When choosing an external monitor, you have a lot to decide. What screen size do you want? What about its resolution and refresh rate? The number of ports? How do you need to connect it to your computer? And perhaps most important, how much do you want to spend? You also need to decide whether you want the monitor to have a flat or curved screen, the latter of which has become increasingly popular.
The pros and cons of a curved monitor
The great thing about an external monitor with a curved screen is that it creates a level of immersion that a flat screen monitor simply can’t match. You feel more like you’re in a game or a movie when you see it on a curved screen. And that’s why curved monitors have been a big hit in the gaming community. But curved monitors have proven to be a big hit for all kinds of businesses and creative professionals, basically anyone who wants to feel more “in” their work.
The other thing with curved monitors is that they are usually larger in size than flat panel monitors. They wrap around you a bit, which means you’re fitting a bigger screen into a smaller space. And it’s great for productivity and multitasking because you can have more apps and windows open at the same time.
Curved screen monitors have a few drawbacks. Due to their larger sizes and fancier designs, they tend to be more expensive. Viewing angles are more limited – you really have to be seated in the middle. Due to the larger screen, the image on a curved monitor is more likely to be stretched and distorted (especially on cheaper models). And they don’t really lend themselves to multiple monitor setups.
What to look for
Cut: Curved monitors are generally larger in size than their flat screen counterparts. The average curved monitor size is around 34 inches, but it’s quite common to see sizes smaller (around 24 inches) and much larger (around 49 inches). The most important thing is to get the size that works for you and your space.
Aspect ratio: The aspect ratio of a screen refers to the ratio of its width to its height. Most curved monitors have a wider aspect ratio (usually 16:9 or even 21:9) than laptops and desktops (usually 3:2 or 16:10).
Resolution: The higher the resolution of a monitor, the better and more realistic its image, but the more expensive the monitor will be. Just like traditional flat panel monitors, the two most popular resolutions for a curved monitor are 1080p (low) or 4K (high), but there are even higher resolution monitors (5K or 8K) as well.
Refresh rate: A monitor’s refresh rate is the number of times per second that its screen is able to refresh itself and create a new image. The faster (or higher) the refresh rate, the sharper and smoother its image will be; this is very important for gamers, video editors and content creators.
Ports and Connectivity: Most monitors require a USB-C or HDMI connection to connect to your computer. This is important because many new-age laptops, like many recent MacBooks, only have USB-C ports and would therefore require you to use an additional dongle, which isn’t ideal. Plus, most monitors also have extra ports so you can connect (and charge) your other devices, like speakers or a microphone, without using up the few ports on your computer.
Choices
Dell S3422DWG
Cut: 34″
Resolution: 3440×1440
Max rrefresh rate: 144Hz
Curvature: 1800R
It’s one of the best curved monitors for your money. It’s a 34-inch monitor with a beautiful 4K image, high refresh rate, and ultra-wide (21:9) aspect ratio, making it a great option for people looking for a monitor for work and play. The only real downside is that it’s got a pretty bland look (similar to a lot of Dell monitors, admittedly) and it doesn’t have USB-C ports, which means it’s not the best fit. for a Mac.
Acer Predator X34
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Cut: 34″
Resolution: 3440×1440
Max refresh rate: 180Hz
Curvature: 1900R
Acer’s Predator X34 is a beautifully designed gaming monitor with an extremely immersive 1900R curvature. This is an ultra-wide (21:9 aspect ratio) monitor that delivers a brilliant 4K image. It has a very high refresh rate and super fast response time (0.5ms), both of which lend themselves to gamers. It even comes with a pair of built-in speakers. And it has a wide variety of ports (including USB-C) but requires a DisplayPort or HDMI connection to your computer.
LG 49WL95C-W
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Cut: 49″
Resolution: 5120×1440
Max refresh rate: 60Hz
Curvature: N / A
The LG 49WL95C-W is a beautiful ultrawide monitor that’s the perfect partner for spreadsheet enthusiasts. At 49 inches, it’s absolutely massive. Its wide selection of ports and can connect to a computer directly via USB-C (so it can work with most Macs). It also has a pretty impressive built-in speaker system. The main caveat is that it is not a gaming monitor. Like, at all. And it’s definitely on the more expensive side.
Asus ProArt PA34VC
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Cut: 34″
Resolution: 3440 by 1440p
Max refresh rate: 100Hz
Curvature: 1900R
The Asus ProArt PA34VC is a simple yet beautiful ultrawide monitor designed for photographers, video editors, and other creative professionals. It’s not a 4K monitor, but it has a fairly high density (110 ppi) so colors appear bright, crisp and realistic. It also has a high refresh rate (with AMD’s FreeSync support), making it a decent gaming monitor for when you’re not on time. It has a wide variety of ports but connects to your computer via HDMI.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G7
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Cut: 32″
Resolution: 3840×2160
Max refresh rate: 165Hz
Curvature: 1000R
Samsung’s Odyssey Neo G7 delivers a stunning 4K picture at a high refresh rate (with AMD’s FreeSync and G-Sync support), and it has a mini LED backlight panel so you also get a superb contrast. Samsung makes high-end gaming monitors (like the Odyssey Neo G8 and Odyssey Neo G9), which have more “drastic” designs and faster refresh rates, but for the price, the Odyssey Neo G7 is a great all-around gaming monitor.
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