Gawfolk 34 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor Review: The Ultrawide Budget Contender We’ve Been Waiting For

For years, my digital world was framed by a standard 27-inch, 16:9 monitor. It was a reliable workhorse, handling everything from late-night gaming sessions to sprawling spreadsheets. Yet, I always felt a nagging sense of confinement. In games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Microsoft Flight Simulator, my peripheral vision was clipped, cutting off the immersive vistas the developers intended. During work hours, my screen was a constant shuffle of overlapping windows, a frustrating game of digital Tetris that hampered my productivity. I knew there was a better way—an ultrawide, curved display that could wrap the digital world around me. The problem? The price tags on premium models were astronomical. This led me on a quest for a monitor that could deliver that expansive, high-refresh-rate experience without emptying my bank account, a search that ultimately led me to the Gawfolk 34 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor.

What to Consider Before Buying a Gaming Monitor

A gaming monitor is more than just a screen; it’s the window into your digital life, a key solution for achieving both competitive advantage in gaming and enhanced productivity in professional tasks. A high-quality monitor can reduce eye strain, provide smoother motion for a more responsive feel, and display colors with the accuracy creators intended. The primary benefits are tangible: greater immersion in entertainment, a wider field of view in games, and the screen real estate to manage complex workflows without compromise. Neglecting to choose the right monitor can lead to screen tearing, input lag, eye fatigue, and a generally subpar experience that fails to unlock the true potential of your PC or console.

The ideal customer for a product like the Gawfolk 34 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor is a PC gamer, a content creator, or a multitasking professional who craves more horizontal space. They are likely upgrading from a smaller, standard-aspect-ratio screen and are looking for premium features—like a high refresh rate, ultrawide resolution, and an immersive curve—at an accessible price point. However, this type of monitor might not be suitable for those with very limited desk space or competitive esports players who prioritise raw speed above all else and might prefer a smaller, flat 24-inch 360Hz panel. For users who need a screen on the go, a portable monitor would be a more practical alternative.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: An ultrawide monitor like this 34-inch model has a significant footprint. You must measure your desk to ensure you have enough width to accommodate it comfortably. Also, consider the depth, as the stand and the curve of the screen will require more space than a flat panel of the same diagonal size.
• Performance: For gaming monitors, key performance metrics are refresh rate (Hz), response time (ms), and resolution. A higher refresh rate (165Hz here) means smoother motion, while a low response time (1ms) reduces ghosting. The WQHD (3440×1440) resolution offers a sharp, detailed image that’s a significant step up from 1080p, but ensure your graphics card is powerful enough to drive games at this resolution.
• Materials & Durability: Most monitors in this price range are constructed primarily from plastic. Look for a sturdy, well-designed stand with ergonomic adjustments like height, tilt, and swivel. The quality of the plastic and the fit and finish can indicate the overall durability and longevity of the product.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Consider the connectivity options (HDMI, DisplayPort) to ensure they match your devices. An intuitive On-Screen Display (OSD) menu is also vital for adjusting settings like brightness, contrast, and colour. For maintenance, a matte screen finish, like the one on this Gawfolk monitor, is excellent at reducing glare and is easier to clean than a glossy one.

Keeping these factors in mind, the Gawfolk 34 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor stands out in several areas, particularly its combination of size, resolution, and refresh rate. You can explore its detailed specifications here to see how it aligns with your needs.

While the Gawfolk 34 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing an Ambitious Budget Ultrawide

Pulling the Gawfolk 34 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor from its packaging, the first thing that struck us was its sheer scale. Moving from 27 inches to a 34-inch ultrawide is a dramatic leap, and the 1500R curve immediately signals its gaming and immersion-focused intent. The assembly was straightforward; the stand connects to the back of the panel with a few screws, and the base attaches to the stand’s arm. The entire process took less than ten minutes. The monitor itself is constructed of black matte plastic, which feels solid enough for its price point and does a good job of resisting fingerprints. While it doesn’t have the premium metal accents of a high-end Dell or LG, the build quality feels competent, a sentiment echoed by users who found the “fit and finish is on point” for a budget brand. The included stand is a pleasant surprise, offering a generous range of height and tilt adjustment, a feature often omitted in this category. Powering it on for the first time, the vast 21:9 WQHD desktop was a sight to behold, offering a tantalizing preview of the immersive experience to come.

