You might find yourself wondering about getting an ultrawide monitor for photo editing. These eye-catching devices are all the rage with gamers. They appreciate the wrap-around experience the monitor gives. But you might not be convinced about their suitability for your photo editing.
We’ve looked through the curved monitors currently on offer and come up with a list that might persuade you to take the leap. These peripherals are never cheap and often eye-wateringly expensive. But they can revolutionize your workflow.
My workspace has a main monitor with two others on both sides. It’s easy to use. But a curved monitor brings all that screen real estate into one seamless place. Our top pick is the SAMSUNG 49″ Odyssey Neo G9 G95NA Gaming Monitor. It has a massive 5120-pixel width, excellent HDR capabilities, and a picture-by-picture feature.
What Is the Best Curved Monitor For Photo Editing?
There are tons of curved monitors on the market for you to choose from. But we’ve narrowed the field down to some excellent monitors. Some shine for their picture quality. Others give great value for money. But before we look at them in more detail, here’s a summary of our choices.
- Very bright at 1,000 nits
- True Black 400 for excellent HDR performance
- Massive 49-inch screen width
- Very fast 240 Hz refresh rate
- Fast 175 Hz refresh rate
- Downlight for reducing eye strain
- Very bright at 1,000 nits
- True Black 400 rating for HDR
- USB-C connection
- 95% DCI-P3 gamut coverage
- IPS display for rich colors
- Built-in Ethernet hub
- USB-C and Thunderbolt interfaces
- Huge 5120 x 2160 5K2K resolution
- Expansive 2,500 R curve
- Powerful 10-watt speaker system
- 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio
- USB-C connection
- 179 Hz refresh rate
- True Black 400 HDR rating
- Screen bends from flat to 800 R curve
- USB-C connectivity
- 1,000-nit brightness
- 1,500,000:1 contrast ratio
- 100 Hz refresh rate
- Excellent value for money
- HDMI and display port
- Blue light screen to reduce eye strain
Choosing the Best Curved Monitor for Photo Editing
We’ve selected a range of displays for you. Some are pretty expensive, with amazing specifications. Others are cheaper and more basic. There is something here for anyone looking for a curved monitor for photo editing.
1. SAMSUNG 49-Inch Odyssey OLED G9 G95NA Series Curved Smart Gaming Monitor
| Brand |
Brand
Samsung
|
| Maximum Resolution |
Maximum Resolution
5120 x 1440
|
| Screen Type |
Screen Type
OLED
|
| Max Brightness |
Max Brightness
1000 nits
|
| Refresh Rate |
Refresh Rate
240 Hz
|
| Radius |
Radius
1,800 R
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
HDMI, USB, Display Port, Wi-Fi
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
0.03 ms response time, True Black 400 HDR
|
| Best For |
Best For
Editing, especially video, as well as gaming
|
The Samsung 49″ Odyssey Neo G95NA is a beast of a display. It measures 49 inches (124 cm) across with an impressive 5120 pixels across that width. Although it is a gaming monitor, it has features that make it ideal for photo editing. One of them is its Quantum Dot technology. This delivers a level of detail every photographer will love.
Perhaps even more important is the deep blacks achieved with the use of local dimming. This gives it really impressive HDR performance. And of course, that’s really important for precise edits.
The size and curve of the monitor mean it’s great for having multiple windows open side by side with minimal neck strain. But it’s not ideal for showing others your work or working side-by-side. But that’s not the point, so it’s not a negative.
We think that the Samsung 49″ Odyssey Neo G95NA is a great choice for photo and video editors looking for a top-quality monitor. It has excellent connectivity, impressive smart features, and provides crisp, accurate renditions of your work. And if you want to kick back at the end of the day for some gaming, it won’t disappoint either!
2. Alienware AW3423DW Curved Gaming Monitor
| Brand |
Brand
Dell Alienware
|
| Maximum Resolution |
Maximum Resolution
3440 x 1440
|
| Screen Type |
Screen Type
QD-OLED
|
| Max Brightness |
Max Brightness
1000 nits
|
| Refresh Rate |
Refresh Rate
175 Hz
|
| Radius |
Radius
1800 R
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
HDMI, Display Port, USB 3.2
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
3-year next-day replacement warranty
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone who wants to game as much as edit
|
The Dell Alienware AW3423DW Curved Gaming Monitor is another ultrawide monitor designed for gaming that will also serve you well for editing. This is due to several useful features. The screen itself is a comfortable radius. This keeps the surface the same distance from the eye, thus reducing eye strain.
