Do you need an enormous quantity of usable show area, but in addition wish to stick to a single monitor? If so, 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 in an effort to identify the most effective picks in varied classes. You can study extra about our analysis course of and what to search for in an ultrawide monitor under our suggestions.
You can discover much more monitor suggestions in our roundup of the best monitors.
1. Alienware AW3423DWF – Best ultrawide monitor
Pros
- Excellent distinction ratio
- Top-notch colour gamut and accuracy
- Great movement readability
- Respectable HDR efficiency
- Extremely aggressive value
Cons
- Stand is a bit too giant
- No USB-C
- Maximum 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, but it surely’s higher worth than different OLED displays out there proper now.
Image high quality is the place it stands out. It delivers a vivid, immersive, wealthy expertise with deep black ranges and vivid highlights, that are enhanced by the show’s shiny end. Movies and video games appear almost three-dimensional—as in case you’re wanting by way of a window, not gazing a monitor.
What’s the catch? The monitor will not be vivid, particularly in SDR, so it’s a foul selection for a brightly lit room. We additionally observed the OLED panel has bother rendering small fonts easily. These are minor points, although, and shouldn’t bother most homeowners.
This monitor targets avid gamers, so it affords an enhanced refresh fee of as much as 165Hz and helps AMD FreeSync Premium Pro for clean body pacing in video games. However, its glorious picture high quality will probably 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 homeowners dial within the picture to their private specs.
Read our full
Review Alienware AW3423DWF
2. Asus ProArtwork PA348CGV – Best ultrawide monitor for professionals
Pros
- Excellent SDR picture high quality
- Sturdy, hefty design
- Wide vary of customization
- 120Hz refresh fee
Cons
- USB-C hub lacks video-out or ethernet
- HDR is merely satisfactory
The Asus ProArtwork PA348CV surpassed our expectations. Priced at simply $729.99, it’s in direction of the low finish of pricing for knowledgeable ultrawide show—but its efficiency is close to the highest of the pack.
This monitor has a large colour gamut, glorious colour accuracy, and a digital buffet of image-quality calibration options that allow customers exactly tune the picture. It’s additionally a vivid and vivid monitor, making it straightforward to make use of in almost any workplace. Admittedly, it doesn’t set any information in picture high quality checks—but it surely ties or comes near options which are a whole bunch of {dollars} dearer.
Asus throws in a helpful USB-C port that helps DisplayPort Alternate Mode and delivers 90 watts of USB Power Delivery. It additionally drives a USB-A hub with 4 downstream ports. Additional video connectivity contains 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 bought as a gaming monitor, however it may deal with gaming properly sufficient. That’s excellent news in case you want one residence workplace monitor for each work and play.
Read our full
Review Asus ProArt PA348CGV
3. LG Ultragear 34GN850 – Best price range ultrawide for avid gamers
Pros
- 21:9 panel with a 34-inch display
- Curved monitor
- Impressive gaming efficiency
- Ergonomic adjustment choices
Cons
- Only common energy consumption
- Expensive
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 because of this LG has slashed the worth. Originally $999.99, this monitor is now out there for $699.99 (and generally much less).
That’s nice information. Although surpassed by the Alienware, LG’s Ultragear 34GN850-B is a beautiful monitor with glorious colour efficiency, good picture readability, and a vivid, 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? Contrast. The IPS panel scores decrease in distinction than different displays on this listing, together with the Asus ProArtwork 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 most of the options that will be anticipated of a high-end monitor together with a sturdy ergonomic stand and engaging design.
Read our full
Review LG Ultragear 34GN850
4. AOC CU34G2X – Best price range ultrawide
Pros
- Gaming monitor in ultrawide 21:9 format
- Impressive gaming efficiency
- Large 34-inch curved panel
- Ergonomic adjustment choices
Ultrawide displays have many perks, however low pricing will not be amongst them. Fortunately, price range customers have one good possibility: the AOC CU34G2X, which retails at or under $349.99.
