Best ultrawide monitor 2022 - go big and wide this year
The best ultrawide monitors are no longer just accessible to those with incredibly deep wallets, and incredibly big setups. These screens are now more affordable than ever and have an increasingly appropriate use and deployment in home, work, and play (or all three) setups.
But how do you choose the best ultrawide monitor for you? Well, we're here to help you separate some wheat from some chaff, ranking all our favourite ultrawide panels right here - some are so good that you'll also find them in our best gaming monitor list such is their quality.
These days bigger doesn't mean better - there's an increasing number of 'smaller' ultrawide monitors inhabiting the 34- and 35-inch spaces which make for perfect entry points into the best ultrawide gaming monitor market. They also tend to demand lower price tags too. However, immersion does increase as you go upwards in sizes through the 38-inch panels and all the way to the monstrous 49-inch screens from the likes of Samsung.
Having recently switched from two screens to one ultrawide I can personally tell you that it is a journey worth taking. You still get plenty of screen real estate for productivity and multiple windows, while also welcoming that incredible resolution for gaming - all while tidying up the setup a bit, and removing cables from your desk. Along with our thorough testing and reviewing, we're putting all our experience on paper, to guide you on your way to your pick for the best ultrawide monitor whatever budget you're working with.
The best ultrawide monitor 2022
1. Alienware AW3423DW QD-OLED
The best ultrawide monitor for gaming
Screen size: 34” | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 3440 x 1440 at 175Hz | Brightness: 1,000 nits peak HDR | Response time: 0.1ms | Viewing angle: 178° H&V | Contrast ratio: 1,000,000:1 | Features: QD OLED panel, 99.3% DCI-P3, Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate, DisplayPort 1.4 x1, HDMI 2.0 x2, USB hub, AlienFX lighting
Fabulous OLED panel
Incredible pixel response
True HDR performance
Less convincing as a desktop monitor
Not the lowest latency option
Not exactly cheap
The new Alienware 34 AW3423DW QD-OLED monitor has rocketed up the internet's gaming monitor guides and rightfully sits atop our best ultrawide monitor pile. The new QD-OLED technology has finally come to gaming screens, and it delivers absolutely.
This screen has better contrast and a faster response than any LCD panel we’ve ever seen. In our testing, everything just looked richer, more convincing, and more immersive - and faster, sharper, and even clearer.
Only a couple of things are present that really raise the eyebrow - and even then it's not by much. The supposedly brighter HDR 1000 mode actually results in a picture a little duller than the more usable HDR 400 setting. The slightly low pixel density also means this isn’t absolutely perfect as an all-purpose display, and, if we're nit-picking, which we are, higher refresh panels will offer better latency.
But for most types of gaming and productivity, and all-around use, this monitor is an absolute revelation. Easily the best ultrawide monitor you can buy right now and one of only a few panels to receive a perfect score from us.
Read more: Alienware AW3423DW QD-OLED review
2. AOC CU34G2X
The best value ultrawide monitor
Screen size: 34" | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 3440x1440 | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Brightness: 300 cd/m2 | Response time: 1ms | Viewing angle: 178° | Contrast ratio: 3000:1 | Features: FreeSync, VA panel, 4x USB 3.0 ports
144Hz and 1ms are the best specs for gaming
In-game performance in shooters and racing games is sublime
Ridiculously good value
Color isn't quite as vibrant as some other monitors
No one would blame you for thinking, at least initially, that the best ultrawide monitors will cost you an arm and a leg - and that is true to an extent, But the AOC CU34G2X is here to firmly buck that trend. Simply put, if you want to reap the benefits of an ultrawide display but you don't want to fork out the big bucks, then this is the screen you've been looking for.
It's not got any flashy, attention-grabbing design quirks, but upon closer inspection, it has specs inside that will get you excited - even if you're a twitchy or competitive gamer. The CU34G2X offers both a 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time – two of the most important specs for speedy gaming, which means that - as well as the gorgeous ultrawide resolution and picture - you can be sure you're playing at high speeds too.
