An ultrawide monitor can be a real boon for work and play, offering premium real estate for all your endeavors with state-of-the-art visuals. But unless you know exactly what you’re looking for, pinpointing the right ultrawide monitor can be a time sink.
What to Look for When Buying an Ultrawide Monitor
Ultrawide monitors have become essential tools for gamers, professionals, and casual users alike, providing expansive screens that can help enhance immersion and productivity. But the amount of choice on offer can be as dazzling as the ultrawide displays themselves if you’re not sure what you should be looking for.
Consider what you’re primary use is likely to be. For instance, if you’re looking for an ultrawide monitor for gaming, you’ll want something that prioritizes high refresh rates and low response times. You’ll likely want a monitor with adaptive sync technology too, to ensure a smooth and lag-free gaming experience.
If you mostly use your ultrawide monitor for professional use, you should consider factors such as color accuracy, resolution, and panel type. A monitor that accommodates all these features is a great way to ensure clean, crisp visuals, and precise color reproduction. In addition, an ultrawide monitor that provides screen-splitting functionality can be an excellent tool to boost your productivity.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to the price point for premium ultrawide monitors, so it’s worth considering which features you can reasonably live without. Luckily, there are plenty of mid-range and budget-friendly options to choose from that deliver a great performance at a fraction of the cost. Understanding what matters most will help you strike that balance between price and performance.
In our guide below, we’ve compiled the best ultrawide monitors of 2025 (so far), catering to different users and covering all budgets. Whether you’re after the best gaming display, the best ultrawide monitor for productivity, or a solid all-rounder, our roundup will help you narrow down your search.
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Pros |
Cons |
---|---|
240Hz OLED panel |
No built-in speakers |
800R curvature |
|
G-Sync/FreeSync support |
If you want plenty of real estate in your ultrawide monitor, the LG UltraGear 34GS95QE boasts an immersive 800R curvature across its 34-inch display. It sits pretty on a wide and sturdy stand and has a sprinkling of RGB lighting at the rear. In addition to its impressive dimensions, its OLED display offers near-perfect black levels and exceptional HDR content.
Additionally, it comes armed with a versatile array of ports (including 2 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x USB-B, 2 x USB-A, and a 3.5mm jack), making it endlessly versatile and equally suitable for general use, productivity, and gaming.
Thanks to the 34GS95QE’s 240Hz refresh rate, kicking back and enjoying a movie or the latest AAA title is also a pleasure. It delivers fast response times and ultra-smooth gameplay with little to no screen tearing or motion blur. Even if your system can’t hit the maximum 240Hz refresh rate, this monitor offers AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync support, so you’ll still enjoy clean and crisp picture quality.
Naturally, you’ll want to avoid placing this ultrawide monitor in the path of direct sunlight. While the display features an anti-glare coating, strong light paired with the 275 nits brightness OLED panel doesn’t reflect the light too well. However, despite this small caveat, this is an excellent ultrawide display with plenty to offer and represents the best overall choice for most people.
![LG UltraGear 34GS95QE TAG](https://static1.howtogeekimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/lg-ultragear-34gs95qe-tag.png)
Best Ultrawide Monitor Overall
LG UltraGear 32GS95UE
$985 $1300 Save
$315
The LG UltraGear 34GS95QE is a stunning 34-inch ultrawide OLED monitor with an immersive 800R curvature, delivering near-perfect black levels, exceptional HDR, and a blazing-fast 240Hz refresh rate for ultra-smooth gameplay. With a versatile selection of ports, AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync support, and RGB lighting, it’s an excellent choice for gaming, productivity, and entertainment.
Best Budget Ultrawide Monitor: AOC CU34G3S
Pros |
Cons |
---|---|
Excellent contrast and color |
Lackluster in HDR mode |
Good value for money |
|
Balanced performance |
If you’re working with a limited budget, finding a feature-rich ultrawide monitor can be a bit of a headache. Although it may not have all the bells and whistles of a premium ultrawide monitor, the AOC CU34G3S still provides plenty of value for your money. Its high-contrast VA panel delivers vivid colors, thanks to the 87 percent DCI-P3 wide gamut, and it’s good to go straight out of the box.
AMD FreeSync makes games run smoothly, and several ports support peripherals. The built-in speakers are a nice touch as well, and one that many premium ultrawide monitors don’t include.
The 1000R curvature screen gives you ample space to play with, and you can optimize the display to better suit your needs by browsing the OSD menu, which provides you with a laundry list of adjustable settings, including brightness and contrast, plus gamma, dynamic contrast (SDR), and HDR modes.
For less than $350, the AOC CU34G3S is excellent value for money, and it certainly looks and feels a great deal less of a ‘budget’ option than its price would suggest.
![AOC CU34G3S](https://static1.howtogeekimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/aoc-cu34g3s-tag.png)
Best Budget Ultrawide Monitor
AOC Gaming CU34G3S Monitor
$294 $340 Save
$46
The AOC CU34G3S offers impressive value with its high-contrast VA panel, 87% DCI-P3 color gamut, and smooth gaming performance powered by AMD FreeSync. Its 1000R curved screen, multiple connectivity options, built-in speakers, and extensive display customization make it a budget-friendly ultrawide monitor that exceeds expectations.
