Is the LG 27UD88 worth it? Or are non USB-C models a better value?

[Dick Whitman]

Hi guys I've been wanting an external monitor for awhile now.

I've basically narrowed it down to the LG 27UD88 and the LG 27UD69P-W.

Since the LG 27UD88 has USB-C, it's usually the monitor that's recommended for next gen MBPs. But with the LG 27UD69P-W at almost half the price, I'm wondering if the LG 27UD88 is worth it.

My main purpose for buying a monitor is to use it with my MBP, Windows laptops, and PS4 Pro.

Any thoughts or insight is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[killawat]

Well, the USB-C monitor gives you four inputs whereas it sounds like you'd be maxed out if you tried to use the other solution. Then factor in additional dollars for the appropriate adapter ($20-$40). Also since you have the 13" mBP, this monitor should be able to charge your machine.

I'd go with the USB-C choice.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Well, the USB-C monitor gives you four inputs whereas it sounds like you'd be maxed out if you tried to use the other solution. Then factor in additional dollars for the appropriate adapter ($20-$40). Also since you have the 13" mBP, this monitor should be able to charge your machine.

I'd go with the USB-C choice.

Yeah a one cable solution would be more convenient but it’s $360 more and that’s with the price of an adapter included. Also, the charging feature is nice but I wonder how that would work with switching between different machines.

 

[fbx1989]

I have a retina MBPro 2015 and just bought the 27UD69P for $399 at BB. Seems good to me. Will be interested to see if quality of the 88 has advantages apart from connections. I have run with HDMI-HDMI and Mini-DisplayPort-DisplayPort and both images seem good to me.

 

[bartvk]

So a colleague of mine has this monitor. It makes for a very clean setup if you sit in front of it. From the back, it'll of course have a bunch of cables dangling down from it.

However I've got a nice dock tucked under my desk. It's of course not as easy to reach but it makes for a clean (if not cleaner) setup, and has the advantage of a replaceable (repairable/upgradeable) dock.

What it comes down to, is: do you want an integrated setup, or would you rather have it separately? It's like the hifi days all over

 

[andy9l]

I use the LG 27UD88-W at home with a 2015 12" MB, a 2017 13" MBP and a high-end gaming PC. It's the best purchase I've made in a very long time. And that's including the Macs.

Works flawlessly, every time. No connection issues, no charging issues, no input switching issues. Just plugged in one day and it's been running great ever since.

It acts as a complete charging/USB dock for my MacBooks and a fantastic 4K gaming experience for my PC. Sure, it's limited to 60Hz, but I'm not good enough at gaming to benefit from 144Hz anyway! It allows me to share my relatively decent set of 2.1 speakers between PC and Macs seamlessly without any cable switching.

I just plug my Mac in to the USB-C cable end that sits neatly on my desk, tap the joystick under the display twice and crack on with work. Then I tap the joystick twice again to flick back to Windows for a quick game. So simple, no fuss, no fiddling behind devices.

Couldn't recommend more - but getting hold of one has been notoriously difficult. 27" 4K panels from LG were suddenly "in short supply" (quote from LG rep) once the UltraFine range launched. Can't imagine why.....*cough* *cough*.....

 

[Fishrrman]

You answered your own question in your title.

If you can live without USB-c "on the display", yes, non USB-c displays ARE "a better value".

They are probably much easier to get working with other computers, as well, using "traditional" display connection methods (i.e., displayport and/or HDMI).

I don't yet have 4k capability on my Mac desktop (2012 Mini), but if I did, I wouldn't bother with USB-c. I'd get a display with "traditional connectors" and be quite happy.

 

[andy9l]

They are probably much easier to get working with other computers, as well, using "traditional" display connection methods (i.e., displayport and/or HDMI).

I think I'm right in saying every single USB-C capable display on the market has an alternative (older) connection method.

I would suggest USB-C to anyone these days. It's a thing now - most modern devices, not just Macs, use it.

 

[Trey M]

Personally I researched USB-C monitors long and hard and found that any model short of the LG Ultrafine 5K didn't check off all the boxes. On top of that, bandwidth concerns are an issue with USB-C and I question the longevity and usefulness of USB-C monitors say 4-5 years from now. How friendly is a USB-C only input?

I had the same quandary, I wanted a 4k/5k monitor and I wanted a one-cable solution. I think getting a 4K monitor along with a USB-C/TB3 dock is your best bet. This will allow you to have your 4k monitor, one cable connectivity, and will give you more ports than any monitor can offer. The package will also come in for less than the price of the LG 27UD88.

I personally also have the LG 27UD69P, got it on sale at BB for $400. Highly recommended. And it has useful inputs that'll remain relevant moving forward. Not saying USB-C won't remain relevant, but you can't plug your Xbox One into a USB-C monitor (without dongles).

 

[Nik]

It allows me to share my relatively decent set of 2.1 speakers between PC and Macs seamlessly without any cable switching.

I see the Monitor only has one Input for USB-C. How do you switch everything between PC and Mac without switching cables? There is no KVM Switch build in I assume?

 

[andy9l]

I see the Monitor only has one Input for USB-C. How do you switch everything between PC and Mac without switching cables? There is no KVM Switch build in I assume?

