Choosing Monitors For A Cozy 9X9 Room

Ultrawide monitors are a great way to upgrade your setup, whether it's for work or play. Ultrawide monitors are a class of displays with either a 21:9 or 32:9 aspect ratio, providing more horizontal screen space compared to traditional 16:9 monitors. This means that ultrawide monitors are physically wide, with most having diagonal screen sizes of 34, 43, or 49 inches.

Ultrawide monitors are great for multitasking, allowing you to open multiple windows simultaneously. They are also ideal for gaming, especially racing games, flight simulators, and other genres that give players a panoramic vista.

When choosing an ultrawide monitor, consider your budget, how you will use it, and the amount of space you have. Additionally, some ultrawide monitors have curved screens, which can provide a more immersive experience.

Ultrawide monitors for gaming

When it comes to gaming monitors, size isn't the only factor to consider. Ultrawide monitors are a great option for gamers looking for an immersive experience, and they come in a range of sizes to fit different room dimensions. Here are some key things to keep in mind when choosing an ultrawide monitor for gaming:

Aspect Ratio

The aspect ratio of a monitor refers to the relationship between its width and height. Ultrawide monitors typically have an aspect ratio of 21:9, which means they are much wider than traditional 16:9 monitors. This extra width provides a more expansive field of view, making games more immersive. However, it's important to note that not all games support ultrawide resolutions, so you may need to tweak some settings to get the best experience.

Resolution

Ultrawide monitors usually have a resolution of 3440 x 1440, which is often referred to as Wide Quad High-Definition (WQHD) or UltraWide QHD (UWQHD). This resolution provides a sharp and detailed image, but it's important to consider the size of the monitor as well. A larger monitor with the same resolution will have a lower pixel density, which can make the image appear less crisp.

Refresh Rate and Response Time

The refresh rate of a monitor is the number of times it can update the displayed image per second, and it's measured in Hertz (Hz). A higher refresh rate results in smoother motion and can provide a competitive advantage in fast-paced games. Look for a monitor with a refresh rate of at least 120Hz, and preferably higher if you're a serious gamer.

The response time of a monitor refers to how quickly it can change the colour of a pixel, and it's usually measured in milliseconds (ms). A lower response time means less motion blur and ghosting, which is important for fast-paced games or competitive gaming. Look for a monitor with a response time of 1ms or lower.

Panel Technology

Ultrawide monitors use different types of panel technologies, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some common types:

• VA panels offer excellent contrast and deep blacks but may have slower response times.
• IPS panels have better colour accuracy and viewing angles than VA panels but may have lower contrast ratios.
• OLED panels provide the best picture quality with perfect black levels, infinite contrast, and fast response times. However, they are more expensive and have a risk of burn-in if static images are displayed for extended periods.
• Mini-LED panels are a newer technology that offers improved brightness and contrast over traditional LED-backlit displays. They are less expensive than OLED panels but don't offer the same perfect black levels.

Budget

Ultrawide monitors vary widely in price, so it's important to consider your budget. You can find good budget options for around $300, but they may have lower refresh rates, slower response times, or less advanced panel technologies. If you're looking for the best possible picture quality and performance, be prepared to spend over $1,000.

Recommendations

• The Dell Alienware AW3423DWF is an excellent option if you're looking for a premium experience. It features a 34-inch QD-OLED panel with a 165Hz refresh rate and a near-instantaneous response time. The picture quality is exceptional, with deep blacks and vivid colours, making it ideal for HDR gaming.
• If you're on a tighter budget, the LG 34GP83A-B is a great option. It has a 34-inch IPS panel with a 160Hz refresh rate and a decent response time. The picture quality isn't as good as more expensive options, but it's still a solid choice for gaming.
• For a larger option, consider the Samsung Odyssey G9 G95NC. This monitor is a behemoth with a 57-inch screen and a dual-4K resolution. It offers superb clarity and detail, with a pixel density that matches a 32-inch 4K monitor. However, it comes with a hefty price tag.
• If you want the best OLED option, the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDM is a great choice. It features a 34-inch LG-powered OLED panel with a blazing-fast 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.03ms response time. The picture quality is exceptional, but it comes with a high price tag.

Ultrawide monitors for content creators

Ultrawide monitors are a great choice for content creators, offering more screen real estate and an immersive experience. The BenQ PD3420Q, for instance, offers 30% more screen area than traditional 16:9 screens, allowing creators to work on more things side by side. This is particularly useful for photographers and videographers who can have longer timelines when editing videos or visualise more artboards in illustrator.

The Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U4025QW) is another excellent choice for content creators, offering high resolution and pixel density in a large-screen ultrawide monitor. It also has a thorough assortment of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 connectors and six downstream USB ports, making it a great choice for videographers and other creative professionals.

The LG UltraGear 38GN950 is a fantastic option for photographers and video editors, offering a 1ms response time, a 160Hz refresh rate, and a 98% DCI-P3 colour gamut support. The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is another premium option with a 32:9 aspect ratio, delivering stunning HDR and impressive tech.

The BenQ EW3880R is a more affordable option, ideal for those who want a monitor for both work and entertainment. It has a subtle curve, Ultra HD resolution, and eye-comfort features that boost productivity.

Ultrawide monitors for business

Ultrawide monitors are a great way to boost productivity in the office, especially for multitaskers. These widescreen monitors offer a larger canvas for your digital work and play, making it easier to reference multiple windows side by side.

Ultrawide monitors are typically 21:9 or 32:9 in their aspect ratio, which is much wider than a normal monitor, giving you more horizontal screen space to work with. This means you can have three full-size browser windows visible at the same time. If you work with large spreadsheets, you can see more columns at once, and if you're working with video or any other format with a timeline, you can see more of the timeline on the screen.

Ultrawide monitors are also a good substitute for multi-monitor arrays. A 32:9 monitor is twice the width of a 16:9 monitor with the same vertical pixel count. A 49-inch ultrawide with a 32:9 aspect ratio gives you the screen size equivalent to two 27-inch monitors placed side by side.

Ultrawide business monitors also tend to have an abundance of ports, including at least one HDMI and one DisplayPort input, both upstream and downstream USB ports, and USB Type-C ports. With many newer ultrawide business monitors, the USB-C port can transfer data as well as the video signal and simultaneously power or charge the laptop from which it's displaying the image.

Dell U4025QW

This 40-inch monitor is a great choice if you don't need the gaming features of the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF and the Samsung Odyssey G9/G95SC S49CG95, or you're concerned about burn-in and need something mainly for office work. It has a high 5120x2160 resolution, which is the equivalent of an ultrawide 4K screen, so text clarity is extremely sharp. It also has a ton of extra features, including a massive USB hub and a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 4 support and up to 140W of power delivery, ideal for connecting power-hungry laptops. It also has a KVM switch, which makes it easy to use the same keyboard and mouse with different computers connected to the monitor.

Dell Alienware AW3423DWF

This 34-inch monitor is a fantastic high-end monitor that delivers outstanding picture quality and is an amazing choice for gaming and watching content like shows and movies. It uses a QD-OLED panel that displays deep and inky blacks in dark rooms and a wide range of vivid colors, which is great for watching life-like and realistic content. It has a near-instantaneous response time, so fast-moving objects are extremely sharp and clear, and it has a 165Hz refresh rate that's good enough for most gamers. However, one of the bigger downsides to getting a QD-OLED like this is that it has a risk of burn-in with constant exposure to the same static elements over time, which is problematic for office use.

Samsung Odyssey OLED G9/G95SC S49CG95

If you find an ultrawide monitor too small, then this 49-inch super ultrawide is a better alternative. It has a QD-OLED panel like the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF, so it delivers remarkable picture quality and fantastic gaming performance. But it has a higher 240Hz refresh rate, which is ideal for competitive gaming if your setup can take advantage of it. It also has a built-in smart platform that makes it easy to stream content without the need for a PC, which is great for watching ultrawide movies. However, because of its 32:9 aspect ratio, you'll see black bars on the sides of most content. It also has the same risk of burn-in as the Dell monitor.

Dell S3422DWG

If you don't need a high-end work monitor like the Dell U4025QW and find the Samsung Odyssey G9/G95SC S49CG95 too expensive, the Dell S3422DWG is a good option in the budget category. It has a 144Hz refresh rate, which is good enough for entry-level gamers and has okay motion handling. It performs well in bright and dark rooms because it gets bright enough to fight glare and displays deep blacks. However, it has narrow viewing angles, which is disappointing if you need to share the screen with someone next to you.

