The Best Curved Monitors (2021 Reviews)

There was a time when curved screens were considered a passing fad, but with more and more monitors being released nowadays with steeper and steeper curvatures, they’re evidently here to stay.

While back in the day, you had to pay extra for a curved screen, that’s no longer the case; in fact, some curved monitors are more affordable than their flat-screen counterparts.

As there are numerous curved displays available, both good and bad, we narrowed down your options to only the absolute best and most cost-effective models currently available!

Curved monitors allow for a wider field of view, therefore, increasing immersion for gaming, watching videos, and other use. They also help eliminate distortion at edges of the screen and provide extra depth to the picture!

Although curvature isn’t as necessary on regular 16:9 widescreen monitors as it is on ultrawide or super-ultrawide displays, it does provide a slightly more immersive viewing experience and makes the design look cooler.

Monitor curvatures range from 1000R (steep) to 3800R (subtle).

In order to ensure you’re getting the perfect curved monitor for you, make use of our reviews below and feel free to leave us a comment below if you need further assistance.

We’ve categorized our top-recommended curved monitors by three budget categories: budget ($150 – $300), mid-range ($350 – $800), and high-end ($1,000+).

You can check out all curved monitors available in our curved monitor list and filter them by screen size, resolution, panel type, resolution, and more!

If you want to view our changelogs for this particular buying guide, you can do so at the end of this article.

Best Budget Curved Monitors

In this category, we have the most affordable curved monitors available ranging from ~$150 up to $300.

Just because a monitor is cheap, it doesn’t mean that it won’t provide you with excellent picture quality and smooth performance! 

About The Monitor

The AOC C24G1A is the cheapest curved gaming monitor that offers 144Hz. In fact, it’s even cheaper than some 60Hz alternatives!

It used to sell for over $200, now it’s priced at $180 maximum, but it usually goes for just $144.99 which is a steal! 

Image Quality

Just like most curved monitors, the AOC C24G1A features a VA (Vertical Alignment) panel.

This panel technology provides a superior static contrast ratio of 3,000:1, which, in comparison to IPS and TN panels that usually max out at 1,000:1, results in much deeper blacks and brighter whites.

As a result, the details in the shadows and highlights of the picture are more vivid.

Their colors are excellent as well. While they aren’t quite as consistent as that of IPS panels, they are much better than that of any TN panel; the colors are vibrant and accurate, just not consistent enough for professional color-critical work.

The AOC C24G1A has a 120% sRGB color gamut and comes with a pre-calibrated sRGB picture preset. It supports 8-bit color depth without dithering (true 8-bit) for 16.7 million colors.

Other panel-related specifications include a 250-nit peak brightness and a 3,000:1 static contrast ratio.

The maximum brightness may seem low on paper, but it’s more than enough under normal viewing conditions.

While the viewing angles are 178° both horizontally and vertically, they aren’t quite as immaculate as that of IPS panels, so there are some minor changes in contrast when looking at the screen off-axis.

The biggest downside of VA panel monitors is the pixel response time speed.

Basically, due to its deep blacks, pixels take longer to change from blacks into brighter shades, which results in noticeable smearing of fast-moving objects.

However, this is only mildly visible in specific scenarios, mostly when dark pixels are predominant in the picture.

For non-professional FPS gaming, it will be just fine, and most gamers won’t even notice any artifacts; the AOC C24G1A is actually one of the faster VA panel displays.

With 144Hz, even moving your cursor and application windows across your desktop will feel and look smoother.

After playing some video games where you can get over 100FPS, you won’t be able to go back to 60Hz/75Hz as motion simply becomes incredibly smoother at higher refresh rates.

Features

Moving on, the AOC C24G1A supports AMD FreeSync with a 48-144Hz VRR (variable refresh rate) range. You can also overclock the monitor to 165Hz!

FreeSync allows the monitor to change its refresh rate dynamically in synchronization with GPU’s frame rates, thus eliminating screen tearing and stuttering with virtually no input lag penalty (~1ms).

