Today at Amazon, you can find the Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 34-inch QD OLED WQHD gaming monitor for its lowest price. It debuted at $799, but right now, it's available for just $569. This is a big screen with plenty of high-quality specs to back up its beefy price tag, including an AMD FreeSync Premium Pro certification.

This monitor is one of our favorites. We had the opportunity to review the Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 last year and gave it a rating of 4.5 out of 5 for its high-quality performance. Our biggest complaint was its lack of RGB color temperature adjustment options. However, its overall performance was excellent and left a wonderful impression.

The Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 features a 34-inch quantum dot (QD) OLED panel with a dense WQHD resolution measuring 3440 x 1440px and a curvature graded at 1800R. The refresh rate can reach as high as 175 Hz, while the response time can reach an impressively low .03ms.

It has a USB hub that includes one USB Type-B port, one USB Type-C port, and four USB Type-A ports. For video input, it has a DisplayPort 1.4 input and two HDMI 2.0 ports. You also get a 3.5mm audio jack and two integrated 5W speakers.

We're not sure how long this offer will be available, but you can check out the Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 product page at Amazon for more details and purchase options.

If you've been holding out for a high-quality gaming monitor but don't want to pay premium prices, you should check out this offer from Newegg on the Samsung Odyssey G5 WQHD curved gaming display. It debuted with a price tag of $549 but it's currently marked down to just $299 in time for Cyber Monday—its lowest price to date.

This gaming monitor is AMD FreeSync Premium certified and has plenty of juicy specs to get excited about. It's huge, spanning 34 inches across and has a curved panel with a dense, WQHD resolution. If you want to see how it stacks up against other monitors leading the market, check out our list of best gaming monitors for 2024.

The Samsung Odyssey G5 gaming monitor features a 34-inch VA panel with a curvature graded at 1000R. Its WQHD resolution measures in at 3440 x 1440px alongside a high refresh rate of 165Hz and a short response time of just 1ms. This sets it apart from your run-of-the-mill FHD gaming displays, making it a great go-to option for gamers and professionals who rely on media alike.

The monitor is AMD FreeSync Premium certified for its performance and is backed up with HDR10 support along with a brightness that caps out at 250 Nits. For video input, it comes with both an HDMI 2 port and a DisplayPort 1.4 input. You also get a 3.5mm jack for connecting external audio peripherals.

As of writing, it's not clear for how long this discount will be made available but you can pick it up for yourself over at the Samsung Odyssey G5 product page at Newegg.

Right now, at Newegg, you can pick up the ASRock Phantom gaming PG34WQ15R2B monitor for the lowest price we've ever seen since it launched. It's been going for around $379 lately, but today, it's available for just $198. This is a great deal not only on this particular monitor but for one with these specs. It's got plenty to get excited about, from its large, 34-inch curved panel to its dense WQHD resolution.

We had the opportunity to review the ASRock Phantom gaming PG34WQ15R2B monitor and were very pleased with our experience, rating it 4 out of 5 stars. We appreciated the performance it offered for a sub $500 pricetag, which makes today's discount even more exciting.

The ASRock Phantom Gaming PG34WQ15R2B monitor features a 34-inch curved VA panel with a curvature graded at 1500R and a WQHD resolution of 3440 x 1440px. The refresh rate can reach as high as 165 Hz, while the response time can reach as low as 1 ms.

This monitor is AMD FreeSync Premium certified for its performance, which makes it a great option for gaming. It covers 91% of the DCI-P3 and 115% of the sRGB color gamuts and is illuminated by a maximum brightness of 500 nits. It has one DisplayPort 1.4 input and two HDMI 2.0 ports. For audio support, it has two integrated 2W speakers and a 3.5mm jack for external audio peripherals.

Visit the ASRock Phantom Gaming 34-inch monitor product page at Newegg for more information and purchase options.

Some monitors are bigger than others, and this LG 34GN850-B is no exception. It packs more than size; it's got beefy specs that make it stand out as a serious competitor. The LG UltraGear 34-inch curved gaming monitor debuted at $749, but right now, it's marked down to just $329 at Walmart.

The LG 34GN850-B offers plenty to get excited about, from its dense WQHD resolution to its Nano IPS panel. That said, you should peruse our list of the best gaming monitors for 2024 to see how they compare to our favorite gaming displays today.

The LG UltraGear 34GN850-B gaming monitor sports a curved Nano IPS panel that measures 34 inches across. It has a WQHD resolution of 3440 x 1440px. It can reach a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz and a response time of just 1 ms G2G.

The screen covers 90% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and is illuminated by a maximum brightness of 400 Nits. It features Display HDR 400 and Radeon FreeSync 2 technology. You get multiple input options, including two HDMI 2.0 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4 port. There are also two USB 3.0 Type-A ports and one USB 3.0 Type-B port.

Visit the LG UltraGear 34-inch curved WQHD Nano IPS gaming monitor page at Walmart for more details and purchase options. As of this writing, it's unclear how long this discount will be available.

If you've been holding out to upgrade your monitor to a curved display, you should take a closer look at this Amazon offer on the Asus TUF gaming VG34VQL3A monitor. It usually goes for around $369, but right now, it's marked down to just $249. This gaming monitor is big, spanning 34 inches across, and has a curved design. It's AMD FreeSync Premium Pro certified and backed up with a dense QHD resolution.

We were excited when this monitor launched last year, but its price tag kept it from being a budget option. Today's discount, however, definitely changes the game. That said, you should check out our list of the best gaming monitors to see what else is leading the market and to know what it's up against.

This Asus TUF gaming monitor features a 34-inch VA panel with a curvature of 1500R. Its WQHD resolution is 3440 x 1440 pixels. It's also AMD FreeSync Premium Pro certified, which ensures low latency, low framerate compensation support, and other high-quality specs well-suited for gaming.

The Asus TUF gaming VG34VQL3A monitor has a refresh rate of up to 180Hz and a response time of just 1 ms. According to the official specs from Asus, the brightness can reach as high as 400 Nits. There are two DisplayPort and two HDMI ports for video input, along with a USB hub that has three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports. It has two integrated 2W speakers, but you've also got a 3.5mm audio jack.

Visit the Asus TUF gaming VG34VQL3A monitor product page at Amazon for more details and purchase options.

Getting a high-quality monitor can make a difference in gaming and anything media-related. Finding one at a reasonable rate is even better, and today, we've got a deal that should satisfy the pickiest of gamers with an eye for quality who don't want to overspend. Over at Amazon, you can find the 39-inch curved LG 39GS95QE Ultragear WQHD gaming monitor for $999, the lowest price to date.

This enormous gaming monitor comes with plenty of high-quality specs to get excited about, like its VESA Display HDR True Black 400 certification, which guarantees a drastic level of contrast. It usually costs around $1,499, so today's discount saves over 30% off the asking rate.

The LG Ultragear 39GS95QE has a 39-inch OLED panel with a WQHD resolution measuring up to 3440 x 1440px. It can reach a maximum refresh rate of 4 Hz, while the response time can be as low as 0.03 ms.

According to LG, the monitor is AMD FreeSync Premium Pro certified for its performance. It covers 98.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and is illuminated by a maximum brightness of 275 nits. You've got both HDMI and DisplayPort inputs to use, as well as a 3.5mm jack for audio devices. The purchase is supported by LG's 2-year warranty and Amazon's 30-day return policy.

Visit the LG Ultragear OLED WQHD curved gaming monitor product page at Amazon for more details and purchase options.

Asus has just announced a new curved ultrawide ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDM that offers a unique combination of a high refresh rate, ultra-low response time, and very high luminance. The combination should make this a hot product to watch among the best ultrawide gaming monitors and best curved gaming monitors.

The ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDM is a 34-inch curved ultrawide monitor offering a 3440x1440 resolution and an 800R curvature. It also offers a variable refresh rate of up to 240 Hz with Nvidia's G-Sync technology and a 0.03 ms response time — which is extremely low, even for OLED panels. Furthermore, the monitor boasts a peak brightness of 1300 nits (albeit on only 3% of the screen), which is higher than most LCDs on the market and unique for a gaming OLED monitor.

An interesting peculiarity of the display is that it comes equipped with a special custom heatsink to keep the operating temperatures of the panel lower and reduce the risk of burn-in.

For those seeking versatile connectivity, the ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDM is equipped with a wide array of ports, including DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1, and a USB Type-C port, which not only serves as an additional display input but also delivers up to 90W to the host supporting USB Power Delivery. This diverse range of ports makes it possible to connect the monitor to desktop PCs, laptops, gaming consoles, smartphones, and other compatible devices.

To make it easier to use multiple devices connected to a single display, it fully supports picture-in-picture (PIP) or picture-by-picture (PBP) modes. To make things more comfortable, the ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDM comes with Smart KVM that now only allows users to control multiple devices using a single set of peripherals but also allows swift file transfers between the two connected devices using USB 3.2 connectivity — eliminating the need for extra hardware or specialized software. 

For now, Asus has not disclosed the price or availability of the ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDM. But given the unique capabilities of the display, we expect it to be priced accordingly.

In the unending quest for more desktop monitor real estate, users have turned to several methods to increase their multi-tasking ability. Large screens are one way to solve the problem. A 32-inch 16:9 display is a starting point, and many desks have a small television sitting on them. A good number of 42-inch and larger panels are available in both LCD and OLED forms.

Another method is to line up two or three screens together. Two 27s is common, or three 24s. But then you have that pesky line between screens. No matter how much companies tout their bezel-free designs, there is actually no such thing. There is always a line when it comes to selecting the best gaming monitors.

Now that 21:9 and 32:9 screens exist, there’s a way to get that width without vertical lines. Starting at 32 inches and going all the way to 49, many ultra and mega-wide displays are conveniently curved to keep as much of your work within peripheral vision.

An ideal balance between screen area and physical footprint is the 38-inch 21:9 category. Surprisingly, there aren’t as many choices as you might think, but Dell has had one in its UltraSharp line for a few years. The latest version is the U3824DW, and I’ll be testing it here.

 Dell UltraSharp U3824DW Specs

The U3824DW is a premium enterprise screen with 3840x1600 pixel resolution and a new form of screen technology Dell calls IPS Black. Black refers to lower black levels, and my tests revealed that the U3824DW does indeed have lower black levels and greater contrast than other IPS monitors. Dell claims 2,000:1, which I couldn’t quite reach. But I did record 1,923:1 in the Custom Color mode. That’s a record for IPS native contrast in my experience.

Pixel density is in the sweet spot at 111ppi. That’s a tiny bit more than a 27-inch 16:9 QHD screen. The U3824DW is bigger than two of those though. It’s nearly the equivalent of one-and-a-half 32-inch 16:9 monitors. That’s a lot of uninterrupted screen for sure. The curve radius is a gentle 2300R, meaning a circle of U3824DWs will be 4.6 meters (15 feet) across. There’s no visible image distortion, but the curve is enough that you won’t be constantly swiveling your head to see everything.

Dell sets a high image quality and accuracy standard with all its UltraSharp monitors. The U3824DW is color accurate right out of the box with close conformity to industry standards for white point, gamma and color. Gamut coverage is over 96% of DCI-P3 which puts it in a small group of high-end gaming and professional displays. The only thing missing here is support for HDR10 content.

With so much screen comes a lot of connectivity. There are four total video inputs, two HDMI, one DisplayPort and a USB-C. A KVM feature lets you connect multiple systems to be controlled by a single set of input devices. For that, you get three more USB-C and five USB-A downstream ports. Two internal speakers pump out nine watts of sound each and there’s a headphone jack. Extra enterprise integration comes in the form of an ethernet port that streams up to 2.5GbE for wake-on-LAN and other system convenience features.

The U3824DW is packed with everything needed to get work done and easily multi-task. It’s a premium display selling for $1530 at this writing. It could be considered a good value because it can function as multiple monitors and connectivity hubs. How does it perform? Let’s take a look.

Assembly and Accessories

Kudos to Dell for its continuing use of recyclable packaging. With molded cardboard and almost no plastic inside, the U3824DW is well protected. A large and heavy base keeps the package stable. Bolt on the upright and snap on the panel and you have a nearly 30-pound display built for years of daily use. An IEC cord feeds the internal power supply. You also get one each of HDMI and DisplayPort. The two USB cables are C/C and C/A. The wires are of premium quality, with rugged connectors and thick insulation. A pictorial guide shows you how to set everything up. 

Product 360

The photos don’t really tell the story of how big the U3824DW is. It will demand a full three feet of width with a base that is 15 by 10 inches. The styling is modern and minimalist, with a thin black frame around the image and a silver finish everywhere else. The back of the panel, upright and base are featureless, with only smooth surfaces that blend into their environment. A Dell logo is highlighted in polished chrome in back, but otherwise, there isn’t much else going on.

The stand looks slender but is super solid with firm ergonomics. A 120mm (4.7 inches) height adjustment puts the screen right at the ideal eyepoint at its highest setting, where you can keep the panel vertical. I prefer curved monitors because it puts all parts of the image in the same horizontal plane. You can swivel the U3824DW 30 degrees to either side and there is 5/21 degrees of tilt. If you’d rather use a monitor arm (you’ll need a beefy one), a 100 VESA mount with fasteners hides under the stand’s attachment point.

The input panel takes a large portion of the underside behind the stand. There are two HDMI 2.1 and a single DisplayPort 1.4. One of the USB-Cs also supports video and 90 watts of power for laptops. There are three more USB-Cs plus five USB-A ports (15 watts each). You can also see the aforementioned RJ-45, which IT managers will likely find handy. Three of the USBs are closer to the front of the panel for easy access. You can plug in a phone along with your input devices without reaching up and behind.

OSD Features

The U3824DW has a power button and a joystick for OSD control. Clicking it in any direction summons a quick menu which the user can program. An up-click opens the fully stocked OSD.

The input selector doesn’t just change inputs; it also has USB-C options and can rename the inputs to more useful terms like “PC” or “Laptop.”

The Color menu has six picture modes available. Standard is good enough by default not to require calibration. In Color Temp, you can specify the white point by Kelvin value. Color Space lets you choose from sRGB, Rec.709, DCI-P3 and Display P3. DCI-P3 has a gamma and white point meant to match commercial digital projectors. This is a handy feature for video post-production. Display P3 will give you the U3824DW’s full native gamut. The sRGB mode is also very accurate and can be used for photography or grading in SDR color spaces.

Custom Color includes gain and offset sliders for setting the white point plus hue and saturation controls for all six colors. It uses the native P3 gamut as a starting point. I discovered in testing that it couldn’t improve upon the U3824DW’s already dialed-in color, which is unusual for Dell monitors, but in a good way.

The Display menu has a uniformity compensation feature that my U3824DW sample didn’t require. While it does improve screen uniformity, it also reduces contrast, so I don’t recommend it. Dell power button sync is a slick feature that can turn on USB-connected devices when you turn on the monitor. This is something I haven’t seen before.

The PIP/PBP feature has many options for displaying two video sources simultaneously. There are three different side-by-side modes plus windowed options for all four corners in two sizes.

The USB menu has all the KVM options with a setup guide that works like a wizard to bind USB and video ports for multi-system control. The Ethernet Switch can bind to the KVM feature for automatic, prompted or manual switching between connected systems.

The joystick’s four directions can be programmed to a variety of monitor functions like picture modes, brightness/contrast, input selector and more. You can turn off the power LED if you wish. You can also set the USB ports to stay on when the monitor is in standby to charge devices when you’re away from the desk. The final sub-menu, Others, has LCD conditioning functions and signal information.

Dell U3824DW Calibration Settings

Most Dell monitors I test benefit from calibration in the Custom Color mode, but the U3824DW was an exception. There were no visible color, grayscale or gamma errors in the default Standard mode. Working the RGB gain sliders did not affect any improvement, so I returned to Standard and simply adjusted the brightness to 200 nits. Custom Color increases maximum output by about 30%, so it is useful if you need extra brightness. I also determined that sRGB in the Color Space mode is very accurate. Below are the settings I used for testing. Stick with Standard and find your preferred brightness level for the best image.

Hands-on and Daily Use

I’ll get one thing out of the way up front: the U3824DW is neither a gaming monitor nor meant to be. I played a few rounds of Doom Eternal’s horde mode, just to be sure. On the upside, the audio is superb. I could hear the nine-watt internal speakers' superior dynamic range and frequency response. They will play quite loud without audible distortion. And the sound stage is very wide, which is appropriate for the U3824DW’s prodigious physical width.

But for fast action, it isn’t a great choice. Motion resolution suffers from breakup and jitteriness as one moves the mouse quickly during battle. I adapted to aiming with more input lag than I’m used to, but the blurring of fine detail, especially at a distance, made gameplay difficult. However, if you were to play more static titles, you could appreciate the U3824DW’s excellent contrast and color saturation. It is a good choice for casual games.

It's also a great screen for movies and videos. Sitting three to four feet back fills your peripheral vision and creates a truly immersive feel. I could easily enjoy the U3824DW as a personal home theater display in a small media room or office. My only wish is for HDR support. There is a lot of streamed content out there in HDR10. The U3824DW would be greatly enhanced with that capability.

Image quality in all areas was exemplary. Dell’s IPS Black technology is a real enhancement for the IPS category. I could almost be fooled into thinking that the U3824DW is a VA panel. Black levels are superb, and that extra depth really adds to color saturation. The gamut volume is prodigious and is made more perceptible by that extra dynamic range.

Productivity is what the U3824DW is all about, and there it excels. The PIP/PBP function is super easy to use and automatically sizes different resolutions correctly. It had no problem showing a 1920x1080 pixel secondary window with the correct shape, free of distortion. And this worked in both side-by-side and windowed configurations.

For multitasking, the U3824DW will quickly help you forget about multi-screen setups. There is a ton of flexibility for document organization and management here. The curve is just enough to bring the user into the workspace but not enough to distort things like spreadsheets. I had no trouble working in Word, Excel and Photoshop with three open document windows. With so much screen area, I could leave everything sized large, positioned where I only needed to turn my head slightly to change focus. This was aided by the excellent stand, which puts the screen at just the right height for vertical placement.

Takeaway: The U3824DW isn’t a gaming monitor, but it’s great at everything else one would do with a large computer monitor. It easily takes the place of two, or dare I say, three smaller screens.

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I didn’t have any other 38-inch ultra-wides to compare the U3824DW to, so I created a group that mixes gaming and enterprise products. There’s no reason one can’t use a gaming monitor for everyday tasks. And you get a speedy screen. Those three are Corsair’s Xeneon Flex OLED, Philips’ 34M2C7600 and ViewSonic’s XG341C-2K. The 60 Hz monitors are BenQ’s PD2706UA and Dell’s U3224KB 6K display.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

The quickest monitor here is also the largest, Corsair’s 45-inch Xeneon Flex. It’s also an OLED, so it has a significant advantage for gaming. But if productivity is your only metric, the U3824DW is a better enterprise screen with its KVM and networking features. However, at 60 Hz, it is limited in how smooth it can be. 26ms is the average response time for any 60 Hz monitor, meaning motion resolution is much lower than the faster displays. Dell includes an overdrive which helps a little. It works without visible artifacts, but there’s only so much it can do to mitigate blur. When total control lag is added to the mix, the U3824DW remains average when compared to other 60 Hz monitors.

Test Takeaway: If fast-paced action games are part of your workday, you should buy a gaming monitor. But if you’re all business, the U3824DW has extra features that make it a more useful tool for productivity.

Viewing Angles

The U3824DW’s IPS Black panel retains all the advantages of traditional IPS panels while delivering greater contrast. Off-axis viewing is something a 38-inch ultra-wide needs to do well and the U3824DW certainly does. You can see a slight green shift to the sides, but light output only drops by 10% and gamma stays the same, meaning there is no loss of fine highlight or shadow detail. The top view is about 40% dimmer, and the darkest steps are all but invisible. The U3824DW is very shareable by two or three users, making it well-suited for presentation.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

When I set up the U3824DW, its uniformity compensation was turned on by default. That resulted in a slightly lower 5.34% score but also raised black levels, which reduced contrast. Turning the option off made no visible difference in uniformity but upped contrast by almost 40%. Given the excellent quality control I’ve seen in all Dell UltraSharp monitors, you won’t need the compensation feature. My sample was free from visible flaws.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

Finding the U3824DW’s maximum output level requires changing the picture mode from Standard to Custom Color. By default, I measured 253.2859 nits peak, .1479 nit black and 1712.2:1 contrast. Custom Color with no adjustments gave me the numbers shown above. If you need more than 250 nits, Custom Color can deliver, but you’ll need to calibrate as its white point is visibly green.

In every case, the U3824DW has more contrast than traditional IPS panels. Though not quite in VA territory, Dell’s IPS Black technology makes a visible improvement in image quality thanks to a greater depth of field and color saturation.

After Calibration to 200 nits

I calibrated the Custom Color mode and lost a little contrast. As I’ll show later, the Standard mode has no visible color errors, so there’s little point in calibrating the U3824DW.

You’ve likely already noticed that both Dell monitors in the group have superb contrast numbers. The U3224KB also has an IPS Black panel with a clear advantage over traditional IPS technology. We’re seeing an evolution here, for sure. The U3824DW has one of the best ANSI scores I’ve yet recorded for an IPS monitor.

Test Takeaway: You can almost hit Dell’s claim of 2,000:1 contrast by choosing the Custom Color mode. But without calibration, the image has a slight green tint. Calibration reduces contrast to 1609.6:1, so the best choice is to leave the U3824DW in its Standard mode, which has 1712.2:1 contrast, with no calibration required. It’s a compromise that ensures the best possible color accuracy. 

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The U3824DW includes Dell’s usual picture mode suite that lets you choose between color gamuts or calibration. But unlike most Dells, this monitor performs best when left in its default Standard preset. 

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

The U3824DW tells a pretty simple tale about its grayscale and gamma accuracy. There is no benefit to calibrating the Custom Color mode unless you really need another 100 nits of light output. Standard delivers 253 nits peak, which is plenty. It also delivers a visually perfect grayscale and reasonably tight gamma. The tiny green error at the 50% step will be nearly impossible to detect in content.

In the Color Space mode, you can opt for the smaller sRGB gamut. It comes with super accurate grayscale tracking with all errors below 1dE. Gamma tracks similarly to the Standard mode except for a light reading at the 10% step. This is a minor error. Professionals can use the U3824DW’s for color-critical applications without issue.

Comparisons

The U3824DW takes the top spot in the out-of-box grayscale test, even edging out the premium-priced U3224KB. It also beats the gaming monitors here. Of those, only the Philips can get away with no calibration.

After adjustment, the U3824DW falls to fifth place, but visually, it will be hard to discern any issues between any monitors that average lower than 3dE in this test.

The U3824DW’s gamma tracking is nice and tight, just like all the other screens. All six conform closely to the 2.2 standard as well. This renders the comparison a wash, as these monitors exhibit very similar performance in the gamma tests.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

Dell promises color accuracy from the U3824DW and clearly, it delivers. Not only is every saturation and hue point on target, but the gamut volume is also very large. There’s a bit of bonus red, not enough to cause a problem, and green is almost fully covered. That is unusual among wide gamut displays, in a good way. If you’re wondering about calibration, that process raised the gamut average error to 2.17dE. That’s the result that sold me on the Standard picture mode.

The sRGB gamut from the U3824DW’s Color Space mode measured very well too. Though there is some over-saturation in the red and blue primaries, the overall error still averages below the visible level. The U3824DW is completely qualified for pro-level color work.

Comparisons

It doesn’t get much better than the U3824DW’s 1.44dE color gamut error, which is an impressive out-of-box result. Any professional monitor would be proud to post numbers this good. Note that the other Dell, the U3224KB, posted a similar out-of-box result but could be calibrated to the higher level of 1.14dE. These are fine differences seen only by the color meter, not by the naked eye. Visually, all the monitors have perfect color.

An enterprise monitor benefits from a large color volume, even if it isn’t strictly accurate in the SDR realm. The U3824DW has a very large gamut with over 96% coverage of DCI-P3. The other Dell takes the prize here, but in fairness, all six screens are close. Anything between 95 and 100% coverage is hard to spot in a visual comparison. It’s also a good thing that sRGB coverage is so close to 100%. The best professional displays go for 100%, no more and no less. The U3824DW clearly achieves that.

Test Takeaway: The U3824DW delivers professional-grade color accuracy and volume right out of the box in its Standard picture mode. Though its design intent is geared toward presentation and productivity, it is fully qualified as a professional display for video and graphics production. 

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Since I mostly review gaming monitors, my recommendations are slanted in that direction. Many good examples can serve admirably for enterprise-grade productivity, or even as a professional screen. But if you also want the convenience and flexibility of KVM, network integration and lots of USB ports, the Dell U3824DW provides those things along with a stunning image. 

Aside from its lack of support for HDR, the U3824DW’s picture is superb. Contrast is approaching VA quality with over 1,700:1 available right out of the box. It isn’t the brightest monitor out there, but with just over 250 nits of peak output, it provides enough light for any indoor environment.

Color is exemplary, with correct rendering of the DCI-P3 gamut and nearly 100% coverage. Accuracy is well within the professional realm. The U3824DW is closer to the reference mark than many of the professional, and more expensive displays I’ve tested. You can just unpack and install it, and do nothing else besides set brightness to taste. Dell’s IPS Black technology is a real enhancement to the IPS genre, adding both depth and color saturation.

The army of USB ports and RJ-45 jack is a real value add for enterprise use. You can hook up as many as four video sources and with eight additional USB ports available, the U3824DW becomes a hub for just about anything you can think of to connect. With a well-designed KVM system and flexible PBP/PIP functions, presentations can be managed with ease.

Aside from action gaming and HDR content, there is nothing beyond the U3824DW’s capabilities. Since it can easily take the place of two or three smaller screens, while adding a wealth of convenience and flexibility, it’s even a decent value. If you need power in your enterprise monitor, the Dell U3824DW delivers it along with a stunning image. Definitely check it out.

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Asus is launching a new monitor within its popular TUG Gaming range of products, and it looks to pack quite a punch for enthusiasts. The TUF Gaming VG34VQL3A features a 34-inch VA panel with a 3440 x 1440 (WQHD) resolution. And as is often the case with these widescreen monitors, the VG34VQL3A boasts a curved panel, specifically 1500R.

Other features include a 1ms GtG response time, a brightness rating of 400 nits (available in SDR or HDR mode), and Asus claims 125 percent coverage of the sRGB color gamut. The refresh rate maxes out at 180Hz, a healthy boost over standard 165Hz panels. However, we’re beginning to see more gaming monitors in the 34-inch WQHD space with 240Hz refresh rates.

One spec that definitely caught my eye was the contrast ratio. VA panels are known for having excellent contrast. While not as good as Mini LED or OLED, they fair far better than IPS panels regarding black levels. Typical VA panels have a contrast ratio of around 3,000:1, but the VG34VQL3A ups the ante to 4,000:1. 

Asus confirms that the VG34VQL3A is AMD FreeSync Premium Pro certified, but we’re almost certain that it should also work with Nvidia G-Sync on GeForce graphics cards. It’s also TÜV Flicker-free and Low Blue Light certified, supporting the VESA DisplayHDR 400 specification. Extreme Low Motion Blur is supported.

Regarding connectivity, you’ll find two HDMI 2.0 ports and two DisplayPort 1.4 ports. There’s also an onboard USB hub with three USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A) ports for connecting your peripherals. And if you don’t want to hook up a set of external speakers, the VG34VQL3A includes two 2-watt speakers onboard. We doubt that they’ll be enough to satisfy extreme audiophiles, but there’s also a 3.5mm jack for your headphones.

Unfortunately, Asus didn’t provide details on expected pricing or availability for the VG34VQL3A. We're keenly interested to see if it has what it takes to join our list of the best curved gaming monitors in a future review.

Mini LED, like any bleeding-edge display technology, is part of the premium backlight category. And as such, it commands a higher cost of admission, but that is starting to change. With more and more panels including this high-performance backlight, prices are creeping downwards.

Mini LED is the next step in full-array local dimming where, rather than having a bank of LEDs arrayed at one or two sides of the screen, they are arranged behind the TFT layer in a grid. First, there were 384-zone monitors like Asus’ PG27UQ, and they were awesome. But today, one can spend less money and get a Philips Evnia 34M2C7600. It’s a 34-inch ultra-wide curved VA panel with 1,152 dimming zones. Let’s take a look at this new contender among the best gaming monitors. 

Philips Evnia 34M2C7600 Specs

The name of the game is contrast, and since LCDs have their backlights on all the time, dimming zones are the key to dynamic range. IPS natively delivers around 1,000:1, and VA can muster 3,000:1. But contrast can be theoretically infinite when you selectively dim or shut off individual bits of the screen.

The 34M2C7600 is a curved ultra-wide VA panel with all the features needed in a good gaming monitor. 1,152 dimming zones and a 1,400-nit full-array backlight mean killer HDR. Add an extended color gamut covering almost 97% of DCI-P3, and you have a superlative image for both SDR and HDR content. Accuracy is included, with multiple picture presets that come very close to the mark with no calibration required.

Even without Mini LED trickery, contrast is high at nearly 4,000:1 in my tests. Resolution is WQHD (3440x1440), so pixel density is a tight 109ppi. The curve is 1500R which strikes a nice balance between immersion and image distortion at this size and shape. In other words, there is none of the latter and plenty of the former.

Gaming feel is enhanced by Adaptive-Sync, which works on both FreeSync and G-Sync platforms. The 34M2C7600 has not yet been certified by Nvidia, but AS works over a 48 to 165 Hz range. There is no blur reduction via backlight strobe, but you get a three-level overdrive and reasonably low input lag. In my tests, panel response was on par with other 165 Hz screens. You also get a set of aiming points to help novice players in their favorite shooters.

A feature unique to Philips monitors is Ambiglow. On the surface, it might seem like just an LED lighting effect, but it is so much more. Rather than focus on graphics or projected patterns, Ambiglow throws light onto the surface behind the 34M2C7600 to enhance what’s happening on the screen. You can have several preset effects and colors or let the light shift along with content in real-time. My favorite use of Ambiglow is as a bias light. That’s when you project a white glow behind the monitor that’s around 10% as bright as the set peak white level. There is science behind this which makes a perceptual difference in image quality. More on that later.

The 34M2C7600 is an attractive package, physically and feature-wise, priced around $1,300 at this writing. That’s still premium, but as I indicated earlier, it’s the beginning of a downward creep in cost. Compared to other Mini LED screens, it’s competitive on multiple levels.

Assembly and Accessories

The 34M2C7600’s carton stands out for its lavender color and attractive white graphics. That’s a preview of what’s to come because the monitor is also white. Once the parts are extracted from the crumbly foam, the base bolts onto the upright, then snaps onto the panel. The attachment point is a bit wobbly, but it is robust enough to hold things together securely. The included cables and external power supply are all white. You get USB-A/B, USB-C, HDMI and DisplayPort, one of each. A stamped steel adapter with fasteners is also included for use with aftermarket monitor arms or brackets.

Product 360

Admittedly, I’m a sucker for a white monitor. It’s a nice change from black, and it stands out in a good way. The 34M2C7600 adds silver accents on the panel’s bottom trim and the stand. The base has a flecked finish on its plastic cover, which hides a metal core. The upright exposes its aluminum construction and is very solid. The only weak point is how the panel attaches. Rather than a snap-on plate, it uses a plastic tongue that engages the stand. As a result, it’s a little wobbly though I had no problems with ergonomic adjustments. There’s 150mm (5.9 inches) of height plus 20 degrees swivel each way and 5/20 degrees tilt.

The panel cover in the back has a sculpted grid, which I haven’t seen before, dotted by the Ambiglow LEDs. The only style to the lighting comes in a thin vertical strip down the center. The other LEDs are purely there to cast light onto whatever surface is behind the monitor. If you want to use the bias light as I do, the monitor should be within a foot or two of a neutrally colored wall. Choose a white static light that’s around 10% as bright as the monitor’s peak output level. This will close your eyes’ pupils slightly and increase the perception of both sharpness and contrast. It sounds hard to believe. Give it a week, and you will likely be converted. I use bias lights for my television and projection screen at home.

The 34M2C7600’s bottom face includes more Ambiglow LEDs along with a stocked input panel and two grills for the five-watt speakers. They include eq, sound modes and better-than-average audio quality. Inputs are all the latest: two HDMI 2.1, one DisplayPort 1.4 and USB-C. A KVM feature is supported by five USB 3.2 ports, one upstream and four down.

OSD Features

The OSD is accessed by the 34M2C7600’s single control, a tiny joystick/button that also toggles the power. The menu is well stocked, but as you’ll see in a moment, there is one surprising omission.

The OSD has a gaming look with its polygonal shape and status information across the bottom. It’s divided into seven sub-menus, starting with SmartImage. This is Philips’ name for the 11 picture modes. The default is SmartUniformity and it does indeed apply uniformity compensation to the image. My sample was fine without it, and I recommend selecting any other picture mode because SmartUniformity reduces contrast by raising the black level and lowering the white level. In Game 1, the mode I used for testing, contrast is nearly 4,000:1, and the peak white level is nearly 750 nits.

Each mode includes calibration options like color temps and gamma presets, but there is one thing missing – RGB controls. You can specify the white point by Kelvin value or choose options called Preset and Native. Luckily, grayscale tracking is pretty good out of the box, although I would have liked the ability to tweak it. You’ll also notice an sRGB option in this menu. It does not reduce the color gamut size. It’s DCI-P3 for all content, like it or not.

