Corsair Xeneon Flex: first impressions (assessment)

Corsair not too long ago introduced its new bendable gaming monitor and we got the prospect to sit down down with it to see the way it stacks up in opposition to a few of the market’s main options.

We got a 1 hour slot to place the Corsair Xeneon Flex by means of its paces and listed below are our preliminary ideas on image high quality, colours, gaming efficiency, and general usability.

READ NOW: Corsair Xeneon Flex release dates & specs

Corsair Flex: specs

• Dimension: 45″
• Decision: 3440 x 1440
• Refresh rate: 240Hz
• Response time: 0.1ms GTG
• Panel expertise: OLED
• HDMI Commonplace: HDMI 2.1
• Curve: 1800R (bendable)

Corsair has partnered with LG Shows for the Xeneon Flex, using one of many model’s W-OLED show – providing up beautiful image high quality, excellent blacks, and infinite distinction ratio.

It is going to sit at an eye-watering 45 inches and can ship crisp picture high quality due to its 3,440 x 1,440 display decision (21:9 side ratio). Whereas that does appear just a little missing for a 45-inch display, we discovered the viewing expertise to be unbelievable immersive and sharp.

Corsair have additionally utilized a few of LG Shows premium eye-care expertise on this panel, permitting customers to take pleasure in prolonged gaming periods with out eye fatigue.

Higher but, regardless of being OLED, customers can count on a formidable 1000 nit peak brightness from the monitor – with sustained brightness throughout a full display being a lot decrease.

Design

My first impressions of the Corsair Flex had been extremely optimistic, with the show that includes a glossy design that actually did scream premium. The delicate 1800R curve appeared to work very effectively with the 45-inch scale of the panel, providing an extremely immersive viewing expertise.

The panel was predominantly black in design, with Corsair’s geometric sample utilized all through. The stand featured a large V-shaped design that, regardless of its measurement, really labored extremely effectively with the swooping curve of the panel.

Moreover, the Flex featured slim bezels that solely enhanced the viewing expertise additional.

One of many stand out design options for me, nonetheless, was the stand’s enter performance. All show inputs and energy inputs could be discovered built-in to the stand itself. Which means you gained’t should fiddle round beneath the panel as a way to swap cables out.

As a substitute, customers can merely stroll spherical to the rear of the panel and simply enter gadgets at will – with cable administration hidden by the vast design of the stand itself.

The monitor bends through two pretty strong handles that may be discovered on both aspect of the show. Whereas the prototype mannequin didn’t characteristic retractable handles, the blokes at Corsair did say design options can be tweaked within the coming months – with retractable handles being one of many primary adjustments.

General, it seems like Corsair have performed an extremely good job at designing this monitor – prioritizing fashion and performance.

Image high quality

Like all OLED screens we’ve examined, the Corsair Flex seemed completely beautiful throughout the hour we obtained our arms on it.

We had been introduced with the standard promo video to point out off the colours of the panel and boy it didn’t disappoint.

Common shade efficiency seemed extremely vibrant and first colours actually popped in opposition to the right blacks the panel might produce.

In fact, like all OLEDs, the Flex additionally produced an infinite distinction ratio as effectively – providing excellent blacks immediately subsequent to peak brightness. We didn’t expertise any blooming or haloing throughout utilization, with basic image high quality wanting extremely sharp and vibrant.

We wasted no time and fired up just a few video games utilizing the screens HDR and it’s secure to say that the Flex seemed completely very good.

Enjoying video games provided up an unbelievable practical shade pallet that definitely retained our consideration throughout utilization.

Sadly we had been unable to check the Xeneon Flex for shade accuracy, panel uniformity, and peak brightness. We will probably be receiving a assessment copy within the coming weeks, nonetheless, and we’ll be working all the standard exams.

Gaming efficiency

We had numerous completely different video games to trial throughout our allotted time slot and each offered unbelievable immersion – particularly when the bend got here into play.

To make the most of the bend, you merely seize the handles at both aspect and pull the monitor into your physique. It is going to click on into place when it reaches its most 1800R curve.

It’s value mentioning that Corsair will probably be implementing a “step” system that means that you can make the most of completely different ranges of curvature relying on the content material you’re viewing. However that may come as soon as the monitor’s design has been finalized.

We launched up Forza 5, setting the monitor to its most 240Hz refresh charge and enabling HDR.

The sport seemed completely beautiful and felt extremely lucid – even when barrelling down the filth tracks of the sport. I didn’t expertise any ghosting, blur, or smearing throughout utilization – however that’s usually the case with OLED panels.

If you pair the monitor’s extremely quick response time with its 240Hz refresh charge, it’s onerous to say it gained’t present an amazing viewing expertise no matter style.

Whereas we solely skilled just a few video games throughout our time testing, it was nonetheless sufficient to go away a optimistic lasting impression.

General, it was fairly evident that we had been coping with an extremely well-rounded monitor that may go well with each PC and console gaming.

Availability on the time of writing that is nonetheless unknown, nonetheless, Corsair has given a tough estimate for Q1 in 2023.