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Curved monitors make it easier to work with a computer. They are easy on the eyes and contribute to better concentration and a better view of the screen. Depending on their size and functions, they can be used in a variety of ways.
In our large Curved Monitor Test 2023 we will present the most popular curved monitors and discuss their advantages and disadvantages. For this purpose, we distinguish between the curved monitors with 1500R and 1800R according to their degree of curvature. Both have their advantages, which we will discuss in more detail. With the help of this article, we would like to inform you as best as possible about curved monitors and make your purchase decision easier.
Contents
- 1 Summary
- 2 The Best Curved Monitor: Our Picks
- 3 Buying and evaluation criteria for curved monitors
- 4 Decision: What types of curved monitors are there and which is the right one for you?
- 5 Guide: Frequently Asked Questions about Curved Monitors Answered in Detail
- 5.1 What is a curved monitor?
- 5.2 For whom is a curved monitor suitable?
- 5.3 What size should I buy a curved monitor?
- 5.4 How much does a curved monitor cost?
- 5.5 What are the alternatives to a curved monitor?
- 5.6 What accessories do I need for a Curved Monitor?
- 5.7 Can I improve the ergonomics of working with a curved monitor?
Summary
- Curved monitors represent a relatively new variant of screens. The curvature is much easier on the eyes and the content and applications are displayed larger and more vividly.
- When buying a curved monitor, it is important to consider the possible resolution. In addition, factors such as the type of panel, the response time, the refresh rate, the response time and the lighting and screen surface play a decisive role.
- Curvature is of particular importance. This can vary in degrees and is similar to that of the eyes with a higher curvature. A curvature of 1500R is much more like that of the eyes; on the other hand, a curvature of around 1800R makes it easier to switch to curved screens, as these are much more like flat screens.
The Best Curved Monitor: Our Picks
Buying and evaluation criteria for curved monitors
To make your purchase decision easier, we will explain the most important criteria to consider when making a purchase in the next section.
The criteria for comparing curved monitors include:
Resolution
The resolution of the screen is an important purchase criterion, as it determines how sharply the image is displayed. If the screen has too poor a resolution, the slanted lines will be displayed offset.
Especially when it comes to applications where there is a lot of movement on the screen and it is a considerable size, care should be taken to ensure that the screen has a high resolution.
Therefore, the screen should ideally be purchased with the highest possible resolution. In recent years, Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) was very popular, but this was gradually replaced by Ultra HD (3840 × 2160 pixels), which has four times the resolution. In the meantime, 4K is also being used more and more frequently; this has 4096 × 2160 pixels and is used in cinemas, among other places.
Panel
A panel is the basis for the functioning of a screen, as the pixels are attached to it. These consist of liquid crystals in the colours green, red and blue, which let more or less light through depending on their orientation. This is how the different colours can be displayed. Basically, a distinction is made between the TN panel, the VA panel and the IPS panel.
The TN panel has the characteristic that it is very inexpensive and has a fast response. It is often used by computer gamers. The disadvantage, however, is that you can only look at the screen well from a certain perspective.
In comparison, the VA panel has a particularly natural reproduction of colour and strong contrasts between colours. In addition, you can see the picture well from every perspective. One disadvantage, however, is the delayed reaction time.
The IPS panel costs considerably more, but you can look at it from many angles and it has just as good a colour reproduction as the VA panel.
Response time
This indicates in milliseconds how quickly the picture can change from black to white and back to black. The smaller the value, the shorter the monitor needs for this and the better it is.
Nowadays, they like to represent the time of a colour change from light to dark grey and back again, because this time is considerably shorter.
Especially when playing games or other applications with a fast change of the picture, it is important to pay attention to a reaction time that is as short as possible, because otherwise the afterglow of colours can occur.
Refresh rate
This indicates how many images per second are displayed by the monitor. The range sold today is between 60 and 244 Hz. Especially if the fast and smooth display of the image is relevant, a refresh rate as high as possible must be chosen. If the purchase of a 3D curved monitor is being considered, care should be taken to ensure that it has a refresh rate of at least 200 Hz.