There is a downlight to soften the contrast between the screen and the surroundings. This also helps reduce eye strain.
The Dell is rated as True Black 400. This is a VESA industry standard ensuring easy comparisons between different displays. As an OLED display, the Dell produces true blacks, making it an excellent choice for accurate photo editing.
The 1000-nit brightness and selectable color spaces should also appeal to photo and video editors. If you combine motion graphics in your work, then you’ll appreciate the fast refresh rate. It has to be said that the Dell Alienware AW3423DW Curved Gaming Monitor is a beast with striking looks. It has convenient but unobtrusive controls, excellent cable management, and ambient light. It’s well worth looking at if you’re looking for an ultrawide monitor.
3. Dell U3421WE UltraSharp Curved Ultrawide Monitor
| Brand |
Brand
Dell
|
| Maximum Resolution |
Maximum Resolution
3440 x 1440
|
| Screen Type |
Screen Type
IPS
|
| Average Brightness |
Average Brightness
300 nits
|
| Refresh Rate |
Refresh Rate
60 Hz
|
| Radius |
Radius
1,900 R
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
HDMI, Display Port, USB-A, USB-C
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
1.07 billion colors and 95% DCI-P3 coverage
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone looking for a monitor as sharp in style as in picture quality
|
The Dell U3421WE UltraSharp Curved Ultrawide Monitor is a large, stylish screen perfect for editing. The design is elegant and looks great in a platinum effect finish. Cables pass through a cutout at the bottom of the stand’s upright.
There are some thoughtful connectivity touches as well. Pretty much any computer-to-display connection is taken care of with Display Port as well as HDMI and USB-C. Rather neatly, the monitor works as an Ethernet hub as well. So if you connect your USB-C from your laptop to the display, it will handle the display and the wired internet.
If, like me, you work on both a desktop and a laptop, then you can use both with this monitor. Keep your desktop connected, and when you connect your laptop, the monitor recognizes this and switches to accommodate. It also allows you to operate across up to five window partitions. This is especially useful when dealing with multiple apps at once.
This isn’t the world’s most expensive super-wide display, and that is perhaps reflected in some of the specs. The 60 Hz refresh rate is fairly basic. And the brightness is lower than many competitors. But it is a good deal cheaper than other monitors this size.
All of this means that the Dell U3421WE UltraSharp Curved Ultrawide Monitor is a great choice if you’re on a tight budget but want to expand your monitor horizons.
4. LG 40WP95C-W 40-inch Ultrawide Display
| Brand |
Brand
LG
|
| Maximum Resolution |
Maximum Resolution
5120 x 2160
|
| Screen Type |
Screen Type
IPS
|
| Max Brightness |
Max Brightness
300 nits
|
| Refresh Rate |
Refresh Rate
72 Hz
|
| Radius |
Radius
2,500 R
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
Display Port, HDMI, USB-C, Thunderbolt
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Thunderbolt daisy chain, built-in bass speakers
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone who wants a display that sounds as good as it looks
|
If the LG 40WP95C-W 40-inch UltraWide IPS Display isn’t wide or immersive enough for you, don’t worry. You can daisy chain two displays together to go even wider. The curve of this monitor is a relatively subtle 2500 R, so you won’t feel too closed in if you take this option.
Other features to make your overall experience better include a pair of 10-watt stereo bass speakers. After all, not everyone wants to wear headphones all day. The screen has an impressive 1,000:1 contrast ratio. Although the 72 Hz refresh rate is class-leading, it’s enough for most situations.
With USB-C input and power output, you can simply connect your laptop with one wire, and you’re set. That means your laptop is powered and the display is connected. And the daisy chain works on top of that as well. It’s impressively simple.
None of this is of any use if the monitor has poor display performance. But here, the LG impresses. It has bright, crisp colors and is bright enough. If you don’t like the calibration out of the box, then you can adjust it. And the menus are easy to operate. Where you might hesitate as a photographer is the bare minimum HDR rating.
The LG 40WP95C-W 40-inch UltraWide IPS Display is not the cheapest ultrawide. As such, the mediocre HDR performance and moderate refresh rate are a little disappointing. But its comfortable radius, excellent 5K2K resolution, and impressive connectivity make it worth considering.