It works as long as your frame rate is within the monitor’s VRR range, but even if your FPS drops below 48, LFC kicks in and multiplies the frame rate (47FPS -> 94Hz) for smoother performance.

For FreeSync, you will need a compatible graphics card by AMD or NVIDIA (only GTX 10-series or newer).

Now, the monitor is not certified as G-SYNC compatible by NVIDIA, and some units are affected by the FreeSync brightness flickering issue in some video games/applications.

The C24G1A also has an MBR (Motion Blur Reduction) technology, which via backlight strobing reduces perceived motion blur and ghosting.

However, it sacrifices picture brightness in the process, and it can’t be active at the same time as FreeSync.

You can adjust the frequency of backlight strobing in increments of 1 (from 0 to 20) and find the perfect trade-off between picture brightness and motion clarity for you.

Other features include Shadow Control (improves visibility of objects in shadows), Game Color (color saturation presets), pre-calibrated picture modes, and a crosshair overlay.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is also exceptional considering its price. You get a sturdy metal stand with height adjustment up to 130mm, tilt by -5°/20°, swivel by +/- 35°, and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

While the screen has a steep 1500R curvature, it’s not particularly noticeable since it’s only a 24″ sized screen, but it does provides a little bit of extra depth and makes the monitor look sleeker.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 1.4 ports, one DisplayPort 1.2 input, VGA, and a headphones jack. All HDMI and DisplayPort inputs support 144Hz at 1920×1080, as well as AMD FreeSync. Only DisplayPort supports 165Hz.

Note that ‘G-SYNC Compatible’ only works over DisplayPort.

Alternatives

The older version of this monitor, the AOC C24G1, is a good option if the C24G1A is not available. However, the C24G1A is not factory-overclockable and it doesn’t support wide color gamut.

The AOC C24G1 is also available as a 27″ sized variant, the AOC C27G1. However, we recommend the 24″ model because it’s cheaper and has a higher pixel density (pixel per inch ratio).

In other words, because the 27″ model has a larger screen size, but keeps the 1920×1080 resolution, it will have a more pixelated picture – yet it costs more, whereas the C24G1/A has a more crisp and sharp image.

Some users don’t mind the lower pixel density and prefer a larger monitor, in which case the C27G1 is a good option.

There aren’t really any other cheaper curved monitors, even with lower refresh rates. For instance, the Samsung C24F396 has a 75Hz refresh rate but also costs $150 without any advantages over the C24G1A.

In case the AOC C24GA1 is not available in your region, we recommend checking out the MSI MAG241C, the Samsung C24FG73, and the Samsung C24RG50 as alternatives.

About The Monitor

The Gigabyte G27QC and G32QCA improve on the C24G1A by providing you with a bigger screen as well as a higher screen resolution while keeping a high contrast ratio, rich colors, ergonomic stand, and most importantly, a high refresh rate.

Image Quality

With the Quad HD resolution of 2560×1440 pixels, you get the perfect pixel per inch ratio on 27″ sized screens. There’s plenty of screen space available while the details are crystal-clear without having to use any scaling!

On a 32″ display, 1440p gets you the same pixel density as that of a 24″ 1080p monitor – so, a bigger screen for added immersion, while the amount of screen real estate and detail clarity remains the same.

Keep in mind that 1440p is more demanding to drive than 1080p, especially at higher frame rates, so make sure your PC rig will be able to handle it.

The Gigabyte G27QC and the G32QCA both have a high 3,000:1 contrast ratio and wide color gamut (~90% DCI-P3). The 32″ model can get a bit brighter with a 350-nit peak brightness (400-nits for HDR) as opposed to 250-nits of the 27″ variant.

This wide color gamut results in more saturated and lifelike colors, but it can also make some sRGB content appear over-saturated. Luckily, you can just use the provided sRGB mode to restrict the color output to ~100% sRGB.

Features

Both monitors support AMD FreeSync with a 48-165Hz VRR range, but they’re not certified by NVIDIA as G-SYNC compatible. Some units may be affected by the FreeSync brightness flickering issue.

