If you’re into gaming or finding ways to increase your productivity, the following question will have undoubtedly crossed your mind: if we were to put a curved monitor vs. flat monitor into the arena, which contender would emerge victorious and why?

In recent years, the former has been getting a lot of hype in the gaming community, and it’s not without a good reason.

Let’s see how they stack up against their flatter counterparts!

Curved monitor vs. flat monitor: an overview

At first glance, aside from the level of curvature, there aren’t many differences if we compare a curved monitor vs. a flat monitor. Even the underlying technology is the same.

But the difference lies in your intended usage.

For instance, nowadays, many people tend to use multiple monitors for the sake of productivity. Moreover, gamers who often spend a significant chunk of their day in front of their screen are looking for ways to reduce the strain on their eyes, and getting a curved monitor is a surefire way to accomplish that.

To get a better overall idea, let’s compare a curved monitor vs. a flat one in terms of its pros and cons.

The pros and cons of curved monitors

Here is a realistic comparison of curved monitors’ strengths and weaknesses.

Pros of curved monitors

• Immersion. In other words, this is how likely you are to get ‘lost’ in the experience and forget the life around you. A scientific term for this is ocular perception. Another way to put it is the capacity to make the objects on the screen appear three-dimensional and with added depth to them. Curved monitors can make this happen more easily due to them mimicking the shape of the human eye. Imagine the advantage this can give you when playing first-person shooters or fantasy games.

• No more blurriness. Yes, although blurriness can occur on screens of any size, this occurs far more frequently on larger screen dimensions. Due to how the physics of light projection works on curved monitors, this is almost a non-issue on the latter. Unlike flatter monitors, they don’t blast their images in a straight line but rather disburse it.

• Easier on the eyes. The human eye reacts to different stressors in a different way. As it turns out, curved monitors project the images in such a way it’s easier for the eye to process the stimuli. In contrast, flatter monitors often cause eye strain if they exceed a viewer’s natural field of view. This is especially true for longer sessions spent in front of a screen working or gaming.

• Wider field of view. Wouldn’t it be nice to absorb all the information on the screen without moving your eyes and neck too much? That’s what a curved screen is for. Remember that a curved screen is designed to direct light at the user’s eye from multiple angles. This will help you notice everything that’s going on without straining your eyes too much. It also happens to tie in with the perceived level of immersion like we discussed above. Apart from gamers, this is a massive benefit to certain professions, including video editors and those who do a lot of multitasking. Speaking of which…

• Multi-tasking friendly. Nowadays, the responsibilities seem to be piling up like never before. Since curved monitors tend to have a greater surface area, this provides ample space for handling multiple tabs and applications. Simply put, it gives you the freedom to construct your ultimate working environment.

• Suitable for high-resolution work. This is rather specific as not all professions will be able to tell the difference, but for those where it matters, it matters significantly. Examples include video editing and graphic design.

• An enhanced depth of perception. Using a curved monitor will make the contents of the screen appear 3D with an added depth to them. Gamers in particular should find this to be quite useful as it allows for a better sense of distance, thus providing not only a strategic advantage but an enhanced overall experience as well.

• Aesthetic appeal. Curved monitors have a modern appearance that complements a contemporary style of furniture. Merely placing one on your desk can make it appear sleek and sophisticated.

Pro tip: as a gamer, you need to pay attention to your health and not fall victim to a sedentary lifestyle. LiftSync Shelfy is a modern-looking standing desk with compact dimensions (48”x24”) yet plenty of space for your extra monitor.

Cons of curved monitors

Of course, if we compare curved monitors vs flat monitors, the former is not without its share of cons, including:

• Wall mounting. Suffice it to say that, although mounting them to the wall is technically possible, you’re going to encounter a fair bit of challenge by attempting to do so. Some very specific mounts will be needed, as they cannot be placed too close to the wall.

• Glare and viewing angles. When viewing it at certain angles, especially from the sides, you will experience glare. You can mitigate the issue somewhat by placing it as far away from light sources as possible.

• Requires a specific graphics card. If you want to fully reap the benefits of using a curved monitor, you’ll probably need to replace your graphics card.

