The LG 34WN650-W presents an all-in-one solution for multitasking while eliminating the need for extra cables, space, and cost. It’s a 34-inch flat ultrawide that’s best suited for business use, but it also packs a few gaming features that casual players might like. Let’s check it out to see if it’s a worthy upgrade versus a dual monitor setup.
LG 34WN650-W Specifications
- Screen Size: 34 Inches
- Resolution:2560 x 1080 FHD
- Aspect Ratio: 21:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching(IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 75Hz
- Response Time: 5ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 400 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 7 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2, USB 3.0 x 2, 3.5mm Jack
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 32.2” x 22.3” x 8.9”
- Weight:16.9 lbs
Design and Features
The LG 34WN650-W looks just like its predecessor, although there are some minor changes you won’t notice at a glance. The monitor still has the white and silver combination, so it looks better than most productivity monitors out there. The screen has thinner bezels, but you will still see inner borders when you look close enough.
It’s a large monitor, so you might need to clear up some space before buying it and setting it up. The screen needs more than 32 inches of width from your table, although its overall depth has been reduced by an inch. It is not too heavy at 16.9 pounds, so it’s still fairly easy to carry it around in case you want to reorganize.
Its build quality is just as good as some of the premium LG monitors we’ve seen in recent times. The panels are made with precision and durability in mind, so there are no signs of weaknesses or cosmetic issues like gaps. The stand is stable enough for the large screen, so it will only wobble if you nudge it accidentally.
The LG 34WN650-W has an OSD joystick and the brand’s OnScreen Control app for your convenience. It’s easier to adjust settings or calibrate the screen because of these, as opposed to buttons that require multiple key presses. It just takes more to get to specific settings and menus, so we prefer the former every time.
The included stand offers tilt and height adjustments, so its not the best for getting a unique yet comfortable viewing angle. It’s enough for most uses, but some might need more flexibility if they have more than just one display. You can also use VESA mounts to get around the limitations, but that’s an added cost that becomes necessary in a few select instances.
One of the things that was downgraded on the LG 34WN650-W is its connectivity layout. It only has DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 slots, plus a 3.5mm jack for headphones or speakers. It doesn’t have USB ports for your peripherals, but that’s a minor inconvenience since PCs usually have them anyway.
On the other hand, you get upgraded speakers with this model compared to the 34WK650-W. It has a 7-watt pair with MaxxAudio, as opposed to the 5-watt plain-janes on the older model. They work great for games and movies, but headphones and desktop speakers will still outdo them when it comes to depth and bass response.
Display and Performance
The LG 34WN650-W boasts a 34-inch IPS panel with a 2560 x 1080 resolution, a 75Hz refresh rate, and a 5ms response time. The backlight has been boosted to have a 400 cd/m2 peak, while the contrast is still listed at 1000:1. This model is advertised to be HDR 400-capable, unlike the previous offering, which was limited to 300 cd/m2 and HDR10 compatibility.
1080p ultrawides are not great when it comes to sharpness, but you do get more room to work with. It might look slightly fuzzy or pixelated up front, but sitting at a good distance should get around that. It’s easier to run with minimal to medium specs, so you don’t have to spend a lot if you want to play games.
The LG 34WN650-W covered 100% sRGB coverage and around 78% DCI-P3, so it looks decently saturated in any type of use. Its default accuracy had a dE average of 1.95, so it’s good to go out of the box. Most users won’t need to calibrate it to get a more palatable color setting, although some adjustments in the brightness might be in order.
Calibrating it reduced the dE average to 1.21, making it more suitable for some editing work and content creation. The downside is that you will need a colorimeter to achieve comparable results, and those aren’t cheap or accessible to most. We can only recommend it for color-critical work, but then again, a better-suited display should be prioritized instead.
The LG 34WN650-W’s backlight reached 366 cd/m2 at 100% and it peaked at 406 cd/m2 when its HDR mode is active. Its contrast ratio reached 1129:1 at 40% brightness, enabling it to produce slightly better black luminance. However, it still can’t provide compelling HDR performance with these numbers, but that’s understandable.
Panel uniformity for the test sample was decent since there were no major backlight leaks on the edges of the screen. There is some variance in the backlight’s spread, but it only becomes prominent in dark scenes. Note that this can vary with every unit made due to tolerances, so there are better units out there.
The LG 34WN650-W isn’t the fastest monitor out there, but it is certainly better with motion handling compared to most VA monitors. Persistence only happens during select instances, so it’s not as bad as its VA counterparts for faster-paced titles. You can also use the monitor’s overdrive setting, but maxing it out will add some overshoot in exchange for clearing the trailing and blurs.
The LG 34WN650-W is compatible with FreeSync, plus G-Sync also works if it’s connected via DisplayPort. 1080p screens can be run with most GPUs, so you don’t have to get top-end cards to get decent performance with this monitor. Input lag sits at 10ms at 75Hz, so it’s responsive and fast enough for any type of use.
Thoughts on the LG 34WN650-W
The LG 34WN650-W is a decent choice if you want an inexpensive display with a large viewing area and an easy-to-run resolution. It offers decent color and a reliable design, so it’s a great buy for daily use. It is not the most heavily-equipped monitor out there, but it has enough features to keep users happy for some time.
However, it is not a real upgrade over the predecessors, which can sometimes be found for cheaper if they are still available. The biggest advantage of it is it’s more affordable than two 1080p monitors and a dual monitor mount, so it’s more practical. It’s a great buy either way, so you can’t go wrong with it, even if it has limitations.
Pros:
- Decent Price
- Decent Colors
- Adaptive Sync
Cons:
- Limited Features
- Low Contrast
- Poor HDR Performance
About the Author: 
Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that 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.
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