The best ultrawide monitors are now essential, whether you're pairing it with one of the best gaming PCs or just trying to map out some Excel spreadsheets. Because while these displays absolutely boost immersion in the best PC games by stretching out your field of view, they are also indispensible when you just need to sit down and get some work done.
TL;DR The Best Ultrawide Monitor
- Alienware AW3423DWF
- LG Ultragear 45GR75DC-B
- Philips 499P9H
- Samsung Odyssey Neo G9
- Dell UltraSharp U3417W
When picking the right ultrawide monitor, think about the type of display you need - including refresh rate and resolution - the size of the monitor, and, of course, your budget.
1. Alienware AW3423DW
Best Ultrawide Monitor
Pros:
- Fabulous image quality
- Great value for money
Cons:
- No anti-glare
Whether you want to get immersed in your favorite games or your most foreboding spreadsheet, you'll be impressed by the Alienware AW3423DWF. This ultrawide monitor boasts a stunning 34-inch curved QD-OLED display, delivering spot-on color accuracy and deep, inky blacks. Given that it's an Alienware monitor, it was designed for gaming above all else, and its G-Sync support and blistering 165Hz refresh rate do nothing but confirm that. The peak brightness of 1000 nits and its stellar color gamut promise great, vibrant visuals.
But even in your downtime, the large display and 21:9 aspect ratio means you can have several windows open at the same time, essentially mimicking a multi-monitor setup. Obviously, this means the Alienware AW3423DWF is great for multitaskers, too. Let's be real, the Alienware AW3423DWF isn't just one of the best ultrawide monitors, it's one of the best gaming monitors, period.
2. LG Ultragear 45GR75DC-B
Best budget ultrawide monitor
Pros:
- 200Hz refresh rate
- Affordable
Cons:
- Underwhelming HDR
Most ultrawide monitors are about 34", but the LG Ultragear 45GR75DC-B stretches things to a full 45 inches, making room for a gorgeous 32:9 aspect ratio. That's nearly double the screen real estate of a standard 16:9 monitor. If you're playing a game that supports this impressive aspect ratio, you'll be pulled right into the action, as the monitor will take up your entire field of view. It's like VR, but without a headset.
The monitor is basically two 1440p monitors stiched together, with its base resolution of 5,120 x 1,440. Now, this high resolution does demand one of the best graphics cards to drive it, but luckily this display supports both AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync compatibility, meaning you have VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) support no matter which graphics card you've thrown into your rig.
3. Philips Brilliance 499P9H
Best Ultrawide Monitor for Professionals
Pros:
- Great productivity features
- Comes with its own docking station
Cons:
- Limited refresh rate
While ultrawide monitors are fantastic for gamers, they're even better for those of us who can never seem to get work done with a single screen. So, if you're in the same boat and want a single ultrawide screen to multitask better, take a look at the Philips 499P9H. This 48.8-inch curved monitor boasts a massive 32:9 aspect ratio, offering the visual equivalent of two high-performance QHD displays side-by-side.
You'll be able to spread out complex spreadsheets to easily compare data, edit videos on one half while referencing documents on the other, or have multiple windows open for streamlined workflow - all on a single expansive screen. Even better, the 499P9H further enhances productivity with features like MultiView. This allows you to connect and actively view two devices simultaneously, which we enjoyed when reviewing the Philips 499P9H. Plus, the built-in USB-C docking station simplifies cable management and even lets you charge your laptop directly from the monitor.
4. Samsung Odyssey Neo G9
Best Ultrawide Monitor for Gaming
Pros:
- Immersive gaming experience on an absolutely massive screen
- Stunning visuals
Cons:
- Eye-watering price tag
We're not going to beat around the bush—the only reason the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 isn't at the very top of the list is its price. Given its price tag, it's best to hunt down a discount, especially since we've seen it as low as $1,699. This colossal 49-inch curved monitor boasts a mind-blowing DQHD 5120 x 1440 resolution, offering nearly double the pixels of a standard 1440p monitor. Couple that with Samsung's top-of-the-line mini-LED display technology and you get a monitor with the deepest blacks and brightest colors that you'll get on this side of a full-sized OLED TV.
It's more than just a pretty face, though. The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 also delivers a blazing-fast 240Hz refresh rate and a fantastic 1ms response time, which means it can be the perfect monitor for anyone that plays competitive online games like Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 or Overwatch 2. Whether you're a competitive gamer or a graphics enthusiast, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 offers everything you could possibly need - but at a steep price.
5. Dell UltraSharp U3824DW
Best Ultrawide Monitor for Your Home Office
Pros:
- Great image quality
- Comes with a USB hub
Cons:
- Not that great for gaming
If you're not really into PC gaming but would love an ultrawide monitor for work and entertainment, check out the Dell UltraSharp U3824DW. This 38-inch curved monitor offers a spacious WQHD+ 3,840 x 1,600 resolution, providing ample screen real estate for multitasking and handling demanding applications, such as those gazillion Chrome tabs you need for work.
Beyond its impressive visuals, the U3824DW has a few extra tricks up your sleeve to make your workday easier. The integrated USB-C hub allows you to connect laptops, charge your phone, and so on; reducing clutter and simplifying your setup.
How to Choose the Best Ultrawide Monitor
As with any other bit of tech, before you even start looking for an ultrawide monitor, you need to consider what you're actually buying it for. Because at the end of the day, a monitor that's extremely good for fast-paced online games is going to have different qualities than something meant for productivity and reducing eye strain.
For gamers, there are a couple stats to keep an eye out for: refresh rate and latency. Refresh rate describes how many times per second the monitor can refresh its image. This is important for gamers, because if you are getting 75 fps in your game, but your monitor can only refresh 60 times per second, that extra performance is essentially wasted. Latency, however, is the measurement of how long it takes for your monitor to receive a signal from your computer and display it on the screen. The lower the better. High latency does what it sounds like: it introduces input lag, and no one wants that.
Of course, you're also going to want to consider the resolution. Most ultrawide monitors come in a 21:9 aspect ratio, with the most common resolution these days being 3,440 x 1,440. You can think of this resolution as being half way between 1440p and 4K. It's already a super demanding resolution, and everything is going to look super crisp, so it's a sweet spot for most people.
If you want to stetch the image a bit more, there are more super ultrawide monitors coming out these days, which boast an aspect ratio of 32:9. These look incredible, but you have to keep in mind two things here: these resolutions demand a lot of graphics horsepower and a lot of games and applications simply don't support it. But the games that do support these extremely wide aspect ratios look amazing.
Best Ultrawide Monitor FAQ
What is an ultrawide monitor best for?
Ultrawide monitors are useful for multitaskers who use many apps open on their screen side by side. If you already have a multi-screen setup at home (or wish you did), then an ultrawide monitor is the right one for you. Gamers will also love these monitors because they offer greater immersion
