Curved vs Flat Monitors - Which is better?

When building your dream PC, choosing the right monitor can be a daunting task. You have a variety of sizes, technologies, ergonomics, and flat or curved monitors to choose from. The curved vs. flat decision can be the hardest unless you choose a monitor that can do both, like ourCORSAIR XENEON FLEX, which lets you decide if it is curved or flat and switch on the fly.

But how do you choose when you only have the option of a flat or curved model? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

Traditionally, PC monitors are flat, and most of us are used to this layout. Flat panel monitors are cost effective and are an all round solution for productivity work, gaming and general use. Depending on the technology used in the panel, wide viewing angles can be achieved when multiple people are looking at the screen at the same time. Positioning the monitor can also be easier than with a curved monitor, as light can only be reflected from one angle compared to a curved monitor that can catch light sources from multiple angles.

Curved monitors, which are available with varying degrees of curvature, offer the advantage of increased immersion and eye comfort. Curvature is represented by an R value, typically in millimeters, for the radius at which the curve would complete a circle. The higher the value, such as 1800R, the less curvature the monitor has. When a curve is applied to monitors that offer ultra-wide resolutions, such as 3440x1440 pixels with a 21:9 aspect ratio, you will experience a more comfortable way to keep everything in view compared to a monitor with a flat surface and the same size, aspect ratio, and resolution. Certain games, such as racing or FPS games, will also feel more immersive.

Overall, a curved monitor should be the logical choice if you are a gamer first. In many cases, this is true, but there are scenarios where a flat monitor would be better suited for your favorite game than a curved model. These games include those with straight horizontal lines. Think of football games where a curved monitor makes those straight lines look curved. On the productivity side, there are applications like spreadsheets that have a lot of straight lines, and a curved monitor may feel uncomfortable at first, but the good news is that in most situations you will get used to the look.

While there is no definitive answer to the question of whether you should choose a curved or flat gaming monitor, it comes down to personal preference. If you have the option to try both, try playing your favorite games and see the difference for yourself before you buy the monitor that will be the centerpiece of your gaming rig.

CORSAIR has a wide range of monitors available for you to choose from. You can also get hyped for our upcoming CORSAIR XENEON 34WQHD240-C, which is going to be our first fixed curved monitor.