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LG 34UM95 34-Inch Ultra-Wide QHD Monitor Review
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1. LG 34UM95 34-Inch Ultra-Wide QHD Monitor Review

Last year LG introduced the first ultra-wide monitor we’d ever seen, the 29EA93. With a 21:9 aspect ratio, the screen tried answering a question we weren’t sure anyone was asking. But after reviewing two competing displays based on the same panel, NEC’s EA294WMi and AOC’s Q2963PM, we came away with some fresh ways to work with this new concept in monitors.

My own experience, along with feedback from the Tom's Hardware community, told me that there were two main problems with the 2560x1080, 29-inch form factor. Number one was a lack of pixel density. With only 1080 pixels of vertical resolution, it proved difficult to use for Web browsing and word processing. The second issue was overall screen size. Even if it had greater pixel density, a 29-inch ultra-wide is only 11.4 inches in height, resulting in too-little screen real estate for most tasks other than gaming or movie-watching.

Today we get our first look at LG’s second-generation ultra-wide display, the 34UM95, which purports to address at least one of those two shortcomings.

MSRP
$1000
Panel Type
AH-IPS
Backlight
W-LED, edge array
Screen Size
34-inch
Max Resolution
3440x1440
Max Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Aspect Ratio
21:9
Native Color Depth
10-bit (8-bit w/FRC)
Native Gamut
sRGB
Response Time (GTG)
14 ms
Brightness
320 cd/m2
Speakers
-
VGA
-
DVI
-
DisplayPort v1.2
1
HDMI v1.4
2
Thunderbolt
2
Audio In
-
Headphone
1
USB
v3.0 - 1 up, 3 down
Media Card Reader
-
Panel Dimensions
W x H x D w/base
32.7 x 18.5 x 6.8 in
824 x 466 x 171 mm
Panel Thickness
1.9 in / 48 mm
Bezel Width
.4-.8 in / 11-20 mm
Weight
17 lbs / 7.7 kg
Warranty
One year

First (and most obviously), LG takes a major step in the right direction with increased size and resolution. Now you get the same screen height as a 27-inch QHD display and the very same 109 PPI density. It wields all of the same advantages, plus a bonus 7.75 inches of screen width. If you were considering a dual-screen setup before, a display like this one warrants a serious look.

Whether you have a high-performance gaming rig begging for a multi-monitor configuration or you just want some extra screen real estate for productivity-oriented workloads, the biggest bummer about using two or three monitors is the bezel interruption between panels. Even displays with no bezel still have a frame around the picture. Current LCD technology seems to have no solution, so we’ve accepted the compromise for now.

Really, then, the decision between two 27-inch QHD screens versus one 34-inch ultra-wide comes down to total screen area and how badly you want to get rid of the bezel. Two 27-inch 16:9 displays yield 623 square inches, while the 34-inch ultra-wide totals 419. Now that the 34UM95 offers the same pixel density, it becomes a more fair comparison.

Aside from the ultra-wide aspect ratio, this is a fairly typical IPS-based monitor. The color gamut is sRGB with a White-LED backlight. To facilitate better utilization of the extra width, an application is included to help manage window sizing in up to four zones on the screen. The HDMI inputs are MHL-compatible, so you can easily window the output from a phone or tablet along with your computer desktop.

Along with our usual performance benchmarks, we’ll test the usability of the 34UM95. It promises to be a unique experience. Let’s take a closer look.

2. Packaging, Physical Layout, And Accessories

The 34UM95 comes in a slim carton made of single-corrugate cardboard. The contents are completely surrounded by Styrofoam, but we think they could use just a little more protection. Our sample arrived undamaged, but if you're ordering yours online, I'd recommend checking over your delivery carefully.

DisplayPort and HDMI cables are included, along with a brick containing the external power supply. There’s also a printed manual and two CDs with documentation, drivers, and the screen-split application.

Product 360

From the front, the 34UM95 appears to have no bezel. But there is a frame around the image of 11 mm on the top and sides and 20 mm across the bottom. All you see when the monitor is off is the LG logo at the bottom-center. The anti-glare coating is fairly aggressive, and it mitigates reflections with only a small sacrifice in clarity. Framing the panel is a chrome-plated metal strip that imparts an elegant high-end look to the package.

