LG DualUp 28MQ780-B review: You’ve never used a monitor like this before

Price When Reviewed

699.99

Best Prices Today: LG DualUp 28MQ780-B

The LG DualUp 28MQ780-B is an odd monitor that immediately generated controversy when it appeared at CES 2022. Some had been left scratching their heads. Others swore it could completely match their setup. I can see the place either side are coming from—however, in the end, the monitor left me satisfied it would discover a loyal viewers.

LG DualUp 28MQ780-B: The specs

The LG DualUp 28MQ780-B has only one uncommon specification, however it’s a doozy: a 28-inch, 16:18 facet ratio show with 2560×2880 decision, just like cramming two normal 2560×1440 displays on high of one another. Odds are you’ve by no means used a monitor prefer it. 

• Display dimension: 28-inch, 16:18 facet ratio
• Native decision: 2560×2880
• Panel kind: IPS
• Refresh charge: 60Hz
• HDR: Yes, HDR10
• Adaptive sync: No
• Ports: 2x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 1x USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and 90 watts Power Delivery
• Stand adjustment: Height, tilt, swivel, pivot, depth
• VESA mount: Yes, 100x100mm
• Speakers: Yes
• Price: $699.99 MSRP

That apart, the monitor is just like different high-end productiveness displays with USB-C. It has an IPS panel with a 60Hz refresh charge and helps HDR. The USB-C energy helps as much as 90 watts of energy—sufficient to cost many prosumer Windows laptops, and all present MacBook Pro fashions, whereas in use.

LG DualUp 28MQ780-B: Aspect ratio

The DualUp 28MQ780-B is a 28-inch monitor however has a 16:18 facet ratio. It’s barely wider than a typical 21-inch monitor, but taller than a 32-inch monitor. 

This is an odd match for common day-to-day use. I’m in favor of taller displays, reminiscent of a 16:10 facet ratio, however the DualUp 28MQ780-B is so tall that the highest of the display screen falls out of my focus. That’s not particularly helpful for enhancing paperwork or shopping the net.

Matt Smith / Foundry

On the opposite hand, this monitor could be unbelievable for pictures. Most pictures I edit are in a 3:2 or 1:1 facet ratio, which is a greater match for the DualUp 28MQ780-B than a widescreen monitor. I can higher enlarge the picture for cautious enhancing. 

I also create videos for YouTube and recognize the wide selection of workflow structure choices this monitor can present in video enhancing software program. I discovered it simpler to view the video timeline intimately. Some editors could not like that his monitor’s facet ratio is a nasty match for previewing your content material. Yet talking for myself, as a small part-time YouTube creator, the benefit of enhancing is extra necessary than a pristine preview.

While this monitor is marketed as a 16:18 facet ratio, it will probably simply pivot right into a 18:16 facet ratio. In this orientation, it’s nearly precisely as vast as a 24-inch widescreen monitor, however a lot taller, providing over 50 p.c extra complete show area. I loved this mode for day-to-day use and doc enhancing.

But, in fact, there are use circumstances the place the DualUp journeys up. It’s not a good selection for viewing widescreen video due to the massive black bars pressured above and beneath the video. It’s even worse in the event you work in an ultrawide facet ratio for a cinematic look.

Gaming is a bust. Many video games will settle for the monitor’s uncommon decision, however this isn’t common. Interface components designed for a widescreen show could seem vast relative to the general dimension of the show. 

There’s one ultimate use case to notice: as a second monitor. A widescreen monitor turned 90 levels is usually a helpful second show, however the facet ratio is an odd match—it usually feels too tall and slim. The DualUp, nonetheless, is a superb dimension. It’s precisely as tall as a 24-inch monitor turned 90 levels however gives sufficient width to tile 4 (or extra) home windows without delay.

LG DualUp 28MQ780-B: Design

The LG DualUp 28MQ780-B’s design is dominated by the facet ratio, however there may be extra to it than that.

