Gawfolk 34-inch Ultra-Wide Gaming Monitor Review UK 2026: Budget Ultrawide Reality Check

The Gawfolk 34-inch Ultra-Wide Gaming Monitor arrives in a crowded budget ultrawide market, promising 120Hz gaming and expansive screen real estate for under £200. I’ve spent two weeks testing this 21:9 IPS panel to see whether it delivers genuine value or just cuts too many corners. For anyone considering an entry-level ultrawide, understanding what you’re actually getting matters more than the spec sheet suggests.

Gawfolk 34-inch Ultra-Wide Gaming Monitor | 21:9 IPS Screen Display | 120Hz Refresh Rate | FreeSync & G-Sync Compatible | HDMI & DP Ports, Wall-mounted 75 * 75mm

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.3 (1,180 reviews)

£154.99

• Expansive 21:9 Ultra-Wide Display: Expansive 21:9 Ultra-Wide Display: Immerse yourself in a panoramic 34-inch IPS screen with 2560x1080 resolution. Perfect for multitasking with split-screen modes (PBP/PIP) or enjoying widescreen movies without black bars.
• Smooth Gameplay with 120Hz & Adaptive Sync: Equipped with a 120Hz refresh rate, FreeSync, and G-Sync support to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering for a fluid and responsive gaming experience.
• Enhanced Multitasking & Productivity: Effortlessly view double windows side-by-side. The high resolution and ultra-wide format allow you to work on documents, browse the web, and stream video simultaneously without constant switching.
• Vivid IPS Colors & Wide Viewing Angles: See consistent, accurate colors with an 8-bit IPS panel covering 128% sRGB. Enjoy vibrant visuals from virtually any position thanks to 178° wide viewing angles.
• Features a sturdy, tilt-adjustable aluminum stand and a minimalist profile. Includes HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.2, and a audio jack for all your gaming and peripheral needs.

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Price checked: 10 Jan 2026 | Affiliate link

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Gawfolk 34-inch Ultra-Wide Gaming Monitor Specifications

Let’s address the elephant in the room immediately: this is a 2560×1080 panel, not the 3440×1440 resolution most people picture when they think “ultrawide gaming monitor”. That 81 PPI pixel density means text won’t be razor-sharp, and you’ll notice individual pixels if you sit closer than 80cm. This isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker, but it’s crucial to understand what you’re buying.

The 120Hz refresh rate is genuine and works well with both FreeSync and G-Sync compatible systems. I tested it with an RTX 4060 and Radeon RX 6700 XT, and adaptive sync engaged without issues on both. The HDMI 1.4 and DisplayPort 1.2 inputs are dated but adequate for this resolution and refresh rate combination.

Panel Quality and Colour Performance

The 8-bit IPS panel delivers the colour vibrancy you’d expect, with that claimed 128% sRGB coverage holding up in my measurements. Out of the box, colours are oversaturated with a Delta E average of around 3.8, which is acceptable for gaming but not ideal for colour-critical work. There’s no factory calibration here, and the OSD colour controls are basic at best.

Peak brightness of 285 nits is adequate for indoor use but struggles in bright rooms with window glare. I found myself keeping brightness at 80-90% most of the time, which is higher than I’d prefer. The contrast ratio of 1100:1 is standard for IPS, meaning blacks look grey in dark scenes, but this is a panel technology limitation rather than a specific Gawfolk failing.

The oversaturated colour profile actually works in gaming’s favour, making visuals pop in titles like Forza Horizon 5 and Cyberpunk 2077. For productivity, I’d recommend using Windows colour management or a basic calibration tool if you’re doing any design work. Compared to the LG UltraWide 34WR50QK, which costs significantly more, the Gawfolk holds its own in colour vibrancy but lacks the refinement and uniformity.

Panel Uniformity and IPS Glow

This is where the budget nature becomes apparent. My review unit showed typical IPS glow in the bottom corners, which becomes noticeable when watching dark films or playing horror games with the lights off. It’s not egregious compared to other budget IPS panels I’ve tested, but it’s there. The panel lottery applies here – some units will be better, some worse.

Backlight uniformity is acceptable with variance staying mostly under 10% except in the bottom corners. For the price point, this is about what I’d expect. If you’re coming from a VA panel like the KTC 32-inch 170Hz Curved Gaming Monitor, you’ll notice the IPS glow but appreciate the faster response times and better viewing angles.

Motion Performance and Gaming Experience

The claimed 5ms response time is marketing nonsense, as always. My measurements with a pursuit camera show average grey-to-grey transitions around 6.2ms, which is respectable for a budget IPS panel. In fast-paced games like Apex Legends and Valorant, there’s some ghosting but nothing that ruins the experience for casual play.

The 120Hz refresh rate is the real star here. Coming from 60Hz, the difference is immediately noticeable in smoothness and input responsiveness. It’s not the 165Hz or 240Hz you’ll find on competitive gaming monitors, but for this price and resolution, 120Hz hits a sweet spot. Your GPU will also thank you – pushing 2560×1080 at 120fps is far easier than 3440×1440.

