Top-Rated Round and Widescreen Displays: The Ultimate Guide to the Best Curved Monitors

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• We’ve reviewed our recommendations and updated our pick for the best under $500.

Curved monitors aren’t just stylish—they offer substantial benefits, from a more immersive media experience to wider display resolutions for productivity. We’ve hand-picked the best curved monitors you can buy.

UPDATE: 01/18/2024

We’ve reviewed our recommendations and updated our pick for the best under $500.

LG 40WP95C-W

Best Curved Monitor Overall
$1397 at Amazon

Dell S3221QS

Best Budget Curved Monitor
$280 at Amazon

Samsung Odyssey OLED G9

Best Curved Ultrawide Monitor
$1100 at Amazon

MSI Optix MAG342CQR

Best Curved Ultrawide Monitor Under $500
$300 at Amazon

Dell Alienware AW3423DW

Best Curved Gaming Monitor
$899 at Amazon

What to Look For in a Curved Monitor in 2024

There are several reasons why you may want a curved monitor. They offer an immersive viewing experience, help reduce eye strain, and have fewer reflections and glare than flat monitors. But it’s good to understand a few things before picking one up.

One of the key ways in which curved monitors are different from flat monitors is, well, the curve. But the level of curvature can be different across different monitors. So, for example, some monitors have a gentler curve, whereas others are more aggressive.

The level of the curve is specified by the curvature radius, such as 1000R or 1500R. “R” in this label stands for radius, and the preceding number is the circle’s radius that would be formed if the monitor was extended all the way to form a full circle.

The lower the curvature radius, the more aggressively curved a monitor is. So, lower curvature radius monitors provide a more immersive experience at the typical sitting distance of around one meter. When picking a curved monitor, it’s essential to account for its curvature radius.

Apart from the curve radius, the usual features important for any monitor are also essential for a curved monitor. So if you are primarily buying a monitor for gaming, you would want variable refresh rate support, low input lag, and a faster response time . On the other hand, if you are a creative professional, you would prefer full coverage of different color spaces, such as sRGB, AdobeRGB, or DCI-P3, depending on what you create.

Lastly, your budget and available space to put a monitor are also crucial. Even the best curved monitor won’t be much use to you if you can’t fit it on your desk!

Now that we have gone through the basics, it’s time to dive into our recommendations.

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Best Curved Monitor Overall: LG 40WP95C-W

LG

The LG 40WP95C-W is an impressive curved screen. Its 40-inch Nano IPS display offers a vivid and lifelike picture, and the 5K2K (5120x2160) resolution is great for multitasking. More importantly, the monitor has fantastic out-of-the-box color accuracy as it comes factory calibrated. You get full coverage of the sRGB and excellent coverage of AdobeRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces.

The monitor has a solid build quality and comes with a decent set of adjustment options in terms of ergonomics. In addition, the 2500R curve radius is gentle and won’t be a big adjustment even if you are coming from a flat-screen monitor.

LG has packed many connectivity options, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two HDMI 2.0 ports, and one DisplayPort 1.4. One Thunderbolt port can also deliver 96W of power, enough to keep most USB-PD compatible laptops charged. There are two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports onboard as well.

Although the 40WP95C-W is primarily targeted at content creators, it’s also a decent option for casual gaming because of its low input lag. In addition, the monitor natively supports AMD FreeSync and has a 72Hz refresh rate , so there is no screen tearing . But if you want a fast refresh rate, our best gaming monitor recommendation will better serve you.

Unfortunately, the contrast ratio of the LG monitor is low because of its IPS panel, and the company hasn’t included local dimming. Also, it works great with both Windows and Mac computers, but you won’t be able to use the variable refresh rate feature on Mac.

If you find the LG 40WP95C-W too expensive for your budget, the company’s LG Ultragear 34GP950G-B is an excellent alternative. It has a QHD resolution but offers a faster 180Hz refresh rate.

Best Curved Monitor Overall

LG 40WP95C-W

$1397 $1800 Save $403

The LG 40WP95C-W is a fantastic curved monitor. It boasts a 40-inch Nano IPS panel, 5K2K resolution, and excellent color accuracy.

$1397 at Amazon See at bestbuy See at adorama

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Best Budget Curved Monitor: Dell S3221QS

Dell

Dell makes excellent monitors, and the company’s S3221QS is no exception. It’s a solid 4K monitor that’s perfect for people who don’t want to spend a lot. Its 32-inch VA panel is crisp and offers a great contrast ratio.

The creatives will appreciate the monitor’s complete coverage of the sRGB color space as well as great coverage of both AdobeRGB and DCI-P3.

The S3221QS includes two HDMI 2.0 ports and one DisplayPort 1.2 for video input. However, it lacks USB-C connectivity for single cable operation. If that’s a deal breaker, you’ll need to look into another monitor .

While the refresh rate is limited to 60Hz, the monitor supports AMD FreeSync for a variable refresh rate. In addition, it also provides low input lag and a fast response time for responsive gaming.

It’s a little plain looking as far as design is concerned, but that means it will fit in most surroundings. The monitor’s build quality is also good, and you get a 1800R curve radius.

Unfortunately, however, the Dell monitor has poor ergonomics. As a result, you’ll get limited adjustment options to reach your preferred viewing position and will need to work around it. An adjustable stand can help if you need to lift the monitor up.

Best Budget Curved Monitor

Dell S3221QS

$280 $360 Save $80

If you want something affordable, the Dell S3221QS deserves to be on your shortlist with its crisp 4K display and full coverage of the sRGB color space.