Game Mode features an aiming crosshair with a super cool feature. Turning Smart Crosshair on changes the reticle’s color to ensure it stays in contrast with the background. The transition is instantaneous, so you’ll always be able to see it no matter what. This menu also has a three-level overdrive, which is one of the 34M2C7600’s weaknesses. Every setting causes some ghosting. Too slow, and you get black trails; too fast and they’re white. I found myself using different settings for different games. Your mileage may vary.

SmartFrame creates a window on the screen where you can change its brightness and contrast independently from the rest of the image. In addition, it can be sized and positioned anywhere you wish.

The Ambiglow menu is extensive and has options for color and effect, plus the ability of the LEDs to follow on-screen content in real-time. The possibilities are infinite, or you can turn it off.

Philips has paid attention to audio quality with two five-watt internal speakers. They sound better than average and include five modes and a multi-band equalizer. The modes alter frequency response and phase to create various effects. I could clearly hear the differences, and it was fun to experiment with them.

In the System menu, you can set the HDMI ports to 120 or 165 Hz. 120 is the right choice for consoles. USB Setting includes the KVM options to bind video inputs to USB outputs. You’ll also notice the Local Dimming option. Unfortunately, it is only available in HDR mode where it is very effective. It’s a bummer you can’t also use it for SDR content. At least there’s 4,000:1 native contrast to compensate partially.

Philips Evnia 34M2C7600 Calibration Settings

The 34M2C7600 ships in its SmartUniformity picture mode. It’s fairly accurate, but peak white and contrast are both limited. The panel is perfectly uniform without compensation, so I used Game 1 for my testing and gameplay. It delivers around 4,000:1 contrast for SDR content and peaks at almost 750 nits. The default gamma setting is 2.2, but that proved a tad light. 2.4 is the better choice. For color temp, the Native, Preset and 6500K options are functionally identical. Preset has slightly better gamma so I chose that. Below are my SDR settings derived from instrumented tests.

HDR signals reveal five more picture modes. HDR Game is the default, and it is quite far off the mark for color and grayscale. DisplayHDR 1400 is the better choice. If you want control of peak brightness, there’s an option called Personal that lets you dial down the white level.

The other missing item here is an sRGB mode. There’s an sRGB option in the SmartImage menu, but it doesn’t reduce the gamut volume.

Gaming and Hands-on 

I’ve already talked about the 34M2C7600’s overdrive feature. I use Blur Busters test patterns to find the right video processing settings for all gaming monitor reviews and, in this case, I couldn’t arrive at an ideal configuration. There is no backlight strobe option available, which isn’t a big deal, but it might be a better alternative here. There are three OD (SmartResponse) levels, and the right setting is in the virtual space between Fast and Faster. I used both in different games. Fast creates faint black trails behind moving objects and Faster makes white ones. For dark titles like Tomb Raider, Fast works better to hide the artifact. In the brightly lit arenas of Doom Eternal’s Horde mode, Faster is the right choice. It also depends on how bright you run the monitor.

Ultimately, the 34M2C7600’s stunning image took over my perceptions, and after my initial tweaks, I settled in for many hours of fun. There is more than enough pixel density to produce a sharp image viewed from two to three feet back. The panel’s curve is right in the sweet spot where you can keep everything in focus from edge to edge without any barrel distortion to spoil the suspension of disbelief.

Input lag is low enough that I could not perceive any delay, regardless of how fast the action was. I turned on the smart crosshair for a while and though the color changes ensured I could always see it; it was extremely bright in HDR mode. In fact, I focused on it too much at the expense of situational awareness to the sides. Admittedly, I’m not a frequent user of aiming points.

I set up the Ambiglow feature to deliver a neutral white light on the wall behind the 34M2C7600. There are three intensity settings, so you can tailor it to your room. The middle option worked best in my sunlit office. As a bias light user, I am used to its effect. It makes the image appear sharper and deeper, especially when playing HDR material. I also tried the follow mode, which changes the color and effect to match what’s happening on the screen. It’s a cool gadget, but I found it a little distracting. It will certainly impress your friends.

I was impressed by the image quality throughout my gaming sessions, especially in HDR mode. A 1400-nit peak coupled with 1,152 dimming zones delivers a wide dynamic range. Only an OLED can truly compete with the 34M2C7600’s picture. Color saturation was excellent, bold and rich but never overblown. For SDR content, color is more saturated than the standard, but it was only an issue when editing photos. There, a usable sRGB mode would be welcome but the sRGB option in the OSD doesn’t reduce the gamut size.

For work tasks, the 34M2C7600 is very useful. With 109ppi pixel density, it’s like having two 27-inch QHD screens without the dividing line. Opening multiple documents is what 21:9 screens are made for and it’s easy to work on something while running video or leaving a message window open on the side. It’s super handy in Photoshop to have more toolbars on the screen while working.

There is nothing the 34M2C7600 isn’t good at. Though I noted a few flaws, it proved to be a very flexible and capable display for both gaming and productivity. With an sRGB mode and a better overdrive, it would be a homerun.

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To compare the 34M2C7600, I’ve rounded up a selection of 34-inch ultra-wide VA panels. Not all are Mini LED, but they are all speedy with refresh rates between 144 and 200 Hz. There’s BenQ’s EX3410R, AOC’s CU34G3S, ViewSonic’s XG341C-2K, ASRock’s PG34WQ and the Monoprice 42772.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

The 34M2C7600 delivers typical performance for the category. Its overdrive isn’t the best, with no ideal setting. Set it too weak, and you get black trails behind moving objects. Too fast, and the trails turn white. I used different settings for different games to mitigate the artifact.

The Philips has reasonably low input lag, again at an average level for the category. 31ms is fast enough for all but the most skilled gamers. It worked fine for me as I mowed through monsters in Doom Eternal. If you want the quickest possible experience, the ViewSonic delivers it at 200 Hz, but without Adaptive-Sync.

Viewing Angles

No VA panel has great off-axis image quality, and the 34M2C7600 is similar to its competition. At 45 degrees, the picture gets hazy with a slight green shift and a reduction in gamma. All steps remain visible, but the image is less sharp. The top view is similar, with a 40% reduction in brightness and poor gamma.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

With the 34M2C7600’s uniformity compensation turned on, I measured 4.03%, but in a better picture mode like Game 1, it’s still well within the realm of visual perfection at 8.51%. It’s not worth the reduction in contrast to fix an invisible issue. This is excellent performance.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

I modified my test procedure in the 34M2C7600’s case to show its full potential. Out of the box in SmartImage mode, it peaks at just under 500 nits with a respectable 2,727.5:1 contrast. But in Game 1 mode, with the brightness maxed and no other adjustments, the peak is much higher at 740 nits with contrast at nearly 4,000:1. This is a much better state of affairs thanks to the lower black level.

After Calibration to 200 nits

I couldn’t calibrate the RGB sliders because there aren’t any. But I changed the gamma to 2.4 and chose the Preset color temp to get a slightly higher contrast. You can see that all the panels have excellent native contrast. It’s a bummer you can’t use the 34M2C7600’s local dimming because it would add a lot of punch to SDR content.

Quality control is excellent, which is indicated by the Philips’ high ANSI contrast value of 3,315.9:1. Despite the lack of an SDR zone dimming option, the monitor looks fantastic with deep blacks, bright whites and plenty of color.

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I’ve already mentioned the 34M2C7600’s lack of RGB sliders. Luckily, three of the color temp presets are close to the mark. There is a little upward potential, but by and large, this is an accurate monitor.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

The RGB level chart shows only slight errors at 70% brightness and higher. Since it’s my business to nitpick monitors, I would like to adjust this issue away, but I can’t. However, for most users, there is no visual problem. The grayscale looks neutral, with only a slight warmth. Gamma is a tad light, but it is close enough to the mark for most users’ satisfaction.

Raising the setting to 2.4 improves the gamma and raises the blue levels a tad. Visually, the difference is tiny. It may seem that I’ve taken a step backward with a higher grayscale error, but in practice, anyone, including myself, would be hard-pressed to see a color shift in a side-by-side comparison of actual content. The better gamma is worth a slight compromise in grayscale accuracy.

Comparisons

The 34M2C7600 starts in third place before calibration but slips to last after adjustment, thanks to the lack of RGB controls. This is unusual for Philips; I’ve always found adjustments in their other displays that delivered an improvement. But in the end, I was satisfied with the image. High color saturation and deep contrast more than account for a slight weakness in grayscale accuracy. Gamma performance is very good, with a slight advantage in image quality when the preset is on 2.4. So it compares well with the competition in that test.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

Color is an area where I have no complaints about the 34M2C7600’s performance. It covers a huge gamut with bonus red and almost the entire green primary, which is a rarity among wide gamut displays. Accuracy is high, with an average error of just 2.50dE. Calibration changes that to 2.66dE, which is an invisible difference. But I could just see the slight increase in red saturation, definitely a good thing.

As stated earlier, though the OSD has an sRGB option, it doesn’t render that gamut. You’ll be viewing the 34M2C7600’s full native color space for all content, SDR and HDR.

Comparisons

The 34M2C7600’s color accuracy is comparable to the other monitors. There is no visual difference in color accuracy, but you will notice the Philips’ extra color when compared to the AOC, BenQ and ASRock screens. Kudos to Monoprice for delivering high saturation without a premium backlight, but there’s no denying the advantage of the Mini LEDs in the Philips and ViewSonic panels. There is color aplenty here.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The one place where the 34M2C7600, and its Mini LED counterparts, runs away from the competition is peak brightness. DisplayHDR 1400 is the order of the day and that, along with 1,152 dimming zones, makes a huge difference in image quality.

HDR Brightness annd Contrast

When measuring a full field, the 34M2C7600 renders around 1,100 nits, so I reduced the pattern to 25% coverage and got almost 1,500 nits. Small highlights are extremely bright and really help the image pop. Philips has engineered its local dimming very well here. I couldn’t measure the black levels as all unused LEDs are shut off, so the contrast is also unmeasurable. Though the ASRock effectively extends its dynamic range to an excellent 16,907:1, it doesn’t hold a candle, or a diode, to the Mini LED screens. Only a good OLED like Asus’ PG27AQDM can deliver a deeper image than this.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

There are five HDR picture modes, but the only one remotely close to color accurate is DisplayHDR 1400. The default one, Game HDR is extremely red in tone, and the others don’t deliver the proper luminance tracking for optimal performance. You can see visually perfect grayscale tracking from bottom to top and an EOTF that is flawed only in its darkest steps. The 34M2C7600 rises too slowly from black, which means some shadow detail may be hard to see in some games. It’s too bad you can’t use the Shadow Boost feature to fix this, but it is grayed out. Most HDR games have luminance tweaks in their menus, so I turned to dial in the image on a per-title basis.

HDR color is rich and vibrant with excellent saturation tracking. Most points are on target or a little over-saturated which is forgivable. Hues are spot-on, which means the image is always natural and pleasing. The DCI-P3 and Rec.2020 charts exhibit the same performance, which is a good thing. Most HDR content is mastered in the Rec.2020 gamut and the 34M2C7600 comes close to covering it. Thanks to accurate grayscale, luminance tracking and a very wide color gamut, the 34M2C7600 is one of the better HDR monitors out there. It truly does justice to the format.

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Though the idea, and execution of desktop OLED monitors is a good one, we will likely be using LCD panels for the foreseeable future. With their greater brightness and better resistance to image retention, they are a more suitable tool for both productivity and desktop entertainment.

The best way to coax more contrast and better imagery from them is with a full-array backlight with as many dimming zones as possible. Once, 384 was a lot. Today, Mini LED gives us over 1,000. And yes, it’s a lot better. As a premium technology, it’s still costly, but that is changing. Philips looks pretty good with its Evnia 34M2C7600.

If you’re in the market for a 21:9 screen, the 34M2C7600 checks all the right boxes. It’s the right size and curve at 34 inches and 1500R. It’s the right resolution at WQHD, AKA 3440x1440, with 109ppi density. While some users may wish for Ultra HD, there are frame rates to consider. Many affordable video cards can run at 165fps. The only flaw in the 34M2C7600’s video processing is an imprecise overdrive. I wished for a setting between Fast and Fastest to try and mitigate the ghosting artifacts I saw. However, by changing the setting per game, I was able to largely ignore it.

The star is, of course, image quality. With an easily exceeded DisplayHDR 1400 certification, the 34M2C7600 has a stunning HDR image. Its local dimming feature delivered infinite HDR contrast with deep blacks and whites that popped. That kind of dynamic range made the picture look very sharp and detailed. I only wish the local dimming were available for SDR content. The lack of a usable sRGB mode wasn’t a huge problem for gaming but I’d have liked to use it for photo editing.

I also have to mention sound quality one more time. Few monitors’ built-in speakers are more than an afterthought, but the 34M2C7600 delivers leveled-up audio with multiple modes, decent frequency response and a wide soundstage.

Lastly, there is value in Philips’ Ambiglow feature. It’s a beneficial lighting enhancement that goes far beyond the light show included with most gaming monitors. Used as a bias light, it makes the picture look sharper and deeper. And you won’t find it anywhere else.

The Philips Evnia 34M2C7600 brings Mini LED to a slightly better price point and delivers a stunning image with solid gaming performance. It’s built well and attractively styled and includes truly useful LED lighting. If you’re shopping for a 21:9 curved screen and your budget can accommodate a $1,300 monitor, it should be on your radar.

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Now, this is interesting. I recently reviewed the new Philips Evnia 34M2C7600, a 34-inch curved VA Mini LED gaming monitor. And this is a review of the Evnia 34M2C8600. Only one number is different, so why are we here? Because the monitors are so incredibly different. They may look identical on the outside, but the 8600 has a slightly shinier screen coating because it features a QD-OLED panel. OLED gaming monitors can look good with their infinite blacks and bright colors. In addition, their smooth gaming performance delivers superb motion quality without the need for super high frame rates.

Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 Specs

The Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 brings the best technologies from OLED and LCD to bear. It is an OLED in that its pixels, 3440x1440 (WQHD), are self-emissive. And they can be turned off individually to produce perfect, as in unmeasurable, black levels, and therefore, infinite contrast.

Philips adds a quantum dot layer from the LCD world that accomplishes two things. It boosts light output and widens the color gamut. With VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification, the 34M2C8600 isn’t exactly a light cannon, but small highlights can be as bright as 1,000 nits. The bigger enhancement, though, is color. I’ve reviewed QD-OLEDs from Alienware, and though they boast large gamuts, the Philips covers over 108% of DCI-P3. Only a few monitors have broken the 100% barrier in my tests. With these technologies in play, you can expect a superlative image.

I’ve been impressed with the gaming prowess of every OLED monitor that’s crossed my test bench, and the 34M2C8600 is no different. OLEDs deliver smoother motion from lower framerates than LCDs, and they don’t need overdrive or strobing to achieve it. The 34M2C8600 runs at 175 Hz but looks as good as a 240 Hz screen in practice. Of course, Adaptive-Sync is included for FreeSync and G-Sync platforms and VRR-capable consoles. HDMI inputs are limited to 100 Hz, but you can run the full 175 Hz through DisplayPort or USB-C. The 32M2C8600 has not been certified by Nvidia, but it runs G-Sync without restriction.

Besides the OLED panel, this monitor is identical in appearance and features to the 34M2C7600 I recently reviewed. It includes Philips’ Ambiglow lighting, which is useful because it can function as a bias light rather than just being there for show. And it’s distinctively styled in white, cables and all, to set it apart from the sea of black displays we’re so accustomed to. At $1,299, it’s priced competitively. Let’s take a look.

Assembly and Accessories

The 34M2C8600 comes out of its crumbly foam packing in three pieces. The panel is heavy, so take care when removing it; you don’t want to mar that shiny screen coating. It doesn’t come with a peel-off film like most OLEDs, so be wary of fingerprints. The base bolts onto the upright then the stand snaps into a slim socket-like fitting. It’s the only weak point here, as it allows a bit of wobble. But it seems sturdy enough for the long haul, and the rest of the chassis is stout. The included cables are all white, and the power supply is internal, so, no brick to find a spot for.

Product 360

If you put the 34M2C8600 and the 34M2C7600 side-by-side, the only hint that something’s different is the 34M2C8600’s shinier screen coating. It isn’t as glossy as a typical OLED TV but will pick up more reflections than an LCD. Nevertheless, it isn’t too hard to find a good spot for the monitor unless you have it near a sunlit window.

The bezel is flush and relatively narrow, with the white plastic backing just visible in front. A silver trim strip on the bottom is faceted to create a chiseled look. If you turn on the Ambiglow lights underneath, they cast a soft glow on the desktop. More lights are in the back, where a multitude of effects and colors are possible. I like to use Ambiglow as a bias light by shining a white light on the wall behind the monitor. The glow around the screen increases the perception of sharpness and contrast. There is science behind this, and it truly does work. I use bias lights with a projection screen and the OLED TV in my living room.

The stand is very solid and made from cast aluminum. The base is also metal with a plastic covering. The package is well built except for the panel’s attachment point, which is a bit narrow for the weight it carries. That allows for some wobble when making adjustments. You get a 150mm (5.9 inches) height range plus 20 degrees swivel and 5/20 degrees tilt.

Philips hasn’t skimped on the 34M2C8600’s sound quality. A pair of five-watt speakers are integrated along with DTS sound modes. They alter phase and frequency response to create different effects. You can also adjust a five-band eq if you like. In practice, they sounded much larger than the confines of the screen, which almost suggest a surround feel. There isn’t a ton of bass, but they play loud without audible distortion.

Underneath, you’ll find two HDMI 2.0 inputs and one DisplayPort 1.4. A USB-C port supports peripherals, charging and provides an additional DisplayPort 1.4. One upstream and four downstream USB 3.2 ports enhance a KVM feature where you can bind USB and video ports together. That lets you control multiple sources with a single keyboard and mouse. It’s all programmable in the OSD. Finally, if you’d rather plug in headphones, there’s a 3.5mm jack.

OSD Features

The 34M2C8600’s OSD is summoned by clicking a tiny joystick, the only control, on the back right corner. The menu is graphically styled for gaming with seven sub-menus and status info across the bottom.

The 34M2C8600 has 10 picture modes suited to different game types, but the best choice is the default, Standard. It comes close to the mark for grayscale, gamma and color. You can dial down the gamut by turning on the sRGB option. It’s reasonably accurate if you want the correct color values for SDR content. There are five gamma presets and eight color temp presets. Unusually, there are no RGB sliders for fine tweaking. But the Native, Preset and 6500K options are close to D65.

Gaming options include an Adaptive-Sync toggle, DarkBoost for shadow detail, a zoom window for sniping, and a cool adaptive crosshair feature. You can have a colored crosshair if you want, or turn on Smart Crosshair and watch it change color to keep it in contrast with the background. It is always visible, no matter what’s happening in the game. Dynamic DarkBoost will vary low-end gamma to help shadow detail remain visible. Since the 34M2C8600 has such deep black levels, some users may want to turn this on to avoid being surprised by enemies in dark places. Sharp Shooter creates a window in the center of the screen with extra magnification, like a sniper scope.

Ambiglow has enough options to keep one busy for hours. You can run the lights in every spectrum color and turn on different effects. Or run the show in concert with your on-screen content. It creates an extension of the image that is great for impressing your friends. You can also turn on a fixed white light at a low intensity to act as a bias light. This will improve the perception of sharpness and contrast if you have a neutral-colored wall about two or three feet behind the 34M2C8600.

The DTS-tuned audio plays from two five-watt internal speakers that are better than those typically integrated into gaming monitors. The sound modes vary phase and frequency response to create sound stages of varying size. For example, Shooting & Action creates a believable surround effect. If you’d rather tweak it yourself, a five-band eq is provided.

The USB ports can be bound to video inputs using the 34M2C8600’s KVM feature. That lets the monitor operate as a hub for a single set of peripherals.

OLED Panel Care has several options to keep burn-in at bay. All OLEDs are susceptible to it though not as acutely as the plasma TVs of old. The orbiter is invisible in operation and shifts the image minutely to prevent static pictures from using the same pixels for too long. Screen Saver dims the picture after a few minutes of inactivity. Pixel Refresh can be run in the 34M2C8600’s standby mode every few hours to condition the panel further. I use similar features with a two-and-a-half-year-old LG OLED TV and it shows no image retention artifacts.

Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 Calibration Settings

Like the 34M2C7600 VA monitor, the 34M2C8600 cannot be calibrated in the traditional manner. There are no RGB sliders, only fixed color temps and gamma presets. Fortunately, the monitor is accurate enough not to require fine adjustment. Three of the color temp options, 6500K, Preset and Native, all match the D65 standard. And the 2.2 gamma preset is indeed 2.2 with only slight variation. The native color gamut is large, over 105% of DCI-P3, and remains in play for both SDR and HDR content unless you use the sRGB option. It reduces saturation appropriately and is useful for photo editing or any other application that requires sRGB or Rec.709.

HDR signals unlock four additional picture modes. The default is HDR Game, but I found better quality using True Black. It also delivers the highest output and the most accurate color & luminance tracking. It is not adjustable but proved accurate in testing. My recommended settings are below.

Gaming and Hands-on

There are some monitors that just spoil you, 360 Hz for sure; even many 240 Hz screens make it hard to go back below 200 fps. But an OLED, even running at just 175 Hz, is a serious spoiler.

Of course, the benefits of infinite contrast to image quality cannot be overstated. Yes, Mini LED comes close. But OLED is the best, and the 34M2C8600 is a shining example. SDR games like Tomb Raider could almost pass for HDR. In fact, it looks better played here than HDR games played on an LCD with an edge backlight. I went back and forth with the sRGB option to give it due diligence. The extra color, though not strictly accurate, is a good thing for gaming. The 34M2C8600 doesn’t overblow its hues when using the full gamut for SDR content. And this remained true when watching a video. sRGB is there if you need it for photo editing or color grading tasks.

HDR is where the real fun begins. I spent hours playing Doom Eternal because the 34M2C8600 does everything well. It looks stunning, enough so that you’d swear it’s Ultra HD. The pixel density is 110ppi, the same as a 27-inch 16:9 QHD screen. Ultra HD is in the 130s for most desktop monitors, so yes, it is potentially sharper. But the 34M2C8600’s OLED contrast more than makes up for it.

Gaming feel is off-the-charts fun as well. 175 Hz won’t deliver this level of smoothness from any LCD panel. But OLED keeps the fastest motion tack-sharp at 175 fps. You won’t need a GeForce RTX 4090 here, as you would with an Ultra HD monitor. There’s no overdrive in play, so ghosting is absent. And you won’t have to give up Adaptive-Sync to turn on a backlight strobe either. The 34M2C8600 does its thing perfectly with no enhancements required.

I used Ambiglow as a bias light and tried the follow video/audio feature. Bias lighting is something I use in other viewing scenarios, so it is a familiar effect. The follow option varies the light and color according to what’s happening on the screen. I’ve used it with other Philips displays, and it seems to work better in the 16:9 aspect ratio. The ultra-wide format fills more of my peripheral vision, so I didn’t notice the LEDs as much unless I turned off all the room lights. It’s fun to play around with and you won’t find it on any other brand.

Productivity is entirely natural with the 34M2C8600. The panel curve is benign in that it neither enhances nor detracts from document editing. There is no image distortion in text-based apps like Word or Excel. Photos and videos look the same as they do on a flat screen. Except, of course, there’s that OLED contrast. It makes text pop and dials up the sharpness to where, again, you’d swear it’s 4K.

If you’re concerned about image retention, Philips has provided a complete kit of panel maintenance options in the OSD. I can’t speak to the 34M2C8600 long-term prospects as it would likely take many months of abuse to cause a problem. My LG OLED TV is about two-and-a-half years old and used for several hours daily. It has no burn-in of any kind.

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To compare the 34M2C8600’s performance, I’ve lined up an almost-all-OLED group that consists of Corsair’s Xeneon Flex, Asus’ PG27AQDM, Alienware’s AW3423DW and AW3423DWF, and as a control, the Philips 34M2C7600 which is a VA Mini LED with similar specs.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

Higher refresh rates mean higher frame rates and smoother motion. But when comparing OLEDs, there is little difference between 175 Hz and 240 Hz. Two LCDs running at those speeds are more obviously different. This is because OLED processes motion better and keeps objects sharp at lower speeds. I have observed this to be true of all the OLEDs I’ve tested.

If input lag is your most important metric, the PG27AQDM is the current king, but the 34M2C8600 isn’t far behind at 27ms total. This difference might be too much for professional gamers, but most players won’t be disappointed at the Philips’ feel or performance. It is very responsive and smooth in all types of gameplay. However, you’ll notice the other Philips is a bit lower in the ranking thanks to its 165 Hz refresh rate. And it is much less smooth than all the OLEDs.

Viewing Angles

Aside from “it’s awesome'' there isn’t much else one can say about the 34M2C8600’s off-axis image quality. This is one of OLED’s major advantages over LCD. The degree of light polarization is far lower, meaning you won’t see any reduction in brightness and just a minimal color shift. You can see a bit of red in both angle shots, horizontal and vertical. But this will be hard to spot in actual content. The 34M2C8600 is very shareable by two users.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

Screen uniformity doesn’t get much better than 2.10% deviation. The 34M2C8600 produced one of the lowest values I’ve ever recorded. None of the OLEDs here have any visible glow, bleed or variation, so as a technology, it is more consistent in this test than LCDs. In practice, any number below 10% is visually perfect.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

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MORE: How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The one place where OLED lags behind LCD is in peak brightness. Some LCD monitors can render over 1,000 nits in a full-field white pattern, where OLEDs can show around 300-400 nits. But they get brighter when the white zone takes up less of the screen.

The 34M2C8600 peaks at 226 nits in SDR mode which is bright enough for any indoor environment. That’s a full-field white number. A 25% window pattern measures just over 400 nits. There’s enough light here for any application. With an unmeasurable black level, contrast is theoretically infinite. As impressive as the 34M2C7600 is, with almost 4,000:1, it can’t compare to any OLED.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Since there are no RGB sliders, calibration of the 34M2C8600 is just setting brightness to 200 nits. I used a full-field pattern to create a fairly bright image. Some users may want to tone this down if their room is darker than mine. The 34M2C7600 maintains strong performance when compared to other LCD panels.

ANSI contrast cannot be determined for any OLED as the black squares are unmeasurable. The 34M2C7600 is a good performer but the OLEDs are on another level. This is a difference that can be seen in content during side-by-side comparisons.

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The 34M2C8600 ships in its Standard picture mode and it is close enough to spec that one can simply set brightness to taste. No RGB sliders are available, but three of the color temp presets render D65.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

By default, the color temp is set to 6500K with gamma at 2.2. Tiny errors at 60, 90 and 100% are nearly invisible in both test patterns and content. Gamma is slightly light at the 20% step and a bit dark at 90%, also a minor error. This is excellent out-of-box performance.

I’ve included the grayscale and gamma run as a post-calibration result, but the only adjustment is a reduction in the brightness slider. That tightens up gamma a bit, but no other changes have occurred.

Turning on the sRGB option shrinks the gamut and leaves gamma and grayscale the same. And that is how it should be.

Comparisons

The other monitors, save the 34M2C7600, can be calibrated to a high standard. Visual differences here are tiny but nit-pickers may take issue with the 34M2C8600’s lack of RGB controls. However, in my experience, it didn’t lessen the gaming experience. Gamma, at any rate, is tight with a small 0.13 range of values and a minor 1.36% variation from the 2.2 reference value.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

Aside from a bit of red over-saturation, the 34M2C8600 renders all, and then some, of DCI-P3. Most importantly, it hits all the green points, which most wide-gamut monitors cannot do. The errors are tiny and not visually significant. You’ll see a bit of bonus red in some content but not enough to cause a complaint. You can see that changing the brightness value does not alter the gamut test result.

The sRGB gamut rendering is interesting. Red is quite over-saturated, but blue is under. This is unusual in my experience. The overall error level is low, but in content, you’ll see the extra red and blue will look a little pale. The 34M2C8600’s version of sRGB is superior to that of the 34M2C7600, but neither monitor is really qualified for color-critical work in the sRGB color space. If DCI-P3 is on the menu, you’re fine.

Comparisons

The 34M2C8600’s 1.58dE color error is hard to beat by any monitor except an OLED. The screens I’ve tested so far are all more color-accurate than typical LCDs. At 2.66dE, the 34M2C7600 isn’t far behind though. I’m splitting hairs here.

One of the main promises of quantum dot OLEDs is greater color saturation. You can see that in play from both the 34M2C8600 and the Alienware screens which also have QD layers. But the Philips wins the day by a nose. It is extremely colorful, and that’s something that clearly translates to gaming and productivity. The image is stunning in every respect. Note that even the least colorful screen isn’t far below 100% coverage. That’s well above the norm, which is closer to 90%.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

If HDR brightness is important to you, a Mini LED screen is the better choice. Some of them can exceed 1,400 nits. But dynamic range is the most important thing to me and anyone else seeking maximum image depth. That’s where OLED is unchallenged.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The 34M2C8600 meets its DisplayHDR 400 certification when measuring a 25% window pattern. Philips specs it at 1,000 nits with a 3% window, but I could not verify this with my equipment. I have no complaints whatsoever. And like any OLED, black levels can’t be measured so the contrast is infinite. I observed the same behavior from the Mini LED 34M2C7600.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

I measured the 34M2C8600’s four HDR modes and settled on True Black as the best. The default setting, HDR Game, is just OK. It rises out of black too quickly, where True Black sticks closer to the reference. This provides a much more dramatic effect. HDR looks amazing here with flawless grayscale and near-perfect luminance tracking. It doesn’t get better than this.

HDR color is over-saturated in the red and green primaries, but the other colors follow their targets closely. The 34M2C8600 tracks better than many of the HDR monitors I’ve tested. This translates to sharp detail, natural hues and content that just looks right. Similar behavior can be seen in the Rec.2020 test, where the red primary almost hits 100%. There is a ton of color here and it shows in everything, games, video, still photos, even the Windows desktop. 

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Philips has come out of the gate swinging with its new Evnia monitors. I was impressed with the Mini LED 34M2C7600, but the 34M2C8600’s QD-OLED panel is simply on another level from any LCD gaming monitor I’ve reviewed. OLED's look and feel will dominate the desktop monitor market as prices move downwards. If you can invest in bleeding-edge display technology, OLED is it.

The 34M2C8600 delivers infinite contrast and a huge color gamut, one that covers more than 108% of DCI-P3, thanks to its Quantum Dot layer. That puts it among the most colorful monitors currently available. Like all OLEDs, its pixels can be turned off to create true blacks. Mini LED has up to 1,196 dimming zones, but a WQHD OLED panel has 4,953,600. So which do you think will look better? And with 1,000-nit highlights in HDR mode, there’s plenty of brightness to spare.

The gaming feel of OLED panels has spoiled me. After playing on many 240 and 360 Hz monitors and even a 500 Hz screen, I have observed that an OLED running at 165 or 175 Hz delivers a similar level of smoothness. The high refresh panels have lower input lag as their only true advantage.

It should be noted that the 34M2C7600 costs the same as the 34M2C8600 at this writing. With identical features and styling, the difference is simply OLED versus VA/Mini LED. Both monitors look amazing, but I’ll choose the OLED every time. Of course, if you need searing brightness, the Mini LED wins. But for the ultimate gaming experience, OLED is king. Those wanting to add a superlative monitor to their gaming system should check out the Philips Evnia 34M2C8600.

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Today at Newegg, users can take home the 27-inch MSI G27CQ4 E2 gaming monitor for one of its best prices yet. This display usually goes for around $250 but today it’s marked down to $230. Using promo code SSCSAA27 at checkout will take the price down to $220. This code is limited and we’re not sure for how long the discount will be made available.

This monitor spans 27 inches across and has a curvature graded at 1500R. It has a WQHD resolution which measures up to 2560 x 1440. It features a VA panel which isn’t quite as enticing as an IPS but given the dense resolution and curved design, it’s a fair tradeoff at this price.

The MSI G27CQ4 E2 is capable of reaching a maximum refresh rate of 170 Hz. It has a console mode that can run at 120Hz with an FHD resolution. The G27CQ4 E2 is illuminated with a brightness that caps out at 250 Nits. The response time is fairly short, measuring at 1ms MPRT.

Users have a couple of video input options to choose from which is handy if you plan to use it with multiple devices. There are two HDMI inputs as well as a Display Port input. It also has a 3.5mm audio jack for external audio peripherals.

To get a closer look at this deal, visit the MSI 27-inch G27CQ4 E2 product page at Newegg for more details and purchase options. It’s not clear how long the $230 price will be made available. Be sure to use promo code SSCSAA27 at checkout to redeem the full offer and take the price down to $220.

1440p is also called QHD (quad high definition) or WQHD (wide quad high definition) and is a display resolution that measures 2560 x 1440 pixels. This resolution is also commonly referred to as 2K.

Resolution explains how many pixels a display has in width x height format. The more pixels a display has, the sharper its image quality should be. QHD resolution gets its name for offering four times the definition of standard HD, aka 720p (1280 x 720 resolution).

QHD screens are noticeably sharper than Full HD (FHD), aka 1080p resolution (1920 x 1080) models, which are much more common and cheaper. This higher resolution also makes going to screens larger than 27 inches without seeing individual pixels more feasible when shopping for a PC monitor. However, a QHD screen will eat up more battery with laptops than an FHD display. 

What About WQHD?

You may also see QHD resolution referred to as UWQHD, which stands for wide quad high definition. These two acronyms represent the same resolution; WQHD is a marketing technique to emphasize the wide-screen format of the resolution.

However, vendors will also label ultra-wide monitors as UWQHD even though they don't have 2560 horizontal pixels. This is because they still have 1440 vertical pixels but have more horizontal pixels for a wider aspect ratio than 2560 x 1440's 16:9 aspect ratio. An example would be the 3440 x 1440 resolution in the Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240.

Common Display Resolutions

This article is part of the Tom's Hardware Glossary.

Further reading:

• How to Choose a PC Monitor
• Best Gaming Monitors
• Best 4K Gaming Monitors

Acer is amping up its gaming monitor portfolio today by announcing two interesting offerings: the Nitro XZ452CU V and the Predator X34 V.

We'll kick things off with the Nitro XZ452CU V, the larger of the two monitors. It measures 44.5 inches across and features a 1500R curvature for a more immersive gaming experience. In addition, the monitor has a Double QHD resolution, which is like having two 2560 x 1440 monitors sitting side-by-side.

Acer says that the Nitro XZ452CU V is rated for 165 Hz (and 1 ms response time) with backing from AMD's FreeSync Premium Pro technology to tackle screen tearing and reduce input lag. In addition, Acer says that the monitor maintains that 165 Hz refresh rate at DQHD resolution over HDMI, DisplayPort, or a USB-C connection.

The Nitro XZ452CU V uses an 8-bit VA panel, so you can expect excellent contrast (and narrower veiewing angles) compared to a typical IPS panel. Acer doesn't list the native contrast ratio, but the dynamic contrast ratio is listed at 100,000,000:1. Brightness is rated at a native 450 nits (VESA DisplayHDR 400 certified), while Acer says that the Nitro XZ452CU V can hit 90 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut.

Regarding ports, the Nitro XZ452CU V is configured with two HDMI 2.1, one DisplayPort 1.4, one USB-C with 90-watt Power Delivery, an RJ45 network port, a three-port USB 3.2 hub, and a built-in KVM switch. You'll also find dual 3-watt speakers onboard if you don't already have a set of speakers to hook up to your gaming rig.

Moving on, we come to the Predator X34 V, Acer's latest OLED gaming monitor, measuring 34 inches across (as its name suggests) with an 1800R curvature. The monitor features an Ultra-Wide QHD (3440x1440) resolution with a 175 Hz refresh rate and a fast 0.1ms response time (AMD FreeSync Premium is supported).

Other niceties include 250 nits typical (1,000 nits peak) with VESA DisplayHDR TrueBlack 400 certification, a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and 99 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 color space. The Predator X34 V has two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, and a USB-C port capable of 65-watt power delivery. The maximum 175 Hz refresh rate is only achievable over USB-C or DisplayPort. If you opt for the HDMI interface, you're limited to a maximum of 100 Hz. There's also a built-in two-port USB 3.2 hub and integrated 5-watt speakers.

According to Acer, the Nitro XZ452CU V will launch in Q4 2023, priced at $999. The Predator X34 V will arrive during the same quarter with a $1,299 price tag.

If you’re looking for a high-contrast computer monitor, there are two technologies that deliver maximum dynamic range: OLED and Mini LED. I’ve covered OLED screens before, and while they have the deepest blacks of any flat panel, they can’t get as bright as some LCDs. For peak ratings over 1,000 nits, only full-array local dimming (FALD) models can compete. And OLED burn-in is still a concern for many users looking for the best gaming monitors.

ViewSonic already impressed me with the XG321UG 32-inch flat screen, and now, I have a curved example of its Mini LED Elite line, the XG341C-2K. This 34-inch VA panel with WQHD (3440x1440) resolution and 1500R curvature promises peaks of 1,400 nits in HDR mode along with 200 Hz operation, Adaptive-Sync and a wide color gamut. Let’s take a look. 

ViewSonic Elite XG341C-2K Specs

It’s easy to surmise that high brightness ranks as Mini LED’s chief advantage, but the more important aspect is its greater number of dimming zones. A traditional 21:9 aspect FALD display might have 384 zones, but the XG341C-2K has 1,152. When it comes to high contrast and HDR, the more addressable zones, the better. Self-emitting panels like OLED can dim every pixel, creating millions of zones, but Mini LED is the next best thing. And don’t think it’s a distant second. In my experience so far, the gap in image quality is small. The XG341C-2K also ups the ante with a VA panel, starting with 3,000:1 native contrast before applying dynamic dimming.

In addition to high brightness, the color gamut is extensive. In my tests, I measured only a hair under 100% coverage of DCI-P3. That puts the XG341C-2K in a small group of more colorful monitors than most wide-gamut screens, which cover around 90%. The only thing missing on that front is an sRGB mode. Though most users won’t have an issue, you’ll be using the full gamut for all content, SDR and HDR alike.

The XG341C-2K also delivers gaming performance with a 200 Hz overclock mode, significantly improving from the native rate of 165 Hz. You also get Adaptive-Sync and blur reduction, which ViewSonic calls Pure XP. It’s a backlight strobe with multiple settings, so you can find the right balance between smoothness and brightness. A five-level overdrive also works with AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync to reduce blur. The monitor carries FreeSync Premium Pro certification and I verified G-Sync operation in my tests. The XG341C-2K has not been certified by Nvidia.

Contrast is the XG341C-2K’s forte, and with dimming disengaged, it hit nearly 4,000:1 in testing. With dimming turned on, the dynamic range is infinite for both SDR and HDR content. The dimming has five levels of aggressiveness to find just the right setting for your environment. This feature really ups every image's depth and pop, whether moving or static, SDR or HDR.

The XG341C-2K is a premium product, but it isn’t quite as expensive as its predecessors. The closest example is Acer’s Predator X35 which sells for over $2,000. The ViewSonic comes in at around $1,500. Interestingly, that’s the same price as Samsung’s Neo G8, which offers similar brightness and contrast with 240 Hz operation. The choice will come down to resolution and size. The ViewSonic’s ultra-wide screen is hard to ignore.

Assembly and Accessories

The Elite XG341C-2K ships in a large clamshell carton with lots of protective material inside. Unfortunately, it’s the crumbly stuff, so keep a vacuum handy when unpacking. The upright and large base are solid metal and mated with a captive bolt. The panel then snaps in place. If you’d rather use a monitor arm, there’s a 100mm VESA mount with fasteners included. The power supply is internal, so you’ll find an IEC power cord in the box. You also get USB-A/B, USB-C, DisplayPort and HDMI cables.

Product 360

The XG341C-2K sports a slim flush bezel of 8mm around the top and sides. At the bottom is a wider trim strip with Elite silk-screened in the center. On the right is a tiny power LED that glows blue when the power is on and orange in standby mode. ViewSonic is printed on the base in small letters, and there are no other graphics or physical features to distract from the gameplay experience.

You’ll find a single joystick control that covers all monitor functions in the back. It works a little differently than others I’ve used. Pressing it toggles the power, but once on, pressing it again turns it off rather than displaying the OSD (you click up or down to access the OSD). Once in the menu, don’t press the joystick since it will power off. I made that mistake a few times before adapting to these peculiarities. Also in the back is the Elite RGB lighting feature with its four diffused strips that glow in all colors of the spectrum with four different effects available.

The stand is beautifully styled and finished in a matte black powder coat. The base and upright are slender but rock solid. The base is quite deep, with the panel set well forward. On a typical desk, you’ll find yourself about two feet from the screen if you push the base all the way back. The panel sits high enough that I could make it perfectly vertical and center my eyepoint. That is my preferred way to play on a curved monitor because it keeps more of the image focused at any given time.

In the last photo above, you can see the XG341C-2K’s curve of 1500R. This is a good balance between immersion and image distortion. You can expect a normal computer monitor experience when working on spreadsheets or writing tasks. And it’s fine for photo editing and web browsing too.

The input panel is fully stocked with two HDMI 2.1, a DisplayPort 1.4 and USB-C, which can support peripherals or emulate DisplayPort. Additionally, there are three downstream USB-A and a single upstream USB-B port. A 3.5mm headphone jack supports audio from either DisplayPort or HDMI streams and there are two internal speakers that play with reasonable volume before sounding distorted.

OSD Features

The XG341C-2K’s OSD has a business-like appearance that is free of graphics. An almost retro-styled font delivers all the information necessary for use. To open it, click the joystick up or down. Don’t press it, or the power will turn off. Ask me how I know.

There are six sub-menus that are well organized, though a lot of convenience features have been grouped into the setup menu at the end.

We start with Game Modes, of which there are 10. I only needed the default, Custom 1, to run my tests and use the XG341C-2K for both work and entertainment. What you won’t find is an sRGB mode. All picture modes use the full native gamut, which covers nearly 100% of DCI-P3. That’s colorful to be sure, but not entirely accurate for SDR content. Custom 1 makes all other picture controls available.

The Display menu has gaming options like a FreeSync (Adaptive-Sync) toggle, HDR modes, local dimming, Pure XP (blur reduction) overclocking to 200 Hz, overdrive, and color controls. There are a few caveats to note here. If you want to run at 200 Hz, you can’t have Adaptive-Sync or Pure XP. To use these, 165 Hz is the limit. And Pure XP works instead of Adaptive-Sync. In practice, the XG341C-2K is a 165 Hz monitor, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. 200 Hz doesn’t provide a huge bump in speed, but I’ll cover that in the response and lag tests. Further details on video processing options can be found in the Gaming & Hands-on section below.

You can choose from four color temp presets or adjust the RGB values for picture tweaks. Six gamma options range from 1.8 (light) to 2.8 (dark). Color saturation is also adjustable, and you can raise the black level if shadow detail is obscured. Image Adjust is where the brightness and contrast controls are, and there’s a sharpness option that should be reduced, as the default setting creates noticeable edge enhancement.

Three HDR modes engage automatically when an HDR10 signal is present. DisplayHDR is the best choice, providing a superb image with deep blacks and bright punchy highlights. HDR is clearly the XG341C-2K’s forte.

The next menu, ViewMode, alters the picture further depending on the Game Mode selected. I recommend leaving that one alone because if you start tweaking it, there are hundreds of possible combinations, most of them poor. Custom 1 and Standard are the best options.

The Setup Menu has four screens of options like aiming points (three shapes in three colors), RGB lighting, USB power, and OSD settings. The joystick can have its left and right clicks set to several functions for quick access. Here, you’ll find a PIP and PBP option that lets you view two video sources simultaneously. On the last screen, the Memory Recall option resets the XG341C-2K to its factory defaults.

ViewSonic Elite XG341C-2K Calibration Settings

The XG341C-2K showed me a cool grayscale and dark gamma during initial testing, indicating that it needs calibration for the best image. This is easily accomplished by tweaking the RGB values and changing the gamma preset to 2.0. The color gamut is not adjustable, so you’ll always see around 100% of DCI-P3 (over 140% of sRGB), even in SDR mode. There is no sRGB setting. In HDR mode, there are no picture options save the three preset picture modes that look very similar. I recommend the default, DisplayHDR. The only other nitpick is that you’ll need to switch the local dimming on and off manually. You’ll want it for HDR but not always for SDR as it makes the picture very bright. My recommended SDR settings are below.

Gaming and Hands-on

With its 1500R curvature, the XG341C-2K is well suited for work and productivity. There is no visible image distortion, even when sitting closer than three feet away. And the 109ppi pixel density is perfect for detail and fine lines. I never saw any jaggies or pixelation in graphics or when rendering small fonts. In practice, a 34-inch 21:9 monitor is nearly the size of two 27-inch 16:9 screens, and you don’t have a line down the middle.

Though the color gamut is larger than SDR’s sRGB standard, the extra saturation isn’t a problem unless you need accuracy for photo work. The picture has a nice glow with deep blacks and plenty of depth for typical tasks. The text is easy to read against white backgrounds, and if you turn on the local dimming in SDR mode, the picture becomes very bright. It might be too much for long work sessions, but your experience may vary from mine.

Switching back and forth between HDR and SDR revealed a few quirks. The XG341C-2K goes to HDR without an issue. But returning to SDR, the monitor remained stuck in HDR mode, which distorted the color palette significantly. I had to manually turn off HDR, meaning the next time I wanted to view HDR content, I had to re-engage it in the OSD. So, in its current form, it does not switch back and forth automatically.

The same is true of the local dimming. If you want to use it for SDR, you’re good. It will remain engaged for SDR and HDR all the time. But if you’d rather switch it off for SDR, you must turn it on after switching to HDR mode and back off when returning to SDR.

Another thing I noticed is that turning on Adaptive-Sync grays out the brightness control, which is unusual. The set white level is higher than 200 nits, settling in around 275. If you work in a dark room, the XG341C-2K will be quite bright with Adaptive-Sync engaged.

Those experiments took me to gaming, where I tried a few different video processing options. My experience has shown that below 200fps, you need Adaptive-Sync. That isn’t a problem since the XG341C-2K runs it up to 165 Hz. However, at 200 Hz, Adaptive-Sync is off the table. In practice, if you can keep frame rates close to 200, it isn’t essential. But you’ll need a fast video card to run 200fps at 3440x1440. I was able to do this with a GeForce RTX 3090. I chose to forego Adaptive-Sync since motion is a bit smoother at 200 Hz vs 165 Hz. In either case, the overdrive did a decent job keeping artifacts at bay. Though I saw some black ghosting in test patterns, it didn’t come up during gameplay.

If you’re tempted to try Pure XP, you’ll find that its phasing artifact is prominent enough to be a distraction. In fairness, very few monitors have a good backlight strobe. Nearly all show extra lines behind moving objects. I didn’t use it after my initial trial.

Playing Doom Eternal, I looked for accuracy in aiming and response when clicking the mouse. I got ample quantities of both. I had no trouble working through familiar maps quickly and dispatching enemies in large numbers. The XG341C-2K is a very accurate monitor for moving and shooting. It also presented a superb HDR image with rich, bold color and super-low black levels. The Mini LED and its 1152 dimming zones help this monitor impressively impersonate an OLED panel. HDR contrast here is among the best I’ve seen.

I also observed better-than-average audio. The internal speakers are distortion-free up to a reasonably loud volume and clearly present ambient sound and dialog. Though I prefer headphones for the best experience, these would do well in a pinch.

Despite a few extra steps in switching between HDR and SDR, the XG341C-2K proved to be an excellent gaming tool that will suit gamers of all skill levels up to competing professionals. Here are my recommended settings for SDR and HDR gaming.

• FreeSync Premium Pro – on for 165 Hz, off for 200 Hz (dependent on video card speed)
• Local Dimming – off for SDR, level 2 for HDR
• HDR mode – DisplayHDR
• Overdrive – Fast (setting 3 of 5)

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I’ve lined the XG341C-2K up against similar screens, 34-inch ultra-wide 165 Hz refresh rate monitors with WQHD resolution. The Acer X35 Mini LED, AOC CU34G3S, MSI MPG343CQR and ASRock PG34WQ are VA panels, while the Alienware AW3423DWF is an OLED.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

I tested the XG341C-2K at 165 and 200 Hz. Remember that overclocking means you can’t run Adaptive-Sync or the backlight strobe; however, you get overdrive in all cases.

The Acer is a costly monitor, but it’s worth including here for its excellent performance. It doesn’t have the limitations of the XG341C-2K; you can run it at 200 Hz with Adaptive-Sync for a $1,000 premium.

The difference between 165 and 200 Hz is clearly small, too small to give up Adaptive-Sync. In both tests, the XG341C-2K came out on top for total input lag, which is good. This a very responsive monitor, and overdrive quality is about average for the category. On its Fast setting, it showed slight black ghosting, but in practice, gaming was smooth and free of tearing or stutter. Motion resolution clarity was also average for the category.

Viewing Angles

The XG341C-2K has better off-axis image quality than most of the VA panels I’ve reviewed. It isn’t entirely up to the best IPS panels in this test, but it comes close. You’ll see a 20% light reduction and a slight green shift at 45 degrees to the sides. Gamma remains constant, so no detail is obscured in highlight or shadow areas. The vertical plane shows a washed-out picture with a shift to red and green.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My XG341C-2K review sample showed uniformity befitting a premium monitor with just a 3.83% variation in brightness from the center, which is well below the visible threshold. No glow or bleed could be seen. The image is free of grain or variation, and all patterns I checked were perfectly toned from edge to edge.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The XG341C-2K boasts a very bright 656 nits peak at its default settings, which is too bright for any indoor setting. Fatigue will set in quickly at this level. The downside is that the minimum level is 72 nits which is a little hot for a darkened room. It also means each click of the brightness control changes the level by 4-6 nits, making it harder to find a precise setting.

With local dimming turned off, the black level is respectable and results in a native contrast ratio of 3,742.1:1, above average for a VA panel. If you engage the dimming, the black level can’t be measured, and contrast is infinite.

After Calibration to 200 nits

With peak white set to 200 nits, the XG341C-2K displays the deepest blacks of the VA panels in the group. A native contrast ratio of over 4,000:1 means you can see a very high-quality image without resorting to local dimming. If you engage it, the black level can’t be measured. And you’ll definitely want it on for HDR content.

ANSI contrast is much the same at almost 3,900:1. This is one of the better VA monitors I’ve tested. Even without a dimming feature, it would look better than most of its competition. With dimming on, ANSI contrast is infinite. The XG341C-2K is well-engineered and built with excellent quality control. Only the Alienware OLED monitor can claim picture quality this good.

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The XG341C-2K doesn’t ship with a factory-certified calibration. In its default mode, I found it needed some tweaking to achieve the best possible image.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

This is the XG341C-2K’s Custom 1 gaming mode and Standard view mode, the default settings. Grayscale tracks visibly blue and gamma is quite dark. This gives the image a murky appearance and negates much of the monitor’s contrast advantage.

After adjusting the RGB values and changing the gamma preset from 2.2 to 2.0, the measurements and image quality are greatly improved. This is what’s expected from a premium monitor sporting the latest Mini LED technology. Aside from a slight dip at 90% brightness, this is perfect grayscale and gamma tracking.

Comparisons

The XG341C-2K is firmly in the “needs-calibration” category. While you can turn up the brightness or engage local dimming to make the picture less murky, the blue grayscale still makes it look flat. Once adjusted, it looks much better.

The gamma presets are off by one click, as the default 2.2 option yields 2.4. This is too dark, and it robs the XG341C-2K of some of its contrast advantage. Luckily, changing the setting to 2.0 solves the issue neatly. With a 0.14 range of values and just 1.36% deviation, it ranks among the best in the gamma test.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

The default color gamut run shows hue errors consistent with the blue grayscale I noted earlier. Red and cyan are off hue. Red and magenta are also a bit over-saturated though most users won’t mind the extra punch of color that affords.

Calibration mostly takes care of the hue errors, but red is still a bit off. Again, this won’t bother most users as it makes the picture extremely vivid. It isn’t entirely accurate, but it will pump up the look of all content, SDR and HDR. My only complaint is that there’s no sRGB mode. You have to use the full gamut for all content.

Comparisons

Calibration brings the XG341C-2K’s color gamut error from 4.35dE to 2.38dE, a visible gain in quality. Though reds are a bit over-saturated, the picture is not unnaturally vivid. When compared to other extended color monitors, it delivers just a little bit more vibrance.

That is explained by its near 100% coverage of DCI-P3. Most currently available wide-gamut monitors have less color volume than the XG341C-2K. The over-saturated red primary means you’ll need a software profile for color-critical work, but this monitor can be used as a professional tool. An sRGB mode would be welcome, but that omission can also be solved with software.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The XG341C-2K, like other Mini LED monitors, can display very bright highlights in HDR mode. When an HDR10 signal is applied, it switches automatically and opens up three HDR-specific picture presets. I found them very similar in look and measurement, so I did my tests in the default DisplayHDR mode.

HDR Brightness and Contrast 

The XG341C-2K is certified DisplayHDR 1400, and it manages that feat when measuring a 25% window pattern. This shows that it has more than enough power to deliver super-bright highlights in HDR mode. Most LCD panels with traditional LED backlights struggle to provide this much light from any onscreen object bigger than a few pixels. To achieve this, I had to engage local dimming. Any level from 1 to 5 will engage the full dynamic range. That means when a 0% black pattern is displayed, the backlight is turned off, rendering contrast infinite. Even displaying a small white object like an info bug won’t turn on the LEDs in the surrounding zones. ViewSonic has implemented its Mini LED technology extremely well here.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color 

The XG341C-2K’s HDR grayscale tracking runs a bit warm in brightness steps above 55%. This is a more excusable error than blue or green because red is less visible in practice. All three HDR modes exhibit the same behavior. The EOTF runs slightly dark but not enough so that detail is obscured. The tone-map transition point is 75% which means more of the content meta-data can be used to determine luminance levels. This always bodes well for picture quality, which is excellent.

The XG341C-2K shows some over-saturation in HDR mode in the red, magenta and blue areas of the gamut. This warms up the image in a good way. Though not completely accurate, the picture is pleasing and natural, with vivid color and depth. With such low black levels, well-mastered content looks three-dimensional. You can see in the Rec.2020 chart that the XG341C-2K covers a good portion of that large gamut, coming up short only in green and cyan.

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There is no doubt that Mini LED is fast becoming the go-to tech for high-contrast monitors. Though OLED will always have the advantage with its self-emissive pixel structure, LCD, in the minds of most users, is the more practical screen type. Add in wide color gamuts and high brightness, and the fact that a good Mini LED screen isn’t vastly different from an OLED in quality, and you have something truly compelling.

Following in the footsteps of the stunning XG321UG Ultra HD monitor, the XG341C-2K brings the goods to the curved ultra-wide category. Gamers like curved screens, and this is one of the best. The picture is stunning in both SDR and HDR modes. With 1,400 nits available, highlights always pop and black levels are deep thanks to 1,152 dimming zones and well-implemented local dimming.

Large color gamuts are a must in the premium gaming monitor genre and the XG341C-2K delivers there too. It covers nearly 100% of DCI-P3, putting it in an elite group. Appropriate then that ViewSonic calls it “Elite.” Though I noted a few initial inaccuracies and a missing sRGB mode, color is rich and vibrant, and I doubt anyone will complain about the picture.

The XG341C-2K is a gamer’s tool as well. With low input lag and smooth operation, I found it very accurate for moving and shooting. Its generous width and 1500R curve deliver immersive play with a picture that wraps around the user’s eyepoint. The only flaws here are the inability to run Adaptive-Sync at 200 Hz and the lack of brightness control when Adaptive-Sync is turned on. These are unusual quirks but not deal-breakers. I enjoyed every minute of gaming on this monitor.

Premium ultra-wide screens like the XG341C-2K are still expensive, but progress is being made. At $1,500, it costs the same as a Samsung Neo G8 and undercuts the Acer X35. And it offers almost as much contrast as the Alienware AW3423DWF with higher brightness than that OLED monitor. Operational quirks aside, this is an excellent gaming monitor with a stunning picture. Users seeking a high-performance 21:9 screen should definitely check it out.

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When new technologies saturate the marketplace, prices inevitably go down. It took a few years, but some of the best gaming monitors feature curved ultra-wide panels at reasonable prices. 34-inch WQHD (3440x1440) gaming screens run fast and deliver solid gaming performance for less than $500.

Known mainly for its PC hardware, ASRock introduced a line of monitors branded Phantom Gaming in 2022. The curved entry, and my review subject, is the PG34WQ15R2B, hereafter known as the PG34WQ. It’s a WQHD VA panel with a 1500R curve, 165 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR 400, and extended color.

Specifications

The PG34WQ gets off to a great start with a VA panel boasting a native contrast ratio of 3,000:1. The LED backlight has a field dimming feature that extends dynamic range for SDR and HDR content. In HDR mode, it’s always active and, in my tests, delivered nearly 17,000:1. There’s plenty of light output, with just shy of 500 nits peak. SDR mode tops out at just over 300 nits.

A wide color gamut covers about 85% of DCI-P3, which is average for the category. ASRock engineered the gamut to strike a good compromise between sRGB and P3. This makes it well suited for SDR content mastered in the smaller color space. You can see the extra color without going too far past the mark.

The PG32WQ is a great value at $430 with just about everything a gamer could want without added bells and whistles. You get Adaptive-Sync which works equally well on Nvidia and AMD platforms. The 165 Hz refresh rate is achieved without overclocking. And tweakers will appreciate the inclusion of MPRT, also known as a backlight strobe, to reduce motion blur.

You won’t find things like aiming points, timers or frame counters. And there’s no LED lighting, so you’ll have to relegate any pyrotechnics to your PC and other peripherals. But there are a few interesting and unique things here that set the PG34WQ apart.

Assembly and Accessories

The first thing that caught my attention when unpacking the PG34WQ were two slim coax cables. After turning to the quick start guide, I discovered that ASRock integrated Wi-Fi antennae into the stand. The cables run between the monitor and the coax connections on your PC. That’s a first, in my experience. You also get HDMI and DisplayPort cables with an IEC cord for the internal power supply. The stand and base couple with a captive bolt, and the panel snaps in place for a solid fit. 

Product 360

The PG34WQ’s 1500R curve is neither subtle nor overt. It hits the balance point between immersion and image distortion, with a good deal of the former and none of the latter. The anti-glare layer is aggressive but not grainy, and the image is sharp without any edge enhancement to reduce resolution. Pixel density is 109ppi, the same as a 27-inch 16:9 flat panel. The bezel is thin at 8mm and flush; you’ll barely notice it when viewing content.

The bottom trim strip features a Phantom Gaming logo and little else save a tiny blue LED to indicate power status. You’ll find an OSD joystick in the back, two control keys and a power toggle. ASRock announces itself in polished lettering set under a thin grill that vents heat near the top of the panel.

The two Wi-Fi antenna ports are at the bottom of the upright so that the cables won’t intrude once connected. The stand is solid with firm movements that include -7/20 degrees tilt, 20 degrees swivel and a 100mm height adjustment. The Phantom Gaming logo is featured in the front and in the back. A small hole helps tidy any wiring. Under the panel mount is a 100mm VESA pattern with fasteners included.

Inputs are sparse, with just two HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 1.4. For 165 Hz operation, you must use DisplayPort. The HDMI inputs only go up to 100 Hz. If you’d like to use headphones instead of listening to the tiny two-watt internal speakers, a 3.5mm jack is provided.

OSD Features

The PG34WQ’s OSD is one of the most efficient I’ve ever seen, with just four sub-menus and only the most necessary features needed for high-performance gaming. Pressing the joystick brings it up. The keys take the user straight to the brightness slider or picture modes. Click the joystick left to change inputs or right to adjust the audio volume.

The PG34WQ has six picture modes, all of which are fixed except the default Standard preset. That one allows adjustment of luminance and color temperature. The only thing missing from the calibration suite is gamma, which is unfortunate because this monitor looks and measures too light. Gamma is off by almost 10%, which makes the picture a bit washed out and lacking in saturation. DCR is an effective dynamic contrast option that enhances picture quality and has no apparent downside. I recommend using it for SDR content. It’s locked on for HDR. MPRT delivers a backlight strobe that reduces blur but causes a very visible phasing artifact.

The Image Setup menu lets you change aspect ratios, toggle the overdrive & Adaptive-Sync, and set HDR to Auto mode. The overdrive has just one setting, which didn’t make a difference. I saw slight black ghosting in test patterns, but most gaming content ran smoothly with minimal blur.

The Color Temp menu has four fixed options plus an adjustable user mode with RGB sliders. They can be used to dial in the PG34WQ precisely with accurate grayscale tracking. You can improve the image by selecting the sRGB setting if you don't calibrate. I’ll explain why below.

The final menu has an auto setting for the input selector, DDC/CI toggle, and a factory reset option. At the bottom is input signal information.

ASRock PG34WQ15R2B Calibration Settings

I discovered a few interesting things when calibrating the PG34WQ. In the default mode, the picture is cool, and gamma is light, reducing depth and color saturation. I calibrated the user color temp and saw a significant improvement without gamma presets. However, turning down the contrast slider from 50 to 35 increased static contrast, which shouldn’t happen, but my test results don’t lie. ASRock should add gamma options in a future firmware update for sure; this monitor sorely needs them. Here are the settings I used.

If you don’t calibrate, I recommend setting the color temp to sRGB. This fixes the grayscale errors and improves gamma slightly. You can improve the image further by turning on DCR. Unlike most monitors, the PG34WQ makes good use of its field-dimming feature in SDR mode. The only downside to this approach is that the brightness slider is grayed out. Without DCR, peak brightness is around 150 nits. With DCR, it’s 210 nits.

HDR mode comes up automatically when an HDR10 signal is applied. Color accuracy is excellent there, with dynamic contrast of nearly 17,000:1. HDR content looks excellent here, better than most sub-$500 screens I’ve tested.

Gaming and Hands-on 

Right off the bat, I enjoyed the PG34WQ’s ideal curvature. I’ve tried monitors ranging from 2300R to 1300R and in the 34-inch 21:9 size, 1500R is my favorite. There was no image distortion in apps like spreadsheets or word processors, but I felt a sense of immersion in games because I didn’t have to turn my head quite as far to keep peripheral objects in view.

I tried out a few different configurations to get the best possible SDR picture from the PG34WQ. The Standard picture mode out of the box is not the best choice. The light gamma and cool color temp put a damper on any sense of dimension. The detail was less sharp, and the color was less saturated.

My tests revealed a couple of fixes. The easy one is to set sRGB in the color temp menu and turn on DCR. That makes a huge difference with better detail and more color. The only downside is that brightness is fixed. You’ll see around 150 nits with DCR off and 210 nits with it on. I went for the latter in games but turned it off in Windows to quell the extra brightness when browsing the web.

The best choice is calibration, and if you don’t have the means, try my settings shown above. That allows you to dial in brightness to taste and delivers the best color of all. The gamut compromises between sRGB and DCI-P3 for all content, and ASRock did a good job here.

The PG34WQ’s strongest attribute is its HDR image quality. The DCR option is locked, which ups the contrast ratio to almost 17,000:1. Highlights are much brighter, almost 500 nits, which in turn pumps up color saturation and depth. In the sub-$500 category, this is one of the best HDR monitors I’ve seen.

Video processing options are basic, which is fine because they work. Overdrive can be on or off, but I didn’t see a difference either way. Blur is minimal, and on par with most other 165 Hz monitors I’ve tested. I saw some slight phasing in vertical lines, not frame tears since Adaptive-Sync works just fine. But there was an occasional doubling of thin lines as I panned quickly from side to side. It wasn’t a distraction, and my success in familiar games like Doom Eternal and Tomb Raider was equal to monitors with better overdrives. 

MPRT, or backlight strobing, does not work well here. It cancels out Adaptive-Sync, which at 165 Hz is a questionable choice. It also causes phasing, like most monitors with the feature. I found it distracting, though it doesn’t reduce brightness too much. I still preferred to stick with AS and overdrive. And I had equal success with both FreeSync and G-Sync platforms.

Over my time with the PG34WQ, I found it capable in all areas, work and play. It performed comfortably above its price class with excellent HDR and a solid gaming experience.

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To compare the PG34WQ’s performance, I’ve created a group that includes Monoprice’s 42772, AOC’s CU34G3S and MSI’s MPG343CQR to represent 165 Hz. BenQ’s EX3415R and EX3410R are here to cover 144 Hz, but you’ll soon see that 144 Hz isn’t necessarily a disadvantage.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures. 

The BenQ EX3415R manages to draw a full white field in 6ms despite running at 144 Hz instead of 165 Hz. And it takes first place in the overall lag contest with 27ms. But the PG34WQ is close behind at 7 and 30ms. For all but a world-class player, that’s an imperceptible difference. The ASRock is quick to be sure. Its overdrive isn’t the best I’ve seen, but it delivers smoothness that’s on par with the competition. Gamers of average skill will see little difference in video processing performance between any of the six screens.

Viewing Angles

The PG34WQ looks better than most VA panels I’ve photographed at 45 degrees off-center. The image is dimmer and more washed out, but the color shift is only slightly to red. The vertical plane shows much of the same behavior with slightly less light output. Few people would want to share a 34-inch ultra-wide monitor, but if you do, an IPS model will serve better.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

In general, VA panels have slightly weaker uniformity than IPS. You’ll see the occasional glow in one corner or a center hotspot. My PG34WQ sample had the former with a bit of extra light in the upper right. I could only see it in a full black field, not in actual content. There were no aberrations in color field patterns or neutral patterns of higher intensity.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The PG34WQ hits about 305 nits in SDR mode, which is plenty of light for any work or gaming application in an indoor environment. There’s more output available for HDR content, nearly 500 nits, so the headroom is there.

The default black level is great compared to an IPS monitor but a bit below average among VA panels. That limits contrast to 2,219.3:1.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibrating the RGB sliders and turning down the contrast slider from 50 to 35 makes a huge difference in image quality. I still wished for darker gamma, but the contrast increases to almost 3,100:1, which helps with depth and color saturation.

ANSI contrast stays consistent at 2,886.4:1, a solid result. Though the other VA monitors score higher in the contrast tests, the PG34WQ delivers decent quality. A darker gamma would move it up the rankings.

