The launch of the Samsung G9 provided a major shakeup to theultrawide gaming monitorsmarket. The G9 was the world’s first commercially popular ultrawide monitor, while the subsequent G9 Neo offered best-in-class hardware in a form factor that was rarely seen as acceptable to gamers. Since then, the market for ultrawide monitors has seen steady demand as more games support them and consider the 21:9 aspect ratio a more standard offering than ever before.
ASUS ROG Strix 29.5' XG309CM Gaming Monitor
Corsair XENEON Flex 45WQHD240 OLED Monitor
At the same time, multiple monitor brands have carved themselves niches in this growing industry. This makes it harder to pick the best of thebest in the marketwhen it comes to ultrawide displays, as tradeoffs are often significant. To help consumers pick the right choice for their setup, Game Rant takes a closer look at some of the best ultrawide gaming monitors in the business.
Factors for Buying an Ultrawide Gaming Monitor
When buying an ultrawide monitor for gaming, buyers should consider several factors, including refresh rate, response time, connectivity options, and panel type.
Refresh Rate: When it comes to choosing a gaming monitor, refresh rate is a non-negotiable factor to consider. Refresh rate refers to the number of times a screen can refresh images per second. Getting a monitor with a refresh rate of at least 120Hz is a smart move for gamers.
Response Time: Another crucial factor worth thinking about is the response time. This simply means the number of times a pixel can switch from one color to another. Monitors with response times of 1 ms and below are best suited for gaming as there’s little chance of users experiencing issues like blur or screen tearing.
Panel Type: Manufacturers use different display technologies for their gaming monitors, so it’s worth knowing what they offer before buying one. Monitors with TN panels are famous for high refresh rates and low input lag, two critical factors that make a great gaming monitor. Monitors with IPS panels deliver greater color accuracy, while those with VA panels are designed to render better color reproduction than their IPS counterparts. OLED panels deliver wide viewing angles and impeccable color accuracy, though screen burn-in is an issue.
Connectivity Options: Seeing as a monitor is just a component of a gaming setup, it makes sense that it should come with various connection options for consoles, PCs, and peripherals. When shopping for a monitor, ensure that the most preferred options support USB-C, HDMI 2.1, and DisplayPort.
Game Rant’s Picks for the Best Ultrawide Gaming Monitors in 2024
ASUS ROG Strix XG349C
ASUS ROG Strix XG349C is a premium gaming monitor for enthusiasts, made to dominate opponents. Featuring a UWQHD resolution on a highly color-accurate IPS panel, the monitor also boasts a slight curvature for immersive gaming. Its refresh rate of 180Hz provides highly fluid movements and 1ms GtG response time makes it very responsive.
Asus’s ROG lineup has one of the most premium products in every category, and the ROG Strix XG349C is no exception. Although it is expensive, it offers a full package ofhigh-end gaming featuresfor enthusiasts and competitive players. Users will get the popular 34-inch display with a 21:9 aspect ratio for a wider field of view. The panel is IPS, so it not only has great viewing angles but also has a 98% DCI-P3 color gamut for vibrant details. To further enhance the picture quality, HDR400 support is available.
It comes with built-in speakers as well and has all sorts of adjustments, including height, swivel, and tilt for positioning the screen according to a user’s preferences. Its screen has a slight curvature of 1900R, making it ideal to play from nearly 2m away from the screen. Plus, it is pretty responsive, thanks to the 1ms GtG response time, which is hard to find on regular IPS panels. Furthermore, the 180Hz max refresh rate provides high fluidity in movement, and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility makes sure there is no screen tearing.
Alienware AW3423DW Gaming Monitor
QD-OLED Mastery Galore
The Alienware AW3423DW is an excellent gaming monitor in the ultrawide department. It fully uses its QD-OLED screen, showcasing Nvidia GSync Ultimate, perfect blacks, a very low response time, and a slightly above-average refresh rate of 175Hz. All of this makes it a compelling, if expensive, ultrawide monitor for gaming.
