Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Ultra-Wide Gaming Monitor for Immersive Gameplay

2024-03-25 04:57:14

[smartPC사랑=임병선 기자] There are several criteria for choosing a monitor for gaming. First of all, shooting genres with rapid screen changes such as FPS or TPS must have a high refresh rate, and genres such as fighting games require fast response speed and low input lag. If you want to enjoy AAA package games in high definition on a high-performance PC, you need a 4K UHD high-resolution monitor.

However, in addition to this, 21:9 ratio ultra-wide monitors with a unique ratio design are also popular in gaming monitors. The 21:9 ratio, which is longer than the typical 16:9 ratio, has become very popular for watching movies or office use, but recently, 21:9 ratio gaming monitors with powerful gaming functions have also gained recognition.

In particular, most recently released games support the 21:9 ratio, providing a broader gameplay experience. We introduce recommended products along with the criteria for choosing an ultra-wide monitor suitable for playing games.

1. Resolution

The initial ultra-wide monitor was a 29-inch monitor that expanded the 16:9 ratio of a 24-inch monitor to a 21:9 ratio and supported WFHD (2560×1080) resolution. However, it has already been more than 10 years since ultra-wide monitors appeared in the world. As such, products with various sizes and resolutions are being released.

Currently, there is a 34-inch ultra-wide monitor, which is a 27-inch monitor with a 16:9 ratio stretched to a 21:9 ratio, and a 38-inch ultra-wide monitor, which is a 32-inch monitor with a 16:9 ratio stretched to a 21:9 ratio. High-resolution products such as WQHD (3440×1440), WQHD+ (3840×1600), and WUHD (5120×2160), which have higher resolution than WFHD, have been released, allowing you to enjoy games on a clearer screen.

There is also an ultra-wide monitor measuring up to 45 inches.

2. High refresh rate

In the past, ultra-wide monitors were often used for office work or video viewing, so many products only had a basic refresh rate of 60Hz. However, as the number of people enjoying games on ultra-wide monitors increases, the number of gaming ultra-wide monitors with high refresh rates has also increased.

In addition to the 144Hz refresh rate, which is considered the standard for gaming monitors, there are also products with higher refresh rates of 165Hz or 180Hz. There is even a gaming ultra-wide monitor with a high refresh rate of 240Hz, which is four times the normal refresh rate. If you want to enjoy FPS/TPS genre games at a 21:9 ratio, you should choose a gaming ultra-wide monitor with a refresh rate of 144Hz or higher.

A product with a 240Hz high refresh rate was also released.

3. Flat or curved

Because ultra-wide monitors have a long horizontal design, it is quite difficult to capture screen information at a glance. For this reason, there are more products that adopt a curved design rather than a flat design. When the curved design is applied, it is easier to check information on a horizontally long screen at a glance, and as the horizontal width is reduced, it takes up less space on the desk.

Among curved designs, there are products with a curvature of about 3800R, which is close to a flat design, and there are also products with a curvature of 1000R that are quite curved. It is impossible to determine which curvature is better. However, the more the screen is curved, the more immersive it is when playing games, so if your main purpose is playing games, it is better to choose a product with a high curvature. If you don’t like curved screens, there are many flat design products, so choose this one.

If you are not averse to curved designs, curved products are also good.

A great game to enjoy in 21:9 ratio

It’s okay to play in the default 16:9 ratio, but let’s pick out some of the latest games that are more fun to play in the 21:9 ratio.

Pal World

If I were to pick one game that has been the most hot topic recently, it would definitely be ‘Pal World.’ ‘Pal World’ is a game where you can enjoy a leisurely life or battle with the mysterious creature ‘Pal’. You can send pals into battle, breed them, help with farming, or make them work in factories. You can catch rare pals or combine pals to create the strongest pal, and you can also hop on a pal and explore various places, whether on land, sea, or sky.

Many gamers around the world have fallen into the world of ‘Pal World’ because they can enjoy a variety of activities with cute Pal. In just two weeks after its release, it sold over 12 million copies on Steam, and on the Xbox side, the cumulative number of players including Game Pass reached 7 million, with a total of over 19 million gamers enjoying it.

