Solved Calling all curved monitor users...I need your opinions.

I'm thinking about buying another monitor. I don't really need it as this 27 in. is sufficient for my needs. I just think I might want it. I have read extensively and get a mixed bag of information. I'd like opinions from those of you who use curved monitors.

I've only seen them in the store, never used one. Keep in mind I'm not a gamer, most of what I do being reading with an occasional video and a few word games to keep my mind active. I also do quite a bit of writing, me being a fledging author at the ripe age of....old age. My concern is how many hours of daily use would affect these old eyes of mine and their tri-focals. Even with the monitor I have, Ii have to constantly kick my head back to feel comfortable reading parts of the screen to the point my neck gets stiff. I do not know if a curved would be advantageous or detrimental in that respect.

So from your experience, what would be your pros and cons regarding flat vs curved and would you recommend a curved screen in my case. I use integrated graphics with 2560x1440. I'd probably go with a 32 in.

I have a iiyama 34"curved (PL3467WQ). The vision experience is better when turning your head while working in for example AutoCAD or while gaming then with a flat one. I had a 32” flat before. I use the wide screen with my smal Omen16 laptop.

Now I am used to the curved monitor I wished I had a larger one. MSI introduced a nice one recently with 49” curved display.
(MGP 491CQP).

glasskuter said:

I'd like opinions from those of you who use curved monitors.

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I don't use curved monitors, BUT...

Whenever you're looking at any widescreen monitor, check the pixels per inch (PPI). The more, the merrier.
Or, look at Pixel Pitch. Below .25 is good, below .20 is great.
Some times manufacturers just "stretch" the monitor's width dimension, without also increasing the PPI.

In the case of stretching... everything on the screen will be fat and short, or horizontally fuzzy.
When you "just" stretch the horizontal dimension (and leave the PPI unchanged), ,
the pixels come out looking like this...





For example... your monitor is 2560 x 1440. If the manufacturer wants to be cheap, they could stretch the horizontal resolution without increasing the PPI. Like... 3440 x 1440, but with the same PPI, will have deformed pixels.





Here's all DELL's curved monitors. The ones with a "U" in the model number are the cream of the crop.
They are the DELL Ultrasharp monitors.




DELL Ultrasharps are like sex for the eyes.

Good info @Ghot. Thanks. I'll be aware of that in my searching, but that ones' a little out of my price range. My SS check won't stretch that far.

glasskuter said:

Good info @Ghot. Thanks. I'll be aware of that in my searching, but that ones' a little out of my price range. My SS check won't stretch that far.

Click to expand...

I also linked all the DELL curved monitors. IF it's in your budget get one of the Ultrasharps.
Your eyes will thank me.



Here's all the curved monitors 32" or bigger... 2560 x 1440 or higher...

I bought my first curved monitor in Jan 2023 after a lot of searching, utube and reading reviews. I finally settled on the

ASUS TUF Gaming VG34VQL1B 34 Curved HDR Monitor, WQHD (3440x1440), 165Hz, 1ms​

This monitor is awesome! I am happy I made this choice. I use Fancy Zones in Power Toys to have my split screen apps. This MS feature works great. I don't think I will ever go back to 2 smaller monitors again. I have the wall mount which clears up my desk. Best monitor I ever bought.
cheers

Hell-O @glasskuter .
I know I haven't been around for some time but, as life would have it. It's not always your choice.
Now, I have been using a curved monitor for a little less than 3 yrs now and to tell you the truth,
never going back to a flatty.

I bought this one


I was not looking to buy the best or the more fancy ones out there. Just looking to game mostly and a
1080P panel.

I also bought this one for my Daughter since she was and still is working from home. Federal Gov. manager.
But, when my son in law saw what it was like, he stole the darn thing from her. Not really, the Gov provided
her with two 27 inch flatties. She does prefer having two monitors to work with. SO, the 34" I had provided
her with well, ended up on my son in law's desk. I should have taken it back. He will not let anyone near it now.


Here is an explanation of the R (radius) for curved monitors:


This one is from Amazon.com.us which has a better curvature than mine and Allot cheaper since I was early on that
band wagon.

had 3 ultrasharps for work a few years ago, Nothing wrong with em, Do what they say. Just a bit meh for me personally. For anything non gaming related i'd say they're more than adequate, Just not sure the price tag is worth it. Isn't for me. But then again i'd never be buying one in the first place as i'd need more from my monitor.

I've got a Samsung 32" 4K and a 32" standard resolution, both curved. I love them, and I am never going back to a flat monitor. Ever. You can't make me, you can't make me, you can't make me.

