Curved Vs Flat Monitors For Gaming – Let’s see which one is THE BEST?
If you’re thinking about getting into PC gaming for the first time or replacing a creaky display that’s starting to show its age, you’ll need to make a few decisions before you even start looking for a new gaming monitor.
Curved vs. flat monitors is one consideration; for PC gamers looking to increase their immersion, curved monitors are becoming a more popular option, both in standard 16:9 resolutions and ultra-wide format.
But which display is better for gaming, curved or flat, and what are the key differences? Of course, the answer is dependent on your gaming habits, budget, and a variety of other factors.
Still, we’ve outlined the key differences between curved and flat gaming monitors to help you decide which display is best for you.
Curved Gaming Monitors
If you’ve never used a Curved Monitor before, you might be wondering what the benefits of this type of display are over a flat-screen monitor.
These types of monitors are designed to extend the image in an arc around your field of vision, allowing you to see the edges of the screen with your peripheral vision rather than seeing it as a flat image.
As a result, curved monitors are primarily advantageous for their enhanced immersion—the image (or whatever is happening in your game) surrounds you rather than being in front of you.
Curved ultrawide monitors are ideal for multitasking or working on a project that requires multiple tabs open simultaneously for those seeking increased productivity.
On the other hand, a larger Curved Monitor will not natively display all of your PC games at the correct resolution.
A game will need to support ultra-wide resolutions like 34401440 or 25601080 to take advantage of the full display, which can make supported games look fantastic.
On the other hand, Curved Monitors will add black bars to the sides of the screen when playing games that aren’t supported.
What looks good on an ultra-wide monitor, on the other hand, may look off on a standard display or phone screen.
Pros
Immersion has been improved in the games that are supported.
The ultra-wide screen is ideal for multitasking with multiple tabs open.
High resolutions are supported.
Image quality has improved.
Improved color consistency while reducing eye strain
Cons
The heavier a monitor is, the wider it is.
Graphics cards are in higher demand.
It takes up a lot of desk space.
Visual work with a curved shape can be difficult to evaluate.
ASUS TUF Gaming Monitor
You can go big and sharp with this curved beauty without breaking the bank.
The Asus TUF Gaming VG32VQR costs only $450, but it comes with a slew of high-end features and specifications that make it a great deal.
This display is ready to sit like royalty atop your desk at 31.5 inches, and the 1440p resolution will keep your visuals crisp. Meanwhile, the 1800R curve will be subtle, ensuring that more screen is aimed directly at you.
Asus has included a capable VA panel that can reach a peak brightness of 400 nits while still benefiting from VA panels’ high contrast ratio.
The brightness, as well as the smoothness, will help you see the action in your games.
This monitor has a refresh rate of up to 165Hz and Free Sync Premium, which ensures smooth visuals even if your framerate isn’t consistent.
While a flat monitor cannot provide the same level of immersion as a curved monitor, it does have the advantage of being able to display the vast majority of games without any adjustments—and for less money, as flat monitors are generally smaller and less expensive.
Most games are created with the 16:9 aspect ratio of a flat monitor in mind, so they will look great in a wide range of resolutions right out of the box.
A flat-monitor will also give you a much better idea of what your typical audience will see when they interact with your PC if you plan to use it for creative work, such as digital art or video editing.
A flat-screen is also better if you plan to have more than one person view your monitor, whether you’re watching a movie or playing co-op.
A single flat-screen monitor, on the other hand, will not provide the same level of immersion as a curved screen.
A curved display hugs your peripheral vision and provides a more consistent image and color quality, whereas a flat-screen display’s image and color quality deteriorate slightly toward the edges.
Pros
It has a lighter feel to it.
Better for certain types of work Supports aspect ratios natively for the vast majority of games
It is generally less expensive
ideal for dual-monitor setups
Cons
The immersion of ultra-wide displays is lost.
Near the edges of the screen, picture quality and color consistency deteriorate.
Acer CB241HYK 23. 8-Inch 4K Monitor
It is an excellent external monitor that emphasizes the benefits of the flat panel. Its 23.8’’ 4K screen has twice the number of pixels as a 1080P (full HD) monitor while taking up half the space on your desk.
It has built-in speakers, so you won’t need to connect an external pair if you’re watching a movie or playing a game. It also supports the entire sRGB spectrum, ensuring that colors are as accurate as possible.
Even though the outside speakers sound much better, having a pair of internal speakers is still useful. You’ll be able to connect any PC desktop or laptop with ease thanks to its HDMI port, a DisplayPort port, and a DVI port.
If you’re using a newer MacBook, you’ll need a USB-C to HDMI adapter. Its height and tilt can be adjusted, and it can also be turned 90 degrees for vertical use.
According to Acer, this monitor has an anti-glare coating, making it even better if you work in a room with intense overheating lighting or occasionally open a window for natural light.
Due to its high resolution, built-in speakers, variety of ports, color-accurate panel, and impressive ergonomic features, it is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a flat panel display with a manageable size.
The refresh rate is the first distinction between these monitors. When it comes to gaming monitors, the refresh rate is one of the most important considerations.
It determines how smooth your image will be and can give you a significant advantage over your competitors.
When a monitor boasts a 50Hz faster refresh rate, it’s safe to assume it’ll be much better for gaming than the competition.
2. Response Time
The response time is the next obvious distinction. In terms of physical gaming performance, however, this is much less noticeable.
The response time of a monitor’s pixels determines how quickly they can change color, usually using the GTG (Gray-to-Gray) color transition. Anything under 4ms is acceptable in modern gaming, in my opinion.
However, if you want the best gaming experience, a response time of 1ms or less is recommended.
3. Color
A monitor’s color gamut is a set of colors used to determine how many colors it can display—the wider the color gamut, the better the color reproduction in general.
4. Price
Apart from that, the price is the only thing left to discuss. As you can see, the curved monitor is significantly more expensive than the flat-screen alternative, even though it sacrifices critical gaming performance.
Conclusion
Curved and flat-panel monitors have a lot in common, despite their differences.
Both styles have inputs (also known as ports) that allow you to connect your computer to them without using an adapter.
Each one can have a high resolution to ensure a crystal-clear image, which makes everything easier, from viewing photos to reading text.
If you have a large enough room, good lighting, and spend a lot of time editing horizontal video or playing games, a curved display is probably the way to go.
The ultra-wide form factor may take some getting used to, but you’ll appreciate having more room to view your documents, images, videos, and browser tabs.
Ehtesham Shehzad is a 24-year-old Blogger. He is a Tech-Enthusiast & Software Engineer and currently doing Masters in Computer Science & Networking from the University Of Pisa Italy.
Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance
