Do you need an enormous quantity of usable show area, but in addition need to persist with a single monitor? If so, an ultrawide monitor is the ticket. These screens have a wider show panel that’s much more spectacular, and immersive, than your common widescreen. We’ve examined a bunch of ultrawide screens in an effort to title the most effective picks in numerous classes. You can be taught extra about our analysis course of and what to search for in an ultrawide monitor under our suggestions.  

You can discover much more monitor suggestions in our roundup of the best monitors.

1. Alienware AW3423DWF – Best ultrawide monitor

Pros

• Excellent distinction ratio 
• Top-notch coloration gamut and accuracy
• Great movement readability 
• Respectable HDR efficiency
• Extremely aggressive worth

Cons

• Stand is a bit too massive
• No USB-C
• Maximum 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, however it’s higher worth than different OLED screens accessible proper now.

Image high quality is the place it stands out. It delivers a vivid, immersive, wealthy expertise with deep black ranges and vibrant highlights, that are enhanced by the show’s shiny end. Movies and video games appear practically three-dimensional—as should you’re wanting via a window, not looking at a monitor.

What’s the catch? The monitor shouldn’t be vibrant, particularly in SDR, so it’s a nasty selection for a brightly lit room. We additionally observed the OLED panel has bother rendering small fonts easily. These are minor points, although, and shouldn’t bother most house owners.

This monitor targets avid gamers, so it affords an enhanced refresh charge of as much as 165Hz and helps AMD FreeSync Premium Pro for clean body pacing in video games. However, its glorious picture high quality will probably 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.

Read our full
Review Alienware AW3423DWF

2. Asus ProArtwork PA348CGV – Best ultrawide monitor for professionals

Pros

• Excellent SDR picture high quality 
• Sturdy, hefty design 
• Wide vary of customization
• 120Hz refresh charge

Cons

• USB-C hub lacks video-out or ethernet
• HDR is merely satisfactory

The Asus ProArtwork 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 coloration gamut, glorious coloration accuracy, and a digital buffet of image-quality calibration options that allow customers exactly tune the picture. It’s additionally a vibrant and vivid monitor, making it simple to make use of in practically any workplace. Admittedly, it doesn’t set any information in picture high quality exams—however it ties or comes near alternate options which are tons of of {dollars} costlier.

Asus throws in a helpful USB-C port that helps DisplayPort Alternate Mode and delivers 90 watts of USB Power Delivery. It additionally drives a USB-A hub with 4 downstream ports. Additional video connectivity consists of two HDMI and one DisplayPort for a complete of 4 enter choices.

Surprisingly, Asus throws in an enhanced refresh charge as much as 120Hz. It’s not offered as a gaming monitor, however it could deal with gaming properly sufficient. That’s excellent news should you want one dwelling workplace monitor for each work and play.

Read our full
Review Asus ProArt PA348CGV

3. LG Ultragear 34GN850 – Best finances ultrawide for avid gamers

Pros

• 21:9 panel with a 34-inch display screen
• Curved monitor
• Impressive gaming efficiency
• Ergonomic adjustment choices

Cons

• Only common energy consumption
• Expensive

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. Originally $999.99, this monitor is now accessible for $699.99 (and generally much less).

That’s nice information. Although surpassed by the Alienware, LG’s Ultragear 34GN850-B is a gorgeous monitor with glorious coloration efficiency, good picture readability, and a vibrant, vivid image. It has an enhanced refresh charge of as much as 144Hz (with a 160Hz overclocked mode) and helps each AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync for clean gameplay.

Its weak point? Contrast. The IPS panel scores decrease in distinction than different screens on this record, together with the Asus ProArtwork 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 may be anticipated of a high-end monitor together with a sturdy ergonomic stand and enticing design. 

Read our full
Review LG Ultragear 34GN850

4. AOC CU34G2X – Best finances ultrawide

Pros

• Gaming monitor in ultrawide 21:9 format
• Impressive gaming efficiency
• Large 34-inch curved panel
• Ergonomic adjustment choices

Ultrawide screens have many perks, however low pricing shouldn’t be amongst them. Fortunately, finances consumers 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 offers a superb distinction ratio and delivers vivid coloration efficiency. It additionally has the identical 3440×1440 decision as the opposite screens on this record, so it appears simply as sharp. In fact, much less demanding consumers could discover it troublesome to note any distinction between this monitor and costlier choices just like the Asus ProArtwork PA348CV.