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The PG34WQ comes from the box in its Standard mode, which looks too cool and is a bit washed out overall. Luckily, it only takes a few tweaks to make things better.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking 

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

The PG34WQ’s white point is cool with visible blue errors from 30% and higher. It isn’t a huge problem, but there is room for improvement. Some adjustment is needed. Gamma is light at around 2.00, making the image a bit hazy.

Changing the color temp to sRGB makes a big difference. Now, there are no visible errors, while gamma remains the same. You can enjoy the PG34WQ this way, with the only limitation being that the brightness slider is grayed out. Peak output is around 150 nits, or 210 if you turn on DCR, which I recommend doing.

If you’d rather have finer control of brightness, calibrate the user color temp as I did. Then, you can set any output level you want and have the best possible grayscale tracking. There’s still no help for gamma, though. Regardless of your path, turn on DCR; you’ll be glad you did.

Comparisons

The PG34WQ starts a bit down the order, but with calibration, it takes second place for grayscale accuracy. If you just select sRGB from the color temp options, it would finish fourth, still respectable.

In the gamma test, it tracks straight with a very narrow value range which is a good thing. But with an actual value of 1.99, it’s off the spec by almost 10%. ASRock, please add gamma presets to the OSD. It would make such a difference.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

When testing a monitor, I usually know going in its intended color gamut. Most of the latest screens use DCI-P3 and often advertise their coverage of that gamut on the box. The PG34WQ makes no such claims, but I can see that it is a DCI-P3 monitor. It takes a different approach than most to provide balanced color that works well for SDR content while still adding saturation.

The first chart above shows the default gamut when graphed against DCI-P3. Notice that inner points (20-80%) are under-saturated while the 100% target almost gets there. There’s a broader gap between 80 and 100% than the other points.

The second chart shows the same test graphed against sRGB. The inner points are closer to the targets now and indeed, the Delta E error is lower.

The third chart shows what happens when you select the sRGB color temp. The PG34WQ still hits most of DCI-P3, but the inner points are right on the sRGB spec (and the error is lower). This is the right choice for most users, as further calibration isn’t required.

The last chart shows the result of a grayscale calibration. It’s nearly identical to the sRGB-only chart. So, you get the same accuracy level but with adjustable brightness if you change the RGB sliders. Use my settings if you want to do this without instruments.

Comparisons

The PG34WQ compares well in either sRGB mode or with calibration. With only the AOC showing slightly better numbers, this is excellent performance. I can’t fault the color accuracy here. And I like the concept of balance between sRGB and DCI-P3. It looks great with all types of content. The light gamma is a bummer but other than that, ASRock has done well.

The PG34WQ is about average for the category in the gamut volume calculation. For less than $500, you won’t find much more color than this. You’ll need a software profile to use any of these screens for color-critical applications. But for gaming, they all provide plenty of color.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

HDR is where the PG34WQ truly shines. It has effective dynamic contrast and accurate color that hits most targets in the DCI-P3 and Rec.2020 gamuts. Switching between SDR and HDR signals is automatic. You won’t find any adjustments for HDR content but as I discovered, they aren’t necessary.

HDR Brightness and Contrast 

ASRock’s website claims 550 nits peak, but the PG34WQ is rated for VESA DisplayHDR 400, and it comfortably exceeds that metric. At just under 500 nits, it’s plenty bright. With a best-in-group black level, it goes well beyond the HDR contrast capabilities of most budget screens with nearly 17,000:1. Only the MSI shows better. The Monoprice, BenQ and AOC monitors have no dynamic option, and it shows. ASRock has put its efforts into HDR here and it clearly pays off.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The PG34WQ’s excellent HDR performance extends to color too. Grayscale tracking is without visual error. That’s a good thing since there are no adjustments available. The field dimming feature is a little too aggressive at the dark end of the scale, as you can see in the EOTF chart. Though shadow detail is still visible, it’s hard to see in the heat of battle. Users should tweak their in-game settings to compensate for this. In most areas of the picture, detail is solid and pops well. The tone-map transition point is spot-on at 65%.

In the color tests, the PG34WQ is reasonably close to the targets for DCI-P3 and Rec.2020. Saturation is very good and better than SDR, with no visible hue errors. This is an HDR monitor for sure and looks its best when showing that material.

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Now that curved ultra-wide monitors have become a de facto standard for gaming, there are many product choices and that has translated to lower prices. What used to be a $1,000 purchase is now easy to find for less than $500, and that’s progress.

Another thing that is commonplace among budget screens is high refresh rates. While I am spoiled enough to consider 240 Hz a starting point, there is a lot of fun gaming to be had at 144 and 165 Hz. A wide variety of affordable hardware is available to power a monitor to 165fps at QHD and WQHD resolutions.

In this crowded market, the PG34WQ15R2B is an excellent first effort from ASRock. It delivers on its promises with solid performance, low input lag and accurate color. There is the light gamma issue which is something that could be fixed with a firmware update. But if you engage the sRGB color temp, or calibrate, and turn on DCR (dynamic contrast), the SDR image is pretty good. And its 1500R curve is ideal for any application.

HDR is the star with bright highlights approaching 500 nits and well-saturated color. HDR black levels are low, meaning almost 17,000:1 contrast, one of the best in class. The PG34WQ looks better in HDR mode than most of its budget-friendly competition.

Video processing is solid as well. Though the overdrive is a bit weak, it reduces blur enough for decent motion resolution. Adaptive-Sync works perfectly with either Nvidia or AMD hardware. And input lag is lower than average, making the PG34WQ a very capable gaming display.

At less than $500, it’s hard to find fault. I enjoyed my time playing and working with the PG34WQ. If you have a mid-tier gaming PC or console, it’s a great choice. Definitely check it out.

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When OLED panels first arrived, bendability was one of their promised features. Theoretically, one could have a TV or monitor that could bend or roll up. LG demoed a rollable television at CES in 2020 that rises from a cabinet. It’s available today in a 65-inch size for an eye-watering $100,000. And, of course, we have foldable phones available for sale.

However, Corsair is the first company to introduce a bendable computer monitor. It eliminates the issue of choosing between a flat or curved panel. With the Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240, you can have both. At 45 inches wide, 21:9 aspect ratio, it’s the largest ultra-wide I’ve seen yet among the best gaming monitors. The bend goes to 800R, which is a very small radius. It also has serious gaming cred with 240 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR and wide gamut color. Let’s take a look. 

Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 Specs

In the world of unique computer monitors, the Xeneon Flex is a standout. As an OLED, it joins a small and elite group of displays with fantastic contrast and rich color. The Flex has the same infinite dynamic range as other OLEDs I’ve reviewed and covers slightly under 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. With a few tweaks, it delivers reference-level accuracy and also offers a usable sRGB mode.

Though OLEDs aren’t known for high brightness, the Flex can hit 1,000 nits in HDR mode when showing small highlights. SDR brightness is lower, as is appropriate. In my tests, a 25% window measured around 437 nits, which is respectable.

Gaming cred comes courtesy of a 240 Hz refresh rate with Adaptive Sync. The Flex is certified by Nvidia and AMD for both G-Sync and FreeSync Premium operating over a 48-240 Hz range. It also has extremely low input lag. In my tests, it proved to be quicker than other 240 Hz monitors by a comfortable margin.

The big story is the bend, of course. The Flex is the first, and for the moment only, bendable computer monitor available. You can leave it flat and enjoy a vast screen perfect for productivity. Or you can bend it as tightly as 800R for immersive gaming. You can leave it anywhere between those extremes or just bend one side. It is, effectively, several monitors in one. The bend is accomplished manually with two handles that extend from the sides.

According to Corsair, the life cycle of the Flex is at least 10,000 bends, which in theory, would take many years to achieve. The warranty is three years for both zero dead pixels and zero burn-in. Pixel orbiting and refresh features are included to maintain the panel’s health while in standby mode.

There’s a lot to see here, so let’s get unpacking.

Assembly and Accessories

The Flex is a one-unit display with an integrated stand. There’s no assembly required, nor can you remove the stand since it incorporates both inputs and controls. The box is a lift-off style, like a TV, that protects the contents with blocks of crumbly foam. A beefy 240-watt power supply and DisplayPort, HDMI, USB A-C and USB C-C are included.

Product 360

The Flex is an impressive sight once you find a spot big enough for it. Some room on the sides is required to fit the handles that slide out when you want to bend or unbend. My initial reaction was a bit fearful because it’s hard to wrap one’s mind around bending a computer monitor. The panel is only 6mm thick, but it has a prominent component bulge in the back and two stabilizing arms that manage the bending action. To bend, simply pull the handles. You can bend only one side if you wish. An audible click sounds when you’ve reached the limit of 800R. The Flex is so large that its maximum bend is just about right for gaming from a three- to four-foot viewing distance.

The build quality is certainly premium, with a solid metal base over a foot deep. Stability is not an issue. A bit of texturing adorns the back of the upright, which is quite wide. A metal handle sits at the bottom center, which is handy for tilting the screen. It comes forward seven degrees or back 15. There is no swivel or height adjustment.

WQHD resolution, or 3440x1440, is more commonly seen in 34-inch screens. At 45 inches diagonal, the Flex gives up some pixel density. The 83ppi is less than the more familiar 109ppi one sees in a 34-inch ultra-wide or a 27-inch 16:9 QHD panel. This means you don’t want to sit too close lest you see the pixel structure. The screen surface is also unusual for an OLED because it’s matte. Most are very shiny and easily show reflections, but the Flex bucks this trend.

The Flex’s panel and stand are a single unit that cannot be disassembled. The controls are on the front beneath the screen and include an input selector, power toggle with LED, and a joystick for menu control. Two USB ports and a headphone jack are also provided, which is very convenient. There are no built-in speakers. In the back, there are two HDMI 2.1 inputs, a DisplayPort 1.4, a USB-C video and a second USB-C for peripherals. The screen sits a little low for me to get it perfectly vertical without a small stand underneath.

OSD Features

The OSD is completely text-based, with just a small Corsair graphic in the upper left corner. Pressing the joystick summons the menu. You can also go right to the input selector with a press of the Input key or a right click. Up selects brightness, Left adjusts volume, Down is image mode and Right is input.

The Flex has six image presets, including Standard, which can be calibrated using the DCI-P3 gamut and sRGB, which employs the smaller color space. Unlike most monitors, the Flex’s sRGB mode can be independently calibrated, which is great for professionals who need reference quality for both color standards. You also get three color temperature presets, a custom mode, and three gamma options. Refresh Overlay is a frame counter, and you can create your own aiming point with different shape combinations shown in the second photo above.

A monitor this large is perfect for PIP and PBP functions, which allow viewing two sources at once. The Flex can easily replace two monitors with its vast screen area.

System Setting lets you toggle Adaptive-Sync on and off and manage the panel maintenance options. A pixel orbiter shifts the image up and down to prevent burn-in. You’ll never notice it in action. I stared at the screen for quite a while and could barely see anything happening. The Refresh option works while the Flex is in standby mode. Corsair warrants the Flex for three years against burn-in, so it is confident in these features. In my own experience, I have seen no burn-in on my two-year-old LG OLED TV.

Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 Calibration Settings

The Flex has a factory-certified calibration, but I found some improvement with adjustments. The RGB sliders work precisely and allowed me to calibrate the Standard and sRGB modes separately. I could then switch back and forth between them at will. Gamma and color tracking were very good out of the box. I’ve provided my settings below.

There are no adjustments in HDR mode, but I found solid grayscale tracking there with good color saturation.

Gaming and Hands-on 

It’s hard to experience a monitor like the Flex and not lapse into an adjective stream where I spend hours coming up with ways to describe it in as many words as possible. Rather than bore you with that, I’ll just say that there’s absolutely nothing like it.

First is the size. I’ve reviewed lots of ultra-wide monitors. Most are 34 inches diagonal and provide a decent wrap around the viewpoint. 49-inch mega wides wrap more but lack height which can take the user a bit out of the experience. The Flex, with its 45-inch screen and 800R curve at full bend, takes immersion to another level. Nothing else can compare, nothing.

As far as bend versus flat, I found myself going back and forth a few times, then settling on bent. Most of my work happens in the center of the screen, so the bend isn’t distracting when editing a Word document. For spreadsheet tasks, it’s nice to see all the numbers without too much scrolling. Graphics editing is best with a flat screen. Then you can properly judge proportion and perspective. The Windows desktop was bright and vivid in the Standard picture mode with true blacks and bright but not harsh highlights. I turned down the brightness to 75% at night, but l left it at 100% during the day.

The Flex’s gaming prowess is tremendous. Input lag is low enough to be imperceptible. Screen response is free of any visible blur. Precision movement is this monitor’s forte. Wading through monsters in Doom Eternal’s horde mode was an addictive experience. I literally could not stop playing until my chihuahua finally demanded her dinner. The Flex drew me in completely. You will need to keep a timer or alarm clock handy to remind you when it’s time to eat.

And like other OLED panels, it plays more smoothly at lesser frame rates. I saw around 160fps in Call of Duty WWII, but it was as good or better than an LCD running over 200fps. Of course, the image was stunning with its rich color, true blacks and deep contrast. Though pixel density is relatively low, the picture’s dynamic range erases any perception of pixel structure.

The Flex is one of the very best gaming monitors I’ve experienced. It fits my skill level and style of play which is casual at best. It will appeal to a wide variety of players of all abilities right up to competition professionals.

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To compare the Flex’s performance, I’ve included two OLEDs, the Alienware AW3423DWF and Aorus FO48U. The remaining screens are VA panels, AOC CU34G3S, Samsung G8 and Monoprice 42772. 

Pixel Response and Input Lag 

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures. 

I included the G8 because it is one of the few speedy VA panels available, and it has contrast and performance on par with the Flex. It and the Corsair can draw a full white field in 4ms thanks to their 240 Hz refresh rates. Observing BlurBusters test patterns show equal smoothness in horizontal movement. The Flex doesn’t need an overdrive to accomplish this and the G8 has a perfectly implemented one. The gaming feel will be equivalent between these two monitors.

In the input lag test, the Alienware sneaks into second place thanks to its snappy OLED screen. The Flex, however, is one of the fastest monitors I’ve tested. Only a 360 Hz screen will be quicker. In practice, it is incredibly responsive and smooth. No matter how rapidly I moved the mouse, the picture never blurred, nor were there any artifacts. The Flex is easily qualified for esports or competitive gameplay.

Viewing Angles

OLEDs have a considerable advantage over LCDs because their polarizing layer is much thinner when viewed off-axis. The Flex looks the same at 45 degrees horizontal as it does head-on. This is a very shareable monitor, especially if you employ the PBP function. It is almost equal to two 32-inch 16:9 panels in total area. From the top, the image looks a bit green and washed out.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

I have no complaints about the Flex’s screen uniformity. I had to display a 10% brightness pattern to measure it properly. Black field patterns are too dark to be detected by my instruments. The Flex’s uniformity is visually and measurably perfect in every way.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The Flex varies its brightness depending on the average luminance of the image. That means a full white field will measure around 180 nits. As the window gets smaller, the brightness goes up. I measured a 25% window to get 437 nits. At 3%, the Flex tops 1,000 nits.

Since the black level can’t be measured, OLED contrast is theoretically infinite. The G8 has a zone-dimming backlight that can’t be turned off, hence its high contrast score.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Deciding on a peak output level for the Flex required some trial and error. On the maximum setting, a full field was only 180 nits, as I stated earlier. Setting a 25% window to 200 nits made the image too dark. My room is sunlit, so I can run high brightness without visual fatigue. I eventually settled on the maximum brightness setting as my preference. Your mileage will vary depending on your viewing environment.

With unmeasurable black levels still in play, the Flex’s static and ANSI contrast ratios cannot be determined.

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The Flex ships with a calibration data sheet for each sample. I noticed that mine was calibrated to 8500K, which is cooler than the typical standard of 6500K. It is simple to adjust the Standard and sRGB picture modes to the correct specs. 

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking 

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here. 

Standard is the mode to pick if you want the Flex’s full-color capability. It covers almost 100% of DCI-P3, so I expect most users will go that route. The default grayscale is visibly cool with blue errors from 40 to 100% brightness. Gamma tracks almost perfectly except for a tiny rise at 90%, which only the meter can see. Calibration sets the white point to the correct 6500K with all errors below 1dE.

In sRGB mode, the white point is warm in tone with visible errors between 40 and 100% brightness. Gamma tracks well except for the 10% step, which is slightly light in tone. Calibration gets the error below 1dE and lightens gamma a bit across the range. In practice, shadow areas occasionally look a tad light, but this is a minor issue.

Overall grayscale and gamma performance in both Standard and sRGB modes is excellent.

The Flex’s default grayscale error of 4.62dE is due to its factory calibration to 8500K rather than 6500K. The other monitors can be used without calibration, but the Flex should be adjusted for the best possible picture. Once completed, it rises to second place here and is equal in quality to any professional screen.

In all cases, gamma tracking is nearly perfect, with a miniscule 0.07 range of values and average tracking just 0.45% off the 2.2 standard. The actual value was 2.19. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here. 

The Flex has superb color coverage in Standard mode and out of the box; it just needs some tweaking to its secondary hues. This is accomplished by grayscale calibration, which takes color gamut accuracy to the reference level. Unlike most wide-gamut LCDs, the Flex has a fully saturated green primary.

sRGB mode exhibits similar behavior but is closer to the mark before calibration. After grayscale calibration, it’s even better, with one of the lowest error levels I’ve recorded for any monitor’s sRGB mode. This is excellent performance.

Comparisons

Clearly, the OLEDs here have a color accuracy advantage. This is partly due to their superior gamut volume, which covers the entire green primary in all three cases. That the Flex is in third place with a volume score of almost 100% speaks volumes about the technology. The bit of extra volume in the sRGB test is from some bonus green. The Flex can easily be used for color-critical applications without a software profile.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors. 

The Flex supports HDR10 signals with an automatic switchover into HDR mode. There are no picture adjustments available, but I found decent grayscale accuracy.

HDR Brightness and Contrast 

I had to measure a 3% window to see a peak number over 1,000 nits that Corsair promises. I had to do the same thing when measuring the Samsung. The other two OLEDs don’t vary brightness with picture level and therefore top out at around 400 nits. The Flex has superb HDR contrast with the expected unmeasurable black level and infinite contrast ratio. 

Grayscale, EOTF and Color 

In the HDR grayscale test, I observed no visible errors with all values under 2dE. This is well above average performance for HDR monitors as a whole. The EOTF tracks too light until its tone-map transition point at 55%. I measured both window and field patterns and got the same result.

In the color tests, red measured a bit over-saturated but hit the 100% mark for DCI-P3 color, which many wide gamut monitors cannot do. Green and blue also filled their volume targets with linear saturation tracking. Hues are slightly off the mark for some colors. Red looks slightly orange, as does yellow. Cyan drifts toward green, while magenta is a bit too red. In practice, this makes colors look somewhat muted. There’s plenty of vibrance, but warm tones look slightly unnatural. The Rec.2020 chart shows similar behavior, but since saturation targets track evenly, you’ll see more vivid hues until the display runs out of color at around 80%.

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OLED technology has come a long way since it was first introduced. Early panels suffered from various teething problems and were very expensive. But today, there are some truly compelling choices available at more affordable prices.

A bendable screen could be considered the answer to an unasked question, but many thought the same thing when curved displays first appeared. Now, curved monitors are everywhere and are a top choice for gaming enthusiasts and professionals. Corsair has combined the best parts of flat and curved panels into a single monitor.

The Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 represents multiple displays in a single chassis. For graphics work and productivity, it’s a huge flat panel with nearly the same area as two 32-inch 16:9 screens. High color accuracy and contrast make it ideal for creatives and number-crunchers alike.

Gamers can grab the handles and bend the screen to an ideal 800R curvature. With so much width and height available, the image truly envelopes the user. Video processing is equal to the very best screens with 240 Hz, perfect Adaptive-Sync and smoother motion than an equivalent LCD monitor. It also has lower input lag than nearly every 240 Hz display I’ve reviewed. The Flex is equally well-suited for casual gamers or esports pros. The only flaw here is HDR color which was a little off-hue mark in both real-world content and in testing.

The Corsair Xeneon Flex is one of the very best gaming monitors I’ve ever reviewed. At an initial price of $1,999, it’s a premium purchase, but once you’ve tried it, you won’t care about that. Its addictive gameplay and gorgeous screen are simply unmatched by anything else.

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There are plenty of gently curved monitors available for people who don’t want an extreme wraparound effect. Since radii tighter than about 1300R can produce image distortion, that’s understandable. But for hardcore gamers who want to replicate VR goggles without hanging a bunch of bulky tech on their heads, 1000R ultra-wide screens do an excellent job of filling one’s peripheral vision and surrounding the player with the virtual environment.

The AOC CU34G3S is one such monitor. It features a 34 inches diagonal with a VA panel that delivers over 3,000:1 contrast. It has HDR and wide gamut color for a punchy and realistic image. In addition, gaming performance is enhanced with Adaptive-Sync and a 165 Hz refresh rate. The best part is the price – just $430 at this writing – makes it a great contender to join the ranks of the best gaming monitors.

AOC CU34G3S Specs

With a high contrast VA panel, the CU34G3S brings plenty of dynamic range to the party. Though it doesn’t have a dimming feature for HDR, it still has more image depth than any IPS panel can boast. Vivid color is assured by a wide gamut that covers nearly 87% of DCI-P3. And for purists, there’s an accurate sRGB mode hidden in the color temp options. The color is quite accurate, and I found no need for calibration in either mode.

To keep games running smoothly, AOC includes both flavors of Adaptive-Sync. AMD FreeSync is the native tech, operating over a 48 to 165 Hz range. Nvidia G-Sync works fine, as confirmed by my tests, although the CU34G3S has not been certified by Nvidia. For play aids, you get an aiming point, frame counter and a backlight strobe for blur reduction if you prefer that instead of Adaptive-Sync. Also included is an effective three-level overdrive.

AOC has left out LED lighting, which doesn’t detract from the CU34G3S’s functionality. There are internal speakers and a plethora of USB 3.2 ports, one upstream and four down, to support your peripherals. With a solid and adjustable stand completing the package, this looks like a good deal for users looking to curve their images to the max.

Assembly and Accessories

The CU34G3S comes well-protected in a large carton with its three pieces surrounded by crumbly foam. After mating the base and upright using a captive bolt, the panel snaps in place. Under the attachment point is a 100 mm VESA mount that works with aftermarket arms and brackets. Bundled cables include HDMI and DisplayPort but not USB. The power supply is internal though unusually, the interface is IEC C5-6, commonly seen in power bricks. This is a first for me; I’m more accustomed to seeing IEC C13-14. No matter, with everything hooked up, the CU34G3S worked just fine.

Product 360

A thin flush bezel surrounds the image with an eight-millimeter border around the top and sides and 22 mm across the bottom. Red trim is featured here and on the base’s cable hole. There’s more red on the back where they offset the stand and the small grills on either side. The AOC logo is displayed on the front and back in silver. The base is also silver in color with a matte finish. It looks like solid metal but is actually a plastic shell over a cast metal core.

The stand is a solid piece with -5/22 degrees tilt, 30 degrees swivel and a 130 mm height adjustment. Movements are firm, but there is some wobble where the panel attaches to the stand. The screen may shake a bit if you pound on your desk while playing.

The side view shows how the component bulge is angled upwards so you can easily access the USB ports. They’re on the side opposite the one in the photo above. The inputs are closer to center and include two DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0. You also get a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The control buttons are also visible here, a power key plus four controls for menu navigation. The internal speakers boast five watts of power and do indeed play loudly. Distortion is minimal, but there isn’t much in the way of bass or lower midrange frequencies. Players who want good sound are better served by headphones plugged into the 3.5 mm audio jack.

OSD Features

The CU34G3S has four buttons to navigate the OSD rather than a joystick. It’s a bit old-school by today’s standards, but it gets the job done. The menu is AOC’s familiar ribbon-style graphic that appears in the bottom center of the screen.

The seven sub-menus begin with Luminance, including brightness & contrast, plus gamma, dynamic contrast (SDR only) and the HDR modes. There are also eight picture modes, called Eco, focused on specific tasks or game types. Standard is the best place to be and is also the default mode. Coupled with the Game modes detailed below, changing Eco modes can be confusing. And as it turns out, there’s no benefit to tweaking the CU34G3S’s image settings. There is no improvement to be found by calibration, but luckily, the default image is quite accurate.

In Color Setup, you can choose between five presets, one of which is sRGB. This is the way to go if you prefer the correct setting for SDR content. Other options use the monitor’s full native gamut, which covers 87% of DCI-P3. The default option, Warm, is very accurate and cannot be improved.

Picture Boost is unique to AOC monitors. It lets the user create a frame in the center of the screen that’s brighter or dimmer than the surrounding image. Within the frame, you can adjust brightness and contrast along with size and position. Hidden in the OSD Setting menu, you’ll find a DisplayPort version option and a break reminder setting.

Ultra-wide displays are great for viewing multiple sources, and the CU34G3S lets you have two images up simultaneously. It’s picture-in-picture, so you can size the secondary window and change its position.

In Game Setting, you can choose between multiple game modes which alter image and video processing parameters. They get confusing when combined with the Eco modes. I suggest leaving Game Mode off and setting the overdrive to your preference. Strong works fine with no ghosting, but I saw a slight black trail behind moving objects in test patterns, a symptom of undershoot. You can turn on a frame counter here and set up a backlight strobe too. It has 20 levels which provide more blur reduction as the picture darkens.

AOC CU34G3S Setup and Calibration

The CU34G3S is quite accurate out of the box in its Standard mode and Warm color temp with Game Mode turned off. Trying various settings, including the User color temp, produced no gains in performance. It is best to leave the monitor on its default settings and set brightness to taste. I’ve provided the settings for commonly used levels below. If you want the sRGB color gamut, there’s an option for SDR content among the color temp settings. It renders that smaller gamut to near perfection.

In HDR mode, the default option is DisplayHDR which comes closest to the mark. Other settings include Game, Picture and Movie. Those three add edge enhancement which reduces picture quality. Stick with DisplayHDR for the best image with HDR content.

Brightness Settings

• 200 – 91
• 120 – 45
• 100 – 31
• 80 – 18 (min. 54 nits)

Gaming and Hands-on

If you’ve never used a curved monitor, or the one you’ve been using is gently curved, it would be wise for you to check out a 1000R ultra-wide screen before committing. This is the tightest curve currently available, and it is extreme. Thanks to that tight curve, spreadsheets and text documents will have a pincushion effect. It’s unavoidable, but it isn’t necessarily a problem. Once you get used to it, you’ll barely notice it unless you have flat screens nearby. And that’s another consideration. If you plan to have multiple monitors, they all should have the same curve and size. Three CU34G3S’s make an excellent cockpit for driving and flight simulators. Two screens are ideal for first-person shooters.

Shape aside, the CU34G3S provides plenty of screen area for work. Putting windows side by side is a natural state of affairs, as you’re essentially looking at two 27-inch QHD monitors. Pixel density is the same at 109 ppi, so the image will have the same sharpness.

Color and contrast are pleasing, with true blacks and sharp delineation of dark objects against light backgrounds. Black text on a white field renders cleanly without visible jaggies or anti-aliasing. Just avoid the additional HDR modes if you use HDR in Windows. Only DisplayHDR shows without edge enhancement.

Gaming proved to be an extreme pleasure. The CU34G3S has balanced performance with smooth motion and very low input lag. Though it didn’t blow my tests away (it was solidly average in response and lag scores), it matched my play rhythm with no perceivable lag and no loss of detail in fast-moving sequences. I always go straight to Doom Eternal’s Horde Mode and in this case, I ripped through the first few arenas in seemingly record time. The extra peripheral information certainly helped, and having it closer to my eye was a plus.

Games where I had more time to explore the environment, like Tomb Raider, further showed the value of a 21:9 screen. There is no better way to game than with an ultra-wide. The best 16:9 panel can’t match the extra width and the AOC’s tight curve accentuates the effect.

If you’re willing to accommodate some image distortion in workday tasks, it’s hard to top the gameplay experience offered by a monitor like the CU34G3S.

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All monitors in this comparison group are 34-inch ultra-wide screens, mostly VA, with one IPS panel. In addition to the CU34G3S, we have Cooler Master’s GM34-CW, BenQ’s EX3415R and EX3410R, and the Monoprice 42772. Speeds are either 144 or 165 Hz.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

Higher refresh rates deliver smoother motion and lower input lag. But for most players, smoothness is the thing that most impacts the experience. 144 and 165 Hz deliver roughly the same look to the moving image. The top two panels will be slightly better at keeping motion resolution high. But all the displays look solid as long as frame rates stay high. The AOC has the same panel response as most 144 Hz monitors.

In the input lag test, the CU34G3S is in last place with a 32 ms total score. This performance is by no means poor, as anyone with moderate to good skills will find the monitor snappy and eager to play. The top three monitors are over-achievers with low lag despite their 144 Hz maximums. However, the 165 Hz screens aren’t far behind. Again, it comes down to frame rates. If your system can keep the action at 140 fps or higher, you’ll enjoy a great play experience. Professional players may prefer the lower input lag, however.

Viewing Angles

The CU34G3S’s viewing angles are weakened by its extreme curve and VA panel. The green shift I usually see from VA monitors is there and brightness drops by around 40%. Though there is plenty of width here, I don’t recommend sharing. The curve would distort the image for anyone not sitting at the center. The top view is equally poor, with the same green shift and light reduction. On the upside, detail remains visible in the brightest and darkest parts of the image.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My CU34G3S sample showed very good uniformity except for slightly visible hotspots in the upper left and lower right corners. These issues couldn’t be seen in anything but a black field pattern. Shadowed areas in graphical content looked smooth-toned. Color and white uniformity were visually perfect.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

AOC rates the CU34G3S at 300 nits, but I could not find that value in any of the Eco or game modes. This isn’t the brightest monitor out there, but it is bright enough. Large screens like this don’t need a ton of light output for SDR content. The only bummer is that there isn’t any more brightness for HDR material.

With deep blacks, the CU34G3S delivers excellent contrast of over 3,300:1. That’s good enough for third place here though, in the larger picture, it is higher than average among all the VA panels I’ve tested.

After Calibration to 200 nits

I didn’t calibrate the CU34G3S; a change in brightness to 200 nits was the only adjustment I made. The other monitors had their RGB sliders tweaked to remove grayscale errors. That slightly levels the playing field but still puts the AOC in a strong position. Obviously, the IPS-based BenQ is at a disadvantage here.

The CU34G3S’s ANSI contrast score stays over 3,100:1, which is excellent performance. Though it is a value-priced display, it doesn’t skimp on component selection or quality control. The image has lots of depth, true blacks with strong highlight and shadow detail, and well-saturated color.

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The CU34G3S is one of the few monitors I could not improve with calibration. That is of little matter because it’s spot-on out of the box.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

The default Eco mode is Standard with Game mode turned off. That delivers grayscale tracking that’s nearly perfect. Only two tiny errors at 90 and 100% can be seen in test patterns. You’re unlikely to see an issue in actual content. Gamma is also a tad dark at the 80 and 90% levels, but this too is a tiny error. I attempted to calibrate the User color temp but had no success. It’s best to just leave the preset on Warm with Gamma 1 and set brightness to your preference.

The CU34G3S is a rare gaming monitor with an accurate sRGB mode. You’ll find it hidden in the color temp options. It leaves the Brightness control available, which is also a rarity. If you’re a color purist and want the correct gamut for SDR content, that is the option to choose. It has no visual errors and only a dip in gamma at 10% brightness to mar an otherwise perfect chart.

Comparisons

The CU34G3S wins the out-of-box contest with a 1.73dE score. That’s definitely above average for the category. Since I couldn’t improve that performance, it slipped to fifth place. However, none of the displays have visual grayscale errors, so the comparison is a wash. All the screens perform well.

Gamma tracking is mid-pack with a reasonably small 0.18 range of values and a 2.27% deviation from spec. The actual gamma value is 2.25.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

The CU34G3S’s color gamut accuracy is exemplary. It’s visually without error and only shows a slight red under-saturation in the chart. Green is also a tad under, typical of all wide gamut screens. While the monitor doesn’t cover the entire DCI-P3 gamut, it comes close.

The sRGB gamut is worthy of a professional display. There are no visual errors, and every point is no more than 1.5dE off its target. With a 1.35dE average, it doesn’t get much better. Remember that to use the sRGB option, select it in the color temp menu.

Comparisons

Noting that all the other monitors are calibrated makes the CU34G3S’s performance more impressive. Plenty of displays can’t hit 2.10dE with adjustment. That AOC delivers it out of the box just adds to its value quotient.

In the volume calculation, the CU34G3S is about average for the category, covering almost 87% of DCI-P3. Green is the main weakness, typical of the genre. The Cooler Master and Monoprice definitely have more visible color, but they don’t have sRGB modes. The AOC covers both equally well.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The CU34G3S supports HDR10 content with four HDR modes. The default is DisplayHDR, which follows the standard more closely than the others. The remaining ones are Movie, Game and Picture. However, they were a non-starter for me because they added edge enhancement. All this does is reduce resolution; it does not make the image sharper.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The CU34G3S leaves some performance under the table in two areas. First, there is no more brightness available in HDR mode. It tops out at around the same 234-241 nits. Second, there is no dynamic dimming feature. SDR content gets a dynamic contrast option, but that setting is grayed out in HDR mode. Though the VA panel manages almost 3,400:1 contrast, it could be much better with a dimming option. Though I found that HDR content looked vivid and saturated, it didn’t look much different than SDR.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The CU34G3S retains its color accuracy in HDR mode. There are slight blue errors in the brighter steps, but these issues don’t impact actual content much at all. The EOTF curve shows a gradual transition to tone mapping, meaning some highlights will be a tad muted. Again, this is a minor error. The other HDR modes aren’t as precise with their luminance tracking which in practice, obscures some detail. DisplayHDR is the best choice.

