience ever.