The base is metal on the bottom with a clear plastic upright that makes the panel seem to float in mid-air. A Phillips-head screwdriver is required to assemble it with the two included machine bolts. Once attached, it allows five degrees of forward tilt and 20 degrees back. There is no height or swivel adjustment. And even if you were to mount the monitor in portrait mode, there appears to be no way to rotate the image.

OSD controls were not immediately apparent until we actually looked in the manual.

In this photo you can see the single control joystick in the lighted area beneath the screen. By default, this LED is off, so unless you know where to look, you may not find it right away. The joystick controls all monitor functions. Pressing it turns on the power and clicking it towards you pops up this quick menu. It’s a little different from what we’re used to, but we adapted after a time.

The Reader option has two modes that dim the backlight and alter color temperature to reduce eye fatigue when reading text. Reader 1 is fairly warm in tint and Reader 2 retains the set color temp.

The 34UM95 is one of the slimmest panels we’ve seen, measuring less than two inches thick. An external power supply helps in that department. LG's design is sleek and smooth, making this monitor a nice complement on a minimalist desktop. And it goes great with Mac not only because of its looks, but also due to the two Thunderbolt inputs around back.

The rear of the chassis is a single piece of plastic that covers everything. There are no bulges or vents to spoil the lines. A 100 mm VESA mount is drilled into the center, right above the input panel. There's also a Kensington lock at the lower-right. If you use the mount, LG provides a little plastic square that fits over the screw holes to prevent scratches.

All but one input faces straight back. If you're using a wall mount, you might need to track down your own cables with right-angle plugs. Fortunately, the bundled power cord already has one.

From the left we have power, headphone, HDMI, DisplayPort, two Thunderbolt ports, and the USB 3.0 connectors. If you’re looking for the second HDMI input, it’s in the little indentation to the left and faces sideways. There’s no analog audio input, so the headphone jack passes the signal from either HDMI or DisplayPort.

3. OSD Setup And Calibration Of The LG 34UM95

OSD Tour

To open the main OSD, click the joystick towards you, then left.

The Easy Control menu has the Brightness and Contrast sliders, along with Volume (for the headphones), input selector, and aspect ratio options. Those options are:

  • Wide: fills the screen regardless of input resolution
  • Original: matches the incoming aspect ratio and fills the screen from top to bottom
  • Cinema 1: zooms out the black bars in Cinemascope movies
  • Cinema 2: does the same, but leaves room for subtitles
  • 1:1: direct pixel-mapping

Super Energy Saving doesn’t work quite the way you’d expect. At the Low setting, it limits brightness by about 20 percent, which makes sense. At the High setting, it automatically maxes the backlight and resets the Contrast control to 70. In some cases, that'll make the 34UM95 brighter. I dropped it to 56 during my calibration pass, so when I selected High, it actually did increase output.

Calibration is an automatic routine that requires an application bundled with the monitor. You also need a specific instrument only available from LG though, so weren't able to try it. Our OSD calibration proved to be very precise, so we’re not sure how much better the factory one could be.

There are four picture modes:

Custom is the default mode and the only one that makes all adjustments available. Photo is a good choice if you don’t calibrate, but it only leaves you with Brightness control. It does have the advantage of being the monitor’s brightest mode. Cinema and Game alter the grayscale, color, and gamma into the realm of personal preference rather than strict accuracy.

Picture-by-Picture functions are extensive, as they should be for any ultra-wide screen. First, choose which two inputs to use. Then select the one to output audio. You can swap them of course, and change their aspect ratios to Original (preserving the correct shape) or Full (which stretches the image vertically to fill the PBP window).

The Sharpness control works best on its default setting of 5. Reduce it and the image softens. Increase it and edge enhancement results.

Black Level does indeed reduce the black level and alters gamma slightly. Either High or Low gives you decent gamma and contrast, but Low provides the best image quality in my opinion.

Response Time alters the pixel timing to reduce motion blur. It works well. However, as we've seen on other monitors, it sometimes increases ghosting artifacts.

Here are the rest of the calibration controls. There are three gamma presets, but only the first one comes close to 2.2. Color Temp offers Warm, Medium, and Cool presets plus a Custom mode. The RGB sliders begin at the center of their ranges, which means you can maintain contrast and light output as you adjust them.

