Wide screen monitor recommendations for productivity

Lgoomba on 29/08/2020 - 14:48
Last edited 30/08/2020 - 20:41

A couple of the recent monitor deals caught my eye

  • Dell UltraSharp U3419W 34" UWQHD+ Curved IPS USB-C Monitor $1002 Shipped @ Dell [EXPIRED]
  • Xiaomi Mi Curved 34" Freesync Gaming Monitor 144hz WQHD Ultrawide $569 + Shipping (Free with First) @ Kogan
  • ViewSonic VX3258-2KPC-MHD 32in 144Hz WQHD FreeSync VA Curved Gaming Monitor $481.50 (Was $535) + Free Delivery @ Wireless1
  • Dell 32" QHD Curved HDR Gaming Monitor $756 @ The Good Guys Commercial (Membership Required)
  • BenQ EX3203R 32" 144 Hz Curved QHD FreeSync 2, Display HDR 400, B.i. Plus Sensor, USB-C Monitor $750 @ Harris Technology Amazon

I notice that in particular, the Xiaomi monitor seems to be really popular, due the the specs + curve you get for the price. However, I am new to this and not sure what all of the specs mean to me. It seems that some of the sepcs are more catered toward the gaming community ?

I'm not a gamer, looking for widescreen monitor for work for productivity reasons.

My current setup is Macbook 13" + 2nd monitor (was free hand me down but very decent) - according to system display detection it is is the Lenovo l24-i10

However I'm constantly finding I need to open more windows side by side, and could use a wider screen. I find that I tend not to like looking too much at the 13" macbook screen to the side, as it involves slightly too much head turning , and put stuff like work chat in that screen.

I'm finding it difficult to digest the price differences + specs between all the screens and what I actually need.

At base I know I need a:
- Wide screen
- Good refresh rate

I look at the screen all day for work, and am currently WFH. Any advice would be appreciated :) thank you!

Updates:
After some recommendations from the thread, have narrowed down to the following:

Basic 34" with no USB C:
- Xiaomi 34

Basic 34" with IPS:
- LG 34WN750-W 34inch UltraWide QHD FreeSync IPS Monitor

34" with USB C (posted a comparison table in the thread)
- Samsung LC34H892WGEXXY
- Philips 346B1C
- LG 35WN75C
- Dell UltraSharp U3419W 34"

I've been reading reviews, and it seems like the Dell UltraSharp used to be a good go to for a work laptop, but due to issues with Mac (which i will have) it is falling out of favour

I've read that IPS has better colour accuracy than VA, but the only and there's an LG IPS for $800, but without usb-c and curve. Is this worth it?

Based on what I've read I think I'm going to hold off a bit.

If Dell did not have issues with the mac, i would have paid the current offer price of 1120 for it.

The $900 for KVM in the philips was really tempting, but apparently colour is an issue on this monitor :(

Holding out for a better deal, unless someone can recommend one 🍀

Computing

Comments

  • Seraphin7 on 29/08/2020 - 14:56
    +3

    Consider a double monitor set up, rather than a single "large screen" display. You may find that you end up getting more bang for your buck, and depending on your specific use cases, this can be easier to work with than a single monitor with multiple windows.

    • goomba on 29/08/2020 - 15:00

      What would you recommend for a dual monitor setup + estimated cost?

      My fear with a dual monitor setup is the bezel in the middle leading to issues with head turning. vs my envisioned use of wide screen is with a window manager

      Window 1 - window 2 - window 3

      With window 2 being in the primary thing I look at

      • Seraphin7 on 29/08/2020 - 15:26
        +1

        I've got a 2 x 23in set up that I've used in both a desktop set up and with a laptop (giving a small third screen). I'm not in the monitor market, but I'm aware of many options for "business monitors" (i.e. not "gaming monitors) around the 23in size for under $200 a piece. You should be able to find a laptop dock for around $100 so your total cost will likely be around $500 you're talking about.

        Without recommending anything, I'd go for something like this at $168 a pop.

        You could even stretch a little further to the equivalent in 27in at $227 a pop.

        The bezel in the middle is not an issue unless you want to spread something across that space. It sounds like that's not a problem for you? Sounds like you're mainly working with MS Office or similar applications

        The way I work is usually something along the lines of having a Powerpoint open on one screen, perhaps sharing with browser window, with Word and Excel sharing the other, with Outlook open on the laptop (or some variation like that depending on what I'm working on specifically at the time). I personally find anything more than two or three windows on a single display just frustrating as I feel I spend as much time fiddling with window sizes and what not, than actually working.

        As ever, everyone has their own requirements/preferences, but this set up works well for me … and may end up giving you even more screen space at a sharper price.

  • scrimshaw on 29/08/2020 - 15:16
    +4

    The downside of dual monitors is that at least one of your monitors is off-axis from your center, or both off axis if you are placing the bezels right in the middle of your setup.

    So you'll always have to turn your head to view both monitors. The other downside is the cable clutter, both monitors will need power and input cables so there's at least 4 cables you need to manage, that is unless, you daisy chain the monitors which cleans up the cables abit.

