Would you like an enormous quantity of usable show house, but additionally need to keep on with a single monitor? In that case, an ultrawide monitor is the ticket. These displays have a wider show panel that’s much more spectacular, and immersive, than your common widescreen. We’ve examined a bunch of ultrawide displays as a way to title the very best picks in varied classes. You may study extra about our analysis course of and what to search for in an ultrawide monitor under our suggestions.
You’ll find much more monitor suggestions in our roundup of the best monitors.
1. Alienware AW3423DWF – Greatest ultrawide monitor
Professionals
- Wonderful distinction ratio
- High-notch colour gamut and accuracy
- Nice movement readability
- Respectable HDR efficiency
- Extraordinarily aggressive value
Cons
- Stand is a bit too giant
- No USB-C
- Most HDR brightness is lackluster
The Alienware AW3423DWF is a legendary monitor. It packs the unbelievable 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 accessible proper now.
Picture 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. Films and video games appear almost three-dimensional—as if you happen to’re trying via a window, not looking at a monitor.
What’s the catch? The monitor isn’t vivid, particularly in SDR, so it’s a foul selection for a brightly lit room. We additionally seen the OLED panel has hassle rendering small fonts easily. These are minor points, although, and shouldn’t hassle most house owners.
This monitor targets avid gamers, so it provides an enhanced refresh fee of as much as 165Hz and helps AMD FreeSync Premium Professional for easy body pacing in video games. Nevertheless, its wonderful picture high quality can 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 house owners dial within the picture to their private specs.
Learn our full
Review Alienware AW3423DWF
2. Asus ProArt PA348CGV – Greatest ultrawide monitor for professionals
Professionals
- Wonderful SDR picture high quality
- Sturdy, hefty design
- Big selection of customization
- 120Hz refresh fee
Cons
- USB-C hub lacks video-out or ethernet
- HDR is merely satisfactory
The Asus ProArt PA348CV surpassed our expectations. Priced at simply $729.99, it’s in direction of the low finish of pricing for an expert ultrawide show—but its efficiency is close to the highest of the pack.
This monitor has a large colour gamut, wonderful 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 simple to make use of in almost any workplace. Admittedly, it doesn’t set any information in picture high quality assessments—but it surely ties or comes near alternate options which might be tons of of {dollars} costlier.
Asus throws in a helpful USB-C port that helps DisplayPort Alternate Mode and delivers 90 watts of USB Energy Supply. It additionally drives a USB-A hub with 4 downstream ports. Further 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 offered as a gaming monitor, however it may possibly deal with gaming properly sufficient. That’s excellent news if you happen to want one house workplace monitor for each work and play.
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Review Asus ProArt PA348CGV
3. LG Ultragear 34GN850 – Greatest finances ultrawide for avid gamers
Professionals
- 21:9 panel with a 34-inch display
- Curved monitor
- Spectacular gaming efficiency
- Ergonomic adjustment choices
Cons
- Solely common energy consumption
- Costly
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 consequently LG has slashed the worth. Initially $999.99, this monitor is now accessible for $699.99 (and generally much less).
That’s nice information. Though surpassed by the Alienware, LG’s Ultragear 34GN850-B is a horny monitor with wonderful 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 easy gameplay.
Its weak spot? Distinction. The IPS panel scores decrease in distinction than different displays on this listing, together with the Asus ProArt 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 might be anticipated of a high-end monitor together with a sturdy ergonomic stand and enticing design.
Learn our full
Review LG Ultragear 34GN850
4. AOC CU34G2X – Greatest finances ultrawide
Professionals
- Gaming monitor in ultrawide 21:9 format
- Spectacular gaming efficiency
- Massive 34-inch curved panel
- Ergonomic adjustment choices
Ultrawide displays have many perks, however low pricing isn’t amongst them. Fortuitously, finances 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 costlier alternate options. It supplies distinction ratio and delivers vivid colour efficiency. It additionally has the identical 3440×1440 decision as the opposite displays on this listing, so it appears simply as sharp. In fact, much less demanding customers might discover it troublesome to note any distinction between this monitor and costlier choices just like the Asus ProArt 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 assist AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync, nevertheless, so avid gamers might have combined outcomes when attempting to make use of these adaptive sync requirements.
