The Best Ultrawide Gaming Monitors in 2023

Ultrawide gaming monitors are an evolving industry over the last few years with a major shakeup being provided to the entire ultrawide industry with the launch of the Samsung G9, the world’s first commercially popular ultrawide monitor, and the subsequent G9 Neo, which offered best-in-class hardware in a form factor that was rarely seen as acceptable to gamers. Since then, the market for ultrawide monitors has seen steady demand as more games support them and consider the 21:9 aspect ratio a more standard offering than ever before.

At the same time, multiple monitors brands have carved themselves niches in this growing industry, making it harder to pick the best of the best in the market when it comes to ultrawide displays as tradeoffs are often heavy with VA, IPS LED panels not being the only ones in the running with LG’s OLED and Samsung’s QD-OLED offerings also fighting to get a chunk of the market along with Mini-LED which sees many potential consumers getting confused by the sheer amount of high-end choices.

The team at GameRant takes a closer look at some of the best in the business that we have handpicked from a plethora of ultrawide offerings available today.

Samsung 34 Inch Odyssey G5 Ultrawide Gaming Monitor

Best Overall Ultrawide Gaming Monitor

An Ode To High-Performance Gaming

The Samsung 34 Inch Odyssey G5 Ultrawide Gaming Monitor (GT55T) is an excellent WQHD resolution bearing ultrawide monitor that offers a relatively high refresh rate at 165Hz, low response times (1ms MPRT), and a middling price tag that makes it a monitor worthy of your consideration for ultrawide gaming

Screen Size

34′

Resolution

WQHD (3,440 x 1,440)

Max. Refresh Rate

165Hz

Brand

Samsung

Response Time

1ms (MPRT)

Pros

• Has a relatively low response time and input lag versus the competition
• Has above-average refresh rates support, clocking in 165Hz
• Offers VRR support thanks to FreeSync Premium and GSync compatibility in tow

Cons

• Freesync is limited to DisplayPort only, making this a less-capable monitor for console gaming which might be restricted to HDMI output

The Samsung G5 Odyssey 34′ is a capable ultrawide gaming monitor that delivers a decent refresh rate coupled with an excellent resolution for its screen size that ensures that it is a viable, yet affordable ultrawide gaming monitor that users can consider as a primary gaming and productivity display in 2023. While it is a far cry from its higher-end G9 Neo sibling, it does offer considerably better price to performance and a decent VA panel in tow that should not disappoint users for the price on offer.

At the same time, the G5 Odyssey is a unit that doesn’t pass on its FreeSync premium certification to consoles like the current generation Xbox Series X and PS5; It is limited to only doing so via DisplayPort, and while fixes do exist, they are an added inconvenience for what should be a no-brainer offering from a current generation ultrawide monitor.

Bottom Line: If you need a capable Ultrawide display on a budget and a slightly higher refresh rate is important to you, the Samsung G5 Odyssey 34′ has you covered at a great price.

Alienware AW3423DW Gaming Monitor

The Best Quantum Dot Ultrawide Gaming Monitor

QD-OLED Mastery Galore

$1100 $1313 Save $213

The Alienware AW3423DW Gaming Monitor is an excellent gaming monitor in the Ultrawide department that uses its QD-OLED screen to full benefit, showcasing Nvidia GSync Ultimate, perfect blacks, a very low response time and a slightly above average refresh rate of 175Hz, making it a compelling, if expensive Ultrawider monitor for gaming

Screen Size

34.2 Inches

Resolution

WQHD (3440×1440)

Max. Refresh Rate

175

Brand

Dell Alienware

Response Time

0.1ms GTG response time

Pros

• Offers Nvidia’s GSync Ultimate out of the box which is arguably one of the best VRR implementations in the industry
• Has perfect blacks and viewing angles out of the box
• Has excellent HDR out of the box when compared to most gaming-grade monitors

Cons

• Somewhat pricey for its form factor
• Limited console compatibility due to its 21:9 form factor and subsequent resolution limitations
• Not the brightest monitor by any measure; Somewhat underperforms in brighter or well-lit areas.

The Alienware AW3423DW Gaming Monitor is an excellent QD-OLED gaming monitor that ups the ante for ultrawide displays. With excellent HDR in play along with Nvidia’s premium GSync Ultimate VVR tech along with a 0.1ms response time makes it one of the fastest premium gaming monitors in 2023. The ultrawide form factor is just another plus for people looking for additional screen real estate for their gaming or productivity needs.

The AW3423DW is a QD-OLED monitor. That means it will have better brightness than standard OLED models while also offering the same perfect black color reproduction that is synonymous with OLED displays. While burn-in is a larger issue with OLED monitors than with TVs and QD-OLED seems to have a slightly worse record than LG’s OLED TVs in this regard, for most casual users that do not have a static HUD or play a variety of games, this might not be such a concern but can be a situation to be considered even if Alienware does offer excellent warranty support for the same.

