Did you know that you can improve the performance of your PC simply by choosing a quality PC monitor? We're not talking about buying a larger standard screen here – the real key to unlocking all of that hidden power is an ultrawide monitor. These widescreen wonders can boost productivity, streamline your multitasking and let you truly experience your favourite games and movies with enhanced immersion. Put one of these on your desktop and you'll be getting a serious upgrade.
As you'd expect, ultrawide monitors are much wider than standard monitors, making them perfect for multitasking, gaming and browsing. Open multiple windows at once and avoid having to switch between them, fill your eyes with edge-to-edge gaming, or arrange your workspace to make the most of your creative applications. Sounds great, right? But why not just buy two standard monitors? And what are the real benefits of an ultrawide monitor?
The best ultrawide monitors of 2024 at a glance:
• Best overall: Dell S3422DW 34-inch WQHD 1800R Curved Monitor – View at Amazon
• Best budget: AOC Gaming CU34G2X - 34-inch WQHD Curved Monitor – View at Amazon
• Best for office work: BenQ PD3420Q Designer Monitor – View at Amazon
• Best for gaming: BenQ MOBIUZ EX3410R 34-inch1000R Ultrawide Curved Gaming Monitor – View at Amazon
Well, depending on your needs, a wider screen means you gain more desktop space without the fuss of having to purchase two monitors – and the cable clutter that goes with them. A single large ultrawide monitor can kill those two birds with one stone. Monitors for working from home can boost multitasking, creatives will gain more room to dock their toolbars, and gamers can opt for an ultrawide curved gaming monitor to really put them inside the game.
However, finding a suitable monitor for your PC setup can be something of a challenge. A great refresh rate and ultra-HD resolution might sound excellent on paper, but there are still different panel types and the curved or flat screen decision to make. We're here to guide you in the right direction, breaking down a plethora of ultrawide displays – from simple budget monitors to industry-leading displays wide enough to blow your mind.
Best ultrawide monitors of 2024
Please note: All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.
Rather than choose a gaming-oriented model for our top spot, we've gone for a more general specification that balances features with price. The Dell S3422DW offers a reliable and refined Dell build and design. It’ll be a great match for most home office desktops and the WQHD (3440 x 1440 pixel) visuals will give you the detail and clarity you need for a range of uses. Eyecare features make this a good office option too, with flicker-free and blue light reduction technology to keep eye strain at bay.
As a 1800R curved monitor the curve isn’t too extreme – making it suitable for general purposes (rather than the tighter, more immersive 1000R curve that’s better for gaming). You also get HDR10 for over a billion colours and a 4ms response time. Given the rest of the spec, we do wish that the 100Hz refresh rate was a little higher for those who do want to use it for games. That said, features like 99% sRGB colour accuracy make it a great choice for creatives or those who watch a lot of movies and videos. Overall, we think the Dell S3422DW is a perfect all-rounder for anyone looking for a solid ultrawide screen.
Pros
- The WQHD resolution and 1800R curve will suit a wide range of uses
- HDR10 and 99% sRGB colour accuracy make for vibrant visuals
- Built-in speakers and comprehensive port selection make for a simple setup
Cons
- The refresh rate is better than most non-gaming monitors, but we wish it was 120Hz
| Resolution | 3440x1440 (WQHD) |
| Screen size | 34 inches |
| Screen type | VA Curved (1800R) |
| Refresh rate | 100Hz |
| Response time | 4ms |
| HDR | HDR10 |
| Ports | 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 2x USB 3.0, Audio Out |
| Colour support | 99% sRGB |
| Brightness | 300 nits |
| Viewing angle | 178° |
Despite being aimed at gamers, we love this monitor for it's value and quality. It has an understated gaming aesthetic, which means you can use this anywhere and it won’t look out of place. AOC Gaming make some of the best monitors out there, and the CU34G2X somehow manages to deliver a huge range of technical features without a premium price tag.
With its WQHD resolution, 1ms response time and a generous 144Hz refresh rate, it is naturally well-suited to gamers who need smooth gameplay. We do wish it had HDR for a wider colour range, but it makes up for this with its 119% sRGB colour accuracy. We’re also impressed by the build and ergonomic design. It has an excellent range of adjustability – not to mention the curved 34-inch display. Staggeringly good value at this price.
