- Overall
Review of LG 29UM68-P
The LG 29UM68-P is an excellent ultra-wide WXGA Freesync gaming monitor with a low price, but it does come with premium quality coming from one of the biggest makers of panels and screens in the world. While this model is suitable as a singular replacement to dual-head displays for productivity, it also comes with a subtle gaming pedigree which coincides with the image fidelity of the superb IPS panel. Let’s take a closer look at what this wallet-friendly monitor can offer for both gamers and professionals.
LG 29UM68-P Specifications
- Screen Size: 29 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1080 UW-WXGA
- Aspect Ratio: 21:9
- Panel Technology: In Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 75Hz
- Response Time: 5ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 250 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes 2 x 5 Watts
- Stand: Height – No
- Stand: Tilt – Yes (-5°/+20°)
- Stand: Swivel – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 1.4 x 2, 3.5mm Audio Jack
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 27.7″ x 16.3″ x 8.1″
- Weight: 5 lbs
Design and Features
What we like about LG is they do not skimp on designs by using bulky cabinets and thick bezels. The 29UM68-P gets the same treatment as its upmarket brethren does with a three size borderless bezel, and the Arcline Design which provides a hint of class to an already beautiful monitor. Only the bottom strip is thicker, but even then it still looks discreet since it’s less than an inch in width. LG typically uses a glossy finish for its products, and while it does look elegant, it does attract dust, fingerprints, and hairline scratches easily, so keeping it clean can become a chore at some point.
The bow-shaped stand provides a look any minimalist will love, but it only offers to tilt for ergonomics. This setback could be an issue for some users since 29” could appear too narrow for some, especially for taller persons. It does, however, have its merits aside from being attractive, since the screen sits stable on top of your desk, and the whole thing only wobbles with sufficient force. If you have issues with the limitations, you can opt for VESA aftermarket mounting solutions since this model is compatible with 75 x 75 adapters. You also get a multi-directional joystick for OSD navigation, a feature we all love for convenience.
The LG 29UM68-P offers more I/O options than its predecessor, the 29UM58-P since this device now has a DisplayPort 1.2 slot and two HDMI 1.4 ports. You can add other host devices such as consoles, but keep in mind that you will have to live with the dreaded black bars on the sides since these gadgets only offer 16:9 aspect ratio. The 5-watt pair of speakers, on the other hand, are still too weak for entertainment purposes, despite LG’s MaxxAudio advertisement. You also don’t get USB slots, probably since LG had to cut that feature out to keep the price low. Finally, you get a cable holder for all the cords you can use on the 29UM68-P.
Display and Performance
The LG 29UM68-P utilizes a 29” IPS panel with a 2560 x 1080 native resolution, 75Hz refresh rate, and a 5ms response time which makes it adequate for casual gaming and home or office work. For a budget-friendly product, the colors are way better than other cheap IPS products, but we did notice some slight discolorations on the sides in some parts of our gaming tests. However, do not let this unnoticeable flaw discourage you from the 29UM68-P since the screen did not show any backlight bleeds or IPS glow, and uniformity is excellent for the most part.
This monitor does have multiple colors presets to choose from, and while that selection includes two FPS settings and one for RTS, we would still recommend users to use custom settings since we see shades and saturation differently. The accompanying Black Stabilizer did help to improve contrast in dark scenes in our Battlefield 1 test, but it will affect how you see the well-lit parts. Of course, all of these results are entirely subjective, and you can’t compare full-fledged gaming displays like the Acer Predator X34 to this entry-level offering.
75Hz is adequate for casual gaming, and while it does not provide blur-free action similar to 144Hz, we still felt that the image improved over regular 60Hz. 2560 x 1080 isn’t that hard to run with mid-range graphics cards, save for some exceptional titles like our favorite benchmark title, Battlefield 1. If you find that your FPS drops too much in intense scenes, the 29UM68-P does have Freesync with a 40Hz to 75Hz functional range. If you can lock FPS rates via in-game settings, we suggest you keep it within 42Hz to 72Hz, so the benefits of adaptive sync do not stop. In the case of the 29UM68-P, smoother gameplay trumps high FPS any day of the week since you only get up to 75.
For the budding professionals, this monitor is also a great upgrade especially if you are coming from smaller screens like 22 inches. Typically, these outdated products come in pairs for most productivity setups, but the LG 29UM68-P can change that and free your desk from cables and clutter. You can view two full-sized windows side by side on the viewing real-estate, or you can use LG’s Picture by Picture or Picture in Picture modes complemented by the three signal inputs.
Conclusion
The LG 29UM68-P is an excellent ultra-wide upgrade if you are coming from prehistoric and tiny monitors or if you want to replace a dual-head setup with a single, high-quality budget performer. For after hours gaming or entertainment, this model is a fantastic choice short of spending twice or thrice the money for a gamer-centric offering with features you sometimes can’t use. The 2560 x 1080 at a 29-inch diagonal space might seem narrow or outdated for some, but it is easy to run with any decent graphics card, so you won’t have to up the ante in spending for an upgrade. For office use, the LG29UM68-P is a beautifully crafted display you can use to impress your boss and clients with, or as a tool that can increase productivity. We do, however, recommend the 34-inch version since it will look and fit so much better, plus it has height adjustment to go with its grander viewing space.
Leave a Reply