Curved screens in TVs and monitors appeared in 2012. The parameter that determines the amount of curvature is 1000R, 1500R, 1800R, 4200R, 4600R, or 5000R. Here is what this parameter means:
1000R-5000R is the radius of curvature of the TV or monitor. It is measured in the metric system, in millimeters, the size of the curvature in other units of measurement.
1000R=1.0 meters or 39.37 inches.
1500R=1.5 meters or 59.06 inches.
1800R=1.8 meters or 70.87 inches.
4200R=4.2 meters or 165.35 inches.
4600R=4.6 meters or 181.1 inches.
5000R=5.0 meters or 196.85 inches.
Screen curvature 1000R-5000R
As mentioned earlier, screen curvature refers to the radius of curvature of the screen. The curvature radius of the screen is built into the TV or monitor’s design to suit the device’s specifics.
Curved Monitors: Monitors are made with 1000R, 1500R, and 1800R curvatures. This is quite a lot of curvature; it is impractical to produce monitors with less curvature, and they will be the same as flat monitors.
Curved TVs: When it comes to TVs, the opposite is true; it is not practical to make a TV with a curvature of 1000-1800R, so TVs have a curvature of 4000R or more. Below, I will explain why this is the case. In the picture below, you can see and visualize the different curvature of the screen.
Why were the curved screens invented
Curved screens for televisions and monitors were invented to improve the visual experience and increase immersion in content. Here are the main reasons and benefits of their creation:
- Increased immersion: A curved screen design creates a more immersive experience by engaging the user’s peripheral vision. This is especially noticeable when watching movies or playing video games.
- Reduced distortion: Traditional flat panel displays can create optical distortion around the edges, especially on larger screens. A curved display helps minimize this distortion, providing a more natural and accurate image across the entire surface.
- Reduced reflections: Curved displays are more effective at reducing glare and reflections from ambient lighting and objects because light is not reflected directly back at the viewer.
- More comfortable viewing: Curved displays tend to mimic the natural curvature of the human eye, which can reduce eye fatigue during prolonged viewing.
- Better visibility at larger sizes: On large screens, the curved shape allows you to see the edges of the screen better without having to turn your head.
It’s worth noting, however, that the perception of curved screens can vary greatly depending on individual user preferences and viewing conditions. Some people like their immersive effects, while others prefer traditional flat screens.
Curved screens in monitors
The average viewing distance of a monitor is about one meter or three feet, so most monitors have a flexibility index of 1000R. Some models have 1800R. If you sit directly in front of the monitor, almost any part of the screen will be equidistant from you. Consider your upright position; ideally, the center of the monitor should be directly in front of you. If the monitor is placed sideways, the benefits of a curved monitor are lost.
However, curved monitors have disadvantages, such as their size and cost. Because of the curvature, these monitors tend to be thicker and are a bit more expensive due to the more extensive packaging required for transportation. The price is also affected by the more complex assembly technology.
Curved monitors make up about 15% of the market for monitors up to 34 inches and about 50% for monitors over 40 inches.
If you are considering purchasing a curved monitor, I recommend getting one. I have personally used such a monitor and found it to be enjoyable.
Curved screens in TVs 3800R, 4200R, 5000R
Unlike monitors, TVs are viewed from a greater distance, so a curvature radius of 3800R or greater is typical for TVs, and most manufacturers offer TVs with a curvature of 4000R to 5000R. For example, Samsung offers TVs with a curvature of 4200R, and LG offers TVs with curvatures of 4600R and 5000R.
However, this slight curvature is barely noticeable on the TV screen. In the end, curved TVs don’t improve the viewing experience much. However, they have one major drawback: when mounted on the wall, there will be a significant distance between the edges of the TV and the wall.
As a result, the production of curved TVs peaked in 2014-2016. At that time, the production of 3D TVs stopped, and curved TVs were to replace them. But unfortunately, the practice has shown the futility of curved TVs, so Samsung, for example, stopped producing curved TVs in 2019.
Curved displays for TVs and monitors manufacturing features.
You are mistaken if you think the displays in curved monitors and TVs are curved. Displays are made straight: take your monitor or TV apart and pull out the matrix. If you put it on a table, the display will straighten out and become flat.
When manufacturing such displays, the possibility of bending is taken into account, so rigid elements are placed around the edges of the display, this design allows the display to bend. Also, a particular type of glass that can bend and not crack is used in the production. This is why there are few manufacturers of curved displays, and if you look at large curved monitors, you will see that all manufacturers have 49-inch monitors but no curved 50-inch monitors.
It’s simple: there are only a few manufacturers of such displays; Samsung makes QD-OLED, and the rest are made in two factories in China. The displays are then shipped to OEMs or the brands’ factories that assemble the monitors themselves. But there are few of them: for example, Dell and HP don’t manufacture the monitors but order them from OEMs. Samsung and LG also order some monitor models from third-party manufacturers