Six Color takes you to the CMS shown below, and Reset returns all Color settings to their factory defaults.

We’re always excited to see a CMS. Unfortunately, this one doesn’t provide any color luminance controls. The saturation sliders have very little effect, but the hue adjustments work well. We were able to correct errors in the magenta secondary and the fix worked at all saturation levels on our CIE chart. Check out page seven for more details.

The Settings menu includes 12 languages for the OSD. By default, the Power LED is turned off, making it tough to find the joystick controller. We turned it on and were happy to see the light isn't searing blue. Instead, it's a nice, soft, white color.

Auto Standby turns the 34UM95 off after an unspecified period of inactivity.

Thanks to the high pixel count, you’ll need to enable DisplayPort 1.2 if you want to operate at 60 Hz. Version 1.1 limits you to 30 Hz.

OSD Lock grays out all adjustments except Brightness, Contrast, Volume, and Input.

The one thing missing is an OSD timeout feature. You have to move quickly because the menu disappears after only 20 seconds if you don’t do anything.

Finally, you can reset the entire OSD to its default state.

LG 34UM95 Calibration

I achieved excellent results using the Custom color temp mode and the Hue controls in the CMS. To dial in 100-percent brightness, I reduced the Contrast control from 70 to 56. The corresponding drop in light output forced me to max the Brightness control to compensate just so I could just reach 200 cd/m2.

After calibrating grayscale, I settled on Gamma 1 and Black Level Low as the options that best maintained the monitor’s native contrast. There is one quirk that you'll discover when you try to take black level readings. Sending a zero-percent signal to the 34UM95 shuts down the backlight completely after a few seconds. Obviously, that yields a false reading or none at all. There’s no way to disable the feature, but it’s not a problem in normal use.

Color measurements taken after the grayscale calibration show a slight hue error in magenta, which I easily fixed using the CMS. There are no luminance controls there and the saturation sliders don’t work, but I still wound up with great color when I was done.

LG 34UM95 Calibration Settings
Picture Mode
Custom
Brightness
100
Contrast
56
Sharpness
5
Black Level
Low
Gamma
1
Color Temp Custom
Red 54, Green 52, Blue 47
Six Color
Magenta_Hue 47, All Others 50

4. Measurement And Calibration Methodology: How We Test

To measure and calibrate monitors, we use an i1Pro spectrophotometer, a Spectracal C6 colorimeter, and version 5.2.0.1374 of SpectraCal’s CalMAN software.

The i1Pro is very accurate and consistent measuring color on all types of displays, regardless of the backlight technology used. When we just need a luminance value, the C6 works better, especially in low light.

For patterns, we employ AccuPel DVG-5000 and DVDO AVLab TPG video signal generators. This approach removes video cards and drivers from the signal chain, allowing the display to receive true reference patterns. Connections are made via HDMI.

The AccuPel DVG-5000 is capable of generating all types of video signals at any resolution and refresh rate up to 1920x1080 at 60 Hz. It can also display motion patterns to evaluate a monitor's video processing capabilities, with 3D patterns available in every format. This allows us to measure color and grayscale performance, crosstalk, and ghosting in 3D content via the 3D glasses.

The DVDO generator is a new addition to our lab. It supports resolutions up to 4096x2160. We’re using it to verify the proper signal handling of QHD and UHD displays.

The i1Pro or C6 is placed at the center of the screen (unless we’re measuring uniformity) and sealed against it to block out any ambient light. The AccuPel pattern generator (bottom-left) is controlled via USB by CalMAN, which is running on the Dell XPS laptop on the right.

Our version of CalMAN Ultimate allows me to design all of the screens and workflows to best suit the purpose at hand. To that end, I’ve created a display review workflow from scratch. This way, we can be sure and collect all the necessary data with a concise and efficient set of measurements.

The charts show us the RGB levels, gamma response, and Delta E error for every brightness point from zero to 100 percent. The table shows us the raw data for each measurement. And the area in the upper-left tells us luminance, average gamma, Delta E, and contrast ratio. The individual charts can be copied to the Windows clipboard to easily create graphics for our reviews.