HDR color tracking is quite good with just a slight under-saturation in red and magenta. The saturation points are arranged linearly so the picture is loaded with detail. For Rec.2020 mastered content, the CU34G3S tries to match the saturation points but comes up a bit short. This contributes to the observation that SDR and HDR look similar. There is some untapped potential here, but HDR performance is adequate.

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With so many different kinds of gaming monitors available, it can be hard to choose. There is no single category that gets everything right. And there is user preference to consider. What works for one player may not work for another.

After trying monitors in every conceivable shape, size, speed and resolution, I can say that curved screens are the most fun for me. They provide a great view of the action, and most have balanced performance and quick response. So, if you’ve decided you want a curved display, the question becomes, "how curved should it be?"

The curviest screens are 1000R or 1000 mm radius like the AOC CU34G3S. In the 21:9 aspect ratio, this gives you the most impactful wraparound effect. Aside from VR goggles, you’re not going to find a more immersive experience. Luckily, the CU34G3S delivers a lot of features and performance for a relatively low price.

With color that’s visually perfect out of the box, no tweaking is needed. That is good since I could not improve the picture with calibration. The VA panel delivers over 3,100:1 contrast which is about triple that of the average IPS screen. That’s a lot of dynamic range with really deep and realistic blacks. The wide color gamut is a great asset as well. You can use the CU34G3S’s nearly 87% coverage of DCI-P3 for all content or switch on the very accurate sRGB mode if you wish.

I found the video processing to be equally impressive. With WQHD resolution and 165 Hz, I was able to max the frame rates and enjoy super smooth movement with no blur and very fast control response. Though there are some monitors that are slightly quicker like the Cooler Master GM34-CW, the visual difference is pretty small. I spent many hours playing games on the CU34G3S and enjoyed every minute.

At this writing, the AOC CU34G3S is selling for around $430. That’s a great value considering its feature set and performance. And those things are wrapped up in a great-looking screen with an immersive feel. If you’re looking to take your curve to the max, definitely check it out.

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When they first arrived on the scene, OLED panels were something of a unicorn. The technology was proven, but low manufacturing yields kept them from entering the consumer mainstream. OLED panels are still a premium product today, but prices have come down to a more approachable level. OLED phones are commonplace, but desktop monitors are not. You can buy a 48-inch screen like Aorus’ FO48U, but is that truly a desktop display?

Alienware has fulfilled a need with its AW3423DFW 34-inch ultra-wide curved OLED monitor. In addition to a 1800R curvature, it sports 3440x1440 (WQHD) resolution, 165 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR with 1,000 nits peak and a wide color gamut. At this writing, it’s selling for around $1,100 but you might be able to get it for less with an Alienware coupon.

Alienware AW3423DWF Specs

The AW3423DFW introduces a new OLED variant to the mix, QD-OLED, where the QD stands for Quantum Dot. You’ve likely heard of that tech associated with LCD panels. Quantum Dots are dots made from a light-emitting substance printed on a layer of film. It can be placed over the backlight of an LCD or sandwiched in front of an OLED array. When the dots are excited by light energy, they emit their own colors. This widens the display’s color gamut and increases its total light output. The result is a good thing for OLED, because it has lagged behind LCD in the peak output metric for years.

The AW3423DFW has a bit more color than the average OLED panel. Where most cover between 90 and 95% of DCI-P3, the Alienware AW3423DFW fills over 107%. It also delivers plenty of brightness. In HDR mode, it can hit 1,000 nits when rendering small highlights. It’s far brighter than the 55-inch AW5520QF I reviewed in 2019. More light means greater dynamic range. OLED panels already deliver the blackest blacks of any display technology. A higher peak number just means an even better picture.

The AW3423DWF’s gaming performance received equal attention. The max refresh rate is 165 Hz, and both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync are supported. It also sports a claimed 0.1 ms response time. My measurements showed the same performance as other 165 Hz screens, but during practical observation, I noted that it looked smoother than an LCD panel running at the same speed. It’s visually comparable to a 240 Hz display, which means it’s making more of the same frame rate.

Of course, the curvature and the 21:9 aspect ratio also enhance the gaming experience. An 1800R radius strikes a good balance between immersion, of which there is plenty, and image distortion, of which there is none. The AW3423DWF is as well suited for work as it is for entertainment. Some gamers will appreciate the AlienVision feature that highlights the center of the screen for sniping. In addition, photographers will appreciate its color accuracy, which is factory certified. During my tests, I found no need for calibration. And there is a Creator mode, which lets the user choose between DCI-P3 and sRGB color gamuts.

Assembly and Accessories

Alienware, like its parent company Dell, ships its monitors in sustainable packaging where most of it is recyclable. Rather than crumbly foam, the contents are protected by molded cardboard pulp with bits of flexible foam placed in just a few important spots. The stand and base bolt together, then the panel snaps to it. Two DisplayPort cables are included, one DP-to-DP and one DP-to-USB-C. You also get USB and an IEC power cord for the internal power supply. A large cover snaps onto the back of the panel to hide the inputs. Cables can be routed through the stand and out the back of the base.

Product 360

From the front, the AW3423DWF is all screen with a very thin bezel that’s flush-mounted. Alienware is printed at the bottom, and you can see the power button/LED at the lower right. The color and effect can be controlled in the OSD, along with two logos on the back. You can choose any color of the rainbow or cycle through the full spectrum. Or turn everything off for a stealth look.

The stand is very deep and rock solid. You’ll need nearly 15 inches of desktop space to accommodate the base. Ergonomics include -5/21 degrees tilt, 20 degrees swivel and a 110mm height adjustment. You can’t rotate the panel to portrait mode, but 5 degrees of slant is built-in, ostensibly to accommodate desktops that aren’t level.

You can see a component bulge in the back surrounded by a grill that effectively vents the small amount of heat generated by the AW3423DWF. The Alien head and size designator, 34 in this case, are lit up to let your opponents know what display you’re using to defeat them. Under the input panel cover, you’ll find two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs and a single HDMI 2.0. Those decrying the lack of 2.1 will note that 2.0 accommodates gaming consoles that support the 16:9 aspect ratio at 120 Hz, which means only 2560x1440 pixels. Console users will see black bars on either side of the image while playing, and you'll need to use DisplayPort for the full 3440x1440 at 165 Hz. Peripherals are supported by five USB 3.2 ports, one upstream and four down. Two of them are underneath the front bezel, which is a nice convenience. The headphone jack is also found there near the OSD joystick.

OSD Features

The AW3423DWF’s menu system will be familiar to any Dell or Alienware user. It’s controlled solely by the joystick mounted at the bottom center of the panel.

Pressing the joystick once brings up a quick menu at the bottom and a status bar at the top of the screen. The panel health meter shows green, yellow or red based on how long it’s been since the panel or pixel refresh functions were last used. The quick menu gives access to picture mode AlienVision options, inputs, dark stabilizer and brightness/contrast.

There are 12 total SDR presets, of which Standard is the default. It’s very accurate and doesn’t need further adjustment if you’re OK with the full color gamut. For sRGB, engage the Creator mode, where you can choose a gamut and change the gamma. The Game modes add RGB sliders and game presets to the mix. Or scroll to the end for Custom Color where you can adjust RGB gain and bias controls plus hue and saturation sliders for all six colors.

Turning on Console mode lets one adjust hue & saturation plus gamma. In HDR mode, those options are grayed out, and you can toggle Source Tone Map, which uses the source signal’s metadata to set the tone-map transition point. This serves to enhance highlight detail.

AlienVision is a gaming aid that highlights the center of the screen. Or you can display the largest crosshair ever if you need help aiming. It’s a green cross that’s nearly four inches square.

AlienFX Lighting refers to the power LED, Alien head and number logo on the back of the panel. You can light them individually in any color or intensity. Choosing Spectrum cycles through all colors in a mesmerizing display.

In HDR mode, you can pick from six modes. For the best accuracy and greatest dynamic range, choose True Black. If you want the brightest possible highlights, go for HDR Peak 1000. The other presets are less impactful. My preference was True Black, as it shows off OLED’s capabilities to the fullest. And it’s plenty bright enough even in my sunlit office.

The joystick directions can be customized to provide quick access to the AlienVision options. You can also specify the functions of the quick menu.

To maintain a healthy panel, the AW3423DWF includes both pixel and panel refresh options. Both can run when the monitor is on standby. Once you’ve set these options, they’ll run only when you’re not using the display. I’ve used a similar routine with my two-year-old LG television, and I can attest to its effectiveness. There is no burn-in whatsoever.

Alienware AW3423DWF Calibration Settings

In the AW3423DWF’s Standard mode, calibration is unnecessary. Grayscale tracks perfectly to the 6500K color temp with gamma near 2.2 and no visible color errors when referenced to the DCI-P3 gamut. I found tiny improvements when I tweaked the RGB sliders in Custom Color mode, but this was more to satisfy my tests than anything else. If you want or need the sRGB gamut, it is available in the Creator mode, which also includes gamma presets. My recommended settings for SDR content are below.

In HDR mode, both HDR 1000 and True Black modes render with excellent color accuracy. They only differ in their luminance tracking. For the best possible HDR image, choose True Black. Overall brightness is the same, but the smallest highlights are slightly dimmer. Visually, I prefer True Black because its shadow detail and black levels are much better. I’ll talk more about these two HDR modes on page five.

Gaming and Hands-on

As a computer monitor, the AW3423DWF has few, if any, equals. The picture quality is simply on another level from any LCD panel I’ve experienced. It’s truly addictive, and once you’ve seen it, you won’t want to go back. Depth and dimension are so realistic, it is, to use the old cliché, like looking out a window. And that feeling includes high-res renderings too. Even when looking at monsters and fantasy environments, the texture is so convincing you’ll find yourself reaching out to touch things like stone or metal.

I saw a perfect example when playing Doom Eternal. Looking down at a stack of shotgun shells, I was struck by the metal end caps, which had just a bit of corrosion. Then I looked up at the gun barrel and marveled at how its shiny surface reflected the environment around me. Parts of it were like a mirror, and I saw every detail.

That detail stayed sharp when moving as well. Though I’ve had many positive experiences playing on 240 and 360 Hz monitors, the AW3423DWF’s 165 Hz is nearly equal in its motion processing. Fast side-to-side camera pans stayed in focus no matter how quickly I moved the mouse. This made it far easier to maintain my aim and to keep my viewpoint locked on where it needed to be. I saw frame rates between 150 and 165 from a GeForce RTX 3090-equipped PC. Even the best LCD with perfect overdrive can’t duplicate this look.

The curvature certainly contributed to the fun I had. You can get a lot of immersion from a large flat panel like the Aorus FO48U, but a curved ultra-wide, especially one with the contrast and color saturation of the AW3423DWF, conforms better to one’s peripheral vision. The curve keeps the entire image in focus with almost no head-turning required.

You’ll want to seek out HDR games whenever possible because that is what this monitor does best. Its SDR image looks great for older titles like Tomb Raider, but once HDR is turned on, you won’t want to turn it off. There was no performance hit or penalty for playing in HDR versus SDR. Adaptive-Sync always worked perfectly, and control lag was perceptually non-existent.

As a workday tool, the AW3423DWF serves well. The curve doesn’t distract when editing documents, and there is no image distortion. Spreadsheets are easier to deal with as you don’t have to scroll side to side as much. Word processing benefits from the easy ability to place two documents next to each other in full-page view. Photoshop can be set up to keep the graphic centered with tool palettes on either side. Or use the PBP function to view two sources at once.

The AW3423DFW is an absolute pleasure to use for work or play. It excelled at everything I did and is a completely addictive gaming display.

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To compare the AW3423DWF’s performance, I’ve included two other OLEDs in the group, the Alienware AW3423DW and Gigabyte Aorus FO48U. The AW3423DW is nearly identical to the review subject but has a 175 Hz refresh rate and G-Sync certification. Functionally though, it is the same monitor. The FO48U is a 48-inch flat panel. The other displays are 34-inch ultra-wides – Monoprice 42772, AOC CU34G3S and BenQ EX3410R. 

Pixel Response and Input Lag 

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

The AW3423DW has a slight advantage in response time with its 5ms result. The DWF refreshes in 6ms, which makes only a subtle difference. Compared side-by-side with a 165 Hz LCD, the AW3423DWF looks smoother to the eye. This is due to its method of refresh, which is faster at a sub-field level. So, you’ll get a better experience from a 165 Hz OLED versus a 165 Hz LCD.

The AW3423DWF takes the win for overall input lag with an impressive 27ms result, 4ms quicker than the next-best Monoprice. This monitor is quick with a capital Q. It kept up with everything I could throw at it during fast battle sequences. Motion resolution was always exemplary, with no hint of stutter, and Adaptive-Sync worked flawlessly.

Viewing Angles

OLED panels have superb viewing angles where the image changes little at 45 degrees to the sides. You can see only a tiny reduction in brightness, maybe five percent, and no difference in color or gamma. The top view is slightly washed out but still free of color shift. The AW3423DWF is very shareable.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My AW3423DWF sample had visually perfect dark field uniformity. Since OLED black levels are too low to measure, I used a 10% brightness pattern. No anomalies were visible, and color was equally perfect from edge to edge. White fields were free of artifacts and had no variation in brightness or color.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The AW3423DWF hits its claimed SDR peak of 250 nits with a score of 253.0470. The Aorus can match most other monitors if you need a brighter OLED. While the average LCD is brighter, only an OLED has black levels that can genuinely be called infinite. To use the scientific vernacular, they are unmeasurable by any instruments available today. That means contrast is also infinite. There are better choices than an OLED if you need a lot of output outdoors or in a bright room. But for ultimate picture quality in most environments, it doesn’t get better.

After Calibration to 200 nits

The story doesn’t change after calibration. The AW3423DWF was tweaked slightly, but that did not change the black level or contrast performance. The other monitors fare well with their VA technology and look great, but they pale compared to an OLED.

Since I am unable to measure black levels, I cannot determine an OLED monitor’s ANSI contrast; however, it is theoretically infinite. The impact of this cannot be overstated. In terms of picture depth, realism and color saturation, an OLED stands well above the best LCDs, including those with FALD and Mini LED backlights.

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The AW3423DWF ships with a factory calibration data sheet for each monitor. My sample matched those numbers in testing. It does not need adjustment in the Standard picture mode.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

Credit: Portrait Displays Calman

Out of the box, the AW3423DWF has no visible grayscale errors. All values are under 3dE which is widely considered to be the visible threshold. Gamma runs fairly tight to the 2.2 reference except for 10 and 20 percent which are slightly light. In the context of an OLED panel though, you cannot see this error.

In the Custom Color mode, I was able to improve the average error but visually, there is no difference. Gamma remains the same.

Using the Creator mode, I could select the sRGB gamut. You can also change the gamma value here, but I had no need as luminance tracking is nearly the same as Standard. Grayscale is almost perfect which is a good thing since it cannot be adjusted in this mode.

Comparisons

Aside from the BenQ, all the monitors have excellent out-of-box performance and do not need to be calibrated. The AW3423DWF finishes a close second to the excellent Aorus FO48U. After calibration, it cruised to a first-place finish with its stablemate AW3423DW right behind.

The AW3423DWF’s gamma tracking is tight, with a small 0.17 range of values. It and the other top three screens have very similar performance in this test. The 1.82% deviation (actual value 2.16) is also similar to the best displays of the bunch. I saw that the gamma anomaly I observed in the AW3423DW is fixed for the newer model. Overall, this is excellent performance.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

Not only is the AW3423DWF’s default color gamut on-point, but it’s also very large. It meets the full saturation target for green, a rarity among wide gamut displays. It over-achieves in red a bit but not so much that color looks overblown. Near-perfect hue tracking and linear saturation points mean the image always looks balanced and natural.

Calibration barely makes a difference, with just a 0.3dE improvement. Visually, there is no change. Clearly, the Custom Color mode is not necessary for an accurate picture.

Graphics pros and photographers will appreciate the Creator mode, which serves up a perfect sRGB gamut. All saturation and hue points are on target, with an average of 0.89dE.

Comparisons

The AW3423DWF’s color accuracy is exemplary. As a DCI-P3 or sRGB display, it is in the top tier of all the monitors I’ve tested and is as accurate as any professional screen. You could pay more for a pro OLED or Mini LED screen, but why would you? Even without calibration, it would finish third here.

The Quantum Dot layer expands the AW3423DWF’s color gamut to over 107% of DCI-P3. That equates to 76.41% of Rec.2020. Interestingly, the FO48U does not have a QD layer but can match color volume with the Alienware screens. You can also see the ideal coverage of sRGB at 99.98%.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

OLED panels look great in SDR mode, but HDR is where they truly shine. The AW3423DWF can produce bright highlights, expanding its dynamic range and making the picture pop even more.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

OLED panels vary their brightness depending on the total picture level. Though the AW3423DWF can hit 1,000 nits, I had to measure a tiny white window to achieve this result. A full-field white pattern is closer to 450 nits. This is where the two Alienware monitors have an advantage over the Aorus. It can’t go beyond 400 nits regardless of content. The AW twins deliver super bright highlights. A starfield is the best example of this. The stars really twinkle against an inky black background. It’s something no LCD can match, no matter how many dimming zones it has.

With unmeasurable black levels, contrast is theoretically infinite. It certainly is to the eye. Blacks really are black, yet shadow detail is clearly visible. The other monitors do a good job with their VA panels, but OLED is on another level in HDR mode.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

I spoke earlier about the AW3423DWF’s various HDR modes. You must select the True Black mode to get the most accurate luminance tracking and widest dynamic range. HDR 1000 will get you the bright peaks, but its low and mid-tone areas are too light. If you only view bright content, that’s fine, but the presentation is mostly a murky gray in darker scenes. The EOTF tracking result supports this. Between zero and 40%, it’s well above the reference line. In True Black mode, it’s nearly perfect. In either case, the tone-map transition point is at 60%. And grayscale tracking has no visible errors.

Color is different in the two modes as well. In HDR 1000, red and blue come up a bit short of full saturation. True Black is over-saturated linearly, so color looks balanced, and all detail is sharply rendered. The Rec.2020 charts are closer to each other, but True Black is still the best choice for image fidelity.

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It's likely that LCD will remain the dominant flat panel technology for the foreseeable future. However, OLED will always have a picture quality advantage thanks to its higher contrast. The ability to produce a true black, as in a pixel that’s completely extinguished, is something LCD cannot do. Its light valve operation means that the backlight will always be a factor.

OLED is a rare thing in computer monitors, but unless you need a lot of light output, it is the best choice for gaming and entertainment. It doesn’t require overdrive to achieve smooth motion processing. And the latest QD-OLED panels boast very large color gamuts. Those concerned with burn-in can trust the panel maintenance features built into displays like the Alienware AW3423DWF.

As a gaming monitor, the AW3423DWF is unparalleled. The picture is beyond stunning for both SDR and HDR content. Color is richly saturated and vivid. Contrast is phenomenal and the clarity is fantastic. Accuracy proved to be a non-issue, with no calibration required. With the available Creator mode, I could call up an equally accurate sRGB mode when needed. And the gamma issues I noted in my review of the AW3423DW have been rectified. The monitor excelled in every color test with results that rival any professional display.

Motion processing is also above the norm. Though it runs at 165 Hz, the AW3423DWF delivers the smoothness of a faster monitor. It will easily have you thinking it runs at 200 or 240 Hz. There’s no tweaking of overdrive necessary either. It just does its thing without fuss. And it eliminates frame tears with equal precision for both FreeSync and G-Sync systems. I also noted that it had lower input lag than its stablemate AW3423DW, beating the other 165 Hz screens for overall quickness.

At $1,100, the AW3423DWF is undoubtedly a premium display. But it’s a good value considering the superb picture quality and gaming performance. Unless you need even more speed, it’s hard to imagine a better gaming monitor. I’ll have a hard time sending this one back.

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Dell made quite the splash in the gaming monitor realm with the release of the Alienware AW3423DW earlier this year. We were impressed with the gorgeous QD-OLED display, large color gamut, excellent contrast, and 175Hz panel in our hands-on review of the AW3423DW. However, the $1,299 price is probably beyond the budget range of many gamers. So today, Alienware announced a new member to the family, the similarly named AW3423DWF, which is priced slightly lower at $1,099.

The AW3423DWF still features a 34-inch WQHD (3440 x 1440) QD-OLED panel with a 0.1ms GtG response time and a 1800R curve. That means color uniformity, the wide color gamut and inky blacks are still here in full effect. However, the maximum refresh rate has decreased just a smidge from 175Hz to 165Hz.

In addition, the white and black design of the AW3423DW has given way to an all-black motif with the AW3423DWF (Alienware calls the color Dark Side of the Moon). Likewise, the overall footprint is slimmer to better accommodate those with limited desk space.

Alienware AW3423DWF Specs

There are some other noticeable hardware changes regarding port layout. Whereas the AW3423DWF came with two HDMI 2.0 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4 connector, the AW3423DWF flips that arrangement, offering one HDMI 2.0 port and two DisplayPort 1.4s. However, you'll still find two 3.5mm audio-out ports and four downstream USB 3.2 ports.

But Alienware didn't stop there; the joystick mounted under the center of the AW3423DWF has been revised to provide quick access to preset game modes. The joystick can also be used to jump to an all-new Creator mode that Alienware added. Alienware adds that the AW3423DWF's ComfortView Plus low blue light mode is TUV-certified and that Variable Refresh Rate is supported at up to 120Hz refresh rates on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles.

As we mentioned at the onset, Alienware has priced the AW3423DWF at $1,099, representing a $200 price cut compared to the AW3423DW. In addition, the monitor is backed by a 3-year hardware warranty, and Alienware says it will ship in the United States and Canada later this fall. We’ll greet the AW3423DWF in our lab soon to see if it has what it takes to join the ranks of the best gaming monitors.

LG showcased a huge ultra-wide gaming monitor at IFA 2022 in Berlin today. The new LG UltarGear OLED gaming monitor (model 45GR95QE) features a 45-inch diagonal 3440 x 1440 pixels display with a 240 Hz max refresh rate and 0.1 ms response time. It is designed to fully immerse gamers with its accurate and wide color gamut and its viewer-encapsulating 800R curvature.

The new LG UltraGear 45GR95QE is the company’s first monitor to be released using a 45-inch OLED display panel and the first featuring 800R curvature. However, if you are feeling some déjà vu, LG’s monitor appears to be employing the same ‘LG Display’ flexible OLED panel that enabled the physically flexing Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 OLED gaming monitor we reported on yesterday. The critical difference is LG has decided on a fixed 800R curvature, and the Corsair leaves the degree of screen curve up to the user (between totally flat and approx 800R). Perhaps LG wasn’t happy with the creaky Corsair flexing mechanism, which doesn’t create a true arc, but rather a display with two flat sides plus a bend in the middle.

Like the Corsair, this ultra-wide LG OLED gaming monitor has excellent gaming performance and punchy color reproduction. In addition to sustaining the headlining 240 Hz max refresh rate, this monitor can sync with your graphics card (VRR) for smooth action as frame rates dip. Check the table at the bottom of this article for a complete set of essential specs.

Another interesting monitor LG had on display at IFA 2022 was the UltraFine Display Ergo AI (model 32UQ890), pictured below. This is a high quality 31.5-inch 4K (3840 x 2160) IPS display with 95% coverage of DCI-P3. However, its party trick is hinted at by the ‘AI’ in its name.

This monitor supports three AI-driven ergonomic enhancement modes: AI Motion, Continuous Motion and Periodic Motion. AI Motion, which was demonstrated at LG’s booth during IFA, tracks the user’s eye level and adjusts screen height and tilt via its powered articulated desk-mounted arm whenever a change is detected.

LG hasn’t shared pricing or availability dates for the UltraGear 45GR95QE or UltraFine 32UQ890 monitors, but we're pretty sure you'll be able to find an LG promo code to help with the cost.

If you're in need of a new gaming monitor, but the current financial climate has left you with only a small budget, then today's deal is great news. The ViewSonic VX2718 2KPC MHD 27-inch WQHD Curved Gaming Monitor is on sale at CCL Computers for an insanely low price of £209. For a monitor with these specs, that's a whole lot of bang for the buck. 

The ViewSonic VX2718 has some rather impressive specifications for its price. First off, the screen is a VA panel (2560 x 1440 pixels) with a 1500R curve, Adaptive Sync capabilities, and a refresh rate of 165Hz covering 102% sRGB colour gamut. Connectivity-wise the VX2718 comes with two HDMI 2.0 ports and one DisplayPort 1.2, and even a 3.5mm headphone jack. The VX2718 also includes some small stereo speakers and of course, a 100 x 100 mm VESA mount option should you want to mount the monitor to an arm. 

This is one of the cheapest 27-inch WQHD monitors you can buy, currently, it's on sale with a £47 reduction off of its normal asking price. 

When gaming on a monitor that has a quad HD resolution and a high refresh rate, you will need a fairly powerful graphics card to power the screen if you are looking to max out graphical settings in games or programs. Have a look at our best GPU guide for an idea on a graphical solution that fits your needs. 

If you want to see how this screen compares to our top picks for monitors then have a look over our best monitors guide.

More Intel ViewSonic VX2718 2KPC MHD Deals

It seems like it was just yesterday that 144 Hz was the most speed you needed from a gaming monitor. But with the market offering ample 240 Hz screens and preparing to launch into 360 Hz territory, a screen with a 165 Hz refresh almost seems modest. But the Acer Predator XB273U GS I’ve been using for the past few days is far from modest.

With a 165 Hz refresh rate, a 1ms GTG response time that can drop to 0.5ms with overdrive, HDR support and an RGB strip along the bottom you can actually see while gaming, the Predator XB273U GS announced today is a premium 27-incher designed for professional gamers and available to the masses in August for $500. 

Acer Predator XB273U GS Specs 

Acer Predator XB273U GS Design  

The Predator XB273U GS makes a showy addition to your setup. Very slim bezels frame three sizes, while the bottom bezel pops with a textured and gray design, although a more consistent color with the rest of the bezels would’ve fit my style better. 

The RGB strips running along the bottom of the screen are a pleasant upgrade from the many RGB monitors that have their LED lighting on the back of the display, where your wall is most likely to be the one enjoying it. From the Predator XB273U GS’s on-screen display (OSD), you can make the RGB show a rainbow effect, a breathing one and static one with red, green or blue. And perhaps most importantly, you can also turn off the RGB if it’s too distracting, which I found to be the case for when watching a movie. The RGB uses Acer’s LightSense technology, which has the lighting sync up with music or what’s on the screen. There’s also a map for further customization if you really want to get into the pretty colors on your monitor’s bottom bezel. Hey, you’ve already spent the $500 for the PC monitor, so why not? 

From top to bottom, I could see attention to detail on the Predator XB273U GS. An Acer Predator logo sits at the hexagonal base, which is outfitted with solid gray legs that are dense and thick. The stand makes it easy to adjust the monitor, particularly handy for getting just the right height and angle for a long gaming or work session. Adjustments are generous. You get a 20 degree backward tilt, 5 degree forward tilt and the ability to swivel left to right 20 degrees. The monitor’s height is also adjustable by 115mm (4.5 inches), and it’s easy to spin the display into portrait mode. 

The  Predator XB273U GS’s joystick for navigating the OSD was loud on our test unit, but we were told this is an early prototype, so this could change with the final retail versions.

In terms of color temperature settings, there’s warm, normal, cool, blue light and user for tweaks. There are also gaming modes for action, racing, sports, user, HDR, graphics, eco and standard. For testing, I used the monitor’s out-of-box settings, which used the warm color temp at 40% max brightness. 

Acer Predator XB273U GS Hands-On 

I’m used to gaming on a 1080p monitor, so the Predator XB273U GS’s sharper 1440p resolution was a noticeable upgrade. Finer details, such as the border around my Google Chrome extensions or close-ups of characters’ faces in Battlefield V cut scenes stood out in new ways. 

In Battlefield V specifically, all sorts of gruesome details became more apparent, thanks to the monitor’s resolution and also the colors. Bloodstains smeared with fingerprints struck me for the first time. I could also discern more textures on the gun, such as its grip, as well as scratches on my weapon. Snow speckled on boxes looked a little sharper. The wooden walls of a shed were a much deeper brown.

Motion stayed sharp, including the shape of clouds as I scanned the area rapidly or when I was speeding through North Africa in a Jeep. 

Similarly, in the fast-paced game Overwatch, I never suffered any juddering, stuttering or screen tearing. With an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, I was only able to hit about 60 frames per second in the esports title, but G-Sync Compatibility kept the experience smooth and tear-free. Meanwhile, variations in distant cliffs and mountains colors were more apparent than usual. 

For general productivity, the monitor also served well. I work in a very sunny room that gets impressively bright. With the monitor set to 40% brightness, I could still get work done, although I preferred boosting it up to the max. 

With IPS tech, we’d expect the picture to still look good and visible when viewing it from a side angle. And Acer leans into this with all the tilting and swiveling it allows on the Predator XB273U GS. With the monitor right next to a very sunny window, text was still readable from a perpendicular angle, but I could see reflections on the half of the screen furthest from me. At night and in a more typically lit room, those reflections were only on the further tenth of the screen. 

The screen’s side angles were so accommodating that it was comfortable sharing the screen to watch Mission: Impossible Fallout in HDR. 

With a VESA DisplayHDR 400 rating, this won’t be the best HDR monitor on the market when it lands in August (we prefer at least DisplayHDR 500 for a worthwhile boost over SDR when gaming). With out-of-the-box settings, the movie looked a little washed out. It’s possible that some hardware-assisted calibrating would’ve helped, but I wasn’t able to quickly make great improvements with some casual adjustments. But when I turned the monitor’s HDR mode on, color instantly improved. The gray concrete building Tom Cruise hung from at night had a greater variety of dark grays and beiges. A glass ceiling was a faint yellow without HDR mode on and orange with HDR on. Characters’ skin colors became more accurate, and lights in a dark tunnel the Impossible Mission Force held a sting in had a powerful yellowish tone. 

However, considering the movie’s colors didn’t look great to begin with without HDR mode, I turned to an SDR version of the movie. I could see subtle differences between watching the movie in SDR and HDR, but the SDR version of the film never looked as washed out as the HDR version did before I turned HDR mode on. 

The monitor’s two 2W speakers were loud enough to hear quiet dialogue, but not powerful enough for the booming effect that I’m used to with a TV.

Final Thoughts

At $500, the Predator XB273U GS will be a little more expensive than our favorite 1440p monitor at the moment. The Aorus CV27Q was $400-$430 when we first reviewed it in November and still is. It’s also listed on our Best Gaming Monitors page. 

With the addition of RGB, speakers and an IPS panel, we see the price start adding up. However, some will be happy with the VA that the Aorus offers, which grants excellent contrast, or the even more budget-friendly TN. 

Most importantly, the Predator XB273U GS brings the potential to improve on color. The Aorus CV27Q, for example, covered 86% of the DCI-P3 color space in our testing, compared to the  Predator XB273U GS’ claimed 95%. For lavish, detailed games, speedy performance and HDR, the Predator XB273U GS looks like a strong contender.

Asus has announced a new monitor to update their gaming lineup with the ROG Swift PG278QE. The 27-inch monitor has QHD resolution (2560x1440), a fast 165 Hz refresh rate and supports G-Sync. Asus markets the panel towards the professional esports gaming arena. 

Though Asus hasn't confirmed it, we expect the new monitor to replace the popular PG278QR released in 2016 by also delivering a twisted nematic (TN) panel. More TN evidence comes from its viewing angles (170 degrees H/160 degrees V), which is typical of a TN. The monitor has a 1,000:1 contrast ratio with a peak brightness of 350 cd/m², a 1ms GTG response time and a thin 6 mm bezel.

For inputs, the PG278QE consists of one HDMI 1.4 and DisplayPort 1.2. In order to reach a 165 Hz refresh rate, you have to use the DisplayPort. In addition to the video inputs, there is also a 3.5mm earphone jack and two USB 3.0 ports.

Mechanically, the matte black panel has tilt, swivel and pivot functionality, along with height adjustment. The monitor can tilt forward 33 degrees and backwards five degrees with 90-degree swivel both ways and height adjustment from 0-130 mm. Those are all values an improvement over the PG278QR.

The monitor also includes GamePlus shortcuts (Crosshair, Timer, FPS Counter, Display Alignment), GameVisual display modes (Scenery, Racing, Cinema, RTS, RPG, FPS, sRGB, user), along with ULMB (ultra-low motion blur) support. 

Asus ROG Swift PG278QE Gaming Monitor Specifications

Asus did not reveal pricing and availability, but we expect to see the ROG Swift PG278QE soon and priced right around where the last generation PG278QR's original MSRP, $699, as there seems to be few changes between it and its predecessor. 

Features and Specifications

In a few short years, curved ultra-wide monitors have become a fixture in gaming. What started out as an answer to a question no one asked quickly turned into a must-have. With their 21:9-aspect screens, they heighten the sense of immersion and pull players into a gaming environment in a way no 16:9 monitor can.