• Heavier build. A curved monitor vs. a flat monitor tends to be heavier in comparison. Therefore, you’re going to need a surface that gives it adequate support.

• Transitional period. Since adjusting to a new type of display takes time, you may face discomfort initially.

• Higher cost. A curved monitor is typically going to be more expensive compared to a flat monitor. Depending on their budget, this can deter certain buyers. Availability can also be an accompanying issue.

• More space is required. Due to how they’re made, curved monitors typically require more space. Therefore, you may face a need to upgrade to a new desk.

• Content incompatibility. Certain media isn’t optimized for curved displays. Videos and apps might look weird, resulting in distorted visuals and a lackluster viewing experience.

• Potential motion sickness. If you’re not used to a fast-paced environment, using a curved monitor might result in motion sickness.

• Portability. A curved monitor vs a flat one is going to be bulkier and more challenging to carry around.

The pros and cons of flat monitors

To present things from another angle, let’s also take a look at the pros and cons of flat monitors.

Pros of flat monitors

• Portability and user-friendliness. Not only are flat monitors lightweight and easy to carry around, chances are that you’re already used to handling one’s display.

• Affordability. When comparing flat monitors vs. curved monitors, the former tends to be on the more budget-friendly side.

• Suitable for day-to-day tasks. Since you can view them from multiple angles without issues, flat monitors tend to be easier to do work on.

• Wider aspect ratio. Due to this, flat monitors have an extended viewing area.

• Multi-monitor setups. Although you could technically do that with all types of monitors, flat monitors make the job easier.

Cons of flat monitors

• Not as immersive. Due to the fact that the display is flat, it makes its contents less believable and thus harder to get lost in.

• Reduced picture quality at edges. Compared to curved monitors, their flatter counterparts might not have edges that are as sharp or vibrant.

Curved monitors vs. flat monitors: how do they compare in different areas?

Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with the pros and cons of each, it’s time to scrutinize how they perform in different areas. After all, every user’s needs tend to be different and while we’ve established that curved monitors are an excellent choice for gaming, how do they perform for work-related purposes? Well, different aspects, different answers, so let’s take a look.

Sizing

Comparing a curved monitor vs. a flat one in terms of sizing is straightforward - the former tends to be bulkier, while the latter is more lightweight and compact. However keep in mind that monitors do come in all shapes and sizes, with most people preferring to have more screen real estate to work with.

However, it’s certainly going to be easier to find a flat monitor with different size options compared to a curved counterpart, since the latter are more limited in availability in general. So if space is a constraint, opting for a flat monitor might be the way to go.

Curvature

When examining the specs of a monitor, have you seen the R-value? That’s its radius and it's expressed in millimeters. Typically, a monitor’s curvature ranges anywhere from 1800R to 4000R. The lower the number, the more curved a monitor is going to be. The curvature is directly correlated with optimal viewing distance.

Simply look at its radius to determine it. For example, a radius of 1800R means that a viewing distance of 1800mm will be optimal. In other words, with certain types of monitors, you might need to be seated further back for a better viewing experience.

Screen ratio

A curved monitor vs. a flat monitor tends to be on the wider side and not as tall. In fact, most curved monitors tend to have an aspect ratio of 21:9, with some really radical models going up to 32:9. Flat monitors, on the other hand, usually have an aspect ratio of 16:9.

In practice, curved monitors translate to a wider field of vision, at the cost of taking up more space. On the flip side, flat monitors tend to be more suited for remote work, as they make it easier to focus and view different parts of the screen.

Quality of color

In this area, curved monitors tend to outperform their flatter brethren, and every pixel is angled just about right to the human eye. On a flatter monitor, you may experience what’s called color distortion when your eye wanders around its surface.

Refresh rate

This is another massive difference when it comes to the two monitors in question. Your budget plays a role here - most budget monitors usually have a refresh rate of 60Hz, while the higher-end models can reach the 240Hz range.