Other features such as MBR, custom crosshair overlays, pre-calibrated picture presets, Black Equalizer, etc. are available as well.

Design & Connectivity

The Gigabyte G27QC offers height adjustment up to 130mm, -5°/20° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility. Ergonomics are the same on the G32QCA, though you get a bit less (100mm) room for height adjustment.

Connectivity options on the G27QC include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, a dual-USB 3.0 hub, a headphone jack and two 2W integrated speakers.

The G32QCA has DisplayPort 1.2 instead of DisplayPort 1.4 and it doesn’t have integrated speakers.

Alternatives​

Alternatively, check out the AOC CQ27G2 or the AOC CQ32G3S with similar image quality, performance and features.

If the AOC and Gigabyte models are not available or overpriced in your region, check out the Samsung CJG56 or CJG50 as budget-friendly alternatives.

Looking for something a bit different? Check out the Samsung G5 series with an even steeper 1000R curvature, though without wide color gamut.

About The Monitor

If you’re looking for something a bit different, check out the Sceptre C305B-200UN, one of the most affordable curved gaming monitors!

Image Quality

This 30″ 21:9 ultrawide display is as tall as a regular ~24″ widescreen monitor, but it offers ~33% of extra horizontal space for a wider field of view and more immersive viewing experience.

Screen curvature on ultrawide monitors (in this case it’s 1800R) is very important as it brings the edges of the screen closer to your peripheral vision, thus eliminating image distortion, among other things.

Additionally, the Sceptre C305B uses a VA panel for the superior 3,000:1 static contrast ratio while its peak brightness and color gamut are decent at 250-nits and ~90% sRGB, respectively.

With its 2560×1080 UWHD resolution displayed on a 29.5″ viewable screen, you get a pixel density of 94 PPI, which is roughly equivalent to 1080p on 24″ monitors in terms of detail clarity.

Plus, you get an extra horizontal workspace, which is excellent for games, 21:9 movies, productivity work, and video editing!

Another exceptional thing about this budget monitor is the rapid 200Hz refresh rate, which is overclocked from the native 144Hz.

Even though it uses a VA panel which struggles with pixel response time from dark to lighter shades, there’s only minor black smearing visible at 200Hz, and that’s only in darker scenes.

Depending on the video game and your FPS, you may want to set the monitor to 144Hz instead as you’ll get less visible smearing at lower frame rates.

Features

The Sceptre C305B-200UN supports AMD FreeSync with a 48-200Hz refresh rate and it offers stable G-SYNC performance, even though it’s not certified by NVIDIA as ‘G-SYNC Compatible’.

Other features include pre-calibrated FPS and RTS presets, Picture in Picture/Picture by Picture, and standard picture adjustment tools such as brightness, contrast, hue/saturation, and gamma.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is tilt-only, but it’s robust and you can easily detach it and mount the screen on a third-party stand using the provided 75x75mm VESA mount adapter.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0, two HDMI 1.4 ports, a headphones jack, and dual 3W built-in speakers. For 200Hz, you’ll need to use DP while HDMI 2.0 maxes out at 165Hz at 2560×1080.

Alternatives

In case you’re looking for something similar but cheaper, check out the Viotek GNV29CB with a lower 120Hz refresh rate.

Best Mid-Range Curved Monitors

If you can afford something a bit pricier, you’ll find the best $350 – $800 curved monitors right here!

About The Monitor

The Samsung Odyssey G7 series (C27G75T, C32G75T) boasts a high 240Hz refresh rate and a rapid 1ms GtG pixel response time speed combined with high contrast ratio, wide color gamut, and strong peak brightness for an excellent mixture of immersion and responsiveness.

Image Quality

With the G7 monitors, you get a very similar SDR picture quality in comparison to the Gigabyte G27/32QCA monitors mentioned above.

However, when it comes to HDR, you get a boost in peak brightness to 600-nits for punchier highlights and there are 8 dimming zones that can further improve contrast ratio, depending on the scene.

