There’s no question that gaming on 21:9 monitors is fun. It’s a format that lends itself perfectly to first-person shooters or any game where you are moving in a virtual environment. Though they were expensive in the beginning, like every other bit of bleeding-edge hardware, prices have come down significantly. A 35-inch WQHD gaming monitor selling for $400 is well worth considering.
The Monoprice Zero-G 35-inch 38035, in its updated form, is a nice improvement over its predecessor. It now runs at 120 Hz and has HDR10 support. There’s no more contrast available, but a VA panel delivers almost 3,000:1 for SDR and HDR so that’s a good thing. The picture is impactful with excellent black levels and highlights bright enough to make the image pop.
Because of its 89% coverage of DCI-P3 and superb HDR color accuracy, you will immediately notice the 38035-2’s vivid hues. There’s no sRGB mode for SDR but most users won’t complain about that extra color. The picture is vibrant and lifelike. You’ll want to be sure and dial in some adjustment though. I found it a bit dark out of the box. If you have the means to calibrate, you should. Or simply plug in the settings found earlier in this review.
Gaming feel was better than I expected for a 120 Hz monitor. The 38035-2 has very low input lag which mostly makes up for its lower frame rates. Control feel was smooth and motion resolution was high enough for good accuracy in my favorite shooters.
If you’re considering your first 21:9 monitor, Monoprice’s Zero-G 35-inch 38035 is worthy of any shopper’s short list. For $400 it delivers the goods for gaming or work. Definitely check it out.
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