This monitor has a 34-inch ultrawide VA panel that, by most measures, performs surprisingly near dearer options. It supplies a very good distinction ratio and delivers vivid colour efficiency. It additionally has the identical 3440×1440 decision as the opposite displays on this listing, so it seems simply as sharp. In fact, much less demanding customers might discover it troublesome to note any distinction between this monitor and dearer choices just like the Asus ProArtwork 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 help AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync, nevertheless, so avid gamers might have blended outcomes when making an attempt to make use of these adaptive sync requirements.
Though it punches above its value in picture high quality, the AOC CU34G2X’s design seems low-cost. It leans a bit too onerous on an aggressive red-and-black gaming theme. That will annoy customers 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 top adjustable stand, vital perk that isn’t assured on price range ultrawide displays.
Read our full
Review AOC CU34G2X
What to search for in an ultrawide monitor
Ultrawide displays are a favourite of PC lovers, however stay a distinct segment throughout the bigger monitor market. This leaves customers with fewer choices. Most ultrawide displays have a 34-inch panel with a decision of 3440×1440, and comparable connectivity.
Still, these displays can differ in a number of key areas. Here’s what to search for.
Panel kind is an enormous deal
Ultrawide displays supply much less selection in some regards however that script is flipped with regards to panel kind. Ultrawide displays are available in a wide range of panel varieties: IPS, VA, and OLED.
IPS panels are widespread in mid-range and premium ultrawide displays. This panel kind delivers nice colour efficiency, excessive most brightness, very good sharpness, and good movement efficiency. It’s weak in distinction, nevertheless, which may disappoint when viewing TV exhibits or motion pictures.
VA panels are sometimes a price range possibility, although some are present in premium ultrawide displays. They have higher distinction than IPS panels and ship comparable colour efficiency and brightness—nevertheless, price range VA panels are typically merely okay in these areas. Most VA panels fall brief in movement efficiency and should look blurry when taking part in fast-paced video games.
OLED is king of the hill. It leads in colour, distinction, and movement efficiency. Sharpness is usually barely lowered in comparison with IPS and VA, however most individuals will discover it a minor downgrade. OLED is also your best option for HDR.
In normal, OLED is healthier than IPS, and IPS is healthier than VA. However, some folks 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 the displays on this listing present an ergonomic stand that adjusts for top, tilt, and swivel. This is a must have characteristic, however one which isn’t discovered on the least costly ultrawide displays.
As tempting as it might be to economize on a price range mannequin with out a 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 previous school trick of sticking a monitor on a shoe field received’t work.
Look for USB-C, however don’t anticipate it
USB-C compatibility is a superb characteristic, and USB-C hub monitors can clear away tons of muddle in your desk. Unfortunately, many ultrawide displays don’t help USB-C but, or have limitations that detract from the USB-C port’s usefulness.
Asus’s ProArtwork PA348CV, our favourite ultrawide for professionals, is one exception. It has a USB-C port with as much as 90 watts of Power Delivery, and the port drives a USB-A hub with 4 downstream ports.
Dell, HP, and BenQ additionally supply ultrawide displays with USB-C. Most of those lack an enhanced refresh fee, nevertheless, and so they’re sometimes dearer than the Asus.
Pricing is vital—and may swing wildly
Monitor pricing is all the time vital, but it surely’s key for ultrawide displays. Although very costly at MSRP, ultrawide displays routinely see large value cuts throughout seasonal gross sales. They additionally obtain main semi-permanent value cuts later of their life.
The LG Ultragear 34GN850-B is an instance of this. Originally bought for $999.99, it’s now routinely out there 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! Waiting for a deal can prevent a whole bunch.
Don’t purchase an ultrawide for console gaming
A fast phrase of warning: You shouldn’t purchase an ultrawide monitor in case you plan to attach a sport console ceaselessly.
Game consoles don’t help 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 finest 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 colour calibration software. It delivers goal, unbiased measurements for a variety of metrics together with brightness, distinction, colour gamut, colour accuracy, colour temperature, and gamma. Results are recorded and logged for future comparability. This permits our consultants to simply evaluate many displays without delay and eliminates subjective bias from the outcomes.