Two-minute review
The new Huawei MateView GT has landed like a bomb in the slightly outdated PC monitor market. This 34-inch ultra-wide gaming panel isn’t perfect. In many ways it’s not very innovative, but in some ways it makes most other monitors look cheap and lazy.
The headline statistics don’t reveal anything too drastic. Granted, a 34-inch curved monitor with 3,440 x 1,440 pixels, 165Hz refresh, and USB-C connectivity with device charging (note that the charging power is limited to just 10W) is a very good one. beautiful packaging on paper.
It’s also priced attractively, at $ 499 / £ 499 (around AU $ 700). OK, it lacks some really cutting edge features like full-matrix local dimming, and HDR performance is limited. But monitors with such features cost hundreds more.
Instead, what the Huawei MateView GT gives you that few other monitors can match at any price point is exceptional industrial design and build quality. This thing looks and feels like a million bucks.
Even the height adjustment of the support is satisfactory and expensive. In device segments such as smartphones and laptops, premium build quality has become a separate and therefore relatively common selling point. This is not the case with monitors which are usually plastic and dated.
There are a few exceptions, most notably Samsung’s Odyssey gaming panel line. But none come close to the lush hardware vibe of the Huawei MateView GT.
Likewise, none have such a sleek and well-executed design as the Huawei MateView GT’s tactile and programmable RGB light strip that doubles as a volume control. It is ultimately a gadget, but terribly enjoyable all the same.
Then there’s the elaborately integrated soundbar built into the base. It’s done very well, although it’s a shame and quite surprising that the sound quality is so muddy and flat.
As for image quality at the end of the day, any monitor is – well – the picture is a bit more mixed. Huawei opted for a VA panel and the consequence is bright, rich colors with contrast bags. The flip side is the poor pixel response, suggested by the claimed 4ms response times.
Huawei has included several user-configurable overdrive levels in the MateView GT’s OSD menu. But even set to full warm-up, pixel response isn’t that good, while overshoot becomes more and more of a problem.
In the game, rather than nit picking via arbitrary test images, the answer is actually OK. And the native resolution of 3,440 x 1,440 is arguably a perfect compromise between speed and graphic detail. The 34-inch curved form factor is also terribly smooth, the net result of which is a fantastically immersive experience in everything from epic adventure titles like Witcher III to graphics-rich driving extravagances like the Forza series.
All of this makes the Huawei MateView GT quite extraordinary, even if it is a bit flawed. For the money, the combination of 165Hz ultra-wide 1440p curved gaming with nearly unprecedented engineering and design is certainly something special. But issues like poor sound quality, poor pixel response, and limited USB-C charging power keep it from being an absolute hit.
Buy it if …
You agree that 34 inches ultra-wide and 3,440 by 1,440 pixels is the sweetspot
That’s in terms of price, performance, and graphic detail for PC gaming. Combined with 165Hz refresh, this is truly an immersive gaming experience.
You appreciate exceptional industrial design and exceptional construction
This monitor absolutely and positively wows any gaming monitor, even remote, of similar price – and many that cost, much, much more.
You prefer the tradeoffs that come with VA LCD panels over IPS panels
The Huawei MateView GT has fantastic static contrast and impressive rich and vibrant colors due to its panel technology.
Don’t buy it if …
You demand the best in pixel response
Rated at 4 ms, the Huawei MateView GT is not really outdone. But it’s significantly slower than the current crop of 1ms IPS panels – and indeed Samsung’s latest 1ms VA displays.
You expect the beautiful built-in soundbar to sound as good as it looks
While it does drop a decent volume, the audio quality is muddy, flat, and lacks real separation from the soundstage. This is the biggest disappointment of this screen.
You want decent HDR performance
The Huawei MateView GT supports HDR10, but it’s not a true HDR display and lacks features like local dimming. At the price, of course, that’s to be expected.