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Best 49-Inch Super Ultrawide Monitors (Review) in 2020
Last updated at May 22nd, 2020
If you are reading this, you have probably heard about or seen pictures of super ultrawide monitors that actually look kind of crazy at first.
You are trying to understand whether this is one of those futuristic technologies that will only be used by tech savvy people or if It will be a widely adopted technology that changes how we work and use our computers.
In this article we will be discussing everything about Super Ultrawide monitors and review some of the best super ultrawide monitors for you to make a decision.
But before we start, if you want to cut to the chase, here some of the recently released 49 inch super ultrawide monitors that we will review in the article.
- Philips Brilliance 49-Inch Monitor with built-in Pop-Up Webcam
- Samsung 49" 144Hz Gaming Monitor with 1ms response time
- Dell Ultra Sharp 49" Monitorwith Picture-by-Picture software
- LG Curved Super Ultrawide Monitor with HDR10 and USB Type-C
- AOC AGON 49" Gaming Monitor with 4yr Zero Dead Pixel Guarantee
Dimensions of Super Ultrawide
First question that comes up about super ultrawide monitors is the size. It is understandable that making sense of these weirdly shaped devices is a bit difficult.
However there is a simple way to visualize the size of ultrawide monitors that will help you understand how the product can be used.
27 inch monitors are the most common size of external computer monitors on the market, you have probably seen or used one. Super Ultrawide wide monitor is basically two 27 inch monitors side by side.
Though, when it comes to using a 49 inch, It is completely a different experience compared to dual 27-inch monitor setup.
Dual Monitor vs Super Ultrawide Monitor
The first difference is the frame. It might feel like a subtle difference but having no frame in between two monitors is one of the main differences that alters the whole experience.
Usually in dual monitor setups, one of the monitors ends up being the primary monitor that you use for the main applications.
Whether It’s your work email, web browsing or gaming that monitor is where you spend most of your time looking at.
That is mainly because you can’t be at the same distance from two monitors. If you sit in a position that you are in the middle, frames of both monitors will be directly in front of your vision, you will be tilting your head slightly to left or right at all times.
Curved Monitor Technology
Monitor curvature is also something that most people might not be familiar with as well.
It’s not entirely a brand new technology as we already have some concept foldable mobile phone released on the market.
However this is actually the first time we see adoption of this curved monitor technology.
There is a reason behind this adoption. 49 inch monitors are wide, they are super ultrawide, meaning that there is a great distance between two sides of the monitors.
Unlike watching a TV, you sit a lot closer to the monitor when you are on you computer, this creates a distortion on your vision as the sides of the monitor are a lot further away from your eye compared to the middle of the screen.
Curved monitors solve this problem by putting the viewer at the center of the sphere so that there is minimal distortion.
Aspect Ratio of 49-Inch Ultrawide Monitors
Aspect ratio is the ratio of the width to the height of a shape, in this case it's the width and height of the monitor’s screen. This term doesn't imply the quality of the image, it just communicates the shape of the monitor.
In case of 27 inch monitors, aspect ratio is 16:9 meaning that it’s width of 16 units and height of 9. This is called widescreen aspect ratio. 16:9 is currently the most widely used aspect ratio not only for computer monitors but also for movies and photography.
Moving on is the 21:9 aspect ratio which is also known as Ultrawide aspect ratio. 34 inch Ultrawide monitors have the aspect ratio of 21:9. That is almost %30 wider than the 27 inch monitor.
And this brings us to the 49-inch Super Ultrawide monitors with an aspect ratio of 32:9. As you will notice It’s simply twice as wide as the 27 inch monitors with the aspect ratio of 16:9, but the height is still the same.
There are many other aspect ratios used in many different sized computer monitors, mobile devices or TV. However, these are the main ratios for today’s standards.
49-Inch Resolutions Simplified: Full HD, QHD, 4K and 8K
Resolution is directly correlated with the aspect ratio, while aspect ratio describes the shape of the monitor, resolution describes the image quality of the monitor by telling us the number of pixels located in that area.
The more pixels you have in a smaller area, pixels become smaller and less noticeable by the human eye, which increases the overall quality of the monitor.
Every Super Ultrawide Monitor has the same aspect ratio by definition, which is 32:9. However each ultrawide monitor might have different resolution hence different image qualities, so you should pay attention to these numbers.
That being said, lower resolution isn't always a sign of a lower quality product. For example gamers might prioritize response time and refresh rate over resolution, as higher resolution doesn’t always result in competitive advantage, while seeing things before other players is a big win.
Before we talk about 49-Inch monitor resolutions, let’s quickly get the terminology out of the way, so that we know what we are talking about. These are the main 27-Inch monitor resolutions:
- Full HD 1920 x 1080p (16:9)
- QHD 2560 x 1440p (16:9)
- 4K Ultra HD3840 x 2160p (16:9)
If you have noticed, these are all in 16:9 aspect ratio, meaning that these do not apply to Super Ultrawide monitors. However, these are still used to explain the resolutions of 49-inch monitors, and here is how.
