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LG Ultrafine 6K announced
- Thread starter eksu
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Colour/contrast is off with the default LG UltraFine profile, and I don't even know what that profile is. In dark scenes of Netflix, things are too dark, both in HDR mode and SDR.
I'll calibrate it when I have some time this week.
Both applications can use my SpyderX colorimeter, but it seems neither the LG Calibration Studio nor the Datacolor SpyderX Pro software can calibrate HDR in a way that plays nice with mainstream users like me. (I am not a multimedia creative professional.) Either that or else I just don't know how to do it properly, or both.
For LG Calibration Studio, it was happy to try to calibrate when the monitor was in HDR mode, but it just doesn't look right. I didn't try calibrating again in SDR mode. This took a little over 15 minutes BTW.
For the Datacolor software when I tried to calibrate with the monitor in HDR mode, it said the brightness did not match, and post calibration, everything was still off. The good news is the calibration time is less.
So, I just put the monitor into SDR mode and calibrated in SDR instead, and now everything looks fine. Colour, contrast, and gamma seem appropriate for web content and streaming video content. Calibrated for wide colour, 120 nits, 6500K, gamma 2.2.
So, bottomline, this monitor doesn't look right on a Mac out of the box, but will look good for SDR once calibrated. For HDR I cannot comment.
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I imagine the Spyder X has special utilities that'll make the color adjustments for you. Is that a correct assumption?
How hard is it to calibrate an external screen by using a MBP screen for reference without a calibration tool? If I were to use my MBP as my reference and I wanted to just get close enough on my external, is that doable with a bit of effort?
And do they lose calibration over time so you have to calibrate again?
Amazon Canada now has it in stock, but I would recommend buying from LG because they still have that $50 coupon and $300 pre-paid credit card offer until tomorrow.
The few times I've tried calibrating a monitor manually by eye or using another Mac as a reference, it has failed miserably. Too many variables, and usually the available adjustments aren't enough anyway. For my Huawei, the colours were just off out of the box. So that was when I bought a new colorimeter.
I saw some colourist say we should calibrate our monitors once a month. Datacolor's software defaults to a reminder every 6 months. However, I let that Huawei go for a year and it wasn't too far off. However, my needs are relatively simple as I just want web content, video streaming, and my Photos library to look half decent.
Sleep seems to work fine. The Mac mini / Huawei MateView sleep bug that was introduced with Tahoe doesn't seem to affect the LG 6K. The Huawei is USB-C, whereas the LG is Thunderbolt.
Tahoe 26.0.1
Yes, the software is automated. Set the parameters and let the software do all the measurements and calculations, and at the end it creates a LUT that includes all the appropriate calibration adjustments for your parameters. You may have to fiddle with the brightness settings, etc. but it holds your hand through the process.
The few times I've tried calibrating a monitor manually by eye or using another Mac as a reference, it has failed miserably. Too many variables, and usually the available adjustments aren't enough anyway. For my Huawei, the colours were just off out of the box. So that was when I bought a new colorimeter.
I saw some colourist say we should calibrate our monitors once a month. Datacolor's software defaults to a reminder every 6 months. However, I let that Huawei go for a year and it wasn't too far off. However, my needs are relatively simple as I just want web content, video streaming, and my Photos library to look half decent.
M4 non-Pro. I believe those with the M4 Pro may get more resolutions options above 3072x1728. eg. I don't get the 3360x1890 option some get.
Looking at a black background in the dark, the corners appear mildly brighter than the centre, but it's not really the same as the uneven and unpleasant and patchy backlight bleed you see on other monitors. I'd say it's pretty good overall.
Also, I took some uber-macro shots for your viewing enjoyment.
3072x1728 SDR - Black text
Above pic zoomed in:
6144x3456 SDR - Chroma test
Above pic zoomed in:
Also, I took some uber-macro shots for your viewing enjoyment.
3072x1728 SDR - Black text
Above pic zoomed in:
6144x3456 SDR - Chroma test
Above pic zoomed in:
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BTW, I found this page useful as a quick gauge.
I had set the software for calibration with the lights dimmed. In these conditions, everything on the LG 6K looks fine after calibration.* However, if I turn on all the lights, it becomes harder to distinguish 95% and 100% black on that linked page, not surprisingly.
*It looks pleasing, but there might be a slight warmth to the calibration. What I did with the last monitor was to calibrate three times in a matter of days. The three calibrations were very close to each other, but not 100% identical, which shows there is a limitation in the colorimeter hardware, monitor, software, or a combination of the three. I just chose what I felt to be the best of the three.
