Are curved monitors better for gaming or work? | One PC Panda

Are Curved Monitors Better

Do you fancy buying a curved monitor? If you’re planning to buy a new monitor and are conflicted on whether to get the flat monitor or the curved one, we might be able to help answer your questions before you make that final purchase decision. Are curved monitors better? Which one is best for gaming and for work? 

What are the benefits of a curved monitor? 


A curved monitor design imitates the natural field of the human eye. The gentle curve of the monitor edges actually brings your eyes’ focus to the center of the screen, giving you a wider peripheral view. It imitates the three-dimensional space that improves the field of vision, which in turn reduces eye strain as your eyes easily adjust to the images at certain distances. This is opposite to a flat monitor which forces your eyes to look at each edge instead of the center. Not to mention, that you have to move your neck to see the edges.


This simple change in the field of view makes the curved monitor more ergonomic, which leads us to more benefits including having better visual quality. A curved monitor improves image visibility and consistency, especially on edge displays. On a widescreen setup, a flat-screen display on the edges can be inaccurate or distorted due to the viewing angle.  


Having consistent good visual quality and reduced strain to the eyes, these benefits can affect a person’s productivity and performance. 



What are the downsides of a curved monitor?


If there are pros, there are also cons to using a curved monitor. One of these is needing a wider screen. Curved monitors offer great visibility and viewing angle. However, this is only much more effective when the screen is actually wide. To be more specific, it is best when it’s 30 inches wide and higher. The curved effects are hardly felt on a smaller screen. With that, you will need to spend more money on getting a larger one. Curved monitors are pricier than flat screens, to begin with, so you need to shell out even more money just to fully experience the benefits it offers.


If you have smaller desk space, a curved monitor can take up a big portion of that. Not to mention, that it’s harder to mount than the flat screen. If you plan to set up 2 or more monitors, then this isn’t for you. Curved monitors are best when it’s wide and the only monitor used.


There are also certain conditions when positioning or mounting a curved monitor. One of the drawbacks is the glare. Backlighting, direct sunlight, and basically all kinds of light can be easily caught at different angles. The curvature design not only makes the monitor prone to glares but also limits the viewing angles of others from seeing everything on your screen, which defeats the purpose of why you’re getting this monitor.  


Are curved monitors better for gaming or work? 


A curved monitor is a great option if you want better image visibility on a widescreen. It is great to use for gaming as it gives a more comfortable viewing experience. Other than this, there is not much difference in terms of refresh rate, response time, or color display when compared to a flat screen. 


If you are into the creative arts like designing, graphic creations, film editing, photo editing especially on ultra-wide form and horizontal displays, a curved monitor provides immersive viewing of documents, videos, and image displays. The curves make it more ergonomic and less straining to the eyes and neck. It also minimizes distortion of the display by giving better peripheral viewing.


If you are planning to get a curved monitor, the pros and cons are quite distinguishable in terms of the viewing experience, pricing, and convenience. However, when it comes to performance and other technical aspects, the flat screens basically are the same as curved monitors. It all comes down to your budget, desk space, and usage to consider.


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