But if we were to place a curved monitor vs flat a flat monitor back-to-back and compare how their pricing correlates with their respective refresh rates, we would determine that curved monitors with a higher refresh rate are typically more expensive than flat monitors with a high refresh rate. However, if you’re a gamer, spending a bit more to get a suitable monitor is generally well worth the investment.

Space

When comparing a curved monitor vs. a flat one, it becomes clear that the latter are typically less of a burden on the space that you have available. This is due to the nature of their curved brethren and it requires no further explanation. So from a purely space-focused standpoint, flat monitors have their curved counterparts beat.

Pro tip: running out of space? LiftSync Monitor Arm Dual will help you fit your monitor onto the tightest of desk areas. Also available as a Single Arm. It supports 49” displays, is VESA compatible, comes with 360-degree rotation, and each arm can handle up to 44 lbs.

Price

Now let’s compare curved monitors vs. flat ones in terms of their pricing. If you’ve guessed that curved monitors are pricier - correct!

They’re also generally harder to get by, depending on where you live and the retailer options that are available to you in your local area.

Viewing distance and eye comfort

In this department, both types of monitors tend to perform equally well. The difference, however, presents itself in the form of how the human eye perceives distance and depth. Unfortunately, the flat screens fall flat on their face here (no pun intended). The problem with these is that displaying moving footage tends to feel artificial and two-dimensional.

Curved monitors, on the other hand, better align with the contours of a human eye; thus, the whole experience becomes more comfortable and less straining. By viewing a curved monitor, you’ll find that the need to move your eyes from the central point becomes minimal due to the extra information that’s being fed into your peripheral vision and many studies have proven this to be the case.

Certain professionals like developers also claim that curved monitors allow them to focus better, although there’s certainly an ongoing debate and much of it comes down to your personal preferences.

Screen glare

Flat screens are definitely more susceptible to glare, this one is indisputable. With curved monitors, their curvature actually helps reduce reflections and the negative impact of external light sources. Still, even if you’re using a curved monitor, try placing it in a well-lit area for best results.

Aesthetics

This is perhaps the most subjective area out of the bunch, but it still deserves a mention. Many people like the modern looks of curved monitors and this can be one of their major selling points. On the other hand, go for a flat monitor if you’re seeking that timeless classic appearance.

Multi-tasking

Since the evolution of technology is making screens better and more affordable, it’s not uncommon to see offices with multiple monitors on the same desk to maximize productivity.

If you’re going to be doing this with a curved monitor, however, just keep in mind that it’s going to be slightly more challenging due to its comparatively bigger dimensions. If you’re planning to place two curved monitors side by side, this can be even more challenging - precise centering will be required

Pro tip: with the help of LiftSync Monitor Arm Dual, multi-monitor setups become a breeze without taking away your valuable desk space. Thanks to its built-in 360-degree rotation system, you can set them up any way you like, and its 44 lbs weight-carrying capacity means you can hook them up with virtually any screen of your choosing.

Device compatibility

Depending on the model, each of these monitor types may come equipped with several ports, including:

• HDMI

• USB

• DisplayPort

Always double-check that the model you’ve laid your eyes on comes with the right connectivity ports. Also, bear in mind that, if you’re going to be using a curved monitor for gaming, you may need to swap out your graphics card (make sure to double-check this for your exact setup).

Weight

Typically, the weight of the monitor correlates with its size. Once again, flat monitors have their curved alternatives beat in this department, as they are generally lighter. But the good news is, by getting a desk that can accommodate the extra weight, this becomes a non-problem.

Pro tip: if weight is a concern, you’ll be glad to know that LiftSync Pro boasts itself with reinforced legs that can handle the extra load (up to 220 lbs).

Curved monitors - a gamer's best friend?

In essence, a curved monitor gives a moving picture that extra depth and 3D feel we all seem to be craving for that helps you get immersed in the heart of the action. The rest comes down to your planned usage and personal preferences.

So to sum it up, curved monitors tend to be a favorite among gamers, while flat monitors are still the go-to among office workers and other professionals. However, this is just a general rule of thumb; for instance, as a developer or content creator, you may very well find that curved monitors match your preferences more closely.