Best Curved Ultrawide Monitor: MSI MPG 491CQP
Pros |
Cons |
---|---|
Stunning visuals |
OLED care can become tiresome |
Decent selection of ports |
No built-in speakers |
Huge display |
If you subscribe to the school of thought that ‘bigger is better’ when it comes to gaming monitors, you’ll not be disappointed with what the MSI MPG 491CQP offers. It sports a mammoth 49-inch display, 1800R curvature, and supplies sublime visuals. It boasts a rapid 0.03ms response time and 144Hz refresh rate and is a seriously good option for ultrafast and smooth gameplay.
However, OLED panels such as these require a little more TLC than some of the alternatives. To prevent any burn-in, you’ll need to run MSI’s OLED care routine at regular intervals, which can be a bit of a drag, to say the least. Nevertheless, maintenance aside, there are a ton of gamer-friendly features here to whet your appetite.
There are multiple ports to meet the latest standards, including HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and USB-C, and the USB hub has a built-in KVM feature. That OLED panel provides fantastic HDR, with pure black color, as well as excellent color gamut coverage (98% AdobeRGB, 99% DCI-P3, and 146% sRGB), so your favorite AAA titles will keep you immersed for hours on end.
It lacks built-in speakers, which is a little disappointing, and is arguably geared more towards gaming than other pursuits. However, this huge and beautiful display should not be overlooked by any gamer looking to take their favorite pastime to the next level.
![MSI MPG 491CQP TAG](https://static1.howtogeekimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/msi-mpg-491cqp-tag.png)
Best Curved Ultrawide Monitor
MSI MPG 491CQP
$816 $1100 Save
$284
The MSI MPG 491CQP delivers an immersive gaming experience with its massive 49-inch OLED display, 1800R curvature, and stunning HDR visuals, boasting 98% Adobe RGB and 99% DCI-P3 coverage. With a blazing-fast 0.03ms response time, 144Hz refresh rate, and multiple connectivity options, including HDMI 2.1 and USB-C with KVM, it’s a top choice for smooth, high-performance gaming.
Pros |
Cons |
---|---|
Beautiful image with deep contrast |
Lacks built-in speakers and lighting |
Widest color gamut (thanks to Quantum Dots) |
Expensive |
Premium build quality |
The Corsair XENEON 34WQHD240 is a stunning ultrawide gaming monitor with a 34-inch 21:9 QD-OLED screen and a 240Hz refresh rate with Adaptive-Sync. It boasts the widest possible color gamut (110% DCI-P3) thanks to its Quantum Dot panel, and it supports FreeSync Premium and G-Sync.
Straight out of the box, the XENEON 34WQHD240 requires very little calibration, but if you want to, you can tweak the picture settings by perusing the OSD’s eight sub-menus. However, the standard picture mode is likely the best choice for most, as it uses the monitor’s full-color gamut.
In addition to the deep blacks and detailed shadows supplied by this OLED panel, it is visibly more colorful, being a Quantum Dot monitor. Superior video processing means there’s no motion blur to upset your game time, and that 240Hz refresh rate means everything looks buttery smooth.
If you’re serious about gaming and want the best ultrawide monitor for the job, the Corsair XENEON 34WQHD240 is the one for you. You’ll need to be prepared to shell out around $1,200 for the privilege, but if you have the budget to invest, this ultrawide gaming monitor is a veritable feast for the eyes.
![Corsair XENEON 34WQHD240](https://static1.howtogeekimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/corsair-xeneon-34wqhd240-tag.png)
Best Ultrawide Gaming Monitor
Corsair XENEON 34WQHD240
The Corsair XENEON 34WQHD240 delivers a stunning gaming experience with its 34-inch QD-OLED ultrawide display, 240Hz refresh rate, and 110% DCI-P3 color gamut for vibrant, true-to-life visuals. With Adaptive-Sync support, deep blacks, blur-free motion, and minimal calibration needed, it’s a top-tier choice for serious gamers seeking smooth and immersive gameplay.
Best Ultrawide Monitor for Productivity: BenQ EW3880R
Pros |
Cons |
---|---|
Plenty of real estate |
Brightness and contrast are average |
Solid speaker setup |
|
Great for media consumption |
Large PC monitors are becoming more commonplace, but the BenQ EW3880R‘s 21:9 aspect ratio, 38-inch screen, and stylish design make it stand out for everyday desktop and productivity users. Its 3,840 x 1,600 resolution delivers crisp and detailed visuals and allows for A4 windows to be placed next to each other, which is ideal if you’re working with multiple apps, browsers, or documents.
The subtle 2300R curve helps to prevent neck and eye strain when turning your head or moving your eyes across the screen. It also features BenQ’s TUV Rheinland-certified anti-flicker and blue light filter technology to prevent user fatigue.
