When playing video games, a screen is an important element. Gaming requires a low input lag, high precision and optimal visual comfort. While televisions are beginning to provide interesting features for video games, gaming monitors are still the best choice. Especially as ultra-wide 32:9 format screens are available, offering greater immersion and ergonomics.
Why choose an ultra-wide curved monitor for video games?
Ultra-wide curved screens provide a more immersive visual experience. They are particularly appreciated for video games. Many titles support this screen format, such as Red Dead Redemption II, Death Stranding and No Man’s Sky. In competitive games like CS:GO, Fortnite and the Call of Duty series, this extended field of vision offers a real advantage, allowing you to see further to the sides.
To get the most out of these high definitions, a PC will offer the best experience, with native support for ultra-wide displays on a large number of games. However, you’ll need to be equipped with a powerful GPU, such as an RTX 30-series graphics card, at the very least. This is because ultra-high-definition requires a great deal of computing power, especially for the latest games.
Racing simulations also benefit from ultra-wide curved monitors. Offering greater immersion, they fit perfectly into a setup with a simracing seat. They can be mounted on a simulation seat, paired with a gaming steering wheel. At IFA 2023, Samsung presented its ultra-wide curved Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 screen, in 32:9 format, in this configuration. This model is capable of reaching a refresh rate of 240 Hz, for an ultra-smooth experience.
Note that Sony PlayStation 5 Slim and Microsoft Xbox Series X consoles don’t offer a native definition in this format. However, it is still possible to game in 4:3 or 16:9. In Picture-by-Picture mode, the image is either centered or stretched over half the screen. There’s also an option to stretch the image to its full width, but this may distort the picture.
A 21:9 panoramic screen to enjoy films in CinemaScope
Today, watching a CinemaScope film on a 16:9 screen means having two black bands at the top and bottom of the picture. Ultra-wide 21:9 screens, on the other hand, allow us to enjoy these movies more fully, displaying them in full-screen mode. SVOD platforms offer films in this format, and on this type of display, the experience is perfect.
However, it is possible that a film’s native format is 16:9 letterbox. In this case, you can use a browser extension like UltraWideo, available on Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. This plugin will zoom into the image to remove the black bands, displaying the movie across the entire surface of the ultra-wide screen. Curved gaming monitors offer greater immersion when viewing films, thanks to their ultra-wide format, which delivers a cinema-like experience.
Multitasking and ultra-wide screen ergonomics
An ultra-wide monitor offers many advantages to increase productivity. On Windows, MacOS and Linux, a much larger workspace is available, allowing more windows to be displayed simultaneously. This width is also ideal for video editing or music creation software, since it allows access to the entire timeline without having to scroll. Whether you’re a creative professional, a programmer or an office worker, an ultra-wide screen optimizes multitasking, giving you immediate access to all windows. PiP (Picture-in-Picture) and PbP (Picture-by-Picture) modes also enable the screen to be split into two distinct sections.
The PbP mode allows the display of two different sources on the same screen. It is possible to connect a game console and a PC to an ultra-wide monitor. Both pictures are displayed simultaneously, allowing you to game whist keeping an eye on social networks, for example. This solution can also interest streamers, as they can have the console image on one side and the broadcast software or chat on the other.
The PiP mode simulates two different screens, regardless of the operating system. This way, you have two displays connected to a single machine. Again, this is a useful option for streamers who play on PCs, as one part of the screen can be dedicated to gaming and the other to the livestream management. More generally, the use of an ultra-wide screen offers the possibility of creating a multi-screen configuration, simulating the experience of working with two separate screens.
Which ultra-wide panoramic PC monitors are the best?