Unfortunately, the AOC CU34G2X does lack a little when it comes to color vibrancy and HDR performance, but that's a compromise we're willing to make in order to get the rest of the specs, and that tremendous ultra-widescreen in a monitor that falls under the $500/£500 mark. A brilliant entry point into the best ultrawide monitor market, and the perfect place to start for anyone considering upgrading from, or making a change from, a 1080p or 1440p screen.
Read more: AOC CU34G2X review
Acer Predator X38
The best 38-inch ultrawide monitor
Screen size: 38" | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 3840x1600 | Refresh rate: 144Hz (overclocked to 175Hz) | Brightness: 450 cd/m2 | Response time: 1ms | Viewing angle: 178° | Contrast ratio: 1000:1 | Features: G-Sync, IPS panel, 2 x 7w speakers, HDR 400, VESA 100x100mm, 4 x USB ports
Excellent picture quality
Gaming-first specs
Great size and immersive curve
Acer monitor pedigree
Middling HDR performance
Comfortably more expensive than slightly smaller competitors
The Acer Predator X38 is a beast of an ultrawide monitor if you're looking for a go big or go home
Our variant of the X38 - there are a couple floating about so make sure to interrogate the specs list to make sure you get the one you're after - is the X38 Pbmiphzx model and features a whole bunch of gaming-focused specs that produce a glorious ultrawide playing experience. The screen is a 38-inch Agile-splendor IPS panel, and there's a 1ms GtG response time, and a 175Hz refresh rate which is plenty fast enough for such a sizeable ultrawide monitor. Throw in G-Sync functionality too and you are flying with the smoothest images. The image quality is beautiful, crisp, and vibrant (despite a 'just OK' HDR performance), and the amount of game, landscape, or spreadsheet you can take in is spectacular.
The gentle curve of 2300R is nowhere near as harsh or aggressive as those going for the 1000R measure, but the immersion doesn't really get impacted by this - there's just so much screen to take in, your eyes are really blessed.
I really value the extra inches of screen compared to the 34- or 35-inch ultrawide monitors that colleagues have, and the extra height, as well as width, makes it a great monitor for work as well ensuring there's plenty of space no matter the task. It's even comfortably light enough to be mounted on a monitor arm despite its size. It has gaming at its forefront, but the Acer Predator X38 is easily one of the best ultrawide monitors whatever you'll use one for.
At the time of writing I am testing and using this screen, so look out for our full review in the near future.
4. Samsung Odyssey Neo G9
The best ultrawide monitor for absolute immersion
Screen size: 49"; 1000R curve | Panel type: VA; 1000R | Aspect ratio: 32:9 | Resolution: 5,120 x 1,440 | Refresh rate: 240Hz | Response time: 1ms | Brightness: 2000 cd/㎡ (peak) | Contrast ratio: 1,000,000:1 (Static) | Features: G-Sync Compatible, FreeSync Premium, 2x USB 3.0 hub
Stupendously immersive gaming experience
Stupidly bright and punchy
Fantastic response and speed
Mini-LED backlight is surprisingly crude
Pixel density is nothing special
Insanely expensive
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 ultrawide monitor has been with us for a little while now, but it's still just as impressive: 49 inches, 240Hz, seven million pixels, a crazy-immersive 1000R curvature, and a slightly silly 2000 nits is a hell of a recipe.
Arguably more important isn’t the peak brightness but the fact that a 10-zone edge-lit backlight has been ditched in favour of a cutting-edge 2,048 zone mini-LED backlight. On paper, that’s a huge upgrade. In practice, it’s a bit more complicated. This is a big screen, and even with that many zones, the granularity of the backlight control is a little crude. However, when it's performing at its best, the Neo G9 puts on a spectacular HDR show that few ultrawide monitors can match.
It won't be a suitable home for console players - the likes of LG’s 120Hz C1 and CX OLED TVs are better matched for that from a big-screen perspective - but for pure PC gaming, the Neo G9’s wrap-around immersion is seriously hard to beat.