Bottom Line: if you are looking for an ultrawide QD-OLED monitor, the AW3423DW should be your first stop. With powerful features and an excellent QD-OLED display, it offers a no-holds-barred experience for users willing to pay the premium.

LG 45′ UltraGear™ OLED 45GR95QE-B

Best Ultrawide OLED Gaming Monitor

OLED Master Race Goes Ultrawide

$1500 $1700 Save $200

The LG 45′ UltraGear™ OLED 45GR95QE-B is an excellent Ultrawide OLED monitor that packs the latest from LG’s display tech stack into the productivity and gaming-focused ultrawide form factor and does so in style. With a 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time combined on a screen that boasts a unique take on screen real estate.

Brand

LG

Resolution

3440 x 1440

Refresh Rate

240Hz

Screen Size

44.5″

Ports

HDMI, DisplayPort, USB

Display Technology

OLED

Aspect Ratio

21:9

Screen Brightness

1000 Nits Peak

Display Weight

24.03 lb

Mounting Options

VESA 100 x 100 mm

Sound

No Speakers, Headphone Out available

HDR

Yes, HDR10

Variable Refresh

Yes

Response Time

0.03ms

Pros

• One of the best-looking displays in the market thanks to its OLED panel and excellent peak brightness (for an OLED monitor)
• Offers 240Hz refresh rates, which makes it one of the fastest OLED displays in terms of refresh rates in 2023
• Has an industry-leading 0.03ms response time, making it ideal for FPS games

Cons

• The resolution is somewhat underwhelming for close-up use as a productivity-centric monitor
• Pricey, despite recent price cuts given its form factor and competition

The LG 45′ UltraGear™ OLED 45GR95QE-B is an excellent OLED-based gaming monitor that holds its own against some of the best in the ultrawide business while offering its own niche of ultra-fast refresh rates coupled with some of the lowest response times possible currently in the industry, making it a unique product on offer. With high peak brightness and excellent color reproduction on offer, the 45′ Ultragear is a sight to behold – and that is without considering its subtle RGB effects at the back that makes it look more premium than arguably any other monitor on our current list of ultrawide units.

At the same time, the resolution seems a little less sharp upfront given the 45-inch size of the display when using it for productivity-based workloads, and does have some issues as pointed out by various users about the whites having slightly yellowish tinges, an experience both we and some consumer reviews share based on our early impressions of the monitor.

Bottom Line: If you need a fast, FPS-Centric monitor that looks fantastic and the price is not an issue, the LG 45′ UltraGear™ OLED 45GR95QE-B more than has you covered with its stellar offerings in the ultrawide department.

SAMSUNG Odyssey Neo G9 G95NA Gaming Monitor

Best Ultra Ultrawide Gaming Monitor

A Class Apart With Screen Real Estate To Show

$1449.99 $2300 Save $850.01

This Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 G96NA is the highest-end gaming monitor one might ever need. It comes with a massive 49-inch curved Mini LED display panel, which features a 4K resolution. While it is sized like a TV, it is perfect for gaming since it supports up to 240 Hz refresh rate and a fast 1-millisecond response time.

Even with lower frame rates, it delivers smooth gameplay on both AMD and Nvidia GPUs thanks to support for both G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro. The aspect ratio on the screen is unique, wider than ultrawide 32:9, which is essentially like two regular monitors side-by-side.

Screen Size

49′

Resolution

5,120 x 1,440

Max. Refresh Rate

240Hz

Brand

Samsung

Response Time

1ms (GTG)

Pros

• Offers some of the best-in class peak brightness for both, an ultrawide and a panel of this size and shape
• Comes with a Mini-LED display that does 240Hz, making it easily the best gaming monitor in its own form factor until a replacement arrives
• has HDMI 2.1 support, allowing it to both, work with consoles and PCs (240Hz is limited to DisplayPort only)

Cons

• Has limited software support for games thanks to most games not accounting for the somewhat non-standard 32:9 aspect ratio that the G9 Neo commands
• Is quite expensive compared to most ultrawide displays on offer

The SAMSUNG Odyssey Neo G9 G95NA Gaming Monitor is a monstrous Mini-LED gaming monitor that outdoes its competition thanks to its unique form factor and excellent peak brightness that also factors into its spectacular HDR performance while pushing an impressive amount of screen real estate in tow – if you are willing to foot the bill. With a 240Hz refresh rate, it is easily ahead of the curve when it comes to gaming performance while offering relatively low input lag to further improve your gaming performance.