Every primary and secondary color is measured at 20-, 40-, 60-, 80-, and 100-percent saturation. The color saturation level is simply the distance from the white point on the CIE chart. You can see the targets moving out from white in a straight line. The further a point is from center, the greater the saturation until you hit 100 percent at the edge of the gamut triangle. This shows us the display’s response at a cross-section of color points. Many monitors score well when only the 100-percent saturations are measured. Hitting the targets at the lower saturations is more difficult, and factors into our average Delta E value (which explains why our Delta E values are sometimes higher than those reported by other publications).

5. Results: Brightness And Contrast

Uncalibrated

Before calibrating any panel, we measure zero and 100-percent signals at both ends of the brightness control range. This shows us how contrast is affected at the extremes of a monitor's luminance capability. We do not increase contrast past the clipping point. While doing this would increase a monitor’s light output, the brightest signal levels would not be visible, resulting in crushed highlight detail. Our numbers show the maximum light level possible with no clipping of the signal.

The greatest light output is available through the 34UM95’s Photo picture mode. The monitor comes from the factory set to Custom, though that only results in a peak white measurement of 249.9291 cd/m2, under LG’s 320 cd/m2 specification.

The black level at maximum brightness is decent, but that’s partially because of the lower white level. We noticed when displaying a zero-percent pattern that the backlight would shut completely off after a few seconds. You probably wouldn’t experience this behavior during normal use. However, it made our black level measurements a little tricky.

The max contrast level is a little lower than most other IPS screens. We like to see displays achieve at least 1000 to 1, so the 34UM95 isn’t too far off. Our results make it pretty obvious that TN still has the edge there, though.

We believe 50 cd/m2 is a practical minimum standard for screen brightness. Any lower and you risk eyestrain and fatigue. The 34UM95 bottoms out at 56.2552 cd/m2, which is great for playing games or working in a completely dark room.

A black level measurement of .0638 cd/m2 is decent, but other monitors we’ve tested go a little lower. The important thing is that the contrast ratio remains fairly constant as we turn down the backlight.

The difference between the 34UM95’s maximum and minimum contrast is negligible. It’s not quite as high as I'd like. Then again, I'm picky. Fortunately, the image quality you can expect from actual content is quite good with plenty of depth and pop.

After Calibration

Since we consider 200 cd/m2 to be an ideal point for peak output, we calibrate all of our test monitors to that value. In a room with some ambient light (like an office), you get a sharp, punchy image with maximum detail and minimum eye fatigue. On many monitors, this is also the sweet spot for gamma and grayscale tracking, which we'll look at on the next page.

In a dark room, many professionals prefer a 120 cd/m2 calibration. We have found it makes little to no difference on the calibrated black level and contrast measurements, though.

The black level is not significantly affected after calibration. Because the RGB sliders default to the center of their range, grayscale can be adjusted in a more balanced manner. When the controls begin at their maximums (like the majority of monitors), you can only reduce contrast as you dial in the grayscale.

We give up some performance here because we have to reduce the Contrast control in order to clean up the 100-percent white point. If you opt to leave Contrast at its default setting, you can expect about 900 to 1 instead. Our result represents the lowest possible grayscale error and is therefore a compromise.

ANSI Contrast Ratio

Another important measure of contrast is ANSI. To perform this test, a checkerboard pattern of sixteen zero and 100-percent squares is measured, yielding a somewhat more real-world metric than on/off readings because we see a display’s ability to simultaneously maintain both low black and full white levels, factoring in screen uniformity, too. The average of the eight full-white measurements is divided by the average of the eight full-black measurements to arrive at the ANSI result.

The ANSI measurement takes a hit due to the 34UM95’s poor black field uniformity, which we’ll show you on page eight. There are hotspots along the panel’s bottom edge that elevate the readings enough to drop ANSI contrast by another 28 percent from the maximum number. If you return the Contrast control to its default setting, the result improves to 773.4 to 1.

6. Results: Grayscale Tracking And Gamma Response

The majority of monitors, especially newer models, display excellent grayscale tracking (even at stock settings). It’s important that the color of white be consistently neutral at all light levels from darkest to brightest. Grayscale performance impacts color accuracy with regard to the secondary colors: cyan, magenta, and yellow. Since the 34UM95’s CMS can’t correct all color gamut errors, accurate grayscale is key.

