Pros
- Impressive 34-inch WQHD display
- Adjustable in height and inclination
- Compatible with HDR10 content
- USB-C port with a power supply
Cons
- No native speakers
- Not suitable for high-end gaming
Taking into account the importance that working from home has garnered over the last year, it is essential that you have the right tools to tackle your tasks in an efficient way, and buying an external monitor is one of the easiest ways to do so.
It's with this in mind that today we want to talk in-depth about one of the most popular monitors in the market: the LG 34WN80C-B. With this monitor, LG has managed to accrue stellar reviews amongst professionals of all sorts thanks to its excellent image quality as well as its competitive price point. But the question is; is it worth it? That's what we're here to find out!
Index
- Technical specifications
- Who's it for?
- Design
- Ports and Connectivity
- Work performance
- Gaming performance
- Conclusion
LG 34WN80C-B Specs overview
| Make model | LG 34WN80C-B |
| Dimensions | 32.04 x 22.42 x 9.87 inches |
| Weight | 17.63 pounds |
| Panel | IPS | 34 inches |
| Resolution | WQHD (3440 x 1440 pixels) |
| Response time | 5 ms (GtG) |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz |
| Color depth | 10 bits (8 bits + A-FRC) |
| Aspect ratio | 21: 9 |
| Speakers | None |
| VESA support | Yes (100 x 100 mm) |
| Connectivity | USB-A 3.0 (x2) USB-C HDMI 2.0 (x2) DisplayPort 1.4 Headphone jack |
Who's it for?
Let's not beat around the bush. You know it, I know it. This monitor is for powerhouse professionals who require ample quality screen real estate to work comfortably and manage multiple apps at a time in plain sight. This is not the monitor you would buy for your grandmother or even for your kid.
This monitor is for hardcore multitaskers who are not messing around. That means programmers, digital marketers who work with photoshop and the likes, photographers, video professionals, and even "regular people" who need to work with numerous programs open at a time.
Who's it not for? Well, this isn't a monitor that we would recommend for high-end gamers for a number of reasons. First off, the screen's 21:9 aspect ratio means you'll have to deal with black bars on the sides as most top-notch titles are only prepared for 16:9 aspect ratios. Couple that with a 60 Hz refresh rate and you've got yourself a monitor that is ill-suited to be a gaming station. Having said that it's perfect for just about everything else.
Design
Standing out for its elegance and resistance, the LG 34WN80C-B is presented as a monitor designed to fit into any workspace, whether at home or in the office, thanks to its matte black finish construction with an adjustable stand. In terms of design, it slightly reminds us of the LG 27UK850-W reviewed recently, though the latter does not have a curved display.
Specifically, this model supports tilt level adjustment (-5 ~ + 15ยบ) and height (up to 100 mm), whilst boasting a slightly curved design with no light-bleed nor dead pixels in sight to allow you to work with greater concentration on your daily tasks.
One thing it doesn't have is the possibility to work with the screen in portrait mode which is understandable given the size and curved design of the display.
On that note, this monitor measures 32.04 x 22.42 x 9.87 inches including the support and has a weight of 17.63 pounds. In addition, it has the necessary holes to enable it to be anchored to the wall, by means of a 100 x 100 mm VESA mount. Being that this is a 34-inch monitor that we're talking about here, mounting it to the wall is definitely something worth looking into.
Ports and Connectivity
In this section, we highlight the incorporation of 2 HDMI 2.0 video outputs and an additional DisplayPort 1.4, to allow you to connect additional screens, laptops, desktop computers, or even video game consoles. Though we still don't recommend this monitor for hardcore gamers.
It also has a reversible USB-C input to facilitate data transmission and charging of external devices (laptops, smartphones, etc.), 2 extra USB-A 3.0 inputs, and a 3.5 mm connector to connect headphones or external speakers.
This would be advised since the monitor doesn't feature any sorts of sound system so we would really recommend getting a couple of speakers or even a small-form soundbar with many really good ones being available for under 50 bucks these days.
It's worth noting that the USB-C power supply is limited to 60W. That's more than enough for many users but it does mean that it's not really a replacement for a proper charger in the case of the MacBook Pro for example. Basically what this means is that depending on what you're doing while connected you'll be able to charge up your Mac faster or slower.
Work performance
From the get-go, the 34WN80C-B ensures you that much-desired efficiency and productivity when performing your daily computing tasks, especially if you tend to work with multiple applications at the same time.
This is possible thanks to its 34-inch extension, WQHD resolution (1440p), ultra-wide format (21: 9) and Super Resolution + technology, responsible for maintaining the clarity of your multimedia content, even if you enlarge it on the screen.
And to guarantee color fidelity, apart from being compatible with HDR10 content, this monitor boasts coverage of 99% of the sRGB spectrum, whilst also having a color depth of 10 interpolated bits and a brightness level of up to 300 nits.
All this to say that it's truly one of the best displays you can get in terms of image quality within the mid-range as has been already confirmed by numerous clients.
Although it is not a monitor aimed at high-end gaming, we cannot deny how convenient this model is for those casual gamers, who seek to entertain themselves from time to time enjoying recently launched titles.
Specifically, its Dynamic Action Sync technology, in combination with a 60 Hz refresh rate and 5 ms response (GtG), allows you to enjoy more fluid action sequences. Just make sure to cap the game's settings at 60 FPS and you'll be fine.
Similarly, the Black Stabilizer technology allows you to better distinguish dark tones, especially in those frantic action situations where reaction speed will be the highest priority for players.
Conclusion: Is the LG 34WN80C-B worth buying?
Wrapping things up it's clear that the LG 34WN80C-B is not for everyone. It's not your standard monitor both in terms of pricing as well as size. However, for those who are really looking to inmerse themselves in their work and they need ample screen real-estate to be able to manage everything at once then this is a great option.
Also, it hasn't managed to become one of the most popular monitors in the world by virtue of its size alone. No. It's the combination of an excellent picture quality coupled with a power-supply USB-C port for convenience and HDR10 support that make this one of the best 34-inch monitors within its price range. Add to that the fact that there's no light-bleed nor dead pixels and you've got yourself a true bargain that's bound to satisy even the most demanding set of users.