The Xiaomi G34WQi aims to provide a certain standard of gaming performance at a budget-friendly price. The monitor has a 34-inch 180Hz display that’s perfect for immersive and fast-paced gaming, so it seems like a too-good-to-be-true deal. Let’s take a closer look to see if it’s a worthy investment compared to established budget models from brands like Gigabyte and Asus.
Xiaomi G34WQi Specifications
- Screen Size: 34 Inches
- Resolution: 3440 x 1440 UW-QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 21:9
- Panel Technology: Vertical Alignment
- Refresh Rate: 180Hz
- Response Time: 1ms MPRT
- Contrast Ratio: 4000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 350 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 5 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 2, HDMI 2.0 x 2, 3.5mm Audio Jack x 1
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 31.9” x 20.1” x 8.3”
- Weight: 15.2 lbs
Design and Features
The Xiaomi G34WQi isn’t as flashy as its counterparts, but that’s okay since performance matters more for its intended audience. The monitor has a matte black finish with a discrete LED feature at the back, which can be customized via OSD. The screen has minimal bezels, but it still has inner borders like most models.
It’s a large monitor, so you might want to scope out your desk space first before pulling the trigger. Its an ultrawide monitor, so it might push off some of your larger peripherals if your desk isn’t wide enough. It only needs 8.3 inches of depth, plus its only 15.2 pounds so it should be easy to move around.
It may be from a less popular brand, but its build quality can go toe to toe with the best out there. The plastic panels are thick and sturdy, and there were no cosmetic defects o nany of its parts. The stand can keep the large display upright, but there is a slight wobble due to the smaller hinge.
The Xiaomi G34WQi has an OSD joystick at the back for easy access to its features and settings. Its near the right side corner of the display, so its easy to access even if you can’t see it directly. Other monitors have remotes, but those are usually found on alternatives that are several times more expensive.
The included stand offers tilt and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. That’s not the most flexible, but that’s usually what you need for a curved ultrawide that only needs to be centered. You can use VESA mounts, but those are only necessary in select circumstances.
One thing that got cut to lower the price is its connectivity layout, which seems simplified compared to what other models have to offer. You get two DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI slots, but there are no extras like USB-C or USB hubs. You only get a 3.5mm jack for peripherals, but it’s the least used port on any monitor out there.
Speakers have also been excluded with this model to presumably help with lowering its price. However, that’s not a dealbreaker since ultrawides are meant to be immersive. Headsets are better for that job rather than built-in speakers since they are focused and tuned for that purpose.
Display and Performance
The Xiaomi G34WQi sports a 34-inch VA panel with a 3440 x 1440 resolution, a 180Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response time. The backlight has a 300 cd/m2 output while the contrast is listed at 4000:1 like some of the newer VA gaming monitors out there. This model is compatible with HDR, but it doesn’t have any form of VESA certification.
1440p ultrawides are still very popular despite the mutations in size and form factor for the latest monitors. They offer a great balance between sharpness and visibility, but the wider FOV is also a big factor for gaming and productivity. It will need a better GPU for maximum framerates, but you won’t need a flagship model.
The Xiaomi G34WQi covered 100% sRGB and 90% DCI-P3 for great color in games and movies. It had a deltaE average of 2.44 for decent color balance in games and movies. Most users won’t need to calibrate it since it looks good for its intended purpose.
Calibrating it reduced the dE average to 1.46, making it usable for content creation and some editing. However, colorimeters are expensive, so it might not be practical to get one just to get a slightly improved level of accuracy that most won’t notice. We can only recommend that purchase if you are into color-critical work, but a better monitor should be the priority instead.
The Xiaomi G34WQi’s backlight reached 381 cd/m2 at 100%, so it can decently bright when needed. Its contrast peaked at 3329:1 at 48% brightness, so its capable of deep blacks even if it missed the 4000:1 claim. The monitor has an HDR mode that locks out its settings, but all it does is make images washed out compared to when its off.
Panel uniformity for the test sample was not great since there were backlight leaks on the top edge of the screen. This ruined the excellent contrast which comes into play since it added clouding in dark scenes. Note that this can wildly vary between every monitor made due to tolerances, so there are better and worse units out there.
Pixel response time is probably its worst weakness since it uses a VA panel which is notorious for this issue. Its overdrive isn’t completely effective, so you will still see some trails or ghosting, especially in contrasting transitions. Its still usable for competitive titles, but its not the best choice out there.
The Xiaomi G34WQi is compatible with G-Sync and FreeSync for stuttering and tearing-free gaming. its crucial to have dual compatibility now since it allows you to keep the monitor if you switch GPU brands but would still want VRR to be functional. Its input lag sits at 4ms at 180Hz, so its just as fast as the other gaming monitors out there.
Thoughts on the Xiaomi G34WQi
The Xiaomi G34WQi is an excellent choice for budget-conscious gamers who want a high-refresh rate display with a large field of view. Its not the most accurate, but its more than just serviceable in that regard. It has excellent contrast, although its HDR mode leaves a lot to be desired.
The worst weakness of the Xiaomi G34WQi is its poor pixel response time and lacklustre overdrive function. Its also quite limited when it comes to extra features, but those exclusions are not deal breakers. It’s a fantastic buy, but its not the best option if alternatives cost around the same.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Excellent Contrast
- Decent Color
Cons:
- Limited Features
- Poor HDR
- Slow Pixel Response Time
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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