If you are enjoying ‘Pal World’ on a PC, we recommend using a 21:9 ratio ultra-wide monitor rather than a regular 16:9 ratio monitor. This is because if you enjoy ‘Pal World’ with a wider field of view, you will not only be more immersed in the game play, but you will also be able to more easily discover rare pals and conduct battles more easily.

Palworld’s 16:9 and 21:9 ratio comparison.

Baldur’s Gate 3

‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ is the best game of 2023, which was officially released in August of last year and won GOTY awards at numerous game awards and other awards ceremonies. It is the official sequel to the series, released after about 20 years, and is armed with overwhelming freedom of play and numerous things to enjoy.

However, ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ was not translated into Korean at the time of release, so it had to be enjoyed only in English. Although a Korean AI translation patch was applied shortly after release, it was not 100% fully translated, so most gamers postponed playing until 100% complete translation was released.

However, in December 2023, with the official Korean subtitles update, the number of Korean gamers enjoying ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ increased significantly. It attracted so much attention that some people even upgraded their PCs or purchased new ones. ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ is a turn-based RPG, but since you have to check the entire map and plan a strategy, it is more strategically advantageous to play it on an ultra-wide monitor.

Baldur’s Gate 3’s 16:9 and 21:9 ratio comparison.

Helldivers 2

‘Helldivers 2’ is a third-person squad-based shooting game in which players join a squad of up to four Helldivers and perform strategic missions. Gamers become helldivers and fight for freedom across a hostile galaxy.

Every creature on every planet wants to kill you, so you have to fight back. Every enemy has unique and unpredictable tendencies, tactics, and behavior patterns. You must conquer enemy planets, stop invasions, complete missions, and turn the tide of battle in your favor. In particular, since it is a squad-based shooting game, you can win or lose depending on the actions of each unit member.

‘Helldivers 2’ is a fast, hectic, and intense third-person shooting game. Because the screen changes so quickly, it is best to enjoy it with a gaming monitor that supports a high refresh rate. Additionally, an ultra-wide monitor with a 21:9 ratio is good because you can more quickly see enemies approaching from all directions.

Comparison of the 16:9 and 21:9 ratios of Helldivers 2.

tekken 8

The latest installment in the ‘Tekken’ series, Korea’s most popular fighting game, has been released for the first time in about 9 years. This latest work, ‘Tekken 8’, is equipped with more colorful graphics, beginner-friendly controls, and a new system, so that both existing and new users can enjoy it.

Although it is a fighting game, you can also enjoy a story mode that feels like a movie. Experience the Tekken story that offers seamless gameplay with smooth transitions, cinematic scenes, and intense battles. Additionally, in addition to the general story mode, you can check out unique episodes featuring a total of 32 characters in character episodes.

Basically, fighting games are produced in 16:9 ratio, but ‘Tekken 8’ is unique in that it officially supports 21:9 ratio. Even with the 21:9 ratio, the gameplay itself is the same, but since parts of the map that are not visible in the 16:9 ratio are visible, it is more advantageous for corner attack and defense or distance control.

Comparison of Tekken 8’s 16:9 and 21:9 ratios.

Recommended Gaming Ultra Wide Monitor

I recommend a gaming ultra-wide monitor that is great for playing games. The price is based on the lowest price on February 17, 2024.

29 inches

BitM Newsync X29WQ

It is a 29-inch ultra-wide monitor. It has an IPS panel, a flat design, and a resolution of WFHD (2560×1080). It has features such as a refresh rate of 100Hz, response speed of 5ms (GTG), brightness of 300cd, contrast ratio of 1,000:1, color gamut sRGB 100%, and Adobe RGB 81%. Special features include flicker-free, blue light blocking, HDR, speaker, PBP, PIP, tilt, and VESA hole 75x75mm. Game-specific features include game mode, aiming line display, black equalizer, and FreeSync. The input terminals are HDMI 2.0 and DP, and the price is 185,490 won.