The AOC CU34G2X is marketed as a gaming monitor and has an enhanced refresh charge of as much as 144Hz. It doesn’t formally help AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync, nonetheless, so avid gamers could have combined outcomes when making an attempt to make use of these adaptive sync requirements.

Though it punches above its worth in picture high quality, the AOC CU34G2X’s design appears low cost. It leans a bit too onerous on an aggressive red-and-black gaming theme. That will annoy consumers 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 screens.

Read our full
Review AOC CU34G2X

What to search for in an ultrawide monitor

Ultrawide screens are a favourite of PC lovers, however stay a distinct segment throughout the bigger monitor market. This leaves consumers with fewer choices. Most ultrawide screens have a 34-inch panel with a decision of 3440×1440, and related connectivity.

Still, these screens can differ in a number of key areas. Here’s what to search for.

Panel kind is an enormous deal

Ultrawide screens supply much less selection in some regards however that script is flipped in the case of panel kind. Ultrawide screens are available a wide range of panel varieties: IPS, VA, and OLED.

IPS panels are widespread in mid-range and premium ultrawide screens. This panel kind delivers nice coloration efficiency, excessive most brightness, very good sharpness, and good movement efficiency. It’s weak in distinction, nonetheless, which might disappoint when viewing TV exhibits or motion pictures.

VA panels are sometimes a finances possibility, although some are present in premium ultrawide screens. They have higher distinction than IPS panels and ship related coloration efficiency and brightness—nonetheless, finances VA panels are typically merely okay in these areas. Most VA panels fall brief in movement efficiency and should look blurry when enjoying fast-paced video games.

OLED is king of the hill. It leads in coloration, distinction, and movement efficiency. Sharpness is usually barely decreased in comparison with IPS and VA, however most individuals will discover it a minor downgrade. OLED is also the only option for HDR.

In common, OLED is best than IPS, and IPS is best than VA. However, 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 the screens on this record present an ergonomic stand that adjusts for peak, tilt, and swivel. This is a must have characteristic, however one which isn’t discovered on the least costly ultrawide screens.

As tempting as it might be to economize on a finances mannequin with out a height-adjustable stand, you’ll remorse it.

Ultrawide screens 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 school trick of sticking a monitor on a shoe field gained’t work.

Look for USB-C, however don’t count on it

USB-C compatibility is a wonderful characteristic, and USB-C hub monitors can clear away tons of litter in your desk. Unfortunately, many ultrawide screens don’t help USB-C but, or have limitations that detract from the USB-C port’s usefulness.

Asus’s ProArtwork PA348CV, our favourite ultrawide for professionals, is one exception. It has a USB-C port with as much as 90 watts of Power Delivery, and the port drives a USB-A hub with 4 downstream ports.

Dell, HP, and BenQ additionally supply ultrawide screens with USB-C. Most of those lack an enhanced refresh charge, nonetheless, they usually’re sometimes costlier than the Asus.

Pricing is necessary—and may swing wildly

Monitor pricing is all the time necessary, however it’s key for ultrawide screens. Although very costly at MSRP, ultrawide screens routinely see enormous worth cuts throughout seasonal gross sales. They additionally obtain main semi-permanent worth cuts later of their life.

The LG Ultragear 34GN850-B is an instance of this. Originally 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 % discount in worth! Waiting 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 should you plan to attach a recreation console often.  

Game consoles don’t help 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 screens

PC World’s group of employees and freelance reviewers conduct in-depth testing to match screens throughout a variety of classes and worth factors. We take a look at dozens of screens annually to search out the most effective choose for each class and worth level.

Our testing makes use of a SpyderXElite coloration calibration software. It delivers goal, unbiased measurements for a variety of metrics together with brightness, distinction, coloration gamut, coloration accuracy, coloration temperature, and gamma. Results are recorded and logged for future comparability. This permits our consultants to simply examine many screens without delay and eliminates subjective bias from the outcomes.