The 4 Best Ultrawide Gaming Monitors - Spring 2023 Reviews

The best ultrawide gaming monitor we've tested is the Dell Alienware AW3423DW. Gaming feels excellent thanks to its near-instantaneous response time that results in almost no motion blur. It has a 175Hz refresh rate with native G-SYNC variable refresh rate (VRR) support to reduce screen tearing, meaning it can take full advantage of your NVIDIA graphics card. If you have an AMD graphics card, the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF is a cheaper model with native FreeSync support instead. However, keep in mind that OLEDs are prone to burn-in with constant exposure to the same static elements over time, like with HUD elements in your game if they're on the screen all the time, but it isn't a major concern if you're playing different games.

It uses QD-OLED technology that offers perfect black uniformity and remarkable picture quality. It performs best in dark rooms because it displays deep and inky blacks without blooming. However, bright light sources cause black levels to raise, so blacks aren't as deep and inky in bright rooms as in dark rooms. Luckily, it's also a fantastic HDR gaming monitor thanks to its bright highlights and wide range of vivid colors.

If you tend to play atmospheric or FPS games and want the most screen real estate possible, look into the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9, which has a super ultrawide screen. It's an excellent gaming monitor with a 32:9 aspect ratio and 5120x1440 resolution, which is even bigger than typical ultrawide monitors like the Dell Alienware AW3423DW. It's the equivalent of placing two 27-inch, 1440p monitors next to each other, letting you see more of your game at once.

Instead of the remarkable dark room picture quality of the QD-OLED Dell monitor, it uses Mini LED backlighting to get extremely bright, which is great for HDR gaming, as highlights stand out. In terms of gaming features, it has native FreeSync support, G-SYNC compatibility, and a fast 240Hz refresh rate, meaning you can play games at a high frame rate without issue. The motion handling is also great no matter the refresh rate you're gaming at, and it has a backlight-strobing feature to reduce persistence blur. It also has low input lag that makes gaming feel responsive.

If you don't need the best performance possible, an upper mid-range option like the LG 34GP83A-B is a good alternative. It's much smaller than the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9, at 34 inches and with a 21:9 aspect ratio, so it's more of a cheaper alternative to the Dell Alienware AW3423DW. It's different from the Dell because it has an LED-backlit LCD panel, meaning the picture quality is worse as it can't display perfect blacks, but you also don't have to worry about the risk of burn-in with it.

This monitor's fantastic motion handling makes it special for gaming, especially with signals at a high refresh rate. It results in minimal motion blur, but the monitor doesn't have a backlight-strobing feature to further reduce persistence blur for games at a low refresh rate. It also has FreeSync VRR support to reduce screen tearing and is G-SYNC compatible. However, if you have an NVIDIA graphics card and want something with native G-SYNC support, the LG 34GP950G-B performs similarly but costs more.

While there are some other options priced in the mid-range category, like the Dell S3422DWG or the AOC CU34G2X, the Gigabyte M34WQ is a great budget ultrawide gaming monitor that offers better performance than the Dell or AOC for a lower cost. Instead, it has similar features to the LG 34GP83A-B with worse overall gaming performance as you can't overclock its 144Hz native refresh rate up to 160Hz, and motion looks worse on it. It has a slower response time, leading to more smearing, especially when gaming at low refresh rates.

It has a flat screen instead of a curved one like on the LG, so the edges are outside your field of vision and can look washed out if you sit too close. However, it's a good choice for co-op gaming as it offers swivel adjustment, which the LG doesn't have, and it still has wide viewing angles, so the image looks consistent from the sides. It's a great gaming monitor as it has native FreeSync VRR support to reduce screen tearing, and even though it isn't certified by NVIDIA, G-SYNC compatibility works with NVIDIA graphics cards. Its input lag is also low for a responsive feel while gaming.