CES 2021: Dell Introduces 40-Inch 5K2K Ultrawide Monitor With Thunderbolt 3 Connectivity for Macs

[jimthing]

"Retina" article says.

Erm, no flipping way at 140ppi. Try the proper LG 5K3K UltraFines Apple sells that the proper crisp-text 218ppi (I have two).

Come back when it's 10K3K, then we'll talk about it. 🙄

 

[joevt]

Having looked more closely, sigh, like other TB3 monitors it doesn't have a downstream TB3 port. Maybe it's a bandwidth issue, I'm not sure how much bandwidth the display takes.

I'm guessing the display has input options like the LG 5K2K.
https://www.lg.com/us/monitors/lg-34WK95U-W-ultrawide-monitor
"34'' Class 21:9 UltraWide® 5K2K Nano IPS LED Monitor with HDR 600 (34'' Diagonal)"
5K2K WUHD (5120 x 2160) Resolution

Thunderbolt displays that don't have a downstream TB3 port are usually 5K or 6K width that have a tiled mode where it uses two DisplayPort connections from Thunderbolt - one connection for the left half and another for the right half. GPUs that only support DisplayPort 1.2 (HBR2) can use two DisplayPort 1.2 signals to support 5K 60Hz 10 bpc (otherwise the display would be limited to 6 bpc which can only be used in Windows). The Thunderbolt controller in the display uses a DisplayPort output for the first DisplayPort signal to the display controller. The second Thunderbolt port of the Thunderbolt controller in the display is used to output the second DisplayPort signal to the display controller, so it cannot be used as a Thunderbolt port.

The LG 5K2K (and probably this Dell display too) also has a single connection DisplayPort 1.4 mode.

The XDR 6K is similar but larger - it uses dual HBR3 signals over Thunderbolt 3 for GPUs that don't support DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC. It also has a single connection DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC mode.

 

[tiagoabrahao]

I have this same Dell series but sized 34”. I can confirm the THUNDERBOLT 3 connection won’t work correctly with a Macbook Pro 2018. It can not display in full resolution. There’s issues using the thunderbolt 3 conection via usb-c. I was forced to use HDMI adapter to get it to work properly.

 

[iReality85]

I can't believe we still don't have a lot of ~180-220PPI monitors to pick from in 2021. 140PPI is worthless for me.

It is rather unfortunate. Hopefully as more and more production lines are changed over to high PPI substrates, we’ll see them.

Ideally, for 200% 4K (16:9) you’d want a 22-23” monitor for either Mac or PC. If you just want an unscaled 100% desktop at 4K, you should ideally want 44-46”. Unfortunately, neither of these tight size ranges exist for 4K yet.

And if we’re talking 200% 5K (16:9), the optimum size range is 29-30.5” for either OS.

 

[ThatGuyInLa]

60hz? I don't use my work monitor for gaming, but even for work 120HZ really helps with eye-strain. At least for me it does. Plus 120hz divides in to 24, 30, and 60fps evenly. Everything else is perfect. yes, even the curve. I angle my two 27" IPS 10b panels right now to keep color even across the screen, relative to my eyes.

 

[Moonjumper]

Use a regular widescreen in portrait mode. Then you'll have lots of vertical space. It's excellent in that orientation for the tasks you mention.

I do have a secondary screen set up like that, but prefer to code on my main screen (don’t want my neck twisted to the side for long periods), which is also used for other software that would be better suited to a squarer ratio, such as Photoshop. Also, my main screen is an iMac, so cannot have it in portrait.

 

[Rudy69]

I've been considering the re-released Samsung G9...with its R1000 curve. I haven't seen very many discuss whether its good for productivity and creative use, with just a small handful of people mentioning it in reviews since its targeted at gamers.... But having two monitors side-by-side, I've been considering it as I can use the center of the screen and my eyes should have an easy time with the farthest corners...I'm just worried maybe its too tight of a curve.

I really wanted to get one but it’s hard to justify replacing the current 49” Samsung I have. The only new feature that would matter to me is the more aggressive curve

 

[Think creative]

I'd really like more 4K monitors at 24 inches. That's actually retina but the fact that it's still $300 for the LG of that size is annoying. Give me 4k at 24 inches for $200 please.

 

[cult hero]

I really wish there were some legit 5K options besides the LG. I've been working on 5K for almost four years now and the prospect of going back to a monitor that isn't HiDPI is... no. Not happening.

There's almost nothing in the space though. Dell doesn't even sell their old 5K that took DP inputs. Too bad.

Retina 1440p is just so nice for everything.

 

[JosephAW]

I paid that much for my 23” display besides the G5 tower.

 

[adib]

That's the monitor I've been waiting for! Solllll.... ahem, call me when price goes down a bit. Also, I must buy a computer that's powerful enough first...

For the guys who wants more DPI, do your math and consider the viewing distance. I'm on a 27" 4k and above this we go into the diminishing returns.

Agreed. At two feet, 150ppi would be sufficient. In turn, this Ultrasharp 40 is almost there.

 

[ikramerica]

I'd really like more 4K monitors at 24 inches. That's actually retina but the fact that it's still $300 for the LG of that size is annoying. Give me 4k at 24 inches for $200 please.

Sadly I remember when a 17” near flat CRT was about $1000, and you could drive it at 120dpi / 1600x1200 if you didn’t mind subpixel level blur and flicker. And a really tiny interface.

 

[anson42]

We don't want curved displays.
We don't want "ultra wide".

