Top 5 Best Ultrawide Gaming Monitors in 2020
When you’re building the ideal gaming setup, you need the best tools. A standing desk to give you the option to sit or stand and keep the game going. A comfortable chair to keep you sitting correctly and pain-free throughout your gaming experience.
But perhaps no accessory affects your performance more than your display. These days, as PC gaming grows and evolves, more gamers are turning to ultrawide monitors to give their gaming experience a more immersive feel. We’ve tested a few different displays and found these 5 to be the absolute best of the best.
1. Best all-around: LG 34GN850-B
- Resolution: 3440x1440
- Size: 34"
- Display Type: IPS LCD
- Variable Refresh Rate: FreeSync
- Max Refresh Rate: 160 Hz
The LG 34GN850-B is probably the best all-around ultrawide gaming monitor for most users. It’s got a fantastic curved IPS LCD screen with a 21:9 aspect ratio. For those with the graphics cards to do higher resolution gaming, this monitor takes you beyond 1080p into 1440p territory, offering crisp visuals with a wide color gamut.
The curved screen immerses you in the gaming experience, and the contrast ratio is good, but not great, perhaps due to the technological limitations of the IPS LCD display. You’ll be better off playing in a moderately lit environment as the screen may pick up some glare with excessive light.
You can also supercharge your gaming experience with HDR and up to 160Hz refresh rate. Though it’s difficult to describe in words or capture on video, the difference this makes to the naked eye can’t be understated. Higher refresh rates really make your gaming experience come to life.
Though it’s not the flashiest and glitziest display, it has standard features like 2 USB-3 ports to let you charge your peripherals, and overall, this is a good and well-rounded option for most gamers looking for an ultrawide monitor.
2. Extra Extra Wide: Samsung C49RG9
- Resolution: 5120x1440
- Size: 49”
- Display Type: VA
- Variable Refresh Rate: FreeSync
- Max Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
As if ultrawide wasn’t wide enough, the Samsung C49RG9 comes onto the scene with a whopping 32:9 aspect ratio, measuring 49 inches diagonally. Of course, having a near-panoramic view of the world of your game makes for an unparalleled immersion experience. But size isn’t all that matters with this display!
You’ll also have ultra-sharp 1440p resolution for crisp and clear images, and the display technology in this screen means you can use it for nearly any lighting conditions, thanks to its high peak brightness level. Though it doesn’t reach the bleeding-edge 160Hz refresh rate of some other screens, you’ll still be extremely impressed at its 120Hz maximum.
This display is also great for movies, compatible with HDR with an impressive color range. You’ll probably need a nice wide office desk that can fit this one, and perhaps an ultrawide LED lamp to help light up your peripherals in dark gaming sessions!
3. Best Budget Ultrawide Monitor: LG 34UC79G-B
- Resolution: 2560x1080
- Size: 34"
- Display Type: IPS
- Variable Refresh Rate: FreeSync
- Max Refresh Rate: 144Hz
The LG 34UC79G-B is the ideal choice for gamers who want maximum width with minimum impact on their wallets. It’s an excellent budget ultrawide gaming monitor that doesn’t compromise on performance and quality.
Though the pixel density is lower than some of the more premium options at only 1080p, most modern games and graphics cards still play with their ideal settings at this resolution so that you won’t be missing out too much here. Also, the all-important screen refresh rate is extremely smooth at up to 144Hz.
Unlike other offerings, this display doesn’t swivel or turn to portrait mode, though the screen brightness is quite good and should be playable in most environments, though the IPS LCD means it won’t have the greatest contrast in darker rooms. You’ll find USB ports for charging on the back and a flicker-free backlight as well.
4. Compact Option: LG 29UM69G-B
- Resolution: 2560x1080
- Size: 29"
- LCD Type: IPS
- Variable Refresh Rate: FreeSync
- Max Refresh Rate: 75 Hz
If you’re working with smaller desk space and want an ultrawide monitor with a smaller footprint, we recommend the LG 29UM69G-B, an excellent ultrawide monitor at a respectable 29” diagonal measurement.
Chances are you’ll find this more compact option still very immersive, though the refresh rate maxes out at 75Hz, and the display resolution is at 1080p. For most gamers, however, these compromises will make little to no difference in their gaming experience, and for those with limited space, it’s well worth the tradeoff.
For future-proofing, this monitor has a DisplayPort-compatible USB-C port, making it compatible with modern laptops that use these ports for displays and charging simultaneously.
5. Best G-Sync Compatible Display: Dell AW3419DW
- Resolution: 3440x1440
- Size: 34"
- >Display Type: IPS
- Variable Refresh Rate: G-SYNC
- Max Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
For gamers with NVIDIA graphics cards who want to take advantage of their proprietary G-Sync technology, you’ll need a specialized display that’s compatible with this feature. For that, we recommend the Dell AW3419DW, a fantastic all-around ultrawide display that comes in at a sharp 1440p resolution and measures 34 inches diagonally.
Perhaps the only drawback to this display is its IPS LCD technology, which limits the amount of contrast and makes this a poor choice for low light. However, in most lighting conditions, it holds up quite well with a fantastic maximum brightness, and it can clock in insanely high refresh rates of up to 120Hz.
For an immersive and G-Sync compatible experience, you can’t go wrong with this one.
Final thoughts
Though dual-screen setups for gaming have long been a favored mode of gaming for those who want a more immersive experience, those pesky bezels tend to get in the way. That’s why increasingly gamers are turning to ultrawide gaming monitors for an uninterrupted view of their gaming world, giving them the edge and taking their gaming to the next level.
What are some of your favorite gaming displays? And do you agree that ultrawide monitors are better than dual screens? Let us know in the comments below!