However, if you’re into gaming, this is pnot the ultrawide monitor for you. It has a low 60Hz refresh rate, meaning that motion blur and screen tearing will likely get very tiring, very quickly. That said, if you fancy taking a break from all that work, the 10-bit IPS panel will allow you to enjoy movies, TV, and video content with bright, vivid colors.
As a bonus, the BenQ EW3880R has two built-in 3W speakers and an 8W subwoofer. These are neatly hidden behind the stylish grille at the bottom of the monitor, and pack a satisfying audio punch, and could save you from the additional cost of investing in separate speakers or a companion headset.
![BenQ EW3880R TAG](https://static1.howtogeekimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/benq-ew3880r-tag.png)
Best Ultrawide Monitor for Productivity
BenQ EW3880R
$500 $1000 Save
$500
The BenQ EW3880R is a sleek 38-inch ultrawide monitor with a 21:9 aspect ratio, 3,840 x 1,600 resolution, and a subtle 2300R curve, making it ideal for multitasking and productivity. With TUV Rheinland-certified eye care technology, vibrant 10-bit IPS colors, and powerful built-in speakers with an 8W subwoofer, it delivers a comfortable and immersive experience for work and entertainment.
Pros |
Cons |
---|---|
Huge 57-inch display |
Very expensive |
Excellent color gamut |
|
240Hz refresh rate |
The Samsung 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9 is an absolute beast. This premium ultrawide monitor is the equivalent of having two 32-inch 4K UHD monitors with 7,680-by-2, 160-pixel resolution. That’s near 8K (horizontally), so the 1000R curve is somewhat needed due to the size of the screen.
Despite not being an OLED monitor, the Odyssey Neo G9’s VA panel makes the most out of the smaller dimming zones, resulting in sharper contrast, supported by Samsung’s Quantum Matrix Technology. It’s also the world’s first dual UHD monitor with DisplayPort 2.1 support, so you can take full advantage of its 240Hz refresh rate if you pair it with a GPU capable of supporting this.
As you might expect, the Samsung 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9 comes with a price tag that’s as hefty as the monitor itself and is likely to set you back in excess of $2,000. However, if you can stretch your budget (and desk space) to accommodate it, the Odyssey Neo G9 is well worth the investment. Think of it as a means to future-proof your gaming experience. All you need to do is ensure that your PC has a compatible GPU to push that dual 4K resolution at 240Hz.
![Samsung 49-Inch Odyssey Neo G9 TAG](https://static1.howtogeekimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/samsung-49-inch-odyssey-neo-g9-tag.png)
Best 4K Ultrawide Monitor
Samsung Odyssey G9 OLED
$1141 $2200 Save
$1059
The Samsung 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9 delivers an immersive, future-proof gaming experience with its massive dual UHD display, 7,680 x 2,160 resolution, and 1000R curvature. Featuring a 240Hz refresh rate, Quantum Matrix Technology for sharp contrast, and DisplayPort 2.1 support, it’s a top-tier choice for those seeking unparalleled visual performance.
FAQ
What is ultrawide?
Ultrawide monitors are displays with a 21:9 aspect ratio. Standard monitors feature a 16:9 aspect ratio. The main difference is that 21:9 aspect ratio displays offer a larger field of view which is often the preferred option for productivity and gaming. For example, with a 21:9 aspect ratio, you can open multiple windows side by side which reduces the need to switch between screens — which is better for multitasking since you get more real estate on a single display.
Are all ultrawide monitors curved?
Not all ultrawide monitors are curved. Ultrawide monitors are simply classified by their 21:9 aspect ratio, but this doesn’t mean they are curved. However, many ultrawide monitors are curved since the curvature of a screen can feel more immersive. This is especially beneficial for gamers and content creators.
Are ultrawide monitors good for gaming?
If you’re after a more immersive gaming experience, ultrawide monitors tend to be the preferred choice. In-game, ultrawide monitors offer a wider view of your surroundings and environment when compared to standard 16:9 monitors. However, there are many other factors to consider when it comes to purchasing a gaming monitor, such as response time, refresh rate, panel type, etc.
Are ultrawide monitors better than dual monitors?
This is really down to personal preference. If you want to maximize your desktop setup, you can invest in an ultrawide monitor or dual-monitor setup.
For multitasking, dual monitors offer more flexibility as you can change your setup to accommodate your workspace. A dual-monitor setup also means you can have different applications running on both monitors, visible at all times. For example, if you are presenting in a video call and need to share your screen, you can do this on your main monitor and still have applications or documents open on your second monitor that aren’t on display during your call.
However, for gaming, ultrawide monitors offer more usable space and a more immersive experience. You get a wider field of view with a 21:9 aspect ratio, meaning you’ll see more of what’s in-game than you would with a standard 16:9 monitor.
If you have the budget, you could invest in a dual ultrawide monitor setup. But, if the pixel density is more important, and you want to save a substantial amount of money, you could opt for two 4K monitors, rather than two lower-resolution ultrawide monitors.