However, it has issues with games that do not natively support it; most games barely support ultrawide monitors with their 21:9 aspect ratios. The G9 Neo takes it a step further, pushing a 32:9 aspect ratio that means that playing older titles as well as some indie ones might be a chore, and even when it is not, it might not make use of the screen to the extent offered by Samsung. Users with smaller gaming desks might also find it hard to accommodate the G9 Neo which takes up a tremendous amount of space and also weighs much more than what your standard run-of-the-mill monitor would.

Bottom Line: Buy it if you like to dabble in the latest tech when it comes to displays but be prepared to settle for playing certain games at lower resolutions at times to accommodate a display that is generally not considered by developers as a priority when it comes to development.

GIGABYTE G34WQC 34′ 144Hz Gaming Monitor

The Best Budget Ultrawide Gaming Monitor

Ambitious Budget Performer

$370 $400 Save $30

The GIGABYTE G34WQC 34′ 144Hz Gaming Monitor is a capable 144Hz 2K-esque ultrawide gaming monitor that delivers adequate performance without costing an arm and a leg in the process.

Screen Size

34′

Resolution

3440 x 1440

Max. Refresh Rate

144Hz

Brand

Gigabyte

Response Time

1ms MPRT

Pros

• Very good build quality for a budget-oriented ultrawide gaming monitor with packaging to boot
• Supports both Nvidia GSync (compatible) and AMD FreeSync Premium for VRR
• Uses a curved 1500R approach to its design that can be hit-and-miss depending on whether this is your only monitor at hand

Cons

• The design is somewhat simple and feels more like a standard monitor than a gaming one
• HDR is not as impressive as some of the other options we looked at

The GIGABYTE G34WQC 34′ 144Hz Gaming Monitor is an excellent contender for our best budget ultrawide monitor, offering excellent specifications and a decent screen that can do 144Hz at a price that is easy to digest for most people looking to buy an ultrawide monitor. It supports both FreeSync Premium and is GSync compatible, making it capable of VRR performance irrespective of what GPU you might have picked to pair with this.

It isn’t without faults, however; much like most gaming monitors which have limited dimming zones or brightness, it does have sub-par HDR performance, and the design, while practical, looks somewhat unrefined for those looking to decorate their gaming space with more sleek, premium-looking hardware

Bottom line: If looks don’t bother you, the GIGABYTE G34WQC 34′ 144Hz Gaming Monitor is an excellent performer at a price that is hard to beat.

ASUS ROG Strix 29.5′ XG309CM Gaming Monitor

The Best High Refresh Rate Ultrawide Gaming Monitor

High Refresh FPS-Centric Gaming

The ASUS ROG Strix 29.5′ XG309CM Gaming Monitor is a different kind of ultrawide gaming monitor that prioritizes refresh rate above all else and delivers in that regard at a price that may be easy to stomach for end-users looking for a compact, high-refresh-rate Ultrawide monitor.

Screen Size

29.5′

Resolution

WFHD (2560 x 1080)

Max. Refresh Rate

220Hz (Overclocked)

Brand

Asus ROG

Response Time

1ms GTG

Pros

• Overclocks quite well compared to the competition, and can do upto 220Hz when overclocked on the refresh rate
• Decent value for money; One of the cheapest Ultrawide monitors money can buy that push past 165Hz
• Integrates AMD FreeSync Premium and is also GSync compatible for VRR
• Has KVM support out of the box

Cons

• The resolution is somewhat low thanks to the monitor using WFHD for a slightly smaller panel which can look a little less sharper than the competition.

The ASUS ROG Strix 29.5′ XG309CM Gaming Monitor is a monitor that focuses exclusively on a high refresh rate above and beyond anything else as it aims to deliver a high refresh rate at a somewhat acceptable resolution for gaming while staying relatively balanced in the pricing department for a premium ultrawide gaming monitor. It does tend to undercut itself with the WFHD resolution that many will not be a fan of today, as well as its somewhat weird port placement.

That being said, it does excel with an excellent 220Hz overclockable refresh rate coupled with a dedicated KVM switch for users looking to move between work and play on a flick of a button who also appreciate the extra screen real estate on offer. The ROG branding and being part of the XG lineup is just icing on the cake for its target audience of FPS gamers who will appreciate its offerings while others might hate or love the tradeoff it represents in resolution and refresh rate in a relatively small form factor as far as an ultrawide monitor goes.

Bottom line: The ASUS ROG Strix XG309CM is not everyone’s cup of tea. But if you value high refresh rates in a compact ultrawide form factor, it is pretty much your best (and most cost-effective) ultrawide offering with its unique overclock.