The Alienware AW3423DW is an excellentQD-OLED gaming monitorthat ups the ante for ultrawide displays. With excellent HDR in play along with Nvidia’s premium GSync Ultimate VVR technology along with a 0.1ms response time, this is one of the fastest premium gaming monitors in 2024. The ultrawide form factor is just another plus for people looking for additional screen real estate for their gaming or productivity needs.
As a QD-OLED monitor, it has better brightness than standard OLED models while also offering the same perfect black color reproduction that is synonymous with OLED displays. While burn-in is a larger issue with OLED monitors than with regular TVs (and QD-OLED seems to have a slightly worse record than LG’s OLED TVs in this regard), this might not be a concern for casual users who do not have a static HUD or play a variety of games. However, it is still a cause for worry even if Alienware does offer excellent warranty support.
LG 45" UltraGear 45GR95QE-B OLED WQHD Curved Gaming Monitor
OLED Master Race Goes Ultrawide
The LG 45-inch UltraGear OLED 45GR95QE-B is an excellent ultrawide OLED monitor that packs the latest from LG’s display tech stack into the productivity and gaming-focused ultrawide form factor and does so in style. With a 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time combined on a screen that boasts a unique take on screen real estate.
The LG 45-inch UltraGear OLED 45GR95QE-B is anexcellent OLED-based gaming monitorthat holds its own against some of the best in the ultrawide business, offering a niche of ultra-fast refresh rates coupled with some of the lowest response times that are currently possible. All of these attributes make it a unique product. With high peak brightness and excellent color reproduction, the 45-inch Ultragear is a sight to behold. This is without considering its subtle RGB effects at the back, which makes it look more premium than arguably any other monitor on Game Rant’s current list of the best ultrawide gaming monitors.
At the same time, the resolution seems a little less sharp upfront, given the 45-inch size of the display when using it for productivity-based workloads. Some users have also pointed out some issues with the whites having slightly yellowish tinges, an experience both Game Rant and some consumer reviews share based on early impressions of the monitor. Anyone keen onacquiring a 240Hz monitorthat’s perfect for FPS titles and doesn’t mind the hefty price tag should consider the LG 45GR95QE.
LG UltraGear 34GP83A-B 34-Inch Gaming Monitor
The LG UltraGear 34GP83A-B has an eye-grabbing curved, extra-wide design. The 34-inch panel has a movie theater-like aspect ratio of 21:9 and is curved for better viewing angles. The panel has been created with Nano IPS technology, which makes it both color-accurate and fast. The Gray-to-Gray response time is 1 millisecond, and it supports both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync for less stutter and tearing in games.
As far as features go, most ultrawide monitors are quite similar in the mid-range category. The LG UltraGear 34GP83A-B has an advantage with the Nano IPS panel, which is highly responsive and brings a 1ms GtG response time for competitive gamers. By default, the display features a 144Hz refresh rate, but with overclocking, it can be increased to 160Hz, which provides slightly better fluidity in movements. It comes with both Nvidia G-Sync and FreeSync Premium features, so it won’t introduce any screen tearing even when the frames go down.
The monitor has a curved screenfor better immersion, HDR400 support, and an excellent color gamut for vibrant colors that gamers will love. The stand is also ergonomic, letting users adjust its height or do other kinds of adjustments according to their needs. Everything is top-notch here except that it lacks built-in speakers and has high power consumption. If that’s not a big deal for the users, then this monitor won’t make them regret their choice.
SAMSUNG Odyssey Neo G9 G95NA Gaming Monitor
A Class Apart With Screen Real Estate To Show
This Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 G96NA is the highest-end gaming monitor one might ever need. It comes with a massive 49-inch curved Mini LED display panel, which features a 4K resolution. While it is sized like a TV, it is perfect for gaming since it supports up to 240 Hz refresh rate and a fast 1-millisecond response time.
