Perfect monitor: LG Monitor 38WK95C-W review

15/06/2018

LG Monitor 38WK95C-W: solid frame, precise colours, decent sound quality, easy to navigate OSD menu and variety of ports includes USB-C! Can it be any better?

Waiting for a perfect monitor

I was tracking Monitor’s manufacturers and discovered there was LG announcing it’s new curved monitor 38WK95C-W. I was looking for a perfect next display for my productivity when I discovered it became available in couple of places in US when launched, however it took a bit longer to appear in the UK/EU market. So I decided to wait. What was I loking for:

Monitor with USB-C (very convenient with latest MacBooks, you can connect and charge via same wire)
Split screen from two devices at the same time (handy when you need to see desktop’s view with laptop’s view at the same time)
Decent resolution for web development, video and photo works which gives plenty of screen space within the 38 inches LCD
Curved shape for the eye friendliness at the sides
Ultra wide, so I don’t need to two monitors (their frames joining in the middle of the view)
Quality speakers, so I can listen to music or simply hear sounds from computer(s).

First impression

So it has finally arrived and landed onto my table. 38″ inch – quite a lot for the monitor, however at 3840×1600 resolution it is perfect, isn’t it? First things I noticed:

Decent size display
Build quality, firm adjustable height aluminium stand
Amazing sound quality… from a monitor!
Easy to connect, switch between devices
Use monitor and charge your MacBook at the same time – can it be more convenient?
You can connect audio via BlueTooth!
Perfect for video editing with plenty of screen space
Programming has reached a new level as code, consoles and app window fits well on the same screen – absolute focus.
Haven’t tried PC gaming yet, but that must be awesome on the screen size like this

Monitor software & Night Shift

During the first days of use I was working and not experimenting too much, however noticed that Apple Night Shift mode is disabled on this amazing LG monitor. That’s probably one and the only cons that I discovered and that might be because of drivers or software. So I just went to LG official website, downloaded MacOS application for monitor management and… with LG software it still does not work. It is a bit strange when premium product like this does not support the feature, meanwhile cheaper Samsung analogies do support Night Shift. LG software seems to be almost a copy of display’s OSD menu, and I personally did not find it very useful as OSD menu is quite easy to navigate.

Specs overview

Screen: 38″, 21:9 aspect ratio curved LCD IPS panel with a resolution of 3840×1600 physical pixels, backlit with while led light. Colour space seems to be sRGB 99%, with 10bits colour depth. Response time 5ms, works well at 60Hz refresh rate without a problem via USB-C, Display Port or HDMI, according to official specs it is capable of supporting 75Hz. Brightness 240cd/m² with a contrast ratio of 1000:1.

Connectivity: 2x HDMI, 1x Display Port, 1x USB-C, 2x USB3 Type A, 3.5mm audio output.

Features: PIP (screen split), Picture modes, Adaptive Sync (for gamers), and plenty of other that can be found in full detail on official LG website, however a feature really worth highlighting is the integrated speakers with Bluetooth connectivity option. Spec states it is rich bass, however if you have listened to big wooden HiFi speakers, bass in a thin monitor… Probably it is hard to imagine how, but I can confirm, speakers really sound amazing and I have put my old Bluetooth speaker aside to enjoy clear music sound from the monitor which is really saturate with clear highs and nice mid frequencies. You can actually hear some bass too.

Conclusion

Total satisfaction – continuous screen space without a split in the middle, decent sound, high resolution. Premium quality product with solid features like USB-C (with charging), additionally with Bluetooth sound option, PIP and many other features. This definitely boosts my productivity and keeps me focused without lurking at multiple screens (I still use laptop screen for couple of side activities 🙂 ). Oops, now my colleagues will find out why I’m more productive while WFH. If someone would ask me to rate this product, I would give 5 stars and definitely recommend.