LG's 34UM95 is set to its Custom picture mode by default. The resulting un-calibrated grayscale is just a tad cool. The error is barely visible and only at the 70- and 80-percent levels. Out-of-box performance is definitely above average.

If you don’t plan to calibrate, we recommend using the Photo mode instead.

As you've seen, the Photo mode offers a little more light output and its grayscale accuracy is about the same as Custom. You still have access to Brightness, but the Contrast and Color controls are locked out. The errors are visible at the 70- to 100-percent levels, showing just a hint of green. We still consider this above-average performance.

Here is our calibrated result:

Calibrating the Custom mode yields the best grayscale accuracy. You give up around 20 percent of the available contrast, so some users might opt to leave the RGB sliders and/or the Contrast control alone and simply adjust Brightness to taste. Either way, we expect you’ll be satisfied.

Here is our comparison group:

An average error of 2.37 Delta E is comfortably below the visibility point. Most brightness levels have no visible error at all. The ones that do will take sharp eyes to detect.

Calibration puts the 34UM95 on par with many professional displays.

It’s hard to find a monitor much more accurate than this. We think the compromise in contrast is worth such an excellent result. Since we were unable to try out the automatic calibration, we can’t say whether it's possible to get even better numbers. Visually, however, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

Gamma Response

Gamma is the measurement of luminance levels at every step in the brightness range from 0 to 100 percent. It's important because poor gamma can either crush detail at various points or wash it out, making the entire picture appear flat and dull. Correct gamma produces a more three-dimensional image, with a greater sense of depth and realism. Meanwhile, incorrect gamma can negatively affect image quality, even in monitors with high contrast ratios.

In the gamma charts below, the yellow line represents 2.2, which is the most widely used standard for television, film, and computer graphics production. The closer the white measurement trace comes to 2.2, the better.

LG's 34UM95 has three gamma presets, but all of the charts we’re showing represent the Gamma 1 option. Our intent is to illustrate the difference between the Custom and Photo modes, along with the impact of Black Level.

You can’t change the gamma in Photo mode, so you’re stuck with tracking shown above. Luminance errors become brighter as you move towards 100-percent brightness. In actual content, the image lacks a little depth compared to one with a flatter gamma trace.

In Custom mode, you have a choice of High or Low for the Black Level control.

The differences are subtle. However, set to High, the trace stays below 2.2 throughout the entire brightness range. At 90 percent, the error maxes out at 4.1 cd/m2, which is barely visible.

We think image quality is superior at the Low setting.

I realize it's only a small change, but I can really tell the difference looking at actual content. The error starts a little too dark and slides under the line at the 40-percent mark. Now the maximum error is 3 cd/m2.

Here is our comparison group again:

The average of our tested monitors is about .27. LG's 34UM95 doesn't demonstrate the flattest tracking we’ve seen, but it’s pretty close to our standard.

We calculate gamma deviation by simply expressing the difference from 2.2 as a percentage.

The 34UM95’s deviation result is a good deal better than average. Gamma 1 with the Black Level set to Low definitely produces the best numbers in our gamma tests.

7. Results: Color Gamut And Performance

Color gamut is measured using a saturation sweep that samples the six main colors (red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, and yellow) at five saturation levels (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 percent), yielding a more realistic view of color accuracy.

In Custom mode, the color gamut accuracy is pretty good, except for magenta. That secondary has a noticeable hue error towards blue. All of the others come fairly close to their targets for both hue and saturation. Luminance errors are small too, except for blue, which is as much as 33 percent too bright. The overall error is an average of 2.87 Delta E.

Here’s what happens when you switch to Photo mode:

Magenta is now much closer to its target at all saturation levels. Luminance results, however, are a little higher than before. At least to my eye, Photo mode looks a little more brilliant and colorful, but it does take a small step backward in measured accuracy. The average error is 3.74 Delta E.

The best color accuracy is found after calibration using the RGB controls and the color management system.