LG Electronics Ultra Wide 29WQ500

It is a 29-inch ultra-wide monitor. It has an IPS panel, a flat design, and a resolution of WFHD (2560×1080). It has features such as a refresh rate of 100Hz, response speed of 5ms (GTG), brightness of 250cd, contrast ratio of 1,000:1, and color gamut of sRGB 99%. Special features include flicker-free, color blindness support, HDR, HDR10, SW split screen, headphone out, tilt, VESA hole 100x100mm, etc. Game-specific features include line of sight display, input lag control, black equalizer, and FreeSync. The input terminals are HDMI and DP 1.4, and the price is 211,610 won.

34 inches

Juyeon Tech Rio Nine X34Q-V2

It is a 34-inch ultra-wide monitor. It has a flat design on a VA panel and the resolution is WQHD (3440×1440). It has features such as a refresh rate of 100Hz, response speed of 1ms (MPRT), brightness of 300cd, contrast ratio of 3,000:1, and color gamut of sRGB 98%. Special features include flicker-free, blue light blocking, anti-glare, anti-glare, HDR, speaker, PBP, PIP, headphone out, tilt, VESA hole 100x100mm, etc. Game-specific features include game mode, aiming line display, and FreeSync. The input terminals are HDMI 2.0 and DP, and the price is 289,000 won.

AlphaScan AOC U34G3XM/EU

It is a 34-inch ultra-wide monitor. It has a flat design on a VA panel and the resolution is WQHD (3440×1440). It has features such as a refresh rate of 144Hz, response speed of 1ms (MPRT), brightness of 300cd, contrast ratio of 3,000:1, color gamut sRGB 121%, and Adobe RGB 103%. Special features include flicker-free, blue light blocking, anti-glare, non-glare, fixed aspect ratio, chroma subsampling, HDR, HDR10, PBP, PIP, SW screen split, HDCP, elevation, tilt, swivel, VESA hole 100x100mm, etc. . Game-specific features include game mode, aiming line display, input lag control, black equalizer, and FreeSync. The input terminals are HDMI 2.0 and DP 1.4, and the price is 419,000 won.

GIGABYTE Gaming G34WQC

It is a 34-inch ultra-wide monitor. It has a curved design with a VA panel and a curvature of 1500R, and the resolution is WQHD (3440×1440). It has features such as a refresh rate of 144Hz, response speed of 1ms (MPRT), brightness of 350cd, contrast ratio of 4,000:1, and color gamut of sRGB 120%. Special features include flicker-free, blue light blocking, anti-glare, non-glare, HDR, VESA HDR 400, speaker, PBP, PIP, elevation, tilt, and VESA hole 100x100mm. Game-specific features include aiming line display, black equalizer, and FreeSync Premium. The input terminals are HDMI 2.0 and DP 1.4, and the price is 457,000 won.

LG Electronics Ultrawide 34WP65C

It is a 34-inch ultra-wide monitor. It has a curved design with a VA panel and a curvature of 1800R, and the resolution is WQHD (3440×1440). It has features such as a refresh rate of 160Hz, response speed of 5ms (GTG), contrast ratio of 3,000:1, and color gamut of sRGB 99%. Special features include flicker-free, HDR, HDR10, speaker, elevation, tilt, and VESA hole 100x100mm. Game-specific features include line of sight display, input lag control, black equalizer, and FreeSync Premium. The input terminals are HDMI 2.0 and DP 1.4, and the price is 486,870 won.

Crossover 34LGD169N

It is a 34-inch ultra-wide monitor. It has a curved design with a curvature of 1900R on a Nano-IPS panel and the resolution is WQHD (3440×1440). It has features such as a refresh rate of 165Hz, response speed of 1ms (OD), brightness of 400cd, contrast ratio of 1,000:1, and color gamut DCI-P3 98%. Special features include flicker-free, blue light blocking, anti-glare, anti-glare, HDR, LED lighting, PBP, PIP, remote control, USB-PD, elevation, tilt, swivel, VESA hole 100x100mm, etc. Game-specific features include game mode, aiming line display, and FreeSync. The input terminals are HDMI 2.0, DP 1.4, and USB Type-C, and the price is 548,990 won.

