Eventually, gaming would adopt flexible screens like the Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 OLED. I just didn’t think they’d come so soon. After all, the first generation of OLED gaming monitors just hit the market last year. After the success of the Alienware AW720H, which I’m still not convinced can meet the needs of the vast majority of gamers right now, it’s possible that additional 500Hz displays will become available in the near future.
Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240: Description
We’re also back to work after the pandemic and experiencing inflation, so most of us aren’t spending as much time as we used to in front of our gaming PCs. Moreover, many people simply cannot afford such luxuries at the moment.
While it’s difficult for me to recommend a gaming monitor that’s obviously out of most people’s price range my 55-inch Samsung TV, which I got on sale, cost me less than half its price tag, for god’s sake an even larger part of me screams, “What took them (manufacturers) so long?! The main selling point of the Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 OLED is that it combines a curved monitor with a flat monitor and an ultrawide display, making it one of the best monitors we have tested and suitable for a wide variety of uses.
Although it’s not entirely true, Corsair makes a strong case for the idea that games of different genres were never intended to be experienced on the same display. And with the Xeneon Flex, gamers are getting that comprehensive package, which is great news for those of you who aren’t picky about the games you enjoy.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Pretty much perfect black levels
- Good connectivity
- Very large ultrawide form-factor is incredibly immersive
Cons
- Very expensive
- Feels fragile when flexing
- No speakers
Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240: Specification Table
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display size | 27 inches |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1440 pixels (WQHD) |
| Panel Type | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 240Hz |
| Response Time | 0.5ms |
| Adaptive Sync | G-Sync Compatible |
| HDR | HDR400 |
| Brightness | 400 nits |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 |
| Viewing Angle | 178° (H) / 178° (V) |
| Color Gamut | 95% DCI-P3, 125% sRGB |
| Connectivity | 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack |
| VESA Mounting | Yes (100 x 100mm) |
| Adjustable Stand | Height, Tilt, Swivel, Pivot |
| Dimensions (with stand) | 613.9mm x 465.3mm x 259.8mm |
| Weight (with stand) | 7.05kg |
| Official website | Corsair’s official website |
Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240: Design
The first thing that strikes you about the Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 is its massive size. Sure, we’ve seen plenty of large displays before, and many of them are rooted in TV technology. Not something you’d normally associate with a gaming TV, the Xeneon Flex has a 45-inch diagonal and an ultrawide aspect ratio of 21:9.
Then there’s the bending ability, or flex. The screen can be manually bent to the desired angle using the handles on either side of the panel. The procedure is a little clumsy, and the mechanism is a little shaky, if I’m being completely honest. In theory, when you reach full flex, the handles should “click,” ensuring a uniform curve across the panel. It’s hit-or-miss how well things work out in practice.
To be clear, the design and construction of this monitor are top notch. The novelty of the “flex” feature may be to blame for the lack of trust it inspires among users. Some people, however, might absolutely love and live for the convenience of having an ultrawide display that can also be converted into a curved gaming display.
Connectivity and Features
The Xeneon Flex’s connectivity is located on the stand rather than the back panel, as was previously mentioned. That’s largely beneficial, as it makes getting to the ports a breeze. However, since they face backward, you’ll need a few inches of clearance behind the stand to route the cords through.
Two HDMI 2.1 ports and a DisplayPort 1.4 are present for connecting external video sources. For a grand total of four video inputs, there is a USB-C port that supports DisplayPort 1.4. Using any of these inputs, you can enjoy the full 240 Hz of refresh rate at the monitor’s native 3,440 x 1,440 resolution. This is a nice feature, as many PC gaming monitors with a high refresh rate only have one or two video ports that aren’t capable of handling the full refresh rate of the monitor.
Power Delivery is supported by the USB-C port as well, but at a disappointingly low 30 watts, making it too slow to rapidly charge most laptops. Two of the four USB-A ports are located on the front of the monitor stand, making this a unique feature compared to its competitors. Forget about hooking up a display input via USB-C just so you can use the USB-A ports; they can be driven by a different USB-C upstream input.
There is also a 3.5mm audio output on the front of the stand for your listening pleasure. No audio can be played through the screen. A joystick located on the front of the stand is used to navigate the on-screen menus. Compared to most monitors, which bury the joystick behind the bottom or right bezel, this placement is more convenient.
Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240: Product 360
Once you find a place large enough to park the Flex, it makes quite a spectacle. The handles that fold out for bending and unfolding require some space on the side. It’s hard to imagine bending a computer monitor, so naturally I reacted with some apprehension at first. This thin panel has two stabilizing arms and a prominent component bulge in the back to control the bending motion.
You can easily bend it by pulling the handles. For a more restricted range of motion, you need only bend one side. The 800R limit is signaled by a click when the speed reaches that point. Due to its massive size, the Flex’s maximum bend is optimal for gaming at a distance of three to four feet.
The metal foundation is over a foot in depth, indicating high-end construction. Maintaining stability is not a problem. The broad, back of the upright is decorated with some texturing. The screen can be adjusted in angle with the help of a metal handle located in the middle of the bottom bezel. Seven degrees in either direction are possible. You can’t adjust the height or swivel this chair.
34-inch screens are more common with WQHD resolution (3440×1440). The Flex’s reduced pixel density at 45 inches in diagonal means less detail. If you’re used to watching content on a 34-inch ultra-wide or 27-inch 16:9 QHD panel, you’ll notice that the 83ppi is significantly lower. This means that sitting too close will reveal the pixel structure. In addition to being unusual for an OLED, the screen’s surface is matte. The Flex is not like the others, which tend to be very glossy and show reflections easily.
Price and Availability
The Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 OLED costs $1,999.99 / £2,099.99 / AU$3,299.99, which is a significant investment. However, frugal consumers shouldn’t let that stop them from saving up to get one.
To be fair, a lot of ultrawide monitors cost between $2,000 and $4,000 (GBP 5,000 and GBP 10,000). When they were first released, the LG UltraGear 38GN950 cost $1,499 (around $2,000 / AU$2,700) and the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 cost $2,499 (around £1,749 / AU$2,999). The Xeneon Flex’s price tag seems fair to me given that it includes the latest flexible display technology.
Keep in mind that the 42-inch 16:9 LG OLED Flex (LX3) 4K monitor, which is LG’s entry-level bendable monitor, is even more expensive at $2,999 (approximately £2,450 / AU$4,500).
Final Words
The futuristic Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 is a monitor made specifically for PC gaming. The 240Hz OLED from LG is stunning, and its combination of contrast and motion performance will be unrivaled until at least 2023. However, the Xeneon Flex is not without its caveats, as is often the case with cutting-edge technology.
Aside from the (much) rougher operation, the flexible display is also permanently attached to a subpar monitor stand. It’s expensive, too, coming in at $2,000 for one. Despite these issues, the Corsair is still a very impressive display and a great option for ultrawide fans who find 34-inch and 38-inch monitors to be too small.
FAQs
What is the pixel density of xeneon Flex?
The low native resolution of 3,440 by 1,440 and the 84PPI pixel density also hide the panel technology’s TV roots.
How tall is the Xeneon Flex?
With dimensions of 22.75 by 41.8 by 18.1 inches, the Xeneon Flex is one of the largest screens we’ve seen recently (HWD).