Pros
- High refresh rate (144Hz) and fast 1ms response time - ideal for a budget gaming rig
- Impressive colour accuracy for its price
- Ergonomic stand with height, swivel, and tilt adjustment
Cons
- Lacks HDR support for extended colour range
| Resolution | 3440x1440 (WQHD) |
| Screen size | 34 inches |
| Screen type | VA Curved |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz |
| Response time | 1ms |
| HDR | N/A |
| Ports | 2x DisplayPort 1.4, 2x HDMI 2.0, 4x USB 3.0 |
| Colour support | 119% sRGB, 88% AdobeRGB |
| Brightness | 300 nits |
| Viewing angle | 178° |
Many creatives and designers need the extended workspace that an ultrawide monitor can bring, but not all of them want a curved screen. Draw a horizontal line in Adobe Illustrator and it can be off putting to see it curve along with the screen. Enter the BenQ PD3420Q. Not only is it a 34-inch ultrawide, it's also flat and designed specifically for creative professionals.
The colour accuracy here is brilliant, with 100% sRGB and 98% DCI-P3 – making it ideal for print and digital designers. Its IPS panel and factory calibration also deliver precise, vibrant visuals that are easy on the eye. We particularly appreciate the fact that this has USB-C, making it daisy-chainable with other high-powered devices as well as providing fast and easy connectivity to PCs and laptops. Although we wish that it had a higher refresh rate than 60Hz to make it more suitable for fast-motion visuals, this isn't a drawback for design work. All in all, it's a seriously capable piece of kit.
Pros
- Exceptional colour accuracy – perfect for all creatives
- USB-C connectivity for easy laptop or desktop connection and USB powered peripherals
- Reliable factory calibration for designers and content creators
Cons
- Limited to a 60Hz refresh rate
| Resolution | 3440x1440 (WQHD) |
| Screen size | 34 inches |
| Screen type | IPS Curved |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz |
| Response time | 5ms |
| HDR | HDR10 |
| Ports | 1x USB-C, 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.0, Audio Out |
| Colour support | 100% sRGB, 98% DCI-P3 |
| Brightness | 400 nits |
| Viewing angle | 178° |
When it comes to cutting-edge gaming monitors, few can truly compete with the BenQ MOBIUZ EX3410R. From its AMD FreeSync Premium technology to HDR10 and HDR400 capabilities for bringing out a gorgeous wide array of colours, your favourite games and television shows will never look better. For us, when it comes to gaming, the BenQ MOBIUZ steals the show on all fronts.
The MOBIUZ's ultra-thin borders and modern stand gives users plenty of viewing angle flexibility. But, the star of the show is the 1000R curved screen. That matches the curve of the human eye, so you won’t find better for total gaming immersion. The BenQ MOBIUZ also has built-in speakers at 5W per side, which is excellent if you're in need of a space-efficient PC setup without hassling with cables. They may be on the weaker side, but they're a welcome addition to an otherwise perfect gaming monitor.
Pros
- 144Hz refresh rate, FreeSync and 1ms response time for fast-paced gaming
- Immersive 1000R curve for an enhanced gaming experience
- Support for HDR10 and DisplayHDR 400 for extended colour range
Cons
- The internal speakers could be better – invest in external PC or laptop speakers
| Resolution | 3440x1440 (WQHD) |
| Screen size | 34 inches |
| Screen type | VA Curved (1000R) |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz |
| Response time | 1ms |
| HDR | HDR10 and DisplayHDR 400 |
| Ports | 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.0, Audio Out |
| Colour support | 90% DCI-P3 |
| Brightness | 400 nits |
| Viewing angle | 178° |
In a market dominated by QHD 1440p screens, the Philips 40B1U6903CH 5K monitor is loaded with extra detail – a massive 5120 x 2160 pixels. Anyone working on ultra high resolution content like 4K videos or editing RAW photographs will really enjoy the joint benefits of an enormous screen and sublime 5K resolution. What's more, this formidable 40-inch monitor is larger than most - giving you a formidable PC monitor on your desktop. It is curved, which may not suit all creatives, but anyone not designing technical diagrams is likely to love it.
We do, though, think that there's something to be desired from the 40B1U6903CH's so-so refresh rate. Hitting the 75Hz mark, this fairly standard rate for a monitor and a bit of a mismatch with the rest of the specification. It's not a deal-breaker, though, as the combination of that resolution with HDR support and the excellent 500 nits of brightness more than makes up for it.
Pros
- Stunning 5K resolution in a 40-inch ultrawide screen – quite a rare combination
- USB-C connectivity to make for a less cluttered setup
- High brightness and excellent HDR support for optimal image clarity
Cons
- A fairly standard refresh rate
| Resolution | 5120x2160 (5K) |
| Screen size | 40 inches |
| Screen type | VA Curved |
| Refresh rate | 75Hz |
| Response time | 4ms |
| HDR | DisplayHDR 400 |
| Ports | 1x USB-C, 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, USB Hub |
| Colour support | 98% DCI-P3 |
| Brightness | 500 nits |
| Viewing angle | 178° |
Like us, you might have done a double-take when you saw the Philips 499P9H for the first time. It’s basically like merging two standard ultrawide screens together into a massive 49-inch display with dual QHD resolution. That’s an enormous 5120 x 1440 pixels. Although it only has a 75Hz refresh rate, that’s not a serious downside as, with an aspect ratio of 32:9, it’s not really a mainstream gaming display.
