Curved monitor vs flat

Looking for a new monitor can be stressful. There is so many options even just looking at curved monitors or flat monitors alone can be a miserable experience. Luckily, our experts spent countless hours researching whether to buy a curved monitor or a flat monitor. We will discuss the pros and cons of curved monitors and flat screen monitors below, so you can decide which monitor you like best.

Information you need before comparing monitors: Aspect ratio and Panel types

Aspect Ratio

Aspect ratio is simply the proportional relationship between the width (side to side) and height (top to bottom) of a monitor. For example, 16:9 (most common amongst computer monitors) means a width of 16 rectangular units and height of 9 rectangular units.

Panel types

IPS panels: In-plane panels

Liquid crystals in the monitor are horizontal and parallel to the glass plates of the screen. They rotate 90 degrees when electrical pressure occurs. It is easiest seen on a flat monitor.

VA panels: Vertical Alignment panels

When there is no electrical pressure, the liquid crystals are vertical. However, when there is electrical pressure, the liquid crystals become parallel to the glass plates of the screen real estate. It is best seen on a curved monitor.

Curved Monitors

Pros

Viewing angles

• Most curved monitors have less distortion on the edges of the screen or thin bezels, making them more comfortable to the peripheral vision or eye of the user. This will reduce eye strain for the user with curved displays.

Screen real estate and viewing experience

• The curvature radius of 180 degrees will allow you to see curved screens much easier than flat screen monitors. Watching movies and playing pc games on curved monitors can make the whole experience an immersive viewing experience compared to the flat screens.

Aspect Ratio

• Typically, the curved screens have 21:9 aspect ratio but they can have an aspect ratio as high as 32:9. This and the fantastic viewing angles can make for a great curved gaming monitor.

VA Panels

• VA panels work well with curved monitors because they can be viewed easiest straight on.

Work-style

• If you work in the field of creating content (editing videos or films), then curved monitors will be your best bet.

Cons

Wall mounting

• It is much harder to mount a curved monitor to the wall, since a curved monitor is much better when it can be tilted or moved on a swivel.

Sitting arrangement

• If you are not viewing the curved monitor face on or sitting at an angle with other people trying to watch the screen, the picture quality will not be as good and you will not see the crystal clear images.

Flat Screen Monitors

Pros

Wall mounting

• It is much easier to mount flat monitors, similar to flat screen televisions, to the wall than curved screen monitors.

Viewing distance

• You can sit at any angle and not need to be directly in front of the monitor in order to get a good view.

Dual Monitor setup or two monitors

• Much easier to have multiple flat screen monitors because of the viewing distance and mounting.

IPS panel

• IPS panels work much better for flat monitors than curved monitors.

Work-style

• If you work a ton with Microsoft programs, like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, it will be better to use a flat monitor.

Cons

Aspect ratio

• flat screen are capped at 16:9 aspect ratio.

Viewing experience

• It can be your personal preference but video editing and watching movies are worse on flat monitors than curved monitors.

Curved and Flat Monitors

Similarities of curved and flat monitors

• Refresh rates (how many times per second the display shows a new image)
• Color accuracy
• Response times (how quickly a pixel can change)
• Number of ports or inputs

Differences between curved and flat monitor

• Aspect Ratio
• Curved monitors: 21:9 up to 32:9
• Flat monitors: 16:9
• Viewing angles
• Panels
• Mounting

Recap of Curved vs Flat Monitor

Broadly speaking, it is a personal preference for what computer monitor you want to buy whether it is a curved monitor or a flat monitor. We like the combination of one curved monitor and one flat monitor turned vertical.

To figure out how big of a monitor you need in relation to your desk. Look at how to measure your potential monitor.