Ultrawide monitors have surged in popularity over the past decade, offering expanded screen space perfect for immersive gaming, creative workflows, and enhancing productivity.
Unlike conventional widescreen monitors capped at 27 or 32 inches, the best ultrawide displays can stretch over 40 inches wide or larger. They envelop your field of view with crystal clear visuals, ample room for complex toolbars and timelines, and the flexibility to view several full-size windows at once.
But that additional real estate comes at a price – literally. Quality ultrawide monitors demand a premium over comparably specced 16:9 displays. And finding the right balance of size, features and price for your needs can get overwhelming quick given the sheer variety of models on the market.
That‘s why in this epic guide, you’ll get hands-on recommendations for the top-tier ultrawide monitors available today. I’ll decode the key specs like refresh rate and aspect ratio, highlight ideal picks optimized for gaming and getting work done, and share insider tips for choosing the right display to match your budget.
Let’s dive in and find your perfect ultrawide!
What Exactly is an Ultrawide Monitor?
Simply put, an ultrawide monitor refers to any display that‘s significantly wider than a traditional 16:9 widescreen. These expanded monitors come in curved and flat variants, most commonly rocking 21:9 or 32:9 aspect ratios instead (compared to the 16:9 ratio that has dominated HDTVs and 1080p computer monitors for the past 15 years).
The most popular options span 34, 38 and 49 inches diagonally. That added width allows you to see much more horizontal content in one glance without having to scroll or use multiple monitors.
For example, a 49-inch 32:9 ultrawide monitor provides the same screen real estate as two 27-inch 16:9 QHD monitors side by side!
Now let’s explore why you might want all that extra space…
Key Benefits of Ultrawide Monitors
Here are the biggest perks those extra wide displays provide compared to more traditional 16:9 monitors:
Enhanced Multitasking
The expanded width grants ample room for snapping and viewing multiple full-size windows side-by-side simultaneously. This makes managing complex workflows and juggling numerous apps much easier without having to constantly minimize and resize windows.
Whether compiling research in multiple browser tabs, reviewing data sets next to your report, or keeping messaging/email visible alongside your current project, ultrawides empower effortless multitasking.
Increased Immersion
In cinematic games, movies and other entertainment content, the wider aspect ratio can make for a significantly more immersive, engrossing experience.
Rather than black bars above and below the picture like you‘d see watching typical widescreen (16:9) content full screen on an ultrawide, the full display gets utilized.
This expanded field of view better mimics natural human vision, increasing your sense of immersion. Curved ultrawide models take this even further by wrapping around your peripheral view.
Replaces Multi-Monitor Setups
With the abundant added horizontal pixels, a single ultrawide monitor provides expanded desktop space equivalent to 2 or even 3 side-by-side displays…without the ugly bezels dissecting the picture.
Say goodbye to juggling workflow across seperate monitors – no more aligning edges, dealing with brightness/color mismatches between panels or wires cluttering your desk. A solo ultrawide solves these multi-monitor headaches.
Workspace Flexibility
The ultrawide format lends itself incredibly well to many productive workflows and use cases.
Just some examples of jobs perfectly suited for these displays:
- Video/Photo Editing – Timelines across the bottom + ample vertical space for toolbars and preview
- Coding & Development – Side-by-side code editor + browser for testing sites
- Trading & Finance – Real-time charts, trading interfaces and streaming news in one view
- Gaming – Wider view in racing/flight sims, expanded minimaps, more immersive battles
Of course,ACCEPTS
How to Choose the Best Ultrawide Monitor
With countless models flooding the market sporting different sizes, specs and price points, the challenge becomes finding your ideal ultrawide display.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind while evaluating your options:
Size
Common ultrawide monitor sizes include:
- 34-inch
- 38-inch
- 42-inch
- 49-inch
In most cases, going with the largest screen size your budget and desk space can accommodate makes smart sense. Those extra inches lend themselves to fitting more windows and workflow elements.
A 42 or 49-inch model can successfully replace a dual or triple monitor arrangement. While compact 34-inch ultrawides work well for those lacking space for a wider display.
I‘ll cover how aspect ratio also plays into sizing further in the next section.
Aspect Ratio
This refers to ratio of the screen‘s width to height. Most ultrawides rock either 21:9 or 32:9 ratios:
- 21:9 – Dominant format of 34, 38 and 42-inch models. Great balance of added width without going overboard.
