Curved vs Flat Monitor [Explained]

Here’s how Curved vs Flat Monitor compare when it comes to gaming, along with advice on how to choose between the two.

For gamers, the choice between flat and curved monitors is a clear winner. Curved screen pricing used to make them simple to ignore, but that distinction has narrowed in recent years, making the entire range of screens as accessible as ever. Although there are more possibilities, which is fantastic news in one sense, it also means there are more selections to sort through in order to pick the ideal screen.

We’ve never lived in a period with so many great features available for all types of displays; whether you’re looking for one of the best gaming monitors overall, or specifically one of the best curved gaming monitors, you’ll have a wide range of genuinely high-quality options to select from. Each model will have all the gaming prowess, modern features, ample ports, and specifications you could possibly need, and the selection has never been greater. This implies that you will still be taken care of if you’re looking for something more specialized, such as one of the finest G-Sync monitors or the top G-Sync compatible FreeSync displays.

But how can you pick one over the other? Depending on your setup and viewing habits, the key distinctions between a flat and curved gaming monitor standoff might quickly rule out either option. When choosing between a flat or curved gaming monitor, we’re going to break down the key elements to take into account. As long as you keep in mind your budget, your style of play, and some physical considerations, you should be in a great position to make that choice in a short amount of time.

Curvature Ratings

We’ll start by explaining what the various curvature radius ratings—1000R, 1500R, 3800R, etc.—mean.

The screen curvature will be steeper the lower the value before the “R” is.

For instance, the radius 1500R is 1500mm, or 1.5 meters. The circumference of a circle made up of several 1500R curved displays would be 1.5 meters.

The curvature rating also indicates the ideal viewing distance.

Therefore, if you are more than two meters away from a 2000R curved monitor, you won’t fully benefit from the curvature.

The first gaming monitors with a 1000R curvature are Samsung’s Odyssey models, which are meant to simulate the curve of the human eye for greater immersion.

Curved Monitors vs Curved TVs

Contrary to curved TVs, which often have gentle 4000R curves, most curved monitors feature steeper 1500R curves. This makes sense given that you’ll be seeing a TV from a greater distance than you would a monitor.

The issue with TVs is that in order to really enjoy a curved screen, you must also be seated in front of it, which is impossible to accomplish if there are many people present in the room.

The curvature of the screen would also prevent viewers from viewing the complete image from the distant corners of the room.

It makes sense why the majority of consumers believe a curved TV is not worth the additional expense.

You may read more about the benefits of curved TVs in our post comparing them to flat TVs.

Curved displays, which are designed for a single user to sit in front of the screen, are unaffected by these issues.

Additionally, curved displays don’t always cost more than flat-screen versions. Curved panels are frequently employed for inexpensive gaming monitors, which are actually less expensive than their flat-panel equivalents.

Naturally, the size of the display and the curvature radius have a major impact on how beneficial a monitor’s curvature is.

Due to their modest screen sizes, small 24′′ and 27′′ sized curved monitors typically feature curvatures of 1500R or 1800R, which aren’t even all that evident.

Even then, the curvature isn’t really necessary, but with 32′′ or larger curved monitors, the curvature becomes more obvious, especially if it’s 1500R or steeper.

If you’re only interested in the curved aspect of a 24- to 32-inch widescreen (16:9) monitor, you shouldn’t buy it. You should also consider the display’s other features and characteristics.

Advantages of Curved Compared to Flat Monitors

Curved Monitors Are Immersive

Immersion is the ideal to strive for in the world of visible media. You’re considerably more likely to appreciate an experience if a product can, in a sense, make you forget that you’re staring at a screen.

Products need to be designed in a way that mimics actual life in order to produce this feeling of immersion. Ocular perception refers to the specific monitor technology that was employed in this instance. Everyone begins to learn this lesson at a young age.

The three dimensions that we perceive the world in are length, width, and height. Everything would appear to be flat if our shared world simply had two dimensions. Here is where the debate between flat and curved monitors is relevant.

All three dimensions are utilized by curved monitors. They also elaborate on peripheral vision. A weaker immersive experience is provided by flat monitors, which live up to their name and don’t require the use of peripheral vision.

Curved Monitors Eliminate Distortion

Think about how frustrating it is to see a hazy image. Next, think about how you would feel if the blurriness wasn’t a result of a bad internet connection but rather a hardware problem. Another illustration is the fact that as you magnify a movie or photograph, the quality inevitably degrades somewhat, especially at the corners.

