The 5 Best Ultrawide Monitors - Spring 2021 Reviews

The Dell U3818DW is the best ultrawide monitor for office use we've tested. This 38 inch monitor is great for multitasking because it has a 21:9 aspect ratio that gives you more horizontal space than a typical 16:9 display, which means you can have more windows opened side-by-side. It has wide viewing angles so that the image remains accurate at the edges when you sit up close or when viewing from the side.

It stands out for its amazing features. It has plenty of connectivity options, including four USB 3.0 ports and a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode. The latter delivers up to 95W of power, which should be enough to charge most laptops or mobile devices. It has a Picture-in-Picture/Picture-by-Picture mode that lets you display two input signals at once, and you can control both devices with one set of peripherals using its integrated KVM.

While its 3840 x 1600 resolution may seem odd, it comes out to the same pixel density as a 27 inch, 16:9, 1440p display, so images and text look sharp. Unfortunately, it isn't meant for gaming because it has a 60Hz refresh rate, bad response time, and no VRR support. Also, it doesn't get very bright, so it's best to avoid very well-lit, sunny rooms. Its ergonomics are pretty decent for an ultrawide; it just doesn't rotate to portrait mode, which is expected. All in all, it's a very good office monitor that should meet most people's needs.

The LG 34GN850-B is the best ultrawide monitor with native FreeSync support we've tested. This great gaming monitor has a 34 inch screen with a 21:9 aspect ratio, which gives you a wider field of view for a more immersive gaming experience. It has decent build quality, and its design isn't overly gamer-oriented, so it won't stick out in a professional office environment. Visibility is good in well-lit settings thanks to its high peak brightness, and it has decent viewing angles so that images remain accurate when viewing from the side.

It has superb response time and a 160Hz refresh rate, which results in amazingly fluid and responsive gameplay. Motion looks clear with almost no blur trail behind fast-moving objects, and there's FreeSync support and G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing. Gaming in HDR doesn't increase input lag, but the overall HDR experience is only decent because it doesn't get bright enough to make highlights pop. Also, it has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray, which isn't ideal for dark room gaming.

There are two USB ports that you can use for charging or data, although they're on the back of the monitor and not the easiest to access. The backlight is entirely flicker-free, great for reducing eye strain on those long gaming sessions. One thing to keep in mind is that not all games support an ultrawide format, so you might see some blacks bars on the sides, or the image might be stretched to fit the screen. Nonetheless, it's a versatile ultrawide monitor that should please most gamers.

The LG 38GL950-B is the best ultrawide monitor with native G-SYNC support we've tested. It has a 38 inch screen with a 3840 x 1600 resolution, which results in roughly the same pixel density as a 27 inch 1440p monitor. Its curved screen makes it easier to see the sides and helps deliver a more immersive gaming experience. It has decent reflection handling and impressive peak brightness, so visibility shouldn't be an issue even in the brightest settings.

It has remarkable motion handling. Its response time is exceptional, and you can overclock its 144Hz refresh rate up to 175Hz, resulting in fluid motion and incredible responsiveness. It has native G-SYNC support, and it's compatible with FreeSync. It's decent for gaming in HDR because it can display a wide color gamut, and it gets decently bright to bring out some highlights.

Unfortunately, it's not the most ideal for dark rooms because it has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray. Also, the stand only allows for tilt and height adjustments. On the upside, it has plenty of features, like a Picture-in-Picture/Picture-by-Picture mode, two USB ports, and even some RGB bias lighting on the back of the monitor. In addition to having a flicker-free backlight, it has a blue light filter to help reduce eye strain. Overall, it's an impressive gaming monitor that's worth checking out.