The Best Ultrawide Monitors To Buy Right Now

Jonathan Zavaleta

September 12, 2021 at 8:00 AM·3 min read

Believe it or not, you don’t need to be a gamer with a dedicated Twitch following or an animator at Pixar to make use of an ultrawide monitor. An ultrawide monitor buys you extra horizontal real estate, allowing you to look at everything at a glance without toggling tabs or opening up windows. Who is that useful for? The potential demo is, pardon the expression, ultra-wide.

If you’re a writer doing research, you can keep your documents visible while you’re writing. Keep the Zoom window open on part of the screen while you work with a couple of spreadsheets on the other end. Sure, an ultrawide monitor might be overkill if you’re just browsing the web and doing some online shopping, but it’s useful for that, too. So while most people don’t need an ultrawide monitor, most would still benefit from having one.

It’s worth breaking down what, exactly, an ultrawide monitor is. The name can be slightly confusing — an ultrawide monitor isn’t a size, but a ratio. Ultrawide monitors have a 21:9 aspect ratio, but they can be a range of different sizes. That said, because of their stretched-out proportions, ultrawide monitors are generally going to be pretty big. Sizes like 34″, 37″ and 43″ are pretty common, but you can find 29″ and some smaller ones. Many ultrawide monitors are also curved, allowing you to see more of the screen from your periphery.

Of course, many ultrawide monitors are built with gaming in mind, and they’ll often have high refresh rates and response times to keep you in the game. So, whether you’re just trying to work more efficiently or you’re an online gamer, these are some of the best ultrawide monitors to buy.

1. Acer Predator X38 UltraWide Gaming Monitor

BEST OVERALL

This monitor from Acer features a curved display, with a 2300R curvature. That makes it more gradually sloped and less like you’re standing on the inside of a fisheye lens. It has NVIDIA G-SYNC for smooth gaming, and it can support a refresh rate of up to 175Hz. This monitor is 37.5″.

Buy: Acer Ultrawide Monitor $1,699.99

2. SAMSUNG Odyssey G5 Ultra-Wide Gaming Monitor

BEST CURVED MONITOR

If you’re looking for a more aggressively curved monitor, the Samsung G5 has a 1000R curved screen, creating a more immersive experience. Adaptive sync helps reduce stutter and tearing when you’re gaming.

Buy: Samsung Ultrawide Monitor $539.99

3. LG 34” UltraWide Full HD HDR Monitor

BEST FOR WORK

LG’s UltraWide monitor boasts FreeSync for smooth movement, making it a good option for gamers. But it’s also designed as a convenient option for office settings, thanks to features like reader mode that reduce blue light and settings to help you organize your programs on the screen.

Buy: LG Ultrawide Monitor $329.00

4. AOC 34″ Curved Gaming Monitor

BEST FOR GAMING

AOC may not be as well-known in non-gaming households, but it’s a reputed brand for its value among gamers. This gaming monitor has a 1500R curvature, making for a more immersive gaming experience. The monitor has a 1ms response time and 144Hz refresh rate, as well as Adaptive Sync technology. The stand is height-adjustable so you can more easily find a comfortable viewing angle.

Buy: AOC Ultrawide Monitor $459.99

5. MSI Optix 30″ LED Ultra Wide Curved WFHD FreeSync Monitor

BEST VALUE GAMING

Another good option for gaming is the MSI Optix monitor, which has a curved 1500R display, a 30″ screen and AMD adaptive sync for a smooth gaming experience. The monitor has a 200 Hz refresh rate. The high dynamic contrast ratio and brightness make for a more vibrant viewing experience.