Ultra-Ultra-wide, 8K, and 144Hz curved: 2016 is going to be big for big monitors

If you follow the world of computer monitors, you know that almost all of the panels themselves are built by just a small handful of companies. Other brands then buy those panels and build new housing, connectivity, and processing into them. The two biggest players in the panel business are LG and Samsung, and watching what’s going on in those factories generally gives us a good idea of the next big thing for displays. If the rumors are true, 2016 is going to be all about big and wide, according to TFTCentral.

Starting with LG, the most exciting development comes in the form of a 37.5-inch panel with a peculiar 3,840 x 1,600 resolution. That gives it a 2.4:1 aspect ratio, just slightly off from the 2.33:1 ratio of what are usually referred to as 21:9 screens. It’s an IPS panel with a 14ms response time and a stated contrast ratio of 1000:1. It appears LG is also bolstering its thin bezel Neo-Blade line with 23.8, 27, and 31.5 inch options.

Samsung is also producing multiple new super-wide panels. In particular, a 31.5-inch curved 1440p panel with a 144Hz refresh rate made the roadmap, built with SVA technology. Two additional super-sized screens, a 41-inch and 49-inch with a massively wide 32:9 aspect ratio, are in the works as well. They’re listed as having FHD+ resolution, which is a little unclear, but likely refers to 3,840 x 1,080. These panels may or may not show up in monitors, but if they don’t, they’ll probably appear in HDTVs.

While it’s likely to only end up in high-end, media-editing situations, there’s also word Samsung may be working on a 31.5-inch 8K display. Its 7,680 x 4,230 resolution would make it among the first of its kind, with a focus on the AdobeRGB color gamut. With 4K screens still carrying a premium, it’s hard to image an 8K display targeting anything but the niche professional market.

The report includes information from a third player, AU Optronics. Coming down the pipeline from the eco-conscious brand are 30-inch and 35-inch ultra-wide curved VA panels. They boast a 144Hz refresh rate, high enough to warrant the upgrade to DisplayPort 1.3 from the more common 1.2. They have impressive stated specs too, with a 3,000:1 contrast ratio, 300 cd/m2 brightness, and wide viewing angles, plus a deep curve.

If these panels are just being built now, we won’t see them announced formally in products until some time afterwards. Still, it’s fun to see what might be coming up for new resolutions and monitor tech.