Without the humble monitor, a PC is practically useless. For many years, little effort was put into getting a monitor. No one paid attention to the way a good monitor would drastically improve your experience at your workstation. If you are such a one looking to upgrade your monitor, you are in luck. Today I’ll be showcasing, not just the best monitors, but the best curved monitor for your particular need.
But in recent years, the humble monitor has been receiving the attention and respect it deserves.
And that is why many people are upgrading their stock monitors for some of the dazzling glassware manufacturers are making.
Best Curve Monitor – Comparison Table
[amazon box=”B01CX26WIG,B01C83BE6U,B01M1D7JVO,B01N5LH0Q8″ template=”table”]
How to Buy a Monitor – Understanding Screen Types and Lingo
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Monitors, like the computers they are coupled to, come in many different types. With different specifications, sizes, and features (and so many acronyms involved in labeling them), how do you know exactly which monitor to buy.
Well, the best way to make sure you buy the best curved monitor is to understand exactly what you are buying. To do that you need to understand screen lingo.
Let me open your eyes a bit in this area.
Screen Resolution
Screen resolution is the measurement, in pixels, of a monitor’s display area. Usually, screen resolution is expressed in shorthand, using the numeric value of the height. Common examples are 1080p, 1440p, or 4K. Currently, the most popular monitor resolutions are the 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. But with technology advancing fast, 5K displays are slowly trickling in.
Contrast Ratio
Contrast ratio refers to the difference in light intensity between the brightest and darkest color, with those colors being white and black respectively.
The higher the contrast ratio, the more brilliant the images produced by the monitor.
Oftentimes, monitors have 2 contrast ratio measurements:
- Active/dynamic contrast ratio. This is a measurement of the brightest and the darkest colors over a period of time.
- Static contrast ratio. This is a measure of the brightest and darkest colors at a single point in time. The static contrast ratio is what you look at when looking for a monitor.
Viewing Angle
Although all aspects of a monitor are important, the viewing angle takes the cup as it is easy to notice outright.
The viewing angle is the maximum angle you can view the monitor at without the image losing its integrity.
When viewing your monitor straight on, you will be at a 0-degree angle.
Because viewing angle is measured from one end of the monitor to the other, a monitor with, say, a 150-degree viewing angle maintains its color accuracy when viewed 75 degrees off-center on both sides.
This is one of the biggest advantages of curved monitors. The design increases the viewing angle and gives you a more immersive experience as you able to take in more information than you would on a flat monitor.
Response Time
One phrase you’ll hear being punted around when it comes to computer monitors is “response time”. To put it simply, the response time of a monitor is a measure of how fast (or slow) a monitor is in updating from one frame to another.
A lower response time means the monitor moves quickly to the next frame, thereby resulting in a less blurry image. Low response times are crucial if the main purpose of your monitor is gaming or watching movies, but if it is for static images, response time is not an issue.
Refresh Rate
The refresh rate and response times of a monitor are not to be confused.
While response time refers to the time it takes for a monitor to move to the next frame, the refresh rate refers to the number of times per second the monitor will update the image.
Refresh rates are measured in Hertz (Hz), thus you’ll find monitor refresh rates rated as 120Hz, 144Hz, and of late 240Hz panels are making their way into game-centric monitors. In the case of a 240Hz refresh rate, it means the monitor refreshes the image 240 times in a second.
This ultimately means the higher the refresh rate, the smoother the movements on a monitor appear.
FreeSync and G-Sync
Two plagues that monitors often suffer from are screen tearing and screen stuttering.
In order to combat screen tearing and stuttering issues associated with VSYNC technology used on most screens, AMD and Nvidia came up with their own screen technologies that work with their GPUs to ensure frame rates and refresh times are in perfect harmony.
These are FreeSync from AMD and G-Sync from Nvidia.
Most modern monitors come equipped with one or the other, so be sure to check what you are getting as they both work best with a GPU from the same company.
Understanding Panel Technology
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Now that we have cleared some of the jargon associated with monitor specifications and features, the next step is to quickly grasp the different technologies used in making monitors.
This will definitely help you choose the best curved monitor for your needs.
With the advent of LCD monitors, a whole new world was opened up in regard to the type of display technologies that manufacturers can use in an attempt to produce the perfect image.
It is vital that you understand these different types of technologies and their pros and cons.
Twisted Nematic (TN)
Twisted Nematic (TN) displays are the most common type of Thin Film Transistor (TFT) display. TN panels provide very fast response times but have poor color accuracy and viewing angles. This is the most popular display technology for gaming monitors.
Vertical Alignment (VA)
VA panels, due to their excellent contrast ratios and wider viewing angles, are typically used in higher-grade monitors. Sadly though, they have slower response times than TN displays.
In-Plane Switching (IPS)
IPS displays are probably the best type of display panel currently available (until manufacturers succeed in bringing OLED to PC monitors) and have much better color accuracy and wider viewing angles than VA and TN panels.
The only downside is that IPS displays have slower response times than TN screens.
Loaded with all this information, you’re now ready to pick a monitor from the following list of the best curved monitors on the market.
The 4 Best Curved Monitors for 2019
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As we look at the best curved monitors you can upgrade to, we will look at monitors suitable for gaming, professional use, and every other type of monitor.
Let’s get started, shall we?
[amazon link=”B01CX26WIG” title=”The Samsung C27F398 ” /]
[amazon box=”B01CX26WIG”]
5 out of 5 stars
If you are looking for the best curved monitor that won’t break the bank (or your desk), the Samsung C27F398 curved monitor is a great little panel that will definitely bring you better images.