Samsung G95SC G9 OLED Ultra-Ultra Wide Monitor

The Best Ultrawide Monitor Money Can Buy

G9 Goes OLED

The Samsung G95SC G9 OLED Ultra-Ultra Wide Monitor is Samsung’s latest take on the premium ultra-ultrawide monitor G9 lineup, harnessing OLED technology for better display quality and infinite contrast on offer while offering 240Hz refresh rates and 0.03ms response times into what is a potent contender for the best gaming display money can buy in 2023

Brand

Samsung

Resolution

5120 x 1440

Refresh Rate

240Hz

Screen Size

49′

Ports

HDMI, DP, USB

Display Technology

OLED

Aspect Ratio

32:9

Battery

N/A

Screen Brightness

250 (Typical)

Display Weight

28.4 Ibs

Sound

Yes

Tilt

-2° ~15.0°

HDR

Yes

Variable Refresh

Yes, FreeSync Premium Pro

Response Time

0.03ms

Pros

• Offers an extremely high refresh rate at 240Hz for an ultrawide monitor
• Matches LG’s OLED offering’s 0.03ms response times
• Is arguably one of the best-looking ultrawide screens on offer in 2023
• Excellent for productivity; Can behave as 2 separate 16:9 regular monitors on demand
• Has many Smart TV-centric functionality and app support (Has Samsung’s Tizen OS)

Cons

• Quite pricey compared to the competition
• Has no official support for Nvidia’s GSYNC in its latest iteration (FreeSync is still on offer)

The Samsung G95SC Ultrawide OLED monitor is set to release on the 26th of June this year, and it comes packed with a host of features that has most reviewers impressed as the G9 series finally goes OLED in 2023. Offering razer-sharp visuals, infinite contrast, and extremely low input lag, the G95SC, which also has TV-like functionality, and features the Tizen OS as a key value addition factor to the monitor that is to take the mantle of the highest-end Samsung Ultra-ultra-wide monitor in 2023.

The G95SC is Samsung’s first attempt to push for OLED technology with the G9 lineup which has been Samsung’s premium gaming monitor at a monstrously large 32:9 aspect ratio; this is essentially 2 medium-sized wide-screen monitors in 1 to put its size into perspective. It currently comes with $250 in store credit at various retailers, including Amazon which makes it a slightly less pricey bitter pill to swallow at an effective price of just under $2,000 for what is arguably the best monitor in 2023.

Bottom Line: The Samsung G95SC, currently on preorder is poised to become the best Samsung Monitor on offer, bar none in 2023 as it trades winning blows with most of the ultrawide competition it is set to compete with.

Why Should You Get An UltraWide Monitor?

More Screen Real Estate: An Ultrawide monitor simply translates to more screen real estate. That means you have a larger desktop, more space for a HUD in games, and the ability to split screens to get more crucial information on the monitor such as a secondary display area that can display system information, communication applications, and more depending on your needs and preferences.

Productivity: Ultrawide monitors as noted above offer considerably more real estate than standard wide-screen monitors due to their unique resolutions. While they are smaller in terms of actual screen size than a comparable widescreen monitor of the same size (in inches), they tend to be larger in terms of offered sizes. Ultrawides being able to emulate a widescreen while allowing for spare screen real estate especially when using 16:9 applications allows you to get more done on the same screen without needing a secondary monitor in some cases, but it does require some time to get used to before you can get any meaningful benefits from a larger, ultrawide screen.

For those looking for a replacement for a dual monitor setup, something like Samsung’s G9 offerings which is essentially two 16:9 monitors fused at the hip in a very appealing design, might be the way to go instead of a standard 21:9 ultrawide monitor.

Superior Immersion For Games: While ultrawide monitors are not tailored for all content as many titles, particularly competitive online games cater to or heavily prefer standard wide-screen monitors, when ultrawide (or ultra-ultrawide) resolutions are natively supported by titles, they do make for a far more superior level of immersion than most of their competing display platforms, using the added screen real estate to maximum effect. Titles such as Forza Horizon, Red Dead Redemption 2 & Microsoft Flight Simulator make excellent use of the added screen real estate for most users.

FAQ:

Q: What choices do I have when it comes to Ultrawide monitors?

A: Ultrawide monitors come in many shapes, sizes, and resolutions. You can get your pick of low to high-resolution offerings that can be as small as 29′ or as large as 49′ while offering refresh rates that start at 60Hz and go up to as much as 240Hz or higher depending on the model you are looking at.

Q: What is a KVM Switch Monitor?

A: A KVM switch in a nutshell is a device or peripheral that allows end-users to switch the Keyboard, Video and Mouse interfaces seamlessly with the flick of a button. KVM Switch Monitors are simply monitors that have this functionality built in.