The 6 Best Ultrawide Monitors - Summer 2020
Reviews

The best ultrawide monitor we've tested so far is the Dell U3818DW. Not only does this monitor provide ample screen space for multitasking, but it also comes with great features to help keep your workstation clean. It has a 38 inch screen with a 21:9 aspect ratio, which allows you to have multiple windows opened side-by-side. Its IPS panel has great viewing angles and the screen is slightly curved to further improve visibility on the sides. It can't rotate to portrait mode due to its ultrawide format, but it offers a good amount of height, tilt, and swivel adjustments. Its peak brightness is decent, so visibility shouldn't be an issue unless you're in a very bright room.

Out-of-the-box, this monitor has excellent color accuracy. It has full coverage of the sRGB color space, but its Adobe RGB coverage isn't quite good enough for professional work. Its 10-bit panel has exceptional gradient handling and there are no signs of color bleed at all. Unfortunately, its slow response time results in visible motion blur in fast-moving scenes, and the refresh rate is limited to 60Hz. Also, it doesn't support any VRR technology, which might be disappointing for those looking to do some gaming on the side.

There's a total of four USB 3.0 ports and a USB-C port that supports DisplayPort Alt mode. This allows you to display an image from a compatible device and charge the device at the same time with a single cable. There's also a PIcture-in-Picture mode that lets you display images from two input sources at once, which eliminates the need for a second monitor. It comes with integrated speakers and the backlight is flicker-free. On the whole, although it isn't well-suited for gaming, this is a good ultrawide monitor that should fit well in any office setting.

The best ultrawide G-SYNC gaming monitor we've tested so far is the Dell Alienware AW3418DW/1900R. This is an IPS monitor with a curved screen, wide viewing angles, and an excellent build quality that feels very sturdy.

This monitor has a 100Hz refresh rate that can be overclocked to 120Hz, and it has native G-SYNC support to reduce screen tearing. Images look detailed thanks to its 1440p resolution, and its fast response time results in very little blur trail in fast-moving scenes. There are four USB 3.0 ports on this monitor to plug in other peripherals or to charge your mobile devices. There are also some extra features that can be useful for some, such as a frame rate counter overlay and a display alignment tool to help with multi-monitor setups.

Like most IPS panels, this monitor's contrast ratio is low and has poor black uniformity, which is disappointing for those who like to game in the dark. However, it does have great reflection handling, and it can get bright enough to fight glare in most well-lit rooms. It has decent color accuracy out of the box, but unfortunately, it doesn't support HDR. Overall, this is the best ultrawide G-SYNC gaming monitor we've tested so far.

The best FreeSync ultrawide gaming monitor we've reviewed so far is the LG 34GN850-B. This is a 34 inch monitor from LG's line of UltraGear gaming monitors, with a 21:9 aspect ratio and a 1440p resolution. It features a curved IPS panel, mounted on a decently-built, albeit full plastic frame. Due to the monitor's format and curvature, it can't rotate to portrait mode, and the lack of swivel adjustment is a bit disappointing. It gets bright enough for a moderately-lit room but struggles to overcome glare in very bright environments. It's not the best choice for dark rooms, as its low contrast ratio makes blacks look gray, which is typical of most IPS panels.

What makes this monitor stand out is its superb motion handling. It has a 144Hz refresh rate than can be overclocked to 160Hz, and its lightning-fast response time results in very little motion blur. It supports FreeSync natively to reduce screen tearing and is also certified to be G-SYNC compatible. It delivers a decent HDR experience, and it even comes with a well-calibrated sRGB mode, which is great for those who care about accurate color reproduction.

There are a couple of extra features that can be useful for some, such as the ability to put a crosshair on the screen for shooter games, and a black stabilizer feature to help you see objects in dark scenes. Also, it has a flicker-free backlight that can help reduce eye strain during those long gaming sessions. All in all, this is a great gaming monitor that should satisfy most gamers.