The best curved monitors in 2023

Best Curved Monitors: Quick Menu

The best curved monitors may look strange if you're accustomed to standard flat displays, but these devices have tangible benefits, especially for gamers.

Because curved monitors wrap around your field of view, you're able to see more at the same focal distance as a normal display. This helps reduce eye strain and provides a more immersive, distortion-free viewing experience. Curved monitors also benefit gaming, especially displays with fast response times and high refresh rates. These monitors also look great when paired with the best computers you can buy.

The main downside about curved monitors is the price since they're generally more expensive than their flat siblings. If saving cash is your main priority, you'll be better off looking at our choices for the best gaming monitors and the best monitors.

Below, you'll find a list of the best curved monitors you can buy today.

The quick list

Short on time? Here's a quick and easy to digest breakdown of the best curved monitors on the list below, along with quick links that let you jump directly to the review of whichever display you're interested in.

The best curved monitors you can buy today

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The best overall curved monitor

Alienware 34 AW3423DWF

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
The best curved monitor we've ever seen

Specifications

Screen Size: 34 inches
Resolution: 3440 x 1440
Refresh Rate: 165Hz (DisplayPort), 120Hz (HDMI)
Response Time: 1ms
Ports: 1 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, 4 USB-A, audio line-out, headphone
Brightness: 236 nits (Standard Mode)
sRGB Gamut: 180 percent

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent image quality
+
Cheaper than original model
+
Thinner, lighter design
+
Fast refresh rate and low latency

Reasons to avoid

-
A minor update at best

The Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED addresses some of the issues we had with the original model. The lower price is solid, as is the inclusion of HDMI 2.1 support. Even if it’s only an overall minor upgrade, the improvements objectively make it a stronger product.

With that said, it’s difficult to recommend this monitor to those who already bought the original version. HDMI 2.1 support is nice, but it’s not worth upgrading — especially if you primarily play PC games. And as we said, few console games even support 120Hz. If you own the AW3423DW then you’re not missing out on much.

But given how the AW3423DWF costs $1,099, it’s now an easier device to recommend to newcomers.

Read our full Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED review.

The best budget curved monitor

Gigabyte G27FC review unit on a desk

(Image credit: Future)
The best affordable curved gaming monitor

Specifications

Screen size: 27 inches
Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Refresh rate: 165Mhz
Response time: 1ms
Ports: 2x HDMI 1.4, 1x DisplayPort 1.2 (+2 USB 3.0 ports)
Brightness: 241 nits
sRGB gamut: 139.3%

Reasons to buy

+
Good picture quality
+
Sturdy, adjustable design
+
Solid gaming performance

Reasons to avoid

-
Dim vs. competition
-
No HDMI 2.1 or HDR support

The Gigabyte G27FC is a 27-inch curved gaming monitor that aims to give you a more immersive experience when playing games without costing an arm and a leg.

With its 1080p resolution and 165Hz refresh rate this monitor is built for playing PC games at high framerates, and after spending a few months with it, we're confident you'll appreciate the G27FC's gaming capabilities.

The limited brightness and workhorse design won't wow onlookers, but you'd be hard-pressed to get a much better 27-inch curved gaming monitor for this price.

Read our full Gigabyte G27FC review.

The best productivity curved monitor

Samsung Odyssey OLED G8

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 is a stylish OLED curved gaming monitor that’s a serious rival for the Alienware AW3423DWF. Like that monitor, the Odyssey OLED G8 features an immersive 34-inch curved display with stunning picture quality. Its fast 175Hz refresh rate and low 0.03ms response time deliver solid performance, especially for games that require quick reflexes. Add Samsung’s smart TV and gaming hub apps, and you have one of the best curved monitors and best gaming monitors we’ve reviewed.

While pricey at $1,799, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 is an overall brilliant gaming monitor.

Read our full Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 review.

The best for gaming and productivity

Specifications

Dimensions: 32.3 x 7.3 x 18.0 inches
Screen Size: 34 inches
Resolution: 3,440 x 1,440
Refresh Rate: 175Hz
Inputs: 1x Mini DP 2, 1x Micro HDMI, 2x USB-C
Response Time: 0.03ms
Aspect Ratio: 21:9
Panel Type: OLED
Weight: 16.5 lbs with stand

Reasons to buy

+
Immersive 34-inch curved display
+
Vivid, sharp picture quality
+
Elegant design

Reasons to avoid

-
Pricier than competition
-
Poor speaker quality

The best mid-range curved monitor

best monitors:

(Image credit: Acer)
A solid overall curved monitor

Specifications

Screen Size: 34 inches
Resolution: 3440 x 1440
Refresh Rate: 60Hz (overclocked to 100Hz)
Response Time: 43ms
Ports: DisplayPort, HDMI, four USB, headphone
Brightness: 251 nits
sRGB Gamut: 98.9 percent

Reasons to buy

+
Attractive design
+
Gorgeous picture quality
+
Strong G-Sync performance
+
Low latency

Reasons to avoid

-
Pricey
-
Navigating menus can be a pain

Packed with all the goodies a gamer could ever ask for, the Acer Predator X34 was the best monitor on the market before the Alienware 34 took its spot. It all starts with a 34-inch, 3340 x 1440-resolution display, which provides an exceptionally immersive viewing experience, thanks to its high maximum brightness and vivid colors.

