Best curved monitor for gaming 2023

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An ultrawide monitor with Samsung branding on the display sat on a desk with a keyboard and mouse in front of a window.
Credit: Samsung

The best curved monitor for gaming can significantly enhance your immersion and skills during intense gaming sessions.

These monitors, particularly the best for gaming, excel at drawing you into your favourite virtual worlds, surrounding you in the action and, in turn, elevating the gameplay of your favourite titles as a result.

While it's worth noting that the PS5 and Xbox Series X don't officially support ultrawide formats, PC gamers can rejoice as many leading AAA titles do embrace the 21:9 ratio.

To help streamline your search for the ultimate curved gaming monitor, we've selected standout options based on their specifications, unique features, price, and, of course, reviews. These recommendations aim to simplify your quest and, therefore, can help you upgrade your setup with a shiny new monitor - who doesn't want that?

Best curved gaming monitors

  1. Gigabyte AORUS CV27Q
  2. Acer Predator X38P
  3. Samsung Odyssey G7
  4. AOC Gaming C27G2U
  5. AOC Gaming CU34G2X
  6. Samsung Odyssey G9
Gigabyte AORUS CV27Q product image of a black curved monitor.
click to enlarge
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Credit: Gigabyte

1. Gigabyte AORUS CV27Q

Best curved monitor for gaming overall

Screen size: 27 Inches, 1500R - Resolution: QHD Wide 1440p - Display technology: LED - Aspect ratio: 16:9 - Hardware interface: HDMI - Refresh rate: 165 Hz - Response time: 1 ms - Item weight: 7kg - Display resolution maximum: 2560 x 1440 Pixels

The Gigabyte AORUS CV27Q is a fantastic all-rounder when it comes to curved monitors. Ideal If you're looking for a monitor with striking visuals and rapid response time to optimise your gaming experience.

27 inches while displaying 2560 x 1440 pixels allows you to immerse yourself fully into the atmosphere of any game.

Adding 165 Hz refresh rate and 1 ms response time you won't miss out on any of the action.

With a high contrast ratio of 3000:1 and boasting 90%, DCI-P3 colours will have better contrast and more accuracy when it comes to enjoying both AAA games and any form of entertainment.

Coming in at generally under £400, you can see why the Gigabyte AORUS CV27Q is one of our top picks.

Acer Predator X38P product image of a dark grey curved monitor with a dark blue pattern on the display.
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Credit: Acer

2. Acer Predator X38P

Best 38" curved monitor for gaming

Screen size: 37.5 Inches, 2300R - Resolution: 2K DCI 1080p - Display technology: LED - Aspect ratio: 21:9 - Hardware interface: USB, DisplayPort, HDMI - Refresh rate: 175 Hz - Response time: 0.3 ms - Item Weight: 9.48 kg - Display resolution maximum: 2560 x 1440 Pixels

The Acer Predator X38P first and foremost is an amazing look monitor that if you've got the space for it, will look seriously impressive in both RGB and super minimal setups.

For fast-paced gaming, the staggeringly low response time will come in handy, as will the 175hz refresh rate.

It also features NVIDIA G-SYNC for seamless, tear-free gaming as a form of VRR and packs HDR 400 on an IPS display for deep blacks and vivid colour.

A solid choice if you ask us.

Samsung Odyssey G7 product image of a black curved monitor with a Sci-Fi walkway lit in blue on the display.
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Credit: Samsung

3. Samsung Odyssey G7

Best 27" curved monitor for gaming

Screen size: 27 Inches, 1000R - Resolution: QHD Wide 1440p - Display technology: LED - Aspect ratio: 16:9 - Hardware interface: HDMI - Refresh rate: 240 Hz - Response time: 1 ms - Item Weight: 7.2 kg - Display resolution maximum: 2560 x 1440 Pixels

The Samsung Odyssey G7 is a great choice for around the £600 mark and it looks the business too.

On the surface, it has that (dare we say it) almost Logitech look, with the black with blue detailing, that we think stands out in all the right ways with most gaming setups.

Like the Acer Predator X38P, this monitor boasts impressive refresh rates combined with Freesync Premium Pro and G-SYNC-compatible technology - making it great for fast-paced gaming.

Along with HDR 600, it also boasts enhanced ergonomics and is VESA compliant if you fancy using your own monitor arm.

A cracking monitor for the price, and one to watch for in the sales too.

AOC Gaming C27G2U product image of a black monitor with red trim featuring a hooded character with red eyes on the display.
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Credit: AOC

4. AOC Gaming C27G2U

Best budget curved monitor for gaming

Screen size: 27 Inches, 1500R - Resolution: FHD 1080p - Display technology: LED - Aspect ratio: 16:9 - Hardware interface: HDMI 2.0 x 2, DP x 1, VGA - Refresh rate: 165 Hz - Response time: 1 ms - Item Weight: 5.2 kg - Display resolution maximum: 1080p

If you're after a quality curved monitor and perhaps don't need the absolute maximum specs for your gaming, then this AOC Gaming C27G2U monitor is a great choice.

