LG 34WN80C-B Review
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Once again, LG Electronics is offering a professional monitor for photographers, video editors, and graphic designers with impressive sRGB color gamut coverage and is HDR 10 compatible. The LG 34WN80C-B is an ultra-wide screen with very good color accuracy, decent connectivity (including USB-C) and features a crisp 34-inch curved display that nicely renders photos and videos. It isn’t billed as a gaming monitor like the Alienware AW3420DW, but the inclusion of AMD FreeSync and 60Hz refresh rate should be appealing to enthusiast game developers (as well as players).
Design
The 34WN80C-B sports a simple, straightforward design. The base is a large, curved footprint from it emerges a telescopic arm that offers ergonomic adjustments (-5°/20° tilt, a max of 120mm height), and VESA mount support. Just like its peers in the 34-inch range, its curvature of 1900R delivers an immersive experience.
With the stand fully extended (its height can be raised as much as 4.3 inches), the monitor measures 18.1 by 32.1 by 9.9 inches (HWD). The top and side bezels are almost invisible, meaning you have maximum screen area and serves it well in a multi-monitor array. Curved screens have lately become commonplace on large, ultra-wide monitors, whether designed for gaming, graphic design, or general business use, and the 34WN80C-B is no exception.
Connectivity comes in way of a single USB Type-C port, there are two HDMI 2.0 ports, a DisplayPort 1.2, a headphones jack and a pair of USB 3.0 ports. There is also a USB port which supports fast charging of peripherals, but you’ll have to enable it first via the OSD. While at it, remember that when fast charging is enabled, data transfer to and from the connected device isn’t possible.
Picture Quality
It gets a 21:9 aspect ratio, which is practically more useful than taller 4K screens, with the extra width being better for films, and it provides extra screen real estate for working. If you ever wanted a screen for work gaming, this one has its credentials in order, with immersive scenes on modern titles. What makes it better is the fact that it has more room to maneuver in FPS titles, and even the fastest games really benefit.
Its predecessor, the LG 34UC79G-B has a resolution of 2,560 x 1,080 and a 21:9 aspect ratio, and at release we loved it for those features. Things get better on the newer iteration. This 21:9 panel has a resolution of 3,440 x 1,440, which is the same resolution on its rivals like the Samsung C34F791 and Acer Predator x34, that cost almost double.
The UWQHD resolution of 3,440 x 1,440 pixels has its pros and cons. For instance, with the 21:9 aspect ratio, the screen is able to deliver a rich pixel density of about 110 PPI (Pixels Per Inch). This is arguably the sweet spot between big screen real estate and picture detail, meaning you’ll have both plenty of workspace as well as crisp and vivid visuals.
Most movies shot at the native aspect ratio of 21:9, so you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite shows and movies on the screen. The same aspect ratio is supported by lots of games, but you’ll have to do with black bar at the sides or stretched visuals on certain games. To be safe, first check the basic game requirements before purchasing, although we can guarantee than a number support 21:9 aspect ratio.
Additionally, the On-Screen Control module supports various functions including a split screen option that has four picture-in-picture (PIP) choices and three gamer modes, two First-Person-Shooter modes and even and RTS pre-set modes.
Performance
The LG 34WN80C-B appeals with impressive out-of-the-box performance. Its brightness level of 300 cd/m2 looks much better than LG’s quoted figure, and its bolstered with a 5M:1 contrast ratio. The high contrast is important, as it makes pictures vibrant, and helps this monitor deliver a wide array of shades –even closely matched tones are easier to tell apart.
On this monitor, we haven’t run into any dead pixels, a common issue among gaming monitors, and backlight bleeding and IPS glow were present, but negligible. If your system uses an AMD graphics card, it’s possible to use the compatible graphics card to synchronize the GPU’s frame rate with this monitor’s refresh rate. If you do that, you’ll have eliminated screen tearing and stuttering that occurs within the 48-75Hz FreeSync range connected via the DisplayPort connector.
On the other hand, if using an Nvidia GPU, it’s still possible to use the monitor at 75Hz by creating a custom resolution available in the variable refresh rate technology. However, at 75Hz, playability is smoother and with the Dynamic Action Sync feature enabled, the input lag averages ~10ms.
Response time is a vital consideration for gaming screens, and the LG performs very well. Its average response time of 5ms is excellent, anything below 20ms is good for gaming. So far, among similarly priced 1440p ultrawide monitors, both the LG 34UC80-B and the LG 34WN80C-B have the best response time speed, with near absent motion blur and ghosting in fast-paced games. There’s a Response Time Control feature in the OSD (On-Screen Display) that you can use to further eliminate ghosting.
Surprisingly, fast-paced games have smoother playability on the 60Hz LG 34UC80-B than competing 100Hz VA-panels with the same 3,440 x 1,440 resolutions, such as the Viotek GN34C as it doesn’t have much blur. However, there are few benefits in using a 100Hz panel including more fluid and smooth visuals on fast-paced games.
Colors are fairly accurate, their temperature only deviates by a small margin across the entire screen. This is a vital attribute for gaming and movies –meaning they’re important for a multi-use panel like this.
You could think of the LG 34WN80C-B as essentially a scaled-down version of our favorite LG 34UC80-B, with a similar native resolution and design, but it adds a couple of things like USB-C connectivity (not found on its pricier cousin). Its 99 percent sRGB color gamut coverage and AMD FreeSync technology make the 34WN80C-B a better choice for game designers, as well as anyone who wants to get in a few rounds of gaming when they’re not working.
Indeed, the 34WN80C-B has very similar specs to the LG 34UC80-B. Both offer an ultra-wide 34-inch display with the same resolution and aspect ratio; both support height and tilt adjustment; and both have nearly invisible top and side bezels and a similar complement of design. Each has the adaptive-sync technology and refresh rate to appeal to both game designers and casual gamers, although primarily created for professional users.
Their tested brightness is similar, with the 34UC80-B ringing up a higher contrast ratio, and the latter’s menu system is easy to navigate thanks to its mini-joystick controller. Overall, the LG 34UC80-B brings a little bit more to the table and retains its Editors’ Choice, but the LG 34WN80C-B provides a very capable and slightly more cost-effective alternative.
LG 34WN80C-B 34 inch 21:9 Curved UltraWide WQHD IPS Monitor with USB Type-C Connectivity sRGB 99% Color Gamut and HDR10 Compatibility, Black
LG 34WN80C-B
US 1+
Pros
- Extra-wide curved screen
- Trim bezels
- 60Hz refresh rate with AMD FreeSync
- Height and tilt adjustment
Cons
- Not-so-robust gaming modes
- No built-in speakers