Performance Deep Dive: Putting the Gawfolk Ultrawide to the Test

A spec sheet can only tell you so much. To truly understand the Gawfolk 34 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor, we had to put it through its paces in a variety of real-world scenarios, from fast-paced competitive shooters to detail-rich creative workloads. We tested its claims of high refresh rates, vibrant colours, and ergonomic design to see if this budget-friendly powerhouse could truly compete with more established names.

Immersive Gaming Performance: Beyond the Numbers

The headline features here are the 165Hz refresh rate and the 1500R curvature, and we’re happy to report they deliver an outstanding gaming experience. Firing up DOOM Eternal, the fluidity was immediately apparent. Pushing our PC to hit frame rates approaching 165fps, motion was buttery-smooth, making it easier to track fast-moving demons and react in an instant. This was achieved via the included DisplayPort 1.4 cable, which is essential to unlock the full 165Hz; using HDMI 2.0 will cap the refresh rate at 100Hz at this resolution. We enabled FreeSync, and it worked flawlessly with our NVIDIA GPU (as G-Sync Compatible), completely eliminating the screen tearing that can plague high-frame-rate gaming. The 1ms response time claim, likely an MPRT figure, held up well in practice. We observed minimal ghosting or motion blur, confirming one user’s finding who was “extremely worried about motion blur and ghosting but so far I cannot see either!” The 1500R curve wraps the action around your field of view, pulling you deeper into the game world. In racing sims like Forza Horizon 5, the effect is transformative, giving you a better sense of speed and awareness of your surroundings. For gamers looking for a cinematic and responsive experience, this monitor punches well above its weight class.

The Ultrawide Advantage: Productivity and Multitasking Unleashed

While “Gaming Monitor” is in the name, the Gawfolk 34 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor is an absolute powerhouse for productivity. The 3440×1440 WQHD resolution provides a massive digital canvas. For my video editing workflow in Adobe Premiere Pro, the 21:9 aspect ratio was a revelation. I could have a full-length timeline stretched across the bottom of the screen with plenty of room for the preview window, effects controls, and media bins without feeling cramped. Similarly, for office work, it’s like having two smaller monitors side-by-side, but without the distracting bezel in the middle. We could comfortably have a Word document open on one side and a web browser for research on the other, with a messaging app snapped to a corner. This sentiment was shared by one user who praised its “compatible screen size for working from home.” The matte screen finish is also a huge plus for office environments, as it effectively diffuses reflections from overhead lights or windows, reducing glare and associated eye strain during long work sessions. The built-in Eye Saver Mode, which reduces blue light emissions, is another welcome feature for those who spend hours in front of the screen.

Colour, Contrast, and Visual Fidelity

The Gawfolk 34 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor uses a Vertical Alignment (VA) panel, a technology known for its excellent contrast ratios. Gawfolk claims a 4000:1 static contrast, and our experience supports this. Blacks were deep and inky, especially in dark scenes in movies or games, providing a richness and depth that IPS panels in this price range often struggle to match. Colour reproduction was also strong, with the monitor covering a claimed 99% of the sRGB gamut. Out of the box, colours appeared vibrant and saturated without being unnatural, a point several users confirmed, noting the “gorgeous colors” and “vives couleurs” (vivid colours). The monitor also features HDR support, but it’s important to set expectations. This is not a true HDR1000 display; rather, it can process an HDR signal and enhance the dynamic range, making brights a bit brighter and darks a bit darker. While it adds a little extra pop to compatible games and content, it won’t rival the experience on a premium HDR display. For general use, however, the image quality is sharp, clear, and thoroughly enjoyable. The impressive visual performance is a key reason this monitor is such a compelling option; if you want to see just how good it can look on your desk, you can find out more about its display technology here.

Build Quality and Ergonomics: Where Compromises Emerge

To deliver such impressive specs at this price, some compromises are inevitable, and they are most apparent in the build and ancillary features. As noted, the chassis is entirely plastic, and while it feels adequate, it lacks a premium feel. More importantly, several user reviews point towards potential quality control issues. We saw reports of monitors arriving with cracks, back panels not fully snapped into place, or developing pixel faults after a few weeks. Our review unit was flawless, but this is a recurring theme in user feedback that potential buyers should be aware of. Another common point of feedback, and a detail we can confirm, is the complete lack of built-in speakers. This is a standard cost-saving measure on gaming monitors, but it means you must budget for a headset or a set of desktop speakers. On the positive side, the stand is surprisingly good, offering a smooth and wide range of height adjustment (from 2.8 to 7.4 inches) and a decent amount of tilt. This ergonomic flexibility is a major win for user comfort. However, one user did report that the screw holes for the stand were not perfectly aligned, requiring them to use only three of the four screws. While our unit assembled perfectly, it points to the same theme of manufacturing tolerances that can vary from one unit to the next.