It comes in at around the £200 - £250 mark and has a pretty impressive resume for the price, especially with its refresh rate and response time.

27 inches with a 1500R curve should be more than enough for most setups to add that level of immersion without completely taking over your desk.

It's also VESA compliant so if you're not a fan of the sharp-looking stand you can always swap it out for something more minimal.

For under £300, the AOC Gaming C27G2U monitor is seriously tempting.

AOC Gaming CU34G2X product image of a black monitor with red trim with a masked character holding a sword on the display.
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Credit: AOC

5. AOC Gaming CU34G2X

Best midrange curved monitor for gaming

Screen size: 34 Inches, 1500R - Resolution: QHD Ultra Wide 1440p - Display technology: VA / W-LED - Aspect ratio: 21:9 - Hardware interface: 2x DisplayPort 1.2; 2x HDMI 2.0 - Refresh rate: 144 Hz - Response time: 1 ms - Item Weight: 8.1g - Display resolution maximum: 3440 x 1440

AOC makes the list again, but this time with their ultra-wide CU34G2X monitor.

Once more, AOC delivers the goods in terms of performance and price, with this monitor usually coming in at under £500.

Alongside the specs listed above, it has an impressive 300 nits brightness, making this a good choice if you're gaming in a well-lit room.

FreeSync should ensure super-smooth gameplay, making this one to consider if you're a fan of racing games in particular.

Another showstopper, but for a relatively accessible price.

Samsung Odyssey G9 product image of a black ultrawide monitor with a Sci-Fi walkway lit up in white on the display.
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Credit: Samsung

6. Samsung Odyssey G9

Best premium curved monitor for gaming

Screen size: 49 Inches, 1000R - Resolution: DQHD - Display technology: QLED, LED - Aspect ratio: 32:9 - Hardware interface: 1 x HDMI, 1 x Displayport - Refresh rate: 240 Hz - Response time: 1 ms - Item Weight: 16.7kg - Display resolution maximum: 5120 x 1440

Now we get to the ultimate curved gaming monitor, the Samsung Odyssey G9, that has to be seen to be believed.

It's massive and appears even bigger with24 the curve, so take some measurements in your chosen room to make sure it's not going to dominate it completely.

Freesync Premium Pro and G-Sync compatible technology, plus HDR 1000 make this a good call for both silky-smooth gameplay and deep, vivid visuals.

There's a big plus that this can double up as a huge workspace for video editing, writing, coding and more, and it'll likely save you having to buy a second screen.

You can read more on whether we think the Samsung Odyssey G9 is worth it now, right here.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The search for the best monitor for you can sometimes pull up more questions than answers, so we're here to cut through the noise so you can make the best decision for you.

What are the benefits of a curved monitor?

Curved screens are designed to artificially place you at the centre of the action as they make use of your peripheral vision and accommodate the natural depth of the human eye.

They are also comfortable on your eyes as they reduce strain by providing you with a more natural 3D image.

As curved monitors aim to encompass your entire field of vision they can often be great for experiencing maximum immersion when gaming.

Read More: Why Are Monitors Curved?

Is a 27-inch curved monitor good for gaming?

We'd say 27-inches is a decent size for a gaming monitor and when screens are curved they can actually appear larger as the sides curve outwards and enter your peripheral vision.

The size of your gaming monitor can also largely come down to what you're looking to use it for and your personal preference.

For some competitive games, it can be beneficial to have a smaller monitor as you can react faster as your mouse has to travel less distance to reach the corners of the screen.

However, if you're looking to immerse yourself in the world of a single-player RPG game, sometimes a larger screen can be better at doing so.

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Is a 1500R curved monitor good?

Curved monitors have various levels of curvature which is measured in R which stands for radius, for example, a 1500R monitor has a radius of 1500mm.

When it comes to curvature the smaller the R number, the more aggressive the curve, the human eye can see at roughly 1000R and so closer to his number is usually better for curved monitors.

We'd say a display with a native 1500R is a solid choice when it comes to gaming monitors, however, some people may prefer less extreme curves such as 2300R.

The latter tend to be better suited to designers, as they give a more accurate representation of what they're working on, without skewing perspective.

What refresh rate is the best for a curved gaming monitor?

As with some of the other best gaming monitors, having a high refresh rate on a curved monitor is going to improve your game no end.

Anything above 120Hz will give an edge over the standard 60Hz, but for truly standout performance, aim for something with 144Hz or higher, even stretching to 240Hz if you can.

Is ultra-wide bad for frames per second?

In short, yes in some ways. It's basically down to the fact that there's way more area to refresh than on your standard monitor.

Similar to 4K displays, there are just a whole lot of pixels to take care of in an ultrawide display, so expect performance to take a slight hit.

We explore how ultra-wide monitors affect frames per second more here.

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