Many people spend a lot of time in front of their computer screens. If you use a monitor all day, then you might want to know which monitor is better for your eyes.
Are curved monitors better for eyes? Or are curved monitors a gimmickare? If you are a gamer, programmer or graphic designer, should you opt for a curved monitor or go with a flat screen monitor?
This guide answers these questions in detail.
Curved monitors pros and cons
Let’s look at the benefits and disadvantages of curved monitors. We begin with the benefits of curved monitors.
Benefits of curved screen monitors
1. Better eye comfort
Curved screens reduce eye strain to a great extent. With curved screens, you do not have to strain your eyes to capture all images on the screen because there is less light directed to your eyes unlike flat monitors.
Studies have shown that people who use flat screen monitors are prone to eye ache than those who use curved monitors.
Again, it has been proven that curved monitors are more ergonomically friendly than flat widescreen monitors or many flat widescreen monitors combined.
2. Enhanced field of view
On a curved monitor, your eyes cover more areas on the screen with ease. You see everything on the screen from one focal distance unlike on flat monitors where information at the center is more accessible than what is at the edges.
The human eye has a curvature comparable to a curvature rating of 1000R, where ‘R’ represents radius expressed in millimetres (mm).
Curvature ratings typical of most modern curved monitors include 1000R, 1500R, 1800R, 2300R, 3000R, and so on. 1800R simply means a curved monitor radius of 1800mm or 1.8 meters.
The Samsung Odyssey G9 curved monitor has a display curvature of 1000R. At 1000R, this very much depicts the human field of view. A smaller R value gives a better curve.
3. Fewer Glare
As a result of their curved nature, curved monitors have a way of reducing reflections and glare if positioned correctly.
On another important front, if you use a flat screen monitor at all times, you are four times more susceptible to blurred vision than someone who uses a curved monitor for hours on end. This was revealed in a study conducted by the Harvard Medical School.
4. They are immersive
As a result of the 3D visual nature of curved monitors, you get a more realistic interpretation of images, whether you are gaming, working from home, or at the office.
On the contrary, flat monitors offer a weaker immersive experience.
5. Increased efficiency
Reduced eye strain increases your efficiency naturally. Additionally, with ultrawide curved screens, you can juggle multiple tasks at the same time without minimizing or closing tabs.
You can only enjoy this benefit if you go for very wide curved screen monitors. A curved monitor with at least 40-inches or more is good.
Curved screen monitors reduce the number of times your eyes move from the center of the screen to other parts of the screen, unlike flat screen monitors that make you move your eyes from the center of the screen to other parts of the screen all the time.
This allows you to focus a lot more, and enhances your productivity. Again, a study by the Harvard Medical School revealed that difficulty-to-focus is usually associated with a flat monitor than with a curved monitor.
6. Better pixel response time
Avid gamers are the greatest beneficiaries of the better pixel response time associated with curved screen monitors. Faster response times make gaming a joy.
Furthermore, curved monitors add more depth to images on your display.
Disadvantages of curved screen monitors
Let’s look at the minor drawbacks associated with curved screen monitors.
1. Takes some getting used to
Transitioning from a flat monitor to curved monitor might take some getting used. In some cases, it might even feel strange in the beginning. But with time you get used to it, and this rubs off on your productivity.
2. Not good on the wall
Curved screen monitors do not look good on the wall. As a matter of fact, they are not designed for that. If you’re one of the few people who prefer their monitors mounted to a wall, a curved screen monitor may be the wrong choice.
3. Expensive
Generally, curved screen monitors are usually more expensive than flat screen monitors. Of course, monitor prices vary with screen size, resolution, type of ports, and more.
4. Center is everything
To get the best view and the most out of a curved screen monitor, you have to position yourself at the center of the screen. Any position off the center will make images on the screen look distorted.
Are curved monitors a gimmick?
Curved monitors are not a gimmick in any way. They offer better eye comfort, reduce image distortion, and they are easier on your neck especially when it comes to viewing content near the edges of a screen.
The best curved monitors
Here are some of the best curved monitors.
1. Spectre 24” Curved Monitor
2. Samsung Ultrawide Curved Monitor
3. Asus Rog Swift Curved Monitor
4. BenQ Ultrawide Curved Monitor
5. Spectre 35” Curved Monitor
So, are curved monitors better for your eyes?
Yes, curved monitors are better for your eyes. Curved monitors are perfect for gamers, graphic designers, programmers, or anyone who spends long hours on their computer. They offer better eye comfort, reduce image distortion, increase the level of immersion, and give a better field of view.
If you work with many programs and windows simultaneously, you might want to consider a curved monitor.
That being said, personal preference and budget may be the deciding factors for many.