$280 at Amazon

Best Curved Ultrawide Monitor: Samsung Odyssey OLED G9

Samsung

The Odyssey OLED G9 from Samsung is the pinnacle of curved monitor technology , a 49-inch super ultrawide behemoth with stunning HDR, near-instantaneous response time, vivid colors, 240Hz refresh rate, perfect blacks, and VRR support.

Its 1800R curve is perfect for an immersive gaming experience, and as long as your workflow doesn’t include tons of text or thin lines—such as CAD software —the OLED G9 is also a near-perfect productivity choice.

Ports-wise, you’re getting a single DisplayPort 1.4, one full-sized HDMI 2.1 , and one Micro-HDMI 2.1 port, all of which support 240Hz refresh rate at the native resolution of 5120x1440.

The monitor also comes with a remote and Samsung’s Tizen platform , which means you can use it as a smart TV. For example, if you want to stream a TV show on Netflix, you don’t have to turn on your PC—just open the built-in app with the remote and start streaming.

When not consuming HDR content, the maximum brightness is high enough to use the monitor in brightly lit environments. Still, you should be aware that, due to the QD-OLED panel found here not having a polarizer, blacks look more like grays in bright environments. Other downsides include the innate burn-in proneness marring every OLED panel and text clarity issues stemming from the unique pixel layout of the Samsung QD-OLED panel the monitor’s based on.

If you’re worried about burn-in but want something similar for gaming, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 doesn’t offer the same black levels and motion clarity but gets pretty close while providing a superb HDR experience. If you’re looking for a productivity-first monitor, check out the HP E45c G5 , a marvelous option for any kind of workflow.

Best Curved Ultrawide Monitor

Samsung Odyssey OLED G9

$1100 $1600 Save $500

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 is a fantastic super ultrawide monitor with impressive image quality, lightning-fast response time, and respectable HDR performance.

$1100 at Amazon See at Samsung

Best Curved Ultrawide Monitor Under $500: MSI Optix MAG342CQR

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MSI

The MSI Optix MAG342CQR is one of the many 34-inch ultrawide options you can get for less than $500 that all come with a curved, 1500R VA panel , 3440 x 1440 resolution, and 144Hz refresh rate. And among the competition, the MSI Optix MAG342CQR offers excellent value and is one of the best implementations of the said 1500R VA panel.

For about $330, you’re getting good enough motion performance at 144Hz for single-player gaming, about 300 nits of maximum brightness, enough to use the monitor in bright environments, VRR support, and a versatile stand that isn’t the most stable but supports height, tilt, and swivel.

The 1500R curve is just right for an immersive gaming experience. And despite having a VA panel, you can use the MSI Optix MAG342CQR for color-critical work as long as you’re working in the sRGB color space and sit right in front of the monitor. That said, the monitor has a wide color gamut, covering about 90% of the DCI-P3 color space. Despite having a wide color gamut, you shouldn’t expect a decent HDR experience due to the middling maximum brightness and the absence of full-array local dimming . On the flip side, the contrast ratio here is excellent and way higher than what you’d get with any IPS panel.

Note that the MSI Optix MAG342CQR comes with two HDMI 2.0 ports and a single DisplayPort 1.4 connector, with the two HDMI ports topping out at 100Hz at the native resolution. In other words, if you want to have the native 144Hz refresh rate, use the DisplayPort connector.

Aside from a little sluggish response time—at least when compared to pricier options—and less than stellar stand stability, the MSI Optix MAG342CQR has no significant shortcomings. If you want something with better motion clarity that sells at a similar price, the Dell S3422DWG is an excellent choice. Otherwise, I’d advise against buying any of the overpriced IPS ultrawides and recommend aiming for the Alienware AW3423DW , Alienware AW3423DWF , or any other 34-inch ultrawide OLED/QD-OLED option instead.

Best Curved Ultrawide Monitor Under $500

MSI Optix MAG342CQR

Among the budget 34-inch ultrawide offerings, the MSI Optix MAG342CQR stands out thanks to its competitive pricing, excellent image quality, and a pretty good contrast ratio.

$300 at Amazon

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Best Curved Gaming Monitor: Dell Alienware AW3423DW

Dell

The Dell Alienware AW3423DW is the first monitor to ship with the new QD-OLED panel. This Samsung Display-made panel offers perfect blacks and lifelike colors. It also gets brighter than the W-OLED panels traditionally used in OLED TVs and monitors. So you can expect stunning visuals for a great gaming experience.

The monitor is also filled with tons of gaming-related features, such as a fast 175Hz refresh rate, native support for Nvidia G-Sync, AMD FreeSync compatibility, and an FPS counter. Additionally, gaming on the monitor feels responsive thanks to AW3423DW’s quick response time and low input lag.

Among other features, HDR support is present, and thanks to the monitor’s wide color gamut and decent brightness, the HDR content is a treat to watch, including in games.

Ports include one DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0, and four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports. In addition, you can use the USB-A ports to connect a wide variety of peripherals. You just need the space to put the monitor on your desk in the first place, ad this Alienware monitor isn’t small.

As is typical for OLED panels, the Alienware AW3423DW is sadly susceptible to burn-in . But Dell has included several features to reduce the chances of that happening and also offers a three-year replacement warranty for burn-in.

Best Curved Gaming Monitor

Dell Alienware AW3423DW

$899 $1100 Save $201

Thanks to the QD-OLED panel, the Dell Alienware AW3423DW offers a stunning picture quality. In addition, the monitor has everything that modern gamers want.

$899 at Amazon See at Dell