Monoprice 40in CrystalPro monitor review: In-Depth Rating

This monoprice 40in crystalpro monitor review examines the 44394, an unusual flat 40-inch ultrawide that combines 3440 × 1440 resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate, and USB-C charging. Its appeal is straightforward: you get substantially more screen area than a conventional 34-inch ultrawide, responsive gaming, and room for multiple applications without a second monitor. Independent testing from Tom’s Hardware and PC Perspective found good color accuracy, impressive contrast for an IPS panel, and very low input lag, but also identified weak pixel overdrive and disappointing HDR performance. There is one major buying caveat: Monoprice’s official US product page now reports that the monitor is no longer available.

Monoprice 40in CrystalPro monitor review: quick verdict

The Monoprice CrystalPro 44394 is worth considering if you specifically want a large, flat ultrawide for gaming and multitasking, especially when evaluating a discounted remaining-stock unit or a used example. Its 144Hz refresh rate, USB-C video input with up to 90W of power delivery, and tested color accuracy make it more versatile than its unusual size might suggest.

However, it is not an automatic recommendation in the current market. The 3440 × 1440 resolution is spread across a 40-inch screen, producing relatively modest pixel density. Its HDR implementation is limited, and its slow overdrive settings leave more motion blur than the best competing gaming monitors. Its original retail availability is another concern.

My verdict: Buy it only if the large, flat screen is specifically what you need and the seller’s price, return policy, and warranty terms make sense. For sharper text, stronger HDR, or cleaner motion, a newer alternative may be a better investment.

Key specifications

The exact model reviewed here is Monoprice part number 44394. CrystalPro is a product family, so the specifications should not be confused with those of Monoprice’s curved 34-inch models.

The specifications come from Monoprice’s product manual and published product information, supplemented by independent reviews. Color coverage, contrast, and response behavior can differ between manufacturer claims and third-party measurements.

One especially important distinction is that the advertised 1ms MPRT figure is not equivalent to a measured 1ms gray-to-gray transition. Tom’s Hardware found that the monitor’s overdrive implementation leaves more motion blur than better-performing alternatives.

Design and ergonomics

The defining feature of the 44394 is its enormous, flat ultrawide panel. Most monitors with this aspect ratio use a curved screen, but Monoprice chose a flat IPS design. That can work well for documents, spreadsheets, programming, and creative applications where straight lines and consistent geometry matter.

The screen is approximately 37.2 inches wide, so desk space deserves careful consideration. Its overall footprint is closer to that of a large television than a conventional desktop monitor. The supplied stand adds substantial depth, and the monitor weighs roughly 24 pounds with the stand attached.

The stand supports height adjustment, tilt, and limited swivel. These adjustments help with positioning, but the screen does not offer the full range of ergonomic movement available on some premium office monitors. Its 75 × 75mm VESA mounting pattern also differs from the 100 × 100mm arrangement common on many monitor arms, so check compatibility before buying a separate mount.

The flat design has advantages and drawbacks. For creative work, a flat screen avoids the geometric impression that a curve can introduce when editing straight architectural lines or working with large canvases. For gaming, the screen’s width can increase immersion without wrapping the image around the viewer.

However, the far edges require more eye or head movement than a smaller monitor. If you sit very close to the panel, its size may feel overwhelming. A deeper desk or a more distant seating position makes the display easier to use comfortably.

Build quality was a positive in Tom’s Hardware’s review. The stand was stable, and the monitor felt solid despite its large dimensions. The unusual size is therefore not a reason to reject it outright, but it does make measuring your desk and viewing distance essential before purchase.

Monoprice 40in CrystalPro monitor review: independent test results

Picture quality and color accuracy

The 44394 performs better in SDR image quality than its budget-oriented positioning might suggest. Tom’s Hardware found good out-of-box color accuracy and measured approximately 1,500:1 contrast, above the 1,200:1 typical contrast ratio listed by the manufacturer.

That result is encouraging for an IPS monitor. Conventional IPS displays often have relatively modest native contrast, so the CrystalPro’s measured performance gives dark areas a little more depth than many basic IPS alternatives. Its viewing angles were also strong, with little color shift when viewed away from the center.

Color coverage is useful but needs to be interpreted carefully. Monoprice advertised approximately 99% sRGB and 95% DCI-P3 coverage, along with 89% Adobe RGB coverage in its product information. PC Perspective’s SpyderX testing found that the tested unit did not quite reach all the advertised gamut figures, while Tom’s Hardware reported DCI-P3 coverage near 88%.

Those differences do not necessarily mean the monitor is inaccurate. Gamut coverage measures the range of colors the display can reproduce, whereas color accuracy measures how closely its output matches intended values. The independent reviewers generally found the CrystalPro’s SDR color performance good, especially after appropriate adjustments.

For general gaming, photo browsing, video playback, and everyday productivity, the results are encouraging. For professional color-critical work, however, you should not treat the manufacturer’s gamut claims as a substitute for independent calibration measurements from the specific unit you purchase.

