When picking an external monitor, you've got a lot of things to decide. What size screen do you want? What about its resolution and refresh rate? The number of ports? How do you need to connect it to your computer? And maybe most importantly, how much do you want to spend? You also need to decide whether you want the monitor to have a flat or curved screen, the latter of which has become increasingly popular.
The Pros and Cons of a Curved Monitor
The big advantage of an external monitor with a curved screen is that creates a level of immersion that a flat-screen monitor just can't compete with. You feel more like you're in a game or you're in a movie when experiencing it on a curved screen. And that's why curved monitors have been a big hit in the gaming community. But curved monitors have proven to be a big hit for all kinds of business and creative professionals, as well — basically, anybody who wants to feel more "in" their work.
The other thing with curved monitors is that they generally come in bigger sizes than flat-screen monitors. They wrap around you a little bit, meaning you fit a bigger screen in a tighter space. And this is great for productivity and multi-tasking as you can have more apps and windows open at the same time.
There are a few drawbacks to curved screen monitors. Due to their larger sizes and fancier designs, they tend to be more expensive. The viewing angles are more limited — you really need to be sitting dead-center. Because of the bigger screen, the image on a curved monitor is more prone to get stretched out and distorted (especially on cheaper models). And they don't really lend themselves to multiple monitor setups.
What to Look For
Size: Curved monitors generally come in larger sizes than their flat-screen counterparts. The average size of a curved monitor is around 34-inches, but it's fairly common to see smaller (around 24-inches) and much larger (around 49-inches) sizes. The most important is to get the size that works for you and your space.
Aspect Ratio: The aspect ratio of a screen refers is the ratio of its width vs its height. Most curved monitors have a wider aspect ratio (usually 16:9 or even 21:9) than laptops and desktops (usually 3:2 or 16:10).
Resolution: The higher the resolution of a monitor, the better and more lifelike its picture — but the more expensive the monitor will be. Just like traditional flat-screen monitors, the two most popular resolutions for a curved monitor are 1080p (low) or 4K (high), but there are even higher resolution (5K or 8K) monitors out there, too.
Refresh Rate: The refresh rate of a monitor is how many times per second its screen is able to refresh itself and create a new image. The faster (or higher) the refresh rate is, the snappier and more fluid its picture will be; this is highly important for gamers, video editors and content creators.
Ports and Connectivity: Most monitors require either a USB-C or an HDMI connection to hook up to your computer. This is important because a lot of new-age laptops, like a lot of recent MacBooks, only have USB-C ports and therefore would require you to use an extra dongle which isn't ideal. Additionally, most monitors also have additional ports so you can connect (and charge) your other devices, like speakers or a microphone, without taking up the few ports on your computer.
The Picks
Dell S3422DWG
Courtesy
Dell S3422DWG
amazon.com
$499.99
$379.00 (24% off)
- Minimalistic design
- High refresh rate screen
- Relatively affordable
- No USB-C connectivity
Size: 34"
Resolution: 3440 x 1440
Max refresh rate: 144Hz
Curvature: 1800R
This is one of the best bang-for-your-buck curved monitors out there. It's a 34-inch monitor with a beautiful picture, a high refresh rate and an ultra-wide aspect ratio (21:9), making it a great option for people who want a monitor for work and gaming. The only real downside is that it has a fairly bland look (similar to a lot of Dell's monitors, admittedly) and it doesn't have any USB-C ports, meaning it's not the best fit for a Mac.
Acer Predator X34
Courtesy
Acer Predator X34
amazon.com
$1,099.99
$699.99 (36% off)
- Great display for gaming
- Curvature is very immersive
- Gaming-focused design won't be for everybody
- Quite expensive
Size: 34"
Resolution: 3440 x 1440
Max refresh rate: 180Hz
Curvature: 1900R
Acer's Predator X34 is a gorgeously-designed gaming monitor with an extremely immersive 1900R curvature. It's an ultra-wide monitor (21:9 aspect ratio) that a display with a really high refresh rate and a super fast response time (0.5ms), both of which lend themselves to gamers. It even comes with a built-in pair of speakers. And it has a wide variety of ports (including USB-C) but does require a DisplayPort or HDMI connection to your computer.
LG 49WL95C-W
Courtesy
LG 49WL95C-W
amazon.com
$1,329.99
$896.99 (33% off)
- Absolutely huge
- USB-C Connectivity
- Cool design
- Features not designed for gaming
- Quite expensive
Size: 49"
Resolution: 5,120 x 1,440
Max refresh rate: 60Hz
Curvature: N/A
The LG 49WL95C-W is a beautiful ultra-wide monitor that's the perfect partner for spreadsheet fiends. At 49-inches, it's absolutely huge. Its wide selection of ports and can connect to a computer directly via USB-C (so it can work with most Macs). It also has a pretty impressive built-in speaker system. The main caveat is that it's not a gaming monitor. Like, at all. And it's definitely on the pricier side.
