There are many monitors that arrive at the our lab for our testing. So far the most unique is the LG DualUp, which is a monitor with a square design that focuses on productivity and ergonomics for user comfort.
We have been using this monitor for about a month and we feel it is one of the best monitors for work use, again as I write articles on a daily basis. But, is this square design authentic for comfort or just a gimmick and is it worth having?
Specifications And Design
LG DualUp
27.6″ IPS LCD screen,
2560 x 2880 pixels, 16:18, 60Hz
Color Support 1.07 Billion colors
DCI-P3 98%
HDR 10
Contrast Ratio 700 : 1
Brightness 300 cd/m²
Response Time 5ms
Adaptive Display Support None
VESA mount
I/O 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x Display Port 1.4
1x USB-C, 2x USB-A, 1x USB UP,
1x 3.5mm audio jack port
Audio Stereo speaker 7W Maxx Audio
USB 2x USB-A 3.0
Webcam No
Price The recommended price is RM 2948
LG DualUp initially looks very strange and awkward to use. LG uses a square design with a display ratio of 16:18. The screen panel used is a 27.6-inch Square Double QHD 2,560 x 2,880 that mimics two 21.5-inch QHD monitors from an IPS LCD type panel. This monitor can also use picture-in-picture mode for multi-tasking. This monitor can also change its viewing angle upwards at a rate of around 335 degrees.
This monitor uses HDR 10 display technology, 1.07 billion colors and DCI-P3 98%. The disappointing thing about it is the lack of high refresh rate support, as it is limited to only 60Hz and also does not support any adaptive display standards such as AMD FreeSync or NVIDIA G-Sync.
Interestingly, the LG DualUp comes with built-in speakers that use 2x 7W audio drivers tuned by WavesMaxxAudio. For connectivity, it comes with 1x USB-C connection that supports data transfer as well as PD 90W charging, 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB UP, 2x USB-A 3.0 and 1x 3.5mm audio jack port.
LG also includes a light sensor to change the brightness automatically and uses Live Color Low Blue Light technology for comfort and to ensure the health of the user's eyes. The LG DualUp is a monitor without a stand, but uses a G-clamp-like clamp to the table. With this clamp not only the viewing angle and height can be adjusted but it can also be pushed back and forth for freedom of use of space.
Usage Experience
LG claims that their design is more ergonomic than conventional monitors to avoid neck pain. In my short usage, I can confirm this claim of LG. True, at first I felt awkward with this monitor because it is in a relatively high position. But after spending around a few hours I was able to get used to this unique monitor design.
First of all, I connect my Windows laptop via USB-C which can continue to display content and also charge it at the same time. This is a convenient thing because it reduces the amount of cables tangled on the table. It is also Windows friendly to support HDR display without any settings to be done.
Using this monitor feels like using two horizontal 16:9 monitors placed on top of each other. I'm a paradigm shift in daily use because I've gotten used to using the 32:9 PRISM+ PG400U monitor since the beginning of this year.
I only have to look up a little and look down which makes me feel comfortable and my neck doesn't hurt after a whole day of using this monitor. Is also supports KVM, so I can connect a mouse and keyboard directly to the USB-A port on the back without needing a Bluetooth connection or lack of ports on the laptop.
The LG DualUp is specifically for those who use two monitors but don't want to spend more. I feel that my work is more productive by using this monitor and it makes me wonder why no other manufacturer comes up with a monitor like this for user comfort.
I also tried using single window mode only, where the our website can be read comfortably and with less scrolling. With less scrolling, it also reduces the movement of my finger scrolling on the mouse scroll wheel. I just noticed, if the monitor is not set up properly with single window usage – it will display a small display with a big black bar.
This is even more annoying when watching videos on YouTube, Disney+ Hotstar or Netflix. I feel weird and don't want to continue watching the video. Unless using dual-pane, work above entertainment below. Vertical video content however is not very consistent. When I tested this monitor, the YouTube Shorts feature for large screens had not been rolled out yet. TikTok has no problem, it's just not good to watch because the video resolution is not high.
If watching videos is not very satisfying, it is more or less satisfactory for gaming. The point of view becomes limited and not comprehensive. FPS games and driving for example seem cramped. DualUp is only suitable for use with classic 80's arcade games such as 1942, Galaga, Mario, Legend of Kage and Tetris using an emulator.
The display quality on the LG DualUp is one of the best. No need to change many settings, HDR content can be displayed well and automatically. I use this monitor in the our studio, where it is away from windows and sunlight – so throughout my use the brightness on this monitor is sufficient and I feel very satisfied. It is sharp, bright enough, deep colors and pleasing to the eye.
My issue is, LG DualUp doesn't support high refresh rate or adaptive. The Huawei MateBook 14s laptop I'm using supports a 90Hz display, but no matter what kind of connection I use it will stay with a 60Hz display only.
It can be seen who the target group for DualUP is those who have limited space for a monitor at work or home and those who want to do work. Difficulty using it to watch videos and video games may be intentional as it is specifically for work productivity purposes only.
Software And Controls
Since there are still not many monitors on the market that offer a built-in operating system, I have no problem with this LG DualUp. LG has just launched such a monitor, the LG Smart Monitor 32SQ780S. Thankfully, the built-in software on this monitor is user-friendly and very easy to control.
Menu control is through a multi-directional button that is very user-friendly. Buttons like this are increasingly being used by manufacturers such as Samsung and Acer Predator as well. Because it is easy to understand the process of changing monitor settings can be done without having to read the manual first. Because the automatic connection selection works well, my usage is very smooth unlike on the Prism+ PG320 Ultra.
Audio
A pair of 7W stereo speakers tuned by Maxx Audio is included. Although for me it's not the best, but it's good enough for basic use. As far as wanting to play slow music to accompany me while doing work or watching a video trailer to write an article on Aksiz, it's just enough. After all, there is a 3.5mm audio jack port for me to connect a set of headphones. So far we haven't found a monitor with speakers that is really satisfactory. Therefore DualUp is comparable to other monitors that have been reviewed in the our laboratory.
Conclusion
Overall, if given the choice – the LG DualUp is my favorite monitor of the year and I really want this monitor to be my everyday monitor. It offers comfort for the user, and avoids the neck pain issue synonymous with the majority of monitors on the market. The combination of a fairly generous amount of I/O, the superb HDR 10 display quality, and easy-to-use software also help.
It is still not for everyone because of the strange screen ratio and is not compatible for watching videos and gaming sessions. But this is okay because DualUp is designed for productivity not for relaxation.
The price of this LG DualUp is RM2,948, which is relatively expensive for a 27″ monitor and only 60Hz. But it comes with space-saving features, ergonomic design and is able to increase work productivity. The LG DualUp is a monitor for those who want something different and think outside the box.
Pro
A beautiful, spacious and satisfying screen.
Plenty of connection ports and meets the needs.
Acceptable built-in speakers.
The freedom to change the viewpoint and height is considerable.
Cons
Display is limited to 60Hz only.
Non-premium plastic build.
Has no base and needs space for clamps.
Not suitable for gaming and watching videos.