The 6 Best Curved Monitors - Fall 2021 Reviews

The best curved monitor we've tested is the Samsung LC32G75TQSNXZA. It’s available either in a 27 or 32 inch size and performs very well for a wide variety of uses. We tested the 32 inch model, and the 27 inch version should perform the same. It has very good picture quality thanks to its 1440p resolution, with good out-of-the-box color accuracy and an outstanding SDR color gamut. It also feels very well-built, but its aggressive 1000R curve might take you some time to get used to.

It's an amazing gaming monitor overall. The high 240Hz refresh rate and outstanding response time results in clear motion with very little blur. It has incredibly low input lag, and it supports both FreeSync and G-SYNC compatible variable refresh rate (VRR) technology, resulting in a nearly tear-free gaming experience. However, there are some issues while gaming, like flickering with VRR enabled and VRR not working with the refresh rate set to 60Hz, but these problems depend on the content, so you might not experience it.

Unfortunately, the viewing angles are pretty narrow, so you quickly lose image accuracy when viewing from the side. Also, even though it supports HDR, it doesn’t get quite bright in HDR, and its edge-lit local dimming is terrible. That said, it has high peak brightness and good reflection handling if you want to place it in a bright room. if you like curved monitors, this is the best one we’ve tested.

The best curved monitor with an ultrawide screen for gaming is the LG 34GP83A-B. It has a 34 inch, 21:9 screen with a gentle 1900R curvature. It's decently well-built, with a sturdy stand that allows for height and tilt adjustments. Although its reflection handling is just okay, it gets bright enough to compensate, so it can easily overcome glare in a brighter environment. The viewing angles are decent; fine for sharing content casually but not ideal for work that requires image accuracy.

Motion handling is amazing. It has a 144Hz refresh rate that you can overclock up to 160Hz and an exceptional response time, resulting in a clear image with almost no blur trail. It supports FreeSync natively and is certified as G-SYNC compatible, resulting in a nearly tear-free gaming experience. It also has great connectivity, with a USB hub with two USB 3.0 inputs and a USB-B upstream port, which means you can plug your peripherals directly into the monitor, saving you a USB port on the computer.

It has good coverage of the DCI P3 color space for HDR content, but its contrast ratio is sub-par, lacks local dimming, and doesn't get bright enough for a true HDR experience. You can put a virtual crosshair on the screen, make objects in dark areas easier to see, and there's a blue light filter to help reduce eye strain. Overall, it's a great curved gaming monitor that should please most people.

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is the best curved monitor with a super ultrawide screen that we've tested. It's a high-end monitor with a ton of features and excellent gaming performance. The 5120x1440 screen and 32:9 aspect ratio is the equivalent of placing two 27 inch, 1440p monitors next to each other, providing you enough space to multitask or play atmospheric games.

It has a 240Hz refresh rate that you can achieve using a DisplayPort connection. It supports FreeSync natively, and it's certified by NVIDIA to be G-SYNC compatible. It has two HDMI 2.1 inputs, meaning you can reach 144Hz over HDMI with an HDMI 2.1 source. Input lag is low, especially if you're playing at its max refresh rate. It has a quick response time, but there's significant overshoot, which could cause some motion artifacts. The stand-out feature of this monitor is the Mini LED backlighting, providing greater control over the full-array local dimming feature and allowing it to get very bright.

Unfortunately, there are issues with its HDR support that makes games look over-brightened, to the point where the games aren't playable. However, a fix may come in a future firmware update. Its VA panel has a great native contrast ratio, and the good local dimming feature helps further deepen any blacks, better than most monitors we've tested. If the HDR issues don't bother you, it's one of the best curved monitors we've tested.

The Dell UltraSharp U4021QW is the best curved monitor we've tested for office use. It's a great office monitor, with an extremely high-5120x2160 resolution and a great amount of screen real-estate to work with, so you can comfortably work with multiple windows open on the 40 inch screen. Text is exceptionally clear, and it has wide viewing angles, so you don't have to worry about the image degrading if you're not in the perfect viewing position.

It has a great selection of additional features. It supports both Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture, allowing you to see the image from two displays at once. It also has a built-in KVM switch, meaning you can control multiple sources with a single set of a keyboard and mouse connected to the monitor. It also has great connectivity, with a USB-C port that supports Thunderbolt 3 with up to 90W power delivery.

It's a bit limited for other uses, though. It doesn't support any advanced gaming features like VRR support. It has low input lag for a responsive desktop experience, and it has a decent response time, but you still may see some motion blur when scrolling through long documents. It can struggle a bit with bright lights due to its just okay reflection handling. It also has low contrast, so it's not ideal for a dark environment. Overall, it's a good monitor with great office performance that should please most people.

The best budget curved monitor we've tested is the Gigabyte G27QC. It's a 27 inch model with a 1440p resolution, which provides an immersive gaming experience and tons of screen space for multitasking. It uses a VA panel with a great contrast ratio, so it's well-suited for dark rooms but has narrow viewing angles. It's well-built despite its budget price tag; however, it's pretty limited when it comes to ergonomics because it only allows for height and tilt adjustments.

It delivers an incredibly responsive gaming experience due to its 165Hz refresh rate and low input lag. Its response time is great, but the dark transitions are slow, which results in visible black smearing behind fast-moving objects. It supports FreeSync natively and is compatible with G-SYNC to reduce screen tearing. There's a USB hub with two USB 3.0 ports, and it also has speakers built-in. You can add a virtual crosshair, timer, or frame rate counter on the screen, and in addition to its flicker-free backlight, it has a blue light filter to help reduce eye strain.

There's HDR support, but like most budget monitors, it doesn't get bright enough to make highlights stand out the way they should. Its Picture-in-Picture mode lets you display two input signals at once, which might be helpful for streamers running on two computers. Overall, it's a great gaming monitor that most people should be happy with, and it's easy on the wallet.