- USB-C permanently connected to a MacBook
- DisplayPort permanently connected to PC
- Speaker AMP connected to LG 3.5mm output

Use the single hardware switch just under the screen to toggle between USB-C and DP inputs. This switches audio and visual.

Worth noting the single joystick-style hardware switch on all LG screens (and TVs) is pretty neat.

 

[Nik]

Okay thanks. How do you switch Keyboard and Mouse?

 

[andy9l]

Okay thanks. How do you switch Keyboard and Mouse?

I have a gaming mouse for my PC, and a Magic Mouse for the MacBooks. Same for the keyboard, but I prefer the Apple one so I started sharing the Magic Keyboard between them for the past few months - I just disconnect it on the Mac and connect it on Windows from Bluetooth shortcuts.

 

[Nik]

Hm, that seems a little bit like a hassle. Right now I have a 1440p NEC 27" monitor which has a KVM switch build in. I can switch between two devices with one button, including keyboard and mouse.
Sadly I did not find any 4K monitor for less than 1400$ which has this feature.

 

[andy9l]

Hm, that seems a little bit like a hassle. Right now I have a 1440p NEC 27" monitor which has a KVM switch build in. I can switch between two devices with one button, including keyboard and mouse.
Sadly I did not find any 4K monitor for less than 1400$ which has this feature.

I couldn't go back to wired keyboard or mouse though.

The only hassle is 2-3 seconds to switch the keyboard connection. You can even buy keyboards that pair with multiple devices and have switches on them. Solved.

 

[Populus]

@Dick Whitman Can I borrow your thread for a moment? I'm going to purchase a 13" MacBook Pro, and my old 24" Dell from 2008 is asking for a replacement when the time is right (I'm not in a hurry).

This time I'm looking at LG instead of Dell, because it has more range of 4k displays.

So first of all, my needs are the same as op: MacBook Pro and PS4 Pro. I guess I need a "Pro" display... Just joking xD. Watching movies in 1080p, videos in 4K and videogames in checkerboarded upscaled 4k (the way the PS4 works).

With the PS4 Pro comes another requirement in order to experience the maximum of the videogames and, eventually, of the movies also: HDR. But it happens to be that there are almost no HDR monitors.


All this leads us to one model: the LG 32UD99. A monster that would be shipping early this year but, oddly, it is not for sale yet. Something is happening with this 1k$ monitor.

But aside from not being available yet, and being monstruously expensive, there are other disadvantages: maybe jumping from 24" to 32" is too much. Maybe with the scaling options of macOS, putting it to 1080p makes everything huge. And maybe, that HDR is not worth expending 1000$. Because peak brightness is only of 550 nits.

So, right now I'm debating between that 32" monster, the non-HDR 27UD69p or 27UD88, or waiting for true HDR monitors in 2018.

By the way, is there a consensus about being 27 inches the best resolution for a 4k monitor, due to the scaling maths? You know, putting the macOS desktop at 1080p appearance, watching 1080p movies and videos etc... Is 27" the way to go?

This huge post is because I want to make a purchase for another 10 years.

Thank you and if the OP doesn't want my question here -which is very similar to his-, then I'll open a new thread and erase this post.

 

[Nik]

If you want to make a purchase for the next 10 years, buy a NEC monitor or EIZO. Those last forever. I use them for 12 years now. They are more on the conservative side and dont offer budget 4k monitors yet.

 

[Populus]

I use the LG 27UD88-W at home. It's the best purchase I've made in a very long time.

Works flawlessly

It acts as a complete charging/USB dock for my MacBooks and a fantastic 4K gaming experience for my PC.

Question: if you plug several Hard Drives to the monitor, and through the monitor to the MacBook Pro via USB-C, do you experience some kind of bottleneck?

 

[Nik]

Question: if you plug several Hard Drives to the monitor, and through the monitor to the MacBook Pro via USB-C, do you experience some kind of bottleneck?

It is USB 2.0 Speed around 35MB. Devil is in the details.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I use the LG 27UD88-W at home with a 2015 12" MB, a 2017 13" MBP and a high-end gaming PC. It's the best purchase I've made in a very long time. And that's including the Macs.

Works flawlessly, every time. No connection issues, no charging issues, no input switching issues. Just plugged in one day and it's been running great ever since.

It acts as a complete charging/USB dock for my MacBooks and a fantastic 4K gaming experience for my PC. Sure, it's limited to 60Hz, but I'm not good enough at gaming to benefit from 144Hz anyway! It allows me to share my relatively decent set of 2.1 speakers between PC and Macs seamlessly without any cable switching.

I just plug my Mac in to the USB-C cable end that sits neatly on my desk, tap the joystick under the display twice and crack on with work. Then I tap the joystick twice again to flick back to Windows for a quick game. So simple, no fuss, no fiddling behind devices.

Couldn't recommend more - but getting hold of one has been notoriously difficult. 27" 4K panels from LG were suddenly "in short supply" (quote from LG rep) once the UltraFine range launched. Can't imagine why.....*cough* *cough*.....