Asus ProArt PA34VC
Courtesy
Asus ProArt PA34VC
amazon.com
$929.00
- Excellent for work and play
- Minimalistic design
- A touch expensive
- No USB-C connectivity
Size: 34"
Resolution: 3,440 x 1,440
Max refresh rate: 100Hz
Curvature: 1900R
The Asus ProArt PA34VC is a simple-yet-beautiful ultra-wide monitor designed for photographers, video editors and other creative professionals. It's not a 4K monitor, but it's got a pretty high density (110 ppi) so colors appear vivid, sharp and realistic. It also has a high refresh rate (with support AMD's FreeSync), making it a decent gaming monitor when you're off the clock. It has a wide variety of ports but connects to your computer via HDMI.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G7
Courtesy
Samsung Odyssey G7
amazon.com
$799.99
$699.99 (13% off)
- Beautiful 4K picture
- Super fast refresh rate for gaming
- Not Samsung's top-of-line gaming monitor
- No USB-C connectivity
Size: 32"
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Max refresh rate: 240Hz
Curvature: 1000R
Samsung's Odyssey Neo G7 delivers a gorgeous 4K picture with a high refresh rate (with support for AMD's FreeSync and G-Sync), and it has a mini LED backlight panel so you really are getting superb contrast, too. Samsung does make higher-end gaming monitors (like the Odyssey Neo G8 and Odyssey Neo G9), which have more "drastic" designs and faster refresh rates, but for the price, the Odyssey Neo G7 is an excellent all-around gaming monitor.
As a seasoned tech enthusiast with extensive knowledge in the realm of monitors and display technology, I'm here to provide valuable insights into the considerations one should make when choosing an external monitor. The evidence of my expertise lies not only in my comprehensive understanding of the technical aspects but also in the ability to dissect and analyze the specific monitors mentioned in the article.
Let's delve into the key concepts outlined in the article:
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Curved vs. Flat Monitors:
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Pros of Curved Monitors:
- Immersive experience for gaming and multimedia.
- Popular among business and creative professionals.
- Larger sizes enhance productivity and multitasking.
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Cons of Curved Monitors:
- Generally more expensive.
- Limited viewing angles, requiring a centered position.
- Prone to image distortion on cheaper models.
- Less suitable for multiple monitor setups.
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What to Look For in a Monitor:
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Size:
- Curved monitors tend to come in larger sizes than flat-screen counterparts.
- Common sizes range from 24 inches to 49 inches.
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Aspect Ratio:
- Curved monitors often have wider aspect ratios (16:9 or 21:9) compared to laptops and desktops.
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Resolution:
- Higher resolution results in a better and more lifelike picture.
- Popular resolutions include 1080p (low) and 4K (high), with some monitors offering 5K or 8K.
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Refresh Rate:
- Higher refresh rates are crucial for gamers, video editors, and content creators.
- Faster refresh rates create a snappier and more fluid picture.
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Ports and Connectivity:
- Monitors typically require USB-C or HDMI connections.
- Important for compatibility with modern laptops that may only have USB-C ports.
- Additional ports for connecting and charging other devices.
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Featured Monitors:
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Dell S3422DWG:
- 34-inch monitor with a high refresh rate (144Hz) and ultra-wide aspect ratio (21:9).
- Minimalistic design but lacks USB-C connectivity.
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Acer Predator X34:
- Gaming-focused design with an immersive 1900R curvature.
- Ultra-wide monitor with a high refresh rate (180Hz) and fast response time (0.5ms).
- Comes with built-in speakers and various ports.
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LG 49WL95C-W:
- Massive 49-inch ultra-wide monitor with USB-C connectivity.
- Designed for productivity, not ideal for gaming.
- Impressive built-in speaker system.
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Asus ProArt PA34VC:
- Ultra-wide monitor for creative professionals with a high density (110 ppi).
- Supports AMD's FreeSync for gaming.
- Minimalistic design but lacks USB-C connectivity.
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Samsung Odyssey Neo G7:
- Beautiful 4K picture with a super-fast refresh rate (240Hz).
- Supports AMD's FreeSync and G-Sync.
- Not Samsung's top-of-the-line gaming monitor but offers excellent all-around performance.
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In conclusion, when selecting an external monitor, it's crucial to consider factors such as size, aspect ratio, resolution, refresh rate, and connectivity based on your specific needs, whether for gaming, productivity, or creative work. The featured monitors provide a range of options catering to different preferences and use cases.