The one sticking point for potential buyers is their cost, which is likely $200 more than a 16:9 display with similar features. But relief is in sight with the MSI Optix MAG341CQ. For $480 at the time of writing  (£380), you get 3440x1440 resolution with 8-bit color, a wide gamut, FreeSync and a 100Hz refresh rate. It’s a great way to dip your toe into the ultra-wide waters without spending a fortune.

Specifications

The MAG341CQ offers nearly everything a gamer might need but does omit a few items in pursuit of value. The stand is fixed and only allows a tilt adjustment. There is no sRGB option. The refresh rate is a 100Hz despite many of the latest ultra-wides support 120 and 144Hz. There’s FreeSync, but since its operating range is 48-100Hz, there is no low framerate compensation (LFC), which might be an issue for owners of older video cards. There’s also no blur reduction and few image modes.

But you do get a nice VA panel with roughly double the contrast of an IPS or TN screen. Plus, you get a 100Hz refresh rate without overclocking, and the 109ppi pixel density is suitable for any task and allows Windows to run at 100 percent dpi scaling. That means text will be at its sharpest and graphic detail at its finest.

Unpacking & Accessories

Assembly of the base, upright and panel requires a Phillips-head screwdriver. The base’s captive bolt doesn’t have one of those little handles on it, which is a minor annoyance. The panel locks in place with two provided bolts. They are then covered by a small bit of plastic. The power supply is internal, unusual for an ultra-wide, so you get an IEC cord. Video is supported by HDMI and DisplayPort cables. The user manual comes in printed (another rarity).

Product 360

The MAG341CQ has more understated styling than most gaming monitors. Rather than molded features or lighting effects, it announces its intentions with a red upright and nothing else. This makes it more versatile, and since it also serves well as a workday display, the lack of look-at-me aesthetics is a plus. The curve is relatively tight at 1800R, which is the point where the image wraps around nicely but doesn’t distort. You can sit a comfortable 30-40 inches away and have your peripheral vision filled with sharp picture free of pixelation, thanks to the 109ppi pixel density.

The bezels don’t pretend to be slim; they’re a solid half-inch with a wider strip across the bottom. A tiny blue dot that’s barely visible, even in the dark, represents the power LED. On-screen display (OSD) controls consist of small buttons on the bottom right that are fairly hard to click. In fact, their small size and strong resistance caused me a bit of irritation during the calibration process. They are, at least, precise.

The back of the panel is completely smooth, broken only by a polished MSI logo. Interestingly, the dragon shield shown in the photo is not present on our sample. Even the box art shows the graphic, but we didn’t get one. Perforations on the top and bottom edges provide ventilation. The internal power supply takes quite a few minutes to warm up, during which time the panel clicks softly. Once up to temperature, the noise goes away.

Two features that wound up on the cutting-room floor are speakers and USB ports. You get neither with the MAG341CQ, nor is there a headphone jack. Inputs include one each of DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 2.0. You also get a DVI port, which is increasingly hard to find these days as that interface is rapidly disappearing from graphics cards.

The stand is super-solid but only includes 15-degrees backwards and 5-degrees forward tilts and no swivel or height adjustment. The upside is that the assembly is almost monolithic. This monitor will not wobble at all.

OSD Features

The OSD is styled for gaming with an info dashboard up top that shows input resolution, refresh rate, picture mode, FreeSync status and current input. There are five picture modes. User is the default and also allows white point and gamma adjustments. Sadly, there is no sRGB option. The MAG341CQ is an sRGB+ screen, which means its color primaries fall somewhere between sRGB and DCI-P3 (we’ll get into the details of its color-rendering on page three).

Navigating the OSD is a chore, thanks to the aforementioned stiff and tiny buttons. We’d have loved a joystick or at least buttons that don’t hurt to press. Like most monitors, once set up, you won’t have to visit the menu often. The Eye Saver mode offers low blue light, which MSI calls “Less Blue Light.” Like every display with that feature, it warms up the color temp to make reading easier on the eyes. Note, you won’t want to use it for gaming as it will flatten the image considerably.

Gaming features include a FreeSync toggle, 12 different aiming points for first-person shooter newbies and an overdrive setting that is either on or off and offers adequate blur reduction without ghosting.

Image controls include two gamma settings and two color temp presets, plus a user mode. The RGB sliders start center-range, but their adjustments are coarse and achieving precise color is difficult.

Setup and Calibration

The MAG341CQ ships in User mode, which offers below-average accuracy with a light gamma curve and whites that look distinctly green. If you do nothing else, set the gamma from 1.8 to 2.2. It will improve image depth significantly. Calibration was challenging because the RGB sliders do not have fine resolution; each click makes a large difference in color. But after a bit of back and forth, we managed a decent gain in quality with the greatest improvement being gamut saturation. We strongly recommend using our settings below to get the most out of your MAG341CQ:

Gaming & Hands-on

The MAG341CQ is great for general computing, like web browsing, document editing and spreadsheets. It even makes a decent display for Photoshop, though it won’t provide reference color accuracy. The image is very sharp and clear with no artifacts from the anti-glare layer. We appreciated the ability to run Windows 10 at 100 percent dpi scaling, which provides the clearest possible image.

Gaming on the MAG341CQ was a good experience both with and without FreeSync. If you have a speedy graphics card, you won’t miss FreeSync if framerates stay in the 90-100 frames per second (fps) range. But for owners of slower graphics cards, FreeSync worked without issue. The overdrive also had no problems reducing motion blur without visible ghosting.

We really enjoyed the extra color and contrast afforded by the wide-gamut, VA panel. Though some color inaccuracies crept up during testing, it didn’t diminish the gaming experience. VA’s greater dynamic range is always an asset, and contrast is the most important element of good imaging. Color errors can be overlooked when they’re not too far off the mark and contrast is as deep as what we saw with the MAG341CQ.

Our only caveat is that if you buy the MAG341CQ, you should have a PC capable of maintaining framerates over 48 fps. With no LFC, there will be some tearing when the monitor renders below that speed. Since the MAG341CQ sports 3440x1440 resolution, you’ll need a mid-grade video card at least. And of course, if you can run closer to 100 fps, there won’t be any artifacts to spoil the fun.

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Brightness and Contrast

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test Monitors and TVs. We cover Brightness and Contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

For comparison, we brought in a group of VA panels. On the 16:9 side is MSI’s Optix MPG27CQ and Monoprice’s 33822. Ultra-wides include BenQ’s EX3501R, AOC’s Agon AG352UCG6 and the mega-wide Samsung C49HG90.

The MAG341CQ is rated at 250 nits but our sample only managed 213.6 at maximum brightness settings. But that’s not a deal-breaker as that is more than enough light for the average indoor space; although, you should avoid bright, sunny windows. We’d like to see at least 300 nits to provide some headroom for calibration, which can reduce peak output.

Black levels were VA-dark with our review monitor earning first place. This is precisely the reason for buying a VA panel and why they’re our favorite for entertainment. That extra depth is easy to see and really enhances gaming and video content. Resulting contrast is mid-pack in our group and about average for VA screens as a whole.

After Calibration to 200 nits

After calibration, the MAG341CQ’s black level didn’t notably change, but peak white dropped to 163 nits with the brightness slider maxed. Again, this was enough light for most indoor environments, but there was no headroom left.

We had to reduce contrast a bit to fix a gamma issue, and our changes to the RGB sliders cost us some dynamic range. 1,881.7:1 is still a respectable contrast ratio, but all the other screens here fared better, except for the AOC. In the ANSI contrast test, the MAG341CQ moved up a spot with a solid 1,660.8:1 score. While that wasn’t enough to win in this group, it’s significantly better than any IPS monitor short of a full-array backlight model.

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Grayscale, Gamma and Color

The MAG341CQ is an sRGB+ monitor, meaning its color gamut falls between the sRGB and DCI-P3 specs. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have an option for sRGB, but you might prefer the extra color saturation if you’re willing to accept lower accuracy.

Grayscale & Gamma Tracking

We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

The MAG341CQ’s grayscale errors aren’t grievous, but the green tint in most brightness levels was visible to the naked eye. Green errors were easiest to see, thanks to human eyesight naturally favoring that primary color.

Another issue is gamma tracking, which is very light. The default setting is 1.8, which makes no sense for any content we’re aware of. The first chart above reflects the Warm color temp preset.

Adjusting the RGB sliders in the Custom color temp mode (second graph) offered a visible improvement. We couldn’t eliminate the red errors at 60 and 70 percent, but they were difficult to see in actual content. Changing the gamma preset to 2.2 and lowering contrast two clicks restored most of the lost image depth as well. We’re not happy with the dip at 90 percent, but this chart is a vast improvement over the default one.

Comparisons

With calibration to 200 nits, the grayscale error dropped from 5.23 to 2.31dE, not only improved perceived contrast, but also helped color gamut accuracy. Adjusting the white point made secondary colors fall into line.

Our gamma tweak also had a positive impact on color and contrast, but there was still room for improvement. Our MAG341CQ sample could only muster an average gamma value of 2.03, mainly due to the dip at 90 percent shown in the calibrated grayscale and gamma tracking chart. And its range of values is a bit wider than all but the MPG27CQ.

Color Gamut Accuracy

For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

MSI has taken an interesting approach to color reproduction with the MAG341CQ. While it’s nearly a DCI-P3 monitor, the inner saturation points (20-80 percent) come closer to the sRGB spec. That’s a good thing because most content will look natural and reasonably accurate. Only the outermost points (100 percent) are significantly oversaturated. Bright images will show vivid color, which many will prefer. Our issue with the default result is that the targets are inconsistent—some points are undersaturated while others are over.

Calibration tightened  up the tracking quite a bit, with all points becoming a bit oversaturated. While this isn’t ideal, it is more consistent and therefore makes all content look better. This is the main reason to make the adjustments recommended on page 1. Grayscale calibration is the key to good color tracking. We’ve made some positive improvements here.

Comparisons

Even with calibration, the MAG341CQ lagged behind all the other monitors in color accuracy. While an average error of 3dE isn’t bad, the other screens did better. An sRGB option would have been a step in the right direction. In the past, we might have said these were good results for a gaming monitor. But in today’s market, few screens stray far from the proper specs. MSI might consider a firmware update to fix these issues.

As an extended color display, the MAG341CQ performed well. Those looking for the largest possible gamut volume will find it among the more colorful at this price point. Out of comparison group, only the MPG27CQ showed greater sRGB volume. And rendering nearly 80 percent of DCI-P3 is a plus. Note, if you need to use it for color-critical applications, a custom monitor profile is a must.

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Viewing Angles, Uniformity, Response and Lag

VA panels are not known for stellar off-axis image quality, but the MAG341CQ looks better than most. From the sides, color tended slightly towards red with a light reduction of about 40 percent. Detail stayed solid, so users gaming on multiple screens will be able to see their enemy at a glance no matter where they approach from. When looking down from the top, detail lost definition, and the color was somewhat reddish. While an IPS screen would perform better in this test, the Optix beats many of the VA panels we’ve photographed.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

The screen uniformity of our MAG341CQ was a bit disappointing. We could see the black field get brighter towards the bottom where the backlight is situated. 15.01 percent isn’t a bad score, but it is higher than the other monitors. Note that the results here will vary among different MAG341CQ samples. In our case, the hot zones transitioned smoothly from the dark zones, so there were no obvious blotches or glowing edges. The issue was hard to see in most real-world content.[1] [2] 

Pixel Response & Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

The MAG341CQ’s most impressive trait is speed. Though it runs at 100Hz, it managed to beat the Monoprice 33822, which hits 144Hz. It also traded punches with the 120Hz AG352UCG6. Motion blur was nearly non-existent, especially when in-game framerates were near 100fps.

Input lag is also a non-factor with only a 37ms delay. While users might gravitate towards 120 and 144Hz monitors, this one makes the most of its 100Hz rating. That’s one of the reasons for its low price, and obviously, there is no sacrifice in performance.

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Conclusion

At this writing, the MSI Optix MAG341CQ is the least expensive 34-inch WQHD resolution ultra-wide, 100Hz, FreeSync gaming monitor currently available. That it delivers solid gameplay with good contrast and vivid color is simply icing on the cake. While a few features have been left out, this screen provides solid performance for gaming, video and general computing.

The downside is there are some grayscale and gamma accuracy issues.We wish we could have achieved a better grayscale calibration, and the monitor should have a darker gamma curve. And users looking for speakers, USB, or a headphone jack will have to search elsewhere because the MAG341CQ doesn’t have any. But this seems a worthy sacrifice to keep the price down.

Gaming performance is without fault. Though there are faster ultra-wide gaming monitors out there, like the Samsung C49HG90, the MAG341CQ makes the most of its 100Hz and even manages to match response and lag times with the 120Hz AOC AG352UCG6. Though there are no blur-reduction modes or overdrive levels (it’s either on or off), we enjoyed smooth play with instant response to control inputs and tear-free motion processing.

You can spend a lot more for an ultra-wide gaming monitor but if you’re willing to give up a few features, the MSI Optix MAG341CQ fills the bill at an attractive price.

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Features & Specifications

If you asked us to point you in the direction of a well-equipped Radeon RX Vega 64 card, and if there was more differentiation between the boards that do exist today, we could definitely recommend checking out PowerColor's Red Devil RX Vega 64 8GB HBM2. Like Sapphire's Radeon RX Vega 64 Nitro+, the PowerColor card is particularly eye-catching. And it lights up, if you're a proponent of drawing attention to flagship-class graphics hardware in a windowed case.

Unfortunately, today's market makes it almost impossible to distinguish between one Radeon RX Vega 64 or another. You may find a handful of models in stock (an improvement compared to a few weeks ago), but they still start just under $800 and reach as high as $900. While PowerColor does land toward the bottom of that range, you're still paying a $200+ premium over many GeForce GTX 1080 models. Right out of the gate, PowerColor is fighting an uphill battle against less expensive and sometimes faster competition.

Unboxing, Look, & Feel

Weighing in at 1409 grams, this card lands just below Sapphire's monstrous flagship, which proved to be a an exhibition of sorts and is no longer available. PowerColor's solution is real though, and it's a massive beast just like Asus' ROG Strix Radeon RX Vega 64 8GB OC Edition. Similar to that card, the Red Devil measures 30.2cm long. A height of 12.7cm from the motherboard slot's top edge to the top of the fan shroud also matches what you get from Asus. But a depth of 5.2cm is notably wider. Hopefully that translates to even better cooling performance.

Three 90mm fans are mounted in 92mm openings. With their special shape, a total of nine blades per fan provide powerful throughput and less turbulence, generating a bit more static pressure. This should prove complementary to the deep thermal solution.

The backplate is characterized by a printed Red Devil logo. That plate doesn't help with cooling at all; it's primarily meant to look good and give the heavy card some rigidity.

Plan for an extra 5mm of clearance (at least) behind the Red Devil RX Vega 64. This may cause problems on some motherboards, particularly if the heat sink/backplate intrude on an occupied expansion slot or large CPU cooler.

As we can see from the bottom, PowerColor employs vertically-oriented fins. At the expense of occupying a third slot with its 2.5-slot design, the company does provide a lot more surface area for cooling.

The top side shows that PowerColor stays true to itself in the Red Devil's design. In addition to a familiar dark metal cover on the red ABS shell, there is an illuminated Red Devil logo in the middle. A pair of eight-pin power connectors are position at the end of the board. They're rotated 180 degrees and recessed as well.

Apart from three 6mm heat pipes and a single 8mm pipe, the almost completely closed back of the card reveals nothing conspicuous.

The rear bracket plays host to four display outputs. A pair of HDMI 2.0 interfaces is ideal for anyone with a VR HMD, while two DisplayPort 1.4 connectors make multi-monitor configurations easy. DVI is noticeably missing.

Unfortunately, we also have to bring up an issue that affected our test results. While our press sample was sealed by the manufacturer, it became clear that this card had been used and dismantled before landing in our lab. The amount of thermal paste we found on the GPU package would have been sufficient for two or more cards, and was nearly counterproductive the way it arrived. We fixed this by cleaning the card and applying much better stuff in moderation.

We realigned the heat pads, and even repaired the partially destroyed ones with similar replacements. In turn, we were rewarded with a four to five degree lower GPU temperature and significantly cooler VRM readings. Hopefully, that gets us close to PowerColor's stock performance, fresh from the factory.

Although PowerColor's official documentation claims a 1607 MHz boost clock, GPU-Z reports 1630 MHz. That specification is mostly wishful thinking though, given the Red Devil's power limit.

In comparison to the relevant reference cards the data looks as follows:

Test System & Measurement Methods

We introduced our new test system and methodology in How We Test Graphics Cards. If you'd like more detail about our general approach, check that piece out. We've upgraded the CPU and the cooling system since then to make sure that nothing's holding back graphics cards as fast as this one.

The hardware used in our lab includes:

Specifications

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Board & Power Supply

Board Layout

PowerColor's layout may seem a little different from AMD's reference PCB at first glance. However, the most important areas carry over almost 1:1. The second BIOS, lighting connector, and switches cause the board to be extended upwards a bit.

This implementation employs six power phases with doubling, resulting in 12 voltage converters for the VDDC and one phase for the memory (MVDD), just like AMD. In terms of components, PowerColor mostly mimics the AMD design.

The sources of other auxiliary voltages are also visible in our layout diagram.

Aside from the densely populated area opposite the GPU package, we also find the PWM controller, phase doublers, and SMD capacitors on the board's back side.

PowerColor employs a pair of eight-pin connectors to complement the PCIe slot's power delivery. Since our measurements show the motherboard slot only feeding this card 23-26W, those two connectors handle the rest.

GPU Power Supply (VDDC)

As with AMD's reference design, the focus is on International Rectifier's IR35217, a dual-output multi-phase controller that provides six phases for the GPU and an additional phase for the memory. But again, there are 12 regulator circuits, not just six. This is a result of doubling, allowing the load from each phase to be distributed between two regulator circuits.

A total of six International Rectifier IR3598 multipliers on the back of the board are used to double the controller's phase count. Our infrared thermal measurements make it easy to see how the PWM controller shifts load back and forth between individual phases at idle to maximize efficiency, but also avoid overloading any one specific circuit.

Voltage conversion of the 12 circuits is performed by an International Rectifier IRF6811 on the high side and an IRF6894 on the low side, which also contains the required Schottky diode.

For the resonant filters in the VDDC, PowerColor relies on 190nH encapsulated ferrite coils, similar to AMD's reference card. The capping of extreme spikes on both external 12V supply connections is achieved through generous 560nH coils.

Memory Power Supply (MVDD)

As mentioned, the memory's power is controlled by International Rectifier's IR35217 as well. One phase is fully sufficient for this card, as its HBM2 is less demanding. A CHL815 gate driver is placed on the board's back, while a NTMFD4C85N dual N-channel MOSFET on the front is used for voltage regulation. The co-packaged solution includes both high and low sides.

It’s interesting that PowerColor uses SMD capacitors instead of can caps. Their somewhat lower capacity is compensated for by simply running two of them in parallel on the back of the board. It does make sense to spread the hot-spots and make the thermal solution's job a little easier. Waste heat is kept to a minimum, as is the cost associated with cooling.

At 220nH, the coils are a bit larger this time around. The ones corresponding to the "partial voltage" converters, which operate at a much lower frequency, are even larger at 820nH. They don’t have to deal with the same amounts of power, though.

Additional Voltage Converters

Creating the VDDCI isn’t a very difficult task. But it's an important one since this regulates the transition between the internal GPU and memory signal levels. It’s essentially the I/O bus voltage between the GPU and memory. A constant source for 0.9V is generated as well, along with a 1.8V source (TTL, GPU GPIO). These three voltage converters are equipped almost identically, relying on an MPS MPQ8633 synchronous step-down converter.

Underneath the GPU, there’s an Anpec APL5620 low drop-out linear regulator, which provides the very low voltage for the phase locked loop (PLL) area.

PowerColor places a switch up top to control its dual-BIOS functionality. The second chip is placed right next to that switch in the PCB's extended upper area.

ON Semiconductor's MC74HC238A demultiplexer drives the LED bar that shows the power supply’s load. It’s a fun gimmick, but does get annoying in a dark room at night due to its brightness. Fortunately, there's another switch you can use to turn the lights off entirely.

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Gaming Benchmarks At 2560x1440

We benchmark the Red Devil RX Vega 64 with its standard BIOS; the overclocked firmware yields a completely insignificant performance increase through an almost senseless jump in power consumption. A bit of tweaking on Radeon RX Vega 64 does not change the card's competitive position against Nvidia's line-up. Where it does help, the difference isn't large enough to justify a louder and hotter card. Stick with PowerColor's default BIOS; it offers the best compromise of all.

Because we're guessing that most folks with a Radeon RX Vega 64 plan to game at 2560x1440, that's where we start our benchmarks.

PowerColor's Red Devil RX Vega 64 has a slight clock rate advantage over AMD's reference Radeon RX Vega 64, yielding a relatively minor lead in every benchmark.

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Gaming Benchmarks At 3840x2160

The story doesn't change much at 4K. PowerColor's version of the Vega 64 is consistently a little faster than AMD's implementation, while the Radeon RX Vega 64 trades blows with Nvidia's GeForce GTX 1080 more generally. Neither model is really suitable for max-quality gaming at 3840x2160, though. As a result, we dial back the detail settings to maintain playable frame rates.

The real advantages of PowerColor's card will have to be found elsewhere, hopefully in the cooling or noise sections. After all, those two aspects are where the reference board takes the most criticism.

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Power Consumption

Power Consumption at Different Loads

We measured about 283W during our gaming loop using the driver's Balanced power profile. That's about 3W more than AMD's reference model using its default BIOS. We're willing to accept the higher power consumption since PowerColor's performance is also better. Recent BIOS modifications, including an updated power table, seem to be working well. A 282W measurement in our stress test is also acceptable.

PowerColor's overclocked mode dials in a higher power limit, but doesn't affect the maximum clock rate by default. Even then, though, it exceeds the 320W mark. Worse, performance doesn't improve all that much. As a result, we decided not to get any more aggressive with our overclocking. Rather, we stuck with the driver's Balanced power profile for testing.

The corresponding voltages for our gaming workload and stress test at PowerColor's stock settings are plotted in the following graph:

Load On The Motherboard Slot

At a peak of 2.4A through our stress test, PowerColor's Red Devil RX Vega 64 falls significantly below the 5.5A ceiling defined by the PCI-SIG for a motherboard's 12V rail. A mere 2.3A during the gaming loop is even more conservative. Overall, balancing is well-implemented, and the motherboard slot hardly ever experiences serious loads.

Power Consumption In Detail

The graphs below plot detailed power consumption and current readings in order to illustrate our findings.

Naturally, peaks in power consumption are highest during gaming. But spikes of up to 360W are still acceptable, since they're far too brief to cause a problem.

The same goes for the corresponding current measurements:

In the BIOS' OC mode, we see power consumption explode compared to PowerColor's Standard configuration.

Of course, this applies to our current measurements, too.

During our stress test, the short-term peaks are significantly less pronounced (even if the power consumption is slightly higher than during gaming workloads).

Again, our current readings follow the graph rather closely and show no abnormalities.

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Temperatures, Clock Rates & Overclocking

Overclocking & Undervolting

Conventional overclocking through a higher power limit and more aggressive clock rate is a dead-end. Brute force just isn't the answer. Because PowerColor had to follow AMD's guidelines, this implementation is already running at its limit. Sure, you could dial in higher fan speeds to cool things down, creating more noise in the process, but who really wants that? As we explained in AMD RX Vega 64: The Tom's Hardware Liquid Cooled Edition, even with higher frequencies and brutal power adjustments, it is almost impossible to get Radeon RX Vega running much faster. Instead, undervolting can achieve far better results.

First and foremost, the use of a suitable utility like OverdriveNTool works wonders. As always, though, your results will also depend on the quality of your GPU. We can't generalize; you'll have to compare your improvements to ours.

Temperatures & Frequencies

We’re using the GPU temperature value exclusively because that's what our test sample’s telemetry reports. Of course, the hot-spot temperature is a lot higher. Why? You can read all about in Does Undervolting Improve Radeon RX Vega 64's Efficiency? On PowerColor's Red Devil RX Vega 64, those readings are up to 14°C higher.

The following table shows a comparison of start and end values for temperatures and GPU (boost) frequencies. Just keep in mind that these clock rates can be considerably higher in games with significantly lower loads. For example, Wolfenstein 2's indoor environments might push the card to 1.63 GHz, only to knock it way down once you step outside.

Temperature vs. Frequency

To better illustrate our findings, we plotted temperatures and frequencies during our sample's 15-minute warm-up phase. It's particularly interesting that there's such a small thermal difference between open and closed cases.

Frequencies in the gaming loop are about 100 MHz higher than what we measured from AMD's reference card. This average increase of 11% only improves gaming performance by 6-8%, which isn't particularly impressive.

The results of our stress test look similar:

IR Image Analysis Of The Board's Back

To round out this section, we take a look at board temperatures across several different load levels. To keep the test setup as practical as possible, we removed the backplate for IR measurements (since it doesn't help with cooling anyway). Comparative before/after tests show no difference in temperature or cooling performance.

Gaming

This card has no problem in our Witcher 3 gaming loop. Measurements of 68°C behind the GPU package and 66°C at the voltage converters are actually cool compared to some of the Radeon RX Vega cards we've tested. Does the situation change at all in a closed case?

Not really, no. In a closed case, we measure one degree higher at the voltage converters, while the area behind AMD's GPU rises two degrees. This is enabled by faster-spinning fans, since PowerColor sets a fairly aggressive temperature target. We'll be paying close attention to what that does to noise output.

Stress Test

The stress test reflects slightly lower power consumption than our gaming benchmark. However, certain components (like the voltage converters) still get a little warmer. This is ultimately the result of a more constant load, which can be difficult to keep up with.

Again, the temperatures only rise one to two degrees moving from an open bench table to a closed case. Of course, the fan speeds needed to make this possible increase as well.

In the end, PowerColor's cooler proves itself to be incredibly effective. All of our thermal readings land within a very comfortable range.

Heating Up & Cooling Down

The last two pictures show where the heating starts and where the circuit board is cooled most effectively.

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Cooling & Noise

Cooling Solution & Backplate

By removing the cooler's shroud, we get a better look at its two shells: an outer one made of light metal and the inner one of red ABS. The fans are mounted to the plastic cover, but not acoustically decoupled.

Although PowerColor coats the inside of its backplate in black so that thermal energy can be absorbed more easily, there are also no large surfaces to cover sensitive areas of the board and hinder passive ventilation.

All of the real cooling happens up front, so there's nothing more to say about the Red Devil's back side.

In addition to the sink for some of the voltage converters, two 8mm and three 6mm pipes made of nickel-plated composite material are responsible for transporting thermal energy from the GPU to different parts of the finned cooler.

The GPU heat sink has a rather rough surface, yet performs its task at least as well as the polished plate on Asus' ROG Strix Radeon RX Vega 64.

Fan Curves & Noise

Despite PowerColor's claims to the contrary, our measurements show that there is no semi-passive fan mode. Like AMD, the company keeps its fans spinning continuously. A 33 to 34% PWM reading translates to 1100 to 1200 RPM with the GPU idling between 25-38°C. There doesn't seem to be an extra controller chip on the board that'd stop the fan below a certain threshold.

After a period of intensive cooling during the warm-up phase, PowerColor's fans slow down quite a bit as temperatures stabilize. It's also obvious that the card is acutely sensitive to operating in a closed case versus an open bench table. In order to keep thermals as constant as possible, the fans always spin quite a bit faster inside of a chassis, even after the temperature target is reached. 

Little changes during our stress test. While the cooler and its three fans work well, they also have to move a lot more air over the sink in our closed case.

This card does have enough cooling headroom to dial the fans down a bit. You can even raise the temperature target to 70°C, allowing the volume-optimized thermal solution to operate more quietly.

The 34.2 dB(A) we measured in an open test bench is undoubtedly what other reviewers find so praiseworthy. However, if the fans are set to the speeds observed in a closed case, we blow right past 38 dB(A). Here's what that looks like in the form of a high-resolution frequency spectrum analysis:

With PowerColor's Red Devil RX Vega 64 installed, you'll want to pay close attention to airflow inside of your chassis. It's easier to exhaust waste heat with quiet case fans than to optimize the graphics card for a different target temperature. Or you could do both and win twice. At least that way you can keep noise output under 35 dB(A).

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Conclusion

With our review of PowerColor's Red Devil RX Vega 64 8GB HBM2 complete, it looks like we've tested every Radeon RX Vega 64 card available. There just aren't that many custom designs out there.

PowerColor modified AMD's reference card for its own purposes, adding a great cooler that lives up to the Red Devil reputation. Even if the company tuned this model for cooling performance and not acoustics, the outcome isn't obtrusive. If you want, you can bias the thermal solution to less noise by bumping its temperature target to 70°C or 75°C. You'll have to test this out of course. But if your board is louder than you'd like, it's at least good to know there are remedies.

The Red Devil RX Vega 64's performance is typical of other Radeon RX Vega 64 boards. It's also subject to the same voltage, power, and temperature limits. In other words, there isn't much room for overclocking unless you're willing to overwrite the BIOS with manual optimizations. PowerColor's OC mode is mostly theoretical in nature, just like AMD's own implementation. You might gain a bit of performance, but it comes at the expense of much noise, heat, and excess power consumption. The same disappointing news applies to all Radeon RX Vega-based cards equally.

In the end, PowerColor sends a heavyweight into battle that doesn't become overwhelmed, even under taxing workloads. Its performance is good. The noise is tolerable, even if there are quieter options. Fortunately, you're able to fiddle with software-based settings to make the Red Devil quieter, so long as a slightly higher operating temperature doesn't bother you.

Ultimately, PowerColor's solution hovers around the middle range of Radeon RX Vega 64 pricing, all without asking much in the way of compromise. In that context, this card is a solid choice. But even though it's generally faster than GeForce GTX 1080, Nvidia's closest competitor is currently available at a $200+ savings. We have a hard time recommending any Radeon RX Vega 64 with such a chasm between boards best suited to 2560x1440 gaming.

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Here at Computex, Asus unveiled a new high-resolution HDR gaming monitor called the ROG Swift PG35VQ.

The new display is a 35” curved gaming monitor that features both quantum-dot and high dynamic range (HDR) technology. With a resolution of 3440 x 1440 and an 1800R curvature, this panel sports an ultra-fast 200Hz refresh rate and Nvidia G-Sync. It supports the DCI-P3 color gamut.

The LED backlighting is controlled dynamically across 512 zones within the VA panel (from AU Optrics), with a peak brightness of 1,000 nits. The response time is expected to be around 6ms. Furthermore, the individual zones reduce the light bleeding and make the image “pop” more than a traditional monitor with a single backlight. It almost makes a traditional SDR monitor appear hazy--we were able to see the PG35VQ matched up against a similarly sized SDR display, and the difference was abundantly clear.

The Asus Swift PG35VQ doesn’t have a price or launch date yet. However, Nvidia’s product manager for G-Sync, Vijay Sharma, said that current monitors of this caliber run about $1,000. This means the PG35VQ will likely cost even more.

At this year’s Acer Global Press Conference, the company revealed three monitors. Two of the devices fall into the Predator series, Acer’s gaming-centric lineup, and the third monitor is targeted towards video editors and photographers that might need a 4K display.

With a 27" screen, the Z271UV curved monitor has a resolution of 2560 x 1440, a curvature of 1800R, and a TN-based display. It includes Nvidia’s G-Sync technology as well as an integrated Tobii eye tracker. It has a response time of 1ms (Acer said its native response time is 3ms) and you can overclock its refresh rate to 165Hz. The monitor also comes with two 7W speakers and input that includes HDMI, DisplayPort, audio-out, and four USB 3.0 ports.

The Predator X27 also features G-Sync and Tobii eye tracking along, but it’s not a curved display. The IPS-based display includes 4K resolution with the 27" screen as well as high dynamic range. It includes a refresh rate of 144Hz in addition to a 4ms response time. For input, it includes one HDMI 2.0 and two DisplayPort ports. It also has the same 7W speakers as Z271UV.

For those who need a work-oriented monitor, there’s the ProDesigner PE320QK. It features 4K resolution, as well as HDR. Unlike the gaming monitors, this device includes a hub with four USB-C ports so that you can charge devices with it (it delivers up to 85W of power). If that wasn’t enough, it supports 130 percent of the sRGB and 95 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut for accurate colors for images and video footage. Additional inputs include two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort slot, and audio out. You can take at the full detailed specs for all three monitors below.

Even with all of the specs and images, Acer has yet to announce a price and release date for each of the monitors. We’ll update the story when we have more information.

So many tech companies are bad at April Fool's Day that we were wary that Asus' press release about new Republic of Gamers (ROG) products was a joke when it hit our inbox last Saturday. Turns out the company wasn't pulling our leg--it really did announce a new Poseidon GTX 1080 Ti, the WQHD gaming-focused PG27VQ curved monitor, the 10Gb networking ROG Areion 10G NIC, and the ROG Pugio ambidextrous mouse. Oh, and it teased an Aura SDK that promises to give developers real-time control over the RGB lighting in compatible peripherals and components.

