Best 4k Curved Monitors: Reviewed, Rated & Compared

4k Curved Monitors Compared

Why Would One Want a 4K Curved Monitor?

Well, for several reasons actually. 4K or UHD resolution has become quite desirable these days with everyone from console gamers to designers seeking 3840×2160 resolution on their displays.

The benefit of 4K resolution is obvious. It delivers sharper visuals on larger sized screens and allows you to multitask easily thanks to the larger pixel real estate.

Plus 4K is future proof. All media will sooner or later all media will become 4k. And judging by the speed at which 4K is being adopted, that will certainly be sooner.

Besides that, most of the gamers and professionals want the color quality that 4K monitors offer. Almost all of the 4K monitors offer a minimum of a billion color (10 bit color depth). Compare this a to a mere 16.7 million colors on normal monitors.

So it makes sense to invest in 4K monitor, but why a curved one?

Just as the curved displays on normal FHD or QHD monitors improve the immersion factor, a curved screen on 4K also improves the visual experience by encouraging better visual immersion.

Plus, a curved display, with thin bezels, is very important if you are considering a multiple monitor setup. The larger the multiple monitor setup, the more benefit you will see from the curved displays.

On triple monitor or larger setups, the corners of the screen particularly get uncomfortable to look at if the screens a flat. If you have curved screen, they would make the corners so much more comfortable to see.

List of Best 4k Curved Monitors

As mentioned earlier, there isn’t much to this list currently. There is only a single monitor in the market that offers 4K with a curvature.

However, we will grow this list as there are sure to be more curved 4k monitors in the future.

4k Curved Monitors Reviewed

1. Samsung U32R590 – 32 Inch – Curved 4K

Product Specification

Its not a surprise why Samsung U32R590 has won the Amazon’s Choice award: It is the only monitor with a 4K curved display!

It literally has no competitors as of yet.

Besides, this monitor is a fairly well priced and feature rich option. In fact, it has almost the same price tag as an average flat 4k 32 inch monitor.

Therefore, seemingly, you are paying absolutely no premium for the curve

Like most 4k 32 inch monitors of this price category, this monitor features a VA panel instead of an IPS panel.

VA panels are cheaper, have a much higher static contrast ratio, but they do not offer the same color reproduction and fidelity as the IPS panels – 4K IPS monitors are generally very expensive and suitable for professional designers and creators

Furthermore, this monitor offers a 10 bit color depth with about 1 billion colors to show. Therefore, this is a great monitor for content creation or graphic designing.

Relatively speaking, even a VA 4K monitor is much more superior to a conventional FHD monitor (imagine an IPS 4K monitor)

While it offers a good overall display with beautiful external looks, it does suffer from a few drawbacks.

For starters, it does not offer VESA mounting. Therefore, if you were planning on mounting this monitor on a dedicated monitor arm, you will be disappointed. Although there are other ways to mount a monitor without VESA holes.

Furthermore it lacks an ergonomic stand as well – not that it makes sense with a curved display. Lastly, when it comes to brightness, it is on the dimmer end of the spectrum. Where an average monitor has 300 nits brightness, this only manages to have 250 nits maximum.

All in all, this is the best 4K curved monitor in the market since it is the only one that currently meets the required specifications.

2. Philips 328E1CA

Product Specification

The Philips 328E1CA is another excellent choice for anyone looking for a 4k monitor with a curved display. Similar to the Samsung UHD, this monitor has a stellar resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels and 1500R curvature.

The 32-inch curved VA panel is built with the signature Philips ultra-wide color technology, which delivers over a billion colors with smooth gradients and high-quality detail.

The curved display is designed to give users a more immersive experience. When you sit at the center of the display, the curve is extremely subtle, yet it still works to boost immersiveness and keep you involved.

Whether you’re using this as a professional device or it’s solely meant for entertainment, the VA LED display works to deliver super-high static contrast ratios. This means deeper blacks and brighter colors all-around. It works well with handling photos, but it can also enhance your basic web browsing needs. It’s especially great for gaming thanks to the Adaptive-Sync technology for a smooth, quick refresh and ultra-fast response time.

The cable management feature is something that takes this monitor above and beyond the competition. It’s built with an elongated slot to hide messy cables and keep the workspace looking elegant and clean. To top it all off, Philips has worked to make this easy on the eyes; users suffer from less eye fatigue with flicker-free technology and a low blue-mode setting.

The 4- year Philips product warranty is just icing on the cake.  The main flaw is the quality of the built-in speaker system. Although the audio works just fine, the speakers are nothing more than decent. This is a fairly easy fix, though; just buy an extra set of dedicated speakers (especially if audio quality is important to you).

3. MSI OPTIX MAG321CURV

Product Specification

The MSI Optix monitor might fit the bill better than the pricier Samsung or Philips devices. This is a great budget choice, and even though it costs significantly less, it still comes with a lot of the same features. You're still getting the curved 1500R display for more immersive visuals and the same 3840 x 2160 pixel resolution.

This is marketed as a gaming monitor, and it truly is a gamer’s dream device. The thing that gamer’s like best is the insanely fast 165Hz refresh rate. Compared to the other two devices we’ve covered so far that have a refresh rate of 60Hz, the 165Hz refresh plus 1 ms response time means that you’ll be able to keep up with your game of choice every step of the way.

