UltraWide 21_9 vs UHD 4K Monitors - Best for Work & Gaming (2018) _ The Tech Chap

**The World of Ultra Wide Monitors: A Review and Comparison**

When it comes to monitoring technology, there are many options available on the market, each with its own unique features and benefits. One type of monitor that has gained popularity in recent years is the ultra wide monitor, also known as a super widescreen or 21:9 monitor. In this article, we will explore the world of ultra wide monitors, discussing their advantages and disadvantages, and comparing two popular models.

**The Problem with Ultra Wide Monitors**

One of the main problems with ultra wide monitors is that most movies and TV shows are not shot in a 16:9 format, which is the standard aspect ratio for television. When played back on an ultra wide monitor, this results in vertical black bars on either side of the image or "pillarboxing." While some newer titles do support this aspect ratio, it can be a problem for those who prefer to watch content on their monitors.

However, there are still many benefits to using an ultra wide monitor. The aspect ratio provides a more immersive experience, especially in games and video editing software. For example, when working with Premiere Pro, an ultra wide monitor can provide a much more comfortable viewing experience, allowing you to see multiple windows and timelines side by side.

**The Curved Screen Advantage**

Another feature of many ultra wide monitors is the curved screen. While not all ultra wide monitors are curved, this design element provides several advantages over traditional flat screens. The curve reduces distortion in the corners and provides better viewing angles, making it easier to see what's happening on the screen without having to tilt your head.

In addition, curved screens can make games feel more immersive, especially in first-person shooter (FPS) and racing games. The wraparound effect of a curved screen creates a sense of depth and distance, drawing you into the game world. This is especially noticeable when playing games that support true widescreen aspect ratios, such as 21:9.

**The Refresh Rate Advantage**

Ultra wide monitors also often come with higher refresh rates than traditional monitors. Some models offer refresh rates up to 200Hz, which can make games and video feel much smoother than lower refresh rate monitors. This is especially noticeable in fast-paced games that require quick reflexes, such as FPS games.

While not all ultra wide monitors have high refresh rates, those that do can provide a significant advantage over traditional monitors. If you're someone who enjoys playing games or watching video at high frame rates, an ultra wide monitor with a high refresh rate may be the perfect choice for you.

**Monitor Reviews: LG 38GK950F and 27Z9-G**

To help you decide which ultra wide monitor is right for you, we've taken a closer look at two popular models: the LG 38GK950F and the LG 27Z9-G. Both monitors offer impressive features, including high refresh rates and curved screens.

The LG 38GK950F is an ultra wide monitor with a 21:9 aspect ratio and a 38-inch screen size. It offers a 144Hz refresh rate, making it suitable for fast-paced games and video editing. The monitor also has a curved screen, which provides better viewing angles and reduces distortion in the corners.

The LG 27Z9-G is another popular ultra wide monitor that offers a 21:9 aspect ratio and a 27-inch screen size. It features a 144Hz refresh rate, as well as HDR support for improved color accuracy and contrast. The monitor also has a curved screen, which provides better viewing angles and reduces distortion in the corners.

**The Verdict**

When it comes to choosing an ultra wide monitor, there are many options available on the market. While traditional monitors may still be sufficient for everyday use, ultra wide monitors offer several advantages, including improved immersion, better viewing angles, and faster refresh rates.

For those who want to upgrade their monitor experience, we highly recommend considering an ultra wide monitor. Whether you're a gamer, video editor, or simply someone who wants a more immersive viewing experience, an ultra wide monitor is definitely worth considering.

**Poll Time!**

So, what do you think? Should you go for a 4K monitor or an ultra wide monitor? Cast your vote in the poll above and let us know what you think!

**Conclusion**

In conclusion, ultra wide monitors offer many advantages over traditional monitors, including improved immersion, better viewing angles, and faster refresh rates. While there are some drawbacks to using an ultra wide monitor, such as the potential for vertical black bars on certain content, the benefits far outweigh these limitations.

If you're in the market for a new monitor, we highly recommend considering an ultra wide model. With its impressive features and benefits, it's definitely worth considering, even if it is a bit of an investment.

Thanks to LG for providing us with these two amazing monitors, which we've put through our testing process to bring you this review. If you're interested in learning more about the LG 38GK950F or LG 27Z9-G, be sure to check out our comparison guide below.

