LG 43UD79-B Review – 43-Inch Multi-Client 4K Monitor6 min read

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The LG 43UD79-B is one of the most feature-packed 4K displays from the famous company known for their high-quality IPS-based products. This USB-C compatible TV-sized wonder is designed as a more affordable spin-off of LG’s Ultrafine monitors which filled the gap when Apple abandoned sales of its Retina displays.  The LG 43UD79-B aims at business-oriented users who want a crisp and clear screen matched with practical features for unmatched versatility.

LG 43UD79-B Specifications

• Screen Size: 43 inches
• Resolution: 4k UHD 3840 x 2160
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9Panel
• Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
• Refresh Rate: 60hz (DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort), 30hz (HDMI)
• Response Time (Gray to Gray): 8 milliseconds
• Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
• Brightness: 350 cd/m²
• Built-In Speakers: Yes (2 x 10 watts)
• Stand: Height – No
• Stand: Tilt – Yes (-5/+10)
• Stand: Swivel – No
• Stand: Pivot – No
• VESA Compatibility: Yes (200×200)
• Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2  x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2, HDMI 1.4 x 2, USB 3.0 x 2, USB-C x 1, RS 232C Serial Port x 1, 3.5mm Audio Jack
• Dimensions: Without stand (WxHxD) – 38.10” x 25.5” x 10.8”
• Weight: 35 lbs

Design and Features

The LG 43UD79-B comes with a sophisticated, all-business aesthetic finished in matte black which matches the personality this product is projecting. There are thin plastic bezels on the front, but they are hardly noticeable against the 43-inch display even when it’s turned on. The overall frontal looks clean and neat, although the product somehow looks like one of LG’s older generation LED TVs.

The product eats almost 11 inches of depth on any desk due to the large base that supports it, but that is reasonable for a 43-inch model. Besides, if you are looking to get a monitor of this size, the desk that can hold the massiveness should come first. The LG 43UD79-B’s bulge is slightly thicker that what we’d like, but it doesn’t stick out, unlike some boxy models we’ve seen.

From all angles, the 5^th or 6^th generation LED TV appearance is evident, but we’re thankful the screen doesn’t come with thick borders, preserving the modernist look. Despite our minor misgivings, the rear of the LG 43UD79-B is where the magic happens. The I/O layout doesn’t include legacy connectors, but it does have a DisplayPort 1.2 and four HDMI slots. The first two have 2.0 capabilities, while the other has 1.4, but these receptacles were meant for simultaneous signal input which we will explain later.

You only get two USB 3.0 ports with KVM for peripherals, but the unique feature here is the USB-C slot which is compatible with DP Alt Mode for your USB-C laptops.  You also get to enjoy good quality audio since the LG 43UD79-B comes with a pair of 10-watt Harman Kardon speakers, which from our experience, provides decent frequency response for personal listening.

The one downside we see on the LG 43UD79-B’s exterior is its tilt only stand which limits comfortable orientations. The thick upright includes a cable holder for the multiple wires you will use with this model, plus it sits on a rectangular base that’s broad enough to accommodate your phone and knick knacks. However, if you want a a slither of adjustability for a large monitor like this, we recommend spending the extra cash for a capable VESA mount.

Finally, our favorite feature on the LG 43UD79-B is its OSD joystick which sits at the middle of the bottom bezel. It’s easy to reach and operate, and is considered as a godsend for easy manipulation of the monitor’s settings.

Display and Performance

The LG 43UD79-B boasts a 43-inch IPS panel with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and 5ms response time. A contrast ratio of 1000:1 and a WLED backlight with a max brightness of 350cd/m2. The massive screen comes with a light AG coating that appears as if its a semi-gloss layer, but it does an excellent job at deflecting unwanted glare.

When the LG 43UD79-B is scrutinized with a colorimeter, you will see results which are acceptable, but a bit underwhelming when compared to the brand’s other offerings. sRGB coverage can only reach 95% (73% Adobe RGB). Accuracy is pretty good for everyday use at Delta E 2.5, but it can be improved to Delta E 1.0 if you have the right gear.

The screen for the LG 43UD79-B looks satisfyingly saturated thanks to the reasonable contrast of 860:1. We’ve seen better, but some IPS panels in the market struggle to reach this level. It’s also interesting to note that the WLED backlight can only reach 290cd/m2 as opposed to the 350cd/m2 specified.

One of the biggest questions for a large monitor like the LG 43UD79-B would be its panel uniformity. When viewing the screen, irregularities and color degradation are actually hard to see. Deviations across the quadrants did not go past 10% from the center, but viewing black or dark images ran into some issues.

If you look closely at the screen, there will be some clouding if the screen displays a nearly all-black image. There were no massive backlight leaks on the side, but those with extra sharp eyes will notice the aforementioned flaw. We recommend turning down the brightness to safe levels which should also help with eye strain.

Another thing the LG 43UD79-B is great at is its pixel response time which was agile enough to avoid producing image retention. There is also an Overdrive feature in the OSD in case you notice a bit of ghosting, but we only recommend using the Normal setting. The maximum level boosts the pixel speed further, but it adds a ton of overshoot.

Even if the LG 43UD79-B is a business monitor, it still manages to pack gaming features such as FreeSync. It’s also responsive enough for competitive play since it’s input lag sits at 9.5ms. These two features make the monitor a suitable solution for the Xbox One X or a Vega GPU-equipped monster PC.

Thoughts

The LG 43UD79-B is well suited for mix use applications which include movies and gaming. There are a few flaws in the image quality, but we don’t think that it will matter to most users. The rich connectivity panel allows users to connect several devices which may include a USB-C laptop or a 4K gaming console.

The attractiveness of the package intensifies even more if you check the LG 43UD79-B’s current market price. This model is considerably more viable than the Dell P4317Q which costs at least $200 more. From the multi-input features to the reasonable performance in both responsiveness and image quality, the LG 43UD79-B is the monitor to get if you want a massive display for work and play.

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