LG 34UM95 Monitor Review
by Chris Heinonen on June 18, 2014 7:00 AM ESTThe On-Screen Display of the LG 34UM95 is controlled using a push-button joystick on the bottom of the display. The OSD itself takes up the full right-third of the display and cannot be moved. This likely isn’t an issue for most people, but if you prefer it to be on a different side or to be semi-transparent you cannot adjust it.
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WIth the larger size of the 34UM95 you can better take advantage of the Split-Screen feature. The 1720x1440 resolution will hold 90% of a 1080p image on half of the display (with black borders on the top and bottom). For those who want to watch TV or a movie or play video games on half the display while using the rest for work (or other information), it is very possible to do so. However, in practice this isn’t as flexible as it could be. Video cards do not detect a proper 1720x1440 mode to use for split screen use. Even if you select something close to a 6:5 ratio, like the 4:3 1600x1200 resolution, it only uses up a small section of the screen. So while the feature works, it likely works best using both HDMI inputs, not with an HDMI input and the DisplayPort input.
The included stand with the 34UM95 is clean and sleek but lacks adjustments. You have tilt adjustments available but no height, pivot, or swivel. There are integrated mounting screws for a 100mm VESA mount if you need more flexibility. This is an improvement over the smaller LG 21:9 monitor that lacked mounting holes for a more flexible stand.
As I mentioned in the Thunderbolt discussion there are USB ports on the rear of the 34UM95. There are two USB 2.0 ports and a single USB 3.0 port with a USB 3.0 Type B connector. Why they are not all USB 3.0 I am unsure, but most people don’t have a current need for multiple USB 3.0 connections. That is certain to change in the future so only having one might be a drawback. There is a headphone jack on the rear as well.
During multiple weeks of use, the 34UM95 and it’s wider aspect ratio grew on me. While I have liked the 21:9 monitors in the past for gaming, I usually felt a single 27” display wound up being better for a general purpose display. The extra vertical resolution is far more important than the extra bit of width that those displays offer. With the 34UM95 it now offers that same vertical resolution, but with far more horizontal space for running two applications side-by-side.
As someone that is used to dual display configurations, I find myself working just fine with the single 34UM95. Keeping a web browser up on one side while I work on the other side of the display works well. On a 27” display you often run into the issue where running an application full screen is too wide to be useful, and half the screen can be too narrow. The 34UM95 does a good job of splitting the difference. Running on half the screen with a web browser, word processor, or other application is a very good size. Very few things feel crowded when shrunk down to fit. And if you need to use the full screen, say with a very large spreadsheet, then you easily can.
Having a single monitor that can function as a dual display replacement is useful. If desk space is low, or you have a laptop with a single video output, running dual 27” monitors may not be an option. In this case the LG 34UM95 proves to be very useful. I have been using as a single display and have not felt the need to hook another one up. The largest downside has been games that don’t support 21:9 aspect ratios and have pillarboxing on the sides.
Of course, it also would be good if the display can out-perform a pair of 27” monitors on the bench test. The smaller 21:9 displays have done well so far, but things might change once the vertical size is the same as a 27” display.
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SeanFL - Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - link
Thoughts on moving from using two 24" 1920 x 1200 monitors to this one? I'll lose some horizontal pixels and pick up some vertical. Used mainly for video and audio editing.scottrichardson - Thursday, July 3, 2014 - link
SeanFL, I'm in the same boat as you. Running two Apple LED 24" Cinema displays but one is about to die. Apple doesn't sell a replacement display compatible with my 2009 Mac Pro, so I'm looking at this LG. The extra vertical resolution will be nice, and possibly more useful in many cases for my design/coding work.Wondering if there are any further updates on the backlight bleed issues?
SeanFL - Saturday, July 19, 2014 - link
Scott, I picked one of these up a few days ago and am very impressed. No backlight issues that I can detect, and the display is beautiful. A much nicer display than the Dell Ultrasharp 2407. Not having a bezel in the middle of my workspace has also been an upgrade. Haven't missed any of the vertical pixels that I gave up when setting aside two 1920 x 1200 monitors.Now I'm looking for a mount to be able to switch between sitting and standing. The
Ergotron LX seems like a nice fit.
SeanFL - Saturday, July 19, 2014 - link
correction, make that horizontal pixels I gave up. btw, mine was manufactured June 2014, mentions rev02 on the back.scottrichardson - Monday, July 21, 2014 - link
That's great news Sean. I have mine ordered through my local computer store. They were told there's a 'worldwide shortage' and are not expected to hit the country until after the end of July. I don't mind waiting. Apple ended up replacing the panel in my 5 year old 24" LED display for FREE, which was very nice of them (after how much I paid for my Mac Pro setup, they felt it was fair!!!). Really looking forward to the display for the same reasons you are enjoying yours. No bezel in the middle, extra vertical pixels etc.inperfectdarkness - Wednesday, July 9, 2014 - link
Never! There shouldn't even be 22/9 screens. We need more 16:10 screens. Screw hollywood's ridiculous widescreen formats.gochichi - Thursday, July 31, 2014 - link
You're so right about this. Just to think about how simple the connection would be at this point to a 2560x1600 screen. I have no clue why 2560x1600 is stuck at a 30" display option and no other option. I would love to see 2560x1600 at 20", 23", 25", 27" etc. It would so awesome, and finding a computer or laptop with a DisplayPort is all that would be required. We can dream...gochichi - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
This technology segment has had a true lapse in innovation in very many years. So much so, that these obvious products finally coming is more than welcome. And if I have to bite my tongue and call it "innovation" then I will.I think that companies assume that people don't have decent eyesight way too much.
Where is the obvious 23" 2560x1440? Where is it? Where in this stagnant,-no-good market is such a product? We have 11" laptops with 2560x1440... but no 20" or 23" desktop monitors?
Well, I got tired of waiting, so I got the UP2414Q which is really fantastic. So much less dorky looking than the 27" displays. But it won't run flawlessly on every machine.
Here's the difference between stupid reality, and the wonderful non-innovation that should really be: I WILL buy an $800-$1000 display for myself, but if the market weren't so retarded... I'd buy 70 units of 23" 2560x1440 IPS displays (with DisplayPort and HDMI) for $500 a pop. I'd buy 70 units, if not more.
So this whole market is stagnant from sheer greed and this imaginary notion that nobody cares, where the reality is that anybody with a 2010+ MacBook (Air or Pro) would love nothing more than to plug into a 23" "retina" display for that price.
Example of devices that run 2560x1440 flawlessly, but 4K at only 30Hz
Surface Pro, X1 Carbon, MacBooks,
Just to be completely clear, I would, and so many others would too... prefer to spend $500 on a 23" instead of the 27" units available for years now.
I'm so disgusted with this market... sure this particular product is less stale than most, just like my Dell UP2414Q is also less stale. But why not have a vibrant product that everyone could enjoy? Why are they pretending that there's a niche market when the reality is that there's a massive, unaddressed market of people who want nice, and need practical. Of people that need other things on their desks other than a screen. Of people who have money but don't want to waste it on junk.
Gadgety - Friday, August 1, 2014 - link
Thanks for the review. It's a tempting proposition when looking at the screen, but taking everything into account I find that $999 is too much money for what I'd get. I'll stay with a 29 inch 21:9 instead, and I'll get some daylight on my desk as well....GerardFreeman - Tuesday, September 16, 2014 - link
Can some one tell me what GPU will run this monitor at full res?