What Other Users Are Saying

Our findings align closely with the general consensus from other buyers. The positive feedback overwhelmingly praises the monitor for its incredible value. One user summed it up perfectly, stating it was an “absolute bargain!!” with “great quality” for a budget brand. Another celebrated the “amazing screen resolution, smooth and cinematic great for gaming and study.” The upgrade from a smaller monitor is a frequent theme, with one parent noting their son “absolutley loves the upgrade to his gaming monitor” and that the “graphics and just overall view of the games is amazing!!”

On the other hand, the negative feedback almost exclusively centres on two areas: quality control and the lack of speakers. The absence of speakers was a common complaint, with one user noting you “need to get a stereo speaker other than that it’s great value for money.” More concerning are the reports of defects. Several buyers reported receiving units with cracked screens, sometimes with damaged packaging suggesting issues in transit. Others mentioned technical faults appearing over time, such as “green things on the screen” or flickering that prompted a return. This suggests that while you can get a fantastic panel for the price, there is a small but tangible risk of receiving a unit with flaws.

How Does the Gawfolk 34 Inch Compare to the Alternatives?

The Gawfolk 34 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor exists in a competitive market. While it carves out a strong niche with its ultrawide format, other options cater to different needs and budgets. Here’s how it stacks up against three popular alternatives.

1. KOORUI 24N5CA 24 Inch 100Hz Curved Gaming Monitor

The KOORUI 24N5CA is aimed at a different segment of the market entirely. It’s a much smaller, 24-inch monitor with a lower Full HD (1080p) resolution and a 100Hz refresh rate. This monitor is the ideal choice for a gamer on a very tight budget or someone with extremely limited desk space who still wants the immersive feel of a curved screen. It’s a great entry-level option, but it cannot compete with the Gawfolk’s sheer size, resolution, and fluidity. If you prioritise screen real estate for productivity or want the sharpest image and smoothest performance for high-end gaming, the Gawfolk is a massive step up.

2. KOORUI 32 inch Curved Gaming Monitor 1440p 170Hz

This KOORUI 32-inch model is a much more direct competitor to the Gawfolk. It offers a very similar proposition: a large, curved, high-refresh-rate QHD panel. The key difference is the aspect ratio. This is a traditional 16:9 monitor, while the Gawfolk is a 21:9 ultrawide. The choice between them comes down to personal preference. The KOORUI provides more vertical screen space, which some users prefer for web browsing or coding. The Gawfolk, however, offers a wider, more cinematic field of view that is arguably more immersive for gaming and movies, and better for viewing multiple documents side-by-side. With a slightly higher 170Hz refresh rate, the KOORUI may have a fractional edge in motion clarity, but for most users, the deciding factor will be 16:9 versus 21:9.

3. EVICIV 15.6″ 1080P Portable Monitor

The EVICIV Portable Monitor is in a completely different category and serves a unique purpose. This isn’t a primary desktop monitor; it’s a secondary screen designed for travel and portability. It’s perfect for laptop users who need an extra display on the go, developers who want a dedicated screen for code output, or console gamers who want to play anywhere. It excels at its intended use but is not a substitute for a desktop monitor like the Gawfolk. If you need a large, immersive screen for a permanent setup at home or in the office, the Gawfolk is the correct choice. If your primary need is a second screen for your laptop while traveling, the EVICIV is the answer.

Final Verdict: An Incredible Value with a Few Caveats

After extensive testing, we can confidently say that the Gawfolk 34 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor offers a phenomenal amount of performance and features for its price. The combination of a massive 34-inch ultrawide panel, a sharp 3440×1440 resolution, and a fluid 165Hz refresh rate creates a truly immersive and responsive experience that transforms both gaming and productivity. The adjustable stand is a welcome ergonomic bonus. For anyone who has dreamed of owning an ultrawide monitor but has been put off by high prices, this model is a game-changer.

However, that value comes with caveats. The lack of built-in speakers is a minor inconvenience that requires an external audio solution. The more significant concern is the reported inconsistency in quality control. While our unit was perfect, the volume of user feedback mentioning defects cannot be ignored. Despite this, we believe the risk is worth the reward. The Gawfolk 34 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor delivers an experience that rivals monitors costing twice as much, making it an enthusiastic recommendation for budget-conscious gamers and multitaskers who want to go ultrawide.

If you’ve decided the Gawfolk 34 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor is the right fit for your setup, you can check its current price and purchase it here.