5. SAMSUNG 34-Inch Odyssey G85SB Series QD-OLED
| Brand |
Brand
Samsung
|
| Maximum Resolution |
Maximum Resolution
3440 x 1440
|
| Screen Type |
Screen Type
OLED
|
| Max Brightness |
Max Brightness
250 nits
|
| Refresh Rate |
Refresh Rate
175 Hz
|
| Radius |
Radius
1,800 R
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
USB-C, HDMI, Mini Display Port, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
True Black 400 HDR, 1,000,000-to-1 contrast ratio
|
| Best For |
Best For
Video editing as well as gaming
|
The SAMSUNG 34-inch Odyssey G85SB Series QD-OLED is more modest in size than some of the other monitors on this list. But it’s still much wider than the average widescreen monitor. And the extra width and curve help immerse you in whatever you’re doing.
The True Black 400 HDR rating speaks to the quality of the blacks in this monitor. And this is helped by the 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. This is one of the advantages of the OLED technology that this display uses. One of the disadvantages of the tech is that it is a little vulnerable to burn-in. So you might need to activate your screensaver in a way you thought died out when you ditched your CRT monitor.
One area where this monitor excels is in its speed. You have both a 175 Hz refresh rate and a 0.03 ms response time. Not such a biggie if you are tweaking your photos in Photoshop. But it’s a real bonus for video editing and gaming. And it connects to your Wi-Fi, so you can stream your favorite shows too.
USB-C means you can power your laptop using the same cable as you do for connecting to the display. And the monitor recognizes when a connected device is turned on and automatically switches to that input. It’s small design features like this that make the user experience better.
Talking of design, the SAMSUNG 34-inch Odyssey G85SB Series QD-OLED is nicely finished in metal, with an understated stand and ambient rear lighting. It’s a great way of packing in a lot of monitor in a smallish space.
6. Corsair XENEON FLEX 45WQHD240 Gaming Monitor
| Brand |
Brand
Corsair
|
| Maximum Resolution |
Maximum Resolution
3440 x 1440
|
| Screen Type |
Screen Type
OLED
|
| Max Brightness |
Max Brightness
1,000 nits
|
| Refresh Rate |
Refresh Rate
240 Hz
|
| Radius |
Radius
Variable up to 800 R
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
HDMI, Display Port, USB-C
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Bendable screen for maximum flexibility
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone who loves innovation
|
The Corsair XENEON FLEX 45WQHD240 Gaming Monitor caught me by surprise. It bends. You can literally grab the pop-out handles at the side and flex it from a flat screen into an 800 R curved monitor. That really is quite something. A curved screen is great for many things, like immersive gaming. But for other things, like sharing your work with other people, it’s not so great.
Being able to choose the curve is a real bonus. The maximum curve of 800 R is quite tight. It really brings you close to the action. And if your display was set at that curve, it would probably be annoying for a number of uses. Being able to push it out to a more normal 1,800 R is marvelous.
The flexibility is complemented by other excellent features and specs. You have 1,000-nit brightness. That’s as good as the new iPad Pro but delivered across a 45-inch screen. It also has a 1,500,000:1 contrast ratio and 98.5% DCI-P3 color gamut. Matched with a 240 Hz refresh rate and 0.03 ms response time, you have a seriously good machine.
So it’s a pity that it only manages HDR 10 certification. It seems like a flaw in this otherwise high-specced and capable display. There are many, however, who are willing to sacrifice that for the benefit of the Corsair XENEON FLEX 45WQHD240 Gaming Monitor‘s bendable form factor.
7. Dell S3422DW Curved Monitor
| Brand |
Brand
Dell
|
| Maximum Resolution |
Maximum Resolution
3440 x 1440
|
| Screen Type |
Screen Type
Backlit LCD
|
| Max Brightness |
Max Brightness
300 nits
|
| Refresh Rate |
Refresh Rate
100 Hz
|
| Radius |
Radius
1,800 R
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
HDMI, Display Port, USB 3.0
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
3,000-to-one contrast ratio
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone looking for an entry-level ultrawide monitor
|
The Dell S3422DW Curved Monitor is one of the cheapest displays in this review. And this shows in some of the specifications. You won’t find blistering response times or HDR. And if you want USB-C, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
But this doesn’t mean that this is a bad monitor. If you need the space and convenience that a 34-inch curved monitor brings but have limited funds, then this is worth a look. The 3440 x 1440 resolution is easy on the eye. And the 100 Hz refresh rate is impressive at this price point.
