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Conclusion

In watching the evolution of the curved ultra-wide category, it’s interesting to note that the first products were entirely business-oriented. Looking back at our first review in the category, LG’s 34UC97, we see that monitor was of little use to enthusiasts, as it sports just a 60Hz refresh rate. Since then we’ve seen quite a few panels, in various sizes and radii, boasting G-Sync, FreeSync, refresh over 144Hz, and resolutions ranging from 2560x1080 to 3840x1600 pixels.

So, where does the NEC EX341R fit? It’s firmly planted in the business class. That much is clear just from NEC’s marketing. The company endows it with rugged build quality and a full set of enterprise features that put it right in line with other monitors in the EA-series. Those screens are a luxury, given their premium prices, but will likely be sitting on their desktops for many years to come, and through multiple computer upgrades.

But there is that 75Hz refresh rate and that SVA panel. Resolution-wise, 3440x1440 offers 110ppi and a good level of performance for users with mid-priced graphics boards. It won’t take a ton of processing power to drive framerates up to the maximum. And the extra contrast afforded by Samsung’s SVA technology means image depth and detail will exceed that of the IPS monitors that fill most of this category. We’re not saying the EX341R is a gaming screen by any stretch, but it can provide a decent experience.

Our only concern cropped up during calibration. While the end results were good, it took a little more effort than usual to get there. Grayscale adjustments required some compromise but our experience aided us. Gamma could also use a little improvement, though it can be mostly repaired with proper use of the contrast slider. When compared to its competitors, color stacks up favorably and contrast easily outpaces any IPS panel.

But most EX341Rs will be installed in the workplace. Features like ControlSync, SpectraView II, and NaviSet Administrator will make it indispensable to IT departments managing potentially hundreds, if not thousands of monitors. The ability to daisy-chain 24 screens and control them all from a single location is something no other manufacturer offers in any display. And don’t forget that handy KVM switch: something not seen in many displays.

Buy an NEC for its build quality, supreme functionality, and excellent flexibility. We have yet to see a product from this company that doesn’t impress in some way. And the EX341R is no exception. For business users who want the curve, it’s a great choice.

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Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.