Top Curved Monitors for 2025

Elevate your gaming immersion with a curved gaming monitor. The best curved monitors envelop your peripheral vision, drawing you deeper into your favorite games. Whether you're a competitive esports player seeking an edge or a single-player enthusiast craving total immersion, the right curved monitor can transform your gaming experience. Here are our top picks for the best curved gaming monitors of 2025.

TL;DR – Top Curved Gaming Monitors:

Asus ROG Swift PG34WCDM
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AOC C27G2Z
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Dell Alienware AW3423DWF
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Acer Predator X34 OLED
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MSI MPG 491CQP
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The market is saturated with curved gaming monitors. Discerning the best requires understanding your needs. For competitive shooters, prioritize low input latency and high refresh rates. For immersive experiences, a deeper curve enhances engagement. The details matter.

The Expert: Why Trust Us

With over a decade as a gaming journalist, I've reviewed countless monitors for major publications. My expertise lies in matching monitor qualities to diverse gamer needs. It's not just about specs; it's about the synergy of features creating a superior experience. I contribute to IGN, dedicated to providing money-saving recommendations and ensuring exceptional user experiences. IGN's reviews are rigorously vetted by multiple gamers, delivering accurate, unbiased information. We connect you with the best, distilled into easy-to-understand guides.

After this guide, explore our recommendations for the Best Graphics Cards, Best Gaming Keyboards, Best Gaming Mice, and Best Gaming Headsets to complete your ultimate setup.

1. Asus ROG Swift PG34WCDM: Best Curved Gaming Monitor

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This 34-inch ultrawide boasts next-level HDR and impressive gaming features. Its deep 800R curve is incredibly immersive, and the OLED panel delivers stunning colors and brightness. Priced around $1,000, it offers 1,300 nits peak brightness for exceptional HDR gaming and inky blacks thanks to its OLED technology. It's also suitable for content creation with its crisp 3440x1440p resolution, excellent factory calibration, and wide color gamut support. Note: its deep curve might slightly distort text, making it better suited for entertainment than productivity. Its 240Hz refresh rate, low input latency, and gaming modes (black equalizer, sniper modes) provide a competitive edge. A built-in KVM switch allows seamless multi-platform gaming.

2. AOC C27G2Z: Best Budget Curved Gaming Monitor

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Budget-conscious gamers will appreciate this 27-inch monitor's 1500R curve, 1080p resolution, and high refresh rate. Under $200, it offers a solid picture, immersive curve, and exceptional responsiveness with its 240Hz refresh rate. The VA panel provides a 3000:1 contrast ratio, double that of competing IPS monitors. While colors and viewing angles aren't quite as good as IPS, they're still excellent for gaming. Its 240Hz refresh rate and 0.5ms response time are ideal for competitive gaming. Note: to reach 240Hz, you'll need a DisplayPort connection; HDMI 2.0 is limited to 120Hz.

3. Dell Alienware AW3423DWF: Best Value Curved Gaming Monitor

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Offering exceptional value at around $600, the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF features a stunning QD-OLED panel. Its millions of local dimming zones and quantum dot layer deliver vivid colors and high brightness (1000 nits peak in HDR). While SDR brightness is lower, HDR performance is outstanding. Its 165Hz refresh rate and 0.3ms response time provide smooth, responsive gameplay (FreeSync and G-Sync compatible). At its current price, it's a fantastic way to experience OLED.

4. Acer Predator X34 OLED: Best Ultrawide G-Sync Gaming Monitor

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The Acer Predator X34 OLED is a top contender, excelling in picture quality, refresh rate, and features. Its deep 800R curve enhances immersion, while its 240Hz refresh rate and G-Sync/FreeSync compatibility ensure smooth, tear-free gameplay. The OLED panel boasts superior brightness (1300 nits peak) and vibrant colors. Its 3440x1440p resolution provides a crisp image without requiring an extremely powerful system. While lacking an sRGB mode, it includes a P3 mode for accurate colors. Ideal for both gaming and content creation.

5. MSI MPG 491CQPX: Best Curved 32:9 Super Ultrawide Monitor

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For those needing massive screen real estate, the MSI MPG 491CQPX delivers. This 49-inch, 32:9 monitor features a gorgeous QD-OLED screen, plentiful connectivity, and a resolution equivalent to three 1440p monitors. Its 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time make it exceptionally fast. The 1800R curve is gentle but effective on such a wide display. It supports USB Type-C video input and 98W PD charging. Note: its high resolution demands a powerful system, and its burn-in protection features might be overly cautious for some users.

How to Choose a Curved Monitor

Choosing a curved monitor involves considering your intended use. For gaming-only, focus on refresh rate and response time. For productivity, consider resolution and curve depth. Key factors include:

• Resolution: 1080p, 1440p, or 4K. Higher resolution means sharper images but greater system demands.
• Size: Consider available space and desired immersion. General guidelines: 24" for 1080p, 27" for 1440p, 32" for 4K. Larger sizes at lower resolutions can result in a "screen door effect".
• Panel Type: IPS (good colors and viewing angles, lower contrast), VA (good contrast and colors, faster response time), OLED (best contrast and colors, potential burn-in risk).
• Brightness: At least 350 nits for typical use, higher for HDR. 1000 nits or more for optimal HDR.
• Refresh Rate: 120Hz minimum for gaming, 144Hz ideal, 240Hz+ for competitive gaming.
• Curvature: Higher "R" number means shallower curve. Deep curves (800R and below) are immersive but may distort text. 1500R and 1800R are more versatile.
• Additional Features: VRR (FreeSync or G-Sync), KVM switch, picture-in-picture.

Upcoming Curved Gaming Monitors in 2025

OLED remains a dominant trend, with many manufacturers releasing new models. Mini-LED is emerging as an alternative, addressing brightness and burn-in concerns. The convergence of smart TV features with gaming monitors is also noteworthy, offering built-in streaming and other conveniences.

Curved Monitor FAQs

Are curved monitors better for gaming? Gentler curves are mostly aesthetic. Deeper curves on ultrawides enhance immersion. Curvature doesn't impact performance.

What is 800R, 1500R, 1800R? These numbers represent the radius of curvature. Lower numbers indicate deeper curves.

Are curved monitors good for work? 1500R and 1800R are generally suitable. Deep curves might be less ideal for text-heavy tasks. Ultrawides can benefit video editors.

Where to Get the Best Curved Gaming Monitors in the UK

AOC C27G2 £214.97 at Amazon
Asus TUF Gaming VG34VQEL1A £615.99 at Amazon
LG UltraGear 34GP950G-B £1,199.95 at Overclockers
MSI Optix MAG342CQRV £509.00 at Amazon
Asus TUF Gaming VG35VQ £712.15 at Argos
Samsung Odyssey G9 £1,199.00 at Amazon
MSI Optix MAG301CR2 £369.95 at Amazon
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 £1,749.00 at Samsung