If having as much screen space as possible is your cup of tea, in this guide, we’ve taken a look at seven of the best ultrawide monitors for 2019. So, if you’re in the market for a new ultrawide display, check out our recommendations below.
Now, I’m more of a multi-monitor guy myself, but newer ultrawide monitor options have me wondering whether I’d be better off trading in my triple monitor setup for an ultrawide display. Of course, there aren’t any ultrawide monitors out there that can go quite as wide as a triple monitor setup, but with options like the Samsung CHG90, you can at least get what is essentially two monitors merged into one. And, while the CHG90 is the first of its kind, more and more users (especially gamers) are opting for an ultrawide display.
So, if you’re someone who likes the idea of having extra horizontal screen space and you’re in the market for a new monitor (whether for gaming or other uses), check out our recommendations below for the best ultrawide monitors currently available.
Table of Contents
1. Quick-Look: Top Ultrawide Monitors
2. Top Pick: Samsung CHG90 49″
3. Runner-Up: ASUS ROG PG348Q 34″
4. Value Pick: LG 29UM68-P 29″
A Quick Look at the Best Ultrawide Monitors
Our quick-look table below showcases our top picks for the best ultrawide monitors. We’ve selected four different displays, including our top overall pick, our runner-up pick, our value pick, and our budget pick.
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|
NAME | SPECS | RATING | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
TOP PICK
|
 |
Samsung CHG90 |
|
/10 | |
|
RUNNER-UP
|
 |
ASUS ROG PG348Q |
|
/10 | |
|
VALUE
|
 |
LG 29UM68-P |
|
/10 | |
|
BUDGET
|
 |
LG 25UM58-P |
|
/10 |
*To read more about each of these ultrawide monitors, click on “Read Review »” to skip to the overview we’ve written on that specific display. You can also scroll further down in this post to see our Honorable Mention selections.
Best Ultrawide Monitor:
Samsung CHG90
While I’m pretty comfortable with my triple monitor setup, if I were to ever ditch it for a single monitor, I’d do so for Samsung’s CHG90. The CHG90 offers an incredible 49″ cruved display in a 32:9 aspect ratio with a 3840 x 1080 resolution. So, essentially, it’s two standard 1080P monitors merged together.
The CHG90, like other high-end ultrawide monitors, doesn’t come cheap. You can land the CHG90 for just under $900. And, one hard pill to swallow for anyone who might be considering the CHG90 might be that, for that ~$900, you only get a panel that comes with a 1080P vertical resolution.
Other ultrawide monitors in the same price range as the CHG90 (like the ASUS ROG PG348Q listed below), feature 1440P vertical resolutions. However, the extra width certainly adds to the cost, and the CHG90 also features a 144Hz refresh rate and comes with AMD’s FreeSync technology.
So, while its vertical pixel count isn’t ideal for a monitor in this price range, it definitely has other features that will make up for it. In fact, the 1080P vertical resolution helps it in this case, because that will put less demand on the graphics card that you pair with it, thus allowing it to reach the framerates necessary to take advantage of the higher refresh rate.
Of course, as it is an AMD FreeSync monitor, it will need to be paired with a newer AMD graphics card in order to take advantage of AMD’s variable refresh rate technology.
Ultimately, if you’re a competitive gamer who needs the performance advantage that a 144Hz monitor can offer you at an affordable price, this monitor—along with an AMD graphics card—will be an excellent option for your needs.
Our Runner-Up Pick:
ASUS ROG PG348Q
Our runner-up pick will probably be an even better option than the CHG90 for certain users. For starters, the ASUS ROG PG348Q comes with a higher vertical resolution than the CHG90 (it’s total pixel count is 3440 x 1440) and, instead of coming with AMD’s FreeSync technology, it opts for NVIDIA’s G-Sync technology as well. (That means that you can only use an NVIDIA graphics card with this monitor.)
However, the PG348Q is a smaller display overall. It’s a 34″ screen that sports a 21:9 aspect ratio. So, not quite nearly as long as the CHG90. It also comes in at about ~$50 more expensive, too. And, it has a slower refresh rate than the CHG90 as well (100Hz vs 144Hz)
And, while these factors dock it a bit for us, the truth is that there are going to be users out there that will prefer either the PG348Q’s higher vertical resolution, or the fact that it comes with G-Sync instead of FreeSync.
So, while we like the CHG90 better, there are definitely arguments to be made for opting for the PG348Q over it. And, if that’s the route you want to go, it will definitely be a good choice. It should be noted, though, that the Acer Predator X34 (our first Honorable Mention) offers essentially the same specs as the PG348Q and should probably be considered along with the PG348Q before you make your decision.
