BenQ’s ultra-curved gaming monitor: Love it or hate it, you’ll know right away

Curved shows have gone out and in of trend a number of instances through the years. As soon as upon a time, even TVs designed in your lounge had been bought with a curve. Finally, like 3D TVs (keep in mind these?) they fell out of trend, and the one curved shows you’d ever see had been ultrawide screens that required that curve to forestall color-shifting towards their left and proper sides from the steep angle induced by their extensive shows.

Now, due to strains like Samsung’s Odyssey sequence, curves are as soon as once more fashionable, and never only for ultrawides. A brand new class of huge, widescreen screens with extreme curves is rising in reputation. These desk-filling shows provide the identical display actual property as multi-monitor setups whereas bringing new ranges of immersion with their wraparound designs. 

Right now we’re BenQ’s tackle this style, the 31.5-inch Mobiuz 1000R Curved Gaming Monitor. This semicircular show is a novel mixture of easy-to-drive 2K decision, big-screen measurement, and different options that may make it an awesome match for curved monitor fans, however not for everybody. 

The curve

This monitor’s curve defines it, for good or unwell. Should you’re not concerned about closely curved shows, you have in all probability already stopped studying. Should you’re nonetheless right here, I will assume you wish to know extra about what that 1000R (1,000mm radius) curve provides you as a consumer. 

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On the plus facet, it is extra immersive than flat shows, providing you with extra of an IMAX really feel.

On a much less constructive notice, it additionally tends to amplify glare from close by lights. There is a lensing impact brought on by the curvature that makes it very troublesome to maintain sturdy mild sources from catching some a part of the show. I might undoubtedly advocate avoiding any setups the place this monitor sits reverse shiny lights or home windows with direct solar. 

The curve additionally offers the monitor a barely smaller impression than you may count on from its 31.5-inch measurement. It is a trick of the attention, but it surely nonetheless does not fairly appear as grandiose as flat 32-inch shows I’ve used have a tendency to look if you place them in your desk. 

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I personally may see residing with the glare points and impression of smaller measurement if you happen to’re a flight or racing sim fanatic who would profit from the additional immersion. Nevertheless, it is a more durable promote if you happen to’re simply an FPS or RTS gamer. MOBA and MMORPG gamers in all probability fall someplace within the center. 

Picture high quality

The form of the show is the very first thing you may discover, however the high quality of its picture is equally essential. This can be a VA (Vertical Alignment) panel. I will not delve into panel varieties and applied sciences, however VA is a well-liked selection for gaming screens as a result of its pace and decrease price. Nevertheless, you should not count on the identical degree of coloration accuracy or expansive viewing angles supplied by dearer IPS shows. 

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That mentioned, I truly discovered the colours of the Mobiuz to be fairly good and properly saturated with out trying blown-out. The one spot the place this faltered was its black ranges. The monitor appeared unusually susceptible to banding (that uneven look you typically see between gradations of black in darkish scenes). This was true in a lot of the preset modes, and each with and with out HDR enabled. 

Talking of HDR, BenQ put a devoted button for it on the entrance of the show. However I stay, by no fault of BenQ’s, unenthusiastic about HDR as an entire. I’ve seen non-HDR screens that blow HDR fashions away, and HDR shows that look gorgeous or terrible in equal measure. I’ve discovered the moniker tells you little or no in regards to the precise coloration high quality you’ll be able to count on, so I might advocate ignoring it for essentially the most half.

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Brightness on this show is superb, starting from painfully intense to pitch black. Nevertheless, the gradations between these extremes are the place that banding I discussed above tends to occur. 

Lastly, the show’s decision may give some folks pause. 32 inches is giant for a 2K show, with many screens that measurement choosing 4K as a substitute. Sure, you’ll be able to see particular person pixels if you happen to’re unrealistically near the show. For this trade-off, you profit from the truth that 2K shows are MUCH simpler to drive to the 165 frames per second this monitor can produce.

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Even top-end gaming desktops would wrestle to do the identical for 4K in AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or the previous a number of Name of Responsibility titles. In the meantime, inexpensive, mid-range machines can output 2K/165Hz simply, making that decision a candy spot many aggressive players have chosen. Should you’re in search of “retina-level” pixel density, look elsewhere. However in order for you an enormous, colourful, sharp-enough model of your favourite titles at buttery refresh charges, this monitor nails it. 

Different options

Whereas the curve of the show and the standard of the picture will in all probability decide if it is proper for 99% of patrons, there are a number of different issues that may tip the scales for you. I will cowl these shortly under. 

• I liked the distant and need extra screens would come with one. 

The lighting on the again of the show is dim. It will not visibly shine on partitions behind the show, so you may solely discover it in case your desk is open-backed.

• You will need a deeper-than-average desktop to accommodate its stand, or a really beefy mounting arm.

• I respect the inclusion of the 2 HDMI 2.0 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4 port. A show this measurement may double as a console gaming or media consumption show (or each), and this makes setup straightforward.

• The required energy adapter is weirdly large.

Backside line 

I will say it yet another time: It is all in regards to the curve. Should you just like the immersion it offers, and might stand its quirks, it is a very enjoyable monitor for a number of genres of video games, however not all. Nonetheless, if you load into the motive force’s seat in Forza or the cockpit of Microsoft Flight Simulator, you immediately respect its design.

Due to this, this mannequin is a good worth for the suitable consumer, however I might advocate seeing one in individual earlier than deciding if it is for you. If you cannot, at the very least attempt to take a look at one other 1000R mannequin. Seeing a monitor this curved for the primary time often elicits a powerful response. In case your response is a constructive one, the 31.5-inch Mobiuz Gaming Monitor is without doubt one of the least expensive methods to get that extreme curve at dwelling. If it is adverse, nonetheless, it is best to in all probability look elsewhere in your subsequent gaming show.

Alternate options to think about 

That is the monitor that, arguably, kicked off the 1000R development. Samsung’s authentic G9 is dearer, but it surely provides sufficient display actual property to switch a triple monitor setup and boosts its refresh charge to a aggressive 240Hz.

A monitor with practically an identical specs, however one main distinction: It is flat. An important, equally priced selection for individuals who like all the things in regards to the BenQ mannequin apart from the curve.

If you’d like a better decision and an IPS panel for higher viewing angles, Gigabyte makes a equally sized mannequin that also pushes its refresh charge to a good 144Hz.