It’s also built with anti-flicker technology to keep your eyes protected and reduce strain and fatigue for those long hours of gaming.

Compared to more high-end monitors, this one lacks when it comes to durability. This is to be expected with the lower price tag, but it's still not ideal. It still comes with all the same great features like anti-flicker and adaptive sync, but it just doesn’t match up to the Samsung or Philips in terms of durable design and long-lasting lifespan.

4. AOC CU32V3

Product Specification

The AOC CU32V3 is another great choice if you're looking for a curved 4k monitor on a budget. The 4k resolution offers a high pixel density of 182 pixels per inch, and the visuals are clear and detailed. It has a response time of 4ms and a 60hz refresh rate which is good for casual gaming. The VA panel is compatible with VESA mounting. The display is aesthetically pleasing, to say the least.

The frameless design of the AOC means that it’s possible to set up multiple monitors without losing color and display continuity. It doesn’t show nearly as many colors as more expensive monitors (just 16.7 million as opposed to the 1 billion of the Samsung UHD, but there aren’t many complaints about this. Even with fewer colors, the display is still clear and vibrant.

Similar to other monitors of this caliber, the AOC comes with anti-flicker technology and a low-blue mode to go easy on the eyes. The curve of the panel is specifically designed to conform better to the natural curvature of vision, so you’ll be able to look at the display for hours without feeling any harmful effects.

AOC is a well-established company that has been in the tech biz since 1967. 

This focus is made evident by using any AOC products, including the CU32V3.

The connectivity panel is a bit difficult to access on the AOC since it’s located at the bottom side of the monitor, so you might have to tilt it back to get access to the ports. Similar to the MSI monitor, this one isn’t the most durable on the market, but you’ll have peace of mind with the 3-year warranty provided by the manufacturer.

5. Samsung LU32R591CWNXZA

Product Specification

We started with a Samsung, so we'll end with a Samsung. The company's LU32R591CWNXZA model is similar in design and style to the UR590C UHD, plus it offers the same pixel resolution (3840 x 2160), the same refresh rate (60Hz), the same response time (4ms), and the same special features. In fact, it’s essentially the same product, but it just doesn’t come with the same high price tag.

At this point, you’re probably wondering how this is possible. It’s mainly because this model has been renewed, and since it’s not brand new, it’s a fraction of the price. A lot of people are instantly turned off by the word “refurbished” or “renewed," but if you want to take advantage of Samsung's high-end performance and impressive graphics without breaking the bank, this is the way to do it.

If you’re on the fence about purchasing a renewed product, don’t be.

If you end up having trouble, just return within 90 days for a full refund.

People Also Ask (FAQs)

What if You Do Not Like the Samsung U32R590?

We understand that the options are quite limited for a 4K curved display.

Of course, only a single 4K monitor with a curved screen is fairly limiting. So what other options do you have if for some reasons you do not want to go for Samsung U32R590?

5K Monitors

Basically if you want a big 4k monitor with a curved screen, we recommend that you look in to 5K monitors instead. 

Now there are a whole bunch of 5K monitors with 49″ ultrawide displays out there from various brands. However, they are super expensive (Near $1,000 range). These monitors basically offer the screen size and specs of 2 x 27 inch high performance monitors.

They are loaded with some of the best specs out there including advanced color enhancing features, advanced ports such as Thunderbolt 3 and of courser a whopping 5120 x 1440 resolution.

QHD Curved Monitors

While Quad HD (QHD or 2560×1440) does not offer as much pixel real estate as 4K monitors, they are also a great alternative for the time being.

QHD curved monitors are quite readily available. They are available as both QHD on normal 16:9 widescreen monitors as well as WQHD and WQHD+ on Ultrawide 21:9 monitors.

If you are looking to build a professional setup with multiple curved displays, 2 x curved professional Ultrawide QHD “IPS” (NOT VA) monitors like the LG 34UC80-B would cost you way less than 2 x professional 4K “IPS” monitors.

What is the Difference Between 1500R and 1800R?

1500R and 1800R basically defines the curvature of the screen.

The lower the R rating, the more curved the screen is. Basically, the idea here is that the higher the curvature the more it would follow the natural curvature of the a human eye which is 1000R.

You must note that a lower R (higher curvature) does not mean a better experience. In fact, a mere 24 or 27 inch FHD monitor with a 1000R curvature would offer a fairly strange and perhaps a distasteful experience.

The most common and recommended curvature to go for is 1800R. It offers both comfort as well as a great cinematic experience.

A deeper curvature, like 1500R, makes more sense if you are serious about building a multiple monitor setup.

Conclusion

Here we looked at the best 4k curved monitors. Currently, there isn’t much in this category. There is only a single Samsung U32R590 monitor that offers the desired specs.

In the near future perhaps that will change. 4K and curved are two features that both professional and gamers seek for a better immersion.

Therefore, while as far as 16:9 widescreen monitors are concerned Samsung U32R590 takes the cake. However, you do have other options to look into as well. You can check out 49 inch 5k Super Ultrawide monitors or also check out QHD displays.