Most of the improvement we see is a result of our grayscale calibration. The CMS allows us to tidy up the magenta secondary so it has perfect hue. There are no luminance adjustments available, and blue suffers from that omission. The 34UM95’s gamut result is worthy of a professional-level display.

Now we return to the comparison group:

We’ve only seen six other monitors score better than the 34UM95 for gamut accuracy. Even though it’s not marketed as a professional display, it certainly performs like one. Even without calibration, there are no major issues to report.

Gamut Volume: Adobe RGB 1998 And sRGB

There are basically two categories of displays in use today: those that conform to the sRGB/Rec. 709 standard like HDTVs, and wide-gamut panels that show as much as 100 percent of the Adobe RGB 1998 spec. We use Gamutvision to calculate the gamut volume, based on an ICC profile created from our actual measurements.

With such great gamut results, it’s a pity that the 34UM95 isn’t a wide-gamut monitor. Photographers would love it, given plenty of desktop real estate and ample pixel density (this thing rocks in Photoshop). It falls a tiny bit short of 100-percent sRGB volume due to a slightly under-saturated blue primary.

8. Results: Viewing Angles And Uniformity

The more monitors we test, the more we can see that off-axis viewing performance is dependent not only on pixel structure (IPS, PLS, TN, etc.) but the backlight technology as well. And we can see that the anti-glare layer makes a difference too.

When a monitor is as wide as the 34UM95, off-axis performance needs to be top-notch, and it is. These are the best horizontal viewing photos we’ve ever seen. Aside from a little light reduction, the gray step pattern looks the same from a 45-degree angle as it does head-on. Meanwhile, in the vertical plane, there is a red shift along with lower brightness and a loss of detail in the darker steps. Still, I'd say this represents a step forward for IPS panels in general.

Screen Uniformity: Luminance

To measure screen uniformity, zero and 100-percent full-field patterns are used, and nine points are sampled. First, we establish a baseline measurement at the center of each monitor. Then the surrounding eight points are measured. Their values get expressed as a percentage of the baseline, either above or below. This number gets averaged. It is important to remember that we only test the review sample each vendor sends us. Other examples of the same monitor can measure differently in this metric.

First up is black field uniformity.

In excess of 20 percent isn't the worst result we've recorded, but it is higher than almost every other monitor we've tested. The culprit is along the bottom edge, where hotspots are fairly easy to see. There are also light areas at the top edge. Obviously, that is where the backlight LEDs are located.

Here’s the white field measurement:

Fortunately, the above result doesn’t translate to the white field measurement. In fact, as brightness increases, the screen appears more and more uniform.

Even though these tests show a weak point in the 34UM95, it doesn’t diminish other areas where the display performs well. Overall image quality is still very good.

Screen Uniformity: Color

To measure color uniformity, we display an 80-percent white field and measure the Delta E error of the same nine points. Then we simply subtract the lowest value from the highest to come up with a result. Smaller numbers mean a display is more uniform. Any value below three means a variation that is invisible to the naked eye.

Almost all of the monitors we measure have no visible color shift across the screen; LG's 34UM95 is no exception. In fact, only the bottom-right corner shows any significant difference in color accuracy. Even that error wasn't visible to me.

9. Results: Pixel Response, Input Lag, And Usability

To perform these tests, we use a high-speed camera that shoots at 1000 frames per second. Analyzing the video frame-by-frame allows us to observe the exact time it takes to go from a zero-percent signal to a 100% white field.

The pattern generator is placed at the base of the monitor so our camera can capture the precise moment its front-panel LED lights up, indicating that a video signal is being received by the monitor. With this camera placement, we can easily see how long it takes to fully display a pattern after pressing the button on the generator’s remote. This testing methodology allows for accurate and repeatable results when comparing panels.

Here’s a shot of our test setup. Click on the photo to enlarge.

The brighter section of the camera’s screen is what appears in the video. You can see the lights of the pattern generator in the bottom of the viewfinder. We flash the pattern on and off five times and average the results.

Twenty-five milliseconds is the typical result we get from almost every IPS panel we benchmark. Until we have a chance to measure a higher-refresh capable display, it seems that the technology has made no progress toward improving pixel response.

