Flat vs curved monitor for gaming - what's best?

Samsung Odyssey Neo G9
(Image credit: Future/Jeremy Laird)

The match-up of flat vs curved monitors for gaming is a great divider in the screen field. Once easy to dismiss due to the price point of curved screens, that defining gap has closed in recent years, and now the full spectrum of screens is as affordable as ever. That's𒁃 great news in one respect as there are more options, however, that does mean there are more choices to sift through to find the perfect screen.

Nowadays, there are some excellent features across all types of monitor and we've never lived in such a blessed time; be you after one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming monitors regardless of curvature, or specifically one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best curved gaming monitors you will have a breadth of genuine quality to choose from. Each type will be filled with gaming chops, the latest features, plenty of ports, and specs that you'll ever need and the choice has never been wider. This means if you're after something more specialist like one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best G-Sync monitors or the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best G-Sync compatible FreeSync monitorꦓs you'll still be looked after.

But how do you choose between them? The main differenc🌠es in the flat vs curved gaming monitor standoff can easily rule out either type depending on your setup and viewing preferences. We're breaking down the biggest factors to consider when picking between a flat or a curved gaming monitor, and as long as you keep thinking about budget, how and what you play, and some physical factors, then you should find yourself in a great position to make that decision in a few minutes time...

TL;DR: Flat vs curved gaming monitors compared

Flat gaming monitor

  • Traditional and familiar
  • TV-like experience
  • Efficient use of desk space
  • Perfect for multi-monitor setups
  • Traditionally cheaper
  • Lightweight

Curved gaming monitor

  • Great for immersion
  • Excellent viewing angles
  • Better for aiming media at the user
  • Can take up a lot of room
  • Traditionally more expensive
  • Excellent for productivity

Flat vs curved gaming monitors: size

Well, we'll start with the obvious, and that's the form factor. This will be enough for some folk to m🍰ake the decision outright: some will prefer the simplicity and straightforwardness of a flat monitor, and some will prefer the sweeping line of a curved monitor. Once you've used flat screens for years, for example, going to a curved on can be quite jarring almost. However, moving back to a flat screen from a heavy curve can be just as mind-bending.

As an extension of the form factor difference, the size difference is notable too. You'll find larger corner-to-corner screens on flat monitors (using the TV measurement, so to speak), 🦩though you'll also find that curved monitors will provide wider, and longer screens. While you can get 'big' monitors in either form, it can be about different axes - there's a reason an awful lot of ultrawide monitors are curved, for example.

One last thing on size, and that's that going the curved monitor route will mean that 🐭you'll have to have some extra desk space to work with. Curved monitors can be real desk hoggers given the extra space they need - and they are also weightier given the✃y need more structure and stand to keep them in position and support them.

Acer Predator CG7

(Image credit: Acer)

Flat vs curved gaming monitors: immersion

The difference in use primarily comes down to immersion and how one views the screen. There is no denying this main point though: curved monitors offer a level of immersion - particularly in gaming - that flat monitors just can't. Even a modest-sized curved monitor really draws you into the action and even a gent🦋le curve can wrap around your view to heighten the experience. When you do get to larger sizes of curved screens, and into ultrawide territory, the abi🍌lity to manage multiple programs at once is a great benefit - it can basically replace a dual monitor setup in one fell swoop.

It is worth noting that curved monitors can offer slightly better experiences when considering every last pixel; due to the whole monitor being pointed toward your eyes, you can benefit and see - and thus use - more of the screen more effectively. However, this isn't to say that the edges of flat screens are largely redundant - just potentially open to a little distortion and being a bit dull.

Flat vs curved gaming monitors: features

In their actual execution, both flat and curved monitors produced these days offer a range of additional gaming-focused features and specs. You'll find a variety of refresh rates in both styles, there's a range of response times on the market, and the color reproduction and HDR qualities vary from monito😼r to monitor as always. 

You'll just have to think about which of these features are the most important to ༒you - but you could largely think about this after deciding which side of the fence to come down. The one thing here is t🙈hat you'll often get some super cool, 'longer' resolutions on curved monitors - they are the dominant species when it comes to wide resolutions. You'll potentially need a beefier graphics card with a larger monitor and larger resolution, remember, but that goes for both form factors.

Flat vs curved gaming monitors: price

Lastly, traditionally there have been, and largely still are, budget differences too with curved monitors often retaining those higher price tags. This has evened out a little bit, but yo🤡u should still be prepared to pay more for curved beasts - especially the massive ones, which can often comfortably be the price of two smaller fl꧃at gaming monitors. 

Who should buy a flat gaming monitor?

Razer Raptor

(Image credit: Razer)

If you are used to a traditional flat-scre🗹en TV or work setup, then a flat gaming monitor is for you, in the simplest way. 

These panels are excellent for gaming, work, and entertainment, so you can't really go wrong with one. You'll also r൲eap benefits such as saving money, requiring less desk space, and knowing that you can always add another flat screen to get a sweet, sweet dual-screen monitor setup. This latter fact will also see you get close to recreating one curved ultrawide screen experience (and potentially still for less cash).

Native resolutions for almost all games apply to flat screens too, so you'll never have to worry about a game not being supported on your monitor's slightly unique pixel count. And because 4K is exclusive to flat screens (for now) this also means that if you're after a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:PS5 monitor or 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Xbox Series X monitor (or a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:PS4 monitor) then you're probably better off with a flat display to get that 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:4K gaming monitor experience.

You will lose that extra immersion that curved monitors offer, but there's a reason that flat gaming monitorsꦆ are still the🐻 go-to option - the very top models are still likely to be flat ones.

You should buy a flat monitor if you: 

  • Want to maximise your value for money 
  • Would like to keep 4K resolutions in consideration
  • Have more limited desk space
  • Potentially want a larger screen (vertically corner to corner)
  • Use the monitor for console as well as PC
  • Want the safe choice - all games will be made for flat-screen resolutions