But, that’s not all!

It is when we get to the performance that the G7 models really shine. They’re the first VA monitors with a 1ms GtG pixel response time speed, allowing them to eliminate all prominent ghosting behind fast-moving objects, even in dark scenes!

The response time is not only great at 240Hz but at any other refresh rate too as the overdrive is well-optimized!

Features

The Samsung G7 supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro with certified G-SYNC Compatibility up to 240Hz with a 60-240Hz VRR range for the 27″ model and 80-240Hz for the 32″ variant.

Other features include Samsung’s standard Aim Point crosshairs, picture presets, Black Equalizer, and MBR utilities.

For more information, visit our detailed Samsung C32G75T review.

Design & Connectivity

The Odyssey G7 monitors have aggressive 1000R screen curvature, which is supposed to match the curvature of the human eye for added immersion!

Further, the design is robust and ergonomic with up to 120mm height adjustment, +/- 15° swivel, 90° rotate, -9°/13° tilt, and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include two DisplayPort 1.4 sockets, HDMI 2.0 (limited to 144Hz), a headphones jack, and a dual-USB 3.0 hub. You will need a graphics card with DisplayPort 1.4 DSC support for 1440p 240Hz and 10-bit color.

With older GPUs, you’ll be limited to 8-bit color with 240Hz at 1440p or 144Hz at 1440p with 10-bit color.

About The Monitor

Want a big 32″ monitor and 4K UHD resolution? The Philips 328E1CA is the most cost-effective such model that’s also curved, but just like with all 4K monitors at this price range, you’ll be limited to 60Hz.

Image Quality

The Philips 328E1CA features 4K Ultra HD resolution with 3840×2160 pixels, which most users find perfect for 32″ monitors as you get incredibly vivid details and plenty of screen space.

Some users prefer not to use scaling at this pixel density, while others will use at least 125% – it’s up to you.

Other panel-related specifications include a wide 120% sRGB color gamut, a 2,500:1 contrast ratio, and a 300-nit peak brightness.

It’s the perfect monitor for watching videos, productivity work, and even photo/video editing if you don’t require professional-grade color accuracy. Games will look great too – if you have a proper PC system to sustain ~60FPS at 4K.

Features

The Philips 328E1CA comes factory-calibrated at Delta E < 2 when using its sRGB preset which will restrict the saturated 120% gamut to 100% sRGB for less vibrant, but more accurate colors.

It also supports AMD FreeSync, but with a very narrow 48-60Hz VRR range which means LFC is not supported and that when your FPS drops below 48, FreeSync will not work until your frame rate recovers.

Design & Connectivity

While the stand of the monitor is tilt-only, you can easily detach it and mount it on a third-party stand via the 100x100mm VESA pattern.

The screen has a steep curvature of 1500R, which is quite noticeable given the 32″ size of the monitor; it provides extra depth and makes the viewing experience more immersive.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 2.0 ports, an audio line-out port for headphones, and line-in for the dual 3W built-in speakers.

Alternatives​

• MSI MAG321CURV – A more gamer-y 32″ 4K curved monitor based on the same panel. It supports HDR, but it doesn’t even have a wide color gamut, so its HDR support is useless.
  Since it’s also more expensive, we don’t recommend it over the Philips unless you really prefer its design; It’s height-adjustable, has a dual-USB 3.0 hub, and a USB-C port with DP Alt Mode, but no Power Delivery.

About The Monitor

The Gigabyte G34WQC is one of the best gaming monitors out there when it comes to value for the price. Although it has its downsides, the immersion it offers for the money is simply impossible to beat.

Image Quality

Based on a curved VA panel with a 3,000:1 contrast ratio, a 400-nit peak brightness, 3440×1440 resolution, and a wide 120% sRGB color gamut, the monitor offers an exceptional picture quality.

The 3440×1440 resolution is ideal for 34″ monitors as you get a pixel density of ~110 PPI meaning that you get plenty of screen space and vivid details without any scaling necessary.