Gamers will love all the technology Acer brings to the table with the Predator. Not only does the curved monitor support Nvidia's G-Sync technology for eliminating screen tears, but it also has fast response times and overclocking to 100Hz refresh rate. The Predator wears its gaming aesthetic well, flaunting an aggressive stance and bottom-facing LED lights.

See our full Acer Predator X34 review.

The best 1440p curved monitor

Best curved monitors: MSI Optix MPG27CQ

(Image credit: MSI)
Best curved monitor under $500

Specifications

Screen Size: 27 inches
Resolution: 2560 x 1440
Refresh Rate: 144Hz
Response Time: 1ms
Ports: Two HDMI, DisplayPort, two USB 3.0, headphone
Brightness: 288.6 nits
sRGB Gamut: 140 percent

Reasons to buy

+
Customizable RGB lighting
+
Adjustable stand
+
Strong overall performance

Reasons to avoid

-
No HDR support
-
Audio pass-through only
-
Lighting customization is limited

Curved monitors typically cost more than their flat counterparts, but that doesn't mean you need to spend a fortune on one. The MSI Optix MPG27CQ is a gaming monitor with a curved 27-inch, 2560 x 1440-resolution display and a 144Hz refresh rate for under $500.

Covering 140 percent of the sRGB color gamut and peaking at 288.6 nits, this reasonably priced monitor produces a bright and vivid picture. And with fast refresh rates and a 1ms response time, your games will run smoothly, even when you're frantically building a towering structure at the end of a Fortnite round.

See our full MSI Optix MPG27CQ review.

The best 49-inch curved monitor

Samsung Odyssey G9 OLED sitting on desk

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Best 49-inch curved monitor

Specifications

Screen Size: 49 inches
Resolution: 5120 x 1440
Refresh Rate: 240Hz
Response Time: 0.03ms
Ports: 1x HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort, 4x USB-C, headphone
Brightness: 236 nits
sRGB Gamut: 194.5 percent

Reasons to buy

+
Immersive 49-inch OLED curved display
+
Bright and colorful panel
+
High refresh rate & low response time

Reasons to avoid

-
Pricier than competitors
-
Too large for many desks

Thanks to its sheer size, there’s absolutely no way the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 isn’t going to instantly command your attention. As the world’s first ever 49-inch OLED gaming monitor, we don’t know if we’ve ever encountered a more immersive display.

Its feature set is borderline ridiculous, too. For (an admittedly) super pricey $,1800, you get a monitor with 1,800R curvature to give you a wrap-around vision experience that makes it oh so easy to get lost in your favorite PC games. The panel’s lightning quick 0.03ms response time and 240Hz refresh rate also makes it a great option for hardcore first-person shooter fans with seriously deep pockets. 

That stats are ludicrous, and we love the ambition and craft Samsung has poured into its stunning curved OLED monitor. The Odyssey OLED G9 is capable of producing peerlessly immersive experiences, and if you’re swimming in cash, you should definitely consider treating yourself to one.

See our full Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 review.

Best curved monitors: Alienware AW3418DW

Best with G-Sync

Specifications

Screen Size: 34 inches
Resolution: 3440 x 1440
Refresh Rate: 100Hz (overclocked to 120Hz)
Response Time: 4ms
Ports: HDMI, DisplayPort, four USB 3.0, USB 3.0 Type-B, headphone
Brightness: 270 nits
sRGB Gamut: 127.2 percent

Reasons to buy

+
Striking design
+
Gorgeous 1440p screen
+
Strong color and brightness

Reasons to avoid

-
Underwhelming LED effects
-
Expensive

The Alienware AW3418DW is the perfect companion to the company's excellent PCs. The monitor's mesmerizing 34-inch, 3400 x 1440-resolution display is sharp and vibrant and comes with Nvidia G-Sync technology. But the panel isn't the only thing on this Alienware monitor that will catch your eye.

The AW3418DW has a striking design with sharp angles and gamer lighting to brighten your room. Speaking of gaming, the Alienware 34 has a 120Hz (overclocked) refresh rate and 4ms response time to ensure buttery-smooth gameplay, while special features like a Dark Stabilizer, frame-rate counter and timer will help you defeat the competition.

See our full Alienware AW3418DW review.

Phillip Tracy is the assistant managing editor at Laptop Mag where he reviews laptops, phones and other gadgets while covering the latest industry news. Previously, he was a Senior Writer at Tom's Guide and has also been a tech reporter at the Daily Dot. There, he wrote reviews for a range of gadgets and covered everything from social media trends to cybersecurity. Prior to that, he wrote for RCR Wireless News covering 5G and IoT. When he's not tinkering with devices, you can find Phillip playing video games, reading, traveling or watching soccer.