Samsung Electronics Odyssey OLED G8 G85SB

It is a 34-inch ultra-wide monitor. The OLED panel has a curved design with a curvature of 1800R and the resolution is WQHD (3440×1440). It has features such as a refresh rate of 175Hz, response speed of 1ms (GTG), brightness of 250cd, contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, and color gamut DCI-P3 99%. Special features include flicker-free, blue light blocking, HDR, HDR10+, VESA HDR 400, speaker, LED lighting, remote control, Bluetooth, smart TV, elevation, tilt, and VESA hole 100x100mm. Game-specific features include game mode, aiming line display, and FreeSync Premium. The input terminals are micro HDMI, mini DP, and USB Type-C, and the price is 1,390,000 won.

38 inches or longer

MSI MAG401QR

It is a 40-inch ultra-wide monitor. It has an IPS panel, a flat design, and a resolution of WQHD (3440×1440). It has features such as a refresh rate of 155Hz, response speed of 1ms (MPRT), brightness of 400cd, contrast ratio of 1,000:1, color gamut of sRGB of 118%, and DCI-P3 of 94%. Special features include flicker-free, blue light blocking, anti-glare, anti-glare, HDR, VESA HDR 400, LED lighting, PBP, PIP, USB hub, KVM switch, USB-PD, tilt, VESA hole 100x100mm, etc. Game-specific features include game mode, aiming line display, black equalizer, and Adaptive Sync. The input terminals are HDMI 2.0, DP 1.4, and USB Type-C, and the price is 548,980 won.

LG Electronics Ultrawide 38WR85QC

It is a 38-inch ultra-wide monitor. It has a curved design with a curvature of 2300R on a Nano-IPS panel and the resolution is WQHD+ (3840×1600). It has features such as a refresh rate of 144Hz, response speed of 1ms (GTG), brightness of 450cd, contrast ratio of 1,000:1, and color gamut DCI-P3 98%. Special features include flicker-free, color blindness support, hardware calibration, HDR, HDR10, VESA HDR 600, speaker, PBP, PIP, SW screen split, USB-PD, elevation, tilt, swivel, VESA hole 100x100mm, etc. Game-specific features include aiming line display, input lag control, black equalizer, and FreeSync Primium Pro. The input terminals are HDMI 2.1, DP 1.4, and USB Type-C, and the price is 1,682,030 won.

LG Electronics UltraGear 45GR95QE

It is an ultra-wide monitor measuring 44.5 inches. The OLED panel has a curved design with a curvature of 800R and the resolution is WQHD (3440×1440). It has features such as a refresh rate of 240Hz, response speed of 0.03ms (GTG), brightness of 1000cd, contrast ratio of 1,500,000:1, and color gamut DCI-P3 98.5%. Special features include blue light blocking, anti-glare, anti-glare, color blindness support, hardware calibration, HDR, HDR10, LED lighting, SW screen split, remote control, elevation, tilt, swivel, VESA hole 100x100mm, etc. Game-specific features include aiming line display, input lag control, black equalizer, and FreeSync Primium. The input terminals are HDMI 2.1 and DP 1.4, and the price is 2,429,230 won.

CORSAIR XENEON FLEX 45WQHD240

It is a 45-inch ultra-wide monitor. The OLED panel has a curved design with a curvature of 800R and the resolution is WQHD (3440×1440). It has features such as a refresh rate of 240Hz, response speed of 0.03ms (GTG), brightness of 1000cd, contrast ratio of 1,350,000:1, color gamut sRGB 100%, and DCI-P3 99%. Special features include flicker-free, blue light blocking, anti-glare, anti-glare, HDR, HDR10, USB hub, tilt, and curvature adjustment. Game-specific features such as FreeSync were applied. The input terminals are HDMI 2.1, DP 1.4, and USB Type-C, and the price is 2,917,620 won.

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