Ultrawide VS Dual Monitors [Which’s the Best & Why]

Ever feel cramped up in your normal monitor screen? We don’t think you would be here had you not thought that. Say that you use a simple wide screen for your PC. Even that will feel congested the moment you open two open applications on them. And you cannot comfortably view any of them. You compromise with resolution and whatnot. So to solve this issue, there are two options, ultrawide monitor or dual monitors. 

The battle of the best has been between both. And a clear winner is yet to emerge. These options have unique features and distinct ways of solving the problem. Whatever the ways, a wider horizontal screen real estate is always beneficial. Especially if you are a gamer or a professional, you will be confused between the two. So this segment of ours on Ultrawide vs. Dual Monitors aims to solve your worries regarding this.

Ultrawide vs. Dual Monitors

Ultrawide are usually larger and have higher resolutions than their dual monitor counterparts making them well-suited for work that requires a lot of onscreen real estate such as editing video or working on detailed designs. On the downside, ultrawide tends to be more expensive than dual monitors and requires additional space due to their larger size.

Dual monitors can provide an immersive experience without sacrificing too much performance. Dual monitors also tend to be more affordable and take up less space than ultrawide, making them an attractive option for those on a budget or with limited desk space.

Further, we have a comparison between the two to make things easier for you.

Ultrawide Monitor

The newer options in wider monitor screens are the ultrawide monitors. These monitor screens have higher aspect ratios when compared to 16:9 of normal screens. And the aspect ratio of an ultrawide screen can vary from 21:9 to 32:9. Say an ultrawide screen has an aspect ratio of 21:9. So this means that it has a 21 units measurement of horizontal pixels with nine units of vertical pixels. 

Advantages of Ultrawide Monitor

These are some advantages of dual monitors: 

• First, the ultrawide monitor’s foremost advantage is that they do not have a bezel gap in between. And this adds to the performance of the monitor. They are one screen running throughout the width with no slight interruption in between.
• With such a wide screen, you will open multiple programs, applications, and tabs on the screen. And even after you do, your screen won’t be congested.
• Another important aspect of an ultrawide screen is the cinematic experience it provides you with. Almost all movies are said to be made with the 21:9 aspect ratio. So if you are a cinephile, ultrawide screens are best for you. Because it also resolves letterboxing (black gaps below and above the screen) while you watch a movie.
• Also, these monitors are single-screen monitors. So you do not have any issues with calibration for two different monitors.
• Apart from all that, ultrawide monitors are aesthetically pleasing to look at. And these add elegance to your desk space.

Disadvantages of Ultrawide Monitor

There are also a few disadvantages to this kind of monitor:

• One of the major disadvantages of ultrawide monitors is their size. Usually, the standard size of the monitor is bigger. And if you have constraints on desk space, this is not a good option for you.
• Most ultrawide screens do not have a pixel density. As the screen is so wide, the pixels are not tightly packed. Hence, the picture quality is not very good.

Dual Monitors

So dual monitors are two normal screen monitors placed side by side in a line. Say you buy two monitors’ normal screens with a standard aspect ratio of 16:9. You can use one side of the monitor to type out something while reading your research material on another. For a very long, even during the time of CRT monitors, dual monitors have been used. While they are placed together, the graphics card attached treats it as one display. 

Advantages of dual monitors

These are some advantages of dual monitors: 

• First, these monitors can open different applications at once. For example, say that you’re writing a paper. For that, you need one whole screen for typing out the document. And with another, you can open various research materials you have gathered for the topic. 
• Another major advantage of dual monitors is that they are a more economical option than ultrawide monitors. Because most of the time, you already have a standard monitor. And you add one more of the same specifications.
• Then, these monitors are two separate screens. So they have their own separate resolutions and pixel densities. This means they have a higher hand on the ultrawide in this case.
• As these are separate screens, you can arrange these as you like. It is possible to place these screens vertically, too, if you want.
• Also, dual monitors aid in the communication of sorts. You can have a virtual meeting if you are a professional working from. And look at the stats and analytics needed for the meeting simultaneously. And when you are a gamer, this is also very suitable for you. Because you can play your game on one and open your Discord chat box on another, and that will not at all hamper your game.

Disadvantages of dual monitors

A few disadvantages of dual monitors are:

• First, you are always bothered by the bezel gap in the middle. The gap could be minimal and thin, but it still hampers the view.
• Another issue you might face is calibration. Because not all the time do, you have monitors of the same brand or size, so when you try to calibrate both of them, you will face issues.

Which one is for you?

Ultrawide monitors and dual monitors both are great at increasing your productivity by margins. And it will be completely a preference if you go for either of them.

Like the ultrawide monitors have this unmatchable cinematic viewing experience. And you can never get that in a dual monitor setup. Whereas the dual monitors have an upper hand over the ultrawide with its impressive separate resolutions.

Whether you want to choose either of them depends on what specifics you are looking out for.

(We always recommend going for more color accurate monitors whether it be ultrawide or dual. Check our article on the Best Monitors for Color Accuracy to know more about them)

FAQs

Q – What size ultrawide monitor should I get?

A – We think a 34 inches ultrawide screen is the sweet spot you should aim for. But then again there are options as big as 50 inches in the category. And if you have a thing for big screens, you can opt for them. Although you might have to consider a desk much larger than your usual one.

Q – Is an ultrawide monitor good for gaming?

A – An ultrawide monitor offers you a standard wide-screen ratio of 21:9. Whereas our normal monitors have a standard ratio of 16:9. With a screen as wide as that, your gaming experience will be nothing less of cinematic as well as immersive. 

Q – Does an ultrawide screen affect fps?

A – As an ultrawide screen is so big, it has a lot of pixels on it. And when your GPU works on them, it takes a bit of time. As a result, it lowers down the fps.

Q – Do ultrawide monitors affect productivity?

A – According to us, ultrawide monitors definitely boost productivity. As these have the standard aspect ratio of 21:9, you can fit in more documents, applications, etc. side by side. And that too without feeling congested. So you can easily multitask and increase your productivity.

Q – Do all games support ultrawide?

A – No, all the games you play on PC do not support ultrawide screens. And that is why look for specifications before you buy a game or vice versa.

Read More: Best Monitors for Color Accuracy

Conclusion

We have finally reached the end of the article. And we hope that we have cleared our doubts regarding either of the monitor setups. Although both have different ways, they show the same increase in screen real estate. So if you have been longing for a larger screen, you must look out for these two.