However, that extreme aspect ratio is the ultimate solution for multitaskers. No need to buy a cluttered dual monitor setup here – this one will span your desk and let you stack up multiple windows next to each other at once. Anyone who needs to quickly copy and paste between windows or cross-reference info from multiple sources will love it. Lastly, the Philips 499P9H has good connectivity option, including USB-C for power delivery and more. Versatile and super-wide, this is a beast of a screen.
Pros
- Dual ultra-wide screen with a 32:9 aspect ratio for multitasking
- USB-C with power delivery for laptops and PCs plus peripherals
- High colour accuracy and exceptional brightness
Cons
- Refresh rate is only 75Hz, so if you’re a gamer look elsewhere
| Resolution | 5120x1440 (Dual QHD) |
| Screen size | 49 inches |
| Screen type | VA Curved (1800R) |
| Refresh rate | 70Hz |
| Response time | 5ms |
| HDR | HDR400 |
| Ports | 1x USB-C, 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 4x USB 3.0 |
| Colour support | 121% sRGB |
| Brightness | 450 nits |
| Viewing angle | 178° |
For the ultimate gaming experience, Samsung uses some of the best technology out there to deliver users a cutting-edge experience. The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is an enormous monitor at 49 inches wide. Its main unique selling point is that it uses a quantum Mini-LED panel to provide much better picture quality than a normal IPS or VA panel, with deep blacks and vibrant colours.
There are no large technical downsides when it comes to the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 – but we do think that there’s a lack of efficient cable management on the stand for such a large monitor. That said, the tech specs are truly stunning, with a gargantuan 240Hz refresh rate for amazingly smooth visuals and a 1ms response time. Gaming on this will be stunning, but it’s also a practical everyday ultrawide monitor too. Where colour is concerned, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9's billion shades of are remarkable. Add the superior contrast levels aided by great local dimming and we can’t fault the picture quality on offer here.
Pros
- The 49-inch, 1000R curved screen deliver an amazing wrap-around gaming experience
- The Mini-LED panel delivers deep blacks, vibrant colours, and high brightness
- The 240Hz refresh rate with G-Sync and FreeSync ensures smooth, lag-free gaming
Cons
- The cable management lacks routing channels on the stand
| Resolution | 5120 x 1440 (Dual QHD) |
| Screen size | 49 inches |
| Screen type | VA panel with Quantum Mini-LED |
| Refresh rate | 240Hz |
| Response time | 1ms |
| HDR | Quantum HDR 2000 with 2000 nits peak brightness |
| Ports | 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort, 2x USB-A, 1x USB-B |
| Colour support | 1.07 billion colours (10-bit) |
| Brightness | 2000 nits peak, 1000 nits sustained |
| Viewing angle | 178° |
How to choose the best ultrawide monitor for you
Although ultrawide monitors all seem to do the same thing – increasing your screen real estate – they do in fact come in various sizes and specifications. Your choice will all depend on your needs. Being extra-wide, you're more likely to find more curved monitors than the flat screened type – simply because a curve improves viewing angles when looking at larger models. Let's take a look at some of the more typical uses for ultrawide monitors.
Office workers
The key thing to consider here is how much extra space you'll need to improve your productivity. If you need to be able to see three documents at once, a 27-inch monitor or larger is probably best. You'll also need to look for eyecare features like a blue light filter and flicker-free operation to keep eye strain at bay. Curved may hinder rather than help when looking at large spreadsheet and the like, but this is really down to your preference.
Gamers
The most common resolution that will suit the vast majority of games is UltraWide Quad HD (UWQHD) – 3440 x 1440 pixels. With relatively few titles out there that can run in 4K resolution at super-high quality graphics settings, it's still the most popular resolution for gamers. The key considerations here is the panel type. Many gamers prefer a Mini-LED monitor for excellent brightness and vivid colours, or an IPS panel as they handle motion better than VA panels do. Want to know more about panel technology? Check out our guide to monitor panel types.
Games will also benefit from a monitor 27-inches or larger for better immersion. Although it might not suit some players, curved ultrawide screens can enhance immersion even further. Look for a tight curve radius to increase the effect. Unlike the AOC Gaming CG27G2SE monitor we reviewed, which is not ultrawide, the curve on any ultrawide screen will be a lot more pronounced and effective.
