Curved & ultrawide monitors

Curved and ultrawide monitors in our range are wide-format screens for gaming, office multitasking and creative work, mostly in 21:9 and 32:9 shapes. Most are 34-inch models, with 40-inch and 49-inch screens also available. LG, Dell, Philips and Samsung lead the range, alongside AOC, MSI and others.

How to choose a curved or ultrawide monitor

Screen size and aspect ratio. A 34-inch 21:9 screen is the most common size in our range and takes the place of two windows side by side on a normal desk. The 32:9 models, such as the 49-inch screens, match the width of two 27-inch monitors but need a deep desk and a sturdy stand. Some 27-inch and 31.5-inch curved models use 16:9 and suit smaller desks.

Resolution. 3440 x 1440 is the most frequent resolution in our range and gives sharp text on a 34-inch panel without demanding a very strong graphics card. 5120 x 1440 is the usual match for 32:9 screens, while 5120 x 2160 and 3840 x 1600 offer extra detail for editing and need more graphics power. A few models use 1920 x 1080, which looks softer as the screen gets larger.

Panel type. VA is the most common panel in our range and delivers deep blacks and strong contrast, which helps with films and dark games. IPS, Nano IPS and IPS Black panels offer more accurate colour and wider viewing angles, so they suit photo and video work better.

Refresh rate and response time. For office work and general use, 60 Hz to 100 Hz is enough. Gamers should look at 144 Hz or higher, and our range goes up to 260 Hz. Response times run from 1 ms to 14 ms, and lower figures help in fast shooters and racing games.

Connections and curve. Check for USB-C with power delivery if you want to connect a laptop with one cable, and use DisplayPort to reach the full refresh rate at high resolutions. A tighter curve feels more immersive for games, while a gentler curve is easier to live with when you work with spreadsheets and documents.

Curved and ultrawide monitor brands we carry

• LG: known for its UltraWide line of 21:9 monitors and for Nano IPS panels with wide colour coverage.
• Dell: the UltraSharp series is aimed at office and creative users who want accurate colour and a well-built stand.
• Philips: offers business monitors with docking features as well as gaming screens.
• Samsung: helped popularise the 32:9 super ultrawide format with its curved Odyssey gaming monitors.
• AOC: focuses on gaming monitors with high refresh rates, often at lower cost than the larger brands.
• MSI and Acer: both are gaming hardware makers, with MSI known for its Optix and MPG monitors and Acer for the Predator and Nitro lines.

Also in our range: Dahua, Lenovo and Nitro Concepts.

Curved and ultrawide monitors: frequently asked questions

Is an ultrawide monitor better than a normal monitor for work?

An ultrawide monitor is better for work that involves several windows at once, such as spreadsheets next to a document or a timeline in video editing. A 34-inch 21:9 screen lets you place two or three windows side by side without a bezel in the middle. If you mainly use one full-screen application, the benefit is smaller.

What is the difference between 21:9 and 32:9?

32:9 is much wider than 21:9. A 21:9 screen, typically 34 inches, is about as wide as two small windows side by side. A 32:9 screen, such as a 49-inch model, is about as wide as two 16:9 monitors placed together, so it needs a deeper desk and more graphics power.

Do I need a powerful graphics card for an ultrawide monitor?

You need a stronger graphics card for gaming on an ultrawide monitor than for a 1920 x 1080 screen, because there are more pixels to draw. A 3440 x 1440 screen has about 70% more pixels than Full HD. For office work and video, the graphics built into most modern processors are usually enough.

Can one ultrawide monitor replace two monitors?

One ultrawide monitor can replace two monitors, depending on the size. A 5120 x 1440 screen has the same pixel count as two 2560 x 1440 monitors side by side, with no gap between them. A 34-inch 21:9 model is narrower, so it suits users who need two or three windows rather than a full dual-screen setup.