I recommend that anyone who can afford to buy an OLED monitor. They are fantastic in every way and as more people buy them they will become cheaper. But I have to be realistic; they are now just too expensive to fit into any budget. Thankfully, VA technology delivers some of those extra colors and contrast for a lot less money. Not only does it cost less than OLED, but it is also significantly cheaper than mini-LED.
The Xiaomi G34WQi is one of the best budget monitors I’ve tested. It’s not perfect; this isn’t a monitor. The overdrive could be better; I found it annoying to constantly change the brightness level when switching between SDR and HDR modes. But none of these things detracted from the excellent colors and contrast I enjoyed. As a VA panel, it has about three times the dynamic range of an IPS monitor. It has one of the widest color gamuts in its class, with nearly 92% measured DCI-P3 coverage. HDR could benefit from dynamic contrast, which isn’t there. But seriously, it costs less than $300, so I can’t cry too loudly.
If you want to put an ultrawide monitor on your desk but can’t afford an OLED or mini-LED monitor, the Xiaomi G34WQi is a great choice. With a beautiful picture, accurate colors, and solid build quality, it’s one of the best displays you can buy for under $300.
MORE: Best Gaming Monitors
MORE: How we test PC monitors
MORE: How to buy a PC monitor
MORE: How to choose the best HDR monitor