6 Best Affordable Ultrawide Curved Monitors Under $500

It was not long ago that ultrawide curved monitors were only available for the premium segment. Thankfully, over the years, things have changed and they have changed for the better. Now, there are quite a few budget ultrawide curved monitors that won’t burn a hole in your pocket and are available under as low as $500.

Thanks to their immersive display and the huge real-estate, ultrawide monitors are great productivity boosters. Instead of switching between different windows, you can have several windows open side-by-side and carry on your work. The curved display makes them great gaming monitors when you count a high refresh rate, Adaptive-Sync support, and a panel.

So if you are looking for some great budget ultrawide curved monitors under $500, we have compiled a list of the best monitors. But first,

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Let’s take a look at those ultrawide curved monitors.

1. BenQ EX3501R

• Resolution: 3440 x 1440 (35-inch)
• Panel Type: VA
• Ports: USB, DisplayPort, USB Type C, HDMI, USB 3.0

BenQ EX3501R

Buy

The BenQ EX3501R costs a little more than $500, but it is a versatile monitor. You can use it as your home office monitor as well as for casual gaming. For one, it brings excellent picture quality to the table. With a contrast ratio of 1100:1, this is perhaps one of the best ultrawide monitors in its price range. Apart from that, the combination of the curved display, 100Hz refresh rate, and FreeSync support proves to be a great gaming monitor.

The FreeSync is a huge plus, especially if you have AMD GPU. This feature syncs the display’s frame rate to your GPU for those uninitiated, resulting in minimal screen stuttering and ghosting.

At the same time, you can even use it for color-sensitive work. The BenQ EX3501R displays 100% of sRGB and 82% of AdobeRGB and is calibrated out-of-the-box if we talk numbers. It’s bright (330 nits), and the sleek and slim design adds to its looks. And hey, it bundles VESA holes as well should you want to mount it on a monitor arm.

The EX3501R bundles quite a few connections, including HDMI, DisplayPort, and a duo of USB-A and USB-C ports. The latter means you can connect your USB-C accessories or laptop directly to it.

However, it’s not without its share of limitations. In this case, the ports are located at a hard-to-reach area behind the panel. Secondly, the HDR mode on the EX3501R is an emulation, meaning you end up with a washed-out appearance.

Nevertheless, it has received a fair amount of reviews thanks to its versatility and picture quality.

2. Acer Nitro XZ342CK Pbmiiphx

• Resolution: 3440 x 1440 (34-inch)
• Panel Type: VA
• Ports: 2 x HDMI 2.0 ports, 2 x DisplayPort 1.4, 2 x 3W speakers, dual-USB 3.0 hub

Acer Nitro XZ342CK Pbmiiphx

Buy

If you are looking for a mid-range gaming monitor, you should take a peek at the Acer Nitro XZ342CK. The good thing about this ultrawide monitor is that even though it has a curved display, it has excellent wide-viewing angles, and the picture does not distort at the sides. The 144Hz refresh rate means smooth gameplay, given your GPU supports the 2K resolution. It sports a cool look complete with thin bezels and a slim stand with red accents to come across as a typical gaming monitor.

One of the above, a major highlight of this monitor is its ergonomic design. From tilting to rotating and adjusting the height, it affords you a lot of flexibility.

Apart from that, it packs a sharp picture quality with impressive results and almost accurate color reproduction. The Nitro XZ342CK can display 99% of the sRGB color space. Like its counterpart above, it doesn’t have real HDR, and hence, HDR content appears a little lacking.

When it comes to the connections, it brings the advantage of HDMI 2.0 ports and DisplayPort 1.4 port. However, you will be able to reap the advantage of the high refresh rate only over the DisplayPort for the HDMI gets you just a 100Hz refresh rate.

3. LG 34GL750-B

• Resolution: 2560 x 1080 (34-inch)
• Panel Type: IPS
• Ports: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 3.5mm Audio Out

LG 34gl750-B

Buy

Another reasonably-priced gaming monitor is the LG 34GL750-B. Though it’s an entry-level Ultragear monitor, an attractive feature-set makes it quite a viable option. For one, it has cool aesthetics with slim bezels and a stylish stand. The curve is gentle, and the odds are that you won’t see any image of color distortion. Unlike the one above, it’s compatible with both AMD and NVIDIA cards since it supports FreeSync and G-Sync. So even if you plan to switch GPU in the future, this monitor can handle it easily.

