OLED gaming monitors now hold the black level and contrast crown, but they come at a cost and features that most gamers either can’t afford or won’t fully utilize. If that’s the case, then an affordable, ultrawide monitor like the Sceptre C345B-QUT168 checks most boxes as a value panel that won’t break the bank.
At a basic level, the curved gaming monitor features a 165Hz refresh rate that balances performance and efficiency well. Beyond that, the C345B-QUT168 features a WQHD (3440 x 1440) resolution, 99% sRGB coverage, 1ms response time, 21:9 aspect ratio, a slew of ports, and a sleek design. Everything crammed into this package comes at an extremely attractive price point that you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.
Despite a few tradeoffs, like a tilt-only stand, the C345B-QUT168 packs so much value for the price that it easily ranks as one of the best budget gaming monitors for under $300 on the market right now.
Sceptre C345B-QUT168 Specs
- Screen Size: 34” Diagonal Viewable
- Curvature: 1500R
- Native Resolution: 3440 x 1440
- Refresh Rate: Up to 165Hz Refresh Rate
- Aspect Ratio: 21:9
- Response Time: 1 ms
- Brightness (cd/m²): 400 cd/m2
Design and Features
The Sceptre C345B-QUT168’s black design is pretty plain, though the monitor’s V-shaped stand and curved screen are just enough to remind you that this is a gaming peripheral. What this monitor lacks is flashiness. However, it makes up with practicality. A small dock on the back of the stand lets you organize all your cables well, whereby you can coil together whatever multitude of wires you have connected to the monitor.
It uses a Vertical Alignment (VA)panel, just like its 34-inch rival, the LG 34GP63A-B has a 1500R curvature, making it more pronounced than most 1800R monitors like the Acer Predator X34 bmiphz. For starters, a screen’s curvature is measured in R figures, and for a fixed screen, the larger the R-value, the less the curvature.
The Sceptre C345B packs plenty of connections for your PC or console, with two HDMI inputs as well as a DisplayPort (the latter is required when you want to use the monitor’s FreeSync model). It also has a pair of built-in speakers and a 3.5mm mini-jack for external headphones or headphones, but it doesn’t include any USB port – which is a miss at this price point.
There are multiple color modes depending on the task at hand. In total, you have five picture presets: Standard, User, Movie, Eco, FPS, and RTS for adjusting your viewing modes, as well as two game presets: RTS (Real Time Strategy) and FPS (First Person Shooter).
Gaming Performance
With a speedy 165Hz refresh rate, the Sceptre C345B-QUT168 makes a sensation out of most modern AAA titles, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and the Red Dead Redemption 2. The WQHD monitor’s two shooter presets both serve a unique purpose when playing a title like Siege, where FPS1 mode offers duller colors to prevent eyestrain, while RTS makes it especially easy to attack enemies.
The Sceptre C345B does an excellent job displaying the lush scenery. Flowing rivers and the colorful fantasy characters of Dota 2 give you ample time to keep up with the action. The monitor’s RTS and FPS modes make the images excessively sharp – though they don’t look especially pretty, these modes create visible outlines around every character that could potentially help pro gamers spot allies and enemies.
With AMD FreeSync support, screen-tearing is minimized on AMD-powered machines – like the iBuyPower Slate 8 Mesh or the Alienware Aurora R16, by simply syncing the display directly with your computer’s graphics card. At some point, you might find it almost unnecessary due to the monitor’s already string performance on standard mode.
Few genres are as dependent on low input as fighting games are, and we’re happy that games like Street Fighter V will play smoothly on the C345B-QUT168. You’ll have no problems pulling off combos that require frame-perfect timing.
Sceptre C345B-QUT168 Review: Verdict
If excellent gaming is your priority but you’re on a tight budget, the Sceptre C345B-QUT168 curved monitor is the best in its class. This 34-inch monitor offers ridiculously fast response times, dedicated FPS and RTS modes, and packs AMD’s FreeSync to ensure extra smoothness for those gamers playing AAA games on AMD cards. Rated at 400 nits, this monitor gets so brighter than even more expensive gaming monitors out there.
It looks premium, and its design, especially the 1500R curvature and V-shaped stand, makes it ideal for multi-monitor setups, and handy extras such as RGB LEDs on the back just immerse you into the gaming environment. In short, if you’re looking for an affordable ultrawide gaming monitor that gets essentially everything right, you need to look no further.
Recommended Configuration
Sceptre 34-Inch Curved Ultrawide WQHD Monitor 3440 x 1440 R1500 up to 165Hz DisplayPort x2 99% sRGB 1ms Picture by Picture, Machine Black 2023 (C345B-QUT168)
$199.97 in stock
5 used from $197.97
The Review
Sceptre C345B-QUT168 Monitor
The Sceptre C345B-QUT168 offers a solid gaming experience, offering a 34-inch 3440 x 1440 resolution panel, 165Hz refresh rate, and 1ms response time at a very affordable price.
PROS
- Affordable price
- Immersive 1500R curve
- Speedy refresh rate (165Hz)
- AMD FreeSync enabled
CONS
- Tilt-only stand
Review Breakdown
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Tilt-only stand