The Samsung C27F398 features a 27-inch screen with a brilliant 1,920 x 1,080 resolution and a refresh rate of 60Hz. This monitor is based on VA panel technology with awesome viewing angles of 178-degrees and supports a whopping 16.7 million colors and 72 percent of the NTSC color space. This affords it the ability to produce crisp and clear images that you’ll definitely appreciate.
As for the curve, the Samsung C27F398 has a curvature of 1800R, perfect for gaming and professional use as it is the best curvature that compliments your eyeballs – especially at close range.
If you are looking for the brightest panel, however, this is not it as it only manages a maximum brightness of 250 nits.
Other specs include a static contrast ratio of 3000:1, AMD FreeSync, and a response time of 4 milliseconds. As for connectivity, the Samsung C27F398’s less than 0.5-inch frame only comes with a headphone jack, one HDMI port, and one DisplayPort connector.
The Samsung C27F398 does come with a few extra features that make it qualify to be on this list of the best curved monitors. Features such as the Eye Save Mode that helps reduce blue light emissions and eye-fatiguing flicker, and Samsung’s Active Crystal Color technology that produces more vivid pictures by producing deep blacks and bright whites.
For those who are into green technology, this panel will tick this box too as there’s no PVC used in its construction and also features an auto-brightness feature that helps reduce the amount of electricity it uses.
If this sounds like a panel that tickles your fancy, you’ll be glad you can get the superior quality and performance.
[amazon link=”B01C83BE6U” title=”The Asus ROG Swift PG348Q ” /]
[amazon box=”B01C83BE6U”]
5 out of 5 stars
For the avid gamer, the best curved monitor on the market is the Asus ROG Swift PG348Q. A 10-year anniversary celebratory tribute ROG fans, this massive 34-inch 3440×1440 UWQHD IPS panel features the aggressive designs that Asus ROG hardware has become famous for.
Featuring a 3800R curvature, 178-degree viewing angles, and 50 – 100 Hz refresh rates, you’ll definitely enjoy the smooth flow of even the most power hungry titles – especially since the panel comes with G-Sync straight out of the box.
Other notable features include a 21:9 aspect ratio, a 1000:1 contrast ratio (not the best but good enough on an IPS display), and a 5-millisecond response time.
As for connectivity, you’ll find that the Asus ROG Swift PG348 Q comes with more than ports to satisfy your needs. Included ports are one DisplayPort, one HDMI port, 4 USB 3.0 downstream ports, one USB 3.0 upstream port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The panel also features some 2-watt speakers in its hardware.
A cool feature you’ll definitely love (amongst the many bells and whistles on this monitor) is the way navigating the menu options is done via a joystick located on the back right of the monitor. This is way easier (and more fun) than the button mashing (oftentimes endless and confusing) favored by other monitor manufacturers.
[amazon link=”B01M1D7JVO” title=”The Samsung CF791 ” /]
[amazon box=”B01M1D7JVO”]
5 out of 5 stars
If you are looking for a curved monitor that can do it all (and that very well), then you’ll have to invest in the Samsung CF791 ultra-wide curved monitor.
The 34-inch CF791 features a 1500R curvature and is based on VA technology. With the ability to support 125 percent of the sRGB color space, 88 percent of the NTSC space, and up to 16.7 million colors, this 300 nits bright panel delivers breathtaking images no matter what you use it for.
The Samsung CF791 has a 3,440 x 1,440 resolution at 100Hz, a static contrast ratio of 3,000:1, and a pretty fast response time of 4 milliseconds for, giving you one of the best visual experiences you can find on the market.
Other features you’ll find in this display include Samsung’s Quantum Dot technology, 2 built-in speakers, 2 HDMI ports, a DisplayPort connector, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and 2 USB-A 3.1 Gen1 ports.
For a better gaming experience, the panel also comes with AMD’s FreeSync technology (which works best with Radeon graphics cards).
For professional use, the Samsung CF791 affords you the ease to multitask with its superb 21:9 ultra-wide screen in conjunction with Samsung’s picture-by-picture (PBP) function that allows you to connect 2 input sources. And if you want to resize one of the images, the picture-in-picture (PIP) function allows you to resize your second image.
This is definitely one amazing curved monitor that you need to strongly consider.
[amazon link=”B01N5LH0Q8″ title=”The AOC C4008VU8 ” /]
[amazon box=”B01N5LH0Q8″]
4 out of 5 stars
If you are looking for a beast of a monitor that affords you plenty of prime real estate, the AOC C4008VU8 curved monitor is that beast.
4K monitors have gained a lot of popularity in recent years but unfortunately, it’s not easy to find a large monitor that truly hits the true 4K resolution mark (3840+ pixels wide).
The AOC C4008VU8 is one of the largest 4K panels on the market and features 2 HDMI ports, 2 DisplayPorts, a VGA port and 4 USB ports. This panel affords you the ability to display up to 4 image sources simultaneously on its massive 40-inch screen.
Despite not having FreeSync or G-Sync support, this monitor actually handles games very well but comes in its true element when you’re working or watching movies.
With fast refresh rates (60Hz) and response times (4ms), 178-degree viewing angles, and brilliant colors, this definitely one of the best curved monitors on the market.
A Clear Picture Into Your PC’s Soul
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If you are looking for the best curved monitor to do justice to the power and performance of your PC, then pick any one of these as they are definitely some of the best curved monitors on the market.
Being curved, they will immerse you into whatever you are doing, while their specifications will give you amazingly brilliant images you’ll struggle to find anywhere else.
So go ahead. Pick one for yourself.