OLED screen technology promises much. So far, however, PC gamer desktops have not reaped much of its benefits. The only true OLED PC gaming monitor, as opposed to flat-screen TVs, so far is the excellent 34-inch Alienware 34 AW3423DW (opens in new tab). Until the new Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 comes along.

Strictly speaking, it is debatable whether the new Xeneon Flex is pure monitor technology, since the 45-inch ultrawide panel is derived from LG's latest TV down to the WRGB subpixel structure instead of RGB. The relatively low 3,440 x 1,440 native resolution and 84 PPI pixel density also confirm that the panel technology is derived from TVs. But this is more than just a reboxed TV with an additional DisplayPort connection. There is some really fascinating engineering going on here.

For starters, as the Xeneon Flex branding suggests, this OLED is not just curved, it is actually curved. The amount of curve can be set manually, from perfectly flat to a very tight 800R curve. For comparison, the hypercurved Samsung Neo G9 (open in new tab) is a slight 1000R curve. In other words, this Corsair monitor with the curve set to the maximum is quite extreme.

Perhaps not surprisingly, other physical adjustments are limited due to the added complexity provided by the flexible panel. Tilt only, no height or swivel. For more extensive specifications, Corsair rates the peak brightness of LG's OLED panels at 1000 nits, 150 nits full screen, plus 450 nits at 25% window and 800 nits at 10% window.

As these complex specs suggest, the basic issue of brightness is a bit of a minefield for OLED technology. As we recently explained (open in new tab), OLED panels have no problem increasing brightness for small windows or a limited percentage of the total panel. But increasing the brightness of a larger object or the entire screen is a real challenge in terms of power consumption, heat, and burn-in risk. Therefore, the full-screen luminance rating of OLED screens is generally a small fraction of their peak capability.

Anyway, what the Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 definitely demonstrates is speed. The panel has a GtG pixel response time of 0.03 ms and a full on-off response time of 0.01, far better than any LCD monitor. The latter should suffice for all but the semi-professional esports addict.

Like all OLED panels, Xeneon Flex, which benefits from per-pixel illumination and essentially perfect black levels, promises outstanding contrast and HDR performance. Indeed, OLED technology is fundamentally different from LCD with respect to HDR rendering, and Corsair has stated that it is working with Blur Busters and LG to create an entirely new OLED gaming monitor certification standard for evaluating HDR performance.

Of course, burn-in is always a concern with any OLED panel, but Corsair is very reassuring here. The panel has several mitigating technologies, including a full panel resolution of 3,456 x 1,456 pixels, which allows the panel to shift the image slightly; Corsair backs it all up with a three-year Zero Burn in and Zero Dead Pixel warranty.

Finally, when it comes to main speed and supply, the Xeneon Flex has excellent connectivity. In addition to dual HDMI 2.1 ports, there is DisplayPort and USB Type-C with 90W power supply, plus four USB Type-A sockets (two on the back and two on the front of the stand).

But is it actually any good? In this respect, Xeneon Flex has a very complex performance. It all depends on the type of content to be displayed.

Simply put, the brighter the content, the worse Xeneon Flex performs. Subjectively, full screen brightness is bad. Bright outdoor gaming scenes look quite dull in both HDR and SDR modes. This is unfortunate given the panel's ultra-geeky price point.

For content with dark backgrounds separated by small bright objects, the OLED panel can achieve something closer to its claimed 1,000 nits peak. Combine that with perfect black levels and lack of blooming and you get some pretty gorgeous results.

A good example of this is the moody bar scene in Cyberpunk 2077, where the neon sign behind the bar stands out against the dark interior. However, even in this situation, the center of the panel is clearly brighter than the sides, albeit less dramatically.

Then there is the issue of pixel density: 3,440 x 1,440 is a very low resolution for a 45" panel. The latter is necessary for sub-pixel font smoothing to work properly, especially when the panel pixels are WRGB rather than RGB. Certainly, text does not look as bad as one might expect. Also, pixel density is not a problem for shooters, racing sims, and so-called console-style games.

However, if you spent $2,000 to play a strategy game on this, you would be making a big mistake. The pixel density is not enough to make it a versatile tool for both gaming and other PC tasks.

As I said, what the Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 definitely delivers is speed; the OLED pixel response and 240Hz refresh is definitely an improvement over any LCD monitor. This is seriously zippy.

But back to the Windows desktop, the brightness limitations cannot be overlooked. The panels lack punch and zing. Most large format OLED screens run an ABL or automatic brightness limiter algorithm that adjusts the brightness based on how hard the panel is being driven; Corsair's ABL is certainly quite aggressive, perhaps because the panel has no heat sink.

This is an important omission given that modern OLED TVs are increasingly using heat sinks to achieve better large screen and full screen brightness. As far as how flexible panels are designed, it is difficult to combine them with heat sinks. If it is correct that flexible panels preclude the use of panel heat sinks, then it would rather be a flat panel or a fixed curve panel and heat sink to increase the overall brightness of the panel.

This is especially true given that the flex feature feels awkward and fragile. When adjusting the curve, it is difficult to know how far to bend the panel. In theory, the support adjustment arm is supposed to click when it is fully bent. In practice, they tend to click at random moments. A mechanically challenged person would find the creaking, cracking, and clicking noises unpleasant.

Ultimately, the Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 is a very complex performer. At this price point, the relatively low resolution and pixel density alone are unbearable. Therefore, the rest of the experience must be extraordinary. Unfortunately, they are not.

Full-screen brightness is inferior in absolute terms and inconsistent across panels. On the other hand, adjustable panel curves, while possibly limiting the available brightness at least somewhat by preventing the use of heat sinks, do not add significantly to the experience.

Most of all, the Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 is a reminder of how problematic HDR is in PCs: while OLED panels offer tremendous black levels, the overall screen brightness is a major limitation on such a large panel. Of course, mini-LED monitors have their own problems, and so far few monitors can achieve both peak and low brightness, all with precise control; the Xeneon Flex, unfortunately, cannot buck that trend, and the Xeneon OLED monitor is a good example.