    The upside is that you can configure your LCD monitors in different orientations. For example, one in landscape and another in portrait. It's a popular setup for programming or if your work involves looking at full page documents.

    If you buy an ultrawide, you lose quite a lot of horizontal workspace, however it is still enough to work with 2 or three windows side-by-side-by-side. I ditched my dual 24 inch monitor setup 2 years ago and I quite like having a single 35" as it was just a lot easier to re-position the windows the way I needed. I'd recommend Stardock Fences for window management but there's also open-source Windows Powertoys alt that does the same thing for free.

    There was also less head-turning, and my desk looked cleaner and more minimalistic.
    Also for gaming and watching movies: it's just more fun to consume content on big 35" inch ultrawide than two 24"'s.

    • goomba on 29/08/2020 - 15:32

      Thanks the landscape portrait seemed to appeal to me at first, but the thought of neck craning made me hesitate.

      My train of thought was similar to yours, pet peeve with the off-axis bezel + that a single large screen would have a number of added benefits.

      What did you end up getting, what specs did you pay attention to and how did you you decide?

      • scrimshaw on 29/08/2020 - 16:31
        +1

        I bought this ASUS mainly to replace 2x setup and I was just sick of having to turn my head. Pricey but tax deductible purchase.

        Two years ago, cheap 144hz 35 inch monitors were not really available with most monitors capping out at 100hz, and if you wanted higher you'd spend $1k on a ASUS Predator x35

        But nowadays, just spending $600 on Xiaomi Mi Surface will get you 144hz display, FreeSync and height adjustable stand. i think that is the bare minimum you will want out of a 35 inch ultrawide.

        If you can afford a business-type monitor and can claim it on tax, look at Dell U3419W, Philips 346B1C, Samsung LC34H892WGEXXY etc) these have USB-C port that can both charge your laptop as well as carrying display signal with only 1 cable. It's a good feature to have for work.
        you might be able to get a good discount on Dell outlet, or use the various coupon codes lying around and also on Samsung EPP portal.

        • goomba on 29/08/2020 - 17:04

          Thanks those 3 business monitors + the Xiaomi look nice, and I've been eyeing them too. Struggling to figure out what would be the perfect fit

          Apart from the size, A bit tricky to determine what the specs would mean for my productivity , without using it.

          Apart from the USB-C port to charge the laptop, is there anything else to it? (The difference between Xiaomi is about 400) and in particular the Dell is really pricey (but 60 Hz). I'm guessing the pricetag is more for the feature of having multiple sources + KVM, which seems like an ultra luxury + speaker (I don't usually rely on monitor speaker)

          Maybe the Xiaomi 34 is the way to go, but it seems fairly new, so can't find that many official reviews on it.

          The other thought I'm torn between is that if this is going to be my workhorse for years I might shell out more $$$, but the differences in what you can get for the price + specs is a lot for me to digest.

          Also just found another 34" thats cheaper than the xiaomi:
          https://www.scorptec.com.au/product/Monitors/25plus-inch/839…

          • scrimshaw on 29/08/2020 - 17:26
            +1

            @goomba: The resolution is much lower on that, only 2560x1080. You should be aiming for WQHD 1440p resolution.

            The USB-C feature is really just for convenience, you attach a cable from your monitor to your laptop which both connects it and charges it at the same time. Then you can plug your mouse and keyboard into the monitor instead of laptop if the LCD monitor has a USB hub / KVM feature

            One cable, two functions, less mess.

            The traditional method would be to connect your laptop to your Ac adaptor and also connect your laptop via Displayport to the LCD monitor while your input devices are hooked to your laptop

            If you feel that you won't need this feature, The Xiaomi is a pretty decent purchase for 600, I haven't really read anything negative about that particular model.

            I should also add that refresh rate / pixel response times are completely irrelevant if you are not gaming.

            • goomba on 29/08/2020 - 17:42

              @scrimshaw: Thanks, that is great advice.

              Probably leaning towards the Xiaomi, with the only catch being shipments only being available later in the month. The price difference with the dell (500) is enough to buy another high end monitor. So it'll probably be between the Xiaomi and the Samsung for me

            • goomba on 30/08/2020 - 13:31

              @scrimshaw: I made a table at the bottom of this thread with your recommendations, but not sure how to tag you

  • Mechz on 29/08/2020 - 17:28
    +1

    I had a 34" but bumped up to a 38" and it's perfect for productivity. If you want 3 windows side by side maybe look at a 49 ultrawide.

    • goomba on 29/08/2020 - 17:43

      Thanks! I would love a bigger one, but i didn't see any competitive deals on OzBargain for this size at the moment, and at a cursory glance seemed to have a bit of a price jump from the 34

      • Mechz on 29/08/2020 - 19:46

        They'll never be as cheap as 3x 27s or 32s even, but just look miles better IMO. I got the first 38 on the market and it was $2400 from memory. I kept it at work so it was a tax write off and still use it now. I think it's been almost 5 years, time flies.