Here are the lag results:

Serious gamers will probably look for better input lag performance. But among 60 Hz IPS screens, the 34UM95 acquits itself well. Only the TN-based panels can beat it in our current group. Compared to other IPS displays, it’s one of the fastest products we’ve seen.

And for those of you wondering about the Overlord Tempest X270OC, we have one in the lab and its review will be published very soon.

Usability Testing

With so much screen area available, LG thoughtfully includes an app that automatically sizes Windows (it works on Macs too) into user-definable screen zones. The photo above shows a four-window configuration, though you can use other layouts as well, demonstrated in the screenshot below.

Once you select an option, windows dragged to a particular area automatically size themselves to fill that zone. You can arrange your apps very quickly this way.

With or without the Screen Split utility, LG's 34UM95 is a pleasure to use. I debate the multi-monitor configuration on and off for my own workstation, but haven't pulled the trigger. I'm well-adapted to a single 27-inch QHD display. So, a 34-inch ultra-wide would give me an extra 7.75 inches of width versus what I already use.

For gaming, this certainly won’t replicate a three 24" monitors in Eyefinity or Surround. But if you're a casual like myself, the extra width creates a more immersive experience. From 30 inches away, the sides of the screen are just within my peripheral vision. In fast-paced titles, I do actually turn my head a little as action pans horizontally. Vertically, I don’t think I’d be comfortable with any more height. Of course, your mileage may vary.

In my opinion, the 34-inch diagonal size is ideal for a single ultra-wide monitor. Since the pixel density is identical to QHD’s 109 PPI, there is no difference in font size or perceived resolution.

10. LG 34UM95: Solid Performance And Real Usability

When we last looked at ultra-wide displays, we concluded that, while they were solid choices for gaming and entertainment, their lack of resolution and screen height made them less useful for productivity. Now that LG is following up with a 1440p 34-inch wide screen, we are forced to reassess our judgement.

Many users like two or three monitors on their desks for the extra working/gaming space (Ed.: I use three QHD displays myself). Even a relatively mainstream PC allows for easy multi-tasking and lots of concurrently-running applications. So, we need displays able to accommodate that functionality. Plus, it’s nice to be able to connect a smartphone or tablet and see its output alongside the PC desktop without giving up significant screen area.

An informal poll of the Tom's Hardware editorial staff suggests that 27-inch QHD panels are just about right for a single- or dual-monitor setup. The height and viewing distance mean we can sit fairly close and still see the entire screen without turning our heads. With two displays, I personally like to put one directly in front for the main desktop and one off to the side for ancillary tools.

Sometimes it’s handy to be able to stretch a single program like Photoshop or Excel across a large area. Splitting the image across two monitors is certainly doable. However, on a display like the 34UM95, it becomes a way of working that’s hard to give up. Here’s a perfect real-world example. When I create comparison charts for Tom’s Hardware reviews, I have the charts and data on a single Excel page. Normally I’m scrolling left and right quite often. But when I perform the same task on LG's screen, I'm able to see the entire spreadsheet without scrolling. In Photoshop, it becomes possible for me to work with a lot more open files because no windows are hidden from view.

As far as this specific model is concerned, the 34UM95 performed extremely well through our benchmark tests. Its color and grayscale accuracy were among the best for sure. We would like to see better native contrast in a $1000 monitor, and we found some black screen uniformity issues plaguing our particular sample.

Accessory- and feature-wise, LG provides a complete package that includes an excellent screen window management utility. Screen Split is fantastic for quickly arranging content in as many as four zones, and it’s easily reconfigured or turned off with a few mouse clicks.

We expect many entertainment-seekers will enjoy the 34UM95's ultra-wide form factor. I'd stop short of calling it a gaming monitor, given that 60 Hz refresh rate. But input lag does measure a bit lower than other IPS-based panels we’ve tested. The immersion factor versus a single 27-inch QHD panel cannot be overstated. It offers nearly eight inches of extra width, and when you sit closer than three feet like I do, the screen almost fills your peripheral vision. With a good surround speaker system, movie-watching in the office can take on a whole new dimension!

So, if you’ve considered adding a second monitor to your desktop, we recommend giving the 34UM95 a look. Offering solid performance, a sleek-looking chassis, and superior usability to its 29-inch forebears, it may finally be a reason to add an ultra-wide display to your system.