Gamers will also need to look for a variable refresh rate (VRR) such as G-Sync or FreeSync and an overall refresh rate of 120Hz or higher for smooth and accurate motion. Lastly, the monitor's response time is important. This is the time it takes for whatever in-game action you perform to show up on the screen. Aim for 1ms, but anything below 4ms should be fine.
Designers and creatives
Depending on the kind of projects you work on, you may need to look at a higher resolution than the standard UltraWide Quad HD. Some monitors – like the one in our list above – supports 5K resolution which is ideal for anyone working at higher resolutions; such as those who are migrating from a flat 4K monitor but still need to edit video in 4K.
Once again, opting for a curved screen may not suit many designers as any straight line will look curved. The benefit of an ultrawide screen is having plenty of space to dock those toolbars and panels. Finally, you may want to consider an OLED monitor for colour accuracy and contrast levels. Colour accreditations like Pantone or Calman verification might also be essential – the latter being put to the test in our review of the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV monitor recently.
Movie and entertainment fans
If you're into your movies, we think a flat ultrawide is the way to go. If you can go up to a 32-inch monitor or larger it can only help with immersion. Like with designers, you may also want to invest in a higher resolution and even an OLED panel with HDR (High Dynamic Range) support for super-accurate, rich colours and deep blacks.
Measure up – twice
Most ultrawide monitors have really thin profiles and slim stands, but you'll still need to measure your available desk space to make sure. And this is especially true if you're going for two ultrawide displays in a dual-monitor setup. Looks can be deceiving, especially with the curved ultrawide type. Seen in photographs, they can look more compact than they actually are. So measure (and measure again) to make sure before you buy.
Ultrawide monitor jargon buster
What is refresh rate?
Refresh rate is the measure at which a new image appears on your display's screen per second. A standard display has a refresh rate of 60Hz (that's 60 new images per second).
A much faster refresh rate improves the smoothness of the monitor itself, giving general browsing, but most importantly gaming, a noticeable silky-smooth feel to the controls. More precise controls and smoother visuals can not only enhance your own enjoyment of games but it can also improve your gaming skills. Although gamers can find decent gaming monitors for under £200, a quality ultrawide is likely to cost much more than that.
What is response time?
A monitor's response time is the time taken for a request to be processed and displayed on the screen - pressing a button on a controller, for example, to see your player-character move in-game. The quicker the response time of the PC monitor, the sharper and more instantaneous the controls are.
What is radius rating?
MSI has a great guide to monitor curvatures. In short, the smaller the number the more curved the screen will be edge-to-edge. So, a 1000R monitor (which matches the curvaturee of the human eye) is more curved than a 1500R or 1800R monitor. For more immersion, get as close to 1000R as you can.
What is sync technology?
Sync technology ensures that the frames per second being output from your PC can be matched by the refresh rate of the monitor itself, therefore, they are synchronised. This is often referred to as VRR, or Variable Refresh Rate. Without it you can suffer from dropped frames, stuttering motion, screen tearing and all manner of performance issues. So (and especially if you're a gamer) investing in great hardware with VRR support can save you plenty of grief in the long run.
FAQs
Is an ultrawide monitor worth it?
Absolutely. It can solve several of the issues that many computer users are faced with, like not having enough desktop working space on their Windows or Mac, cable and desk clutter, and having to buy two monitors. They can also enhance immersion for movies and games. Our top pick, the Dell S3422DW 34-inch WQHD 1800R curved monitor, is a great all-rounder.
Do I need a stronger PC to run a high-resolution ultrawide monitor?
Regardless of being ultrawide, any higher-resolution monitor will require more powerful PCs and graphics cards to drive them. This is especially true for gaming as it is an already highly demanding process, so ensure your PC hardware is powerful and up to date before attempting to run a 5K or UWQHD monitor.
Do widescreen monitors need to be set up differently from regular monitors?
In terms of connectivity, all ultrawide screens will have HDMI and possibly DisplayPort and USB-C ports for hooking it up to your PC. Modern systems can automatically detect the display's wider resolution and adjust its output accordingly.
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Chris Duffill is a Senior Tech Writer and Reviewer for What's The Best. His background includes writing, editorial, marketing, design, video production and photography.
He specialises in home entertainment and audiovisual tech, including speakers, amplifiers, turntables, streaming media players, and TVs. He is also one of our resident experts in computing (PCs, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches), DSLR photography and all kinds of digital cameras. He also writes about retro gaming, game consoles and various electronic gadgets. If it plugs in, lights up or makes a noise, he’ll write about it.
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