**Comparison Guide: LG 38GK950F vs LG 27Z9-G**

* Screen Size: 38 inches (LG 38GK950F) vs 27 inches (LG 27Z9-G)

* Aspect Ratio: 21:9 (both monitors)

* Refresh Rate: 144Hz (both monitors)

* HDR Support: Yes (LG 27Z9-G)

* Curved Screen: Yes (both monitors)

We hope this review has helped you make an informed decision about which ultra wide monitor is right for you. Happy shopping!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enso you're looking to buy a new monitor but you're not sure whether to go for a super-sharp 4k one like this or maybe a immersive ultra wide like this well I've got two of the latest LG monitors here on my desk I've actually reviewed both of these individually you can check them out by clicking on the card at the top right but 4k or ultra wide which is best which should you go for and which one am i using everyday if you're looking for a martyr to do work on and maybe play some games Walter White's may be a good bet they don't have the raw pixel density of 4k but they do have a size advantage with the extra wide desktop means you can comfortably use three apps or three chrome tabs side by side particularly if you go for a bigger one like this that's 38 inches diagonally although you can get them in 25 29 34 and 38 with 29 and 34 inches being the most common so not Abel's gonna want one this big but that extra screen real estate on the side versus this well you can just see you're getting a lot more on the screen and it's a great alternative to say a dual motor setup as you've got no ugly bezels in the middle gaming on an ultra wide is incredible you get a wider field of view making games feel more cinematic and it really draws you in especially if you've got a curved ultra-wide like this there is a downside and that's the resolution these even the bigger ones usually max out at 34 40 by 1440 whereas this is a 3840 by 2160 resolutions so if you want the absolute most sharp Crispus highest resolution possible you could have to go 4k 4k martyr's range from 24 all the way up to 40 inches this one is 27 inches but personally I think 32 inches is the sweet spot and the best size of 4k you're getting a resolution that is four times higher than standard Full HD 1080p so photos 4k video and games all look clearer and more detailed and those tiny pixels means text and content will appear smaller on a 4k compared to a lower resolution screen potentially giving you a boost in usable desktop space but in reality you'll probably want to scale what's on screen backup to a more usable size meaning you're not really getting that much extra space anyway games look incredible in 4k as well textures look fine and you don't need to use as much anti-aliasing so you may be able to lower that option in the settings but there is a serious performance overhead that comes with playing in 4k pushing all those pixels means you'll need a high-end graphics card to get anything like playable framerates seriously if you'll be playing the latest games at 4k with high settings and you want a stable 60fps probably gonna need a 1080 TI graphics card or maybe it's worth waiting for the next generation of cars like the 1180 or whatever they're gonna be called you can of course always drop the resolution when playing games but then you're missing out on what you've paid for and it can look a little fuzzy so 4k gaming is great if you have a super-powerful PC that can push all the extra pixels but still get a smooth frame rate now ultra whites tend to use a widened full HD or quad HD resolution so while the vertical resolution stays the same you're getting about 25% additional horizontal pixels but there's something else to consider aside from just the resolution and that is of course the aspect ratio that's the most obvious difference said this is 21 by 9 this is 16 by 9 but when it comes to actually using your computer and watching videos on YouTube and playing games it makes a big difference 4k uses the same 16 by 9 screen ratio as almost all video content out there when you play it on a 21 by 9 ultra wide like this it means you're gonna get vertical black bars on either side of the image or the video pillarboxing essentially native 21 by 9 video looks fantastic almost cinema-like but the problem is that most movies and TV don't tend to support a format so video is pretty thin on the ground although you can't find some examples on YouTube games mostly on a problem though as newer titles generally do support the 20 on my 9 aspect and they scale correctly to the edges extending your peripheral vision which is a real advantage in FPS and racing games most Ultra White's also come with a curved screen ranging from a gentle arc to a more severe radius that gives you a subtle wraparound experience the reason for the curve is that you get less distortion in the corners and better viewing angles than if it were flat but one benefit of these being slow low-resolution versus 4k is that we can get some ultra wide models with a higher than 60 Hertz refresh rate anything from 75 all the way up to 200 Hertz which makes everything including games feel so much smoother assuming of course you have a high enough frame rate to take advantage of it right now there aren't really any high refresh rate 4k monitors on the market but towards the end of 2018 we've got the likes of the zeus rog swift PG 27 new Q&A so prior to X 27 both of which are 4k and 144 Hertz but there were only 27 inches in size and they will cost close to $2,000 