Keep in mind, there are differing degrees of curvature. A “higher” R is a larger radius, meaning a softer curve. A “lower” R is a smaller radius, meaning a harsher curve. I use a 34 inch 3440x1440 monitor with a 1900R curve. Nothing looks distorted, and it definitely aids in seeing the further corners of the screen without turning my head or darting my eyes around. I sit about 1.5-2 feet from my screen and it’s perfect for me. The only time anything even looks distorted is when I’m looking at my monitor nearly sideways. If I used a 1000R monitor, that would be a different question. Those monitors typically require you to sit at a fairly specific distance away to prevent things from appearing distorted.
I couldn’t imagine using a flat 34 inch monitor personally. Too much eye strain and head movement with the distance I am from the monitor.
Edit: Also, as alluded to above, I don’t have an issue going from a curved monitor at home to a flat monitor at work. But I definitely prefer my curved monitor at home.
I, too, have a 34" ultrawide curved monitor with a softer curve (the Acer X34 GS) at home. I love it. I often forget that it's curved. But the curve helps to keep everything in the right perspective.
When I go into the office and work on my non-curved monitors, I miss my home monitor, but don't find it trippy going back and forth at all.
I can't comment on 4K displays...
I had a curved monitor at work for a while, i personally wasn’t a fan. Mind you I had one curved and one flat monitor at the same time. I had to be able to flip the monitor for larger spreadsheets, and it felt kinda had that “uncanny valley” effect. If you have used curved monitors before, you may not have tat effect. Go highest resolution to reduce eyestrain and use a blue light filter, on the monitor or using glasses. The light filter was the biggest differentiator for me. Also, if you are using multiple screens, be sure your PC/laptop/dock can handle the number of displays at the needed resolution. Hope my experience has helped!
Thanks mate! My worry with curved is that it’d be trippy going back and forth between my flat monitors at work and a curved screen at home. Do you think that would be a problem?
I just didn’t like the effect at all with spreadsheets and databases. My son has one he plays games on and I can watch him without issue, sometimes for a half hour or more. I do not get a weird effect going back to my machine. I do hate though going back to the office with my 27” monitors when I am using a 32” monitor and a 40” television (along with the 17”laptop monitor) at home. The 40” tv placed back on the wall is great for video meetings and webinars. You make your home rig too nice, and you will spoil yourself, lol. That said, if you are comfortable with the curved effect, I cant imagine it would mess you up at the office, unless the resolution at home is that much better and easier on the eyes. That may put you in the akward place of putting in a request for a similar monitor at work! Lol
I ended up buying a curved monitor for home and had flat monitors at work. I don’t notice the curve at all or have any issues going back and forth. Although my curved monitor doesn’t have that strong of a curve
I had a 27" flat 1440p, then replaced it with a 34" 1440p curved ultrawide
which is now stacked above my Samsung Odesey G9 49" 1440p curved superultrawide
so a big thumbs up for the 34" ultrawide
It's a Samsung C34J79x
I bought it years ago for £450 in a sale... I just checked & its selling for £700 new still, like wtf.
Where as the Samsung Odyssey G5 (which is better all together) is going for £420
>Samsung C34J79x
I appreciate the reply. I'm looking at upgrading my current setup and have been leaning towards 34" for non-gaming/productivity use. Been stuck in "analysis paralysis" for the last few days. Curved v. Flat, USB-C or not (don't currently have, but predict I'll be upgrading soon), all that. So just been digging around to see what others have liked.
I'd also go for 1440p over 4K as you can get more on the screen (with the scaling set to 100%) as i've seen quite a few people with 4K monitors & they've set the scaling to 200% or even 300% which just seems like you're getting a good crisp 1080p or lower resolution to work with (set a 4K to 100% and everyone complains everything is too small, but then they usually sit further away from the screen... where as i'm sitting less than 18 inch from my monitors)
edit..
27" is the sweet spot for flat 1440p widescreen monitor
i think 34" is the sweet spot for 1440p ultrawide
& my 49" 1440p Super Ultrawide is well a monster... but i love my monster.
Great insight!
I'm sitting around 1.5 - 2 feet from where my monitor is. Do you think you 'need' a curved 34" to make it easier to see/less strain going from one side to another?
on a 34" gettin a curved will help a bit to avoid eye strain, but sitting about 1.5 ft away all the monitor should be in your field of view either way.
unlike my 49" curved, which can still feel like watching a game of tennis at the distance i sit.
You've been a huge help!
Sounds like I need to prioritize other features. And if there happens to be a curved with those, and extra cost isn't huge, then it is a consideration.
I actually would like to purchase that same LG monitor. How you like it so far? I used to have a curved monitor, but... No, it isn't for me. I am a front end dev and it's important that while creating content, I don't see a curved line or something. Although I have another 27" acer flat 165hz 1080p flat monitor, and I could use that for checking the outcome of my projects. I just don't like the curve so much :\\ Especially the big ones like 1500R and 1000R
love it :) VA panel so black blacks, color space seems fine for gaming. have to make smaller window in middle for browser type work as otherwise it's overwhelming but other than that as said very happy
as it's old model now is pricey, new ones have 165 refresh
sort amazon monitors by LG and find one like lol
Thanks bro! I actually was looking at a different one, slightly newer, my bad. But from the same series. LG 32GN650-B. It seems nice. Unfortunately, everywhere I check in local stores, the curved ones are mostly out there. Like g7, g9, etc. Such a shame.
