When OLED panels first arrived, bendability was certainly one of their promised options. Theoretically, one might have a TV or monitor that would bend or roll up. LG demoed a rollable tv at CES in 2020 that rises from a cupboard. It’s accessible in the present day in a 65-inch dimension for an eye-watering $100,000. And, after all, we now have foldable telephones accessible on the market.
Nonetheless, Corsair is the primary firm to introduce a bendable pc monitor. It eliminates the problem of selecting between a flat or curved panel. With the Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240, you possibly can have each. At 45 inches extensive, 21:9 facet ratio, it’s the most important ultra-wide I’ve seen but among the many finest gaming screens. The bend goes to 800R, which is a really small radius. It additionally has severe gaming cred with 240 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR and extensive gamut shade. Let’s have a look.
Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 Specs
Panel Sort / Backlight | OLED |
Display Dimension / Side Ratio | 45 inches / 21:9 |
Curve radius: flat to 800R | |
Max Decision & Refresh Charge | 3440×1440 @ 240 Hz |
G-Sync & FreeSync Licensed | |
48-240 Hz | |
Native Colour Depth & Gamut | 10-bit / DCI-P3 |
HDR10 | |
Response Time (GTG) | 0.3ms |
Brightness (mfr) | 450 nits SDR |
1,000 nits HDR | |
Distinction (mfr) | 1,500,000:1 |
Audio system | None |
Video Inputs | 1x DisplayPort 1.4 |
2x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB-C | |
Audio | 3.5mm headphone output |
USB 3.1 | 1x up (sort C), 4x down |
Energy Consumption | 61.5w, brightness @ most |
Panel Dimensions (flat) | 41.7 x 22.5 x 12.4 inches |
WxHxD w/base | (1059 x 572 x 315mm) |
Panel Thickness | 0.2 inches (6mm) |
Bezel Width | 0.4 inch (10mm) |
Weight | 13.9 kilos (6.3kg) |
Guarantee | 3 years zero useless pixel |
3 years zero burn-in |
On the earth of distinctive pc screens, the Xeneon Flex is a standout. As an OLED, it joins a small and elite group of shows with implausible distinction and wealthy shade. The Flex has the identical infinite dynamic vary as different OLEDs I’ve reviewed and covers just below 100% of the DCI-P3 shade gamut. With a number of tweaks, it delivers reference-level accuracy and likewise presents a usable sRGB mode.
Although OLEDs aren’t recognized for top brightness, the Flex can hit 1,000 nits in HDR mode when displaying small highlights. SDR brightness is decrease, as is suitable. In my exams, a 25% window measured round 437 nits, which is respectable.
Gaming cred comes courtesy of a 240 Hz refresh fee with Adaptive Sync. The Flex is licensed by Nvidia and AMD for each G-Sync and FreeSync Premium working over a 48-240 Hz vary. It additionally has extraordinarily low enter lag. In my exams, it proved to be faster than different 240 Hz screens by a cushty margin.
The large story is the bend, after all. The Flex is the primary, and for the second solely, bendable pc monitor accessible. You’ll be able to depart it flat and revel in an unlimited display screen excellent for productiveness. Or you possibly can bend it as tightly as 800R for immersive gaming. You’ll be able to depart it anyplace between these extremes or simply bend one aspect. It’s, successfully, a number of screens in a single. The bend is completed manually with two handles that stretch from the perimeters.
In line with Corsair, the life cycle of the Flex is no less than 10,000 bends, which in principle, would take a few years to realize. The guarantee is three years for each zero useless pixels and nil burn-in. Pixel orbiting and refresh options are included to keep up the panel’s well being whereas in standby mode.
There’s lots to see right here, so let’s get unpacking.
Meeting and Equipment
The Flex is a one-unit show with an built-in stand. There’s no meeting required, nor are you able to take away the stand because it incorporates each inputs and controls. The field is a lift-off fashion, like a TV, that protects the contents with blocks of crumbly foam. A beefy 240-watt energy provide and DisplayPort, HDMI, USB A-C and USB C-C are included.
Product 360
The Flex is a powerful sight when you discover a spot sufficiently big for it. Some room on the perimeters is required to suit the handles that slide out while you wish to bend or unbend. My preliminary response was a bit fearful as a result of it’s arduous to wrap one’s thoughts round bending a pc monitor. The panel is barely 6mm thick, however it has a distinguished part bulge within the again and two stabilizing arms that handle the bending motion. To bend, merely pull the handles. You’ll be able to bend just one aspect if you want. An audible click on sounds while you’ve reached the restrict of 800R. The Flex is so giant that its most bend is nearly proper for gaming from a three- to four-foot viewing distance.
The construct high quality is definitely premium, with a stable steel base over a foot deep. Stability shouldn’t be a difficulty. A little bit of texturing adorns the again of the upright, which is sort of extensive. A steel deal with sits on the backside middle, which is useful for tilting the display screen. It comes ahead seven levels or again 15. There isn’t any swivel or top adjustment.
