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Best productivity monitor to pair w/ a MBP 14"?

R

resolutiontime

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 16, 2015
116
67
Hi,

As the title states, what is the best productivity monitor in 2023 to pair w/ a MBP 14"?

I bought the LG 38" GN950-B for $999 off Costco. Is there anything around this price range other than the AW3423DW? Is the Alienware even a productivity montior?
Anyone wanna chime on 38" GN950-B vs AW3423DW?
Should I return the LG and get Alienware? Skip IPS and get an OLED? or IPS is better for my use case?

Should I wait for CES 2023? I do not see any OLED ultrawides from LG or Samsung other than LG's 45" which has low resolution. I prefer ultrawides or even a 32" 4K monitor.

Only games I play is Starcraft Brood Wars. I do not watch movies, Netflix or HDR content but maybe I'll start doing it on a new monitor.
NOTE: I need 500~ nits because of my bright office and Benq Smart Lamp.

Thanks and Happy New Year! 2023 is here.
 
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resolutiontime said:
Isn't that what Hipsters or techies say to describe a monitor that isn't used for gaming or HDR content?
Click to expand...
I don't know, but when you put it that way it makes sense. So you're looking for a plain vanilla display with no special features like high frame rates or color accuracy.

I have no recommendations for that. I was just curious what the term meant, as I don't think I've ever heard that one. It seems that a simple Amazon search might help you, and then sort the results by price. The ones near the cheaper end will probably fulfill your needs.
 
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Try an OLED like the LG C2.
Quality is amazing because of OLED and in 2023 it's not worth buying an IPS anymore. 15 years ago we already had IPS monitors so it's time for something new :)
 
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mario0 said:
Try an OLED like the LG C2.
Quality is amazing because of OLED and in 2023 it's not worth buying an IPS anymore. 15 years ago we already had IPS monitors so it's time for something new :)
Click to expand...
LG G2 is horrible for documents and reading overall, lol. It's worse than the AW3423DW. Simply too tall. Lower PPI than the 1440p 34" and 1600" 38" fwiw.

IDK. It seems like there aren't any high PPI and 34-38 ultrawides from this year's CES.

I'll probably wait for a Mini-LED Ultrawide or MLA OLED from LG. IPS is still very good...it's just not OLED good in gaming and watching movies.

OLED will be surpassed will MLA OLED. And Mini-LED will be better than OLED for productivity/office work..

38 GN 950-B or AW3423DW. Tough to decide.
 
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mario0 said:
Documents look still amazing on OLED because of the higher contrast ratio
Click to expand...
I'm sure it does...but does text look as clear as good IPS panels w/ 500 nits SDR brightness i.e. LG 38" GN950-B?

As mentioned earlier, AW3423DW and QD-OLED need developers to create software to fix it's subtype.

I wish I had a Microcenter nearby to check out a AW3423DW.

Thanks!
 
This Reviewer on YT had the 38 GN950-B. Currently has the AW3423DW and is comparing it to the new Samsung Neo G8 and even the GN950.
Good video but doesn't answer the question on office work. Alienware looks really good for gaming and HDR.
 
I ended up buying the Alienware OLED, AW3423DWF version. Will see if it works out for productivity use and some light gaming.
 
Basic75 said:
Isn't that irrelevant now that macOS doesn't do sub-pixel anti-aliasing?
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Considering the Samsung triangle layout also affects non-text hard edges, such as window borders, icons, and the cursor, I would think the problem applies. It's my understanding that Windows only antialiases text.

I do not have an Alienware and cannot test. I would certainly love to be wrong!
 
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Basic75 said:
Why would you need Mini-LED for office/productivity work instead of just a plain ol' uniform backlight?
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As mentioned earlier, it's the sub pixel layout. Maybe the low brightness..

I may prefer the Mini-LED that's used on the MacBooks and iPads.

Also, I think after using an LG 32" 4K, Ultrafine monitor with higher PPI..I want to go back to a panel w/ higher PPI and text clarity/sharpness. And deal with the lower contrast.

The 32" UN880 LG Ultrafine from Costco that I had was easier on the eyes for reading purposes than this $1200 Alienware. The advantages of a Mini LED monitor will be that is is better for productivity, gets brighter and won't get burn-in. That tech is better than the band-aid approach of using local dimming for IPS panels. Mini LED and other panels also doesn't have that sub pixel layout that negatively affects the way text and as someone mentioned earlier, non-text edges look. From my limited knowledge, only Samsung QD-OLED has this issue..

