When getting a monitor for general use, gaming, or content creation, you're going to have to pick between a curved or a flat-screen monitor. While they each have their own advantages and disadvantages, which of these monitors could benefit you the most?
In this article, we'll talk about the differences between a curved and flat-screen monitor and see which of them is more suitable for you. With all that out of the way, let's get straight to it.
Flat-screen monitor
Flat-screen monitor
First and foremost, flat-screened monitors are usually more affordable than their curved counterparts. Flat panels have been around for quite a while, and they cost less to produce. Compared to curved monitors, flat screens also don't take up as much space. This is something to consider if you have limited desk space and want to run a multi-monitor setup.
Furthermore, some models can be flipped 90-degrees, turning it into a 9:16 monitor, which can be great for tasks like programming or reading long legal documents. These monitors are also much easier to store as the boxes they come in are usually way smaller. Lastly, flat-screen monitors have a much wider viewing angle than curved monitors making them great for watching videos or movies with multiple people.
Left monitor in portrait mode for reading through code. Image courtesy of Travis Isaacs
Curved monitors
Curved monitors are usually more expensive than flat-screen monitors despite having similar specs. This is because curved monitors are still considered a premium novelty. They also require more complex manufacturing techniques to produce.
However, I won't be surprised if the cost of these monitors become normalised in the future, especially once foldable or flexible displays become a norm. Eventually, their prices will become about the same as their flat-screened counterparts, as demand picks up in the future. Anyway, these monitors provide users with a more immersive viewing experience due to the fact that it wraps around the individual's field of view.
Curved monitor
That being said, curved monitors are best viewed from the front, since it does not have the best viewing angle compared to flat-screen monitors. Also, you might want to consider getting a monitor mount arm for it. This is so you can move the display around to get the most optimal viewing angle possible, no matter where you're sitting on your desk.
Furthermore, curved monitors work better with ultrawide aspect ratios. It might be worth investing a little more for a curved monitor just for that, as it won't be as strenuous when looking at the far corners of the display.
Which is the best for you?
Ultrawide curved monitors give you plenty of room for your timeline and additional windows!
If your daily workload involves writing programs or reading documents, you might want to consider getting a flat-screen monitor. You can flip the monitor to a portrait configuration to better display text.
However, if you do a lot of video editing or always have multiple windows opened, an ultrawide curved monitor might not be a bad idea. With these, you also avoid the letterboxing effect at the top and bottom while watching movies, as most of them are displayed in the 21:9 aspect ratio.
Curved and flat-screen displays are not that different when gaming. Image courtesy of Piotr Drabik
As for all the esports gamers out there, having a curved or flat-screen display would not affect how well you perform while playing games. Instead, get a monitor with a higher refresh rate or a higher resolution display to give you a much smoother and responsive experience while gaming.
If you're on a budget, a flat-screen monitor will always be more affordable when compared to a curved monitor of similar specs. They're also thinner, making them great candidates for a multi-monitor setup, especially if you don't have much space for it. So if you're looking to game with 3 or 6 monitors, flat screen is the way to go.
With all that said, which display would you be keen on getting? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.
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