Gaming monitors are one of the PC components that have been dramatically changed and improved in the recent years.
If the size of the tiles is growing (up to 34 inches, or a little more than 86 cm diagonally) and their quality is improving, prices tend to fall. The offer is always very wide and it is sometimes difficult to navigate. The entry price for a 23-inch (58 cm) monitor is around $100, while some 34-inch monitors are now being sold around $300.
On the technology side, IPS or VA panels are now common and only entry-level models or models intended for gamers retain a TN panel, the only advantage of which is the excellent response time. On the definition side, if Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) is still the majority, Quad HD screens (2560 x 1440 pixels) are more and more popular. The resolution offered by a 27 Quad HD (109 pixels per inch) or 32 inch Ultra HD (138 ppi) monitor is also very comfortable. In this list, we focused on curved gaming monitors with a refresh rate of 144Hz.
Table of Contents
1. Dell S3422DWG Curved Gaming Monitor 144Hz 34 Inch
With minimal latency (1 ms), WQHD definition and a refresh rate of up to 144 Hz, the Dell S3422DWG 34″ has ideal characteristics for any gamer looking for a complete and high-performance monitor. It is currently benefiting from a nice reduction on its original price.
Pros
- A 34-inch curved VA panel in WQHD definition at 144 Hz
- Fast response time: 1 ms
- Compatibility with AMD FreeSync
- Nice design
- Available USB 3 ports
- Quality build
- Very good for gaming
- 3440×1440
Cons
- Overall color reproduction
- Viewing angles / uniformity across entire screen poor
- Text clarity
- Not a nice fit for graphic design
Current Best Price on Amazon: $429.99
Price History on Amazon
| Months | Lowest Price on Amazon |
|---|---|
| Sep 2022 | $449.99 |
| Oct 2022 | $449.99 |
| Nov 2022 | $379.99 |
| Dec 2022 | $379.99 |
| Jan 2023 | $429.99* |
2. LG UltraGear QHD 34-Inch Curved Gaming Monitor 34GP83A-B
Pros
- IPS display
- Excellent input lag
- Excellent pixel response times
- Works well with Gsync
- No brightness/color shifts
- Curve is fairly good
- 3440×1440
Cons
- No built in speakers
- HDR not very good
Current Best Price on Amazon: $659.99
Price History on Amazon
| Months | Lowest Price on Amazon |
|---|---|
| Sep 2022 | $649.99 |
| Oct 2022 | $599.99 |
| Nov 2022 | $654.99 |
| Dec 2022 | $615.99 |
| Jan 2023 | $659.99* |
3. AOC CU34G2X 34″ 144Hz Curved Frameless Gaming Monitor
Pros
- Great blacks
- Adjustability: height, swivel, and tilt
- Wider color gamut
- 3440×1440
- No IPS Glow
- Adaptive Sync
Cons
- Firmware bugs in OSD
- Missing Aspect Ratios in OSD
- Black smearing
- Ghosting (slow pixel response time)
- No Gamma Control
- No Color Accuracy control
Current Best Price on Amazon: $449.00
Price History on Amazon
| Months | Lowest Price on Amazon |
|---|---|
| Sep 2022 | $379.99 |
| Oct 2022 | $329.99 |
| Nov 2022 | $349.99 |
| Dec 2022 | $339.99 |
| Jan 2023 | $399.00* |
4. BenQ Mobiuz EX3410R 34 Inch WQHD 21:9 VA 144Hz
Pros
- Built-in subwoofer
- FreeSync Premium
- Comes with a remote
- Good build quality
- Great picture fidelity
- RGB Lighting
- 3440×1440
Cons
- No built-in USB 3.0 ports
- Monitor Stand
Current Best Price on Amazon: $499.99
Price History on Amazon
| Months | Lowest Price on Amazon |
|---|---|
| Sep 2022 | $549.99 |
| Oct 2022 | $529.99 |
| Nov 2022 | $475.99 |
| Dec 2022 | $499.99 |
| Jan 2023 | $499.00* |
Conclusion
To get attention and differentiate themselves, manufacturers offer additional features, such as G-Sync or FreeSync to improve the fluidity of the image in games, a presence or position sensor which indicates whether one is correctly installed or another USB-C port that allows you to transform the monitor into a sort of docking station for compatible laptops. We have also made a guide for thing to know before buying a monitor.
What are FreeSync, G-Sync and Adaptive Sync?
G-Sync, FreeSync and Adaptive Sync are dynamic refresh technologies that prevent image tearing (tearing) and micro slowdowns (stuttering). In an ideal world, the graphics card always sends the maximum number of frames matched to the screen frequency.
In the case of a 60 Hz screen, the graphics card must therefore send 60 images per second. However, when the graphics card cannot send all 60 frames per second, for example if the game is too detailed and the graphics card only sends 45 frames, there is a lag between the screen and the graphics card. An image is then cut to display the next image directly and thus catch up with the frequency of the screen, this is called tearing.
FreeSync, G-Sync and Adaptive Sync make it possible to dynamically adapt the refresh rate of the screen to the number of images sent by the graphics card in order to avoid synchronization problems.
Why is the ergonomics of a monitor important?
The ergonomics of a monitor is essential since it ensures the comfort of the user throughout the day. You should favor a monitor with as many settings as possible: height, tilt, rotation and even a pivot mode allowing you to switch the screen to portrait mode. Some monitors also offer special features that can be practical, such as a magnetic foot to serve as a clipboard, a joystick to navigate the OSD menus, etc.