Read more: Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 review
5. BenQ Mobiuz EX3415R
The best ultrawide monitor all-rounder
Screen size: 34-inch | Resolution: 3,440 x 1,440 at 144Hz | Brightness: 1,000 cd/m2 | Response time: 1ms MPRT | Viewing angle: 178° H&V | Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 | Features: IPS panel, AMD FreeSync Premium, DisplayPort 1.4 x1, HDMI 2.0 x1, VESA DisplayHDR 400
Great overall feature set
Nice ultrawide IPS panel
Really good pixel response
Very expensive compared to competitors
Subdued image quality in SDR mode
The BenQ Mobiuz EX3415R monitor is the best ultrawide monitor for all-around use - whatever you want to use an ultrawide screen for, this can do it. It's got a quality 34-inch IPS panel, 3,440 by 1,440 pixels for a perfect compromise between detail and fidelity, and also boasts a 144Hz refresh rate, a 1ms response, and HDR response! Throw in a delightful curve for immersion and it really is an attractive proposition - despite its relatively high price of admission.
You also get really nice build quality and a fully adjustable stand. The slight snag is subdued image quality in SDR mode. To get an experience that delivers on the 400 nits quoted panel performance, whatever the content, you have to run Windows in HDR mode and then tweak the brightness for SDR content. If you've been looking for an awesome ultrawide monitor and don't mind investing considerably to get the right screen, then this could very much be the panel you've been looking for.
Read more: BenQ Mobiuz EX3415R review
6. Acer Nitro XV340CK
The best value IPS flat ultrawide monitor
Screen size: 34" | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 3440 x 1440 | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Brightness: 250nits | Response time: 1ms | Viewing angle: 178°/178° | Contrast ratio: 1000:1 | Features: FreeSync, 2 x HDMI, 2 x DP, VESA 100 x 100 compatible
Great value
Good quality images
Strong gaming specs
Not brilliant viewing angles in practice
Lacks the immersion of a curved screen
If you're looking to reign in the budget a little when shopping in the best ultrawide monitor market, then the Acer Nitro XV340CKP is a decent screen to consider.
This ultrawide sheds a lot of the more premium gaming specs and screen techs to offer a more stripped-back and restrained wide boy that won't damage the wallet too much. More 'flashy' things like G-Sync or FreeSync Premium, super-high refresh rates, or bombastic HDR claims are dropped here, and instead, the XV340CKP offers something more straightforward: there's a 34-inch IPS panel, a 144Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time, no curve to the screen, and a brightness level of only 250 nits or so. However, don't let any of that put you off: we're swimming in more budget waters here after all so the value is still strong if you haven't got a mega-budget.
After some weeks of testing, I have found the XV340CKP to be good to work with and game on. I previously thought that I'd love the 38-inch Predator X38P too much to consider a monitor a few inches smaller, but it has really grown on me in that respect and hasn't compromised performance. You'll have to fiddle with the setting to get the most out of this straight-talking monitor but once you do it does shine and present games in a really great, vivid, clear way - remember, while this has shaved off other premium features it is still an IPS panel.
I will say that its lack of immersion compared to a curved screen is noticeable and to its detriment. Admittedly I noticed this more as I came from a curved one to the Nitro, but in practice the flat screen does reflect more, impairing viewing angles (particularly in well-lit rooms), and it can feel like one really has to focus on things at ether edge. Small gripes and the value on offer with this ultrawide is still great.
7. Samsung CRG9
The next best 49-inch ultrawide monitor
Screen size: 49"; 1800R curve | Panel type: VA | Aspect ratio: 32:9 | Resolution: 5120 x 1440 | Refresh rate: 212Hz | Response time: 4ms | Brightness: 600 nits | Contrast ratio: 3000:1 | Features: FreeSync 2, 4x USB 3.0 hub, VESA 100mm x 100mm
Epic 49-inch panel
120Hz refresh
Low pixel density
Doesn’t suit all games
At 49 inches - count them! - Samsung CRG9 is positively huge. It’s also immensely bright at 1,000nits - though that only applies to local hotspots, rather than panel wide. Finishing up the specs behind that you have excellent claimed colour fidelity with 95 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 gamut, a 3,000:1 static contrast from the VA panel, a 120Hz refresh, and a gentle 1800R. All in Samsung styling - it really is, still, a great shout for the best ultrawide monitor you can get in 2022.
