Curved gaming monitors have become popular in recent years, as many feel they do a better job of eliminating distortion and immersing you into game worlds. As a result, there are more high-quality curved gaming monitors on the market than ever before. There are several curved monitors on the market that we recommend, but we think the best curved gaming monitor is the Dell S3220DGF, a stellar display from Dell that pairs QHD resolution with HDR, excellent color accuracy, a 165Hz refresh rate, and AMD FreeSync variable refresh rate. Don't overlook the alternatives, though, especially if you're looking for something specialized.
Best overall: Dell S3220DGF
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The best overall curved gaming monitor available is the Dell S3220DGF, a 32-inch display that features sharp QHD (2560x1440) resolution, DisplayHDR 400 certification, coverage of over 90% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, a maximum refresh rate of 165Hz, and 4ms response time. Dell struck an excellent balance between resolution, color accuracy, and refresh rates with this monitor, making it a fantastic choice for gaming.
The monitor also comes with AMD FreeSync, which is AMD's variable refresh rate (VRR) solution. FreeSync dynamically alters your refresh rate so that it matches the frame rates produced by your GPU, ensuring that your moment-to-moment gameplay experience is smooth. With FreeSync, you won't need to worry about issues like screen tearing or stuttering, as both of these issues are typically caused by mismatched refresh rates and frame rates.
Best 4K: Dell S3221QS
If you're looking for a quality 4K monitor, check out the Dell S3221QS. The 32-inch panel has certification from the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), comes with HDR support, and features a blue light-reduction feature called ComfortView. It also has AMD FreeSync, a max refresh rate of 60Hz, and a 4ms response time.
The refresh rate isn't as high as other options, but that's par for the course with curved 4K monitors. 4K at 60FPS still offers a fantastic gaming experience anyway, especially since the colors of your games will vibrantly pop thanks to the display's stellar color accuracy. Overall, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better curved 4K gaming monitor than this one.
Best ultrawide: LG UltraGear 34GP83A-B
Most ultrawide monitors are curved, as people generally prefer the viewing angles of the curved form factor at a 21:9 aspect ratio. The best of these displays is the 34-inch LG UltraGear 34GP83A-B, which comes with an attractive QHD 3440x1440 resolution, a max refresh rate of 160Hz, a blazing fast 1ms response time, and NVIDIA G-Sync, which is NVIDIA's VRR solution.
Other features include coverage for 98% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification, and a ring of LED lights on the back of the monitor that can be controlled with LG's UltraGear Control Center software. These LEDs light up the wall behind your monitor, which looks awesome. Unfortunately, ultrawide displays like this are pretty expensive, but if you have the money to spend and enjoy 21:9 ultrawide, this monitor is definitely worth it.
Best elite: Samsung Odyssey G9
If you're not concerned with your budget and you simply want the best of the best, look no further than the massive 49-inch Samsung Odyssey G9. The 32:9 aspect ratio makes it one of the widest displays on the market, which makes it ideal for multitasking as well as gaming. Between the panel's QLED 5120x1440 resolution, max 240Hz refresh rate, and unrivaled color accuracy, the screen is also nothing short of breathtaking to look at. Both NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync are included, and gamers will love the display's 1ms response time.
As you're probably expecting, the price for a monitor of this caliber is through the roof. You'll need to pay an eye-watering $1,200 to get one, which makes it difficult for the average gamer to acquire. If you've got the money and want what is arguably one of the most elite gaming monitors ever made, though, we can't recommend the Samsung Odyssey G9 enough.
Best budget: Samsung CF390
You don't have to break the bank to have a quality gaming experience with a curved monitor, which is where the 27-inch Samsung CF390 comes in with a respectable FHD 1920x1080 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and 4ms response time. It doesn't have AMD FreeSync, NVIDIA G-Sync, or support for HDR, but the colors look nice regardless, and the price of the monitor is a rock-bottom $180.
At the end of the day, you're simply not going to find a better curved entry-level gaming monitor than the Samsung CF390 for that price. It offers all the basics while still costing much less than many other options out there, making it our favorite budget-friendly choice.
Bottom line
Curved monitors have caught on significantly in recent years, and these days, many of the best curved gaming monitors are also the best PC gaming monitors in general. There's a curved gaming monitor on the market for every niche right now, but our favorite is the Dell S3220DGF. It's not as advanced as options like the Samsung Odyssey G9, but for around $500 you get a sharp QHD screen with DisplayHDR 400, a 165Hz refresh rate, awesome color gamut coverage, and AMD FreeSync. That's a lot of bang for your buck, making it the best overall curved gaming monitor in our eyes.
