How We Ranked The 5 Best Curved Gaming Monitors

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By

Evan Shephard Avatar

Reviewed By

Evan Shephard
Updated May 4, 2024 12:29 PM

A whopping 75% of electronic and appliance reviews are untrustworthy. That’s why every reviewer gets a Trust Rating so our True Score System filters out the fake reviews. See how we do it.

If you’re looking for the best curved gaming monitors, key features like immersive curvature, high contrast ratios, and low response times are essential. Monitors with a 1000:1 contrast ratio enhance visual depth, while sub-13ms response times ensure smooth transitions. These features, coupled with wide color gamut coverage and brightness, create a visually stunning and responsive gaming experience. Curved screens also reduce glare and provide a more engaging field of view.

In our analysis, five curved gaming monitors excelled. From 196 monitors analyzed and 319,302 reviews assessed, we found that 71% of experts weren’t trustworthy. Our selection process involves verifying products, using True Score and our Trust Score to filter out fake and low quality reviews. The winning monitors stood out for their superior performance in testing, offering an unparalleled gaming experience.

For a more general selection, we’ve included the best gaming monitor options, or to help you stay within budget, our guide also features some of the top-rated budget gaming monitors, offering impressive features without a high price tag. We also have selections that include highly-rated monitors known for their versatility and performance in gaming and productivity.

How Did We Rank the Best Curved Gaming Monitors?

By scrutinizing over 200 websites and combining expert reviews with customer feedback, we’ve crafted the ultimate guide to the best curved gaming monitors. We identified critical pain points and distilled the criteria that truly matter: 2 required test results, 1 nice-to-have test results, and 1 must-have specifications. Our thorough analysis ensures you get the most accurate and trustworthy recommendations for your gaming setup.

Our commitment to unbiased reviews is powered by our ‘True Score’ system, targeting low quality and fake reviews. When you shop through our links, you’re backing our mission. Dive deeper to see how.

?️ Minimum Specifications

  • Must have a curved screen.

? Test Criteria

  • Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 or higher (infinite), offering deep blacks and bright whites for an exceptional viewing experience.
  • Fast Response Time: 13ms or less, ensuring smooth transitions without motion blur.

? “Nice To Haves”

  • Input Lag: An input lag of less than 16 milliseconds ensures a highly responsive gaming experience with minimal delay between action and on-screen response.

Latest Updates

  • 05/04/2024: Republished the list to include the best curved gaming monitors based on our True Score system.

Top Curved Gaming Monitors For 2024

Prices accurate at the time of publishing

See how we test the testers

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Dell S2721HGF

    The Dell S2721HGF blends affordability with performance for casual gaming, offering smooth gameplay and accurate colors on a curved display.

    Dell S2721HGF Review →

    True Score

    85
    83
    6

    Experts

    93
    6k

    Customers

    SAVE $80
    $229.99
    $149.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Dell Alienware AW3423DW

    The Dell Alienware AW3423DW excels for curved HDR gaming with exceptional color accuracy and minimal glare, ideal for an immersive experience.

    Dell Alienware AW3423DW Review →

    True Score

    83
    85
    14

    Experts

    87
    2k

    Customers

    SAVE $300
    $1,099.99
    $799.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Samsung Odyssey G85SB

    The Samsung Odyssey G85SB offers vibrant colors and minimal glare, making it a top pick for gamers and creatives valuing immersive curved displays.

    Samsung Odyssey G85SB Review →

    True Score

    82
    83
    10

    Experts

    87
    8k

    Customers

    SAVE $300
    $1,199.99
    $899.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Samsung Odyssey Neo G9

    The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 excels for competitive gamers in bright rooms. Its vivid display and tear-free action offer an immersive curved experience.

    Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 Review →

    True Score

    81
    81
    4

    Experts

    85
    3k

    Customers

    SAVE $900
    $2,499.99
    $1,599.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    LG 40WP95C W

    The LG 40WP95C W offers a large, curved screen for an immersive gaming and creative experience, balancing smooth performance with vibrant visuals.

    LG 40WP95C W Review →

    True Score

    76
    75
    2

    Experts

    81
    347

    Customers

    SAVE $520
    $1,799.99
    $1,279.95

Which Criteria Matters for Testing Best Curved Gaming Monitors?

By focusing on these criteria (2 required, 1 nice to have), anyone can quickly and easily compare these computer monitors and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase the best curved gaming monitor!

CRITERIARANGEREQUIREDDEFINITION
Contrast Ratio>1000:1YesThe difference in brightness between the whites (lit sections) and blacks (dim or unlit sections) of a monitor panel.
Response Time< 13 msYesThe time it takes for a pixel to change from one color to another.
Input Lag< 16 msNo (Nice to have)The time it takes for the monitor to register inputs from the user and process them as action.

Our Trusted Data Sources

We looked at 110+ computer monitor reviewers and found that 33 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Rating). The three we have listed below are our most trusted for computer monitors.

  1. Samuel Breton – Rtings, MuckRack
  2. Chris Eberle – Tom’s Hardware, LinkedIn
  3. Tony Hoffman – PC Mag, MuckRack

Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every computer monitor review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Ratings from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.

