Curved monitors have been steadily marking their place in the monitor market for a while now. With them going through multiple iterations and updates, this begs the question, are curved monitors overrated?
Curved monitors are not overrated. They reduce eyestrain, look good on your desk, provide a more immersive gameplay experience and always allow for a better field of view compared to flat-screen monitors.
In this article, we’re going to be over exactly why curved monitors are not overrated and what their particular pros and cons are. Plus, we’ll also be talking about whether you should get a curved monitor or not.
What Are Curved Monitors?
Curved monitors are ones that have a particular curvature to their edges. Unlike flat screen monitors, these are not completely straight and have a smooth curve that matches your eye’s shape. This unique shape brings with it some benefits and disadvantages.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, here’s a quick look at all the pros and cons of a curved monitor.
| Pros | Cons |
| Aesthetically Pleasing | A Bit More Expensive |
| Reduces Eye Strain | Poor Viewing Angles |
| Better For Gaming (Immersion) | Takes Up More Desk Space |
| Allows For A Wider Field of View | Doesn’t Fit Every Use Case |
| Lack Of Variety | |
| Hard To Move Around |
Pros Of Curved Monitors
Now that we’ve told you that curved monitors aren’t overrated, it is our job to now justify said perception. Here’s a look at the primary benefits of a curved monitor and why you should opt for one.
Aesthetically Pleasing
Let’s face it, curved monitors look great on your setup. And, if you are in it for the looks and are decking out your computer, a curved monitor makes a great impression. Plus, since they aren’t that commonly found – they add a futuristic aura to your desk.
Even if you are a fan of contemporary and minimalist design, a curved monitor definitely does not look out of place.
Reduces Eye Strain
A curved monitor is created to match the curvature of your eye. Therefore, your eye naturally feels less strained when using a curved monitor. Unlike a flat monitor, a curved monitor emulates the exact curvature of your eyes.
The reduced eyestrain is especially true when it comes to larger screens. Think about it this way, the wider aspect ratio allows for more screen to be present in front of your eyes at any given moment. So, your eyes won’t have to physically move around as much to capture the edges of your screen.
According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, the curvature of a monitor is directly related to eye pain readings.
Better For Gaming (Immersion)
Curved monitors are a great way to immerse yourself further into a game. While E-Sports titles like CS:GO or Valorant don’t really take advantage of the curvature, story-based games are the ones that reap most of the benefits.
For instance, imagine playing a game of Assassins Creed on a monitor that’s curved. You’ll end up seeing a lot more of the game at any particular point. We’ve personally had our fair share of fun playing titles once again on curved monitors only to experience a new dimension of how they operate.
Allows For A Wider Field Of View
Coming off the immersion point, you are able to soak in more of the image at any given moment with a curved monitor. Humans are naturally able to view what’s in their periphery effortlessly without needing for them to actively do so.
So, with the wider field of view, you can enjoy more of the content at any given moment.
Cons Of Curved Monitors
Just like any product, curved monitors have their disadvantages and cons too. While not many, they do not operate in some specific use cases.
A Bit More Expensive
You do pay the early-comer tax when it comes to curved monitors. Previously, the tax was a bit exorbitant. But now, once the dust has settled – we’ve come to realize that curved monitors just are more expensive to produce. So, you end up with a bit more of a cost hike up when it comes to monitors.
From what we’ve estimated, you can expect a 10-20% increase in the overall price of a monitor from the same brand with the same specifications compared to one that is completely flat.
Bad Viewing Angles
Curved monitors offer much worse viewing angles compared to flat monitors. As you can see from the image above, a curved monitor’s angles fade out unless and until you are not looking directly at them.
Perhaps an even more cumbersome point is unless and until you are not looking straight at the monitor, you’ll run into some semblance of distortion. On the other hand, a flat monitor can offer much better viewing angles.
Moreover, you’ll also be met with glare if you don’t place your monitor properly. This is because the curvature of the monitor allows for light to reflect from one edge to the other. So, unless and until you are not seated perfectly, you won’t be getting a great experience.
Take Up More Desk Space
Due to the curvature of curved monitors, they take a lot more of your desk space. So, in comparison, a 27” flat monitor vs. a compared monitor will take a tad more space. Plus, the curvature of the monitor creates the illusion of depth.
So, if you don’t want to feel confined, you’ll need to opt for more desk space. What you gain in horizontal space compared to a curved monitor (35%) will also require you to respect the depth that a monitor has.
Doesn’t Fit Every Use Case
Photographers and various other creatives don’t like operating on curved monitors as it does not depict an accurate image. Moreover, a web developer too would like to use an accurate mockup of how a website looks for the clients.
So, a curved monitor might not be the best option for creatives. Moreover, the added aspect ratio might not be suitable for individuals who consume video content excessively. If your YouTube video or movie does not support a 21:9 aspect ratio, you’ll end up seeing huge black bars.
Most videos now do support ultrawide monitors. But, that isn’t always the case and you may be met with a sub-bar video-watching experience.
Lack Of Variety
Curved monitors are newer to the market compared to tried and tested flat monitors. So, you won’t find a lot of variety with them. Don’t get us wrong, reputable brands still have a lot of curved monitors. But, compared to their competition, there’s a severe lack of choice.
Hard To Move Around With
Curved monitors take up a deceivingly high amount of space when you pack them too. They are hard to bubble-wrap and they often might end up getting damaged. This is because the curvature of the monitor does not allow for proper packing.
So, you end up with a monitor that really is hard to move around with and pack when you eventually move from one place to the other. Therefore, if you are someone who travels a lot, a curved monitor is probably not the best bet.
Do I Need A Curved Monitor?
Whether you should get a curved monitor or not is entirely dependent on your use case. If you are someone who is into immersive gaming or appreciates having a wider field of view, then curved monitors make a lot of sense.
To be fair, if you are someone who engages in casual work on your monitor and doesn’t really mind the poor viewing angles, then the fact that you have reduced eyestrain on your curved monitor makes sense.
But, it isn’t a product that will completely revolutionize the way you view content. So, if you have a flat monitor that has decent resolution and provides you with adequate image quality, there’s no need to upgrade just yet.
So, no, curved monitors are not overrated. But they aren’t something that you should jump the fence over, either.
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I work from home. To do the best possible job I need the right accessories - the right desk, the right chair, the right keyboard, the right monitor, etc. When I work I want to feel comfortable. I review everything that's related to home desk setup - focusing on Monitors & Keyboards.
