Curved monitors are quite recent. Up until a few years ago, we only saw flat monitor screen options in the market. But now, you will also come across curved monitors. The curved design of the monitor surely is intriguing and leaves one wondering whether to buy a flat monitor or a curved one?
Before going ahead and buying a monitor screen, there are several factors that have to be taken into account. What is the screen size, what is the resolution of the screen and the refresh rate, color quality and most importantly the price. But other than these factors, in the modern era, users also have to determine whether they should go for a curved monitor or a flat one.
In order to make the right decision and pick the best option for your use, it is extremely important to be able to identify the pros and cons of both the flat and curved monitors. Only then can one make the right choice and spend money on a screen that is best suited for their needs.
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Curved Vs. Flat Monitors: A Comparison:
To be able to draw a comparison between the flat and curved monitors, it is important to compare their features and specifications side by side. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the features of both a curved as well as a flat-monitor screen.
1. Immersion:
Immersion is a very important feature that has to be taken into consideration when buying a monitor screen. Continuously staring at a screen can be painful. Your eyes may start feeling tired and dried out. The main goal with immersion is to make the display screen so comfortable to use that the user barely remembers that he is staring on a computer screen. Immersion also means that the display quality should be so detailed and intricate that the user feels as if he is looking at the items in real life rather than through a computer screen.
In terms of immersion, investing in a curved monitor would be the ideal choice. The angled and ocular shape of the curved monitor allows the users to get a real life viewing experience and also reduces the strain from the eyes. This means that users will be able to work comfortably for a longer time period when using a curved monitor rather than a flat one. The curved design of the monitor allows users to experience length, width as well as depth of the graphics for a stronger and more immersive viewing experience.
2. Elimination Of Distortion:
What is the one thing that everyone hates about monitor screens or displays? The irritating blur! Many times, the reason behind display distortion or blur is nothing but the hardware that is being used. Although there is no significant reason of blurring, it is less likely for users to complain about it when using a curved monitor rather than a flat one.
When you use a flat monitor, the light is thrown in a straight line. This at times, fails to do justice to the different shapes of the objects and may lead to a blur. This is where the angled design of a curved monitor comes in handy. The curved screens distribute the light evenly and thus distortion is limited. But with this being said, it is still important to quote that the use of a curved monitor does not curb distortion entirely. And the chances of distortion increase significantly as the screen size is increased.
3. Eye Strain:
If you are someone who has to use a computer for most of the part of their day, you would be a hundred percent interested in a computer screen that is comfortable to use and does not feel tiring or stressful for your eyes.
Our eyes are not flat and are round in shape. Similar to the shape of the curved monitors that you will find in the market. The resemblance of the eyeball shape allows the curved monitors to provide a much more comfortable viewing experience for the users. The curved shape of the monitor, therefore, does not tend to tire the eyes with ease and supports the natural field of view. The peripheral vision of curved monitors is far better than that of flat monitors which makes them a better option amongst the two.
4. Wall Mounting And Space:
When people buy a monitor for work, they also have to take into account the available space and whether or not they will be able to mount the monitor on a wall or not. If you are someone who is looking for a monitor that is compact and can also be mounted on a wall, investing in a flat monitor screen would be the ideal approach for you. The flat monitors do not take up too much space, unlike the curved ones. Plus, due to their flat shape and structure, you can easily mount them on a wall rather than have them stand on your desk. Due to this very reason, you will often find that flat monitor are the go-to choice for offices and in settings where the display has to be mounted on a wall for everyone to see.
5. Combining Screens:
Some computer users need larger screens. The size of their required screen is not available in the market in the form of a single display screen. Therefore, they end up pairing two or more monitors together and extending their viewing angle. This gives them a larger display screen to work with. If you too wish to use multiple monitors at once, then opting for a flat monitor screen would be the better option for you.
Flat monitor screens can be placed right next to one another. Since their edges will align with each other well, therefore, it will create one big display screen. However, in case of a curved monitor, you will not be able to align the monitors next to each other. This means that you will have to make do with the size of the curved monitor and will not be able to extend the display screen size as needed.
6. Price And Affordability:
It can be rightfully stated that curved monitors are a fancier variation of display screens. They do have a handful of perks and are surely more comfortable to use, but this also means that they come with a larger price tag. Therefore, if you are someone who wants to buy a monitor screen while staying on a strict budget, you should be considering a flat monitor over a curved one. Many people are of the opinion that curved monitors are overpriced and the price tag is not really worth the features and performance. Even the more affordable curved monitor options in the market will end up costing you more money as compared to a flat monitor.
7. Color Consistency:
A curved monitor has a lot better color consistency than a flat one. The flat shape of the flat monitors does not allow them to do justice to the color quality of the graphics. Therefore, you may experience that the colors appear bland and dull when viewing them on a flat monitor. But the angled and rounded shape of the curved monitor comes in handy and improves color consistency when you use a flat monitor. Therefore, you will see that the colors are bright and the texture of the graphics is also improved by a significant factor when you switch to using a curved monitor.
Comparison Chart:
| Features | Flat Monitor | Curved Monitor |
| Immersion | X | |
| Distortion | X | |
| Eye Strain | X | |
| Mounting And Space Efficiency | X | |
| Combining Screens | X | |
| Color Consistency | X | |
| Price | X |
Final Words: Which One Is Best For You?
There is no absolute answer to whether you should be buying a flat monitor or a curved one. The choice of whether to spend money on a flat monitor or a curved one boils down to your needs and requirements. Therefore, it is best to sit down, list your requirements, and then go ahead and compare them with the specifications and features of both a flat well as curved monitor. Only then will you be able to reach the right decision of whether you should be spending money on a flat monitor or a curved one.
In terms of comfort level and eye stress reduction, the curved monitor screen surely makes the better option. Therefore, if you are someone who will be using the display for most part of their day and prioritize ease of viewing, you should surely be considering a curved monitor. But at the same time, a flat monitor beats the curved one if we consider the ability to join different monitors, wall mounting and also the price.
Therefore, it all comes down to the preferences of the users and what they are looking for. This is the best measure to help you determine whether you should be buying a flat or a curved monitor for your use.