Computer Monitor Test Data & Results

1. Contrast Ratio (as ratio, x:1) Test Results

Contrast ratio is responsible for making images appear “dynamic” and “dramatic.” By having a good contrast ratio, a monitor is able to recreate dramatic differences between light and dark spots in scenes, images and games accurately.

At a minimum, we recommend a contrast ratio of 1000:1, as this will do a good enough job at allow for detail in dark scenes and images. If contrast ratio gets too low, the picture quality suffers, and the monitor performs worse across the board, no matter the lighting condition. By getting a monitor with a sufficiently high contrast ratio, you can ensure the picture quality doesn’t suffer, and dramatic scenes with stark shifts in lighting, whether they be in games or videos, are created as accurately as possible.

Contrast Ratio (higher is better)

2. Response Time (ms) Test Results

Response time measures how long it takes pixels to change from one color to another, often gray to gray. Low response times means the monitor is able to keep up with constant shifts in colors, and helps prevent motion blur from being introduced whatever you’re watching.

We generally recommend a response time that is 13 ms or less, as this will keep motion blur to a minimum, but if you don’t watch a lot of very high intensity videos or play fast-paced games, response time isn’t going to matter much. It’s important to note that monitors will often advertise a 1ms or 2ms or 5ms response time, to name a few, but response time tests measure full color to color shifts, as well as overshoots, which produces different times than what the monitor often claims on the box. This is why response time is a listed spec, but also a testable criterion.

Response Time (in ms; lower is better)

3. Input Lag (ms) Test Results

Input lag is more of a concern when it comes to gaming, but if you plan on using a monitor for a bit of gaming when you aren’t focused on productivity, editing or other tasks, lower values help improve responsiveness. High input lag means your actions take longer to register on the monitor, effectively introducing an artificial delay to your reactions.

It’s for this reason that we generally recommend an input lag under 16 ms. This ensures the delay that’s introduced has minimal impact on your reactions to what’s happening on screen. It’s important to note that a high input lag won’t have any real effect on anything that isn’t gaming, so it can be safely ignored if you don’t plan on gaming on your monitor.

Input Lag (in ms; lower is better)

Best Curved Gaming Monitors: Mistakes To Avoid

  1. Ignoring the curvature: Curved monitors come in different degrees of curvature, typically measured in radians. Choosing the wrong curvature can lead to discomfort or a less immersive experience. Make sure to research and consider the optimal curvature for your setup and preferences. When deciding between a curved monitor and a flat monitor, remember that curved screens can enhance immersion, particularly for gaming and entertainment, while flat screens often provide a more traditional viewing experience for productivity tasks.

  2. Focusing solely on size: While a larger screen can offer a more immersive gaming experience, it’s not the only factor to consider. Pay attention to resolution, refresh rate, response time, and panel type (such as VA, IPS, or TN) to ensure you get the gaming performance you need. The best 1080p gaming monitors often feature fast refresh rates and response times, delivering smooth gameplay even on more budget-friendly systems. For those seeking ultra-sharp visuals, high-end 4K monitors offer unparalleled detail and clarity, making them perfect for gaming and creative work.

  3. Overlooking refresh rate and response time: Gaming monitors should ideally have a high refresh rate (e.g., 144Hz or higher) and low response time (e.g., 1ms) to minimize motion blur and ghosting, providing smoother gameplay. Don’t compromise on these specs for the sake of other features. To see some options that prioritize high refresh rates, check out our guides for the best 144Hz monitors or the top 240 Hz gaming monitors.

  4. Ignoring connectivity options: Make sure the monitor has the right ports for your gaming setup. HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB ports are common, but the specific ports you need may vary depending on your graphics card and other devices.

The Best Curved Gaming Monitors Tests Compared

Product
True Score
Brightness
Contrast Ratio
Color Gamut (DCI P3)
Color Gamut (sRGB)
Input Lag
Response Time (ms)
Reflections %
85
  • 286.67 nits

  • 286.67:1

  • 78.1%

  • 99.9%

  • 5.3 ms

  • 6 ms

  • 4.5%

$149.99
$230
$80
83
  • 241.39 nits

  • 241.39:1

  • 99.81%

  • 100%

  • 15.8 ms

  • 1.96 ms

  • 1.4%

$799.99
$1,100
$300
82
  • 237.45 nits

  • 237.45:1

  • 109.6%

  • 141.3%

  • 13.4 ms

  • 3.45 ms

  • 1.4%

$899.99
$1,200
$300
81
  • 628.33 nits

  • 628.33:1

  • 91%

  • 99.6%

  • 8.9 ms

  • 2.7 ms

  • 5.4%

$1,599.99
$2,500
$900

LG 40WP95C W

  • Best for Freesync

76
  • 254 nits

  • 1,087:1

  • 94.4%

  • 99.5%

  • 9.3 ms

  • 8.6 ms

  • 6.1%

$1,279.95
$1,800
$520

Curved Gaming Monitor Questions (FAQ)

What advantages do curved gaming monitors offer over flat monitors?

Curved gaming monitors can provide a more immersive viewing experience by wrapping the screen around your field of vision, enhancing depth perception and reducing image distortion at the edges.

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