- 32:9 – Super ultra-wide format, used on many 49-inch monitors. Extremely immersive gaming/movie-watching.
If opting for a 32:9 display, just make sure you have ample desk width and viewing distance to avoid excessive head turning/eye strain.
Resolution
Also called display resolution, this number signifies the monitor‘s width and height in pixels. Common standards include:
- 3440×1440 – 34-inch 21:9 ultrawides
- 3840×1600 – 38-inch 21:9 ultrawides
- 5120×1440 – 49-inch 32:9 ultrawides
Higher resolutions equal sharper clarity and crisper text/visuals. But graphics cards must work harder driving more pixels, important consider for gaming.
Understanding ppi (pixels per inch) matters too. Ideal is around 110ppi, but higher density brings out more detail.
Refresh Rate
Measured in hertz (Hz), the refresh rate determines how many frames per second the monitor can display. Important for gaming/video, higher = smoother visuals.
- 60Hz – Standard for office use
- 100 – 120Hz – Sweet spot for most gamers
- 144Hz + – Serious gaming with cutting edge GPUs
Match this to your computer‘s graphics card capability and target game FPS. Ultrawides even sync refresh rate to frame rate with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync.
Response Time
Quoted in milliseconds (ms), response time signals how quickly a monitor’s pixels can change colors from one frame to the next. Key for avoiding motion blur/ghosting during gaming/video. Top models boast 1ms response for crystal clear motion.
Panel Type
This describes the underlying screen technology. Common options include:
- IPS – Offers the best color accuracy and wide viewing angles. Most popular for mixed gaming/work.
- VA – Deep contrast/blacks thanks to vertical alignment technology. Preferred for media watching.
- TN – Affordable panels optimized for fast response times. Best Budget gaming choice.
I delve deeper into monitor panel types here.
Curved or Flat?
Manufacturers bend some ultrawide screens along a uniform curved arc, measured by something called the "R" value like 1800R – the lower the number, the more drastic the curve.
In theory this wraps around your field of view for increased immersion, but isn‘t required. Flat ultrawides work fantastic too and often save money. Your call!
Adaptive Sync
Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync help match the monitor‘s refresh rate to your graphics card‘s output to prevent stuttering and screen tearing. Important feature for gaming!
Ports
Consider the video inputs (DisplayPort, HDMI), USB ports, and extras like USB-C/Thunderbolt to best connect your computer and peripherals.
The 5 Best Ultrawide Monitors – 2023 Reviews
Finally, let‘s get to the good stuff – these are my top recommendations for quality ultrawide monitors that offer superb performance and value across a range of categories and budgets.
I‘ll summarize the specs then break down the real-world performance based on first-hand testing and benchmarks from reviewers I trust.
Overall Best Ultrawide Monitor:
Best Budget Ultrawide Gaming Monitor:
Best Ultrawide Monitor for Productivity:
Most Immersive Ultrawide for Gaming:
Best "Super" Ultrawide Monitor:
Tips for Using an Ultra-wide Monitor
Migrating to an ultrawide display takes some adjustment whether you‘re coming from a smaller 16:9 monitor or traditional multi-monitor setup.
Here are some tips to leverage these innovative displays:
- Tweak Text Size – Apps may render small given the wide aspect ratio, so increase text size for comfort
- Carefully Arrange Windows – Take full advantage of the additional width to group complementary apps and windows together.
- Try Vertical Alignment – Some ultrawides like the Samsung Odyssey Ark work in portrait mode for scrolling websites or content creation.
- Adjust Expectations on Older Apps – Many haven‘t updated UI to leverage 21:9/32:9 extra width. Maximize browser windows render narrower than on 16:9 monitors.
Do Ultrawide Monitors Live Up to the Hype?
Absolutely! After testing countless models from gaming to professional use cases, I firmly believe ultrawide monitors mark the future of desktop displays.
The expansive screen space makes juggling workflows and enjoying entertainment way more comfortable. And manufacturers continue pushing boundaries on refresh rates, resolution support and sheer display size.
Just make sure to set proper expectations around price and performance to find your personal sweet spot. Not everyone needs a cutting-edge 175Hz curved 49-inch behemoth!
But with monitors tailored to an array of budgets and buyers nowadays, you can‘t go wrong bringing home a quality ultrawide in 2023.
Let me know if you have any other questions about choosing your dream display down below!