Asus previously announced Turbo and ROG Strix versions of Nvidia's latest-and-greatest GPU. Now, it's revealed the liquid-and-air-cooled Poseidon GTX 1080 Ti. In addition to that hybrid cooling, the Poseidon GTX 1080 Ti also features an expanded heatsink that covers 40% more area than its predecessor, Aura Sync lighting compatibility, and an "infinite-reflection badge that lets you stare into an RGB abyss," if that's what you're into. Asus didn't announce the new graphics card's price, but it did say it's expected to arrive in Q2, so we probably won't have to wait too long for more details.

That card might come in handy with the new PG27VQ monitor. The 27" monitor features a WQHD (2560 x 1440) resolution with an 1800R curvature and frameless design. The PG27VQ was clearly made with gaming in mind, as it boasts a 165Hz maximum refresh rate and 1ms response time, as well as support for Nvidia's G-Sync. And, of course, it has Aura Sync-compatible RGB LED accents on the back. As with the Poseidon GTX 1080 Ti, Asus revealed only that the PG27VQ will arrive in Q3. The company did note, however, that "select versions" of the monitor will feature quantum dot technology.

The ROG Areion 10G is supposed to help you keep up with all those pixels. It uses an Aquantia AQC-107 chip, PCI Express 3.0 x4 interface, and full-sized heatsink to enable 10Gb networking without making you worry about rising temperatures. Because you know Asus had to put LEDs somewhere, the ROG Areion 10G features "easy-to-see LEDs that track network activity and connection speed." It also supports 2.5Gbps and 5Gbps speeds. The company--you guessed it--didn't share pricing info, but it did say that the ROG Areion 10G is expected to make its debut this month.

Next comes the 7,200DPI optical ROG Pugio mouse. Its ambidextrous design allows you to swap the thumb buttons' sides "in seconds" thanks to their magnetic attachments. That magnetism extends to a cover that shields the other side to prevent accidental clicks with your ring finger or pinky. The left and right buttons use socketed Omron switches rated for 50 million clicks that can be swapped out. The RGB LEDs can be "controlled independently or synchronized with the rest of your system" via Aura Sync. Neither pricing info nor a release date were revealed.

Speaking of Aura Sync: Asus closed its announcement with news of an Aura SDK that's supposed to make it easier for developers to control the lighting of compatible motherboards, graphics cards, peripherals, and other components. (That compatibility, naturally, stems from the products' support of the Aura Sync lighting manager.) The company said that it will officially announce the Aura SDK at Computex, which runs May 30 to June 3. We expect to learn more about the Poseidon GTX 1080 Ti, PG27VQ, and the other totally real, not at all prankish products in the coming weeks.

Introduction

We've discussed at length what separates gaming monitors from other categories. No longer can a panel manufacturer wrap a 60Hz business-class screen in a zooty-looking chassis with red trim and call it done. It's pretty well established that fast refresh, low input lag, quick panel response and perhaps a few game-specific picture modes are the minimum requirement for a display to truly qualify.

But other elements are now making their way to the top of users' wishlists. Since the advent of G-Sync and FreeSync adaptive refresh technologies, it's pretty hard to imagine playing games without some way to eliminate frame tears. A few years ago, one either lived with the artifact or the additional input lag that comes with V-Sync.

Also making its way up the priority list are resolution and pixel structure. Even though 1920x1080 (FHD) is the standard on most desktops, gamers want at least 2560x1440 (QHD); preferably in a 27-inch size, which is fast becoming the most common form factor in all display categories. With that much screen area, you'll need QHD to render sufficient pixel density to remove jaggies from the image equation.

We've looked at some excellent gaming screens that keep costs down by employing TN panels. But ultimately, the best overall image fidelity comes from IPS. The differences are small but of all the monitors we’ve reviewed, IPS still stands as superior. It also still stands as a premium technology that commands fairly high prices.

Today, we're checking out one such example: Acer's Predator X34. It checks nearly every box with a 100Hz refresh rate, G-Sync, IPS and an ultra-wide 34-inch 21:9 aspect ratio with a 3800R curvature.

Specifications

This is far from the first curved display reviewed here at Tom's but it seems that with each one, performance gets a little better. Unfortunately prices have remained fixed at around $1000 or even a little higher. At this writing, the Predator X34 is selling for around $1300.

For your hard-earned cash you get a 3440x1440 pixel IPS panel with a flicker-free LED backlight, 10-bit color (courtesy of frame-rate conversion), a claimed 4ms response time, G-Sync, 100Hz refresh (with overclock) and decent built-in speakers that feature DTS tuning. It's a good package for any gamer and it adds to its attractiveness by employing a bright and color-accurate panel part from LG. If the specs look familiar it's because Acer is using the same part found in the XR341CK FreeSync display.

By using G-Sync and upping the max refresh to 100Hz, Acer has tacked on a $200 premium to the price of admission. So right off the bat, if you're an AMD-user, you can save a bit of money by going for the XR341CK. The only thing you'll be giving up is an extra 25Hz. The panel runs at 75Hz natively but the X34 adds an overclock option that lets you tweak up the action in 5Hz increments. Turning up the heat won't void the warranty but Acer doesn't guarantee 100Hz in every case. We had no trouble running at full honk all day long with our GTX Titan-based test system.

We haven't talked much about the curve yet and that subject has been covered at length in past reviews. The X34 uses a slight 3800mm radius that wraps the image around just a bit without introducing visible distortion. It's a neat effect that we like and it seems enough people are buying in to keep the category alive.

The Predator X34 seems to have every necessary qualification to take its place in the gaming category. Does its performance also measure up? Let's take a look.

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Packaging, Physical Layout And Accessories

To protect the integrity of an ultra-wide curved screen, the carton needs to be oversized and Acer has stepped up on that score. The box is enormous and seems capable of withstanding a lot of punishment during shipping. Even the grab handles are reinforced with plastic inserts on the sides. You're unlikely to see an X34 damaged en route to its new owner.

The cable bundle includes one each of HDMI, DisplayPort and USB 3.0. The external power supply is oversized and runs fairly cool. You also get a beefy metal adapter for the 100mm VESA mount around back. If you choose to forgo the excellent stand for an aftermarket bracket, this plate will interface with the hardware of your choice.

Product 360

The stand is cast aluminum and while it looks spindly, it is quite solid. It allows for a 5.1-inch height adjustment, which is somewhat rare among ultra-wide displays. You also get 25 degrees of tilt. Movements are firm and free of extraneous play.

In the lower right, facing downwards, are five control keys. You have to operate them by feel but icons appear on the screen to tell you their functions.

The screen itself is billed as a borderless design but when the power is on a .5-inch frame appears around the picture. The lower trim measures 1.1 inches in width. Using the X34 in a multi-screen configuration means a one-inch gap between images. The anti-glare layer is the same one we see on the majority of gaming monitors striking a proper balance between light rejection and clarity.

The curve is fairly subtle at 3800mm. Compared to the 2000mm radius, seen on displays like the BenQ XR3501 and Acer's own Z35, it makes a marked difference in how the image wraps around the user. 3800R is a "less is more" approach and brings the edges of the image just a bit closer without imparting any visible distortion.

The X34 tapers from side to side so it looks thinner than it actually is. At the bulge's center point it hits three inches but by the time you get to the edge it's less than an inch. There are no USB or headphone jacks here but you'll find both on the rear-facing input panel.

From the back you can see an extremely useful handle at the top of the upright. It's at a good balance point so the X34 will remain vertical when you pick it up. The screen's only grillwork takes the form of a v-shaped feature that complements the panel's taper. That grill covers two excellent seven-watt speakers. Tuned by DTS, they offer a decent frequency range and plenty of volume. While there isn't much bass to be had, we think they sound better than the vast majority of built-ins.

The inputs all face backward and are nestled under the upright making access difficult. Luckily there aren't too many of them. You get one each of DisplayPort 1.2a and HDMI 1.4. The USB hub is version 3.0 and includes one upstream and four downstream ports. For a more immersive audio experience, you can plug in your headphones here as well.

OSD Setup And Calibration

OSD Tour

Pressing any of the control keys brings up a small set of icons that hover over the buttons' positions. G stands for game mode and will call up one of three presets. The needle icon represents overdrive. Next is volume, then input and finally the main OSD.

Acer users will be familiar with the X34's menu configuration. eColor Management refers to the X34's five picture modes; all are fixed except User. If you attempt to make any adjustments in the other presets, the mode automatically changes to User. That's where we did all our tests both before and after calibration.

You'll notice that we turned the Contrast control down from its default setting of 50. At that level, the X34 clips a fair amount of highlight detail and completely skews the gamma tracking. There's more on that below and on page five.

Blue Light is a five-step option that reduces the blue primary in an effort to mitigate eye fatigue. It's becoming common on all the monitors we test lately. A proper calibration can provide equal relief.

Dark Boost will manipulate low-end gamma to make shadow detail more visible. It's useful in games that have a lot of deep black areas. The option has three levels.

Adaptive Contrast will vary screen brightness and gamma according to content. It can make the image look more contrasty but it can also clip detail and you'll see the image dim and brighten as the scene changes. It's a phenomenon we call image pumping.

There are four gamma presets: Gaming, 1.9, 2.2 and 2.5. 2.2 is the default and best option for all content. Color temp settings include fixed Normal, Warm (closest to D65) and Cool plus an adjustable User mode. The Saturation slider will change all six colors at once. You can use it to make color more vivid at the expense of accuracy.

The RGB sliders start at mid-range, which means you can preserve contrast during calibration.

The 6-axis color option has sliders for every color and seems to affect only their luminance. We found no need for either adjustment as the X34 has a pretty accurate gamut out of the box.

The OSD comes in 15 languages and can have a timeout of up to two minutes.

Refresh rate num puts an fps counter in the upper-right corner of the screen. It's not too intrusive and comes in a yellow font that is easily visible in any game.

Game mode provides three settings memories. After you've set up the X34 to your liking, you can toggle between them with one of the bezel keys.

Aim point places one of three white reticules at the center of the screen. You can't have it active at the same time as the frame counter.

The Setting menu starts with an input selector. It's easier to use the bezel hotkey for this. DTS should be let on for the best possible sound from the seven-watt speakers. OD has Normal and Extreme settings. Extreme reduces motion blur but introduces a little ghosting. It's distracting in some content but not universally so.

Ambient Light refers to an LED along the panel's bottom edge that can light up your desktop in a variety of colors. You can also control the intensity, have the light breathe, flash or ripple (Acer's terms, not ours); or turn it off entirely.

Deep Sleep can be set for each input and regulates how the X34 wakes up when receiving an input. On means you'll have to press a bezel key to activate the monitor. When it's off, the screen comes on by itself.

Power-off shuts down the monitor when no signal is present. Reset returns all settings to their factory defaults. Power-off USB charge leaves the ports active so you can charge devices when the display is powered down.

DisplayPort signals can be overclocked from the X34's native 75Hz up to a 100Hz refresh rate. There is no impact on Acer's warranty by doing this but there is no guarantee it will work with all video cards. Our system operated happily at 100Hz all day long. Once you set the rate here, you'll have to change the setting in Nvidia Control Panel too.

Signal information is minimal but you get the all-important refresh rate and G-Sync status.

Calibration

Making any change, including brightness, kicks the X34 into User mode. From there you have access to gamma presets, a white balance adjustment and a color management system. By default, accuracy is quite good—good enough to not require calibration. If you make only one adjustment however, it should be the contrast control. By default, it's set too high and clipped highlight detail is the result. Full detail is rendered at level 44 (50 is the factory setting). We went down further, to 39, to ensure the best white balance result. Since the RGB sliders begin at mid-range, we could get almost all of the lost contrast back by increasing red and green levels. Check out our recommended settings below.

Brightness And Contrast

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test Monitors and TVs.  Brightness and Contrast testing is covered on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The X34 is a premium-priced gaming monitor so we've included other high-end displays in today's group. Acer's other two-curved screens are here, the Z35 and XR341CK. From Asus we have the PG279Q. BenQ is represented by the XR3501, the only screen here without adaptive-refresh. And ViewSonic brings in an Ultra HD model with its XG2700-4K, which we recently reviewed.

The X34 meets its claim of 300cd/m² almost exactly. There's more than enough light output for anything a user might want to do.

The two AMVA panels walk away from the pack on black levels but the IPS-based X34 is the best of the rest. This result is aided by the fact that it has the lowest maximum output.

Max contrast is right in line with the other IPS screens in the group. After recording this number and realizing we'd have to lower the contrast slider to render full detail, we were a little worried what the calibrated result would be. Read on to see what we found.

Uncalibrated – Minimum Backlight Level

Acer sets the minimum output low as a design feature it calls Low Dimming. Low is right when you're talking about 16cd/m². We'd have a hard time using the monitor this way but some users may prefer it. To reach 50cd/m², set brightness to 11.

The super-dim backlight results in a black level even lower than the two AMVA screens here. It's not a fair comparison since the aforementioned displays have about double the contrast of their IPS counterparts.

The X34's contrast stays pretty consistent through its entire brightness range. The ideal candidate is Acer's own Z35, which renders around 50cd/m² at the minimum setting with over 2600:1 contrast. That's some serious image depth.

After Calibration To 200cd/m2

The spread between the bottom four screens is fairly small and few users are likely to see a visual difference in calibrated black levels.

Thanks to well-engineered grayscale controls, we were able to maintain a calibrated contrast ratio over 1000:1, even though we reduced the contrast slider by over 20 percent. This is necessary not only to render full detail but to ensure white point accuracy at the 100-percent brightness level. Even if you don't change the RGB sliders, we strongly recommend lowering contrast to 44 to prevent clipping and fix the gamma tracking; more about that on the next page.

ANSI Contrast Ratio

Our X34 press sample exhibits excellent uniformity but the ANSI result takes a slight dip below 1000:1. This isn't a deal-breaker by any stretch and it closely matches the numbers recorded from the other IPS screens in the group. AMVA is still tops for contrast and despite the lower resolution of the top two displays (they're 2560x1080) we'd still lean towards them as our favorites for image quality.

Grayscale Tracking And Gamma Response

Our grayscale and gamma tests are described in detail here.

In the User picture mode, Warm is the default white balance preset. It runs slightly cool though all errors are below the visible three-DeltaE threshold. If you don't plan to calibrate, the X34 is an excellent choice for color accuracy.

A few changes to red and green levels take care of the invisible errors we recorded. The above chart is within a whisker of perfection and compares well to professional monitors we've evaluated.

Here is our comparison group.

A 1.62dE average error is excellent among all monitors, not just gaming ones. It seems to us that displays in all categories, and at all price levels, are getting better with regards to out-of-box performance.

Any of the displays here would compete favorably with a professional product. Any time we can get the average error under one DeltaE it's a win. It seems these days you can have speed and good color in the same panel.

Gamma Response

The X34's default gamma tracking chart shows the effect of an incorrectly-set contrast control. The huge dip from 50-90 percent means not only a flat-looking image but a significant loss of highlight detail. It's rare that any monitor we test needs a contrast adjustment but this one absolutely does.

It's still not perfect but after dropping contrast to 39 and calibrating the grayscale, we have a reasonable gamma result. From 0-70 percent the trace runs above the line, which means things are a tad too dark. Even though we adjust brightness to a 200cd/m² level for testing, we might raise it a few clicks more to help bring out the mid-tones. While this approach is unusual, it's the only way to ensure full rendering of all detail present in the signal.

Here is our comparison group again.

Gamma doesn't track quite straight, which results in a greater range of values than the other screens. It isn't a huge problem but it's a weakness in an otherwise strong performance. No display is perfect but we think this particular metric could be improved with a firmware update.

We calculate gamma deviation by simply expressing the difference from 2.2 as a percentage.

The too-dark values result in an average of 2.32; a little above the 2.2 standard. The question now is: how will color saturation be affected?

Color Gamut And Performance

For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, please click here.

After recording our color gamut and luminance values, we still feel the X34 is a good monitor without calibration. Even with the gamma anomalies we noted on the previous page, most colors hit their targets or are at worst, slightly over-saturated. Luminance levels are also a bit high so the resulting look is just a little too vivid to be called natural. We are picking nits though, the image looks quite good and will satisfy the majority of users.

Fixing gamma doesn't change the slightly oversaturated colors but it does lower luminance levels to where overall errors become invisible. Color is now more balanced and we have cut the average error just about in half from its unadjusted level of 3.85dE.

Now we return to the comparison group.

1.89dE is a very good number. It's just that the other screens are a little better. The freak-of-nature ViewSonic XG2700-4K wins the day and will likely keep its color accuracy record for some time to come. We're perfectly satisfied with the X34's performance here.

Gamut Volume: Adobe RGB 1998 And sRGB

A little extra saturation in the red and green primaries results in a 4.71-percent bonus gamut volume. This metric isn't a big deal in gaming or general use but professionals will likely be attracted to the extra color offered by the X34.

Viewing Angles, Uniformity, Response And Lag

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, please click here.

Viewing angles work a little differently with curved screens. You're never at a constant angle of departure when you view the image off-axis. The more-subtle 3800R curve of the X34, however, means a result that's a little closer to a flat panel. IPS is still the king here and this particular part does pretty well. While you can see an obvious light fall-off, there is only a slight color shift to blue; much better than the red or green shift we usually see. Top-down viewing is not as good with a significant green tint and reduction in light.

Screen Uniformity: Luminance

We suspect the manufacturing challenges of curved panels are the reason for their high prices. The upside seems to be better quality control. We haven't seen any issues with the curved monitors that have passed through our lab tests. The X34 takes the crown with a superb 5.25-percent black field result. There is no light bleed or glow or any other artifacting going on here.

Here's the white field measurement.

The white field measurement is equally impressive at only 6.07 percent. While we can't attest to every sample, ours is certainly beyond excellent.

Screen Uniformity: Color

Color uniformity is a tough test for any LCD panel technology. A 1.15dE variance is extremely small and well below the visible level. Kudos to Acer's quality control for taking the top two places in this test.

Pixel Response And Input Lag

Please click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

We set Overdrive to Extreme and overclocked the refresh rate to its 100Hz maximum for our response and lag tests. The numbers are as expected. The bottom two screens run at 75 and 60Hz respectively while the top three hit either 144 or 165. While overdrive offers the quickest panel response, some monitors show too much ghosting to make it a viable option. The X34 is not one of those. Even though we saw thin white trails in the BlurBuster's UFO test, we didn't see any problems in gaming content.

Here are the lag results.

Again the fastest result will come from the highest refresh rates; 165Hz in the case of the top two displays. A delay of just over two frames at 60fps is nothing to worry about for most of us. We're not sure even that most hyper-active gamers would see a difference. But if you want the lowest possible lag, you've got to go for a higher refresh rate. That will, of course, necessitate a really fast (and expensive) video card.

Gaming Impressions

Obviously there is no reason to run a max refresh less than 100Hz if your system can remain stable at that speed. Once you've set the overclock and rebooted the X34, you're free to enjoy the chosen rate in both games and Windows applications. You can verify the signal info and G-Sync status in the OSD's info screen.

There is no lower fps point on a G-Sync monitor where frame tearing will occur. When the action drops below 30, the video card simply double-buffers each frame to prevent artifacts. So the only question with the X34 is whether or not you want to use the overdrive options.

It's easy to see a difference in the BlurBusters UFO pattern between the Normal and Extreme settings. Both will ghost a little; Extreme more so. In content, however, it's not as cut and dried. For us it depended on the intricacy of on-screen detail. In a title like Far Cry 4 where every leaf and blade of grass is rendered using complex textures, ghosting was fairly obvious. But turning overdrive off made motion blur come to the fore. It's a six-of-one, half-dozen-of-the-other proposition. Ultimately we preferred to leave overdrive on Extreme and enjoy sharper edges with clearer delineation and transition between dark and light objects.

In a less detailed game like Tomb Raider, we weren't able to see any effects of overshoot or motion blur. There just aren't enough nuances in the graphics to show artifacts like these. So the conclusion is that you'll have to reach for the overdrive's bezel hotkey and decide for yourself based on what game you're playing and the detail level you've chosen for your particular setup.

Conclusion

After thorough evaluations of both the Acer Predator X34 and XR341CK, we can't really say one is superior to the other. Both use the same excellent panel part that provides accurate color, good contrast and adaptive refresh. With our speedy Titan X-based test system we thought we might prefer the higher refresh rate of the X34 and perhaps we did just a bit. But ultimately, even 75Hz is pretty smooth in a fast-moving fps shooter.

So if you've already decided to go with a curved ultra-wide monitor, the decision comes down to price. If you're already invested in a high-end Nvidia setup it seems you might be fated to spend that extra $200 for the X34. But if you've spent the same coin on a robust AMD graphics card, you'll enjoy a little savings with equally high image and motion quality. We applaud Acer's inclusion of a higher refresh rate in the X34. It takes a bit of the sting off its higher price. But for equally powerful PCs, the real-world performance difference is small.

While very few of our monitor reviews talk about sound quality, it should be noted here that both Predators use the same seven-watt built-in speakers. The X34 goes a step further with its DTS tuning; and that does result in a deeper soundstage. But in looking back at our coverage of the XR341CK, we also commented on its better-than-average audio fidelity. That extra power helps elevate both screens well above the competition.

As you'd expect, both displays are joined at the hip in the benchmark tests. There are only minor differences in the test results—minor enough to make performance comparisons a wash. The only place we ran into an issue was gamma tracking. It seems that Acer has set the default contrast at a value that clips detail and degrades image quality. If you do nothing else, please drop that slider to at least 44 in order to enjoy the best possible picture while rendering full detail.

And we shouldn't wrap up without mentioning Acer's other curved gaming monitor, the Z35. Even though it gives up pixel density, its high-contrast AMVA panel and 144Hz native refresh rate (200Hz with overclock) adds another wrinkle to the purchasing decision process. Don't automatically dismiss it based just on resolution. In a side-by-side comparison, you'll be hard-pressed to pick the QHD screens over that one.

When you're spending this kind of money on a display, we urge you to check one out in person. It's easy to form opinions based on reviews and online accounts but nothing beats looking at the real thing with your own eyes. We try to talk about what constitutes a good image and how benchmark tests translate to reality, but there is no better way to judge than in person.

We like the Predator X34 and think it has earned a place among high-performance gaming displays. It's expensive but that seems unavoidable when you're talking about curved ultra-wides. For solid gaming cred and excellent performance, we're giving it our Tom's Editor Approved Award.

MORE: Best Computer MonitorsMORE: Display Calibration 101
MORE: The Science Behind Tuning Your Monitor
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Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware, covering Monitors.

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Introduction And Test System

We've benchmarked unfinished games several times in our reviews, most recently in our Radeon R9 Nano launch article. Back then, we found some driver issues and, even worse, hardware problems on Nvidia graphics cards. It didn't take that company long to respond with new software that not only helped overcome those technical shortcomings, but even turned the performance story around, enabling a small lead over the competition.

This time around was a bit different. Since AMD provided us with an optimized launch driver, we asked Nvidia if it had one for us as well. Company reps didn't seem too pleased with the question and pointed us to its current WHQL-certified driver, version 361.91. That was all Nvidia would say on the matter.

As a game, Ashes of the Singularity is really the perfect showcase for DirectX 12. It features many small AI-controlled entities moving across a large area. This is both a pro and a con. It does show off the API's benefits nicely. But we also have to recognize that those gains will probably be less pronounced in titles that don't exploit DirectX 12's new features as heavily.

The capability making the headlines lately is called Asynchronous Shading/Compute. It allows the parallel and asynchronous (meaning completely order-independent) execution of graphical tasks (shading) and calculations (compute). If correctly implemented in hardware and software, the technology can cut latency down by a massive amount, which in turn results in higher performance.

Let's review a diagram of how tasks are handled in DirectX 11. They are executed one by one in a fixed order. This order can't be changed, and the only way to achieve efficiency is to split up the queue and keep it relatively short.

In DirectX 12, the queue can be split so that tasks are completed at the same time and somewhat offset from each other. This works fairly well for the benchmark we're using today, so we'll actually see its potential in practice. Just remember, though, how much of a difference this new feature makes is going to depend on how much the tasks in a particular game benefit from being executed in parallel, which is to say asynchronously. There won't be any benefit if tasks are dependent on other tasks' results, or if the overhead involved in managing all the tasks is higher than the gains from the asynchronous execution.

Several revisions of AMD's GCN architecture include provisions for this functionality, so its Tonga, Hawaii and Fiji GPUs fare the best with asynchronous shading/compute. Nvidia's Kepler and Maxwell architectures are having a much harder time. The company is trying to compensate with software-based solutions instead.

The following graph clearly shows that Nvidia isn't there yet. After activating the new DirectX 12 feature in the .ini file, AMD's performance increases markedly, whereas Nvidia's actually gets slightly worse. The option to switch this setting on and off convinced us to leave DirectX 11 alone completely and focus all of our efforts on DirectX 12 and asynchronous compute. To keep things fair, we're testing all graphics cards with the setting that works best for them.

MORE: Best Graphics Cards
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Test System

We're using the same test system that we've been using for quite a while. We didn't make any changes to it:

Since the benchmark provides us with a very interesting log file that contains a lot of details (and not just the overall results), we updated our interpreter to take full advantage of it by looking at important things like frame times.

Frame Rates & Times

Frame Rates

First, let's take a look at average and minimum frames per second, both of which are certainly interesting. We're using three different resolutions with the High preset: Full HD (1920x1080), WQHD (2560x1440) and Ultra HD (3840x2160). The results are presented in galleries  you can scroll through.

The minimum frames per second reflect the subjective experience best, especially when it comes to stuttering in a few spots. With only a few exceptions, Nvidia edges out AMD. Then again, results like this don't necessarily tell the whole story, as we'll see below.

Frame Rates Over Time

Let's take a look at the frame per second curve for the benchmark's entire 180-second run next. Our interpreter summarizes the log file's data so that we can put it in a graph that shows how frame rate changes across the benchmark's different scenes with their different loads.

Frame Time And Smoothness

The graph above is still just not detailed enough to provide us with a good representation of the subjective experience. The only way we can achieve this is by looking at the actual render times. Since different graphics cards render different numbers of frames during the benchmark run depending on their speed, we're using a complex mathematical procedure to have our interpreter analyze the log file. Larger deviations are weighed differently compared to consistent sequences. This way, the subjective stuttering is retained.

The 2560x1440 resolution with the High preset is great for us because the faster Nvidia graphics cards hit their limit earlier due to the increased CPU load. Even though the frame rates and frame rates over time don't show this at all, this graph indicates that the CPU sets a clear cap on performance due to the draw calls.

Smoothness

Finally, let's take a look at the smoothness, which is to say the relative time differences between frames. Looking at the benchmark results this way shows any stuttering that you might subjectively experience better without being influenced by the actual rendering time.

Using the same settings to examine the subjective user experience, AMD's Radeon R9 Fury X offers a calmer and smoother picture across the entire benchmark run. Because we also statistically analyzed the CPU and driver data, we'll see why this is the case shortly.

Frame Rates And Times Bottom Line

AMD's graphics cards do particularly well in scenes that have a lot of AI activity (and its accompanying compute load).

The older Radeon R9 390X is especially noteworthy in this context, since it's actually playing in Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 980 Ti's league, and not just in the markedly slower non-Ti version's. Similarly, an overclocked AMD Radeon R9 390 handily beats both Nvidia's overclocked GeForce GTX 970 and 980.

At Full HD, AMD's Radeon R9 380X does pretty well, whereas Nvidia's GeForce GTX 960 can't compete.

All of these results are based on just one benchmark, of course, which isn't representative of most games. Still, it gives us a bit of an idea where optimizations for asynchronous shading/compute might lead, though.

Bottlenecks & Render Times

Bottleneck Origins

Before we get to the actual data analysis, let’s take another look at the fixed string of commands under DirectX 11 and its predecessors. The graph shows that the load on each CPU core isn't even close to equal, and that it takes a long time for you to actually see the end result, which is called Present Time in the log. It’s also interesting to see the large amount of time spent by the driver and CPU.

The same picture looks very different under DirectX 12. The load on each CPU core is more evenly distributed, which leads to more of the tasks being completed in parallel. The time spent by the driver is now spread across all of the threads. It’s not like the process takes less processor time, but the time to reach Present Time is cut down significantly because parts of the process are executed in parallel.

Batches (GPU Commands)

We start out by comparing the number of GPU commands (batches) per rendered frame. It turns out that this ratio actually isn’t all that different for different CPUs or even different manufacturers.

CPU Time

The analysis above is just a starting point. Next, we need to examine how the CPU’s load is distributed by analyzing the percentage of time that the CPU is in use. Even while making good use of parallelization, this measure is still a mirror image of gaming performance. Fast graphics cards produce more frames in the same period of time than slower ones, which means that the CPU has to complete more tasks in the same time period as well.

CPU Bottleneck

So, at which point does the CPU become a bottleneck? It’s either when too few cores are actually working on the tasks to get them done on time due to a lack of parallelization, or if there is just not enough computing power available even with all cores working in parallel. The latter basically means that the CPU isn’t fast enough to keep up with the GPU, even when working at maximum capacity.

There are other potential CPU-related bottlenecks as well. For instance, if a lot of data is worked on in parallel, and then needs to be shuffled back and forth between other subsystems, some other interface could slow you down.

The more the GPU is kept busy, the easier the CPU’s job gets. This effect is easy to see when comparing different resolutions. AMD’s Radeon R9 Fury X bucks the trend in a good way, though. It’s a fast graphics card, but doesn’t torture the CPU as much as some of the other cards in its segment. Clearly, parallelization improved markedly between AMD’s Hawaii and Fiji architectures.

Driver Time

Again, a lot of a frame’s overall render time is consumed by the driver. AMD loses a lot more time this way than Nvidia. This phenomenon could just be blamed on driver overhead, but then again, running many asynchronous tasks does create some additional work.

Present Time

This is the time used to actually output the frame to the observer. Consequently, it’s the last step. The overall time varies quite a bit depending on the resolution. This is due to the resolution’s influence on the CPU bottlenecks that we discussed above and the additional GPU load with higher resolutions.

If the GPU is the bottleneck, then the Present Time is very short, since the CPU already had a lot of time to finish its computations.

Render Time Bottom Line

AMD is the clear winner with its current graphics cards. Real parallelization and asynchronous task execution are just better than splitting up the tasks via a software-based solution. It’s not entirely clear just how much of a difference this will make in real-life gaming scenarios, but it's certainly a technology that could see more use in the future.

Multi-GPU In Detail

SFR: Rendering All Over The Place With DirectX 12

When two cards take turns rendering frames, it's called alternate frame rendering (AFR) and the result is typically an increase in both the average and maximum frame rate. However, this mechanism is quite fragile and includes a number of potential problems.

The graphics cards might become desynchronized if two frames follow each other too quickly or if their frame rendering times are very different. This results in subjectively perceptible stuttering that can be quite severe. Different synchronization techniques and frame pacing might provide some relief, but the underlying problem remains.

Another caveat is that all resources need to be duplicated. For instance, each graphics card has to have a copy of the same data in its memory.

DirectX 12 uses split frame rendering (SFR). This method works in a similar way to raytracing by dividing the screen into tiles. Consequently, each card still uses its own resources, but only needs the assets required for its part of the image and not the entire image. This doesn’t just reduce the memory footprint, but also the bandwidth requirements and transfer times.

Idle time until the output of the finished frame is reduced, since each graphics card just needs to render its tile, and not the whole frame.

Frame Rates And Times

We ended up testing three graphics cards in various combinations using AFR, since it wasn't possible to set up SFR in the game's current form. We simply didn’t have the time for any more than that. Curiously, we ran into CPU bottlenecks quite a bit anyway, even though we stuck to the Extreme preset and an overclocked six-core CPU. If we had experimented with slower graphics cards, the results would have been even less representative.

Don't get too hung up on the similar frame rates. As usual, the devil’s in the details. For comparison, we’re also including the two individual graphics cards:

A look at the frame rates over time shows us significant differences, with Nvidia’s graphics cards enduring the lowest minimum frame rates. This also goes to show that the overall averages are usually worthless.

The frame render times don’t look much different. We don’t really see any outliers, which are generally almost customary for SLI and CrossFire setups. The individual graphics cards have some problems in this arena, though.

Things look the same in our smoothness graph, with the multi-GPU configurations doing well.

The number of batches per frame is close once again, which isn’t really a surprise, seeing what’s being rendered.

It’s plain to see that the CPU becomes a bottleneck in the multi-GPU configurations. There might only be a difference of seven percent between the fastest single GPU's frame rate and the slowest multi-GPU configuration, but the rate of bottlenecked frames jumps to 100 percent.

Depending on the performance level, the portion of the total render time consumed by the CPU is massive.

The same goes for the portion of the total render time used up by the driver.

Present Time is dominated by AMD’s Radeon R9 Fury X once again. In spite of the similar frame rates, there are a lot of differences between the graphics cards, which are also reflected in the subjective user experience.

Multi-GPU Bottom Line

If nothing else, the boundaries between graphics cards falls with DirectX 12. This goes both for different graphics card models and graphics cards by different manufacturers. Almost all combinations are possible, even though they don’t necessarily make sense.

DX12 vs DX11 GPU & CPU Power Consumption

Graphics Card Power Consumption

We chose the four fastest cards that aren't too GPU-limited in Ultra HD, and measured their power consumption for all three render paths.

While the Radeon R9 Fury X adheres to its power limit, the Radeon R9 390X under DirectX 12 blows through the roof compared to DirectX 11. Its 100W-higher power consumption with asynchronous compute activated may be okay when you consider the 20 percent performance increase, but it's just marginally less with this option deactivated, despite significantly lower framerates.

