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Review: LG's $1500 38UC99 UltraWide Display Offers a Giant, Desk-Filling Workspace

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We've already looked at LG's UltraFine 5K and 27UD88 displays as companions for Apple's latest notebooks, and today we're taking a look at another USB-C display option that brings something quite different: LG's 38UC99 curved "UltraWide" display.

lg_38_uc99.jpg

This is a desk-filling display in the truest sense of the term: 37.5 inches on the diagonal with a 21:9 aspect ratio and a native resolution of 3840x1600. It has fewer pixels than a true 4K or Ultra HD display, but its sheer size makes up for it in some unique ways. While the UltraFine 5K and 27UD88 displays work best at Retina or scaled resolutions, the 38UC99 uses a full 3840x1600 desktop that leaves everything on screen at just the right size to be useful. No, it's not a Retina display in this mode, but until we have 8K displays this will have to do.

Even without Retina resolution, this display is impressive. The sheer size of it gives you so much flexibility in terms of your workspace. I can easily have three large windows open side-by-side with room to spare.

lg_38uc99_setup.jpg
UltraFine 5K, 38UC99, 2016 MacBook Pro (left to right)​

I've been testing this in a three-display setup with the new 15-inch MacBook Pro, an UltraFine 5K, and the 38UC99. It's a ridiculous amount of desktop space that I can barely fit on my desk, and the MacBook Pro with entry-level graphics runs all of it without breaking a sweat.


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Article Link: Review: LG's $1500 38UC99 UltraWide Display Offers a Giant, Desk-Filling Workspace
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/review/lg-38uc99-ultrawide-display/
Any comment on screen burn with this model? A colleague of mine uses the 34UC98 and suffers with it badly - its a shame as other than this its a fantastic display.
 
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Are curved displays worth it? I can maybe see it for a desk with one monitor that will always be in front of you but I'd think if you didn't have a good viewing angle it would suck for a big screen TV and I can't see it for a multi-monitor desk environment.
 
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Macaholic868 said:
Are curved displays worth it? I can maybe see it for a desk with one monitor that will always be in front of you but I'd think if you didn't have a good viewing angle it would suck for a big screen TV and I can't see if for a multi monitor desk environment.
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They make me feel nauseous, perhaps I am just too used to flat screens but I much prefer them.
 
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I really like the curve. I've been tempted to purchase one of these monitors for a while now, but the price point is egregious.
 
Macaholic868 said:
Are curved displays worth it?
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I've got a Dell Ultrasharp U3415W on my desk these days and I have to admit I like it a lot. The only time it irritates me is when I've got to go all the way over to the left for the menu items, but that's more a niggle with ultrawide screens than with curved screens. That said, when I've got Final Cut or Photoshop open that extra real estate makes me a very happy camper. The curved screen did take me a week or two to get used to.
 
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Macaholic868 said:
Are curved displays worth it? I can maybe see it for a desk with one monitor that will always be in front of you but I'd think if you didn't have a good viewing angle it would suck for a big screen TV and I can't see it for a multi-monitor desk environment.
Click to expand...

My consensus with curved displays is is that you have to be sitting directly in front of it and rather close to appreciate the full exposure. I opted for a curved television from Samsung and it wasn't for me at all. I personally prefer flatscreen.

Then again, this display significantly smaller than a 65 inch television. So perhaps that would also be a factor.
 
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My monitor is a 2015 48" curved 3D 4K Samsung Series 8 SUHD TV. Theoretically it has some kind of HDR and it was cheaper.
 
Super happy about the return of 1600 line displays.
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Macaholic868 said:
Are curved displays worth it? I can maybe see it for a desk with one monitor that will always be in front of you but I'd think if you didn't have a good viewing angle it would suck for a big screen TV and I can't see it for a multi-monitor desk environment.
Click to expand...

For the ultra wide desktop monitor use case I'd argue it's necessary. There's a lot of eye and neck strain when trying to make use of an ultra wide flat.
 
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WestonHarvey1 said:
For the ultra wide desktop monitor use case I'd argue it's necessary. There's a lot of eye and neck strain when trying to make use of an ultra wide flat.
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Even if my 48" is curved, it shows how wrong the Mac menubar is.
 
macs4nw said:
LG, please work on your aesthetics. No matter how gorgeous the display is, we the purchasers have to look at the darn enclosure and stand for years too.
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I like the fact that LG isn't all fancy. A conservative look matches everything.
 
Relentless Power said:
My consensus with curved displays is is that you have to be sitting directly in front of it and rather close to appreciate the full exposure. I opted for a curved television from Samsung and it wasn't for me at all. I personally prefer flatscreen.

Then again, this display significantly smaller than a 65 inch television. So perhaps that would also be a factor.
Click to expand...

I have a curved 34" Dell at work, and a flat 34" LG at home. The curve works well for a computer monitor. Wish I had gotten the curved version at home.
 
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