There are currently two main resolutions for super ultrawide monitors on the marke, and these are:
- 3840 x 1080p (32:9)
- 5120 x 1440p (32:9)
Simply put, 3840 x 1080 Super Ultrawide Monitor is two Full HD (1920x1080p) 27 inch monitors side by side. And 5120 x 1440p 49-Inch monitor is two QHD (2560x1440p) monitors side by side.
Given these numbers, even though they are much higher for ultrawide monitors, we don’t get higher quality images, It is simply because the surface of the monitor is bigger.
To wrap things up, there are currently two main 49-inch super ultrawide resolutions on the market, these are Full HD and QHD. There are currently no 4K or 8k Ultra HD ultrawide monitors on the market.
Split Screen Ultrawide & Window Management
Unlike laptop monitors, productivity boost of using 49-Inch monitor comes from being able to multi-task and use multiple applications at the same time.
And to achieve that you will need a way to manage windows properly, otherwise It defeats the purpose of having a lot of screen space.
Fortunately, monitor manufacturers have couple different solutions for this problem, let's look into two of these solutions that usually come with the monitor.
First one is the window management. Many 49-Inch monitors now include a software that will help you manage windows by docking windows to parts of the screen.
For example you can have your screen divided into three sections, one big section in the center, and two smaller sections on the sides for your secondary applications such as slack or discord.
Dell calls it Display Manager which helps you tile your applications. Make sure to watch the quick introductory video below to see how it works in action.
In addition to window managers, some ultrawide monitors come with split screen functionality, or also known as picture by picture or KVM switch.
Some of the best ultrawides come with the built-in KVM switch (stands for Keyboard, Video and Mouse) which let's you change the computer you control while still using the same keyboard and mouse.
Built-In Webcams, Speakers, Bluetooth and More
Unlike smaller monitors, 49-Inch monitors usually pack many additional features and capabilities. This trend is also accelerated by the fact that the new USB Type-C cable can provide other types of transmit in addition to the display data.
For example, one of our favorite super ultrawide monitors, Philips Brilliance 49-Inch Monitor, includes a pop-up webcam which can be folded for privacy reasons. Webcam is a must-have for many people that uses conferencing apps such as Zoom for either work or school.
It's not just webcams however, most 49-Inch monitors also include dual stereo speakers that offers great quality. If sound isn't essential to what you are doing, such as making music, these speakers will be more than enough for what you need.
USB hubs and docks are essential part of many laptop setup, as you usually need many ports to connect peripherals such as storage units etc, and plugging & unplugging them from the laptop every time is pointless.
With the added benefit of the new USB Type-C capabilities, the monitors we have listed for this review also offer built-in USB Type-C docks. What that means is that, you don't need to buy an additional peripheral to connect your USB devices.
Make sure to look for additional features when comparing 49-Inch monitors on the market, in addition to display panel's technical specs, as many manufacturers try to add value by adding new features to these super ultrawide monitors to make them the center of your setup.
The Best 49-Inch Ultrawide Monitors
Based on everything we have talked about so far, such as aspect ratio, resolution, connectivity and other factors, we have curated a list of top super ultrawide monitors on the market.
1. Philips Brilliance 49-Inch Monitor
This newly released Philips Brilliance 49-Inch SuperWide Curved Monitor includes most of the features a monitor can include.
It comes with dual stereo speakers and built-in pop-up webcam that can be hidden when not used for more privacy.
With included USB Type-C docking, you can add multiple usb ports to your computer with just a single cable while charging it.
more info
Watch Official Release
Our Highlights
2. Samsung 49" 144Hz Gaming Monitor
Samsung 49-Inch QLED Gaming Monitor combines three incredible features into a single monitor; Ultrawide panel, 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time
Additionally, Samsung QLED Gaming Monitor supports FreeSync 2 with HDR and compatible with VESA mounts for ergonomic setups.
more infoOur Highlights
3. Dell Ultra Sharp 49" Business Monitor
Dell Ultra Sharp 49-Inch LED monitor is designed for multi-tasking and business productivity with built-in Picture-by-Picture software, multiple computers can be connected
With USB Type-C connectivity, single cable is required to both charge and connect the laptop to the monitor.
more infoOur Highlights
4. LG Super Ultrawide Monitor for Multi-Tasking
LG 49-Inch Curved Ultrawide Monitor is one of the first 49 inch monitors on the market with HDR10 support and built-in dual 10W stereo speakers.
It is ideal for business and productivity use cases especially with USB Type-C connectivity which connects and charges your laptop with a single cable.
more infoOur Highlights
5. AOC AGON 49" Gaming Monitor
AOC Super Ultrawide Gaming Monitor include many features that gamers want and need such as super low response time of 1ms and 120Hz refresh rate.
In addition to these features, AOC AGON comes with USB-C charging, KVM switch for multi-tasking and 1-year accidental damage warranty.
more info