Input lag measured at 8.7ms, which is perfectly acceptable for casual and even moderately competitive gaming. The VRR range of 48-120Hz means you’ll get smooth gameplay as long as your frame rate stays above 48fps. Below that, you’ll experience judder, but that’s standard for most adaptive sync implementations without LFC (Low Framerate Compensation).

The OSD gaming features are bare-bones. There’s a basic crosshair overlay and FPS counter, but nothing like the comprehensive game modes found on dedicated gaming monitors. No black equalizer for spotting enemies in shadows, no motion blur reduction, no customisable game profiles. This is a gaming monitor in refresh rate only, not in features.

Connectivity and Inputs

The connectivity is functional but dated. Two HDMI 1.4 ports and one DisplayPort 1.2 cover the basics, though you’ll need DisplayPort to hit 120Hz at full resolution. HDMI 1.4 limits you to 75Hz at 2560×1080. There’s a 3.5mm audio jack for headphones or speakers, but the lack of USB-C and any USB hub functionality is noticeable in 2026.

For console gamers, this monitor works with PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, but you’re limited to 1080p upscaled to the ultrawide resolution since consoles don’t natively support 2560×1080. The experience isn’t ideal – you’re better off with a native 16:9 display for console gaming.

Stand Quality and Ergonomics

The stand is where budget constraints become painfully obvious. You get tilt adjustment and that’s it – no height, no swivel, no pivot. The aluminium construction feels solid enough, but the fixed height means you’ll likely need to prop it up with books or invest in a monitor arm. The 100x100mm VESA mounting pattern is standard, so any decent arm will work.

The bezels are slim on three sides with a thicker bottom bezel housing the Gawfolk branding. Build quality is acceptable for the price – mostly plastic with an aluminium stand base. There’s no RGB lighting, no cable management channels, no built-in speakers. This is function over form.

Productivity and Multitasking Performance

The 21:9 aspect ratio genuinely transforms productivity work. I comfortably ran two full-size windows side-by-side using Windows Snap, or three narrower windows across the width. The PBP (Picture-by-Picture) and PIP (Picture-in-Picture) modes work as advertised, letting you display two input sources simultaneously.

However, the 2560×1080 resolution becomes a limitation for text clarity. At normal viewing distances, text is readable but not crisp. If you’re coming from a 27-inch 1440p display, you’ll notice the downgrade in sharpness. For coding, spreadsheets, and document work, it’s usable but not ideal. The extra width compensates somewhat, but I found myself increasing font sizes in most applications.

For video editing timelines and music production DAWs, the ultrawide format is brilliant. Having your timeline stretched across 34 inches with tools and mixers on either side improves workflow significantly. Just don’t expect pin-sharp text rendering – this isn’t a professional content creation display.

Gawfolk 34-inch Ultra-Wide Gaming Monitor Alternatives

The LG UltraWide 34WR50QK offers better build quality and uniformity but only 75Hz refresh rate for £70 more. If gaming isn’t your priority, the LG is the better all-rounder. The AOC CU34G2X steps up to 3440×1440 resolution and 144Hz for around £150 more, making it the obvious choice if you can stretch the budget and have the GPU power to drive it.

For pure value at the 2560×1080 resolution, the Gawfolk undercuts most competition. You’re trading features and refinement for screen space and refresh rate. If you absolutely need ultrawide on a tight budget, this delivers. If you can spend £250-350, better options exist.

Real-World Usage Scenarios

I tested the Gawfolk across various scenarios to understand where it excels and where it struggles. In single-player adventure games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Horizon Zero Dawn, the ultrawide format is genuinely immersive. The 120Hz smoothness enhances the experience, and the lower resolution means even mid-range GPUs can maintain high frame rates with decent settings.

For competitive FPS gaming, the story is mixed. The wider field of view provides a tactical advantage in games that support 21:9, but the pixel density and motion clarity can’t match dedicated 1080p or 1440p gaming monitors at similar prices. If you’re serious about competitive play, a 27-inch 1080p 165Hz monitor would serve you better.

Movie watching is excellent when content is available in 21:9 aspect ratio – no black bars, just cinematic immersion. Standard 16:9 content displays with black bars on the sides, which some find distracting. The IPS glow in corners becomes noticeable in dark scenes, but it’s manageable if you’re not watching in a completely dark room.

For office work and browsing, the extra width is transformative once you adjust to it. Having email, browser, and document windows all visible simultaneously improves multitasking flow. However, the text clarity issue remains – if you work primarily with text, the resolution compromise may frustrate you long-term.

What Gawfolk Doesn’t Tell You

The marketing emphasises the 128% sRGB coverage but doesn’t mention the oversaturation out of box or lack of calibration presets. The “5ms response time” is grey-to-grey best-case scenario, not the average you’ll experience. There’s no mention of IPS glow or the panel lottery that affects all budget displays.

The “HDR” tag is conspicuously absent from this model, which is actually refreshing honesty. Too many budget monitors slap on “HDR compatible” badges for panels that can’t exceed 300 nits. Gawfolk at least doesn’t pretend this is an HDR display.

The adaptive sync works well, but the 48Hz lower limit means you need consistent frame rates above that threshold. Games that fluctuate between 35-50fps will judder. There’s no mention of this in the product description.