Both Nvidia cards demonstrate increased power consumption with just a moderate performance boost. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti buys itself a mere three frames per second at the cost of 45W+. The GeForce GTX 980, on the other hand, stays rather inconspicuous.

Power Consumption Of The CPU

Of course, we also measured the CPU's behavior. These values were measured over the full benchmark run and contain no VRM losses. Regardless of the graphics card, CPU power consumption drops, particularly when we test with one of Nvidia's boards.

A Look At Efficiency

To draw a more informed conclusion, we add the CPU's and GPU's power consumption. After all, a real efficiency analysis is only possible by looking at the big picture of the individual interactions.

The Radeon R9 390X is really fast under DirectX 12, but consumes a lot of power and lags far behind, resulting in its last-place finish, efficiency-wise.

A Look At The Details

Now we're looking at the corresponding CPU and GPU power consumption values based on their framerate curves over time:

You can see that the Radeon R9 Fury is throttling partially, while the Radeon R9 390X continues to churn along with red-hot glowing wheels.

The CPU power consumption over time, on the other hand, is less spectacular.

Troubleshooting

Before we draw our final conclusions, we’d like to mention that running the Ashes of the Singularity benchmark wasn’t exactly an easy endeavor. In fact, there was a lot of troubleshooting involved, which cost us a lot of time. The multi-GPU part was particularly problematic, and it seems that this wasn’t just the case for us. Many of our colleagues experienced the same problems. One major drawback of Ashes of the Singularity as it stands is the game’s inability to run in true full-screen mode. Instead, it uses a borderless window as its only option.

This makes the Ashes of the Singularity benchmark vulnerable to any number of external influences, especially at Ultra HD. Running it at that resolution results in bandwidth limitations unless a critical Microsoft Windows 10 update is installed. We’re using the same fresh image for all of our benchmarks, and that cost us (and anyone else in the same boat) hours of troubleshooting.

Bottom Line

This is a pretty benchmark that serves up interesting results and compels us to wonder what's coming to PC gaming in the near future? One thing we can say is that AMD wins this round. Its R&D team, which implemented functionality that nobody really paid attention to until now, should be commended.

With asynchronous shading/compute, AMD has a clear winner on its hands. At least for now. But where are the games that take advantage of the technology? It will be a long time until developers use DirectX 12 to its full advantage. By then, GPU architectures like Fiji or Maxwell might already be history, instead of the flagship designs they are now.

Also, nobody knows what Nvidia’s Pascal architecture will do. At least we can be sure that AMD will include these capabilities in Polaris. The jury’s still out on Nvidia’s capability to compensate for hardware disadvantages with software workarounds. The company did show that a lot can be done in this regard for the older beta version of Ashes.

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Igor Wallossek is a Senior Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware Germany, covering CPUs and Graphics. Connect with Igor on Facebook.

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Introduction

Some users are still asking why curved monitors exist and why they should spend the extra coin it takes to own one. Manufacturers seem undaunted by this as they continue to introduce new models. It also seems the 21:9 aspect ratio has caught on sufficiently to qualify as a category that's here to stay rather than just a fad.

We've positively reviewed several ultra-wide and curved screens since they appeared about a year ago. They're expensive for sure, but they are also flagship products employing the best panel parts and comprehensive feature lists. We haven't seen a bad example yet.

Though the first curved monitors were aimed at the business class, their design seems more suitable for gaming where the more you can see the better. Now that ultra-wide screens are available in 1440p, the addition of a little curve just brings the game's world closer to reality.

The first curved gaming monitor we looked at was BenQ's XR3501. It's a gorgeous AMVA (Advanced Multi-Domain Vertical Alignment) panel with high contrast and excellent color, but it only offers 1080p resolution and no frame-rate matching. It is capable of 144Hz refresh though.

Today we're looking at member of Acer's gaming lineup -- the XR341CK. With a 75Hz IPS panel, WQHD resolution and FreeSync, it might just appeal to users looking for a more immersive experience.

At this time, 34-inch curved parts come only from LG and Samsung. Acer uses an LG panel in the XR341CK, which turns out to be the same one we saw in Dell's U3415W monitor. Its 3800R curve is far more subtle than the 2000R radius we saw in the BenQ XR3501.

An early stumbling block in the acceptance of 21:9 screens was their low resolution. 1080p just doesn't quite cut it, especially in larger 34 and 35-inch sizes. Fortunately Acer is using a 1440p part so you can enjoy the same scaling and screen height as a 27-inch QHD display, which is fast becoming a new desktop standard.

The backlight is a white LED and it is flicker-free. No pulse-width modulation is used at any brightness level. Though most PWM screens don't bother us, some users are sensitive to strobing even when it's happening at 20,000 times per second. The XR341CK's constant-current backlight will bother no one.

Gaming features are here aplenty as well. FreeSync is included and works up to the 75Hz max refresh rate. The lower limit is 30Hz at which point users can opt to switch to V-Sync. Acer has also included two hardware features that we think are pretty cool. There are three different aiming reticules available, similar to Asus' GamePlus. And you can place an fps counter in the screen's upper right by setting an option in the OSD.

Obviously the XR341CK is a flagship product selling for a premium price, but will you get what you pay for? Let's take a look.

MORE: Best Computer MonitorsMORE: Display Calibration 101

MORE:The Science Behind Tuning Your Monitor
MORE: All Monitor Content

Packaging, Physical Layout And Accessories

All the curved monitors we've reviewed came in large boxes with lots of protection for the delicate panel and this Acer is no different. Our sample had been shipped multiple times and was still without a scratch after traveling thousands of miles. The XR341CK comes fully assembled and only needs to be lifted out and unwrapped.

The accessory bundle includes an external power brick, HDMI and DisplayPort cables and a USB 3.0 A-to-B connector. Instead of the customary CD-ROM, Acer has enclosed a full printed manual in five languages.

Product 360

The stand may look minimalist in the photos but it's made from a single piece of cast aluminum. That construction extends to the upright as well. The spring-loaded rise mechanism is encased in plastic, but the actual support structure of the XR341CK is all-metal. It just drips with high-end cred. This is one of the very few ultra-wide screens with height adjustment. You get just over four inches of range plus 25 degrees of tilt.

The control buttons are at the bottom right and point down at the desktop; they're our least-favorite aspect of the XR. They don't click as firmly as we'd like and it takes three different key-presses to bring up the OSD. After being spoiled by the joystick controllers on several BenQ, LG and Asus monitors, we keep hoping buttons like this will become a thing of the past.

The screen is coated with a typical anti-glare layer that does not produce any grain or other image artifacts. The image is quite sharp and bright even when the room lights are on.

From the top you can see the curve is subtle but certainly visible. It's not as extreme as the 2000R curve we saw in BenQ's XR3501 and you won't see any distortion in on-screen content. It is just enough to create a little greater immersion and an ideal complement to the 21:9 aspect ratio.

Here you get a great view of the cast-aluminum upright/base piece. It's one of the nicest stands we've seen included with any display. At the top is a handle that makes moving the XR341CK much easier than grabbing the panel's sides. Speaking of the panel, it's not terribly slim at nearly four inches thick.

The rear vents are arranged in a chevron pattern which is appropriate to the Predator name. Acer's logo is prominently displayed in the upper-left corner. You can see a small cable management bracket at the bottom of the height mechanism. It's very easy to use since the inputs face back instead of down.

The seven-watt DTS speakers fire down from a central location in front of the upright. They have a good deal more transparency and punch than what we're used to. We actually found them more than adequate for gaming, though the sound is a bit too polite, even at max volume. For movies we recommend headphones or larger external speakers.

The inputs are on both sides of the upright and face backwards which makes plugging in cables very easy. Just one warning though -- it's a little tricky to plug in fat DisplayPort cables to the upper input because it sits close to the edge of the jack panel. Both HDMI inputs are version 2.0 and one is MHL-compatible. DP inputs are version 1.2a and include standard and mini sizes. The bottom DP connector is an output used for daisy-chaining. To the right is the DC plug and headphone output.

The right half of the input panel includes a Kensington lock and the USB hub; it's version 3.0 with a single upstream port and four downstream ports.

OSD Setup And Calibration

OSD Tour

Bringing up the OSD requires three button presses but once you're in, it's pretty easy to navigate.

The first menu contains Brightness, Contrast and a Black Level control. The Black Level control is something we rarely see on any computer monitor. If you game in a brightly-lit room, turning it up will help bring out shadow detail; but don't drop it below five, as that will clip the darkest shades.

Turing on the Blue Light warms the color temp a bit and has five levels. ACM is Acer's dynamic contrast control; since it skews gamma and clips both highlight and shadow detail, we recommend leaving it off. Super Sharpness adds a subtle edge enhancement and reduces contrast a little. We recommend leaving this off as well.

The Color menu has all the necessary calibration adjustments including two-point white balance and a color management system. sRGB mode locks out all image adjustments including Brightness and Contrast. It provides good color and grayscale but its gamma is too light; we'll show you the graph on page five. Finally there are three gamma presets: 1.8, 2.2 and 2.4. The 2.4 comes closest to the correct value.

The User color temp mode has both gain and bias controls. That means you can adjust the high and low ends of the grayscale independently. That being said, the XR341CK is so close to perfect out of the box you probably won't need to adjust anything here.

The color management system is split into hue and saturation adjustments. We used hue to fine-tune the magenta secondary but no other changes were necessary. The saturation sliders are effective but change luminance as well, so use them carefully.

The OSD is available in 15 languages and its timeout can be as long as 120 seconds. Refresh Rate Num is like a hardware version of FRAPS. It will display the current refresh rate in the upper right corner of the screen. The bright yellow font is fairly large so you probably won't want it on all the time. It's a cool feature though.

Transparency refers to the OSD itself and can be set to one of five levels. Game Mode is a set of four settings memories. Aim Point works like Asus' GamePlus feature and provides three different reticules, which are fixed at the center of the screen.

The final set of options is in the XR341CK's tools menu. You can change the input, set the overdrive (Off, Normal and Extreme), turn on the DTS speaker function, change the DisplayPort version, set your multi-monitor daisy-chain options, change the HDMI Black Level (Normal is correct for PC signals) and access the PIP/PBP function.

Ultra-wide screens are great for displaying multiple sources. The XR341CK can do PIP or PBP with anything connected to its four inputs. The PIP window can be sized and moved around the screen. And you can select which input's audio you want to hear.

At first we thought Ambient Light might refer to a light sensor, but it's actually a soft glowing LED that illuminates the surface below the panel. You can choose from red, green or blue; flash or pulse the light, change the brightness and even sweep it from side to side if you wish. It's something we haven't seen before and after playing games for a while, we grew to like it. If you don't want to use it, it can be easily turned off.

The signal info includes the current refresh rate and whether or not FreeSync is active.

Calibration

In its out-of-box mode the XR341CK is one of the most accurate monitors we've seen to date. You can literally set brightness to taste, change the gamma preset to 2.4 and be done. As you'll see in our tests, color, grayscale and gamma are all on par with many professional screens.

In the User mode, we were able to realize tiny gains in both grayscale tracking and color gamut accuracy, but they weren't visible to the naked eye; only to our instruments. Nevertheless, we'll include the settings we arrived at below if you'd like to tweak your XR341CK.

Brightness And Contrast

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test Monitors and TVs. Brightness and Contrast testing is covered on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

We rounded up all the latest ultra-wide and curved monitors in our database for today's comparison. BenQ is represented by the XR3501 and from Dell we have the U3415W, which is more of a professional tool than a gaming monitor. LG's 34UC97 is a business-class screen but since the XR341CK adds only FreeSync and an extra 15Hz, we think it's relevant. To fill out the group, we're including two more FreeSync displays -- Acer's XG270HU and Asus' MG279Q.

Acer rates the XR341CK at 300cd/m² but we saw over 326cd/m² on our sample. That's enough to offset the output loss caused by ULMB -- if that feature were included. So far it seems to be missing on all FreeSync displays.

The lone TN screen here loses ground in the black level contest mainly thanks to its brighter backlight. The BenQ takes the top spot with its superb AMVA panel. Hopefully we'll see both that and frame-rate matching on a product in the near future.

While the BenQ monitor is far ahead of the pack in max contrast, the XR341CK acquits itself well with a ratio of 1111.6 to 1. This is higher than almost any IPS screen we've tested. We still maintain that contrast is the most important element of image quality. That belief is confirmed by the superb picture coming from this Acer unit.

Uncalibrated – Minimum Backlight Level

Turning down the backlight to minimum yields a just-useable 41.7485cd/m². With all the lights off, gaming becomes very immersive. If you want to turn up the brightness just a little, three clicks will result in exactly 50cd/m².

The XG270HU and U3415W represent two extremes while the rest of the pack displays nearly identical minimum black levels. The Dell's result is thanks to its very dim backlight and the XG's is due to a very bright one. All of these screens will produce sufficiently deep blacks for gaming or anything else you want to do.

Minimum contrast remains stable at 1083.1 to 1; just a tad under the max number. We almost never see a monitor with inconsistent contrast anymore and that's as it should be. Since the XR341CK is so accurate, you can just set the brightness where you want it and enjoy around 1100:1 contrast and accurate color, it's that easy.

After Calibration to 200cd/m2

Calibration moves the XR341CK up a bit in the rankings. It won't be mistaken for an AMVA panel but .1883cd/m² is a great result nonetheless.

Contrast is only a tiny bit lower after calibration, mainly because we dropped the Contrast slider for better grayscale accuracy. It's a nit-pick though; no adjustments are actually necessary for optimal image quality.

ANSI Contrast Ratio

Since ANSI contrast is affected by screen uniformity, we saw an 11 percent drop thanks to slight hotspots in the screen's corners. They aren't visible to the naked eye, but our instruments could see them. Other XR341CK samples could measure slightly better or worse than our result.

Grayscale Tracking And Gamma Response

Our grayscale and gamma tests are described in detail here.

You can see that the XR341CK is nearly perfect out of the box. The chart shows a slight rise in blue as brightness increases, but all the errors are below two DeltaE, which means they cannot be seen. Considering Acer doesn't include a factory-certified calibration, this is an impressive result.

Switching to sRGB mode locks out all adjustments including Brightess and Contrast. It's still very accurate as far as grayscale tracking is concerned. Its only flaw is gamma, which we'll show you below.

Calibration does little to improve an already superb test result. The only change we made was to increase Red Gain by one click and lower Contrast by two. Only a few professional displays can do better than this.

Here is our comparison group.

The U3415W remains our out-of-box champ in the grayscale tracking test. But the fact that a gaming monitor is only a tick behind speaks volumes. Acer is using a very high-quality LG panel part in the XR341CK and it shows.

If you lined up all our test subjects together, you wouldn't see a difference in their grayscale accuracy. The fact that four of the screens are gaming monitors tells you just how good the latest displays are. It really can't get much better.

Gamma Response

Out-of-box gamma is the only flaw in an otherwise superb set of test results. Tracking is fairly solid but the offset is a little light. It's a small difference but a visible one. Luckily all you have to do is change the preset from 2.2 to 2.4.

This is much better and it would be perfect if not for a tiny error of 1.8cd/m² at 90 percent. It's well below the visible threshold and again we're seeing a pro-level result.

Gamma tracking is super-tight except for the tiny dip at 90 percent shown above. The XR341CK is still among the best in this test.

We calculate gamma deviation by simply expressing the difference from 2.2 as a percentage.

The average gamma value is 2.19, which is only .04 percent off the 2.2 standard. Just remember to change the preset in the OSD to 2.4 to see the same result.

Color Gamut And Performance

For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, please click here.

Overall errors are low in the default Standard mode but there are a few issues worth mentioning. Magenta is off-target in hue, red is under-saturated until the 80 percent level and blue is also slightly under-saturated from 40 to 100 percent. On the luminance graph, blue is a bit over-powered as well, which creates a just-visible error in that primary. The average error however, is a respectable 2.19dE.

sRGB mode is much the same so there's not much gain to be had there. In fact, the average error rises a bit to 2.35dE. The difference is tiny but what's needed to fix the problems is better gamma. Fortunately, that's precisely what we did by changing the preset to 2.4.

Now the gamut result is much better. By tweaking the gamma we solved the saturation errors in red and blue. The color management system helped fix the magenta hue issue as well. The only thing we couldn't improve was the green primary; it's a tiny bit over-saturated resulting in a barely-visible error. Overall though, the XR341CK performs admirably in our gamut tests.

Now we return to the comparison group.

None of the screens here have any visible color error. The XR341CK finishes mid-pack in a really good group of displays. Remember that the winning Dell is a factory-calibrated monitor. None of the others can make that claim.

Gamut Volume: Adobe RGB 1998 And sRGB

A tiny bit of bonus red and green adds an extra 3.12 percent to the gamut volume measurement. If the XR341CK had an Adobe RGB gamut option it could easily work in a pro-graphics application.

Viewing Angles, Uniformity, Response, Lag And FreeSync

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, please click here.

The photo is a typical result for an IPS panel. To the sides color remains stable but there's an approximately 50 percent reduction in light output. In the vertical plane, green creeps into the mix and again brightness is down by half. It's far better than any TN screen for sure and it beats higher contrast AMVA screens in our opinion. The only superior tech for off-angle viewing right now is AHVA.

Screen Uniformity: Luminance

The quality we saw in the color tests extends to the uniformity measurements. Our sample looks fantastic in these tests with no visible light bleed or hotspots. As LCD monitors achieve lower black levels, this benchmark is more important as any flaws become easier to see.

Here's the white field measurement.

The white field test result is nearly the same; we can't see any problems with our sample. The XR341CK demonstrates good quality control not only in these tests but every challenge we've thrown at it so far.

Screen Uniformity: Color

Only a few monitors in our database have scored below two DeltaE in this test. Anything under three is considered an invisible error and the XR comes in comfortably beneath that.

Pixel Response And Input Lag

Please click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

The XR341CK's 75Hz refresh rate is unusual but it does result in a little less motion blur than the Dell or LG monitors. The top three subjects are 144Hz screens but it's worth noting that with G-Sync and FreeSync in the mix, high refresh rates aren't the sole benchmark of gaming performance any longer.

Here are the lag results.

Like the response result, the XR341CK comes in mid-pack due to its 75Hz refresh rate. It's more than quick enough for the vast majority of players and we couldn't get ahead of it in any games we tried. The tear-free motion more than makes up for an extra 18ms of input lag which we can't detect.

Gaming With FreeSync

FreeSync was a plug-and-play experience for us. We used our tried-and-true R9 285-based gaming rig to play our familiar game suite consisting of Far Cry 4, Tomb Raider and Battlefield 4. The monitor was recognized immediately (via DisplayPort of course) and we verified its operation through the OSD's info screen. We also confirmed that overdrive works without issue when FreeSync is active.

If you pop this up in a game, the vertical refresh rate will be different depending on what's going on. The photo above is of the Windows desktop. You can also turn on a dynamic fps indicator from the OSD that sits in the upper-right corner of the screen. The font is a little large for our taste but it's easier to use than FRAPS and can be toggled on and off without exiting the game.

In Battlefield 4 on the medium detail level we saw frame rates push above 75, which resulted in tearing. Since the video card was sending frames faster than the XR341CK could render them it had to draw new ones during the refresh cycle asynchronously. Turning on V-Sync prevented the rate from exceeding 75 and neatly fixed the problem.

Far Cry 4 is far more demanding and we had to drop detail to medium just to keep the action above 30fps. Playing at 35-45fps was a very smooth and lag-free experience with no tearing or stuttering. All we saw was a bit of motion blur but it wasn't enough to make us pine for a higher refresh rate or ULMB.

Many users wonder how much difference those extra Hertz make. There's no doubt that if you can drive a game into the 90-100Hz range or higher that motion will be smoother. But it's subtle and that subtlety will cost you quite a bit of money in the graphics board department, especially at QHD or higher resolutions. Now that we have technologies like G-Sync and FreeSync to improve the look of motion in the 40-60fps range, it's not quite as crucial to pour money into a rig just to crank up frame-rates to speedier levels.

Conclusion

With a high-quality IPS panel and FreeSync, it seems that Acer has once again created a gaming monitor to lust for. We raved about the XB270HU with its 144Hz IPS/QHD panel and superb image. Now those with a large display budget just might consider going for the curve.

There's no question that curvature is just what 21:9 aspect screens need. If you're going to put such a wide display two to three feet in front of the user, it's natural that the sides should bend in slightly. Not only does it increase the suspension of disbelief in games, it makes things easier when working with multiple windows in productivity applications. After reviewing both flat and curved ultra-wide displays, we definitely prefer the curve. It just makes more sense.

Acer has pulled out all the stops by using the same excellent panel as in the Dell U3415W. If you recall, that monitor posted the best out-of-box numbers we'd ever seen, which we chalked up to its factory calibration. Acer doesn't include the datasheet in the box but it's obvious this panel part is super-accurate. Our test results show the XR341CK competes favorably with most high-end professional monitors.

The addition of FreeSync and a slightly higher 75Hz refresh rate puts the icing on the cake as far as we're concerned. And don't forget the built-in aiming reticules, fps counter and four settings memories. About the only thing the XR341CK doesn't have is ULMB.

Blur-reduction is something that has yet to make its way into a FreeSync screen. We don't consider it a loss though because even though G-Sync monitors have it, you can't use both features at the same time. Ultimately, frame-rate matching is about optimizing the experience between 30 and 60Hz. Once you go faster, tearing is much harder to see and has less impact on image quality.

Without getting too in-depth about the differences between G-Sync and FreeSync it's important to remember that FreeSync is an open and license-free standard that any manufacturer can implement in its products. That is why we're seeing differences in refresh rates from the various models. And it's the reason FreeSync screens cost around $200 less than their G-Sync counterparts.

• AMD FreeSync vs Nvidia G-Sync

Regardless of that debate, we like the XR341CK. Its image quality is among the best, the FreeSync implementation works without issue and we enjoy the curve. For its high performance, build quality and the fact that it's just fun to use, we're giving it our Tom's Editor Recommended Award.

MORE: Best Computer MonitorsMORE: Display Calibration 101

MORE:The Science Behind Tuning Your Monitor
MORE: All Monitor Content

Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware, covering Monitors and TVs.

Follow Tom's Hardware on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.

On Monday, Acer America announced that its H257HU IPS monitor is now available in the United States. This 25-inch panel sports a "zero-frame" design and a 2560 x 1440 (WQHD) resolution, and it will cost $369.99 at participating online retailers.

The H257HU panel has a response time of 4 ms, a contrast ratio of 100,000,000:1 (1000:1 native), a brightness of 350 cd/m2 nits, LED backlighting, 178 degree viewing angles and a 16:9 aspect ratio. It also supports 16.7 million colors and provides two built-in speakers that support DTS Sound as well as Acer's own True Harmony proprietary audio technology.

The new Acer monitor also includes the company's EyeProtect technology, which consists of Acer Flickerless, Acer Low Dimming and Acer ComfyView. Flickerless provides a stable supply of power to reduce screen flickers, whereas Low Dimming can lower the brightness of the screen to cut down on eye fatigue. ComfyView reduces screen reflections that emanate from ambient light sources.

The specifications also show that the Acer H257HU consists of a super-slim bezel made out of aluminum and a brushed-metal "diamond cut" stand. With the stand intact, the monitor measures 16.73 inches tall, 22.44 inches wide and 8.45 inches deep. The panel does not swivel, nor does it sport an adjustable stand; however, it has a tilt angle of -5 degrees to 15 degrees.

On the back of the panel, Acer provided a DVI port, DisplayPort 1.2, Mini DisplayPort and an HDMI 2.0 port. The company's announcement stated that this HDMI port provides bandwidth of up to 18 Gbps, allowing the monitor to support 4K video and HD content at 60 frames per second (fps).

At press time, Acer has not provided a list of vendors offering the H257HU, so keep checking back for more retailer information.

UPDATE 3/16/15, 11:40am PST: This monitor is available now on Newegg, Amazon, TigerDirect and in the reseller channel. The DisplayPort version was also fixed.

Follow Kevin Parrish @exfileme. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

LG G3: A Plethora Of Pixels And A Laser!

At the end of May, LG announced its latest flagship Android phone, the G3. We were at the New York event and spent a small amount of time with a pre-production Korean model. Two months later, the G3 was made available for North American consumers to buy through all five major U.S. carriers: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular and Verizon. It was also released in Canada at the beginning of August on Bell, MTS, Rogers, SaskTel and Videotron.

(Ed.: We realize our review of the G3 is rather late and, for that, we apologize. However, the G3 is still LG’s flagship phone and will likely be available even after its successor arrives. So, this review is still relevant.)

As the successor to 2013's well-received (but not exactly popular) G2, the G3 was the first smartphone released in North America with a WQHD (2560x1440) display and the final device of the mid-year Android flagship release schedule, which started back in March with the HTC One M8 and was followed by the Samsung Galaxy S5 in April.

LG was Google’s go-to partner for several of its Android reference devices, such as the past two Nexus phones and the Android Wear G Watch. Consequently, we assumed that the G3 would be the basis for the next Nexus phone, just as the G2 was for the Nexus 5. However, Google surprised us and decided to partner with Motorola instead to build the Nexus 6, a super-sized Moto X with a six-inch WQHD screen.

Like the G2, the front of the G3 is almost all screen. And its power and volume control buttons are on the back, a layout that works surprisingly well once you get used to it. The G3 remains an all-plastic phone, but has the look and feel of a premium device.

LG also decided to make its newest flagship more flexible. No, not flexible in a G Flex kind of way. Rather, the company provides the options to expand storage capacity through a microSD slot and swap out the battery.

LG G3 Tech Specs

(Note: Camera specifications will be compared later in the camera hardware section)

1 Included on international models, but requires optional cover for U.S. model2 Requires optional Sony wireless charging cover

The G3 has all of the hardware we expect from a flagship device: a Snapdragon 801 SoC, 3GB RAM, 32GB NAND, 802.11ac, Cat 4 LTE and a large display with high resolution. We’ll see how all this hardware comes together later in the review and how it compares to other flagship phones.

Options And Availability

Both of the G3 models we tested were what LG calls Metallic Black, which is really more of a gunmetal gray. The G3 is also available in the United States in Silk White and Shine Gold (the ubiquitous color that nearly all of 2014’s flagship phones are available in). In other markets, the G3 is available in Moon Violet and Burgundy Red, too. Canadians have to make do with only one color, Metallic Black.

Customers in the U.S. have two additional colors to choose from: Blaze Red and Steel Blue. The red color is a Verizon exclusive (its Metallic Black model is also blacker than the others), and the blue color is a Best Buy exclusive, although it's still available for the three major carriers.

As you can see, the LG G3 is available on a wide variety of North American carriers just like the other flagship phones—the notable exception being the OnePlus One. Strangely, it is not available on Telus in Canada, even though this carrier did sell the G2.

The G3’s retail cost is in line with that of all the other flagships shown above, apart from the OnePlus One, which is one of the best deals in mobile. Contract pricing is something that is hard to compare, since, while the G3's "normal" pricing on a two-year term seems to be $200 on all carriers, different limited-time promotions can reduce the contract price of the phone substantially. Also, T-Mobile skews contract pricing, since its phones are available for $0 up front.

Comparing The G3 To Its Competition

We had the opportunity to test both the Canadian (which is the same as the U.S. GSM version) and Korean variants of the G3. Before we dive into our review and benchmarks, we’ll compare the G3's specifications and features to several of its major flagship competitors, including the Apple iPhone 6 Plus, OnePlus One, Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Samsung Galaxy S5 and Sony Xperia Z3.

Four of the six phones we are comparing (including the G3) use Qualcomm’s popular Snapdragon 801 SoC, a faster version of the Snapdragon 800 that appeared in the G2 (read this article to learn the differences between the Snapdragon 801 and 800). Consequently, the overall performance of these phones should be fairly similar. However, there are several other factors that can affect benchmark results like software and the phone’s ability to dissipate heat.

The iPhone 6 Plus’ A8 and Galaxy Note 4’s Snapdragon 805 are more recent releases, and thus offer improved CPU and GPU performance over the G3. While LG may not be able to match these newer phones in our metrics, that's not reason enough to dismiss the G3. The 801 is still a capable SoC.

Most versions of the G3 have 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage (some European models only come with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage). This is nice to see, as most flagship phones still ship base models with only 16GB of flash, which just isn’t sufficient for the many things we can do with our phones today. The G3 also has a microSD slot, a nice addition after the lack of expandable storage in the G2. All of the other flagship Android phones, apart from the OnePlus One, have microSD slots too, so we guess OEMs realized that this a feature Android users appreciate.

We’ll be going into more detail about the G3’s screen later, but as you can see from the specs table, it has the same 5.5-inch size as the OnePlus One and iPhone 6 Plus. At 534 PPI, the G3’s incredibly crisp WQHD (2560x1440) resolution is only shared with a handful of phones, including the Galaxy S5 LTE-A (576 PPI), Galaxy Note 4 (515 PPI) and Nexus 6 (493 PPI).

Looking at power sources, the G3 has a large 3000mAh cell, which is comparable to the larger batteries of all the phones we're looking at. Unfortunately, battery size isn’t everything since there are other factors that determine how long a phone can run, such as screen size and power draw. As you’ll see later in our tests, the G3 doesn’t have the best battery life when it's up against the competition. Nonetheless, it still runs longer than many flagship phones from last year, so run time is all relative.

Even though the international G3 does support wireless charging, you can only get it on the North American model if you invest in the official LG Quick Circle Folio Case ($60). This gives carriers a higher profit margin accessory to sell to those who want a feature that international buyers get out of the box. Frustratingly, while Qi is the charging standard on the international G3 and most of the North American carriers, if you get the AT&T variant, it uses the less popular PMA standard, locking you into only using the case that AT&T sells.

Like five of the six phones we are comparing, the G3 only has a mono speaker. It seems Sony and HTC are the only OEMs that understand the value of front-facing stereo speakers. At least, at 1W, the G3’s driver is louder than the average smartphone's.

As for connectivity, there are different G3 models for each of the four main North American carriers, supporting different selections of LTE bands. It would be nice if LG took the lead of Apple and Sony by simply producing two models: one for the GSM carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile and the Canadian carriers) with as many LTE bands available as possible, and one model for CDMA carriers. The G3, like the other five phones in today's review, supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth 4.0. It even has an IR port so it can act as a universal remote.

Despite being all-plastic, the G3 looks like a premium device. It feels solid with minimal flex, although it does bend more than the other phones in our comparison, and it has a high level of fit and finish.

The G3’s plastic back has the appearance of brushed aluminum, and even though it’s slipperier than the rubberized texture on the back of the Galaxy S5, we prefer its metallic appearance over the S5’s golf club handle look. Of course, simulated aluminum can’t replace the look and feel of the real thing. But there are several advantages for using plastic; it reduces cost, decreases weight and allows the back (and subsequently, the battery) to be removable. That's a feature missing from the all-aluminum iPhone 6 Plus and HTC One M8.

Unfortunately, the G3, like the all-plastic Galaxy S5, Note 4 and Xperia Z3, has an issue with performance throttling due to overheating. The plastic chassis doesn’t dissipate heat nearly as well as metal. While this thermal issue does affect the G3’s potential when it's pushed to its limits, such as when we run our benchmark suite or play 3D-heavy games, it doesn’t have an impact on normal daily usage.

Another feature missing from the G3 is water and dust resistance. While still a relatively new feature for flagship phones, both the Galaxy S5 and Xperia Z3 come with basic environmental protection.

For a 5.5-inch phone, the G3 is very compact. If you look at the dimensions in the specifications table, it isn’t much bigger than the Xperia Z3 or Galaxy S5, both phones with smaller screens. Even though it has the same size screen as the iPhone 6 Plus, the G3 is so much smaller and lighter, you might confuse it for the 5.2-inch G2. In fact, the G3 is the second-lightest phone of the six flagships in our comparison. Only the 5.1-inch Galaxy S5 is lighter. I'd still call it a two-handed phone, but the G3’s lightness and small bezels make this phablet much easier to handle.

On the software side, the G3 is, unfortunately, still running an older version of Android KitKat (4.4.2). This is the same build that it shipped with when it came out last year. The other four Android phones we are comparing the G3 to have either been updated to or came with Android 4.4.4. While all Android OEMs have vastly improved the speed that they deliver software updates, they are always going to lag a little behind Google, so none of them are running Android 5.0 (Lollipop) yet. However, LG has said the reason it has not released a 4.4.4 update for the G3 is that it wants to jump directly to 5.0. This update is already rolling out in the UK and will debut for North American customers early in 2015.

LG G3 Look And Feel

As mentioned, the G3 is an all-plastic, but well-made, phone. It doesn’t suffer from the cheap feeling that plagues many of the competing plastic phones. It is also quite an attractive device, with a very convincing faux brushed metal finish on the back, and a front that focuses all of your attention on the star of the show, the WQHD display.

As with the most recent flagship Android phones, the G3 follows the trend of increasing screen size over the previous generation, in this case from 5.2 to 5.5 inches.

The front of the phone is almost all display, with super-thin bezels at the side—LG claims the front is 76.4-percent screen. Since it uses on-screen buttons for navigation, the lower bezel, devoid of physical buttons, is minimized, which helps make the G3 compact for a phone with a 5.5-inch display.

Located within the thin bezel along the top is the earpiece, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, a notification LED and the 2.1MP front-facing camera.