CURVY IS THE NEW FLAT

Curved monitors have been taking over the display market. Are they worth it for productivity?

Curved displays come with a wealth of benefits, not the least of which is full immersion. By bringing those edges close to viewers, capitalising on our under-utilised peripheral vision, they widen our field of view and improve the way we consume content. They also reduce distortion at the edges, improving picture quality, as well as making the whole experience feel larger than life. That’s without mentioning just how cool and futuristic they’ll look perched on our desks.

Most importantly for those of us that clock in eight to 12 hours of computer usage on a daily basis, this new breed of displays drastically minimises eye strain, which makes a full day’s work a lot more bearable.

And, they’re only getting better than before. While older models have between 2300R to 4000R curve radius, the next generation of curved monitors that hit the shelves in the last year or so boast an even more pronounced 1500R to 1800R curvature. The result? More immersion, more dramatic glare and distortion reduction, as well as considerably less eye strain.

These curved monitors are certainly superior to their flat counterparts in a lot of ways, and most gamers have been using them long before they hit the prosumer market. The question is, is it right for those of us looking for a work monitor? You might be surprised, but absolutely. Professionals will benefit just as much from them as those playing video games, if not more.

You won’t have to go ultrawide either, especially if you don’t have the desk space for it. While some businesses may find that ultrawide format useful when dealing with massive spreadsheets, most of us don’t need a whopping 21:9 display to send emails, prepare work documents and video conference the team. Save that for the hardcore gamers and stick to one that’s more palatable and manageable for work – there are many 27-inch and 32-inch curved monitors out there that deliver that same level of immersion.

If you’re concerned about the price, don’t fret. Comparatively, they might cost slightly more than a flat screen, but not by much. They’re also getting cheaper every year. If you can afford it, though, you’ll still get a better value by paying a little more. However, the more budget-conscious can easily find a curved monitor at less than £200, even from big names like Samsung and Dell.