This Mac user loves those two aspects. I'm not going back to flat and non-ultrawide. To each his own.

 

[arvinsim]

So close yet so far

We need more HiDPI monitors!

 

[Stephen.R]

It's disappointing that there's still no replacement for (and in some places at least, it seems discontinuation of) the venerable P2415Q (4K @ 24"), or even the long-abandoned UP2715K (5K @ 27"). The former isn't quite high enough PPI to be used at the default scaled resolution in macOS IMO, but it's a heck of a lot closer (and for some would no doubt be fine) than this "let's just stretch the thing out as much as possible without increasing resolution".

It's like the inverse of camera sensor resolution, but for the same reason. (Some, generally non-experienced) people buying a digital camera will just think "more megapixels is better, buy the one with the highest number" - and ignore the whole issue of needing to get adequate light to the sensor to make those pixels worth a damn. For displays its the same type of customer generally, but looking at the physical size "Oh look 43 inches and it's 4K so that's good right". Well no, BOB, that display is going to look just about as fuzzy as the 20" studio display I had 17 years ago.

It doesn't help that a lot of the "high end" stuff from PC makers is at least partially directed at gamers, where resolution is practically an afterthought because most of them don't have a PC capable of playing the games they want, at the quality they want, at an actual high resolution - so you get brand-new 2020 releases for stuff like a 1920x1080 display at 27 inches. Yes, it's listed as 120Hz, but how smooth do you need the animations to be when everything looks blurry because of the resolution?

 

[dukebound85]

Dear manufacturers,

Mac users want 200+ pixels per inch.

Sincerely,

Mac users.

Every. Damn. Year.

we do?

This looks good to me

 

[thexash]

I have the U3818DW that I now use with a Mac Pro.

Initially I wanted it to be a hub for my 16" MacBook Pro but the Thunderbolt 3 port is spotty at best, when the MBP is closed the display will connect/disconnect intermittently and eventually you MBP will crash and restart. This is an issue that has been reported by multiple ppl on the Dell Support forums and the answer as always been "We do not support Macs" so they dont put serious effort in fixing that issue. The funny thing is I also had the same issue with a Lenovo laptop...

Anyway all that to say that while its a great monitor if you're planning to use it as a hub - lets say instead of buying a CalDigit TB3+ that I'm using now - I would not count on it, I dont really think Dell cares, they'll tell you it works with any TB3 computer (your Mac) when you're asking their sales and tell you to f*** off when you realise the "hub" part actually doesnt work fully as expected once you have it...

Of course you could hope that the new U40 would fix those issues, but I would be surprised if it was the case. It looks exactly like the U38 down to the ports selection, I would bet it has exactly the same software/everything just with a slightly higher resolution panel.

That being said I'm quite likely to buy one, because they are great panels and the 9W speakers in there are actually quite good - equivalent to a ~50USD speakers you'd put on your desk imo. Also Apple really doesnt do anything nice that isnt the XDR Just dont buy it if you expect the TB3 & KVM functions to be awesome and flawless...

(I used the KVM part for a bit and while it works, its really cumbersome to switch between the machines and sometime the USB portion will give up and require a turn it on&off again cycle for your USB's to come back)

 

[svanstrom]

Looks better.

I'm not a display expert, can anyone here comment as to whether or not this LG display is equivalent to the iMac display specs, or if not then what are the differences?

LG UltraFine 5K Display - Apple

Apple Store Search Results

www.apple.com

Slight personal attack coming here, just not an intentionally mean one.

This whole thing started by you bemoaning yourself about how there's absolutely nothing equal from anyone else… but not only have I shown options, but these are display that for years have been available from the online Apple store.

Why haven't you even looked in the online Apple store if you seriously wanted to get a display?

 

[UncleMac]

I hope Dell have finally figured out how to implement PD that actually conforms to the standard, otherwise it’ll be of no use to anyone with a Mac portable...

This!

 

[Solomani]

Dude you're getting a Dell monitor for your Mac!

 

[Santiago]

140PPI, no HDR, 300 nits of brightness, and $2100? 🤨

Yeah, I have no idea why anyone would want this over the awesome LG Ultrafine actual-5k 27" monitor, 214 PPI, 500 cd/m² brightness, $1300. I'm using one now, because I was ruined for anything less after a 5k iMac.

 

[Geurt]

Can you rotate this 90 degrees?

For you YES! But be careful with the Photo app as you might look like Danny DeVito

 

[imdropbear]

Yeah, I have no idea why anyone would want this over the awesome LG Ultrafine actual-5k 27" monitor, 214 PPI, 500 cd/m² brightness, $1300. I'm using one now, because I was ruined for anything less after a 5k iMac.

That comparison sucks though. You're comparing a 27" monitor with a 40" ultra-wide monitor. Those have different target groups.

I wouldn't want the monitor in this article either but the one you mentioned is not on my list of alternatives either.

 

[JW Pepper]

Is it possible to use this screen with the new M1 Mac Mini?

 

[dlondon]

I certainly don’t try and use them at the same time (in terms of looking at stuff on both at exactly the same time). But I have stuff on both (and on the laptop screen too) and don’t tend to move the windows between them. Slack, Mail, calendar on the right, working docs/code editor on the left and notes/task list on the laptop

Me neither. I start with good intentions and have some things on the right and others on the left, but I then start moving things to one screen! I used to open Outlook calendar on one screen and Outlook email on the other but when you click on one Outlook window, it brings Outlook to the front on both screens (so you can't look at your calendar and Safari without clicking Outlook and then Safari).