WQHD decision, or 3440×1440, is extra generally seen in 34-inch screens. At 45 inches diagonal, the Flex offers up some pixel density. The 83ppi is lower than the extra acquainted 109ppi one sees in a 34-inch ultra-wide or a 27-inch 16:9 QHD panel. This implies you don’t wish to sit too shut lest you see the pixel construction. The display screen floor can be uncommon for an OLED as a result of it’s matte. Most are very shiny and simply present reflections, however the Flex bucks this pattern.
The Flex’s panel and stand are a single unit that can’t be disassembled. The controls are on the entrance beneath the display screen and embrace an enter selector, energy toggle with LED, and a joystick for menu management. Two USB ports and a headphone jack are additionally offered, which may be very handy. There aren’t any built-in audio system. Within the again, there are two HDMI 2.1 inputs, a DisplayPort 1.4, a USB-C video and a second USB-C for peripherals. The display screen sits just a little low for me to get it completely vertical and not using a small stand beneath.
OSD Options
The OSD is totally text-based, with only a small Corsair graphic within the higher left nook. Urgent the joystick summons the menu. You can even go proper to the enter selector with a press of the Enter key or a proper click on. Up selects brightness, Left adjusts quantity, Down is picture mode and Proper is enter.
The Flex has six picture presets, together with Customary, which could be calibrated utilizing the DCI-P3 gamut and sRGB, which employs the smaller shade house. Not like most screens, the Flex’s sRGB mode could be independently calibrated, which is nice for professionals who want reference high quality for each shade requirements. You additionally get three shade temperature presets, a customized mode, and three gamma choices. Refresh Overlay is a body counter, and you may create your individual aiming level with completely different form mixtures proven within the second photograph above.
A monitor this huge is ideal for PIP and PBP capabilities, which permit viewing two sources directly. The Flex can simply exchange two screens with its huge display screen space.
System Setting permits you to toggle Adaptive-Sync on and off and handle the panel upkeep choices. A pixel orbiter shifts the picture up and down to forestall burn-in. You’ll by no means discover it in motion. I stared on the display screen for fairly some time and will barely see something occurring. The Refresh possibility works whereas the Flex is in standby mode. Corsair warrants the Flex for 3 years in opposition to burn-in, so it’s assured in these options. In my very own expertise, I’ve seen no burn-in on my two-year-old LG OLED TV.
Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 Calibration Settings
The Flex has a factory-certified calibration, however I discovered some enchancment with changes. The RGB sliders work exactly and allowed me to calibrate the Customary and sRGB modes individually. I might then change backwards and forwards between them at will. Gamma and shade monitoring have been superb out of the field. I’ve offered my settings under.
There aren’t any changes in HDR mode, however I discovered stable grayscale monitoring there with good shade saturation.
Image Mode | Customary – sRGB |
Brightness 180 nits (Full area) | 100 |
Distinction | 50 |
Gamma | 2.2 |
Colour Temp Person | Customary – Crimson 100, Inexperienced 98, Blue 85 |
sRGB – Crimson 92, Inexperienced 94, Blue 100 |
Gaming and Palms-on
It’s arduous to expertise a monitor just like the Flex and never lapse into an adjective stream the place I spend hours developing with methods to explain it in as many phrases as doable. Relatively than bore you with that, I’ll simply say that there’s completely nothing prefer it.
First is the scale. I’ve reviewed a lot of ultra-wide screens. Most are 34 inches diagonal and supply a good wrap across the viewpoint. 49-inch mega wides wrap extra however lack top which may take the person a bit out of the expertise. The Flex, with its 45-inch display screen and 800R curve at full bend, takes immersion to a different degree. Nothing else can evaluate, nothing.
So far as bend versus flat, I discovered myself going backwards and forwards a number of occasions, then selecting bent. Most of my work occurs within the middle of the display screen, so the bend isn’t distracting when modifying a Phrase doc. For spreadsheet duties, it’s good to see all of the numbers with out an excessive amount of scrolling. Graphics modifying is finest with a flat display screen. Then you possibly can correctly decide proportion and perspective. The Home windows desktop was shiny and vivid within the Customary image mode with true blacks and shiny however not harsh highlights. I turned down the brightness to 75% at night time, however l left it at 100% in the course of the day.
The Flex’s gaming prowess is large. Enter lag is low sufficient to be imperceptible. Display response is freed from any seen blur. Precision motion is that this monitor’s forte. Wading by monsters in Doom Everlasting’s horde mode was an addictive expertise. I actually couldn’t cease taking part in till my chihuahua lastly demanded her dinner. The Flex drew me in fully. You will have to maintain a timer or alarm clock useful to remind you when it’s time to eat.
And like different OLED panels, it performs extra easily at lesser body charges. I noticed round 160fps in Name of Responsibility WWII, however it was nearly as good or higher than an LCD working over 200fps. In fact, the picture was gorgeous with its wealthy shade, true blacks and deep distinction. Although pixel density is comparatively low, the image’s dynamic vary erases any notion of pixel construction.
The Flex is likely one of the easiest gaming screens I’ve skilled. It matches my talent degree and magnificence of play which is informal at finest. It is going to attraction to all kinds of gamers of all talents proper as much as competitors professionals.
MORE: Finest Gaming Screens
MORE: How We Take a look at PC Screens