This monitor clearly targets skilled use with slim bezels, a small backside chin, and a plain matte grey rear panel. There’s no flashy branding or LED backlighting. 

LG leans into this by together with a monitor arm as a substitute of a stand. The arm is designed to clamp onto the rear of a desk or match by means of the usual round cutout discovered in lots of desktops. It affords peak, tilt, swivel, and pivot adjustment. The arm may even transfer the monitor ahead and backward or completely maintain it at an uncommon angle. 

Matt Smith

Though helpful, the mixture of a tall show with a big monitor arm makes the DualUp 28MQ780-B laborious to slot in tight areas. It was too tall to sit down on my standard desk, which has cabinets above it, and the arm holds the monitor a bit too near the consumer when on a typical residence workplace desk that’s 20 to 30 inches deep.

The DualUp 28MQ780-B appears designed to be used on a floating desk that gives ample area and isn’t bordered by a wall or shelving. This is frequent in an workplace constructing, in fact, however harder to attain in a house setting.

LG DualUp 28MQ780-B: Features and menu

Unusual design apart, the LG DualUp 28MQ780-B has a lot of the options anticipated from a high-end USB-C monitor. 

The most necessary is a single USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and Power Delivery of as much as 90 watts. This is sufficient to cost most trendy laptops over a typical USB-C connection. It falls wanting some high-end fashions, like a Dell XPS 17 with discrete graphics—however that’s true of all USB-C displays at the moment bought. 

Additional video inputs embrace two HDMI ports and one DisplayPort. That makes for a complete of 4 video inputs. I’d desire to see two DisplayPort and one HDMI, as I anticipate this monitor can be used with a number of PCs. Still, it is a good vary of connectivity. 

The monitor has a USB-B upstream port used to drive two USB-A 3.0 downstream ports for extra connectivity. Users can select to make use of the USB-C or USB-B port to attach with the 2 USB-A ports, including versatility. 

There’s no ethernet and no video-out, which places the DualUp 28MQ780-B behind equally priced USB-C hub displays just like the Dell U3223QE. A headphone jack rounds issues out. 

On-screen menus are managed with a easy, intuitive joystick on the monitor’s chin. The menus are snappy and clearly labeled. Quite a lot of image-quality changes can be found, together with colour temperature, colour calibration, and gamma, although the temperature and gamma changes are restricted to some choices. The monitor has sRGB and DCI-P3 colour area modes—not one thing most individuals want to fret about however helpful for professionals engaged on content material that calls for a particular colour area. 

Matt Smith

Speakers are included and, to my shock, they’re superb. They provide a excessive most quantity, clear presentation, and a little bit of bass kick. The audio system are good for casually enjoying music within the background whereas working or previewing audio throughout a video edit.

LG DualUp 28MQ780-B: SDR picture high quality

Aspect ratio apart, the LG DualUp 28MQ780-B is a typical instance of a high quality IPS monitor meant for skilled use. It has strong brightness and distinction, however it’s the monitor’s colour efficiency that stands out. 

Matt Smith

Maximum brightness is available in at 330 nits. As apparent on the graph, it is a bit low for a monitor bought in 2022. It’s an appropriate stage of brightness for many conditions however can appear a tad dim if utilized in a vivid, sunlit room with no mild management. 

Matt Smith

The monitor’s most distinction ratio is 880:1. This is respectable, however not distinctive, efficiency for a contemporary IPS monitor. It has sufficient distinction so as to add some depth and keep away from a washed-out look, however darkish scenes in films and video games can appear hazy and high-resolution films look a bit flat.

Matt Smith

The DualUp 28MQ780-B has a large colour gamut supporting all of sRGB and 96 p.c of DCI-P3. This monitor can show a particularly wide selection of colours, although it does fall a hair behind one of the best rivals, reminiscent of Dell’s U3223QE and Mini-LED displays just like the Viewsonic XG321UG. The DualUp’s colour gamut is sufficient to fulfill most, although actually not all, picture editors, video editors, digital artists, and different content material creators.