Dell UltraSharp 38 USB-C Hub Monitor (U3824DW)

This 38-inch ultrawide productivity monitor is ideal for a small or home office. Its modestly curved screen is more compact than the more common 45-to-49-inch productivity panels, yet is capable of multitasking wizardry. The Dell Display Manager app gives you great leeway in tiling windows. The U3824DW's IPS Black panel provides superior contrast, and it easily covers the full sRGB color space. It also has a terrific range of ports, making it a near-perfect monitor for home offices and small businesses

Ultrawide monitors for home offices

Ultrawide monitors are a great option for home offices, especially if you're looking for a monitor that can handle multiple windows and boost your productivity. Ultrawide monitors provide a panoramic view, giving you more horizontal screen space to work with.

Dell UltraSharp 38 USB-C Hub Monitor (U3824DW)

The Dell UltraSharp U3824DW is a 38-inch ultrawide monitor ideal for small or home office setups. Its modestly curved screen is more compact than the typical 45-49 inch ultrawide monitors, making it a good option if you're tight on space. The Dell Display Manager app lets you easily tile windows for multitasking. The monitor has a high contrast IPS Black panel, full sRGB colour coverage, and a wide range of ports, including DisplayPort, HDMI, and USB-C.

Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U4025QW)

The Dell U4025QW is a 40-inch ultrawide monitor with a high resolution of 5120 x 2160 and a fast refresh rate of 120Hz. It features a high-quality IPS Black panel with excellent contrast and image quality. It also has an impressive assortment of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 connectors and six downstream USB ports, making it a great choice for creative professionals who need a robust docking station.

Philips Brilliance 499P9H

The Philips Brilliance 499P9H is a 49-inch ultrawide monitor with a 32:9 aspect ratio, providing an immense screen real estate for multitaskers. It has a curved screen, good colour fidelity, and supports HDR content. It includes a Windows Hello-compatible webcam and a built-in KVM switch. While it is pricey, it's a good choice for offices seeking a multitasking monitor with a great user experience.

BenQ PD3420Q

The BenQ PD3420Q is a 34-inch ultrawide monitor that offers a massive amount of screen real estate, making it easy to fit multiple windows side by side. It has a built-in KVM switch, allowing you to connect and switch between multiple devices with ease. The monitor has a sleek and stylish design, powerful features, and excellent image quality. However, it is more expensive compared to similar products.

Dell U4025QW

The Dell U4025QW is a 40-inch ultrawide monitor that you can purchase directly from Dell's website. Its large screen makes it ideal for multitasking, as you can easily open multiple windows next to each other. It has a massive USB hub with five USB-C and five USB-A ports, and a KVM switch. The USB-C port supports Thunderbolt 4 and provides at least 90W of power delivery, making it suitable for connecting power-hungry laptops. However, this monitor is expensive.

When choosing an ultrawide monitor for your home office, consider factors such as screen size, resolution, connectivity options, and your available desk space. Ultrawide monitors typically range from 34 to 49 inches in size and offer a wide range of features to enhance your productivity.

Super ultrawide monitors

Features of Super Ultrawide Monitors

These monitors offer a range of features, including:

• High refresh rates of up to 500Hz for smooth and responsive gaming
• Adaptive sync technologies like Nvidia's G-Sync or AMD's FreeSync for improved graphics performance
• USB-C ports for data transfer, video signal, and device charging
• KVM switches for controlling multiple computers with a single keyboard and mouse
• RGB lighting and joystick controls for customisation and easy navigation

Examples of Super Ultrawide Monitors

• Samsung Odyssey G9: A 49-inch monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate, 0.03ms response time, and support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. It features a QD-OLED panel for vivid colours and deep blacks.
• LG 45GR65DC-B: A 45-inch gaming monitor with a 200Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. It offers a QHD resolution and VESA DisplayHDR 600 for enhanced visuals.
• Dell UltraSharp U4025QW: A 40-inch monitor ideal for creative professionals, offering a high resolution of 5120 x 2160, a 120Hz refresh rate, and IPS Black panel technology for superior contrast. It also includes a Thunderbolt 4 hub and a range of USB ports.
• Philips Brilliance 499P9H: A 49-inch monitor with a 5K horizontal resolution, good colour fidelity, and HDR support. It includes a built-in KVM switch and a Windows Hello-compatible webcam.
• LG 49WL95C-W: A 49-inch monitor with a resolution of 5120 x 1440, a 60Hz refresh rate, and IPS panel technology. It features a USB-C port for device charging and data transfer, as well as built-in speakers.

Frequently asked questions