Monitor Showdown: 32 inch 16:9 vs 34 inch Ultrawide

Written byAndrewLast updated on May 6th, 2020Comparison

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TLDR

It depends on how you plan to use it. If you plan to mostly use your monitor for gaming or really need the extra width, then an Ultrawide may be the best choice. But this bonus width comes at a price - Ultrawide displays are in general more expensive and your options on the higher resolution end of the spectrum are limited. For this reason, if you don't plan to use your monitor for gaming, I recommend you stick with a 32 inch 16:9 where you can get a better value with much higher pixel density.

Introduction

Without a doubt, increasing the size of your screen is one of the best investments to increase your productivity. More screen space allows for working with multiple windows side-by-side, like email, documents, software development environments, and Computer-Aided-Design tools. Microsoft's Research Center found that adding a second monitor can boost productivity by 9% to 50%, depending on the type of task.

If you're trying to maximize your screen space while keeping your desk setup minimal by going with a large single monitor, two likely choices you may consider are a 32 inch 16:9 monitor and a 34 inch Ultrawide (21:9) monitor. This article compares the two sizes to help you make the best choice for your budget and intended use.

Here are a few things to evaluate when choosing your monitor:

  • What is your budget? Your target price point may make one option more appealing that the other.
  • What will you be primarily using the monitor for? Whether you plan to be gaming or doing detailed text/design work will impact which monitor is best for you.

Let's dive in, starting with a graphic (courtesy of displaywars.com) to compare the two sizes:

Monitor size comparison from displaywars.com

Here's how the physical dimensions of the two screens compare:

  • 32 inch 16:9
    • Area: 438 inches² (4.5% larger)
    • 2 inches taller
  • 34 inch 21:9
    • Area: 419 inches²
    • 3 inches wider

In terms of size, the two options are fairly similar, with the Ultrawide providing a bit more width and the 16:9 providing a bit more height. In terms of screen area, the 16:9 actually comes out slightly ahead, with a 4.5% larger screen area.

Price

To get an idea of how these options compare price-wise, I grabbed a few of the top selling options in each category from Amazon:

32 inch 16:9

34 inch 21:9

Looking at these options, it is clear that the 32 inch 16:9 option gives higher pixel density (PPI) at a lower price overall. It's also important to note that I was unable to find any 34 inch Ultrawide monitors at the 4k resolution.

With the price differences in mind, lets consider the pros and cons of each option:

32 inch 16:9

Pros:

  • More vertical height. This is beneficial for reducing scrolling when working on long documents or programming and provides a roomier feel in design programs like CAD (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, etc) or Photoshop.
  • Much better value. In general, 16:9 provides more pixel density at a lower price than 21:9.
  • More options at higher resolutions. If you are looking for a 4k resolution for detailed design work, 16:9 is really the only option.

Cons:

  • Less horizontal space. This makes three side-by-side windows cramped.

34 inch 21:9

Pros:

  • More horizontal width. This allows for three or more side-by-side windows. Extra width also is better for gaming as it provides a wider field-of-view (FOV).

Cons:

  • Worse value. More expensive to attain the same pixel density as 16:9
  • No options at 4k resolution.

Gaming

The majority of modern video games use what's known as "Hor+" to adjust the horizontal FOV to accommodate the width of your monitor. This means that with a 21:9 Ultrawide monitor, you are able to see a much wider FOV which provides a more immersive gaming experience while the vertical FOV is the same.

In addition, the generally lower resolution options in the 21:9 category could actually be preferable to reduce the load on your graphics card and keep your performance and FPS high.

Conclusion

The best monitor for you really comes down to how you plan to use it. If you plan to mostly use your monitor for gaming or deeply need the extra width, then an Ultrawide may be the best choice. But this bonus width comes at a price - Ultrawide displays are in general more expensive and your options on the higher resolution end of the spectrum are limited. For this reason, if you don't plan to use your monitor for gaming, I recommend you stick with a 32 inch 16:9 where you can get much higher pixel density for your money. If you're set on getting an Ultrawide monitor but unsure if 1080p resolution is sufficient, consider my other article: Is 1080p resolution enough for a 34inch Ultrawide monitor?