The LG 29UM57: A Budget-Friendly Ultrawide Monitor Review

I have been using the LG 29UM57 as my daily driver for just under a year now, and I must say, it has become an essential part of my workspace. The monitor's performance has impressed me, and I am excited to share my experience with you. In this article, we will delve into the details of the LG 29UM57, including its features, display quality, and overall value for money.

The Replacement Model: LG 29UM68-P

The LG 29UM57 has been replaced by the LG 29UM68-P, which offers some enhancements, including FreeSync technology. The new model is still available for purchase at a competitive price point of under $300 USD. As I mentioned earlier, I have already created a quick review of this monitor several months ago in shabby quality, but it's time to give it an official proper review.

The Monitor's Dimensions and Build Quality

One of the key factors that drew me to this monitor was its compact size, which is perfect for my workspace. The 29UM57 measures just under 28 inches wide, including the frame, making it a great choice for those who want an ultrawide display without taking up too much space. The monitor's thickness is also quite slim, with a subtle bulge in the back that gives it a sleek and modern look. The plastic frame is shiny and has a bold LG logo on the rear, which adds to its premium feel.

The Stand and Controls

The monitor comes with an included rigid stand that allows for tilt adjustment, but unfortunately, it only allows for horizontal tilting, not side-to-side movement. This may be a limitation for some users, but I found it to be perfectly adequate for my needs. The front of the monitor features a pleasant surprise - despite being made of plastic, I didn't mind its presence at all. In fact, the bezel surrounding the sides and top of the display is actually a matte finish continuation, which means you won't see any annoying light reflecting off the plastic. Below the front logo is a single pivoting controller that allows for selecting input modes and customizing display settings.

Display Quality

The LG 29UM57 features an IPS display with a pixel resolution of 2560x1080, giving it a pixel density of over 90 ppi. The anti-glare matte finish spans the entire panel, which is a great feature that helps reduce eye strain in bright environments. Colors are crisp and vibrant, and while they may not be as accurate as those on an sRGB panel, they're still relatively good considering the monitor's price point. Blacks are decently contrasted with lighter zones, and the backlight is uniform, minimizing bleed.

The Refresh Rate and Overclocking

One of the more noticeable aspects of this monitor is its standard 60Hz refresh rate, which may seem unimpressive at first glance. However, I was able to overclock it easily to 75Hz, and I can attest that there is a noticeable difference in performance. The monitor's ability to maintain smooth motion and reduce artifacts makes it perfect for watching videos and playing games.

The Verdict: Is an Ultrawide Monitor Worth the Investment?

In conclusion, the LG 29UM57 is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a budget-friendly ultrawide monitor. While it may not offer all the bells and whistles of more expensive models, its compact size, slim design, and impressive display quality make it a great value for money. Even if you already own a 1080p panel, upgrading to just 1080 ultrawide is beneficial and worth your while. If you liked this review, be sure to give it a thumbs up, and subscribe to our channel for more content like this.

Additional Features and Conclusion

In addition to its impressive display quality and compact design, the LG 29UM57 also offers other features that make it a great choice for gamers and content creators. These include:

* FreeSync technology for reduced screen tearing

* HDMI 2.0 ports for high-resolution video output

* USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode support

Overall, I would highly recommend the LG 29UM57 to anyone in the market for a budget-friendly ultrawide monitor. Its impressive display quality, compact design, and affordable price point make it an excellent choice for gamers, content creators, and anyone looking for a great value for money.

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Gadgets and Peripherals

In addition to this review, I'll be publishing a separate article on the G.SKILL keyboard and mouse combo, as well as an AKRacing chair, both of which are designed to complement your gaming experience. Stay tuned for those articles in the coming weeks!

