If you’re serious about improving your gaming setup, you’ve certainly heard about ultrawide monitors. While they might seem unnecessary at first, more and more people are getting a lot out of the added benefits of ultrawide and curved displays. So what exactly are the advantages of these high-end monitors, and how can they elevate your gaming experience overall?
For some, the added advantages of a larger screen display when playing games would be worth it. It depends somewhat on the games you’re playing. If you’re playing fast-paced games like FPSs, ultrawides do offer the distinct advantage of increased awareness. Open-world games may be more immersive.
While it seems like ultrawides are just the current hottest trend, they really can offer a whole different user experience. If you’re a gamer, you’re probably always on the lookout for something to step-up your performance and experience. But not all of us have the cash to throw into the latest tech. So the question is, are ultrawide monitors worth it?
Is Gaming on an Ultrawide Monitor Worth It?
While you might think that ultrawide vs. regular monitors is just a matter of opinion, there are some fairly concrete reasons why you might want to consider the larger option. Plenty of people have made the switch and may never go back. These screens give them an extraordinary gaming experience with an element of something special.
Enhanced Field of Vision
The first thing that jumps out about ultrawide monitors is the increased field of vision for playing. With regular 16:9 monitors or even a television, you’ll always have cropped edges or a black border.
You can get rid of those annoying edges by using an ultrawide monitor. They increase the overall FoV, giving you access to areas you would usually need to pan to view.
In gaming, this is great for more fast-paced gameplay. Instead of having to turn your camera to view what’s beyond the edges of the screen, you can see a little farther with your overall view. With some games, those few seconds of wasted panning could mean the difference between victory and defeat.
Natural Viewing Angles
Here’s the thing; regular monitors in 16:9 aren’t normal for our eyes. If you’ve ever had a headache after spending all night staring at your screen, you know the kind of strain that eye fatigue causes.
While you can try things like blue light filters, there is no getting around the unnatural element of the shape of your computer monitor.
While ultrawide monitors still utilize all the same technology as regular aspect ratio monitors, the extra screen space (3440×1440) gives the eyes something a bit more comfortably shaped to look at.
This is especially true if you use a curved monitor. Curved displays are the best for the eyes and can provide a more immersive gaming experience.
Other Features
If gaming is not the first thing on your mind for deciding your monitor, having an ultrawide one, like this LG 21:9 UltraWide Monitor (on Amazon), can offer other great benefits as well. First, all that extra space is great for people who like to, or need to, have a lot to look at on their screen.
We’re looking at you, multi-taskers. Having multiple apps open on-screen at the same time becomes much more manageable when you have more screen space to work with.
Another great benefit is when you watch films. Since the aspect ratio of an ultrawide monitor is closer to the natural ratio of films, it means you’re going to get a better film viewing experience too. Some people even prefer the viewing experience of the ultrawide monitor to high-end TVs.
How Do Ultrawide Monitors Enhance Gaming?
Let’s talk about gaming since that is probably why you’re here in the first place. We’ve already touched on some important elements that make an ultrawide gaming monitor that much better for your field of vision. But this applies to all kinds of games, and even types of software applications. The point is that you’re going to see a difference.
While it’s a preference for some, there is no denying the popularity of ultrawide monitors for the exact reason we just mentioned. This is especially the case for specific game genres, that tend to be more fast-paced.
Are Ultrawide Monitors Good for FPS?
Think for a second about the tactical advantage of using an ultrawide monitor during a first-person shooter (FPS). In these games, it’s all about making quick decisions and split-second calls. Introducing an ultrawide monitor into your gaming system means you’re adding a whole lot more than just shock value to your rig.
Most modern FPS games have an ultrawide monitor setting. This gives you those critical extra inches of viewing space; less time turning the camera to see your enemies and more time shooting.
These extra seconds can give you an advantage. So much so that some people argue it’s pretty close to cheating.
A lot can be said of the mental perspective too. Since you’re more immersed in the game, it might give you the mental edge over your opponents. If you have a curved ultrawide monitor, like this Samsung 49” Curved Gaming Monitor (on Amazon), you’re increasing that immersion level even more.
Is 3440×1440 Better Than 2560×1440?
Is all the hype around ultrawide real? Do the extra screen space and resolution give you an advantage over a player on a 2560×1440 screen? At the end of the day, that’s going to come down to how you feel when you’re gaming on an ultrawide and what games you play.
You get a tactical advantage with games like FPSs, but if you don’t play those, that extra space might not be utilized, or even needed, in the same way. Sure, it’s nice to have the bigger resolution for single-player games, but it could be overkill sometimes. So it’s really about your preference.
One game where you may consider using an ultrawide is flight simulators like Microsoft Flight Simulator (on Amazon), to get the real immersive experience. In these games, that extra space is utilized by the tools you need to operate the game.
While you can use regular monitors, you are getting extra features when using an ultrawide with these games, so why not make the most of the advantage?
How Much does an Ultrawide Gaming Setup Cost?
Putting aside all those advantages, there is one major downside to owning an ultrawide, and that’s the cost. But the reason for this might be different than you think. Well, at least part of the equation. First, let’s talk about the upfront cost of the monitor itself.
Overall, you can expect to spend anywhere from $300 to $2000 on a good ultrawide monitor. Of course, the higher-end models do offer advanced features like even higher resolutions and aspect ratios.
Another factor that you’ll need to consider is how you’ll be powering all those extra pixels. The reality is, that extra screen space is going to cost you. To keep up with the resolution and aspect ratio, you’ll need to have a graphics card that can stand up to the challenge. If you have a mid-tier to high-end GPU from the last few years, you shouldn’t have any problems running games in ultrawide resolution, but you may see a slight difference in image sharpness.
You may also have the higher resolution of an ultrawide monitor (3440×1440). If this is the case, you’ll need to consider that extra GPU strain as well. You may need to replace your graphics card if you intend on going with an ultrawide monitor.
Is Ultrawide Gaming Worth It For You?
We’ve already talked about the worthiness of ultrawide monitors, but at the end of the day, it’s all about you. If you want one, that’s great; add one to your setup. In most cases, there are two types of people who go for an ultrawide setup.
The first is someone who thinks the extra space will give them an advantage in their favorite games. If this is you, then adding an ultrawide won’t just be about adding the newest technology; it will be about improving your gaming performance. If an ultrawide will give you a more competitive edge in your game, then why not use one.
The second person just wants the latest and greatest, no matter what it is. Right now, that means ultrawide monitors. If you already have an awesome setup, adding a new monitor and possibly a new graphics card maybe just a part of your regular upgrade schedule.
These two groups usually aren’t too concerned with costs though, so of course, to them, ultrawides are well worth it. But if you don’t fall into either category, then you should know getting into ultrawide gaming can get expensive. You’ll need to buy the monitor and possibly a new card to keep up with the new aspect ratio. This stuff will add up. While a monitor will set you back around $500, a quality card can fetch twice that.
What Size Ultrawide Monitor Should I Get?
There are two sizes of ultrawide monitors that we’ve touched on so far. That would be 2560×1080 and 3440×1440. But monitors also use screen size. For ultrawides, you usually see screen sizes of anywhere from 25” to 35”. This is the diagonal size of the screen.
32” ultrawides fit into a good happy medium. If you’ve got the money then a 34” really is a jump in quality. Also, if you can, you should seriously consider getting a curved model as they seriously do offer that extra boost in the overall experience.