This monitor also seems to shine (literally) in dim to dark rooms..I'm not going sit in a dark room to enjoy this monitor.

LG does have a higher pixel density at 137 PPI compared to the Alienware's 110 PPI. Which plays a role in the better text and sharpness. Ultrawides should have higher resolution...

32" LG ultra fine w/ 4K resolution.
www.costco.com

LG 32" Class Ultrafine UHD IPS Monitor with ErgoStand

LG 32" Class Ultrafine UHD IPS Monitor with ErgoStand
www.costco.com www.costco.com

Then there's MLA which was announced at CES which I look forward to. MLA doesn't have all of the above issues. It may cost too much though.

TLDR: Alienware is a great monitor and the first of its kind. I think it's not ready yet for both gamers, HDR content AND productivity. It's for gamers and HDR content. Also, I believe it's just the first step for better monitors and tech to come.
For $1200, I wanted the best of both world at the time of purchase or one of the best of both worlds.

Off topic: Another plus is that it has the 3-year Burn-in warranty. Linus says QD-OLED is less prone to Burn-in.

Text, reading text is a known issue.
 
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resolutiontime said:
As mentioned earlier, it's the sub pixel layout. Maybe the low brightness..
Click to expand...
In "Why would you need Mini-LED for office/productivity work instead of just a plain ol' uniform backlight?", which you are responding to, I was comparing mini-LED, which is LCD with local dimming or LCD with multiple independently dimmed LED backlights, to a normal uniformly LED backlit LCD.

How does the backlight change the sub pixel layout?

resolutiontime said:
The advantages of a Mini LED monitor will be that is is better for productivity, gets brighter and won't get burn-in. That tech is better than the band-aid approach of using local dimming for IPS panels.
Click to expand...
But mini LED is local dimming, often of an IPS panel! Are you mixing up mini LED and micro LED?
 
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Basic75 said:
In "Why would you need Mini-LED for office/productivity work instead of just a plain ol' uniform backlight?", which you are responding to, I was comparing mini-LED, which is LCD with local dimming or LCD with multiple independently dimmed LED backlights, to a normal uniformly LED backlit LCD.

How does the backlight change the sub pixel layout?


But mini LED is local dimming, often of an IPS panel! Are you mixing up mini LED and micro LED?
Click to expand...
Wow, I mixed the panel names.
 
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Basic75 said:
In "Why would you need Mini-LED for office/productivity work instead of just a plain ol' uniform backlight?", which you are responding to, I was comparing mini-LED, which is LCD with local dimming or LCD with multiple independently dimmed LED backlights, to a normal uniformly LED backlit LCD.

How does the backlight change the sub pixel layout?


But mini LED is local dimming, often of an IPS panel! Are you mixing up mini LED and micro LED?
Click to expand...
www.amazon.com

INNOCN 32" Mini LED 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 Computer Gaming Monitor 144Hz 1ms IPS HDR1000 HDMI 2.1 Monitor, 99% DCI-P3, USB Type-C Connectivity, Pivot/Height Adjustable Stand - 32M2V

32" Mini LED 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 Computer Gaming Monitor 144Hz 1ms IPS HDR1000 HDMI 2.1 Monitor, 99% DCI-P3, USB Type-C Connectivity, Pivot/Height Adjustable Stand - 32M2V Size: 32 Inch Resolution: 3840 *2160p Panel type: IPS Back Lit: Mini LED Refresh Rate: 144hz Local dimming: Yes - 1152zone Aut...
www.amazon.com

Check this monitor from Innoc.n.

This is the monitor that I want from a known brand like LG w/ a longer warranty.

INNOCN 32" Mini LED 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 Computer Gaming Monitor 144Hz 1ms IPS HDR1000 HDMI 2.1 Monitor, 99% DCI-P3, USB Type-C Connectivity, Pivot/Height Adjustable Stand - 32M2V​


$900 after coupon.

  • 【4K 144Hz Gaming Monitor & Mini LED Backlit Technology】Absolute upgrading of ordinary gaming experience with this latest Mini-LED backlit technology, this 32 inch 4k computer gaming monitor adopts an advanced ips panel with 1152 zone, incredible 144hz refresh rate, 1ms fast response time to ensure no lantency, immersived gaming experience

OLED alternative for gamers and work.

I'm returning the AW3423DWF. Probably will keep the LG 38" 950-B. My Dell U2414H has better text clarity than the Alienware OLED.
 
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