Colour reproduction
An important feature of a curved monitor is the reproduction of colours. Here, attention must be paid to the colour repertoire, as screens with only 90 % colour coverage are still sold. These screens then distort the natural colours by replacing them with others.
If you have the problem that your colours are not displayed correctly, a lack of calibration may be the cause.
Often this is not done after manufacture, but the customer has to do it himself.
Lighting & screen surface
Light-emitting diodes are used to illuminate a screen. These may be built into the frame or located behind the panel. Here, attention should be paid to a possible screen brightness of 300 cd/m², even if this will rarely be fully used in regular use of the screen.
For the screen surface, a distinction is made between glossy and matt. In general, matt should be preferred, even if the colours come out better on a glossy screen. The reason is that a glossy screen reflects light and it may therefore no longer be possible to recognise what is displayed on the screen.
However, if you know beforehand that there will be very little backlighting and that a better representation of the colours is more important to you, a glossy screen can also be used.
Decision: What types of curved monitors are there and which is the right one for you?
The special feature of a curved monitor is, as the name suggests, the curvature of its display. You can buy monitors with different degrees of curvature in the shops, but it is important to choose the right one.
The field of vision of the human eye represents an arc. Therefore, by using a curved screen, the strain on the eyes when using it can be greatly reduced.
Basically, a distinction is made between strongly curved and slightly curved screens. The advantages and disadvantages of these are as follows:
| Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Radius of curvature 1500R | strong relief for the eyes, pictures look better | low maximum distance, space-consuming |
| Radius of curvature 1800R | easy to change, higher maximum distance | less easy on the eyes, picture distortion at the edge |
To go into more detail about the advantages and disadvantages, we will look at curved monitors with a radius of curvature of 1500R and 1800R in the following section.
Guide: Frequently Asked Questions about Curved Monitors Answered in Detail
In the following section, we will cover the most frequently asked questions about curved monitors. We want to answer all your unanswered questions and prepare you optimally for a purchase.
What is a curved monitor?
This allows for a better experience because the natural vision of the eyes throws up an arc that the curved monitor accommodates. Consequently, you have a better view of every point on the screen.
A distinction can be made according to how much the screen is curved.
If it is a relatively flat version of a curved monitor, this makes it easier to switch from a completely flat screen to a curved one; if it is a strongly curved one, it fulfils the positive characteristics of the curved monitor in the best possible way.
For whom is a curved monitor suitable?
These are mainly professionals in the service sector, students or people who use the computer for their leisure activities.
What size should I buy a curved monitor?
The larger the screen, the more important it is to choose a model with a high resolution.
Most curved screens have a size of 25 – 50 inches.
How much does a curved monitor cost?
| Degree of curvature | price range |
|---|---|
| 1500R | 300 – 1200€ |
| 1800R | 250 – 1000 € |
Basically, only a very small price difference is noticeable between the curvature radii. Since screens with the 1500R radius of curvature are the newer discovery, they are still a little more expensive, but in the next few years these curved monitors will certainly become cheaper due to widespread use.
What are the alternatives to a curved monitor?
An alternative would be to place two or more flat screens next to each other to get a kind of curve. The disadvantage here, however, is that a gap will remain between the screens, or the transition between the screens will not be smooth.
This alternative can be tried for an initial trial, but it will very quickly become apparent that it is more impractical than it actually fulfils the positive characteristics of a Curved Monitor.
What accessories do I need for a Curved Monitor?
- Calculator: Most screens do not have an integrated calculator. Therefore, you need either an external computer or a laptop that you connect to use the screen at all.
- HDMI cable: You need an HDMI cable to connect the screen to the respective computer and to establish a data transfer.
- Keyboard: You also need an external keyboard that you can connect, or you can use the keyboard of the laptop you are using.
- Mouse: In order to be able to work on it at all, you need a computer mouse that forwards the desired operations at the touch of a button.
- Wall mount: If you do not want to place the screen on a table, you have the option of attaching it to the wall with a special mount.
Can I improve the ergonomics of working with a curved monitor?
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