If you’re looking for a seriously immersive experience at a relatively inexpensive price, then our list of the best budget curved monitors should be the ideal place to start.
Curved monitors are great for making you feel a part of the action, especially when watching a film or when playing your favourite video game titles.
They achieve this by surrounding your peripheral vision to engross you in everything that's going on on-screen.
Their unique curvature also allows you to take advantage of a three-dimensional viewing experience - something flat monitors can't offer you.
The problem is, these kinds of monitors can often come with a pretty expensive price tag. But that doesn’t mean you have to splash out just to get a good product.
In fact, as our list shows, you can still get a device with great specs for under $400…a bargain, indeed, considering all the benefits a curved monitor can bring you.
At this price range the only thing you’ll really have to sacrifice is having a wide range of options with a 4K resolution - although we do have one on the list - and HDMI 2.1 connectivity.
It's worth noting, too, that screen size is an important factor when choosing a curved monitor because, if your display is too small, then you may not feel as immersed in the action. We'd say to look out for anything 27 inches or above.
With all of this in mind, we’ve picked out these monitors based on their specs, general reviews, and any other features that we think make them worth considering for your setup.
So, without further ado, let's take a look at our top picks for budget curved monitors.
Best budget curved monitor
Best budget curved monitor - ASUS VG32VQ1B
Despite coming in at a pretty affordable price, the ASUS VG32VQ1B has some seriously good-looking specs to its name and packs a real punch.
At 31.5 inches, with a QHD resolution, it should offer a nice, crisp picture. This large display size should also ensure you really get the most out of its immersive 1500R curvature.
Not only that, but with an impressively high 165hz refresh rate - working alongside AMD FreeSync Premium - and 1ms response time, you should be able to wave goodbye to any lag and say hello to smoother visuals.
Read more: Best 43-inch monitor
You can set up the monitor for optimal comfort, as it allows you to tilt and swivel it to whatever angle suits you the best, and you can even mount it to the wall if you'd like to use your monitor as a kind of pseudo-TV.
It has some specific gaming functions as well if that's what you'd like to use it for. These include Shadow Boost Technology to clarify dark areas of a game, and GamePlus technology to provide you with in-game enhancements.
Best budget curved monitor for gaming - Samsung Odyssey G5 Series
Who doesn't want a great curved monitor for gaming? It should give you the foundations to let your competitiveness go that extra mile and give you the best shot at defeating your enemies.
Luckily for you, the Samsung Odyssey G5 Series seems to pull out all the stops for a great all-round gaming experience.
It's potentially one of the best budget 144hz monitors around as its refresh rate combined with its 1ms response time should certainly offer you peak smoothness to remain focused on the action of your favourite video game.
Read more: Best gaming monitor under 200
A QHD resolution should also let you clearly spot the difference between friend and foe because it's designed to provide you with sharp, clear images. It's also aided by all the vibrance of the HDR10 as well.
AMD FreeSync Premium is perhaps a must in all of the best gaming monitors, and this one is no different. It should work well with the high refresh rate, especially for reducing any stuttering or screen tearing during gameplay.
Best budget curved monitor with HDR - LG 27GL650F-B
Some of the best HDR monitors can really give you a bright, vibrant colour range, which is particularly good for video editing or graphic design work.
So, if it's artful editing you're into, and you want to pair your skills with some extra immersion that a little bit of curvature can bring you, then this LG 27GL650F-B monitor with Display HDR10 might be the one for you.
Reproducing 99% of the sRGB colour spectrum means you should find it has impressive colour accuracy as well.
Read more: Best video editing monitor
And a 27-inch display should be a nice size for editing work, too, because it can allow you to see your work in all its glory and really provide you with a basis of what your finished product might look like.
The Full HD resolution will also help with this, as it should let you see plenty of detail in pictures and videos.
For added convenience, the screen also allows you to adjust it by tilting it and even pivoting it vertically or raising it higher or lower to suit your setup for maximise comfort.
Best budget 4K curved monitor - Dell S3221QS
A detailed display should only enhance your viewing experience. That's why we feel this 4K Dell S3221QS curved monitor is well worth considering.
The high resolution should enhance the immersion that the 32-inch 1800R curved screen gives you because it should allow you to see any video you're watching or game you're playing in crystal clear detail.
It also supports HDR, which will further enhance the visuals and make the picture brighter and more vibrant.
Read more: Best budget 4K monitor
You also get built-in dual 5W speakers. So, if you wanted to, you should be able to use this as an alternative to a TV, especially considering it's also wall-mountable.
This monitor has flicker-free technology which is teamed with ComfortView to help reduce eye strain for a more comfortable viewing experience.
Best budget Full HD curved monitor - Acer ED273
A full HD display should deliver an excellent viewing experience, but adding a curve into the mix can only enhance your immersion even further.
The Acer ED273 combines this resolution with a 27-inch curved display to deliver a detailed picture - whether you're watching videos or playing games on it.
If you do happen to be using it primarily for gaming, then the good news is that it's Nvidia G-Sync compatible. What this means is it will work smoothly with GeForce graphics cards to allow you tear-free gaming.
Read more: Best 75hz monitor
Having a refresh rate of 144hz works nicely alongside this, too, as it will likely improve your gaming experience by lowering input lag and stuttering.
And, if you're beginning to notice that gaming all day is starting to take its toll on your eyes, then luckily for you this monitor also comes with some specialised eye care technologies.
These include Acer's Flicker-less, a blue light filter, ComfyView and low-dimming features. Now, you really should be able game for longer whilst still maintaining your concentration.
Frequently Asked Questions
You're bound to have some queries about budget curved monitors, so we've helped you out a bit and answered some of the most frequently asked questions below.
Is it worth getting a curved monitor?
We'd say it is worth investing in a curved monitor. They provide a more immersive experience using ocular perception, which is especially good for gaming.
Essentially what this means is they offer you a three-dimensional viewing experience and also take your peripheral vision into account.
The curvature of these types of monitors can also help with reducing eye strain because it mimics our natural field of view. It should, therefore, offer you a more comfortable viewing experience when using your monitor.
How big should a curved monitor be?
A curved monitor needs to have a fairly large screen size, otherwise there wouldn't be much point in investing in one - if it's too small you won't get any of the peripheral benefits that this kind of monitor can offer.
The smallest curved monitor you can find will likely be around 24-inches, but we'd say even that wouldn't be large enough to accommodate what you ideally need to get out of a curved monitor.
Therefore, you'll probably want to look for anything that is 27-inches or above.
How much should I spend on a budget curved monitor?
Curved monitors can be expensive, but, as can be seen by our list here, you can still get cheaper displays without having to sacrifice too much in terms of specs and quality.
What counts as 'budget' will obviously come down to individual opinion and how much you can afford to spend, but, ideally, we'd say that anything under $400 is a decent price for an affordable curved monitor.