Furthermore, it’s not as demanding as 4K, allowing you to reach high frame rates and enjoy smooth motion clarity.

Naturally, some black smearing will be visible in dark scenes of fast-paced games. Still, it isn’t essential unless you’re mainly a competitive FPS gamer, in which case you’d be more interested in a 240Hz monitor at this price range anyway.

All in all, you get vivid details, rich colors, and deep blacks while the big 34″ ultrawide curved screen increases your field of view in games for a more enjoyable gaming experience.

The monitor is also particularly great for productivity work, watching films, and audio/video editing.

Features

Equipped with Motion Blur Reduction (called Aim Stabilizer), the monitor can further reduce perceived ghosting via backlight strobing. It also supports FreeSync with a 48-144Hz VRR range.

Unfortunately, there are some brightness flickering issues when using FreeSync with both AMD and NVIDIA cards.

This doesn’t seem to affect every unit of the monitor, and the intensity of brightness flickering will vary across different games; in some, there won’t be any issues while in others, you will simply have to disable FreeSync.

At any rate, thanks to its image quality and performance without VRR, we can let the FreeSync performance slide as you’ll most likely still be able to use it in some games.

In video games where the brightness flickering occurs too often, we suggest using MBR for less ghosting or V-Sync for no screen tearing instead.

Other features include custom crosshairs, Black Equzlier, Color Vibrance, pre-calibrated picture presets (including sRGB mode), PiP/PbP, DisplayHDR 400 support.

Design & Connectivity

You can adjust the height of the monitor by up to 100mm, tilt it by -5°/20°, or mount it via the 100x100mm pattern; the screen has a steep 1500R curvature for added immersion.

Connectivity options include two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, two HDMI 2.0 ports (max 100Hz at 3440×1440), a headphones jack, and dual 2W integrated speakers.

Alternatives​

If you’re looking for something similar, check out the AOC CU34G2X with the same panel.

About The Monitor

With the LG 34GL750, you get smooth VRR performance as well as faster pixel response time for no ghosting whatsoever thanks to its certified G-SYNC compatibility and IPS panel, but it has a lower 2560×1080 screen resolution.

Image Quality

On 34″ sized monitors, 2560×1080 results in the same pixel density as 1920×1080 does on 27″ monitors.

You get roughly 81 pixels per inch, meaning that the picture will be somewhat pixelated if you’re looking at it up close. Most people will find it tolerable for video games and other video entertainment purposes, though.

Additionally, the lower 2560×1080 resolution is a lot easier on your GPU, allowing you to reach those higher frames more easily and take full advantage of the monitor’s 144Hz refresh rate.

Thanks to the quick pixel response time of its IPS panel, the LG 34GL750 has no prominent motion blur or smearing in fast-paced games, making it ideal for FPS gamers who want a more immersive ultrawide gaming experience.

The IPS panel of the monitor also ensures impeccable viewing angles as well as accurate and consistent colors though its lower 1,000:1 contrast ratio means that blacks won’t be as deep as that of VA panel monitors with 3,000:1 contrast.

Features

With certified G-SYNC compatibility, flawless FreeSync performance is guaranteed with compatible NVIDIA cards and there aren’t any issues when using it with AMD cards either.

Other features include Black Stabilizer, custom crosshair, pre-calibrated picture presets, software-emulated HDR support, and the 1ms MBR backlight strobing technology. 

Design & Connectivity

The monitor features a height-adjustable stand up to 120mm as well as -5°/20° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility while connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports, and a headphones jack.

Its screen curvature is only 3800R which is very subtle, but it still helps by bringing the edges of the screen closer to you thus decreasing image distortion.

Alternatives​

Be sure to check out the LG 34UC79G model as well. It uses the same panel and although it’s not certified by NVIDIA as G-SYNC compatible, it does offer stable G-SYNC performance.

The LG 34UC79G also has a dual-USB hub, so depending on the price and availability, you may want to consider it.