both these LG monitors I've got hair support high dynamic range although I would say that neither our proper HDR as brightness maxes out at around 400 nits and they're not using true 10 bit panels but it can make games look a little bit more vibrant and contrasting both of these also support aimed ease freesync technology so if you have an AMD graphics card it'll help you reduce screen tearing stuttering and make your framerate more stable in games but if you have an Nvidia graphics card like most people do then you're probably going to want to find a martyr with g-sync although that usually adds 1 to 200 pounds to the price so let's sum up which should you buy well in my opinion as someone who uses their monitor for everything from work to playing games I'm gonna go ultra 1 I love a good ultra wide let me just show you that as someone who uses Premiere Pro every day this is what a timeline can look like on a 38 inch ultra white mantle like this now if I bring this over to the 16 by 9 I mean it's great and it's sharper because it's 4k but everything just feels a little closed or feel restricted coming from this I think if you have never used an ultra wide that's absolutely fine you won't really know the difference but I really do struggle I have to say going back to a 16 by 9 even if he is 4k coming from something like this so for me I'm gonna be sticking with an ultra wide but having said all that the point actually may be moved because very very few people actually use these types of monitors in the most recent steam hardware so they about 1.5 percent of Steam users were playing at an ultra-wide resolution even fewer people were gaming at 4k about 1.2 percent so combined it's a tiny tiny portion the vast majority of people are still gaming at full HD on a traditional sixteen by nine monitor which is fine but if you do want to upgrade if you want something little bit different then I would definitely recommend checking out either of these options whether you want the super sharp resolution that clarity of 4k or the extra screen real estate that immersive effect you get with an ultra wide but what do you think are they just a waste of money when good quality full HD panels are a lot cheaper and would you go 4k or ultra wide vote in the poll top right and let me know what you think in the comments below a big thanks to LG for providing me with these two awesome martyrs and I put links to my recommended 4k and ultra white monitors in the description below if you want to check those out don't forget to click like and subscribe if you enjoy this video when you want to see more monitor videos from me and me attempting to say monitor and then comments coming in saying you're saying motto and why are you saying it like that and telling me off because that's always fun but I'm doing my best and so yeah subscribe if you wanna see more of that thank you very much for watching guys I'll see you next time right here on the tech jamso you're looking to buy a new monitor but you're not sure whether to go for a super-sharp 4k one like this or maybe a immersive ultra wide like this well I've got two of the latest LG monitors here on my desk I've actually reviewed both of these individually you can check them out by clicking on the card at the top right but 4k or ultra wide which is best which should you go for and which one am i using everyday if you're looking for a martyr to do work on and maybe play some games Walter White's may be a good bet they don't have the raw pixel density of 4k but they do have a size advantage with the extra wide desktop means you can comfortably use three apps or three chrome tabs side by side particularly if you go for a bigger one like this that's 38 inches diagonally although you can get them in 25 29 34 and 38 with 29 and 34 inches being the most common so not Abel's gonna want one this big but that extra screen real estate on the side versus this well you can just see you're getting a lot more on the screen and it's a great alternative to say a dual motor setup as you've got no ugly bezels in the middle gaming on an ultra wide is incredible you get a wider field of view making games feel more cinematic and it really draws you in especially if you've got a curved ultra-wide like this there is a downside and that's the resolution these even the bigger ones usually max out at 34 40 by 1440 whereas this is a 3840 by 2160 resolutions so if you want the absolute most sharp Crispus highest resolution possible you could have to go 4k 4k martyr's range from 24 all the way up to 40 inches this one is 27 inches but personally I think 32 inches is the sweet spot and the best size of 4k you're getting a resolution that is four times higher than standard Full HD 1080p so photos 4k video and games all look clearer and more detailed and those tiny pixels means text and content will appear smaller on a 4k compared to a lower resolution screen potentially giving you a boost in usable desktop space but in reality you'll probably want to scale what's on screen backup to a more usable size meaning you're not really getting that much extra space anyway games look incredible in 4k as well textures look fine and you don't need to use as much anti-aliasing so you may be able to lower that option in the settings but there is a serious performance overhead that comes with playing in 4k pushing all those pixels means you'll need a high-end graphics card to get anything like playable framerates seriously if you'll