Actually I can't. The LG colour profile I had created was actually a hardware profile. However, for the new SpyderX colour profile, I forgot to change it back to the previous LG default profile, so the new SpyderX profile I had created was based on that LG hardware profile which you wouldn't have. So, any SpyderX profile I send you would not work on your monitor cause you don't have that LG hardware profile (100 nits, 6500K, gamma 2.2).
I'm going to redo this hardware LG calibration in SDR mode targeting 120 nits gamma 2.2 and see how that goes.
BTW, does anyone know what the "LG ULTRAFINE" profile actually is?
EDIT:
I think the default sRGB profile is also 100 nits, 6500K, gamma 2.2. So that might be close enough to try the SpyderX profile with. However I suspect there is enough variation from unit to unot that it could still look off.
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The BenQ PD27305S 5k has a very solid aluminum stand that I like a lot more than the Apple stands like the ones in the iMac, and Studios. The BenQ stand that comes with the monitor allows for rotating the screen from horizontal to vertical directions, tilt forward/backward, raise/lower, and also to move the monitor's right or left side back and forth or adjust the angles. Smooth as warm butter to raise or lower, too
After spending a long time in the dark, I can safely say there is zero backlight bleed on this unit. The mildly increased brightness I see is due to off-axis viewing. So, if my face is right in the centre of the screen, the corners will look slightly brighter. However, if I look at the corners straight on, there is no visible increase in brightness, but other areas will look slightly brighter. I guess the monitor is so big that at my seating distance, the corners are significantly off-axis.
I don't see a firmware update for the monitor, but I did just download the October 30 update for the LG Calibration Studio software. Is that what you mean? What improvements have they made for Macs? I didn't see anything specific but maybe I just missed it.
[EDIT] I missed it. The firmware updater is built-into the LG Switch app. I later did the firmware update, in November. [/EDIT]
However, I believe I have the colour pretty much dialed in now. Unless someone tells me I did it wrong, I'll stick with this for now.
I first tried recalibrating to sRGB but for some reason the LG Calibration Studio validation always gave me results that indicated the calibration was somewhat inaccurate. It turns out that while the average delta error didn't seem that bad, some individual colours were just way off.
The TFTCentral review stated inaccurate sRGB is expected for wide gamut screens like this one unless you calibrate it with third party software, so my result bears that out.
I then decided to calibrate for Display P3, which is the usual Mac standard. The only problem is there is no Display P3 option in the LG software. So, what I did is select the DCI-P3 colour space and changed the gamma setting to 2.2 and the white point to 6500K. This is not exactly the same as Apple's Display P3 since it uses the sRGB transfer curve, but supposedly gamma 2.2 is pretty close so I used that.
The calibration validation says it's not 100% perfect, but it's very good and definitely way better than the sRGB results. Almost all the dE 2000 scores are well below 3 (and all the dE 94 scores are below 3), and the overall average dE is only 1.1. Colours and contrast look good, and very close to my iPhone. I wish LG would include Display P3 as an option in the calibration software though.
Sorry @oKUtItyp, since this is a hardware LG calibration, I didn't need to use the SpyderX Pro software this time, so I have no new profiles to offer you.
TFTCentral still recommends using different settings with third party software to make the colour accuracy even better, but at this point I can't be bothered. Maybe later. However, they do provide some of their configured LG 6K ICC profiles there.
ICC Profiles and Monitor Calibration Settings Database - TFTCentral
ICC Profiles and monitor calibration settings database to help you set up and calibrate your monitor for improved performance and colours
tftcentral.co.uk
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LG for some strange reason puts its hardware calibration associated ICC profile in its own directory, which is not recognized by macOS as a standard ICC profile directory. So if you recalibrate with other software which automatically switches to the new profile, then you no longer have access to the LG profile in the Display Settings. In order to get it back, I had to copy it over from the LG profile directory to the standard macOS profile directory. Mind you, maybe that is intentional. After I did the LG hardware calibration manually for Display P3 (DCI-P3 colour space, 6500K white point, 2.2 gamma), the associated profile seems to be identical to the standard included Display P3 profile on macOS. So I guess that LG profile may not actually change anything from the hardware calibration setting. [Ed note: No, they are not identical, just very close.]