Resolution and text clarity

The 3440 × 1440 resolution gives the CrystalPro a standard ultrawide workspace, but spreading those pixels over a 40-inch diagonal produces approximately 93 pixels per inch.

That is lower than a typical 34-inch monitor with the same resolution. A 34-inch 3440 × 1440 screen has approximately 110 pixels per inch, so text and fine interface details appear sharper at the same viewing distance.

The CrystalPro’s extra physical space remains useful. You can place several windows side by side, keep tool panels visible, or spread a wide editing timeline across the screen without the bezel of a second monitor getting in the way.

The trade-off is that you do not gain additional pixels compared with a standard ultrawide. You gain larger physical working areas, not sharper detail.

Tom’s Hardware found that pixel structure could become visible at viewing distances of two feet or less, although the image remained clear at more typical distances. This makes the monitor less compelling for people who sit close to the screen and prioritize crisp text.

For gaming, the lower density is less problematic if you sit far enough away. For detailed graphic design, small text, or high-density desktop work, a 34-inch model with the same resolution or a higher-resolution 40-inch display may be a better fit.

Gaming performance and motion handling

The 144Hz refresh rate is one of the CrystalPro’s strongest features. Compared with a conventional 60Hz monitor, it can show new frames more frequently and make movement feel smoother when the game is producing enough frames to take advantage of the refresh rate.

Its Adaptive-Sync support helps synchronize the display’s refresh behavior with compatible graphics hardware. Tom’s Hardware reported using FreeSync across a 50–144Hz range and also found that G-SYNC worked during our research, although the monitor was not identified as NVIDIA-certified.

Input lag was another positive. Tom’s Hardware described the monitor as extremely responsive to controls, and its reviewer found that low input lag helped compensate for the less impressive motion clarity.

The weakness is overdrive. Overdrive attempts to speed pixel transitions, but a monitor’s advertised response time does not tell you how consistently it handles different transitions at its maximum refresh rate. Tom’s Hardware found more motion blur than competing gaming displays because the CrystalPro’s overdrive was comparatively weak.

The distinction matters most in fast competitive games. A 144Hz monitor can be responsive to your inputs while still showing more trailing behind moving objects than a similarly rated competitor.

The monitor also lacks a dedicated backlight-strobing mode according to Tom’s Hardware. Its gaming controls include features such as crosshairs, timers, refresh-rate information, and preset picture modes, but these do not compensate for weak pixel transitions.

For strategy games, role-playing games, racing games, and general gaming, the CrystalPro offers a useful combination of screen area and refresh rate. For high-level competitive shooters, a smaller monitor with cleaner high-refresh motion is likely to be a stronger choice.

HDR performance: its biggest weakness

The CrystalPro accepts HDR signals, but its actual HDR presentation is not a strong reason to buy it.

The terminology around this model is inconsistent. Tom’s Hardware described it as an HDR 400-class monitor in its review, while PC Perspective noted that Monoprice marketed the display as HDR600 but that Windows did not recognize it as certified. The manufacturer’s manual confirms HDR10 signal support, but HDR10 compatibility does not itself establish a VESA DisplayHDR certification level.

The backlight includes 16 edge-dimming zones. In Tom’s Hardware’s testing, the local-dimming feature substantially increased measured contrast in HDR mode, with contrast exceeding 6,300:1 under the tested conditions. That figure is not equivalent to native panel contrast and should not be interpreted as a uniform contrast level across the whole screen.

The main issue was luminance tracking. Tom’s Hardware found that the HDR image appeared too dark relative to the reference curve, and PC Perspective also observed that enabling HDR washed out ordinary desktop content and disrupted its SDR calibration.

The monitor can produce brighter highlights than a basic office display, but the overall image lacks the convincing brightness control and highlight-to-shadow balance expected from a stronger HDR monitor. Ambient light can make the shortcomings more noticeable.

For the best everyday experience, SDR is the safer default. Enable HDR for a compatible game if you prefer the result, but do not buy the 44394 specifically for HDR gaming.

USB-C connectivity and everyday productivity

USB-C is one of this model’s most useful features. Its Type-C input supports DisplayPort Alt Mode and up to 90W of power delivery, allowing a compatible laptop to send a display signal and receive charging power through a single cable.

That can simplify a laptop workstation considerably. Instead of connecting a separate video cable and power adapter, you can connect the monitor directly to the computer and keep the desk tidier.

There is an important qualification, however: the CrystalPro should not automatically be treated as a fully featured USB-C docking monitor.

The published port information is inconsistent. Tom’s Hardware’s tested unit had no downstream USB 3.0 ports, while PC Perspective noted that its review sample lacked the USB-A and USB-B ports mentioned in some product specifications. Because the reviews and documentation disagree, buyers should verify the exact hardware configuration before relying on USB peripherals connected through the monitor.

The USB-C input also requires a computer that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode or another compatible video-over-USB-C method. The presence of a USB-C connector by itself does not guarantee that every laptop can output video through it.

The remaining connections include DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 inputs. DisplayPort is the better starting point for a desktop gaming PC if you want to use the monitor at its maximum resolution and refresh rate. HDMI 2.0 can be more restrictive for high-refresh ultrawide signals, so check the available modes for your particular graphics card and cable.