Depending on your needs and the computing power of your graphics card, you can opt for ultra-wide monitors offering very high resolutions, from 3,440 x 1,440 to 7,680 x 2,160 pixels. Refresh rates ranging from 165 to 240Hz promise excellent responsiveness and minimal response time. This performance considerably reduces input lag, for complete control over video games.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 – G95NC 57″
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 – G95NC 57″ is an impressive gaming monitor with a curved QLED VA panel (1000R), providing exceptional contrast, deep blacks and optimal HDR management. Its 240Hz refresh rate, low latency of 1 ms and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible technologies ensure optimum responsiveness. Dual UHD definition (7,680 x 2,160 pixels) ensures a detailed display, while the VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification and HDR10+ Gaming guarantee an immersive visual experience. It boasts comprehensive connectivity, offering 3 HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 2.1, 2 USB 3.0 ports, and a headphone jack. The adjustable, swiveling stand ensures personalized visual comfort, and the Core ambient lighting feature adds an aesthetic touch with its five color modes.
Samsung Odyssey G9 OLED – G95SC 49″
The Samsung Odyssey G9 OLED – G95SC 49″ gaming monitor stands out with its 49” OLED panel with a curve of 1800R, providing exceptionally deep blacks and remarkable HDR management. The Tizen OS provides access to SVOD platforms such as YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+. Its 240Hz refresh rate, combined with support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro technology and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility, ensures excellent responsiveness for a smooth gaming experience. DWQHD definition (5,120 x 1,440 pixels) guarantees a detailed display. VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certified, it also supports HDR10+ Gaming. Equipped with HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort, Mini-DisplayPort and USB-C ports, this display is compatible with PCs and consoles. What’s more, it features an adjustable and swiveling stand, as well as customizable Core mood lighting.
AOC Agon AG493UCX2 49”
The AOC Agon AG493UCX2 gaming monitor offers DWQHD definition (5,120 x 1,440 pixels) and outstanding visual quality with a 49-inch VA panel. Its maximum refresh rate of 165Hz, combined with AMD FreeSync Premium technology, ensures a smooth, detailed gaming experience, while VESA Display HDR 400 certification guarantees rich colors and enhanced contrast. With comprehensive connectivity including three HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4 port, four USB ports and one USB-C port, this display combines performance and versatility. Its elegant, slim-frame design, ergonomic options such as height and tilt adjustment, and advanced features such as G-Menu and predefined game modes make it an ideal choice for gamers.
LG UltraGear 45GR95Q 45”
The LG UltraGear 45GR95Q is an innovative gaming monitor with a 45” 800R curved screen providing WQHD definition (3,440 x 1,440 pixels), an ultra-fast refresh rate of 240 Hz and a response time of 0.03 ms. To optimize gaming display, it supports AMD FreeSync Premium and is G-Sync Compatible, to deliver a consistently fluid image. With 98.5% DCI-P3 color space coverage and HDR10 support, the screen guarantees rich colors and high contrast. It’s also ideal for video editing and creative professions such as photography and the web. It also offers ergonomic features with a height-adjustable and tiltable stand. With advanced features such as DAS mode, FPS counter, and lighting customization options, this LG display is praised by the press for its outstanding HDR image and gaming performance.
Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 45”
The Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 gaming monitor has a 45-inch flexible OLED panel in 21:9 format, offering Ultra WQHD definition (3,440 x 1,440 pixels) and exceptional immersion thanks to its adjustable curvature up to a radius of 800R. Featuring an ultra-fast response time of 0.03 ms and a refresh rate of 240Hz, this display supports G-Sync Compatible and FreeSync Premium technologies, ensuring a smooth gaming experience. Connectors include two HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4, a USB-C DP port and a USB hub with four USB 3.2 ports, offering exceptional versatility. It supports HDR10 with a maximum brightness of 1000 nits. It also offers extensive color coverage of 98.5% of the DCI-P3 color space, and support for over a billion hues. This extremely versatile screen is suitable for all uses.
The choice of performance for an ultra-wide gaming monitor depends on the GPU’s capabilities. Large, high-definition images require a sufficiently powerful graphics card, such as Nvidia’s RTX or AMD’s Radeon RX series. The same applies to refresh rate, which requires a great deal of computing power to deliver the right number of frames per second.