The LG 34GL750-B has good gamut coverage and displays 99% of sRGB. Plus, the use of IPS panels means great viewing angles and also a near-accurate color reproduction. And the 1ms response time and the 144Hz refresh rate is the cherry on top.

However, it does have its limitation. For one, the lower price means you will have to compromise with the resolution. Unlike the 2K resolution of the above monitors, here you’ll get a 2560 x 1080 resolution. And the lower pixel density eventually results in not-so-sharp picture quality. On the upside, the low pixel count means that your GPU will be able to run games effortlessly.

Secondly, there are no built-in speakers or USB-C connection.

4. Sceptre C355W-3440UN

• Resolution: 3440 x 1440 (35-inch)
• Panel Type: VA
• Ports: 2 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort, 3.5mm Audio Out

Sceptre C355W-3440UN

Buy

If you want a sharp picture quality without spending a fortune, you should check out the Sceptre C355W-3440UN. This Sceptre monitor is another mid-range gaming monitor with a 2K display. Its highlight is its pronounced curvature. At 1500R curvature, you can rest assured that you will get a wraparound effect. It bundles a VA panel, and apart from a good viewing angle, you also get your hands on vivid and rich colors (though not as punchy as IPS displays).

With a maximum refresh rate of 100Hz and support for FreeSync, it is a compelling gaming monitor for the price.

At the same time, it also doubles up as an office monitor. Thanks to the screen real estate, you can have multiple windows open side-by-side. Unlike most gaming monitors, this ultrawide curved monitor sports an all-black look.

On the ergonomic front, you don’t get much apart from the standard tilt adjustment. You can’t adjust the height, nor can you swivel the head. And well, that’s the cost you have to pay for a sharp and vivid display for the price.

It covers 92% of the sRGB color gamut. The connections are also pretty decent. Apart from the DisplayPort connection, you get the dual advantage of HDMI 1.4 and HDMI 2.0. It lacks USB ports, and it tries to make up for it with a pair of decent speakers.

The bottom line is that for the price, the Sceptre C355W-3440UN is a compelling widescreen monitor for both work and play.

5. Viotek GNV34DBE

• Resolution: 3440 x 1440 (34-inch)
• Panel Type: VA
• Ports: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x 3.5mm Audio Out

Viotek GNV34DBE

Buy

The Viotek GNV34BDE brings several compelling features to the table. This budget monitor is designed for gaming enthusiasts and bundles a 4K VA panel, AMD FreeSync support, and a high 144Hz refresh rate. That’s not all. You also get HDR support. And just like its premium counterparts, you get a good mix of color and contrast with no edge distortion and the likes.

As you may have already guessed, the mix of high refresh rate and the AdaptiveSync ensures a smooth gaming experience.

However, it lacks a little on the color gamut space. There’s no sRGB mode, and the default calibrations are a little off. Should you buy this monitor, you will need to invest your time in calibrating the display.

Again, it comes with a sharp curvature of 1500R, a tad rare in this range. The result is an immersive display. And as noted above, there’s no distortion.

In short, if you are looking for a cool gaming monitor that can do it all, this is the one for you.

6. Sceptre C305B-200UN

• Resolution: 2560 x 1080 (30-inch)
• Panel Type: VA
• Ports: 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 1.4, 3.5mm Audio Out

Sceptre C305B-200UN

Buy

Another affordable ultrawide curved monitor is the Sceptre C305B-200UN. Like most of the monitors above, this one is also designed for gamers. If you are looking for a buttery-smooth performance and immersive viewing experience without emptying your bank, this is the one for you. It brings a maximum refresh rate of 200Hz in a VA panel. Plus, the support for AMD FreeSync means your refresh rate can between 48Hz and 200Hz as per the requirement.

However, for the price, you might have to compromise a bit on the resolution. It doesn’t bundle a 2K screen. Instead, packs a 2560×1080 resolution, and the high pixel count makes up for it. As per the folks at the Display Ninja, the text appears crisp and clear and doesn’t need scaling.

Given the price point and the 200Hz refresh rate, means you’ll see a little pixel smearing at this price point. On the upside, you can also lower the refresh rate if it bothers you. On the downside, the display is not ergonomic, and you can only tilt the screen at most.

Given its healthy mix of features, this display has amassed a good number of reviews on Amazon. Users love it for its brightness and value-for-money proposition.

Hello, Immersive Displays

Most of the displays in this range indeed cater to the gaming crowd. But the good news is that some of those are good for home-office use as well. You have to find the right balance between the features and your requirements, and you will be sorted.