LG unveils first 4K HDR PC monitor and first Chromecast monitor

LG unveils first 4K HDR PC monitor and first Chromecast monitor

14 Dec 2016 | Rasmus Larsen |

HDR has been the talk of the town in the TV industry for the past two years and starting in 2017 PC users will be able to enjoy the expanded dynamic range and wider color gamut. LG has announced that the first of its kind will be the 32-inch 32UD99. LG also has Ultrawide and Chromecast-enabled monitors planned for 2017.

HDR: The first of its kind

The LG 32UD99 will feature 3840x2160 resolution and support the HDR10 standard, which incorporates an expanded dynamic range and wider color gamut. LG says that the monitor is built on an IPS LCD panel with over 95% of DCI-P3 coverage.

The monitor is the first of its kind. While PCs have had the raw muscle power to deliver 4K, HDR has so far been exclusive to TVs and more recently game consoles. The latest generation of Nvidia and AMD graphics cards enables HDR support but to benefit from it you need a monitor like this one from LG.

- “To maintain our market leadership, LG engineers work tirelessly to incorporate emerging technologies and trends into our newest monitors,” said Brian Kwon, president of the LG Home Entertainment Company. “From high-resolution displays compatible with HDR technology to UltraWide monitors optimized for multitasking and gaming, LG is committed to delivering the most innovative, premium monitors in the industry today.”

LG says that “HDR compatible monitors will appeal to creative professionals, gamers, and anyone else that takes image quality seriously”.

It is surely exciting to see HDR enter the PC arena but we have our doubts about using IPS LCD for HDR. In spring 2016 we reviewed several IPS-type LCD TVs that claimed HDR support but none of them actually delivered. That is because a display needs very specific hardware to deliver the expanded dynamic range that HDR requires.

LG adds that the monitor offers USB Type-C and has built-in speakers. The company did not reveal specifications nor specify peak brightness / black levels.

Ultrawide and Chromecast monitors

LG has also announced the 34-inch 34UM79M, which is a 21:9 Ultrawide “Mobile+ Monitor”. It is the world’s first Chromecast-enabled monitor, allowing you to stream content over the internet via your mobile device.

- “What’s more, the LG Mobile+ Monitor application allows for the control of many of the monitor’s settings such as input, volume, aspect ratio, PBP/PIP, etc. remotely and conveniently,” said LG.

Lastly, LG announced another 21:9 monitor called 34UC99. It is a 32-inch monitor equipped with AMD FreeSync technology, 1 ms response time, and other features that cater to gamers.

All of the monitors, including LG's two 4K and 5K "UltraFine" monitors, will be on display at CES 2017 in Las Vegas in January. FlatpanelsHD will be in Las Vegas to give you all the news.