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The 5 Best Curved Monitors - Winter 2024 Reviews

Updated
Best Curved Monitors

Curved displays are helpful if you sit near your monitor, as the edges are brought closer to you, making it easier to see a consistent image across the entire screen. Not all curved monitors are created equal, and even the shape of the curve changes depending on the monitor. A monitor's curvature defines how aggressive the curve is, as a smaller number means the curve is more aggressive, so an 800R monitor is very aggressive, while 2500R is more subtle.

Different types of curved monitors are available with various sizes and aspect ratios. Most curved monitors have a 21:9 ultrawide aspect ratio, which provides more horizontal screen space than 16:9 monitors. These are generally focused on gaming, but some still include productivity features. Other than that, there are curved 16:9 monitors with a 1440p or 4k resolution that can still be good for a variety of uses. Because there are so many different options available, there's no perfect solution for everyone, but considering your personal needs and budget is a good place to start.

We've bought and tested over 300 monitors, and below are our picks for the best monitors with a curved screen available for purchase. Check out our recommendations for the best curved gaming monitors, the best ultrawide monitors, and the best 34-49-inch monitors.


  1. Best Curved Monitor

    The best curved monitor we've tested is the Dell Alienware AW3225QF. With a 32-inch screen and 1700R curve, it's a unique display that's the first 4k, 240Hz QD-OLED available in North America, which you can buy directly through Dell's website. It combines its outstanding gaming performance with premium picture quality to get realistic and detailed images. Although you need a high-end graphics card to even take advantage of its high refresh rate, it at least provides a smooth gaming experience. It also has a near-instantaneous response time, resulting in crisp motion.

    Its QD-OLED panel makes it an incredible choice if you just want to sit back and watch content, even in HDR. It has a near-infinite contrast ratio for deep and inky blacks, and it also gets bright enough to make highlights pop. It even displays a wide range of colors and makes them look vivid. However, there are some bugs with its Dolby Vision support, which is disappointing. OLEDs also risk permanent burn-in with constant exposure to the same static elements over time, so if that's a concern for you, check out the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85. It uses Mini LED backlighting and doesn't risk burn-in, but its picture quality and motion handling are worse.

    See our review

  2. Best Curved Ultrawide Monitor

    If you don't like the 32-inch, 16:9 format of the Dell Alienware AW3225QF and prefer an ultrawide format, check out the Dell Alienware AW3423DW. It uses a QD-OLED panel like the AW3225QF, so the picture quality is very similar between each, and the differences come down to their features. The AW3423DW doesn't have HDMI 2.1 bandwidth like the AW3225QF, and with a lower 1440p resolution, it can't take full advantage of gaming consoles with clear and detailed images. However, that's the trade-off you need to make for getting an ultrawide monitor, and the extra horizontal screen space provides a more immersive feel for atmospheric games.

    The AW3423DW is also a good choice if you have an NVIDIA graphics card and want to take full advantage of it, as it has native G-SYNC variable refresh rate (VRR) support. However, there are other QD-OLED ultrawide monitors that are G-SYNC compatible and usually cost less, like the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF and the MSI MEG 342C QD-OLED. These don't get as bright, so the AW3423DW still delivers the best picture quality.

    See our review

  3. Best Curved Monitor For Work

    Current Deal: The LG 40WP95C-W has dropped in price by $410 at Amazon.com. Get Deal

    If you don't need gaming features and want a curved monitor only for work, consider the LG 40WP95C-W. It has fewer gaming features and worse picture quality than both the Dell Alienware AW3225QF and the Dell Alienware AW3423DW, but that doesn't make a big difference for office work anyway. Instead, it has a bigger 40-inch screen with a 5k2k resolution and high pixel density, producing extremely sharp text. It has many productivity features that make it great for office use, and it doesn't risk permanent burn-in like the QD-OLED panels on the Dell monitors, either.

    Connecting your work laptop to it is easy because it has two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support. This lets you display an image from a compatible laptop and charge it with the same cable using the monitor's 96W of power delivery. It also has a few handy features, like a Picture-by-Picture mode to display images from two sources simultaneously. If you want something cheaper, you can also consider the LG 38WN95C-W, which has more gaming features, like a higher refresh rate, but has a lower resolution and worse text clarity.

