The best curved gaming monitors of 2023

If you’d asked us five years ago what we thought about even the best curved gaming monitors, we’d have replied: "It’s a fad, buy a decent flat-panel monitor and be happy". Like so many, we would have been wrong. While curved televisions disappeared into obscurity as quickly as they arrived, they have instead found their place on the desktop.

Though there are many applications for curved monitors, including those ultrawide monitors, they feel most at home with gaming. Whether you’re on a gaming PC, gaming laptop or console, curved monitors can draw you further into the game, improve peripheral vision and reduce eye strain. Not to mention they look incredible and the larger - the better.

Believe it or not, the curves on these monitors do vary slightly. Like most 4K monitors, they also come in all sizes and even ultrawide and super-ultrawide variants. Then there are the specialist gamer features which again vary from model to model. And, as usual, there are different panel technologies at work too.

Best curved gaming monitors of 2023 at a glance

• Best overall curved gaming monitor: ASUS ROG Strix XG349C - View at Amazon
• Best budget curved gaming monitor: AOC Gaming C24G2AE - 24-inch FHD Curved Monitor - View at Amazon
• Best large curved gaming monitor: Samsung Odyssey G85NB Neo Quantum Gaming Monitor - View at Amazon
• Best 27" curved gaming monitor: AOC Gaming C27G2ZE - 27 Inch FHD Curved Monitor - View at Amazon

So, with so many options to choose from, we've narrowed things down into useful categories. And just because they're ultrawide doesn't mean they have to be ultra-expensive - there are some budget monitor options in there too. There's also a buyer's guide and some of your questions answered at the end of the article - including a little on the science of curvatures for those who like a bit more detail. Our experts have found the very best curved gaming monitors and straightened it all out for you, below.

The best curved gaming monitors in 2022

Best curved gaming monitors of 2023: Buyer’s guide

Why use a curved monitor for gaming?

As you'd expect, a curved monitor is the same as a standard PC monitor, only it has a curved panel rather than a flat panel. This design helps immersion but also helps to reduce eye strain by better matching the natural curve of the eye.

When you’re playing a video game, you’re often looking at a 3D representation of a world. A curved monitor helps to reinforce the feeling that you’re looking at the 3D space by enhancing your sense of peripheral vision. Thus, your sense of immersion is deepened (this is especially true on larger monitor sizes of 27-inches plus). Add to this the fact that colours tend to look a lot more consistent across a curved screen, and the visual experience of gaming on a curved monitor soon shows its worth. Plus, the curve of the monitor is also easier on your eyes, so eye strain is reduced, which is good news for hardcore marathon gamers.

Monitor curvature explained: 1000R, 1500R and 1800R

The curvature of a panel is reported as a radius, measured in millimetres. Common examples of this include 1500R (1500mm) and 1800R (1800mm). This number indicates how far away from the monitor the user should sit, as the user becomes the centre point of this radius. Exceeding and undercutting this distance can result in a compromised experience.

The larger the number, the gentler the curve, the further a user can sit from the screen. Here’s an infographic from ViewSonic that demonstrates further:

Aspect ratio

The aspect ratio sets the width and height of the screen. Obsolete monitors and televisions ran at a ratio of 4:3, which gave the square image which now looks very dated. Most modern widescreen monitors run at an aspect ratio of 16:9, with some ultra-wide models will run up to 32:9. Essentially, the higher the aspect ratio the more content is displayed on the screen.

HDMI and DisplayPort explained

Port interfaces have a direct effect on the resolution and refresh rate attainable by a monitor. More recent iterations of the HDMI and DisplayPort interfaces can transfer increased volumes of information, allowing them to achieve higher refresh rates and resolutions.

Linking your gaming PC, PS5 or Xbox Series X to the correct port and with the right cable will ensure that your monitor performs at the peak of its power. Many PC gamers prefer monitors that support 1440p, as it's most commonly supported in many games. Here’s a quick guide breaking down the maximum refresh rates and resolutions for HDMI and DisplayPort connections:

HDMI 1.4 - 120Hz at 1080p, 75Hz at 1440p, 30Hz at 4K

HDMI 2.0 - 240Hz at 1080p, 144Hz at 1440p, 60Hz at 4K

HDMI 2.1 - 120Hz at 4K, 60Hz at 8K UHD

Note: Some manufacturers use software to artificially raise the 120Hz at 1080p of HDMI 1.4 to 144Hz.

DP 1.2 - 240Hz at 1080p, 165Hz at 1440p, 75Hz at 4K

DP 1.3 - 240Hz at 1440p, 120Hz at 4K, 60Hz at 5K, 30Hz at 8K

DP 1.4 - 144Hz at 4K, 120Hz at 5K, 60Hz at 8K

Note: Mini DisplayPorts match the performance of their iteration. For example, Mini DP 1.3 and DP 1.3 offer the same capacities.

Panel type

The panel type used in a monitor will effectively dictate the display’s quality, clarity, and response time, amongst other things. The type of panel used affects the unit cost. Recently, these have been joined by OLED and QLED for even higher-quality images, but they are still facing stiff competition on price and features from traditional LCD panels.

TN – Twisted nematic panels typically have narrow viewing angles and reduced colour depth.

IPS – In-plane switching panels have large colour depths and viewing angles.

VA – Vertical alignment panels have large colour depth and a viewing angle that typically sits between TN and IPS.

Best curved gaming monitors of 2023: FAQs

Are curved monitors best for gaming?

Curved monitors work very well for gaming thanks to the increased level of immersion. Some pro gamers prefer a flat screen, as they favour being able to see as much of the screen at once to play competitively. A curved screen is great at filling your peripheral vision, which is why many say they make for a more realistic feel. If you play racing games they can work especially well since the player is focused on the road ahead and the sensation of movement is increased by the curve. Even monitors for the Xbox Series X and PlayStation include some popular curved options.

Do consoles work on curved monitors?

Yes, and no. Although most consoles - including the Xbox and PlayStation - will happily connect to a curved monitor, if you've gone for the ultrawide variety most games (at the time of writing) will display at their native resolution - which means you'll have black bars on either side. There's nothing wrong with this, of course, but if you're buying an ultrawide curved screen just for your console it's worth keeping in mind.

Can I use a gaming monitor for work?

Absolutely. Some designers prefer flat panel monitors if they're dealing with a lot of straight lines - for instance for architectural design, but it's entirely down to you. The features that make these curved monitors gaming monitors are really in areas like response time, refresh rate and specialist gamer features like crosshair overlays or frame rate counters - none of these will affect how you work or what you run on it.

William Lobley is a Senior Content Writer for WhatsTheBest, specialising in technology and outdoors. He also writes for Empire Online

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