The Iiyama XUB3493WQSU is an attractive solution for multitasking and immersive gaming without breaking the bank. This monitor also notably has a flat screen, unlike many ultrawides which usually have curved surfaces. The Iiyama XUB3493WQSU main limitation is it only goes up to 75Hz, but can it provide the excellent image quality that can sway meticulous consumers?
Iiyama XUB3493WQSU Specifications
- Screen Size: 34Inches
- Resolution: 3440 x 1440 UW-QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 21:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 75Hz
- Response Time: 4ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 400cd/m²
- Speakers: Yes (2 x 5 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2, USB 3.0 x 3, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 32.17” x 16.34” x 9.06”
- Weight: 20.94 lbs
Design and Features
The Iiyama XUB3493WQSU keeps its lowkey with its minimalist look that makes it appear like a regular office monitor. The device has a matte black finish all over for a clean look that doesn’t attract dust or smudges easily. The display is bezel-free on three sides, making the already large screen look more expansive.
Its also a massive monitor, but the Iiyama XUB3493WQSU manages to have modest proportions that would help it fit into desks. The device only needs nine inches of depth from your desk, but its cabinet is also slim and flat enough for wall mounting. It also has some weight to it at over twenty pounds but takes note that some ultrawides weigh much more.
The Iiyama XUB3493WQSU has excellent build quality for a budget model with no apparent structural weaknesses which often cause wobbling. The plastics used feel sturdy and their surfaces have no visible defects or scratches. Every part or panel was made to match each other perfectly so there should be no uneven gaps or rough seams on every corner of the product.
One downside we can highlight on the Iiyama XUB3493WQSU’s design is its use of OSD buttons which we feel is outdated for today’s monitors. The layout is located at the bottom right of the chassis, but it’s facing the rear so you have to rely on tiny labels to know their functions. Each key is responsive and clicky, but it is still very easy to miss-press a button when you are trying to quickly get to a submenu in the OSD.
The Iiyama XUB3493WQSU has a fully-adjustable stand that offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments. What’s peculiar about this is the pivoting movement since the stand cannot accommodate the ultrawide chassis in portrait mode. You can use VESA mounts to achieve it, but the angle it allows is only usable for trying to reach the ports at the rear or when you want to arrange your cables.
The Iiyama XUB3493WQSU has a decent amount of connectivity features starting with DisplayPort 1.2 and two HDMI 2.0 slots for video inputs. There is also a trio of USB 3.0 connectors, along with a 3.5mm jack for headphones. That isn’t a lot, but it can handle everything you might need to attach to the monitor plus a few peripherals or thumb drives.
Iiyama was able to include a pair of 5 watt-speakers into the Iiyama XUB3493WQSU which further extends its value. The built-ins don’t have the details or clarity of a dedicated set, but they can get loud with a decent amount of bass. Gamers will mostly prefer headphones, but this feature is nice to have in case you want to sit back, relax, and listen to music or watch videos.
Display and Performance
The Iiyama XUB3493WQSU boasts a 34-inch IPS panel with a 3440 x 1440 resolution, 75Hz refresh rate, and 4ms response time. The backlight can get decently bright at 400 cd/m2, but contrast is limited to 1000:1 like most IPS panels. This model has a flat screen which many prefer since there is no distortion noticeable, especially when viewing documents and the like.
The Iiyama XUB3493WQSU’s 34-inch QHD screen offers a lot of pixels that will increase your workable space and the amount of details you can see. Screens like this are great for gaming, but many users such as designers and video editors also prefer it since its easier to spread their respective workflows. Ultrawides also used to be too expensive for office or business use, but this model changes that with its very low price.
The Iiyama XUB3493WQSU produces good color coverage with its 99% reproduction of the sRGB gamut. However, accuracy by default needs some improvement due to a deltaE average of 3.89 which could make the screen look unnatural to trained eyes. The color temperature is too warm for regular use, so white backgrounds like browsers or document apps will look yellowish.
Fortunately, you can calibrate the Iiyama XUB3493WQSU to lower its delta E to 2.14 which is more palatable for daily use. You also get a more balanced color temperature by adjusting a few settings to get rid of the unwanted tint on the screen. Buying a colorimeter isn’t practical since the total will put you in range of better-calibrated ultrawides, but it’s the only solution if you want improved scores for photo and video editing purposes.
The Iiyama XUB3493WQSU reaches 394 cd/m2 at maximum, so it can get blindingly bright especially when used in the dark. However, what’s disappointing is the contrast ratio which struggled to breach 750:1 at 40% brightness settings. This limitation can make the screen look dull at times, especially when you are viewing dark images.
The panel uniformity from the Iiyama XUB3493WQSU sample was excellent overall since there were no noticeable backlight leaks or clouding on the screen. All of the quadrants all the way to the sides look evenly lit with balanced colors, so you won’t get annoyingly washed out patches while viewing your content. But please do take note that this aspect varies wildly due to manufacturing tolerances, so buying from a retailer that will readily exchange your unit for a new one is a must.
The Iiyama XUB3493WQSU isn’t the fastest monitor available for gaming, but its 75Hz maximum adds a noticeable smoothness to games. Blurs and ghosting can become visible if you pan the screen too fast or in quick dark to light transitions.This monitor isn’t blur-free, but the extra refresh headroom adds a noticeable hint of smoothness if the FPS matches it.
The Iiyama XUB3493WQSU is a FreeSync gaming monitor, but it’s also tested to work with Nvidia’s G-Sync and their GPUs. This feature is crucial for the model since its resolution can be very taxing even on top-end GPUs like the RTX 2080 Ti. Input lag is slightly higher at 15ms, but most users will still not perceive any delays during general usage.
Thoughts on the Iiyama XUB3493WQSU
The Iiyama XUB3493WQSU has a few limitations, but it is still a great buy if you consider its price per inch of screen ratio. The IPS panel offers good color quality once calibrated, but you have to know your way around the OSD to get the best out of this model. We like that Iiyama made this model as full-featured as possible despite the low price, beating several budget ultrawides like the Samsung S34J550 in that regard.
Buying the Iiyama XUB3493WQSU means that you have to live with the mentioned limitations above which can dissuade many users. However, you won’t be able to get this much screen space under $400, so it somehow balances out. It’s an excellent buy if you need extra screen space for productivity or immersive gaming, but enthusiasts will look elsewhere.
Pros:
- Excellent Features
- Very Low Price for QHD Ultrawide
- Good Post Calibration Results
- FreeSync/G-Sync Compatible
Cons:
- Poor Factory Calibration
- Uniformity Needs Improvement
- Low Contrast
About the Author:
Paolo is a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since his junior high years. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations and he believes that it’s every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.