Best Value Option:
LG 29UM68-P
If you don’t really need a high-end gaming option, or you just don’t want to spend over $600-$700 to get one, the LG 29UM68-P comes in at a much more affordable price. At just under $300, the 29UM68-P is a 29″ monitor with a 21:9 ultrawide display.
It features a 2560 x 1080 screen resolution and it comes with a standard 60Hz refresh rate. And, while it’s refresh rate is nothing to write home about, it does come with AMD’s FreeSync technology, which means that when paired with an AMD graphics card, you will get a very smooth in-game experience.
So, while LG 29UM68-P may not be a “high-end” gaming monitor, it is still a solid option for gamers who don’t quite have enough to spend on a more expensive option, but who still want an ultrawide monitor nonetheless.
Budget Ultrawide Monitor:
LG 25UM58-P
Speaking of less expensive ultrawide monitors, LG has another option that is even more affordable than the 29UM68-P. And, that is the LG 25UM58-P. The LG 25UM58-P sports a 25″ screen size with a 2560 x 1080 resolution (21:9 aspect ratio).
It also comes with a standard 60Hz refresh rate and, unfortunately, it doesn’t come with AMD’s FreeSync technology. So, compared to the 29UM68-P, the LG 25UM58-P comes with a smaller screen and lacks a variable refresh rate technology.
However, the main selling point of the 25UM58-P is the fact that it comes in at right around ~$175. So, if you don’t need FreeSync, or you just don’t have much more than $200 to spend on your monitor, the 25UM58-P is a nice affordable ultrawide monitor that will match your budget.
Honorable Mention #1:
Acer Predator X34
At the high-end of the gaming monitor market, it always seems like ASUS and Acer are battling each other. Whether that’s for the best 1440P 144Hz monitor, or here with the best gaming-specific ultrawide monitors (although, the Samsung CHG90 is definitely in the conversation as well).
In terms of specifications, Acer’s X34 ultrawide monitor matches up almost identically with ASUS’ ROG PG348Q. Both monitors sport a 21:9 ultrawide aspect ratio and have 34″ curved displays with a total ratio of 3440 x 1440.
And, both feature a 100Hz refresh rate and NVIDIA’s G-Sync technology. So, really, you can flip a coin between the two because both of these monitors will serve you well if you have a large budget and you want a high-end ultrawide gaming monitor.
Honorable Mention #2:
BenQ EX3501R
BenQ is another popular monitor manufacturer that has come up with a high-end ultrawide curved gaming monitor. Their EX3501R has pretty much identical specs to both the ASUS ROG PG348Q and the Acer X34.
However, instead of featuring NVIDIA’s G-Sync technology, BenQ’s EX3501R instead opts for AMD’s FreeSync technology. And, as a result, it comes in at ~$100-$150 less than ASUS’ and Acer’s similar offerings.
Of course, just like how you’d be wasting money if you paired either the Acer or ASUS monitor with an AMD graphics card, the opposite is true with the EX3501R. So, if you are planning on getting an NVIDIA GPU, or you already have one, you’ll likely want to consider those options instead.
If you have (or are planning on getting) a high-end AMD graphics card, though, this BenQ ultrawide monitor would be a better fit for you.
Honorable Mention #3:
LG 34UC89G-B
Another gaming specific option that you might want to consider is LG’s 34UC89G-B. It’s a 34″ monitor that comes with a 2560 x 1080 resolution (21:9 aspect ratio). It also comes with NVIDIA’s G-Sync technology as well as a 144Hz refresh rate.
So, while it doesn’t have the vertical resolution of the ASUS PG348Q and Acer X34, or the extra width that the Samsung CHG90 has, the LG 34UC89G-B does offer somewhat of a middle ground, expecially when you consider the fact that it comes in at just under $700, which is quite a bit cheaper than those other options.
The bottom line is that, while this is an Honorable Mention pick, for the right user—especially a competitive gamer that either wants to use an NVIDIA graphics card, or one that doesn’t quite have enough to spend on the other options—this might be the best option for them on this list.
Is An Ultrawide Monitor Right for You?
The extra screen real estate that ultrawide monitors offer have made them very popular among computer users. And, that is especially true for gamers. The good news is that there are no lack for ultrawide options out there. Whether you’re looking for a high-end ultrawide gaming monitor, or just a budget-friendly option for under $200, there is likely an ultrawide display otu there for you.
In this guide, we’ve taken a look at seven different options you have. These are by no means a complete list of all of the ultrawide monitos that are out there, but, rather, a list of the options we felt represented some of the top picks at different price ranges and categories. So, if you’re looking for a solid ultrawide monitor, one of the options above should work for you
If you’re a gamer and you want to check out some other options, take a look at our Gaming Monitor Buyer’s Guide.