When I recalibrated against that hardware profile with the Datacolor SpyderX Pro software, it created another Display P3 profile that is very similar to the LG hardware profile, but just slightly warmer. So now I have those two very similar options to choose from. However, I'll stick with the LG one for now since the SpyderX Pro software profile doesn't provide numerical confirmation of the accuracy. That requires the SpyderX Elite software which I don't have.
Based on the recommendations out there in internet-land I tried running the free calibration software DisplayCal but that doesn't seem to work for me. Plus it's not as user friendly.
When I recalibrated against that hardware profile with the Datacolor SpyderX Pro software, it created another Display P3 profile that is very similar to the LG hardware profile, but just slightly warmer. So now I have those two very similar options to choose from. However, I'll stick with the LG one for now since the SpyderX Pro software profile doesn't provide numerical confirmation of the accuracy. That requires the SpyderX Elite software which I don't have.
Based on the recommendations out there in internet-land I tried running the free calibration software DisplayCal but that doesn't seem to work for me. Plus it's not as user friendly.
Oh, that's just the update for the LG Switch software that was pushed out yesterday. It's not a firmware update. I don't use LG Switch anyway.
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I installed this weeks ago after I noticed this `firmware upgrade` banner. But nothing so far, the OnScreen software can't even detect my monitor, while it detect LG 27 5k correctly.
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So I'm not going to feel like this is real until I get confirmation from LG on shipping and have them on my desk, but it appears I have indeed won two of these monitors from this contest -- so thank you @EugW for sharing it was taking place! -- when I get them (assuming this isn't all some elaborate scam/prank), I will post on Reddit as I'm obligated to and within whatever guidelines LG gives me, but I'm also happy to post here and answer whatever questions any other owners haven't already.
(I'm actually in shock I won. I am going to have to do some serious rearranging on my desk to get two of these to fit -- my iMac might have to go away for the review period because unless I stack monitors, I don't think I can fit the 27" iMac, 2 32" 6K displays and the ASD on my 72" long desk, even with VESA mounts)
Congratulations, if as you say it is real. I thought long and hard about fitting 2 monitors on my desk, sadly I had to realise, despite the fact I could just about fit them, it will rob a LOT of my desk space up. So alas I have settled to get 1 32" monitor lol. I am thinking of going more minimalist due to that too and even changing my MacBook Pro for a Studio.
That's totally awesome! Congratulations, and Happy Halloween! 🥳 🎃
I'm jealous... Maybe we all here should have entered too. 🙃 I assumed I had originally misread the contest rules and thought that it must be two winners of 1 monitor each. Winning two 32" 6K monitors is crazy! Let us know when you receive them and do the reviews. And tell them they should add a Display P3 option for us Mac users. 😉
This post was typed on an LG UltraFine 6K 32U990A.
SSD tests - Qwiizlab AS Media 2464PD chipset enclosure with Samsung 990 Pro SSD
Machine is M4 Mac mini, with Plugable Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4 hub, and LG 6K monitor connected through Thunderbolt 4.
SSD directly connected to M4 Mac mini via Thunderbolt 4. SSD detected as USB 4, runs higher power. Fastest speed.
SSD connected through Plugable Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4 hub. SSD detected as Thunderbolt 3, runs lower power. A bit slower.
SSD connected through LG 6K via Thunderbolt 4. SSD detected as USB 4, runs higher power. Half speed write, full read.
I wonder if the write performance would be better if the monitor were connected to a Thunderbolt 5 Mac.
Machine is M4 Mac mini, with Plugable Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4 hub, and LG 6K monitor connected through Thunderbolt 4.
SSD directly connected to M4 Mac mini via Thunderbolt 4. SSD detected as USB 4, runs higher power. Fastest speed.
SSD connected through Plugable Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4 hub. SSD detected as Thunderbolt 3, runs lower power. A bit slower.
SSD connected through LG 6K via Thunderbolt 4. SSD detected as USB 4, runs higher power. Half speed write, full read.
I wonder if the write performance would be better if the monitor were connected to a Thunderbolt 5 Mac.
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@EugW ”I wonder if the write performance would be better if the monitor were connected to a Thunderbolt 5 Mac.”
It should be.
It should be.
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M4 MacBook Air
When I first plug the monitor into the M4 MacBook Air, I always get this keyboard setup prompt for some reason. I have some peripherals connected to the monitor via USB, but none of them are a keyboard. Furthermore, I don't get that prompt on the M4 Mac mini.
Otherwise it works fine. This is Thunderbolt.