Best High-End UltraWide Curved Monitors

Here, you will find the best ultrawide curved monitors.

About The Monitor

The LG 34GP83A increases the speed as well as the resolution of the LG 34GL750 for a both more immersive and more responsive gaming experience.

Image Quality

Based on LG’s newer Nano IPS panel technology, the LG 34GP83A supports a wide 98% DCI-P3 color gamut which is equivalent to 135% sRGB for even more vibrant and vivid colors!

Naturally, you can also restrict the color output to ~100% sRGB if you need more accurate colors.

The monitor supports HDR and has a peak brightness of 400-nits, so some content may look slightly better, but since the contrast ratio is only 1,000:1 and as there’s no local dimming, HDR shouldn’t be a reason to buy this monitor.

Features

The LG 34GP83A supports FreeSync with a 48-144Hz VRR range, and NVIDIA certifies it as G-SYNC compatible.

You can overclock the monitor to 160Hz if you drop the color depth from 10-bit to 8-bit. In that case, the VRR range is increased as well to 48-160Hz.

Another advantage this IPS ultrawide gaming monitor has over the other models is its rapid 1ms GtG response time speed, which prevents ghosting and overshoot in fast-paced games.

Other features include custom crosshairs, pre-calibrated picture presets, and Black Stabilizer.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor offers height adjustment up to 110mm, tilt by -5°/15°, and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility. Unlike the LG 34GL750, the LG 34GP83A has a steep 1900R curvature.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 inputs (max 85Hz at 3440×1440), a dual-USB 3.0 hub, and a headphones jack.

Alternatives

The previous model of this monitor, the LG 34GK950F, has the same 98% DCI-P3 color gamut, but a slower response time speed. Other popular IPS ultrawides include the Dell AW3418DW and the Acer X34P.

These two models have a native refresh rate of 100Hz (overclockable to 120Hz) and only cover the standard sRGB color space. Since all these models go for ~$750 – $1,000, we recommend investing in the LG 34GP83A as it’s the best one.

Note that there’s also the LG 34GN850, which is the same monitor as the 34GP83A, but with a slightly different design and OSD menu yet it goes for ~$150+ more.

About The Monitor

The Dell Alienware AW3821DW is essentially a beefed-up version of the 34GP83A.

Image Quality

With the AW381DW, you’re not only getting a larger 38″ screen but also a higher screen resolution to back it up to maintain the ideal pixel density of ~110 PPI. This also means higher PC system requirements!

Other panel-related specifications are similar and include HDR10 support, a 1,000:1 static contrast ratio, a 450-nit peak brightness, 1ms GtG response time, and a wide 95% DCI-P3 color gamut.

Sadly, there’s no sRGB emulation mode meaning that SDR content will have over-saturated colors, though some users might prefer this.

HDR content also gets a boost in peak brightness to 600-nits for more vivid details in highlights of the picture, and there are 32 dimming zones that can push the contrast ratio a bit in certain scenes.

As there’s no DSC support, you will need to drop the color depth to 8-bit for 144H. For 10-bit color, you will need to lower the refresh rate to 120Hz.

Features

The Dell AW3821DW has a dedicated G-SYNC module for flawless VRR performance up to 144FPS, and you can even use VRR with AMD graphics cards over DisplayPort.

Other gaming features include various picture presets and Dark Stabilizer.

Design & Connectivity

The monitor has a 2300R curvature which nicely complements the large 38″ screen and improves the viewing and gaming experience.

You can adjust the height of the monitor up to 130mm, tilt it by -5°/21°, +/- 20° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include a single DisplayPort 1.4 input, two HDMI 2.0 ports (max 85Hz), a quad-USB 3.0 hub, a headphone jack and audio-out.

The G-SYNC module also has a cooling fan, which depending on the unit and your personal sensitivity, can be somewhat noisy.

Alternatives

• LG 38GN950 – has an sRGB mode, but it doesn’t have a G-SYNC module (it is G-SYNC Compatible). It also has fewer dimming zones (16), yet it’s more expensive.