be playing the latest games at 4k with high settings and you want a stable 60fps probably gonna need a 1080 TI graphics card or maybe it's worth waiting for the next generation of cars like the 1180 or whatever they're gonna be called you can of course always drop the resolution when playing games but then you're missing out on what you've paid for and it can look a little fuzzy so 4k gaming is great if you have a super-powerful PC that can push all the extra pixels but still get a smooth frame rate now ultra whites tend to use a widened full HD or quad HD resolution so while the vertical resolution stays the same you're getting about 25% additional horizontal pixels but there's something else to consider aside from just the resolution and that is of course the aspect ratio that's the most obvious difference said this is 21 by 9 this is 16 by 9 but when it comes to actually using your computer and watching videos on YouTube and playing games it makes a big difference 4k uses the same 16 by 9 screen ratio as almost all video content out there when you play it on a 21 by 9 ultra wide like this it means you're gonna get vertical black bars on either side of the image or the video pillarboxing essentially native 21 by 9 video looks fantastic almost cinema-like but the problem is that most movies and TV don't tend to support a format so video is pretty thin on the ground although you can't find some examples on YouTube games mostly on a problem though as newer titles generally do support the 20 on my 9 aspect and they scale correctly to the edges extending your peripheral vision which is a real advantage in FPS and racing games most Ultra White's also come with a curved screen ranging from a gentle arc to a more severe radius that gives you a subtle wraparound experience the reason for the curve is that you get less distortion in the corners and better viewing angles than if it were flat but one benefit of these being slow low-resolution versus 4k is that we can get some ultra wide models with a higher than 60 Hertz refresh rate anything from 75 all the way up to 200 Hertz which makes everything including games feel so much smoother assuming of course you have a high enough frame rate to take advantage of it right now there aren't really any high refresh rate 4k monitors on the market but towards the end of 2018 we've got the likes of the zeus rog swift PG 27 new Q&A so prior to X 27 both of which are 4k and 144 Hertz but there were only 27 inches in size and they will cost close to $2,000 both these LG monitors I've got hair support high dynamic range although I would say that neither our proper HDR as brightness maxes out at around 400 nits and they're not using true 10 bit panels but it can make games look a little bit more vibrant and contrasting both of these also support aimed ease freesync technology so if you have an AMD graphics card it'll help you reduce screen tearing stuttering and make your framerate more stable in games but if you have an Nvidia graphics card like most people do then you're probably going to want to find a martyr with g-sync although that usually adds 1 to 200 pounds to the price so let's sum up which should you buy well in my opinion as someone who uses their monitor for everything from work to playing games I'm gonna go ultra 1 I love a good ultra wide let me just show you that as someone who uses Premiere Pro every day this is what a timeline can look like on a 38 inch ultra white mantle like this now if I bring this over to the 16 by 9 I mean it's great and it's sharper because it's 4k but everything just feels a little closed or feel restricted coming from this I think if you have never used an ultra wide that's absolutely fine you won't really know the difference but I really do struggle I have to say going back to a 16 by 9 even if he is 4k coming from something like this so for me I'm gonna be sticking with an ultra wide but having said all that the point actually may be moved because very very few people actually use these types of monitors in the most recent steam hardware so they about 1.5 percent of Steam users were playing at an ultra-wide resolution even fewer people were gaming at 4k about 1.2 percent so combined it's a tiny tiny portion the vast majority of people are still gaming at full HD on a traditional sixteen by nine monitor which is fine but if you do want to upgrade if you want something little bit different then I would definitely recommend checking out either of these options whether you want the super sharp resolution that clarity of 4k or the extra screen real estate that immersive effect you get with an ultra wide but what do you think are they just a waste of money when good quality full HD panels are a lot cheaper and would you go 4k or ultra wide vote in the poll top right and let me know what you think in the comments below a big thanks to LG for providing me with these two awesome martyrs and I put links to my recommended 4k and ultra white monitors in the description below if you want to check those out don't forget to click like and subscribe if you enjoy this video when you want to see more monitor videos from me and me attempting to say monitor and then comments coming in saying you're saying motto and why are you saying it like that and telling me off because that's always fun but I'm doing my best and so yeah subscribe if you wanna see more of that thank you very much for watching guys I'll see you next time right here on the tech jam\n"