The circumstances mentioned above are nearly solely connected with flat monitors when it comes to the dispute between curved and flat monitors. Examples of distortion can appear on screens of any size, but as monitor sizes grow, they appear more frequently. One benefit of curved monitors over flat monitors is less distortion because distortion problems are reduced with curved monitors.

This has a straightforward explanation.

The physics of light projection determines the distinction between curved and flat screen distortion. Simply said, flat screens project their images directly at the audience and past their sides. On the other hand, curved screens make use of their curvature to direct everything toward the observer, limiting distortion.

Curved Monitors Are More Comfortable for Your Eyes

The same physical principles that prevent curved screens from distorting also make them more comfortable to use. In essence, the monitors’ curvature makes it possible for our eyes to take in everything at once without getting tired.

In contrast, flat screens, depending on their size, may result in eyestrain if they obstruct the viewer’s natural field of vision. In daily life, it happens naturally to be able to take in a situation without strain.

Your eyes will benefit from the natural sensation to stay comfortable if you can see the entire curved screen, even at its greatest proportions. In conclusion, when choosing between curved and flat displays, keep in mind that the former will allow your eyes to function more pleasantly.

Curved Monitors Cover a Wider Field of View

It’s usual for the specifications of curved panels to link increased immersion with an improved field of view when comparing curved vs. flat monitors. Since curved screens are more comfortable than flat ones, this is also true for the same reasons.

The idea behind curved screens is that you can watch everything without having to strain your eyes since they focus light from all angles towards the viewer’s eye. Curved monitors will therefore appear larger since your eyes can span a wider field of view more easily than they can with flat screens.

A larger field of view also contributes to your sense of immersion, which is an added advantage.

Things About Curved Monitors That Will Take Some Getting Used to

Everything has a catch; nothing is ever completely flawless. Although that undoubtedly applies to statements that seem too good to be true, the same regrettably holds true for curved screens.

Fortunately, the disadvantages of curved screens are extremely modest and are unlikely to drive any customers to switch to flat panels.

Hanging on a wall

Curved screens are challenging to mount on walls in the first place because to their characteristic curvature. Curved screens can’t be placed using standard flat screen mounts because they are normally flush with the wall next to them.

In general, curved screens require an environment where they are kept away from the wall. Tilt & swivel brackets and adjustable arm mounts are excellent solutions to get around the mounting problem in general, even though they don’t address the issue of curved screens protruding.

The good news is that performance is unaffected and that this is primarily a surface-level problem.

Glare

A curved screen will regretfully be prone to glare, when viewed at certain angles, due to the geometry involved in its curvature. Curved screens will reflect light at many different angles as opposed to flat panels, which do so only once at a single, uniform angle.

In light of this, it may be nearly hard to keep light sources away from several angles as compared to a single angle.

Placing the screen as far from light sources as you can is the best strategy to combat this problem. Or you could just use your monitor with the majority of the lights off.

Curved vs Flat Monitor

Curved vs Flat Monitor Size

We’ll start with the form factor because it is the most evident. Some people will be able to make their decision based solely on this information: some will enjoy the simplicity and directness of a flat panel, while others will appreciate the sweeping line of a curved display. If you’ve been using flat screens for a while, switching to a curved one can almost be shocking. But switching from a hefty curve to a flat screen might be equally perplexing.

In addition to the form factor difference, there is also a size difference that is noticeable. Flat monitors (using the TV measurement, so to speak) have larger corner-to-corner screens, but you’ll also find that curved monitors have wider, longer panels. While both kind of “large” monitors are available, sometimes it comes down to different axes. For instance, there’s a good reason why so many ultrawide monitors are curved.

One last point about size is that choosing a curved monitor will require you to have additional desk space. Given the additional area they require, curved monitors can really take up desk space. They are also heavier because they require a larger support system and stand to keep them in place.

Curved vs Flat Monitor Immersion

The main difference in use is determined by immersion and how one looks at the screen. There is no disputing, however, that curved panels provide a level of immersion that flat monitors simply cannot, particularly in gaming. A slight curvature can wrap around your perspective to enhance the experience, and even a modestly sized curved monitor can truly draw you into the action. The ability to manage numerous applications at once is a tremendous benefit when you do reach higher sizes of curved panels and into ultrawide territory; it can essentially replace a twin monitor configuration in one fell swoop.

It is important to note that curved monitors can provide somewhat superior experiences when taking into account each individual pixel. This is because the entire monitor is directed in the direction of your eyes, allowing you to view and utilise more of the screen. This does not imply that flat screen margins are generally unnecessary, merely that they may be a touch dull and subject to little distortion.