    • Smilence03 on 04/09/2020 - 23:30

      hey mate what is your current 38" and what is your recommendation on a 38"?

      • Mechz on 05/09/2020 - 00:49
        +1

        I still have the LG 38UC99. Not sure what the latest version is but I imagine it's much the same. If you don't need a gaming monitor the LG is perfect as 75Hz is just right for regular use.

        • Smilence03 on 05/09/2020 - 01:07

          Thanks mate.
          I can't seem to find anywhere selling 38UC99. The successor to it has just came out being 38WN95C, which markets around $2100-2200. It seems a bit dear to me but at least the AU price on it is very similar to the US price. Unlike monitors like CRG9, the AU price $2000 is through the roof comparing to the US $1200(AUD $1600) price range. What do you reckon mate?

  • Tgb on 30/08/2020 - 11:56
    +1

    I had a very similar use case to you - WFH & gaming on the side. I went the Xiaomi with the Catch deal (gift cards & flybuys points) to get it to around $540. No regrets - monitor far exceeded my expectations both for productivity & gaming.

    Productivity wise - I really prefer it over dual-screen - the ability to have windows side by side, or 1 large for something I want to focus on is great.
    Gaming wise - after gaming on ultrawide, I can't believe I didn't go ultrawide earlier - I don't think I'll be able to go back.

    Definitely no regrets with the Xiaomi purchase & makes complete sense why this monitor is such an Ozbargain favourite - however depending on your timeframe, with the AUD rising up and coming out of the COVID rush, I would expect further deals & discounts to come over the next few months.

    • goomba on 30/08/2020 - 13:57

      Thanks, I was contemplating waiting till Black Friday, but that is a full 3 months away :(

  • goomba on 30/08/2020 - 13:30
    +3

    @scrimshaw based on your recommendations I've made this table to compare. What do you think? Is it accurate?

    Seems like Xiaomi is in its own category + price bracket

    Then the Samsung to Dell price range has a number of different features. So confused about what I should get now.

    Xiaomi 34 Samsung LC34H892WGEXXY Philips 346B1C LG 35WN75C Dell UltraSharp U3419W 34" 
    Screen Size 34 34 34 35 34
    Flat / Curved 1500R 1800R 1500 R  ?  1900R
    Panel VA VA VA VA IPS
    Resolution 3440 x 1440  3440 x 1440  3440 x 1440  3440 x 1440  3440 x 1440 
    Viewing Angle ? 178/178 178/178 178/178 178/178
    Refresh 144 Hz 100hz 100 Hz 100 Hz 60 Hz
    VESA ? Yes Yes Yes Yes
    Response 4ms 4ms 4ms 5ms 5-8ms
    Color Gamut 85% NTSC ? NTSC 100%*, sRGB 119%*, Adobe RGB 90%* 99.9% sRGB colour gamut
    USB C power delivery N/A 65W 90W 94W 90W
    FreeSync Yes Yes ? Yes ?
    PIP Yes Yes Yes ? Yes
    PBP ? Yes Yes ? Yes
    Interfaces 2* HDMI 2.02* DP1.4 interface 1x HDMI Display Port, 1xUsb-c DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 1, USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 x 1 (upstream, power delivery up to 90 W) 2x HDMI, 1x Display port 2xHDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C
    USB No USB 2.0x2, 3.0x 1, USB-c USB-C x 1, USB-B x 1 (upstream), USB 3.2 x 4 (downstream with 1 fast charge B.C 1.2) 1x USB-C, 2x USB 3.0 4 x USB 3.0 downstream, 2 x USB 3.0 upstream, USB-C
    Brightness 300cd/m2 300cd/m2 300cd/m2 300cd/m2 300cd/m2
    Contrast Ratio 3000:01:00 3000:1(Typ),2400:1(Min) 3000:01:00 2500:01:00 1000:1(typ)
    Speaker No No Yes Yes Yes
    Built-in KVM No No Yes ? Yes
    Price 580 820 900 900 1120

    Resources
    - https://www.mi-store.com.au/xiaomi-mi-curved-gaming-monitor-…
    - https://www.samsung.com/au/business/monitors/c34h89/lc34h892…
    - https://www.philips.com.au/c-p/346B1C_75/curved-ultrawide-lc…
    - https://www.lg.com/au/it-monitors/lg-35wn75c-b
    - https://www.dell.com/en-au/shop/dell-ultrasharp-34-curved-us…

  • tomjoos on 26/10/2020 - 00:18

    @goomba Just wondering which one you chose finally. I am also looking at getting Xiaomi 34" and would like to know your feedback.

    • goomba on 31/10/2020 - 22:44

      I got the Xiaomi on one of the many Ozbargain specials at about $580 from the ebay Xiaomi store, which shipped in 2 days.

      Initially I noticed that the whites compared to the macbook retina was not a true white, but I hardly noticed it after that. I do software development, and have to implement designs from time to time, but I'm never the one actually designing things.

      The increased monitor realestate has been the main benefit for me, as I use it for productivity :)

      I don't notice the other benefits like freesync, refresh rate, etc.

      Happy with my purchase :)

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