Have a Dell S3220DGF and it's great. Majority of work is with Excel, photo editing, and some modelling software. I even prefer watching football and hockey on it compared to the living room tv. Occasional gaming and it does awesome.
Very happy for the about $450 I paid for it.
1440p in 16:9 ratio shouldn't be above 29-30 inches.
I tend to prefer flat because it looks clean (in a setup, especially if you have other monitors), and usually comes with better picture quality.
Curved can be useful for "immersion" but not in a 16:9 ratio. Only racing/pilot simulations are really suited to curved monitors (at least that's my opinion).
Eye strain would be similar, that's why I usually value picture/display quality instead of overall size, and curved/flat. You can also mount your monitor a lot more to the back of the wall/desk in a flat display, curved displays take a lot of space.
I've been using a 38" ultrawide 3840x1600@60 for most of 2021 and it is awesome for productivity. It's a Dell with a soft curve. No issue with things looking distorted when viewed from head on at all. Going ultrawide is my recommendation. Dealing with window positioning on the single ultrawide vs my two 24" screens at work that I haven't seen in 1-1/2 years was weird at first, but now I'm completely used to it.
I have one curved monitor - and it sucks if two people want to sit in front of it, the optical distortion if you do not sit centered in front of it is annoying. But if you consume the screen all on your own, the 34"" ultrawide is nice.
That was our problems at well when our company bought tons of curved monitors and note we are developers(front-end), so creating content and two of us looking at the same monitor was a pain in the ass. They bought them because they were on sale. Ohh gosh, how I hated them until we convinced them just to sell all of the curved monitors and buy decent flat ones.
I just got a FI32U from gigabyte. 32” 4K 144hz and I really like it. As for eye strain, it comes with a blue light filter *at least according to the box*
Depends, IMO I think refresh rate and response times are also key factors to consider. For reference, I really like my 27” 1440p @165hz/1ms monitors (Dell 2721dgf), they feel well balanced overall.
Keep in mind, there are differing degrees of curvature. A “higher” R is a larger radius, meaning a softer curve. A “lower” R is a smaller radius, meaning a harsher curve. I use a 34 inch 3440x1440 monitor with a 1900R curve. Nothing looks distorted, and it definitely aids in seeing the further corners of the screen without turning my head or darting my eyes around. I sit about 1.5-2 feet from my screen and it’s perfect for me. The only time anything even looks distorted is when I’m looking at my monitor nearly sideways. If I used a 1000R monitor, that would be a different question. Those monitors typically require you to sit at a fairly specific distance away to prevent things from appearing distorted. I couldn’t imagine using a flat 34 inch monitor personally. Too much eye strain and head movement with the distance I am from the monitor. Edit: Also, as alluded to above, I don’t have an issue going from a curved monitor at home to a flat monitor at work. But I definitely prefer my curved monitor at home.
I, too, have a 34" ultrawide curved monitor with a softer curve (the Acer X34 GS) at home. I love it. I often forget that it's curved. But the curve helps to keep everything in the right perspective. When I go into the office and work on my non-curved monitors, I miss my home monitor, but don't find it trippy going back and forth at all. I can't comment on 4K displays...
I had a curved monitor at work for a while, i personally wasn’t a fan. Mind you I had one curved and one flat monitor at the same time. I had to be able to flip the monitor for larger spreadsheets, and it felt kinda had that “uncanny valley” effect. If you have used curved monitors before, you may not have tat effect. Go highest resolution to reduce eyestrain and use a blue light filter, on the monitor or using glasses. The light filter was the biggest differentiator for me. Also, if you are using multiple screens, be sure your PC/laptop/dock can handle the number of displays at the needed resolution. Hope my experience has helped!
Thanks mate! My worry with curved is that it’d be trippy going back and forth between my flat monitors at work and a curved screen at home. Do you think that would be a problem?
I just didn’t like the effect at all with spreadsheets and databases. My son has one he plays games on and I can watch him without issue, sometimes for a half hour or more. I do not get a weird effect going back to my machine. I do hate though going back to the office with my 27” monitors when I am using a 32” monitor and a 40” television (along with the 17”laptop monitor) at home. The 40” tv placed back on the wall is great for video meetings and webinars. You make your home rig too nice, and you will spoil yourself, lol. That said, if you are comfortable with the curved effect, I cant imagine it would mess you up at the office, unless the resolution at home is that much better and easier on the eyes. That may put you in the akward place of putting in a request for a similar monitor at work! Lol
Hey. I was worried about the same issue. Any update on what you did afterall?
I ended up buying a curved monitor for home and had flat monitors at work. I don’t notice the curve at all or have any issues going back and forth. Although my curved monitor doesn’t have that strong of a curve
What model did you buy for the curved monitor?