Curved vs Flat Monitor Features

Both flat and curved displays made nowadays provide a variety of additional gaming-focused features and specifications in their actual implementation. Both of these display types come in a variety of refresh rates, there are different market response times, and color reproduction and HDR quality vary from monitor to monitor as usual.

You’ll merely need to consider which of these characteristics is most significant to you, but you may mostly do this after choosing on a position. On curved displays, which are the predominate species when it comes to wide resolutions, you’ll frequently get some really fantastic, “longer” resolutions. Remember, you may require a more powerful graphics card with a larger monitor and higher resolution, and this is true for both form sizes.

Curved vs Flat Monitor Price

Finally, historically there have been, and still mostly are, variances in price points, with curved monitors frequently maintaining their higher price tags. Although prices have somewhat leveled out, you should still expect to pay extra for curved beasts, especially the larger models, which are frequently comfortably more expensive than two smaller flat gaming monitors.

Ultrawide Curved vs Flat Monitors

Bigger is better is a common proverb, and ultrawide monitors are proof of this idea.

Although there have always been a variety of panel sizes available, curved monitors have only just begun to arrive in the ultrawide market. Because they use a 21:9 aspect ratio rather than the more common 16:9 aspect ratio, these ultrawide curved monitors are unique.

The 21:9 ultrawide monitor provides almost 33% more horizontal screen space than the traditional 16:9 panel, as seen in the image above. It makes sense to use an ultrawide curved monitor over a typical 16:9 curved monitor since the resulting ultrawide curved combo works well together. The advantages of curved monitors that we discussed before are further enhanced by having the additional horizontal screen space of an ultrawide panel.

Furthermore, ultrawide monitors let you do away with the other screen if you need extra displays for work or gaming-related applications. Some video games even support the ultrawide 21:9 aspect ratio, giving you both the advantages of a curved panel for gaming and a larger field of view inside the game!

Who should buy a curved gaming monitor? 

A curved monitor is the best way to experience some of that extra immersion you’ve always enjoyed in games (and to some extent in all visual media). These screens’ curvature makes sure that everything is focused directly at you and that images and moving visuals bend elegantly around your eyes. Once you’ve had it, it’s a really difficult experience to leave behind.

Although some games benefit greatly from this effect, if the game is not supported at a particular resolution on a curved beast, you will have a mediocre image with black bars taking up unnecessary space on your monitor.

There are many of curved monitors with excellent gaming capabilities and hardware, so you won’t have to sacrifice there too. The added immersion can be well worth the price.

In other places, you’ll discover that the screen’s curve also pulls your attention to whatever you’re doing there, making even straightforward work activities a little bit easier to concentrate on.

If any of the following applies to you:

• Fesire for increased game immersion
• Possess a workspace with enough room for a larger screen Value wider viewing angles
• Looking for an ultrawide configuration
• Not overly concerned with 4K
• Invest more money (broadly speaking)
• Want to lessen eye fatigue

What Are the Pros and Cons of Curved Monitors?

The main benefit of curved displays is that they occupy more of your peripheral vision, allowing you to concentrate on your task without being sidetracked by what is going on around you. This captivating experience might be challenging to top whether you’re watching or participating in a game. This monitor’s curved display can catch light from more angles, which is a drawback. The largest advantage curved displays have over flat panel monitors is negated by the glare, which can make some of the screen harder to view. It should be noted that flat-screen monitors can still be subject to glare, but it is simpler to position them in a location with less glare.

Curved vs Flat Monitor: Which One is Better?

Curved and flat panel monitors have several elements in common despite their variances. Both designs feature the same kinds of inputs (often referred to as ports), making it possible to connect your computer to them without the use of an adapter. Each one might have a very high resolution to provide you a very clear image, making it simpler to do everything from view photos to read text.

Today’s Best Curved And Flat Monitor Deals

Getting a curved monitor is definitely the best option if you spend a lot of time playing games or editing horizontal video in a room that is big enough and well-lit. You may need some practice getting acclimated to the ultra-wide form factor, but once you do, you’ll have more space to see your documents, photos, movies, and browser tabs.

It is definitely preferable to get a flat panel display if you have more space restrictions, less control over the lighting in your room, and only use your computer for normal computing chores like online browsing, writing, shopping, and viewing videos. This is particularly valid if you want an external monitor with a more recognizable physical layout.