So yes, in short, I like them. You will too.

Catnip said:

You can't make me, you can't make me, you can't make me.

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Ghot: Pulls out his RED laser pointer.

Catnip:



Ghot: Switches his monitors to flat screens.

While it is true that curved displays have their merits of course, when it comes to questions about the specific goal of reducing neck strain you won't find many answers here. In fact I didn't even need to put on my reading glasses to be able to see that you'll literally have to look elsewhere.

glasskuter said:

Good info @Ghot. Thanks. I'll be aware of that in my searching, but that ones' a little out of my price range. My SS check won't stretch that far.

Click to expand...

I have been using a curved monitor for about 6 years and am currently using an MSI 34". I bought the current monitor about 2 years ago and quality for the price was great! Additionally, I added a video card with a DP adapter, last year, which made it even better.

Don't know the exact model, but it is a 42" ultra wide curved Samsung. Some of the benefits for me are.

1. The curve reduces the amount of head turning
2. The ultra wide gives me more real estate for open windows (I hate toggling as I jump between applications a lot for work
3. I got a high refresh rate (gamer monitor) because it makes window movements more fluid and it feels better on the eyes to me

glasskuter said:

I'm thinking about buying another monitor. I don't really need it as this 27 in. is sufficient for my needs. I've only seen them in the store, never used one. me being a fledging author at the ripe age of....old age. My concern is how many hours of daily use would affect these old eyes of mine and their tri-focals. Even with the monitor I have I do not know if a curved would be advantageous or detrimental in that respect.

Click to expand...

I have been thinking the same, but I have a nice Samsung 28" 4K ViewFinity UHD IPS, it's been great, at the ripe old age of 72. Here's an idea, if you live in an area where they have a Best Buy, or Microcenter, or just any store where returning it would be simple, pick up one, use it for a few days, if you can't get use to it, return it. Personally, if I ever decide to get one, it would not be from Amazon, I would probably at least want to go into a store where I could see the picture quality, picture quality is the most important thing to me at my young age.

glasskuter said:

My concern is how many hours of daily use would affect these old eyes of mine and their tri-focals. Even with the monitor I have, Ii have to constantly kick my head back to feel comfortable reading parts of the screen to the point my neck gets stiff. I do not know if a curved would be advantageous or detrimental in that respect.

Click to expand...

Hi glasskuter,

I work in IT and have for about 27 years now. As I have gotten older, I too have moved into bifocals per the request of my eye doctor. About a year ago, I started to struggle significantly with my computer distance vision. Like you, I was tipping my head back to keep my monitor in the center part of my glasses and it was annoying. What I ended up doing was getting computer glasses. I mistakenly thought that computer glasses were just typical glasses with special blue light filtering. However, what I discovered was that they are dedicated to that middle distance focal length. These have made a tremendous improvement for me on my day to day computer work. What really stinks though, is I do have to have 2 pairs of glasses. And I always get up from the computer, walk out the door and realize that I have the wrong glasses, and have to go back in and get the right ones.

glasskuter said:

So from your experience, what would be your pros and cons regarding flat vs curved and would you recommend a curved screen in my case. I use integrated graphics with 2560x1440. I'd probably go with a 32 in.

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At work, I have a Dell Ultrasharp U3821DW, which is a 38 inch curved monitor running 3840x1600. the curve on this one is just slight, 2300R. I really have grown to like the extra size of this display. I run it a scale of 125%, which helps my eyes see it better. I'd like to get a large format monitor like this at home, but 1). It's expensive and 2). I simply don't have the space at my desk/office area with the multiple systems that I have to support a monitor of this size.

With all that said, from a vision perspective...i don't find that this curved monitor has any real impact on vision for me. All of my monitors at home are flat and I have no problems with them. My computer glasses by far had a far more significant impact.

neemobeer said:

Don't know the exact model, but it is a 42" ultra wide curved Samsung. Some of the benefits for me are.

1. The curve reduces the amount of head turning.

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I could maybe see some head turning on a regular flat 42" monitor, but on my regular flat 28", I don't have to turn my head at all, but I do have some great peripheral vision.

I've never had a curved monitor..., always wanted to try one, but...,
at the store yesterday, I stood in front of two 32" monitors, wearing thick rimmed glasses, one flat, the other curved, I didn't see much difference in perspective.
However, if you would be able to tolerate it physically, I suggest getting an Ultra-wide, you won't regret it.

Curved 100+ Hz > All Flat screens.

weaselciuy01 said:

Curved 100+ Hz > All Flat screens.

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What is it you're trying to tell us?
Please explain.