With few exceptions, 34-inch ultrawide monitors are curved slightly so that they bend inward toward you, making it easier for you to see the whole screen at once. VA panels have better contrast ratios but suffer from significant color issues when viewed from an angle, which is problematic for a curved display. IPS is the better all-around choice, with more-consistent color reproduction and solid viewing angles.

Display technology and screen curvature: Ultrawide display panels come in two varieties: IPS (in-plane switching) and VA (vertical alignment).

On the other end of the spectrum, 38-inch ultrawides require a lot of desk space and cost much more than 34-inch models. If you need something smaller, you’re likely to be happier with the resolution and picture quality of a 27-inch 4K monitor or a 24-inch monitor. You can buy a smaller option, but below 34 inches the advantages aren’t noticeable enough to justify the higher price.

Size: Most ultrawide screens measure between 34 and 38 inches diagonally.

4K- and 5K-equivalent ultrawide monitors aren’t widely available yet. The text on every 1080p-equivalent (2560×1080) ultrawide we tested was pixelated and hard to read, and on those models the lower resolution negates the extra screen space that makes an ultrawide appealing. That’s the same sharpness as a 1440p or “2K” resolution on a non-ultrawide.

Resolution: Unless you’re using your monitor exclusively for gaming or watching movies, an ultrawide should have a resolution of 3440×1440 or higher.

Ultrawide monitor micro center