    See our review

  4. Best Lower Mid-Range Curved Monitor

    If you don't need a high-end display for gaming, or you don't want an office-oriented monitor like the LG 40WP95C-W, then the Dell S3422DWG is something to consider in the lower mid-range price category. It has the same 34-inch screen size, 1440p resolution, and 1800R curve as the Dell Alienware AW3423DW, so it's a much cheaper alternative to that. The main trade-off is that it has worse picture quality than the AW3423DW, but that's what you have to expect if you want to save some money. Instead of the QD-OLED panel, it has an LED-backlit LCD panel with good contrast and excellent black uniformity, but it doesn't get as bright or have the same vivid colors in HDR.

    Besides the differences in picture quality, it's still great for gaming with FreeSync VRR support to reduce screen tearing. It also has good motion handling. However, there are some drawbacks to its panel type, as it has narrow viewing angles that make the screen look washed out from the sides. Luckily, the curved screen brings the edges closer to you, so you won't notice as many inconsistencies at the sides of the display.

    See our review

  5. Best Budget Curved Monitor

    If you need a simple and cheap curved monitor, there are a few decent options you can choose from, although they have a 16:9 aspect ratio and aren't ultrawides like the Dell S3422DWG. If you're interested in that, the Gigabyte GS27QC is a decent all-around choice that excels at gaming. It's a step down in overall performance compared to the Dell because it doesn't get as bright, meaning it looks best in dark or moderately lit rooms. That's also because it has an excellent contrast ratio that helps it display deep blacks, but it lacks a local dimming feature to further improve it.

    Besides that, it has a max 170Hz refresh rate that you can achieve over a DisplayPort connection, and it has a fast response time at high refresh rates. It also works well with gaming consoles, but without HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and a 4k resolution, it can't take full advantage of them. Unfortunately, the monitor isn't very versatile for other uses as it has narrow viewing angles, but that's expected for most curved entry-level displays.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • Corsair XENEON FLEX 45WQHD240: The Corsair XENEON FLEX 45WQHD240 is a large 45-inch monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate and OLED panel, and it's unique because it has a bendable screen. This is great as you can adjust the curve of it to your liking, but in terms of performance, it has worse picture quality than the Dell Alienware AW3225QF and costs more. See our review
  • Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G85SB S34BG85: The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G85SB S34BG85 is comparable to the Dell Alienware AW3423DW because it has a QD-OLED panel. However, it isn't worth spending more on the Samsung for nearly the same performance unless you can find it on sale. See our review
  • LG 34GP950G-B: The LG 34GP950G-B is a versatile ultrawide monitor with better picture quality and motion handling than the Dell S3422DWG, but it costs much more. See our review
  • Samsung Odyssey OLED G9/G95SC S49CG95: The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9/G95SC S49CG95 is a super ultrawide QD-OLED monitor with a 49-inch screen. Consider this if you want a bigger screen than the Dell Alienware AW3423DW, but its large size may not be ideal for everyone. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Feb 08, 2024: Added the Dell Alienware AW3225QF as the 'Best Curved Monitor,' renamed the Dell Alienware AW3423DW to 'Best Curved Ultrawide Monitor,' and removed the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 to reflect the AW3225QF's performance and market position; replaced the Dell S2722DGM with the Gigabyte GS27QC because the Gigabyte is cheaper and for consistency with other articles. Replaced the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9/G95NA S49AG95 with the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9/G95SC S49CG95 in the Notable Mentions.

  2. Nov 24, 2023: Made sure the monitors are still available to purchase and updated text for clarity throughout.

  3. Sep 29, 2023: Switched the order of the 'Best 4k' and 'Best Work' categories to improve the flow of the article; added the LG 34GP950G-B to Notable Mentions.

  4. Aug 04, 2023: Slightly restructured the article to better reflect how people are looking for curved monitors; removed the LG 34GP950G-B; replaced the Gigabyte M32UC with the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 and renamed to 'Best Curved 4k Monitor'; added the Corsair XENEON Flex 45WQHD240, MSI MEG 342C QD-OLED, and the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 to Notable Mentions.

  5. Jun 09, 2023: Replaced the AOC CQ27G2 with the Dell S2722DGM for consistency with other articles; added the LG 45GR95QE-B to Notable Mentions.

All Reviews

Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best monitors with a curved screen currently available. They're adapted to be valid for most people in each price range. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price, and feedback from our visitors.

If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all of our curved monitor reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.