The jury is still out on the benefits of curved TVs. Whenever I see them on display in a store, it's impossible to view the screen without picking up some reflections because, you know, it's curved!
But monitors are a different beast. We sit much closer to them, and light sources can be more easily controlled. Now Samsung is adding a new feature into the mix: curved monitors using quantum dots.
It's CES next week, and manufacturers need to stand out from the crowd. So Samsung is launching a number of new curved monitors "designed with gamers in mind."
First up is the CH711 Quantum Dot curved monitor, which comes in 27-inch or 31.5-inch sizes and features a 1,800R curvature (that's 1,800mm of curvature radius across the width of the monitor). Both models boast a resolution of 2,560 by 1,440 and support 125 percent sRGB color coverage.
If you're wondering what quantum dots are, they are basically semiconductor nanocrystals that work in a similar way to OLED displays, allowing a display to be brighter, produce better color accuracy and saturation, and function more efficiently. All of which make for a highly desirable display if a manufacturer gets it right.
Two other Quantum Dot curved monitors are also being introduced by Samsung this month: the CFG70 and CF791. Both are already available to buy.
The CFG70 is aimed at gamers, using a 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, AMD FreeSync support, and a 1080p resolution. Both models also include a 'Gaming UX' user interface and "advanced calibration options" to help optimize the image output for the types of games you play. The 24-inch ($349.99) and 27-inch ($449.99) variants are available now.
Then we have the CF791, which is a display that will certainly draw the eye when placed on your desk. It only has a 1,500R Curvature, but that's because this is a 34-inch 21:9 aspect ratio monitor with a resolution of 3,440 by 1,440 and a 4ms response time. Surprisingly, it can be wall mounted. The CF791 is available to buy for $999.99.
All three curved monitors will be on display at CES along with previews of the UH750 28-inch gaming monitor, and the SH850 WQHD monitor in 23.8 and 27-inch variants.