OLED 16:9 gaming monitor size gap

[Macro]

I've been using a 38" Alienware 3812 ultrawide for a couple of years, and with a new gaming PC on the horizon, I'm tempted to move back to a 16:9 ratio. With the improvements to OLEDs, that's looking like an attractive option compared to IPS (primarily for gaming, but also for some work and administration, etc.).

There seems to be a size gap for 16:9 monitors, topping out at about 32" before a jump to 42" TVs. I'd ideally like something a little larger, 34" or 36," but they just don't seem to exist. 42" is just too big.

Does anyone know of anything which might fit the bill or be planned for release over the next few months?

 

[DanF]

nope, but went from an lg 38" down to a 32" oled and prefer it now. You have more height but less width, for most tasks it's a more useful working space and higher game compatibility

 

[whitecrook]

I've been using a 38" Alienware 3812 ultrawide for a couple of years, and with a new gaming PC on the horizon, I'm tempted to move back to a 16:9 ratio. With the improvements to OLEDs, that's looking like an attractive option compared to IPS (primarily for gaming, but also for some work and administration, etc.).

There seems to be a size gap for 16:9 monitors, topping out at about 32" before a jump to 42" TVs. I'd ideally like something a little larger, 34" or 36," but they just don't seem to exist. 42" is just too big.

Does anyone know of anything which might fit the bill or be planned for release over the next few months?

unless I'm mistaken a 38" 3812 monitor is 90cm wide. And a 42" 16:9 screen is 91.5 cm wide. Same width, just more height ? You are saying the height is too big for you ? I'd have thought that was the whole point of going 16:9 moving from the ultrawide. Otherwise what are you thinking? What is the point ?

 

[Macro]

I see what you mean. In essence, I wanted to go a little bit narrower but taller for 16:9 ratio. A 16:9 ratio screen of the same width as the 21:9 I have just feels like it would be too big so maybe a 34" 16:9 might do the job, now you mention it. I think a tape measure and some DIY cut-out cardboard templates feature in my future to see which size works best for me

 

[whitecrook]

I see what you mean. In essence, I wanted to go a little bit narrower but taller for 16:9 ratio. A 16:9 ratio screen of the same width as the 21:9 I have just feels like it would be too big so maybe a 34" 16:9 might do the job, now you mention it. I think a tape measure and some DIY cut-out cardboard templates feature in my future to see which size works best for me

consider pixel density when doing this, as a 'bigger screen' can sometimes feel smaller if the pixels are smaller. Then people complain about scaling and things like this. Also if a screen is narrower it can be potentially pushed farther away (into a corner, for example, or indeed, closer to fill the same FoV) , compounding these things. (apparent/perceived display size and pixel size) remember there's only about 5 cm difference in the perceived size of a 27 to 32". i.e. move a 32" 5cm back and it's the same apparent size as a 27" 5cm closer. (or maybe that's the diff between a 24 and a 27, but the point is distance to screen is a major factor, more so than actual screen size)

 

[Glanza]

I went from the Alienware 38" to a LG 42" TV around 2 years ago and not looked back, it's in for repair atm and I'm really starting to miss it even with using a 34" UW as a stop gap.

Took a few days to get used to the 'extra height' but not having to worry about if games support 21:9 was a big switching point for me.

 

[mahius]

I'm also interested. I've gotten used to the pixel density of native scaling 1440p at 27", but my aging eyes are starting to struggle a smidge especially at the distances I am from my screen. 32" for 4k is too small for me and we lose some of the benefits of 4k by scaling it to higher than 100% (fit less content on screen).

There's pretty much nothing monitor-wise above 32" and the closest I've seen is some 138Hz 42" panels. Not ideal and not much better than a 42" TV. Ideally I'd want that higher 144Hz+ refresh rate and support for DisplayPort, especially since I've had issues in the past with HDMI (though now I have a different GPU, but still prefer DP for the better bandwidth and functionality).

It's really an untapped market for these sizes. Looks like I'm sticking with my 27" 1440p screen for a long time yet, since there's not even been a whisper of larger monitors at recent events likes Computex and CES. Only the other direction with a flood of 4k 27" panels... way too small pixel density for old eyes.

 

[Macro]

Thanks all - I guess in effect I want more or less the same screen size as an area, just reconfigured to 4k 16:9 by taking a bit off the sides and putting it on top and bottom. I also need it to stay super sharp for text, which is one of the reasons I've stuck with IPS. I also can't move it further back, it's a fixed distance for me atm. Sounds like there's nothing which quite fits the bill at the moment.

FWIW this is what copilot says if I ask to maintain the same screen area just reconfigured to 16:9 (TLDR = If you reshape the screen into a 16:9 aspect ratio while keeping the same screen area, the new diagonal will be around 35.2 inches instead of 38 inches.)

If you want to convert a 38-inch diagonal 21:9 screen to 16:9 while maintaining the same total screen area

Step 1: Calculate the original screen area​

A screen's area is found using its width and height:

• Using aspect ratio proportions:
  • Width ≈ 35.3 inches
  • Height ≈ 15.1 inches
• Total area:
  [35.3 \times 15.1 = 533.0 \text{ square inches}]

Step 2: Find new dimensions for 16:9 with the same area

Let:

• New width = W
• New height = H
• Aspect ratio constraint: (W = \frac{16}{9} H)
• Area constraint: (W \times H = 533.0)

Solving these equations:

• New height ≈ 17.3 inches
• New width ≈ 30.8 inches

Step 3: Calculate new diagonal size

Using the Pythagorean theorem:

[D = \sqrt{(30.8)^2 + (17.3)^2}]

• New diagonal ≈ 35.2 inches

Final Answer:

• Original 21:9 screen: 35.3” × 15.1” (38” diagonal)
• Converted 16:9 screen: 30.8” × 17.3” (35.2” diagonal)
• Total screen area remains the same: 533.0 square inches

So, if you reshape the screen into a 16:9 aspect ratio while keeping the same screen area, the new diagonal will be around 35.2 inches instead of 38 inches.