Best High-End Super-UltraWide Curved Monitors

Interested in something even more exotic?

You’ll find the best 32:9 monitors available below! These monitors offer an even wider field of view in compatible games.

About The Monitor

Is 21:9 not wide enough for you? Check out the Samsung CHG90 with a 32:9 aspect ratio for even more immersion!

Image Quality

This 49″ sized super ultra-wide monitor is equivalent to two 27″ 1920×1080 monitors put side by side, just without the bezel gap in-between.

The gigantic 1800R curved screen of the monitor wraps your entire peripheral vision and takes your gaming experience to the next level.

It has a VA panel with a high 3,000:1 contrast ratio for deep blacks, a strong 600-nit peak brightness for HDR content, eight dimming zones, and a wide 125% sRGB color gamut (factory-calibrated) for vibrant colors.

Its 3840×1080 resolution results in a pixel density of around 80 PPI, same as 1080p on 27″ sized monitors, meaning that details won’t be particularly sharp, but since you’ll be sitting a bit further from the screen, individual pixels won’t be noticeable.

Make sure that your favorite games support the 32:9 aspect ratio. Games that only support 16:9 and/or 21:9 format will have to be displayed with black bars at the sides or be stretched-out or zoomed-in to fill the screen.

Features

The Samsung C49HG90 supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro with a 48-144Hz VRR range, but some units suffer from brightness flickering.

It also features backlight strobing for reduced motion blur and ghosting in fast-paced games. You can activate it by setting the ‘Response Time’ option to either Faster or Fastest.

Other features include pre-calibrated picture presets (including an sRGB mode), PiP/PbP, and Black Equalizer.

Keep in mind that this monitor uses PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation) to regulate brightness, which includes flickering that’s invisible to the human eye. Still, those extremely sensitive to it may experience headaches after prolonged use.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is very deep, so make sure you have a wide enough desk for it! It’s also versatile with up to 120mm height adjustment, +/- 15° swivel, -4°/17° tilt, and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options are abundant and include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, mini-DisplayPort 1.2, a headphones jack, microphone input and output ports, and a dual-USB 3.0 hub.

Alternatives​

Now, there are many super ultra-wide monitors at this price range. The one we’ll get into next, the Samsung C49RG90, is an upgraded model of the CHG90 and has a higher 5120×1440 resolution, among other extra features.

As far as the 3840×1080 models go, the Samsung CHG90 offers the best value for the price. There are some 43.4″ models which, due to their smaller screen size, offer a higher pixel density, but they don’t have as many features.

For instance, the Samsung C43J890 has a lower 120Hz refresh rate, no FreeSync support, and no HDR support (no wider color gamut, local dimming, nor high peak brightness), yet it costs just as much as the CHG90.

The ASUS XG43VQ does support FreeSync Premium Pro up to 120Hz and has DisplayHDR 400, but once again, it lacks proper HDR capabilities and has a notably smaller screen at the same price as the Samsung C49HG90.

About The Monitor

The Samsung C49RG90 is an upgraded version of the C49HG90. It offers a higher 5120×1440 resolution and DisplayHDR 1000.

In fact, the CRG9 model offers better value for the price. If you’re spending $1,000 on a monitor, you might as well invest an extra ~$100 for a notably higher resolution and better HDR support.

The thing is, 5120×1440 is going to be considerably more demanding on your GPU. You’ll need at least the RTX 2080 for over 60FPS and decent settings in most games.

So, unless you have or plan to get a high-end PC rig, the CRG9 may not be for you.

Image Quality

Just like the CHG90, the CRG90 is based on a 49″ 1800R curved VA panel, but instead of being equivalent to two 27″ 1080p monitors without the gap, it resembles two 27″ 1440p displays with higher pixel density (~108 PPI).

Furthermore, you get 95% DCI-P3 (125% sRGB) wide color gamut support, a high 3,000:1 contrast ratio, and a high 1000-nit peak brightness (600-nits typical).