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 G95NA is a monstrous Mini-LED gaming monitor that outdoes its competition thanks to its unique form factor and excellent peak brightness, which also factors into its spectacular HDR performance. It also comes with an impressive amount of screen real estate, although it’s quite pricey. With a 240Hz refresh rate, it is easily ahead of the curve when it comes to gaming performance while offering relatively low input lag to further improve one’s gaming performance.
However, it has issues with games that do not natively support it. Most games barely support ultrawide monitors with their 21:9 aspect ratios. The G9 Neo takes it a step further, pushing a 32:9 aspect ratio. That means that playing older titles as well as some indie ones might be a chore. Even when it’s not, it might not make use of the screen to the extent offered by Samsung.
Users with smaller gaming desksmight also find it hard to accommodate the Neo G9, which takes up a tremendous amount of space. It also weighs much more than a standard run-of-the-mill monitor. However, if gamers can look past these issues, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 G95NA is a great option.
KOORUI 34E6UC Ultrawide Gaming Monitor
The KOORUI 34E6UC has it all without costing users their whole savings. The monitor offers a UWQHD resolution, a high refresh rate of 165Hz, 1ms response time, and great color accuracy. The monitor has a 1000R curvature for an excellent immersive gaming experience and provides a big 34" display to provide a wide field of view.
Koorui isn’t as popular as some of the major players in the monitor industry, but the company has established its name with some of its offerings. One of the best ones is this ultrawide model, which is very affordable for the specifications and features that it offers. Typically, most budget monitors lack premium specs and also have generic color accuracy, but the Koorui monitor delivers it all without breaking the bank.
Its contrast ratio of 3000:1 is praiseworthy and its color gamut of 90% DCI-P3 is also satisfactory. The display comes with a VA panel that offers a 165Hz refresh rate and a 1ms MPRT response time.It is fully adjustable too, allowing users to adjust its height as per the need. Moreover, the 1000R curvature in its screen makes it ready to be used while sitting close to it. Users who prefer playing with just being 1m away from their screens will enjoy the immersion this monitor has to offer.
High Refresh FPS-Centric Gaming
The ASUS ROG Strix 29.5-inch XG309CM Gaming Monitor is a different kind of ultrawide gaming monitor that prioritizes refresh rate above all else and delivers in that regard at a price that may be easy to stomach for end-users looking for a compact, high-refresh-rate ultrawide monitor.
The ASUS ROG Strix 29.5-inch XG309CM gaming monitor aims to deliver a high refresh rate at a somewhat acceptable resolution for gaming while staying relatively balanced in the pricing department for a premium ultrawide gaming monitor. It tends to undercut itself with the WFHD resolution that many potential buyers will not be a fan of today. Its somewhat weird port placement may disappoint some buyers too. That being said, it excels with an excellent 220Hz overclockable refresh rate coupled with a dedicated KVM switch for users looking to move between work and play with a keen interest in the extra screen real estate.
The ROG branding and being part of the XG lineup is just icing on the cake for itstarget audience of FPS gamerswho will appreciate its offerings. Others may love or hate the tradeoff it represents in resolution and refresh rate in a relatively small form factor as far as an ultrawide monitor goes. Essentially, the ASUS ROG Strix XG309CM is not everyone’s cup of tea. However, this is pretty much the best ultrawide gaming monitor to buy if a high refresh rate in a compact ultrawide form factor is a must-have feature for buyers.
Bendable OLED Goodness
Developed with LG technology, the Corsair XENEON Flex 45WQHD240 sports a 45-inch screen ideal for gaming. The world’s first bendable gaming monitor comes with protective blue light to reduce the likelihood of eye strain. It also features a great refresh rate of 240 HZ which, when combined with a GtG response time of 0.03ms, delivers smooth gameplay.
