Is it Logical to Buy a Curved Monitor for Gaming?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a curved monitor, one of the most popular hardware of recent years, and is it worth buying? In this article, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of curved monitors.
Of course, the last thing you’ll probably think about in the most exciting part of the game is whether your monitor is curved or not. After a while, you forget even the size of your monitor and focus solely on the game. However, it’s a fact that looking at curved monitors is more pleasant and controlling the screen is much easier. Let’s take a closer look at how logical it is to buy these monitors for gaming.
What is a curved monitor?
Curved monitors have been quite popular since the first models were released in 2014. Moreover, the costs of these monitors continue to decrease over time. So, what exactly is a curved monitor? The difference between a curved monitor and a flat one, as you might guess, is the curvature.
The curvature of these monitors is determined by the ‘R’ or radius, measured in millimeters. There are three common ‘R’ measurements for curved monitors available on the market today: 1800R, 3000R, and 4000R. The lower the number, the larger the curvature.
What are the benefits of a curved monitor?
We can easily say that curved monitors outperform flat monitors in mimicking a three-dimensional space. The curvature of the monitor creates an immersive effect, especially during gaming, enhancing the sense of peripheral vision and making gameplay more engaging.
Curved monitors are also better for the eyes. While many high-end monitors feature blue light filters to mitigate the negative effects on eye health, the curvature of the monitor ensures that all images are equidistant from the eyes. This reduces eye strain as your eyes have to work less when focusing on different distances on the screen, leading to less eye fatigue. If you experience headaches after staring at a computer screen for a long time, a curved monitor may help reduce the severity or frequency of these headaches.
What are the disadvantages of a curved monitor?
Let’s start with the most obvious one: the price. In traditional flat monitors, the larger the screen size, the higher the price. Factors such as G-Sync, higher refresh rates, resolution, and blue light filters also affect the price. The best curved gaming monitors start at around $1000, but it’s possible to find such monitors for cheaper.
At this point, to get the most value out of a curved monitor, you may want to opt for larger screen sizes, as the curved effect can make the screen appear smaller than it actually is. On the other hand, regardless of size, a flat monitor will take up less space on your desk, and wall-mounting these monitors is much easier.
While curved monitors offer better color saturation and viewing angles, they can exhibit glare at certain angles. It’s important not to direct existing light sources directly at your monitor and ensure that direct sunlight doesn’t hit your screen. Additionally, if you’re looking for a monitor for both work and gaming, a flat screen might be better. For example, if you’re a designer working with straight lines, curved monitors may not be the ideal choice.
After providing all this information, when it comes to which one is better, the key factor here is obviously the budget. If you have a sufficient budget for a curved screen and want to take your gaming experience to the next level, you can opt for a curved monitor. On the other hand, a flat screen will continue to serve its purpose as it has for years.