- Overall
The LG 34UM58-P is a massive, 34-inch ultrawide display with a 1080p resolution, FreeSync, and a wallet-friendly price. Over the years, LG has proven that their products are some of the best in the business thanks to excellent performances, build quality and reliability. But since the LG 34UM58-P sits at the lower end of the spectrum, it would be interesting to see how the Korean display giant balances between affordability and cutting-edge to create another outstanding product.
LG 34UM58-P Specifications
- Screen Size: 34 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: None
- Stand: Height – No
- Stand: Tilt – Yes (-5°/+20°)
- Stand: Swivel – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes
- Connectivity: HDMI 1.4 x 2, 3.5mm Audio Jack
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 32.7“ x 18.1” x 8.4”
- Weight: 15lbs
Design and Features
The LG 34UM58-P comes in a glossy black finish all over its svelte cabinet which adds a hint of elegance but is susceptible to scratches, dust, and fingerprints. Keeping the beautiful chassis clean can be a chore, but getting a microfiber cloth should make it easy. But the real kicker at first glance is the bezel-free face, and if it weren’t for the discrete borders, this display would have a wide edge to edge viewing real estate.
Since this ultrawide display belongs in the entry-level segment, the LG 34UM58-P has a subdued feature list. For starters, the product does not include built-in speakers and VESA mounting. These are minor additions, and the quality of the screen is the most important, but this model should at least have them for extra value and usability. Businesses and offices would love to have a well-equipped all-rounder, and it’s a shame the slashed pricing also cut some essentials.
Since you can’t mount the LG 34UM58-P, you are stuck with the wine-glass shaped stand which shares its finish with the rest of cabinet. 34-inches is a lot to handle for a tilt-only stand, but it does so admirably. The screen may shake from time to time with enough force, but in typical situations, the monitor should be ok. This product will require some assembly, and if you can find a suitable adaptor, you can easily remove the mechanism as easy as it slides into place.
Finally, the LG 34UM58-P has a limited I/O layout, since you only get two HDMI 1.4 ports and a 3.5mm audio jack. Since there are no built-in speakers, the slot will only allow audio passthrough if you set your audio to run through HDMI. The two video inputs should allow two host devices at the same time, or you can add a gaming console if you so desire.
Display and Performance
The LG 34UM58-P sports a 34-inch wide IPS panel with a native resolution of 2560 x 1080, a refresh rate of up to 75Hz, and a response time of 5ms. What you can instantly notice upon using this product is the loose pixel pitch which may cause jagged edges or add graininess to your media. Even if the IPS panel is crystal clear, this flaw immediately becomes apparent on some icons in Windows 10.
But what’s great about the LG 34UM58-P is the factory-calibrated color and contrast performance. Out of the box, there isn’t much you need to do to achieve the maximum potential of the screen, except dial down its brightness to healthy levels. LG specified this model to have sRGB gamut coverage at 99%. Except for minor skewing and a slightly warm tone, the display is perfect for any usage.
LG also included extra features which can enhance your viewing experiences and productivity. For starters, the LG 34UM58-P includes a Black Stabilizer option which helps to make blacks extra oily and profound. Activating it cured the dark grayish spots in our Battlefield 1 test, but it can affect well-lit images by dialing the warmth and vibrancy down, so using it depends entirely on your tastes.
You can also utilize the extensive view space with the help of LG’s Screen Split 2.0, which offers multiple templates of multiple windows on one screen. There are 14 options all in all, plus there are four different PiP modes if you are using the dual inputs. But what’s fantastic about all of these is that you can access the LG 34UM58-P’s features on your desktop if you install the included software.
Another impressive capability of the LG 34UM58-P is the 75Hz refresh rate and FreeSync functionality. The current top-notch AMD cards can handle gaming at 2560 x 1080 easily, but the added smoothness of the images via FreeSync is a godsend. The added 15Hz headroom along with the VRR tech does help in solving blurs and stutters, but the 5ms response time of the IPS panel can still produce interlacing and ghosting at some points in our test.
There were no detrimental delays felt during a fast-paced sequence, but if you came from a full-fledged gamer display, you could tell the difference in speed. While we did not get a chance to measure the actual input lag, we estimate it to sit close to 20ms, which is the ideal threshold before delays start to affect casual gaming. Competitive gamers should look elsewhere, but without spending twice or thrice the SRP of the LG 34UM58-P, it would be difficult to find something better.
Finally, the biggest downfall of the LG 34UM58-P is its low native resolution at a larger form factor. The horizontal size is identical to what 1440p monitors have, so the wider space this screen can display can be had on the latter. Also, 1440p monitors will have the vertical advantage, so your desktop, media, and games will look taller.
Thoughts
The LG 34UM58-P is a well-rounded and affordable ultrawide monitor suitable for those looking for a cheap upgrade or wanting to test the waters in this particular segment. The inclusion of FreeSync and other helpful features will enrich your viewing experience whether if it’s for gaming or work, plus the reliability and durability which makes LG popular helps with your peace of mind.
But before pulling the trigger, buyers should consider if they can live with the limitations. For starters, the pixel density is a bit loose so images may sometimes appear jagged or grainy, so it is suitable for the smaller variants instead. Functionality is also limited, plus an affordable 1440p monitor can match the main selling point which is the extended view space, but with a bit more in the vertical aspect. Still, having a massive ultrawide with FreeSync is fulfilling to look at for any build, so if you want a wallet-friendly taste of the ultrawide segment, the LG 34UM58-P is a reliable and flexible choice.
chmedly says
My 34UM58-P has a VESA mount pattern on the back.