The world’s first bendable OLED monitor comes with a suite of premium features that almost instantly justify the hefty retail price. Built with visionary bendable OLED technology, the 45-inch Xeneon Flex allows games to switch from a curved to a flat display, depending on the title being played. Feel free to go curved when playing simulation titles or adjust the screen to flat for strategy games.
Gaming on this monitor will be a blast thanks to a 240Hz refresh rate along with a GtG response time of 0.3ms. NVIDIA G-SYNC compatible and AMD Premium Sync certified, the Xeneon Flex promises low input lag plus minor screen tearing. To protect gamers from eye fatigue without compromising their ability to play for long periods, the monitor features low blue-light technology. Although the price may discourage many gamers, it brings tons of value to the table.
How To Choose The Best Ultrawide Gaming Monitor
When choosing a monitor for gaming, the main features that help determine which one is the right fit are relatively similar, whether it’s ultrawide or not. Even after reducing the results to just ultrawide options, the list is still quite extensive, so these four specifications will help reduce it significantly.
Refresh Rate
In some scenarios, the refresh rate is even more important than the overall picture quality of a display. For most gaming displays nowadays, the standard refresh rate is at least120Hz. This allows games to feel responsive and smooth while also being reasonably easy to drive. Monitors with higher refresh rates are not necessarily more taxing on a PC, but to get the full benefit of the higher refresh rates, the games have to run at least the same frame rate as the refresh rate.
In esports titles likeCounter-Strike 2andRocket League, 120 fps is relatively easy to achieve even on morebudget gaming PCs, but 240 fps or 300 fps gets a bit more difficult. That’s not to say there is no place for 240Hz or even 300Hz monitors, but gamers need to ensure their PC can run the titles they want to play at these frame rates to get the most out of their monitor and, ultimately, money. Most gamers will find a sweet spot at144Hzor165Hz.
Response Time
The response time is similar to the refresh rate. Unlike the refresh rate, which is how often the monitor communicates with the PC, the response time is how quickly a pixel can change from one color to another. Given how far gaming monitors have come in recent years, most monitors will offer a 1ms response time when testing Grey to Grey or sometimes referred to on specs sheets as GtG.
This measurement is basically how long pixels take to transition from one shade of grey to another. It gives users an average view of what the monitor is capable of, but keep in mind that transitions for other colors might take longer or shorter, so this is not an end-all, be-all spec.
Basically, for the best results when it comes to response time, the monitor’s refresh rate and response time have to line up to deliver “as advertised” performance. As a handy reference, here are the typical refresh rate and their corresponding maximum response time for the best results.
Panel Type
Manufacturers use different display technologies for their gaming monitors, so it’s worth knowing what they offer before buying one. There is no right option when it comes to the panel type; whatever works best for any particular gamer is fine.
Monitors withTNpanels are famous for high refresh rates and low input lag, two critical factors that make a great gaming monitor. However, TN monitors are not currently available on mainstream monitors. So, gamers looking for similar performance should look at monitors withIPSpanels. They deliver greater color accuracy, and still fairly low input lag. While those withVApanels are designed to render better color reproduction than their IPS counterparts. OLED panels deliver wide viewing angles and impeccable color accuracy, though screen burn-in is an issue.
Connectivity Options
Seeing that a monitor is just a component of a gaming setup, it makes sense that it should come with various connection options for consoles, PCs, and peripherals. When shopping for a monitor, ensure that the most preferred options support USB-C, HDMI 2.1, and DisplayPort.
FAQ
Q: Is it worth buying an ultrawide monitor?
Gamers who want an immersive experience with their favorite titles should consider getting an ultrawide monitor. They’re also ideal for improving one’s productivity and reducing eye strain.
Q: What is the best ultrawide monitor?
Although Game Rant’s guide comprises a list of various excellent options, the best overall pick is the Samsung G5 monitor. It offers an above-average refresh rate of 165Hz and a low response time of 1ms.
