Why is a Curved Monitor Better Than a Flat Monitor?

For the avid gamer or competitive player, style of play is critical. You want to get the most out of your time and effort, so finding the right balance between immersion and awareness is universally important.

In searching for that ideal middle ground and answering questions about your preferred approach, there are a few important reasons to consider a curved computer monitor.

There are also questions you might want to ask yourself. For example, does it offer a serious advantage over traditional displays?

With a conventional PC monitor and even ultrawide displays, how the viewer is situated can determine a lot about their experience - and the impact can often be greatest with larger display models. Sit too far to the left or right, and you start seeing distortion and warping of certain shapes.

In the context of gaming, where focus and seamless visual rendering are everything, it’s easy to see why the idea of maximizing your view would be attractive. Enhanced viewing with a 4K curved monitor changes your experience in the game. It does more than just look cool, it can actually increase your performance in games that require speed and accuracy.

Of course, the best fit greatly depends on your personal computing needs, whether for gaming, design work, or everyday multitasking.

The great debate: curved versus flat monitor

For PC gamers and professional graphic designers, knowing your preferred style of play and work is important when committing to any new monitor setup. And with a curved monitor, gamers and designers alike will get the most out of watching from a central viewing angle - otherwise, the curved advantage may be minimized.

If you’re a gamer looking for a totally immersive experience, an ultrawide curved monitor may be the best way to capitalize on the ideal viewing angle. When you’re at the center of the action, you maximize your view of both the left and right fields. You’re also oriented roughly along the central axis of your gaming monitor.

As part of the HP curved monitor series, we’ve built in several of our own features to get the most out of this viewing concept. Those include a micro-edge bezel to provide the absolute minimum in visual distraction on models like the gaming-optimized HP OMEN X 35-inch Curved Display and the uber-stylish HP ENVY 34-inch Curved Display.

The more enclosed view also cuts down on ambient lighting. While a well-lit room or an open window could present some serious display glare issues, a curved monitor's surface works to mitigate that intrusion.

Is a curved gaming monitor right for you?

While high refresh rate and speedy response time may be the foundation of total gaming immersion, a curved PC monitor also offers an undeniable opportunity to absorb extra visual information.

Curved monitors may not be ideal for a more casual shared-screen viewing experience compared to a flat monitor, but they make the best possible use of the single player’s full field of view.

That means all the peripheral information and imagery that may be distorted at the edge of a flat screen is easy to take in without craning your neck.

For dedicated gamers, a curved monitor can be chance to gain a competitive edge while simultaneously heightening the gaming experience.

And at the very least, it’s a new way to see those detailed in-game environments when playing to win.