We now have a good selection of the best OLED ultrawide monitors thanks to the category’s continuous growth and the non-stop arrival of new variants. Each top brand has been releasing impressive renditions of what an immersive and awe-inspiring gaming display should be. Now, these beauties aren’t cheap, so getting it right the first time around is essential.
Why Choose the Best OLED Ultrawide Monitors
OLED monitors have been at the top of our wishlists ever since we got a taste of what they can provide for the visual experience. OLEDs are capable of infinite contrast, enabling them to produce deeper blacks and greater saturation compared to IPS or VA. They have been the standard for high-end viewing in homes, so it’s no surprise that the monitor market is following.
OLEDs are also self-illuminating, meaning there is no WLED backlight unit behind them, which causes delays in the transitions. Each change in brightness, shade, or color is done at the pixel level, so you get a blue and artifact-free sequence. It also helps with HDR performance, which relies on the finer transitions for better contrast and detail rendering.
Simply put, OLED is more visually striking than any IPS or VA monitor out there. They are expensive, but pricing has gone down considerably to a point where it is already a viable option for more people.
Why Avoid the Best OLED Ultrawide Monitors
There are two main issues why OLED still isn’t the perfect choice for many gamers. They are expensive, first and foremost, with most options costing well over a thousand bucks at the time of this writing. However, that’s far from the absurd prices we saw on the first OLED monitors, which cost three to five grand.
The second is the need for the panel to prevent an issue called burn-in. Burn-in happens when you leave a static image on the screen for too long. Burn-in is sort of a persistent ghost of that static image, and it, most of the time, is permanent.
Thankfully, brands that offer OLED monitors have measures in place to prevent this issue. One example is Alienware’s Panel Refresh feature, which you can activate with a touch of a button after hours of using the screen. You still have to be careful, though, as not all users are happy with an expensive gadget that you need to babysit.
The Best OLED Ultrawide Monitors
Here are the best OLED ultrawide monitors we have reviewed and recommended so far:
Alienware AW3423DW
The Alienware AW3423DW is the oldest model in this line-up, but it doesn’t fall behind in terms of performance. It doesn’t have the gimmicks of the newer variants, but you can expect excellent colors and contrast from it. Its also the cheapest OLED ultrawide now since we’ve seen pricing for brand-new units drop to $799.
Samsung Odyssey OLED G9
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 gave a new meaning to the best OLED ultrawide by doubling down and offering a DQHD 49-inch panel. It goes up to 240Hz and is capable of full DCI-P3 coverage, making immersive games more engrossing. It’s not cheap, but it’s also one of the best-looking ones in this lineup.
Aorus CO49DQ
We love the Aorus CO49DQ since it has the cheapest MSRP at launch, making it at least $300 cheaper than other picks like the OLED G9 above. 49-Inch pricing has tapered to $1099 at the time of this writing, but lower MSRP means lower discounted pricing in the long run. It doesn’t boast tip-top accuracy, but you get all the goodies OLED panels like this have to offer.
Asus ROG Swift PG34WCDM
The Asus ROG Swift PG34WCDM is currently the fastest ultrawide OLED in the 34-inch category. It boasts a 240Hz refresh rate and very low input lag, making it suitable for serious gamers who want the best of both worlds. It boasts an extensive feature set that makes the investment worth it, allowing owners to utilize it for more than just gaming.
Philips Evnia 34M2C8600
The Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 offers fantastic performance like the other OLED ultrawides in this lineup, but it does so with a twist. It’s finished in all white, and it has the brand’s Ambiglow feature, which increases the immersive characteristic of the screen. It mimics the colors on the screen, giving you the impression that the action is spilling beyond the borders of the 34-inch frame.
Acer Predator X45
The Acer Predator X45 comes out as the top 45-inch pick with its excellent scores in both imaging and gaming. The only downside is it’s not as sharp as the other monitors, but its contrast and blur-free performance make up for it. It uses too much ABL, but that helps with maintaining the panel and keeping your eyes strain-free during long hours of play.
About the Author: Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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