Awesome. That's great to hear from someone who owns the monitor and uses it for the same purposes that I have. The single cord solution is tempting but if that's literally the only difference between the two monitors, which I believe it is, then I may have to opt for the less expensive option.

You're right though in that this monitor is generally difficult to find. The price has neither really dropped since it launched.
[doublepost=1504049856][/doublepost]

Personally I researched USB-C monitors long and hard and found that any model short of the LG Ultrafine 5K didn't check off all the boxes. On top of that, bandwidth concerns are an issue with USB-C and I question the longevity and usefulness of USB-C monitors say 4-5 years from now. How friendly is a USB-C only input?

I had the same quandary, I wanted a 4k/5k monitor and I wanted a one-cable solution. I think getting a 4K monitor along with a USB-C/TB3 dock is your best bet. This will allow you to have your 4k monitor, one cable connectivity, and will give you more ports than any monitor can offer. The package will also come in for less than the price of the LG 27UD88.

I personally also have the LG 27UD69P, got it on sale at BB for $400. Highly recommended. And it has useful inputs that'll remain relevant moving forward. Not saying USB-C won't remain relevant, but you can't plug your Xbox One into a USB-C monitor (without dongles).

The LG Ultrafine 5K is just too ugly to me. Plus I don't think a 5K display would work well with a PS4. The price BB is offering the 27UD69P for seems like a steal so I may just end up opting for that. The cheapest I've seen the 27UD88 is $700.
[doublepost=1504050206][/doublepost]

@Dick Whitman Can I borrow your thread for a moment? I'm going to purchase a 13" MacBook Pro, and my old 24" Dell from 2008 is asking for a replacement when the time is right (I'm not in a hurry).

This time I'm looking at LG instead of Dell, because it has more range of 4k displays.

So first of all, my needs are the same as op: MacBook Pro and PS4 Pro. I guess I need a "Pro" display... Just joking xD. Watching movies in 1080p, videos in 4K and videogames in checkerboarded upscaled 4k (the way the PS4 works).

With the PS4 Pro comes another requirement in order to experience the maximum of the videogames and, eventually, of the movies also: HDR. But it happens to be that there are almost no HDR monitors.


All this leads us to one model: the LG 32UD99. A monster that would be shipping early this year but, oddly, it is not for sale yet. Something is happening with this 1k$ monitor.

But aside from not being available yet, and being monstruously expensive, there are other disadvantages: maybe jumping from 24" to 32" is too much. Maybe with the scaling options of macOS, putting it to 1080p makes everything huge. And maybe, that HDR is not worth expending 1000$. Because peak brightness is only of 550 nits.

So, right now I'm debating between that 32" monster, the non-HDR 27UD69p or 27UD88, or waiting for true HDR monitors in 2018.

By the way, is there a consensus about being 27 inches the best resolution for a 4k monitor, due to the scaling maths? You know, putting the macOS desktop at 1080p appearance, watching 1080p movies and videos etc... Is 27" the way to go?

This huge post is because I want to make a purchase for another 10 years.

Thank you and if the OP doesn't want my question here -which is very similar to his-, then I'll open a new thread and erase this post.

No problem. I think HDR would be nice to have as well, and it was something that I thought about, but unfortunately there just doesn't seem to be a lot of practical options available right now. Dell's U2718Q caught my eye but it's not true HDR, and Linus Tech Tips didn't give it a great review. Personally, I think 32" is way too big for a monitor. 27" is about as large as I would want to go.

 

[Populus]

It is USB 2.0 Speed around 35MB. Devil is in the details.

Eww, what a bummer...
[doublepost=1504050796][/doublepost]

The cheapest I've seen the 27UD88 is $700.

Here in Europe we have that monitor at 600€ in some on line stores... I wonder why... It is a good price, I suppose,

 

[planetf1]

They are both super monitors. The cheaper price did tempt (perhaps 90ukp max here) but in the end I went for the 88 and love it. Works great and the single usb-c connection is so nice.

Tip... The logitech mk850 is a nice bluetooth keyboard mouse package that supports multi devices. Add it to the monitor and you get a nice tidy desk even with power pc and another device as well as mbp

 

[Populus]

Hey @planetf1 I'm looking at the customer reviews on Amazon, pretty much seems like the USB-C input had some sort of defect, because it breaks to anyone after two months or so... What do you know about this issue?

 

[andy9l]

Question: if you plug several Hard Drives to the monitor, and through the monitor to the MacBook Pro via USB-C, do you experience some kind of bottleneck?

It would become USB 2 speeds for that, but I didn't realise people still used USB hard drives?!

I haven't even seen one in the wild for at least a couple of years, and I work with techies/developers daily.

The USB slots on my 27UD88 are used for my speakers and a WiFi headphone dongle. Peripherals that would otherwise stick out or require another connection to the Mac.

If you're stuck using USB and external hard drives, you would NEED Thunderbolt, not just standard spec USB-C. This means you are forced to buy the Apple/LG UltraFine range, or a cheaper screen with a Thunderbolt dock.

 

[andy9l]

The cheapest I've seen the 27UD88 is $700.

FWIW, I got mine for £499 free postage from Overclockers UK.