LG 34UC98 Review: 3440×1440 UltraWide IPS Curved Monitor With Thunderbolt 2

The LG 34UC98 is a 34″ ultrawide monitor which offers stunning colors and crisp details thanks to its 3440×1440 IPS panel. Further, it provides a smooth performance and plenty of components, including the Thunderbolt 2 connectivity with up to 20 Gbps. 

Image Quality

This ultrawide curved monitor is based on an IPS panel with 10-bit color support (8-bit + FRC for 1.07 billion colors), and it is factory-calibrated to cover over 99% of the sRGB color gamut thus ensuring consistent and accurate color reproduction.

Other panel-related specifications include a 300-nit peak brightness, a static contrast ratio of 1,000:1, a 5ms response time speed, and wide 178-degree viewing angles.

LG offers three more models based on the same panel. We have reviewed the LG 34UC80, which is the same monitor as the LG 34UC98 minus the Thunderbolt 2 connectivity, which is why it’s a lot cheaper.

The LG 34UC80 doesn’t have integrated speakers, though, but it’s available as a version (LG 34UC88), which does have two 7W speakers just like the LG 34UC98.

Both the LG 34UC80/88 and the LG 34UC98-W curved models are also available as variants with flat screens, the LG 34UM88C, and the LG 34UM88, respectively (the 34UM88 has Thunderbolt 2 whereas the 34UM88C does not).

On the whole, all five LG models offer the same brilliant color quality, immersive ultrawide viewing experience, and excellent detail clarity ensured by the rich pixel density of 110 pixels per inch. So, you can choose according to your preference of the design (curved or flat screen) and whether you need Thunderbolt 2, built-in speakers, etc.

At this screen size, we recommend getting a curved model. The LG 34UC98 has a 1900R curve, which makes the viewing experience more immersive and reduces distortions.

Performance

Moving on, the LG 34UC98 monitor has a very low input lag of ~10ms, which makes for no noticeable delays between your commands and what gets displayed on the screen.

Further, with a response time speed of 5ms (GtG), you can enjoy fast-paced gaming without prominent trailing or motion blur of fast-moving objects.

The monitor has a native refresh rate of 60Hz, which you can bump up to 75Hz by enabling FreeSync if you have a compatible GPU or by overclocking the display if you don’t.

At 75Hz, you’ll notice a small boost in motion clarity as opposed to 60Hz, but the performance still won’t be nearly as smooth as it’s at 144Hz, or even at 100Hz for that matter.

Moreover, the LG 34UC98 supports AMD FreeSync over DisplayPort with a 55-75Hz variable refresh rate (VRR) range.

If you have a compatible graphics card, you can enable FreeSync, which synchronizes the monitor’s refresh rate to the GPU’s frame rates and thus eliminates all screen tearing and stuttering within its range, which is 55FPS to 75FPS on this monitor.

We were able to extend the VRR range to 48-75Hz via CRU, and we got FreeSync to work with a compatible NVIDIA card without frame skipping or other visual artifacts.

Your mileage may vary, though, as some users report that their LG ultrawide models (UC80, UC88, UC98, UM88, and UM88C) get tearing and/or frame skipping when using FreeSync with NVIDIA cards.

Lastly, our LG 34UC98 unit had very little IPS glow and backlight bleeding under normal viewing conditions and no dead or stuck pixels. Further, it has a flicker-free backlight, so those sensitive to flicker won’t experience eye fatigue/headaches.

Features

The LG 34UC98 ultrawide curved monitor offers plenty of useful features, including On-Screen Control (desktop application for OSD settings), Screen Split (splits the desktop into multiple windows for easier multitasking), and Black Stabilizer (increases visibility of objects in shadows).

Other interesting features include pre-calibrated picture presets (FPS, RTS, Dark Room, Color Weakness, Cinema, Photo, and the Reader mode which applies a low-blue light filter), Picture in Picture/Picture by Picture, and advanced picture alterations such as 6-axis hue/saturation, gamma (four presets), color temperature, sharpness, etc.

The monitor also offers Dual Controller, which allows you to connect two PCs to the monitor, display both signals side by side via Picture by Picture, and use just one set of keyboard/mouse to control both devices.

Design & Connectivity

As you can see, connectivity options are abundant.

There are two HDMI 2.0 ports, two Thunderbolt 2 ports, a single DisplayPort 1.2 input, a dual-USB 3.0 hub (one port with fast-charging), a headphones jack, and an audio line-in jack for the two 7W integrated speakers.

The design of the LG 34UC98 includes very narrow bezels and a height-adjustable (up to 110mm) stand. You can also tilt the screen by -5°/15° or mount it on a third-party stand via the 100x100mm VESA pattern.

Price & Similar Monitors

The LG 34UC98 price is usually around $800, which is too expensive considering that you can get Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ultrawide monitors nowadays for the same price and that the same monitor without Thunderbolt 2 goes for around $550.

We recommend having a look at our best ultrawide monitors and best USB-C monitors buyer’s guides for more information and better deals.

Screen Size	34-inch
Screen Curvature	1900R
Resolution	3440×1440 (UWQHD)
Panel Type	IPS
Aspect Ratio	21:9 (Widescreen)
Refresh Rate	60Hz (75Hz)
Response Time	5ms (GtG)
Adaptive Sync	FreeSync (55Hz-75Hz)
Speakers	2x7W
Ports	DisplayPort 1.2, 2x HDMI 2.0 2x Thunderbolt 2.0
Other Ports	2x USB 3.0, Headphone Jack
Brightness	300 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio	1000:1 (static)
Colors	1.07 billion (8-bit + FRC)
VESA	Yes (100x100mm)