- Overall
The Iiyama Prolite XUB3490WQSU is another affordable but enticing entry with into the ultrawide screen segment thanks to its decent specs and lower price. Ultra-wide monitors have become quite popular in recent times even if 4K displays are the future standard for premium viewing, but pricing still is hard to swallow. Thankfully, there are companies like Iiyama who can make compromises to meet a price point without sacrificing the essentials.
Iiyama Prolite XUB3490WQSU Specifications
- Screen Size: 34 Inches
- Resolution: 3440 x 1440 UW-QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 21:9
- Panel Technology: In Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 5ms
- Brightness: 320 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 7 Watts)
- Stand: Height –Yes (4 Inches)
- Stand: Tilt – Yes (-4°/+20°)
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 1.4 x 2, HDMI 2.0 x 1, USB 3.0 x 3, USB 2.0 x 2, 3.5mm Audio Jack
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 32.58” x 21.04” x 9.06”
- Weight: 18.74lbs
Design and Features
The Iiyama Prolite XUB3490WQSU looks as subdued as the next office monitor with its all-black exterior and minimalist design. The bezels on the sides and at the top are reasonably thin, but the bottom has some width to it particularly to hold the Iiyama logo and the OSD buttons. There are labels on the lower right-hand side, but they are hardly visible at a single glance, and you might need lighting to distinguish each logo.
The back has a trapezoidal bulge which holds the control modules, although not as deeply intrusive as what other models have. Surprisingly, the Iiyama Prolite XUB3490WQSU is one of the most compact at this angle since the total depth is only at nine inches. The sides are perforated with slits that act as ventilation for the innards, and even if Iiyama did not use a flashy design, we think this gives the monitor its business-oriented appeal.
The Iiyama Prolite XUB3490WQSU is rich with connectivity options because it includes a DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 slots for signal input. One of the things the brand did correctly was to place all five of the USB slots on the right side for easy access. There are two USB 2.0 and three USB 3.0 receptacles with the latter having an upstream slot and another with fast charging capabilities.
Another pleasing aspect of the Iiyama Prolite XUB3490WQSU is its flexible stand which includes height, swivel, and tilt adjustments. Most affordable monitors and even the ultra wides which are sometimes still too expensive for some do not offer ergonomics, so that’s a big plus in our books. The T-shaped stand looks quite nice on a clean desk as well, so if you are buying with form and function in mind, you can’t go wrong with this model.
If for some reason desktop placement isn’t your thing, the Iiyama Prolite XUB3490WQSU comes with VESA compatibility. By detaching the stand, you will reveal a 100 x 100 bolt pattern on the back. This monitor is still colossal when compared to the standard models, so for some who have limited spaces, wall mounting could be the answer.
Display and Performance
The Iiyama Prolite XUB3490WQSU features a 34-inch AH-IPS panel with a 3440 x 1440 native resolution, 60Hz refresh rate and 5ms response time. Buyers might be immediately suspicious of the capabilities of this model, but out of the box, it can display 96% of the sRGB gamut with an acceptable Delta E of around 2.8. Right off the bat, our images proved to be acceptably vibrant and accurate, and we know getting something even better would at least cost a hundred or more.
Tests also show that the stock color temperature is near the ideal threshold at around 6400K which isn’t too far from 6500K. These results aren’t impressive by today’s standards, but you have to give props to Iiyama for providing these factory calibrated results for such a low price. If you want a higher accuracy, you ought to use a calibrator to get the most out of the Iiyama Prolite XUB3490WQSU.
If there was one negative thing we noticed about the picture is that it was slightly less dark than some of its competitors, like the Dell U3417W which has deep, oily blacks and excellent grayscale performance making it suitable for editing and multimedia applications. While that may be a bummer for prospective buyers, Iiyama included a Black Tuner feature which adjusts brightness and some settings to help with this issue. Be careful though, as forcing too much of this filter on your display could darken your images and ruin the experience.
Ultrawides are fantastic for gaming because you get an extra field which covers some peripheral view angles. But sadly, the Iiyama Prolite XUB3490WQSU isn’t one of those sophisticated products with all the fancy features you get for a premium price. First, you don’t get FreeSync or G-Sync with this model. The pixel count is too much for most graphics cards, but you might get by with a premium card like a Nvidia GTX 1070.
Users can’t expect competitive-level performance out of the Iiyama Prolite XUB3490WQSU since the included IPS panel might be too slow for today’s gamers. The 5ms limitation instantly becomes apparent in fast-paced scenes with a lot of mice swiping involved, but we can’t say that you shouldn’t choose this product for casual gaming. The 21:9 aspect will still provide users with a lot of visual candy worth the price paid if you manage your expectations.
One aspect enthusiasts like the Iiyama Prolite XUB3490WQSU and its siblings because of their ability to be overclocked past beyond their refresh rate thresholds. The brand labels this model as a 60Hz native model, but you can reach 75Hz quickly via a custom profile on your Nvidia or AMD driver control panels. But, be warned that this performance isn’t guaranteed, and the screen might flicker or go out of sync if too much overclock is applied.
Thoughts
The Iiyama Prolite XUB3490WQSU doesn’t have cutting edge abilities to sway the meticulous computer user, but it certainly is interesting because it sits at a considerably lower price point in this premium segment. There are other budget options out there, but some can’t reach 75Hz and a nearly perfect vibrancy and accuracy.
There are limitations to this model, but considering its price bracket in the premium segment, we still think that the Iiyama Prolite XUB3490WQSU is at least worthy of being shortlisted before you pull the trigger. You can treat this model as a midpoint before making your choice, and decide whether a cheaper model will do or your editing work or hardcore gaming sessions need a cutting edge display. If neither of those fits your budget or appeals to you, then getting the best of both worlds is probably the next best thing for you.
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