DSC working.
So my M4 Mac mini and M4 MacBook Air work, but my M4 iPad Pro doesn't (connection unstable or monitor isn't detected).
EDIT:
Regarding that keyboard prompt, it seems Mosart Semi makes wireless mice, and I do have a third party RF wireless mouse, but no RF wireless keyboard. (My keyboard is a Bluetooth Apple Magic Keyboard, but that's paired to the M4 Mac mini.)
When I first plug the monitor into the M4 MacBook Air, I always get this keyboard setup prompt for some reason. I have some peripherals connected to the monitor via USB, but none of them are a keyboard. Furthermore, I don't get that prompt on the M4 Mac mini.
Otherwise it works fine. This is Thunderbolt.
DSC working.
So my M4 Mac mini and M4 MacBook Air work, but my M4 iPad Pro doesn't (connection unstable or monitor isn't detected).
EDIT:
Regarding that keyboard prompt, it seems Mosart Semi makes wireless mice, and I do have a third party RF wireless mouse, but no RF wireless keyboard. (My keyboard is a Bluetooth Apple Magic Keyboard, but that's paired to the M4 Mac mini.)
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FWIW, I had the same thing at the place I was at for the last two weeks with the Pro Display XDR. The owner of the place had RF accessories connected and I guess it was for the mouse, but I got the pop-up anyway, even tho the keyboard available was Bluetooth (and turned off). I think it is just how certain RF peripherals show up in macOS. I saw it on both my personal M3 Max laptop and my new M4 Max laptop for work. Interesting you don’t get it on the mini.
@smirking
From the outside, the VESA cutout looks like a standard square 100 mm VESA mount, right?
Well, not quite. As far as I can tell, a standard square mount will NOT fit, unless you add some spacers for the screws somehow and get longer screws. Inside the VESA cutout are some tiny standoffs - see hexagon above - which I guess are meant to stabilize the standard stand mount. I also wonder if the clasp at the bottom of the mount cutout might get in the way a bit. It's there to hold the LG stand in place. Just look at how much taller the plastic standoffs are compared to the screw mount.
So, something like this won't work without spacers.
Actually, I wonder what those black rings are in the pic. Do some of them come with spacers in the box?
LG compensates for this on their wall mount by making the sides indented.
And another picture shows an X-shaped mount that should also work.
So, if you want to go with a third party stand mount, you might want to consider something like this.
Unfortunately, ClickClack.io suggested this VESA stand was weight balanced for the Pro Display XDR, which is 7.5 kg, whereas the LG 6K is 6 kg, a difference of 3.3 lbs. The specs on Alibaba for third party sellers say any monitor under 10 kg should be fine, but I have my doubts. Also, the Alibaba vendors charge way more for this stand for some reason. Plus, it wouldn't look as nice paired with the LG.
The other ones with the square VESA mount plate are usually designed for 4-6 kg.
P.S. The LG stand base isn't aluminum. I think it's painted steel, because my Pencil Pro strongly sticks magnetically to it.
From the outside, the VESA cutout looks like a standard square 100 mm VESA mount, right?
Well, not quite. As far as I can tell, a standard square mount will NOT fit, unless you add some spacers for the screws somehow and get longer screws. Inside the VESA cutout are some tiny standoffs - see hexagon above - which I guess are meant to stabilize the standard stand mount. I also wonder if the clasp at the bottom of the mount cutout might get in the way a bit. It's there to hold the LG stand in place. Just look at how much taller the plastic standoffs are compared to the screw mount.
So, something like this won't work without spacers.
Actually, I wonder what those black rings are in the pic. Do some of them come with spacers in the box?
LG compensates for this on their wall mount by making the sides indented.
And another picture shows an X-shaped mount that should also work.
So, if you want to go with a third party stand mount, you might want to consider something like this.
Unfortunately, ClickClack.io suggested this VESA stand was weight balanced for the Pro Display XDR, which is 7.5 kg, whereas the LG 6K is 6 kg, a difference of 3.3 lbs. The specs on Alibaba for third party sellers say any monitor under 10 kg should be fine, but I have my doubts. Also, the Alibaba vendors charge way more for this stand for some reason. Plus, it wouldn't look as nice paired with the LG.
The other ones with the square VESA mount plate are usually designed for 4-6 kg.
P.S. The LG stand base isn't aluminum. I think it's painted steel, because my Pencil Pro strongly sticks magnetically to it.
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