Curved monitors have been slowly gaining popularity over the last few years, and with good reason: they can make your life much easier by reducing eye strain and fatigue, which are both very common in programmers and computer users in general.
However, curved monitors do not come without their share of drawbacks, so before you spend your hard-earned money on one, here’s what you need to know about curved monitors and programming.
Are curved monitors good for programming?
The short answer to this question is YES.
Now, let us tackle the long version for answering the question ‘Are curved monitors good for programming?’.
When should you get a flat screen monitor?
- If you are on a budget, flat monitors will serve your purpose at a reasonable price.
- If the main use of the monitor will be programming, then there is no need for you to buy a curved monitor.
- If accuracy is most important to you (like when working with spreadsheets), then we’d recommend something flat—flat displays tend to have much higher pixel densities, which means they’re more likely to provide crisp images in every corner of the screen.
On the other hand, when should you get a curved screen monitor?
- If you are a programmer looking for a better visual experience, go for a curved monitor.
- If besides programming, you are a gamer, then you might think of buying a curved monitor instead of a flat monitor.
- If immersion and engagement are what count most to you (say, while gaming or watching movies), then curves could make all of that even more exciting.
Of course, all these factors are based on personal preference but there’s nothing wrong with picking a monitor based on its technical capabilities either.
It’s easy to get distracted by flashy features and shiny glass. Before buying anything, you should think about what it is you actually need from your display.
Whatever model makes sense for your purposes is fine!
To sum up, curved monitors are a good option for programmers. However, the curvature of a monitor is not as important as resolution, aspect ratio, panel response and other important factors that you should focus on while buying your programmer monitor.
Curved Vs Flat Monitor For Programming
Now, let us explain why we prefer curved monitors over flat monitors.
Less Distortion
It is a know fact that distortion can occur on screens of any size, but it’s most likely to happen when the size of the monitor increases. Wider displays may be more immersive, but they can also distort your perspective of games and software.
One of the advantages of curved monitors is that distortion issues are minimized compared to flat screens.
Comfortable for Eyes
For those who spend long hours working on screens every day, a curved monitor might just be what you need!
Several studies conducted a comparison between curved and flat monitors. They proved that curved monitors lower fatigue and improve eye accuracy and speed creating a healthier work environment.
When the screen exceeds the natural field of view, the user might suffer from eye strain after staring all day long. But with curved monitors, everything looks like it’s been printed onto a large piece of paper rather than confined to the confines of what appears on your screen.
The reason behind that is that curved screen directs lights from several angles towards the user’s eyes, covering a larger field of view.
Better Immersion
Better immersion is result of the previous two benefits of curved monitors.
A curved screen gives an immersive viewing experience that requires less eye movement when reading text or editing documents.
This immersive sensation may be helpful to programmers trying to develop games or software products; using a curved monitor may enable them to see what their product looks like from every possible angle and perspective without leaving their home.
Unlike flat screens, curved monitors offer a 3D immersive experience.
And of course, the wider is the screen, the better.
To sum up, curved monitors give you everything you could possibly want when it comes to an amazing visual experience.
What Is The Best Radius For A Curved Monitor?
The curve of a monitor is known as its radius, and it’s measured in inches.
Here are a couple of rules to remember about curves in monitors:
- Curved monitors have different levels of curvature which are rated at values 1500R 1800R 3000R 4000R.
- 1800R monitor means that the monitor has a radius of 1800 millimeters.
- The smaller the number, the greater the curvature.
- The human eye has a range of about 1000R.
The recommended curvatures of monitors by most brands are 1800R and 1500R.
We prefer 1500R because it is closer to the human eye than 1800R. therefore, it will ensure a much more immersive experience.
BE CAREFUL! Some manufacturers will sell 1800R curvature as 1500R curvature.
What Are The Best Curved Monitors For Programming?
Several factors have to be taken into consideration before buying a new monitor. In this section, we will mention briefly some the main technical criteria to check in your monitor before buying it.
- Response time: 5 milliseconds at least is recommended. The faster the response time, The better the experience.
- Refresh rate: A good display should have a refresh rate of at least 60 frames per second.
- Screen resolution: This is a very important factor. 1080p, 1440p, and 4k are the three most relevant resolutions.
- Aspect ratio: Defined as the proportion of the height and the width observed on the screen. For programming, the best aspect ratio is 16:9.
- Screen size: This one is a personal preference. But a rule of thumb, larger screens provide a better viewing experience.
Technical Features:
- Resolution: QHD Wide 1440p
- Max Refresh rate: 165 Hz
- Variable refresh rate: FreeSync
- Response time: 1ms
- Screen size: 27 inches
- Curve Radius: 1500R
We chose GIGABYTE G27QC as one of the best curved monitors for programmers because it combines all the technical features required in a robust monitor for a reasonable price.
The monitor has a quick response time and a 165Hz refresh rate. Therefore, it ensures a smooth and responsive gaming experience.
The curve radius is 1500R, which makes it ideal for the human eye providing better immersion.
GIGABYTE G27QC has a high contrast ratio. This means that you will get a better picture quality, especially in dark rooms.
It is Adaptive-Sync, which means that the display adjusts refresh rate to quickly match the GPU’s frames. The monitor also changes refresh rate to match the frame rate of video content, which reduces power consumption.
Customers who bought this monitor were quite satisfied with its quality. Gamers find it a great purchase compared to the price. Some of them wished that the cables were a little bit longer.
Technical Features:
- Resolution: 1920x1080p
- Max Refresh rate: 240 Hz
- Variable refresh rate: FreeSync
- Response time: 3 ms
- Screen size: 17.3 inches
- Weight without the stand: 2.4 pounds
ASUS ROG Strix XG17AHPE is one of the best monitors for programming.
We chose to include it in this list for two main reasons. The first one is the portability, and the second one is the possibility of being used as a vertical monitor.
Its compact size fits most laptops bags, and its built-in battery provides up to 3 hours at 240 Hz.
ASUS ROG Strix XG17AHPE has an excellent refresh rate, a minimal response time, and a low input lag.
The monitor also supports variable refresh rate technology VRR. This means that the monitor will instantly match its refresh rate with the frame rate of the changing signal. This option is very important in gaming as the game’s frame rate continuously fluctuates.
The downside of this monitor is that it’s pricey compared to similar sized monitors, and the cover doesn’t provide the necessary protection.
Overall, ASUS ROG Strix XG17AHPE offers advanced features for both work and fun, one-of-a-kind product.
If the price is an issue, you can go for GIGABYTE G27QC.
Final Thoughts - Are Curved Monitors Good For Programming
Curved and widescreen displays are becoming increasingly popular among gamers and programmers.
There is no straight answer to whether or not a curved monitor is better than a flat-screen for a programmer. But one thing is certain: curved monitors offer a better visual experience, increased immersion and better clarity than standard displays. They are here to stay, as they are only getting better.
As a programmer, should you buy a curved monitor? Yes, why not! Curved monitors are getting better day after day, numerous solid options are included in their design and development providing more comfort to the user and contributing to increasing productivity.