Curved monitors provide a unique experience by increasing immersion when gaming and consuming content. Larger displays are also ideal for work and multitasking. In this article, we are going to go over some of the best curved monitors that you can buy right now in 2022 for gaming, content creation, and multitasking.
Best Curved Monitors 2022
The following are some of the best curved monitors that you can buy right now in 2022:
Asus ROG Swift PG35VQ – Best Premium Curved Monitor
Size: 35-inches | Resolution: 3440 x 1440 | Refresh Rate: 200Hz | Curve: 1100R
If you are interested in a premium curved gaming monitor that checks all the boxes then the Asus ROG Swift PG35VQ is a great option. The monitor has slim bezels around the sides and comes with a variety of connectivity features including an integrated headphone DAC for better audio.
The monitor has a sturdy stand that supports height adjustment, tilt, and swivel but you cannot turn the screen and set it up vertically using the included stand. The monitor features RGB lighting on the back and it also has a joystick to navigate the menus.
It is worth mentioning that while the monitor does support 200 Hz refresh rate, without chrome subsampling that is only possible with 8-bit color, and in that case, you cannot use HDR. You can use 12-bit color up to 120 Hz and 10-bit color up to 144Hz. Only Windows 10 supports 8-bit HDR with RS4 dithering.
With chroma subsampling on you can hit 200 Hz at 12-bit color but you will notice fringing. You can notice this in text but you might not notice it in games. So your mileage is going to vary. It is best to use this monitor at 144 Hz, all things considered, for a better all-around experience.
While this model is a bit old, it still stands the test of time and comes with all the features that you would want. This also means that you can get it at a discounted price.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Asus ROG Swift PG35VQ:
Pros:
- 200 Hz refresh rate
- Excellent color accuracy
- Great HDR
- Integrated headphone DAC
- Low input lag
Cons:
- Expensive
- Heavy
Samsung Odyssey G9 – Best For Flight And Racing Sims
Size: 49-inches | Resolution: 5120×1440 | Refresh Rate: 240 Hz | Curve: 1100R
The Samsung Odyssey G9 is a massive display and is equal to two 27-inch monitors side by side. It also has a very aggressive curve which means increased immersion when gaming and consuming content. This is a QLED panel so you get excellent color accuracy and viewing angles. You will need a DP 1.4a connection in order to power all the pixels and take advantage of the 240 Hz refresh rate.
At max resolution, you will need to drop down to 8-bit color but you can still use RGB as the color format. This means text readability should not be compromised. There is RGB lighting on the back and the implementation is really good but it is on the back so you will not see it most of the time.
It is worth mentioning that the high 5120×1440 resolution demands top-tier hardware. You will need decent hardware in order to run games on this monitor at the max resolution even if you are not going for the 240 Hz refresh rate.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Samsung Odyssey G9:
Pros:
- 240 Hz refresh rate
- Plenty of screen real estate
- Excellent color accuracy
- Very bright
Cons:
- Expensive
- Input lag higher than ideal
Asus ProArt PA34VC – Ideal For Content Creation
Size: 34-inches | Resolution: 3440 x 1440 | Refresh Rate: 100 Hz | Curve: 1900R
The Asus ProArt PA34VC is aimed at content creators. This is a 10-bit display so it is great for content creation and while it supports HDR the brightness drops with the feature on. So you do not really get a true HDR experience. It has an IPS display so the color accuracy is great and so are the viewing angles.
The Asus ProArt PA34VC has a matte display so most of the reflections are going to be blocked and you will not glaring by lights. It has a dE of less than 2 which is great for color grading and correction. You can also set different color profiles depending on your use case. You can have a different profile for working in the dark and another one for gaming.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Asus ProArt PA34VC:
Pros:
- Excellent color accuracy
- Very bright
- HDR support
- 100 Hz refresh rate
Cons:
- Full Adobe RGB color space not covered
BenQ EX3501R – Best Overall
Size: 35-inches | Resolution: 3440 x 1440 | Refresh Rate: 100 Hz | Curve: 1800R
Compared to previous models the BenQ EX3501R has thinner bezels, HDR support, and a USB Type-C port. The refresh rate is not 144 Hz but 100 Hz is still decent for gaming. The monitor has a compact stand compared to the competition which means that it does not take a lot of space on your desk.
It comes assembled out of the box so you do not have to set it up and there is a cutout in the stand for cable management. So you can keep things nice and tidy. While you can tilt the screen a bit and there is height adjustment, the flexibility ends there. It does support VESA mounting so you can get a mount for it.
The monitor comes with a light sensor that detects the amount of light around the screen and adjusts the brightness of the display in order to minimize eye strain. You can disable this feature in the settings if you do not want the dimming to take place.
There is no joystick for navigation so you are left to figure out what all the different buttons do. This is a VA panel so you do not get the brightness of the Samsung panels and the viewing angles are not as great as IPS displays. You will also not be taking full advantage of HDR because of the low brightness even though HDR is supported.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the BenQ EX3501R:
Pros:
- Great color accuracy
- Bright enough
- HDR support
- 100 Hz refresh rate
- Decent value
- Decent port selection
Cons:
- No built-in speakers
- Not IPS
- Doesn’t charge over Type-C
Samsung CF396 – Best Budget 1080p Curved Monitor
Size: 23.5-inches | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Refresh Rate: 60 Hz | Curve: 1800R
The Samsung CF396 is a great budget curved monitor. It only features a single HDMI and VGA output so the port selection is limited but it does come with a headphone jack. The screen supports AMD FreeSync but since the display has a max refresh rate of 60 Hz, you might not even need the feature.
The stands are not the best. The screen can wobble if you use the default stand. You can mount these to the wall if sturdiness is an issue. All things considered, the Samsung CF396 is a great budget curved gaming monitor for 1080p gaming.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Samsung CF396:
Pros:
- Curved on a budget
- Decent brightness for the price
- Good sRGB color coverage
- Joystick controller
Cons:
- Limited port selection
- Stand only supports tilt adjustment
Gigabyte G32QC A – Best Budget 1440p Curved Monitor
Size: 32-inches | Resolution: 2560 x 1440 | Refresh Rate: 165 Hz | Curve: 1500R
The Gigabyte G32QC A is a great mid-range option keeping in mind that it has a resolution of 2560 x 1440 and a 165 Hz refresh rate. This is a reasonably large display and should occupy your field of view and the 1500R curve is great.
The stand is sturdy but it does take up a lot of space. There is no RGB lighting and the back of the monitor is all black. The display has a nice design with slim bezels but since this is not a premium product, it is mostly plastic.
All things considered, if you are interested in getting a curved monitor for gaming then the Gigabyte G32QC A is a solid option. It is a VA panel but the factory calibration is impressive.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Gigabyte G32QC A:
Pros:
- Curved on a budget
- Impressive value for money
- AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
- 165 Hz refresh rate
Cons:
- Minor light bleed
These are some of the best curved monitors that you can buy right now in 2022. If you are interested in graphics cards to power these monitors then you can check out our recommended RTX 3060 Ti and RX 6750 XT graphics cards.