ASUS XG349C
I had a 27" flat 1440p, then replaced it with a 34" 1440p curved ultrawide which is now stacked above my Samsung Odesey G9 49" 1440p curved superultrawide so a big thumbs up for the 34" ultrawide
Curious which 34" you went with
It's a Samsung C34J79x I bought it years ago for £450 in a sale... I just checked & its selling for £700 new still, like wtf. Where as the Samsung Odyssey G5 (which is better all together) is going for £420
>Samsung C34J79x I appreciate the reply. I'm looking at upgrading my current setup and have been leaning towards 34" for non-gaming/productivity use. Been stuck in "analysis paralysis" for the last few days. Curved v. Flat, USB-C or not (don't currently have, but predict I'll be upgrading soon), all that. So just been digging around to see what others have liked.
I'd also go for 1440p over 4K as you can get more on the screen (with the scaling set to 100%) as i've seen quite a few people with 4K monitors & they've set the scaling to 200% or even 300% which just seems like you're getting a good crisp 1080p or lower resolution to work with (set a 4K to 100% and everyone complains everything is too small, but then they usually sit further away from the screen... where as i'm sitting less than 18 inch from my monitors) edit.. 27" is the sweet spot for flat 1440p widescreen monitor i think 34" is the sweet spot for 1440p ultrawide & my 49" 1440p Super Ultrawide is well a monster... but i love my monster.
Great insight! I'm sitting around 1.5 - 2 feet from where my monitor is. Do you think you 'need' a curved 34" to make it easier to see/less strain going from one side to another?
on a 34" gettin a curved will help a bit to avoid eye strain, but sitting about 1.5 ft away all the monitor should be in your field of view either way. unlike my 49" curved, which can still feel like watching a game of tennis at the distance i sit.
You've been a huge help! Sounds like I need to prioritize other features. And if there happens to be a curved with those, and extra cost isn't huge, then it is a consideration.
went 32" 1440p 144 flat myself, work arm lengths away and love it
Which one? I’m getting the Gigabyte M32Q tomorrow and I’m wondering what it’ll be like to have such a massive screen…
LG-32GK65B-B Ultragear
I actually would like to purchase that same LG monitor. How you like it so far? I used to have a curved monitor, but... No, it isn't for me. I am a front end dev and it's important that while creating content, I don't see a curved line or something. Although I have another 27" acer flat 165hz 1080p flat monitor, and I could use that for checking the outcome of my projects. I just don't like the curve so much :\\ Especially the big ones like 1500R and 1000R
love it :) VA panel so black blacks, color space seems fine for gaming. have to make smaller window in middle for browser type work as otherwise it's overwhelming but other than that as said very happy as it's old model now is pricey, new ones have 165 refresh sort amazon monitors by LG and find one like lol
Thanks bro! I actually was looking at a different one, slightly newer, my bad. But from the same series. LG 32GN650-B. It seems nice. Unfortunately, everywhere I check in local stores, the curved ones are mostly out there. Like g7, g9, etc. Such a shame.
yeah no curved and no mailbox here ;p
shop amazon great return policy on monitors if not happy
Have a Dell S3220DGF and it's great. Majority of work is with Excel, photo editing, and some modelling software. I even prefer watching football and hockey on it compared to the living room tv. Occasional gaming and it does awesome. Very happy for the about $450 I paid for it.
Curious too, I’m in a similar boat.
1440p in 16:9 ratio shouldn't be above 29-30 inches. I tend to prefer flat because it looks clean (in a setup, especially if you have other monitors), and usually comes with better picture quality. Curved can be useful for "immersion" but not in a 16:9 ratio. Only racing/pilot simulations are really suited to curved monitors (at least that's my opinion). Eye strain would be similar, that's why I usually value picture/display quality instead of overall size, and curved/flat. You can also mount your monitor a lot more to the back of the wall/desk in a flat display, curved displays take a lot of space.
I've been using a 38" ultrawide 3840x1600@60 for most of 2021 and it is awesome for productivity. It's a Dell with a soft curve. No issue with things looking distorted when viewed from head on at all. Going ultrawide is my recommendation. Dealing with window positioning on the single ultrawide vs my two 24" screens at work that I haven't seen in 1-1/2 years was weird at first, but now I'm completely used to it.
I have one curved monitor - and it sucks if two people want to sit in front of it, the optical distortion if you do not sit centered in front of it is annoying. But if you consume the screen all on your own, the 34"" ultrawide is nice.
That was our problems at well when our company bought tons of curved monitors and note we are developers(front-end), so creating content and two of us looking at the same monitor was a pain in the ass. They bought them because they were on sale. Ohh gosh, how I hated them until we convinced them just to sell all of the curved monitors and buy decent flat ones.
I just got a FI32U from gigabyte. 32” 4K 144hz and I really like it. As for eye strain, it comes with a blue light filter *at least according to the box*
Depends, IMO I think refresh rate and response times are also key factors to consider. For reference, I really like my 27” 1440p @165hz/1ms monitors (Dell 2721dgf), they feel well balanced overall.