The 5 Best Ultrawide Monitors - Winter 2021 Reviews

The best ultrawide monitor we've tested is the Dell U3818DW. It's a massive 38 inch model with a 21:9 aspect ratio, giving you plenty of space to place multiple windows side-by-side. It has a 3840 x 1600 resolution to deliver sharp images and text, and its IPS panel has wide viewing angles so that you don't lose image accuracy when viewed from the side. The ergonomics are mediocre, although it's somewhat expected for an ultrawide monitor.

If you're a content creator, you should know that it has an excellent SDR color gamut, covering the entire sRGB color space. It has good coverage of Adobe RGB, but it may not be enough for some professionals. It has outstanding accuracy out of the box, exceptional gradient handling, and no signs of color bleed. Unfortunately, blacks look a bit grayish in dark rooms due to its low contrast ratio, and it doesn't support HDR. Additionally, it has a terrible response time and no VRR support, so it isn't the best option for gaming.

One of its standout features is its Picture-in-Picture mode. It lets you display two input signals at once, and it can act as a KVM switch so that you can use one set of mouse and keyboard to control both computers. It has a USB-C port that lets you display an image from a compatible device and charge it at the same time, making it easier to keep your setup clean. All in all, as long as you don't plan on gaming, it's a good office monitor that should satisfy most people.

The best ultrawide monitor with FreeSync we've tested is the Acer Nitro XV340CK. It's a 34 inch model that delivers an incredibly immersive and fluid gaming experience. It offers a good amount of ergonomic adjustments so that you can place the screen at your ideal viewing position, and its decent viewing angles help maintain image accuracy when viewed from the side. It has good reflection handling, but it might struggle to overcome intense glare, so it's better suited for a moderately-lit room.

It has excellent motion handling to deliver clear images in fast-moving scenes. It has a fast response time and a Black Frame Insertion feature to further reduce motion blur. Its 144Hz refresh rate and low input lag provide a smooth and responsive gaming experience, and it has both FreeSync support and G-SYNC compatibility to minimize screen tearing. It supports HDR, but unfortunately, it can't display a wide color gamut and doesn't get very bright. Also, its IPS panel has a low contrast ratio, which makes blacks look grayish in a dark room.

Additional features include two USB 3.0 ports, a pair of built-in speakers, and a Picture-in-Picture mode that lets you display images from two input sources simultaneously. If you tend to game for long hours, there's a blue light filter to help reduce eye strain, and the backlight is flicker-free. Overall it's a great ultrawide gaming monitor that should please most people.

The best ultrawide monitor with native G-SYNC support we've tested is the Dell Alienware AW3420DW. Part of Dell's Alienware lineup, this well-built model offers great gaming performance. It has a modern and stylish design that fits into any gamer setup, and it has an RGB lighting zone on the stand. It also has a moderate curve to make it easier to see the sides.

It has a native 120Hz refresh rate, and the G-SYNC support allows it to drop as low as 20Hz, but like most G-SYNC models, VRR support only works through a DisplayPort connection. The response time is excellent, delivering very clear motion, and it remains great even when gaming at 60Hz, but it doesn't have a Black Frame Insertion feature. Input lag is exceptionally low, and it stays low even with VRR enabled. The 3440x1440 resolution delivers clear text and offers an immersive gaming experience. It has an IPS panel with fairly wide viewing angles, so it's a decent choice for co-op gaming.

Unfortunately, it doesn't support HDR, and like most IPS panels, it has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks appear closer to gray. It's also not the best choice to use in bright rooms as it has just okay peak brightness, and it really struggles with direct light on it. The stand offers decent ergonomics for a screen of this size, but you can't rotate it into portrait mode. All things considered, this is the best ultrawide monitor with native G-SYNC support that we've tested.