Ultrawide vs dual monitor, which one is the best?
Understand the advantages and disadvantages of both solutions.
Do you want to make the most of the space on your desktop?
An ultrawide display or a dual-monitor arrangement are your choices.
Either option will vastly increase the available screen area at your command.
Ultrawide and dual-monitor setups, on the other hand, are not the same.
Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
This is what Prince said…
An ultrawide monitor is my personal preference. My favorite genres are simulation, strategy…
…and MMO games, therefore an ultrawide’s immersion is ideal. I also don’t have enough work space…
…for a pair of 27-inch monitors, so a 34-inch ultrawide is the best option.
Ultrawide formats refers to photos, videos and displays with aspect ratio greater than 2. There were multiple moves in history towards wider formats, including one by Disney, with some of them being more successful than others.
Ultrawide according to Wikipedia
Here’s how to figure out whether you need a dual monitor or an ultrawide display…
Gaming Monitor on Work Rift
UPERFECT 15.6 Inch 4K Portable Monitor
If you are looking for a 4k portable monitor, there is no better choice than UPERFECT display.
It features a 15.6-inch IPS panel with a 100% sRGB color spectrum.
This adds to the glamour of 4k and produces images that produce vivid colors of unmatched quality.
A 400-nit brightness and a 1000:1 contrast ratio allow the monitor to produce HDR quality images.
Whether you’re editing, playing games, or watching movies…
…the superb visuals offered by this display enhance every activity.
Using the USB type C and mini HDMI cable…
…the screen can easily be connected to PCs, laptops, and consoles.
It also includes stereo speakers for high-quality sound.
Finally, to protect the screen from bumps and other impacts when traveling…
…it is enclosed in a sturdy CNC manufactured case.
UPERFECT’s 4k resolution, lightweight design…
…and ideal 15.6-inch size make it a worthy choice for a 4k portable monitor.
EVICIV 15.6 Inch Portable Monitor
Eviciv is a brand made popular by Raspberry Pi enthusiasts.
If you’re looking for a portable monitor with superior image and video quality…
…for on-the-go computing, editing or gaming, then this model is right for you.
With its IPS panel technology and ultra-low blue light filter…
…the 15.6-inch EVICIV 4K portable monitor is flicker-free and offers 178-degree wide viewing angles.
Because it is plug-and-play, it is compatible with many gadgets and requires virtually no cables or drivers.
EVICIV portable monitor looks and feels solid, but it is light enough (under 2 pounds)…
…and small enough (only 14.00 x 8.80 x 0.20 inches) to be carried anywhere.
Due to the fact that it can be charged by a power bank…
…like most portable USB monitors, you can use it as a larger display…
…for your phone or as a go-to presentation screen for field meetings.
This unit has the advantage of being able to be used in both portrait and landscape modes.
Even though the LED arm isn’t included in the kit, having the option already makes a big difference.
The only issue some people may have with the EVICIV portable monitor is the 60 hertz refresh rate…
…which is not really bad per se, but if you play heavy games, you might see a little lag.
For editing, watching, or basic computing, this refresh rate will be sufficient for you.
UPERFECT Portable 15.6 USB-C/HDMI 1080p IPS Monitor
UPerfect portable is the next one…
In our opinion, the screen quality is what really makes this monitor stand out.
There have been some models that offered boring color profiles and not nearly enough brightness to compete.
Although other options offer a decent level of brightness, they lack in the realm of color accuracy.
This one doesn’t seem to fall short in either category.
We decided to put this one to the test by connecting it via USB-C…
…to one of the Dell laptops we have lying around that feature 4K HDR…
…and some of the best IPS screens Dell has ever produced.
In terms of displays, they have done a really good job competing…
…with Apple (just take a look at their 8K solution for example).
This makes for a challenging side-by-side experien…,
…but it also forces the challenging screen to put up or shut down.
It puffed its chest out and was nearly the same size as the Dell screen.
In our opinion, this is one of the best 1080p (portable) screens we’ve seen so far…
…as no other 1080p (portable) solution has been able to compete with one of these Dells side-by-side.
It turned out to be because it was actually running at 4K, matching the laptop’s desktop.
Even though the screen isn’t spec’d as a 4K solution, this can happen occasionally.
It usually isn’t able to meet the requirements to be 4K certified because it lacks the specs.
Then, we confirmed this by switching to HDMI and found that 1080p was the only option.
Hence, it has something to do with the hardware inside the monitor that was used in its construction.
The electronics surrounding HDMI 2.0 and 4K may be more expensive…
..to assemble/include compared to USB-C 4K capabilities, probably due to licensing fees.
Color profile/accuracy and brightness are some of the things we love about the Dell screen.
Thanks to its 100% DCI-P3, 99% Adobe RGB color space, and QLED Screen…
…this portable screen matches this quite well.