Although it punches above its value in picture high quality, the AOC CU34G2X’s design appears low cost. It leans a bit too laborious on an aggressive red-and-black gaming theme. That can 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 peak adjustable stand, vital perk that isn’t assured on finances ultrawide displays.
Learn our full
Review AOC CU34G2X
What to search for in an ultrawide monitor
Ultrawide displays are a favourite of PC fans, however stay a distinct segment inside 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 related connectivity.
Nonetheless, these displays can differ in a number of key areas. Right here’s what to search for.
Panel sort is an enormous deal
Ultrawide displays supply much less selection in some regards however that script is flipped on the subject of panel sort. Ultrawide displays are available in a wide range of panel sorts: IPS, VA, and OLED.
IPS panels are frequent in mid-range and premium ultrawide displays. This panel sort delivers nice colour efficiency, excessive most brightness, excellent sharpness, and good movement efficiency. It’s weak in distinction, nevertheless, which might disappoint when viewing TV exhibits or films.
VA panels are usually a finances possibility, although some are present in premium ultrawide displays. They’ve higher distinction than IPS panels and ship related colour efficiency and brightness—nevertheless, finances VA panels are typically merely okay in these areas. Most VA panels fall quick in movement efficiency and will look blurry when enjoying fast-paced video games.
OLED is king of the hill. It leads in colour, distinction, and movement efficiency. Sharpness is commonly 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.
Generally, OLED is healthier than IPS, and IPS is healthier than VA. Nevertheless, some folks would possibly favor 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 of the displays on this listing present an ergonomic stand that adjusts for peak, tilt, and swivel. This can be a must-have function, however one which isn’t discovered on the least costly ultrawide displays.
As tempting as it might be to economize on a finances mannequin with out a height-adjustable stand, you’d 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 faculty trick of sticking a monitor on a shoe field received’t work.
Search for USB-C, however don’t anticipate it
USB-C compatibility is a superb function, and USB-C hub monitors can clear away tons of muddle in your desk. Sadly, many ultrawide displays don’t assist USB-C but, or have limitations that detract from the USB-C port’s usefulness.
Asus’s ProArt PA348CV, our favourite ultrawide for professionals, is one exception. It has a USB-C port with as much as 90 watts of Energy Supply, 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, they usually’re usually costlier than the Asus.
Pricing is essential—and may swing wildly
Monitor pricing is all the time essential, but it surely’s key for ultrawide displays. Though very costly at MSRP, ultrawide displays routinely see big value cuts throughout seasonal gross sales. In addition they obtain main semi-permanent value cuts later of their life.
The LG Ultragear 34GN850-B is an instance of this. Initially offered for $999.99, it’s now routinely accessible 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! Ready for a deal can prevent tons of.
Don’t purchase an ultrawide for console gaming
A fast phrase of warning: You shouldn’t purchase an ultrawide monitor if you happen to plan to attach a recreation console ceaselessly.
Recreation consoles don’t assist ultrawide side 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 greatest to stay with a widescreen monitor if console gaming is a precedence.
How we take a look at displays
PC World’s workforce of employees and freelance reviewers conduct in-depth testing to match displays throughout a variety of classes and value factors. We take a look at dozens of displays annually to seek out the very best choose for each class and value level.
Our testing makes use of a SpyderXElite colour calibration instrument. It delivers goal, unbiased measurements for a variety of metrics together with brightness, distinction, colour gamut, colour accuracy, colour temperature, and gamma. Outcomes are recorded and logged for future comparability. This enables our specialists to simply evaluate many displays directly and eliminates subjective bias from the outcomes.