There is an always-on blue light filter to ease the strain on your eyes. And Dell says that the AMD FreeSync technology delivers a smooth visual experience, even when gaming.
This isn’t a display with all the bells and whistles. But the Dell S3422DW Curved Monitor gives you a no-nonsense curved, widescreen monitor at a very decent price.
Buyer’s Guide—The Best Curved Monitor for Photo Editing
The world of computer monitors is about as confusing as it could get. Model names could mean anything. And then there are all the abbreviations and technologies involved. So here’s a quick explainer of some of the key things to watch out for.
What Are the Different Screen Types?
There are many different screen types. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks. Here are the main ones you will encounter.
- Liquid Crystal Display (LCD): LCD technology has come a long way since the Casio watch of the 80s. For one thing, they’re now color. And they provide affordable energy-efficient screens. On the downside, they are quite slow to respond, and because they have to be backlit, the blacks are never really that black. But they’re a good budget option.
- Light Emitting Diode (LED): These screens use LEDs to illuminate their LCD pixels. It’s an improvement on normal LCDs. The displays tend to be lighter, thinner, and have better color accuracy. Like LCDs, though, the viewing angles are limited, and they have been left behind in terms of keeping blacks really black.
- Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED): These aren’t organic like your cucumbers. It simply means that each pixel has its own illumination. So, unlike a conventional LED, when it is meant to be black, it is black. This helps produce much better contrast and deep blacks. The negative aspect is that they can experience burn-in like an old cathode ray tube (CRT) screen. Use those screensavers, folks!
- In-Plane Switching (IPS): Used by the likes of LG and Apple for their displays, IPS screens are known for their brightness, contrast, and color accuracy. They also have excellent viewing angles. The cost of this comes in slightly increased power consumption and being a tad slower than the very best LCD screens.
What About Resolution and Aspect Ratio?
From the CRT monitors of yesteryear, displays have got wider and wider. Until we reach the behemoths that populate our review today. The aspect ratio describes how wide the screen is compared to how tall it is. Your old CRT monitor was almost certainly 4:3. Meaning for every four inches of width, there were three of height.
To complicate things slightly, the typical 14-inch screen was neither 14 inches tall nor wide. It was 14 inches from corner to corner.
Today, you can choose from a whole wealth of ratios today. The huge 49-inch Samsung has a 32:9 aspect ratio. It’s very wide but not amazingly tall.
Of course, if you make a screen really wide, you have to fill it with pixels. If you don’t use enough, then the images won’t be sharp. So the other aspect to consider is the resolution in terms of pixels. If you really want crisp and clear images, then you might want to look at 5K monitors and better. This is a screen with a minimum of 5,000 lines across (specifically, 5120 x 2880 pixels).
You might well encounter UWQHD (UltraWide Quad High Definition) to describe monitors that aren’t strictly 4K (not having 4,000 lines) but are nonetheless four times the definition of ordinary HD (1080p). A 3440 x 1440 monitor would be considered a UWQHD display.
What About Connectivity?
There are so many options here that it can also cause confusion. Like an HDTV, these monitors will accept HDMI connections. But HDMI is quite slow for modern demands. At the opposite end of the performance is the Thunderbolt interface. It looks like a USB-C and will accept USB-C plugs. But it outperforms the USB-C by as much as 100% on transfer speeds.
That USB-C is no slouch, however. And that socket provides the best option for connecting a modern laptop to the display. It will, in most cases, allow you to draw power from the cable whilst sending your signal the other way. This really does cut down on clutter.
For older machines, Display Port or Mini Display Port connections will help you hook up to your fancy new immersive widescreen monitor.
What Else Should I Consider?
You will see we list the radius for each monitor, listed as a number with R after it, like 2000 R, for example. This figure tells you how big a circle would be if it had the same curve as the monitor. It means the radius would be 2,000mm, or 2m, or roughly 6 feet 7 inches. The smaller the number, the more curved the monitor would be.
The presence or absence of loudspeakers and ambient lighting might sway your decision as you choose your new display. And you might make an aesthetic choice about the stand or the materials used. These are very personal decisions.
Conclusion: The Best Curved Monitor For Photo Editing
If you’re like me and spend upwards of eight hours a day staring at your screen, you’ll want to make sure it’s as good as possible. And good means sharp, bright-but-not-too-bright, and suitable for your needs. Color accuracy will be more important for some, but refresh rate will be more important to others. Whatever your needs, this review should help you to narrow down your choices.