The brightness of this monitor is on par with the other screen, as you can see in the image above.
Colors are accurate and quite appealing…
…which is ideal if you spend a lot of time editing photos (e.g., Photoshop)…
…or videos (e.g., Premiere or Final Cut), where color accuracy is very important.
Ultrawide vs Dual Monitor: What Is a Dual Monitor Setup?
A dual monitor configuration, as the name suggests, involves using two screens side by side…
…to increase screen real estate rather than just one. Dual monitor setups used to be made up of two monitors…
…each with a typical 16:9 aspect ratio and resolutions ranging from 1080p to 4K.
Each monitor’s resolution can be the same or mixed with this type of dual monitor arrangement…
…such as two 4k displays, one 1080p monitor, and one 1440p monitor…
…basically any combination you can think of.
Ultrawide vs Dual Monitor: What Are Ultrawide Monitors?
Simply told, ultrawide monitors have a 21:9 aspect ratio rather than the conventional 16:9 aspect ratio…
…found in most monitors. A 21:9 aspect ratio is similar to the ratio of typical movie theater displays…
…if you’re not familiar with it.
If you’ve ever seen an ultrawide display, you know how easy they are to identify from standard monitors.
Their widescreens (as the name says) are the most visible evidence…
…and the outcome is more horizontal screen area. The ViewSonic VP3881, a massive 38-inch ultrawide monitor…
…with a curved screen, will be used in our comparison of ultrawide vs. twin displays.
A quick look at this monitor’s specs can be found below:
- WQHD+ resolution (3840 x 1600)
- IPS panel
- Frameless bezel Delta E < 2 Color Accuracy
- Hardware color calibration
- HDR compatibility
- sRGB 99%
So, now that we’ve discovered a decent ultrawide display for editing…
…how does the new arrangement compare to the classic two monitor setup, and which setup is the best overall?
How Wide is It?
Everyone who is considering purchasing an ultrawide monitor or twin monitors needs additional display area.
But, in each case, how much do you gain?
The most common size, a 34-inch ultrawide display, is not as huge as you may imagine.
This ultrawide display is about 8 inches wider and nearly comparable in height to a 27-inch widescreen panel.
Buying a second 27-inch monitor will, of course, give you a monitor that is exactly the same size as the first.
A second 27-inch monitor increases the breadth of your arrangement by 23.5 inches.
A 34-inch ultrawide monitor is nearly 15.5 inches wider.
A dual display, in addition to having a larger screen area than a single ultrawide panel…
…is more adaptable in terms of screen angles and orientation.
Multitasking
Because you may vary the design of your arrangement to meet your needs…
…a dual-monitor setup has advantages for multitasking.
However, this isn’t the only way two monitors outperform ultrawide in terms of productivity.
On dual monitors, Windows Snap, a function built into Windows that allows you to easily resize…
…and move windows for better multitasking, works best. When you use Snap on an ultrawide…
…you get wide, brief windows that are difficult to utilize.
A dual-monitor configuration also gives you extra window placement options.
Even when you’re not utilizing Windows Snap, the aspect ratio of an ultrawide monitor is a problem.
Most programs are developed with a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio in mind…
…and have a user interface that reflects it. When an app is resized to a 21:9 aspect ratio…
…it frequently leaves vast, empty sections or pushes parts of the interface to one side.
Owners of ultrawide monitors must manually resize windows to a 16:9 aspect ratio.
It’s like playing Tetris with pieces that don’t fit together.
You’ll have a hard time finding a window layout that doesn’t waste space.
Sum Up
The conclusion is unmistakable. Dual monitors win out over ultrawide in most cases.
Going dual gives you a more versatile layout that’s better for multitasking and packs more pixels…
…than any ultrawide on the market if you buy high-end 4K monitors.
This isn’t to say that having two monitors is beneficial for everyone.
Of course, your decision should be based on your requirements.
Ultrawide is my preferred format because it best suits my specific requirements.
Even yet, it’s evident that dual monitors win in the vast majority of cases.
If you’re on the fence about buying a second monitor, don’t be.
Conclusion
And, that’s all for Ultrawide vs Dual Monitor…
Which set up do you prefer for your gaming time?
Let us know your opinion on the comment section!
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I’m Roselyn T., a self-proclaimed tech geek on a mission to unravel the wonders of the digital realm. As a dedicated reviewer of computers and laptops, I share my insights and expertise on the latest tech trends and innovations on my blog, workrift.com. With a passion for demystifying the tech landscape, I not only offer in-depth reviews but also provide practical tips to navigate the ever-evolving world of technology. I’m also an author of the book “AP Computer Science A Premium, 2024: 6 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Online Practice (Barron’s AP)” which is sold on Amazon. Join me as we explore the exciting intersection of form and function in the realm of gadgets and gear.