The monitor’s pair of built-in 5W speakers is convenient for basic audio, notifications, and video calls. They are not a replacement for quality desktop speakers or a headset. A 3.5mm audio output is available if you prefer external audio equipment.

On-screen controls and settings

The CrystalPro has a broad on-screen display menu covering image modes, color adjustments, gamma, Adaptive-Sync, HDR, and gaming features. That flexibility helps if the monitor needs to be adjusted for both work and play.

The drawback is usability. Tom’s Hardware found the joystick navigation awkward and less intuitive than the controls on many competing monitors. Some settings require moving through multiple menu pages, and the reviewer did not find the game-specific picture modes particularly beneficial.

For SDR work, leaving the dynamic contrast control disabled is a sensible starting point because aggressive dynamic processing can sacrifice shadow or highlight detail. The same applies to color adjustments: the monitor’s out-of-box accuracy was good in Tom’s Hardware’s test, so extensive manual changes are not automatically necessary.

PC Perspective reported an additional annoyance: switching HDR on and off reset the brightness setting to a high value on its test unit. That is not conclusive evidence that every unit behaves identically, but it is another reason to check firmware behavior and settings if buying this older monitor secondhand.

The menu system is functional, but it is not among the CrystalPro’s strengths. Once you find settings that suit your use, limiting frequent adjustments may make the experience easier.

Availability, warranty, and whether it is worth buying

The current Monoprice US product page for part 44394 reports that the product is no longer available. That means this review is most useful for evaluating remaining third-party stock or a used unit, rather than assuming you can purchase a new one directly from Monoprice.

Tom’s Hardware listed the monitor at $549.99 in its March 2024 review. PC Perspective also recorded a promotional price below that level in December 2023. These are historical figures, not verified current offers, and they should not be used as proof of the monitor’s present market value.

If you find a unit today, evaluate it against the price and features of currently available 34-inch ultrawides and other large-format displays. The CrystalPro makes the most sense when its 40-inch flat panel is a genuine priority and the price reflects its older connectivity and weaker motion processing.

Before buying used or open-box stock, verify the following:

• Panel condition: Check for dead or stuck pixels, backlight uniformity problems, damage, and any signs of previous impact.

• USB-C behavior: Test video output and laptop charging, and verify the port configuration rather than assuming the monitor has a USB hub.

• Maximum refresh rate: Confirm that 3440 × 1440 at 144Hz works through the input you intend to use.

• Return policy: Obtain clear terms covering defective pixels, intermittent signal problems, and hardware damage.

• Warranty eligibility: Tom’s Hardware recorded a three-year warranty at review time, but that does not guarantee current coverage for a used unit, a third-party sale, or a product whose original warranty period has expired.

If the seller cannot demonstrate that the panel, inputs, and refresh-rate modes work correctly, the unusually large screen is not worth taking an unnecessary risk over.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Monoprice CrystalPro 44394 a curved monitor?

No. The 40-inch CrystalPro 44394 uses a flat IPS panel with a 21:9 aspect ratio. Its size provides a wide viewing area, but it does not have the curvature found on many other ultrawide gaming monitors.

Can the CrystalPro 44394 run at 144Hz over USB-C?

The monitor supports DisplayPort Alt Mode over USB-C and is advertised for up to 144Hz. The exact maximum refresh rate depends on the laptop or graphics card, its USB-C video capabilities, the cable, and the supported signal mode. Verify the available modes on the specific computer before relying on USB-C for maximum-refresh gaming.

Is the CrystalPro 44394 good for photo editing?

It can be suitable for general photo editing and other SDR creative work. Independent reviewers found good color accuracy, but the monitor’s relatively low pixel density for its size and variation between advertised and measured gamut coverage make it less compelling for demanding color-critical work. Calibration and a suitable viewing distance are important.

Does the CrystalPro 44394 have a USB hub?

The published information is inconsistent. Tom’s Hardware reported no downstream USB ports on its tested unit, while PC Perspective noted that the USB-A and USB-B ports listed in some specifications were missing from its sample. Confirm the actual unit’s connections before buying, particularly if you need a monitor-based USB hub.

Is the Monoprice 40-inch CrystalPro still available new?

Monoprice’s official US product page currently reports that the product is no longer available. Some third-party or open-box listings may still appear, but their stock, condition, and warranty eligibility must be confirmed independently.

Conclusion

The Monoprice CrystalPro 44394 is an unusual 40-inch flat ultrawide with several genuine strengths: a 144Hz refresh rate, good tested SDR color accuracy, very low input lag, useful USB-C charging, and an expansive workspace. Its weaknesses are equally important: modest pixel density, weak overdrive, disappointing HDR behavior, and uncertainty around downstream USB ports. With Monoprice no longer listing the product as available, its value depends heavily on the condition and price of any remaining unit. Consider it if you specifically want a large, flat 3440 × 1440 display at a compelling price. Otherwise, a newer ultrawide may offer a better balance of image sharpness, motion handling, and connectivity.