There are ten dimming zones that won’t provide the true HDR viewing experience as OLED, or FALD displays do, but in some games, HDR content will look remarkably better!

The monitor has a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz if the color depth is set to 8-bit. For 10-bit color, the refresh rate is limited to 100Hz due to bandwidth limitations of DisplayPort 1.4.

This isn’t a big issue as the difference between 8-bit color, and 10-bit color is barely noticeable in games, and even if you do go for 10-bit color, you’ll hardly surpass 100FPS with decent settings anyway.

Features

AMD FreeSync Premium Pro is supported with a 48-120Hz VRR range, but some units may be affected by the brightness flickering issue.

Unlike the CHG90, the CRG90 doesn’t support backlight strobing, but it handles motion better, so there’s no need for it, and the backlight is completely flicker-free.

Other features include pre-calibrated picture presets (FPS, RTS, RPG, sRGB, etc), custom crosshairs, and Black Equalizer for better visibility in darker games.

Design & Connectivity

The design is basically identical to that of the CHG90 and offers the same ergonomic abilities with up to 120mm height adjustment, +/- 15° swivel, -4°/19° tilt, and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options are more extensive though and include two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, an HDMI 2.0 port (max 60Hz at 5120×1440 or 120Hz at 3840×1080), a headphones jack as well as microphone output and input ports.

There are four downstream USB ports in total: 2x 2.0 and 2x 3.0 – plus a single upstream USB port.

About The Monitor

The next in line is Samsung’s Odyssey G9 model which keeps the 5120×1440 resolution and DisplayHDR 1000 support, but ups the refresh rate to 240Hz and brings an improved pixel response time speed of 1ms GtG!

Image Quality

The Samsung C49G95T offers a similar viewing experience as the CRG9 model with a 1,000-nit peak brightness, a wide 95% DCI-P3 color gamut, and a slightly lower 2,500:1 static contrast ratio with ten dimming zones.

When it comes to performance, the G9 has not only a higher and more future-proof 240Hz refresh rate, but also a faster 1ms GtG response time speed for minimal ghosting in fast-paced games regardless of your refresh rate.

It also has certified G-SYNC Compatibility (60-240Hz VRR range) in addition to AMD’s FreeSync Premium Pro certification.

Other features include custom crosshairs, picture presets, Black Equalizer, and Picture in Picture/Picture by Picture.

Note that using Picture by Picture limits you to 120Hz via the 1006.2 or newer firmware. Previously, you were limited to only 60Hz.

For more information, check out our full Samsung G9 review.

Design & Connectivity

Another thing that makes the G9 different from the rest of 32:9 ultrawide displays is its steep 1000R curvature for increased immersion. The design is also more eye-catching with glossy white chassis and RGB lighting at the back.

You can adjust the height of the monitor up to 120mm, tilt it by -5°/15°, swivel by +/- 15°, or VESA mount it.

Connectivity options include two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, HDMI 2.0 (max 60Hz at 5120×1440 or 120Hz at 3840×1080), a headphones jack, and a dual-USB 3.0 hub.

For 240Hz at 5120×1440, you will need a graphics card with DisplayPort 1.4 DSC. Otherwise, you’ll be limited to 120Hz.

Alternatives

The updated version of this monitor, the Neo G9, offers an improved HDR viewing experience thanks to its 2048-zone FALD mini LED backlight, but it’s also more expensive (~$2,500). A dedicated review section will be added to this guide soon, in the meantime, be sure to check out our full Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 review as there are some firmware/driver issues you should be aware of.

Conclusion

So, which one is your dream curved gaming monitor? Leave a comment below if you have any questions or thoughts about this buyer’s guide!

Overall, if you’re on a tight budget, you can’t go wrong with the AOC C24G1A for the money, whereas the Gigabyte G32QC and the G34WQC are ideal if you have a bit more powerful PC rig.

In case you can afford something pricier, each monitor included in this guide has its advantages and disadvantages, but the Samsung G7 and the Samsung Neo G9 offer an exceptional gaming experience.