iiyama G-Master GCB3486WQSCP Review (240Hz VA Ultrawide)

1. Introduction2. Design3. On-screen Display (OSD)4. Panel Analysis: SDR5. Response Times & Motion Clarity6. Input Latency7. Closing Thoughts8. View All Pages

Having been left a little disappointed the last time we reviewed an iiyama ultrawide, it's safe to say the GCB3486WQSCP has gone a long way to rectifying that experience. That's not to say it doesn't have its own flaws, but for £350, there is a lot to like here.

That starts with the factory calibration, which is solid. Colour balance comes very close to the 6500K target, and while gamma is a little low, we are being quite picky. It also gets very bright indeed at almost 570 nits, though contrast is closer to 3000:1 than the claimed 4000:1 ratio. It's just a shame iiyama hasn't included an sRGB mode, as we think that's a valuable feature in 2025.

iiyama has also revamped its OSD menu system recently, making it much cleaner and modern-looking, while there's a number of features – including built-in ethernet, 95W USB-C power delivery and KVM functionality – which make me think the company is targeting more than just gamers with this screen.

Speaking of gaming though, the core experience is solid, though iiyama could improve a few things for the next revision. Fundamentally though, motion clarity is decent at 240Hz, though given it's a cheaper VA panel, there is some dark-level smearing visible at times. iiyama also offers a motion blur reduction (MBR) mode, but it has a number of drawbacks as detailed earlier in the review, so that's definitely something we'd like to see tweaked going forward.

I do like the 1500R curvature though, and when you consider the solid response times alongside the wide gamut and punchy VA contrast, you can see why this monitor will appeal, particularly to those seeking immersion above all else.

So no, iiyama's GCB3486WQSCP isn't perfect, but at the £350 asking price, many of its flaws can be forgiven. It'd be great to see the response times and MBR modes refined in a future model for even better motion clarity, but even as things stand, it's worth buying if you want a high refresh rate ultrawide that won't break the bank.

We found it listed on both Amazon and Scan at the £350 asking price.

Pros

• Well priced for a curved, high refresh rate ultrawide.
• Generally solid response times and motion clarity.
• Wide gamut.
• Factory calibration is good.
• Gets very bright at almost 570 nits.
• Contrast, while not as high as advertised, is still much better than an IPS panel.
• Supports USB-C, KVM and built-in ethernet.
• Pair of HDMI 2.1 ports.
• Simple, inoffensive design (though it's perhaps slightly bland for some).

Cons

• Some dark-level smearing is visible, as is typical of a VA panel.
• Motion blur reduction mode has significant drawbacks.
• No sRGB emulation mode.
• We couldn't hit the claimed 4000:1 contrast ratio.
• Gamma is a little low, but nothing terrible.

KitGuru says: iiyama's GCB3486QWQSCP is a solid ultrawide gaming monitor. It's not perfect, but it offers good value for money at the £350 asking price.

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