We've bumped it below its Neo successor and some other models as there are a few caveats - as well as it being a bit 'old' now: there's no 'true' HDR capability despite the claims (in part due to the limited number of local dimming zones), and there’s no USB-C connectivity. The CRG9 is also not the absolute fastest in terms of pixel response now, but it’s reasonably quick, and most gamers and users won’t care. Instead, they’ll be blown away by the ridiculous scale of this monitor and the mind-blowing, immersive experience.
Now, the 21:9 aspect certainly doesn’t work well in all games, and it's a bit compromised back on the Windows desktop, and the massive resolution does end up lacking in some pixel density, but when this thing really clicks, it’s an all-consuming experience like little other and earns its place in the best ultrawide monitor conversation.
Read more: Samsung CRG9 review
Which is the best ultrawide monitor?
The best ultrawide monitor for you will be one that hits a few key criteria that are specific to you - and will hopefully be on this list of our picks for the best ultrawide monitor!
In reality though, chances are if you're thinking about one of the best ultrawide monitors then you may have an idea about some of the specifications you want, need, and can house. It's probably wise to think about size first as this basically governs everything else, and certainly price, so once you've narrowed that down, you can focus on getting the right specs, curvature, make, and model for you.
What is the best size for an ultrawide monitor?
As well as knowing your work and play-space limitations in a literal, size-based way, the best ultrawide monitor as far as size goes is going to be intrinsically linked to the budget - the connection between larger curved screens and larger price tags still tracks here.
Generally, the sweet spot is the 34- or 35-inch mark as these can have really great, aggressive price points. Once you go up to 38 and above, there is a significant and steep price rise generally.
Those 49-inchers are colossal though so if you want a bit of desk space then these might be too large. I really value the extra size a 38-inch gives over a 34-inch even though it isn't too much in reality - the ultrawide resolution usually does the business and the talking in either, or any, size.
Is it worth buying an ultrawide monitor?
One of the best ultrawide monitors is a different experience for sure, from the traditional screens - but our money is on you not looking back once you've done it. The extra screen real-estate, the wider resolution, and the fact that you can absorb more, all while being immersed even more in games and movies - and productivity - means that it is absolutely worth buying an ultrawide monitor.
And with increasing value-busting options on the table, there's never been a better time to try and move over to an ultrawide.
What size ultrawide monitor is best for work?
It's true that away from gaming, the best ultrawide monitors can be brilliant for work - from everyday office-based work tasks to professional content creation and design. One ultrawide can often do the job of two separate monitors too, which makes them appealing from a tidiness perspective, then throw in the enormous screen real estate you can get, genuinely good screen specifications, and you're away.
In terms of particular sizes, there's no question that the massive 49-inch models can be great for productivity as well as gaming, but the price tags are often prohibitive. We really like the 38-inch size of ultrawide monitors as they are incredibly capacious but without dominating the desk - but this size still does represent a point at which the prices jump. Therefore, with value factored in, we think that those ultrawide monitors in the 34/35 inch size range are the perfect ones for work as well as play. Sure, if you have the budget to go bigger, we would generally say it'll be worth it (no one has ever complained of their TV or monitor being too big, right?), but for most folks, the bang for buck value at the 34/35 inch range is excellent.
How we test gaming monitors at GamesRadar+
Between our on-team staff and our roster of expert freelance writers, every ultrawide monitor is treated just like every other monitor that comes our way: it's subject to the same kind of deep scrutiny to get to the bottom of its good bits, and not-so-good bits.
We spend hours and hours testing each monitor, living with it where possible, and using it as our everyday screen for work and play. As a result, we test work and productivity functionality to give you an idea as to whether you can rely on it for the more mundane things, and then we play and run a big batch of games on the screens to ensure it provides good performance, no matter the price point or feature set. When it comes to games, we test single-player expansive games like RPGs and strategies to examine their detail, colour, and image quality, while also ensuring we test them with online and competitive shooters to see how they hold up when speed is key.
For more information, you can read more on How we test monitors at GamesRadar+ here, and for an overview of our approach to gaming tech then you can check out our full Hardware Policy.
If you're after a new gaming screen that more TV-shaped then head over to our best gaming TV guide as well as checking out our best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X, best OLED TV, and best 120Hz 4K TV guides which will all see you right and lay out some quality options across the budget range.