This is an 8-bit panel and doesn’t assist native 10-bit colour. Though a minor disappointment, I’m not shocked to see an absence of 10-bit colour given the DualUp 28MQ780-B’s price ticket, which, although costly, is modest for knowledgeable show. 

Matt Smith

Color accuracy is excellent, competing nicely with different displays in its value bracket. Some alternate options are extra correct, however the DualUp 28MQ780-B won’t give most house owners a motive to complain. Content seems lifelike, sensible, and vivid. 

The monitor carried out nicely in different metrics. It had out-of-box gamma curve of two.3, barely off the goal of two.2, so photos had been only a hair darker than they need to be. Color temperature was additionally strong at 6800Ok, which is a tad cooler than excellent. I doubt most individuals will discover something amiss with both and the monitor affords changes for fine-tuning these points of picture high quality.

Sharpness is superb. The monitor’s decision of 2560×2880 works out to 137 pixels per inch, whereas a 28-inch 4K widescreen has 157 pixels per inch. Fonts seem crisp, photos and movies look detailed, and 3D video games present minimal shimmer alongside superb edges whereas in movement.

In abstract, the LG DualUp 28MQ780-B affords competent, although not distinctive, SDR picture high quality. It leans closely on colour gamut and accuracy to ship a vivid, sensible look, however it will probably  battle with darkish, moody content material.

LG DualUp 28MQ780-B: HDR picture high quality

The LG DualUp 28MQ780-B contains an HDR badge in its advertising and marketing however isn’t VESA DisplayHDR licensed and makes no particular guarantees other than the flexibility to just accept an HDR10 sign. 

An HDR sign is detected routinely and the monitor correctly switches into HDR mode. Once there, I measured a most sustained brightness of solely 348 nits. That is among the many decrease figures I’ve seen from an HDR monitor. Most HDR appropriate displays I take a look at can obtain no less than 400 nits. 

This, together with the monitor’s modest distinction, makes for a disappointing expertise. HDR content material usually appears washed-out, particularly at excessive brightness, as bumping up brightness additionally will increase the brightness of areas that ought to seem darkish. 

To be truthful, the DualUp 28MQ780-B’s flaws are current in equally priced competitors. Shoppers in search of a fantastic HDR expertise might want to broaden their funds to incorporate Mini-LED and OLED displays, such because the Viewsonic XG321UG and Alienware AW3432DW.

LG DualUp 28MQ780-B: Motion readability

The LG DualUp 28MQ780-B makes little effort to enhance movement readability or ship easy movement in 3D video games and apps. It has a typical 60Hz refresh charge and helps AMD FreeSync, although this isn’t on by default. 

Motion readability is typical of a median IPS show. Fast-moving objects have sufficient element to be recognizable in most conditions, however there’s important blur round particulars. When viewing the classic UFO test, for instance, I observed the eyes of the alien appeared to mix collectively in movement. 

Just a few response time modes are included, however any enhance in readability was offset by noticeable overshoot, which brought about trailing artifacts behind shifting objects. 

Still, the monitor’s efficiency is ok for its meant use. It’s constructed for working with content material that’s both static or considered at a low body charge, not gaming or high-frame charge video.

Final ideas

The LG DualUp 28MQ780-B is an intriguing possibility in a sea of displays that always roughly do the identical factor. Its picture high quality is merely good, and it gained’t even match on small desks, however it affords distinctive worth for anybody who works with content material that’s as tall as it’s vast. It’s additionally a fantastic secondary monitor that’s simple to place and affords ample show area.

Pricing additionally works to the DualUp’s benefit. Though not cheap, its pricing is just like different skilled shows. It doesn’t really feel as if LG is utilizing the monitor’s distinctive design as an excuse to inflate the value. 

This monitor isn’t for everybody—however in the event you work in sure facet ratios, otherwise you need a tremendous second monitor, snag this show whilst you can. There’s no assure it would obtain a sequel.