RAM Test Coming Soon

We're also working on a RAM test that will push the limits of your system's performance. The results may surprise you!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enThe LG 29UM57, its been my daily driver for just under a year nowand I have to say, I am absolutely in love with itIts been that day since day one.Now it's been replaced by the LG 29UM68-P which you can find linked in this videos descriptionIt's been enhanced in some ways, including the addition of FreeSyncbut it's still available for under 300 USDI created a quick review of this monitor several months ago in albeit shabby qualityso I say it's time to give it an official proper reviewMany of you have asked for it, so here it finally isa review of the affordable 2560x1080p LG ultrawide monitorThis has got to be one of the most affordable yet usable ultrawides on the market, hands downand from a great brand, like LGI don't recommend a 25 inch ultrawide, the vertical dimension is too narrowand for what i do in the desk that i usea 34 inch ultrawide would be too wide in the horizontalAt this form factor here just under 28 inches wide including the frame, mind youIt isn't quite so large that the edge hangs off of my deskI will say however, that if you plan on using only one monitor for everythinga 34 inch would be preferableJust much, much more expensiveThis is definitely the budget conscious choice, and I condone thatThis monitor isn't very thick either, it slightly bulges in the back but it's subtleand still gives you the impression that it's especially thin, since the back is contoured in this mannerThis one doesn't include built in speakers, but the 29UM68-P doesand from what I read in the reviews, they're excellent for what they areThe one I have includes two HDMI ports a headphone jack for audio running via HDMIand of course the power portThe frame of the monitor is sleek shiny, and made of plastic, with a bold LG logo dead center on the rearand can be tilted back and forth a good ways, just not side to side, via the included rigid standIt holds the monitor upright via two screws in the neck, and four screws at the baseThe front of the monitor is a pleasant surpriseWhile I would normally shun plastic, it doesn't bother me because I can't see itSure it's on the bottom bar, along with the subtle LG logobut the bezel surrounding the sides and the top of the display are actually just matte finish continuations of what would otherwise be comprised of pixelsThis means you won't see any annoying light reflecting off the plasticwhich is good especially in the darkBelow the front logo is a single pivoting controllergood for selecting input modes, and customizing display settingsbrightness, contrast, things of that sortit is a bit awkward, i would have preferred dedicated buttonsbut at least it's availableThere isn't much of a learning curve eitherAnd now, on to the display itselfThis is an IPS display with a pixel resolution of 2560x1080Pixel density is a little over 90 ppiand an anti-glare matte finish spans the entire panelMatte finishes aren't my thing usually, but this one isn't overkilland being that this monitor sits directly in front of an open windowit comes in very handyColors are crisp, vibrant, and relatively accurateNothing close to full sRGBBut for a matte finish, it's not badAnd you won't notice washed out colors in the same way you would on a knockoff TFT panelBlacks decently contrast lighter zones, remember this isn't an OLED panel or anything close to thatBut I will say that the backlight is uniform and the bleed is very minimal, especially for a sub-300 dollar monitorThe refresh rate of this monitor is a standard 60HzWhich is nothing special, it's run-of-the-millBut I will say that I was able to overclock it very easily to 75Hzand yes I can see a difference, more on that right hereso, how about watching videos on an ultrawideWill they take up the total real estate offered in the 21:9 format?Well, it depends honestlyIn my personal experience most YouTube videos will notsave ones that are customized specifically for ultrawide resolutions like this videoWhen it comes to watching movies, whether it be online or via DVD, it's about 50/50If the format is widescreen, chances are the moving picture will span the entire screenwhen the window is maximizedThis widescreen version of Iron Man is an exampleand I must say, movies are a joy to watch in this resolutionIt feels immersive and captivating in a wayMuch more exciting than the typical 16:9 aspectNow as for gaming, it's going to dependand i'll defer you to this video right here for more in-depth explanation of thatEssentially, some games will, and some games won'tjust depends on the style of game, whether it's new or oldFor the most part, any new game will run in an ultrawide format, no problemOlder games and first-person shooters, I've found, even games like Overwatch are a bit quirkyAnd will either stretch the image or just cut off the top and bottomAgain, it depends on the game. See that video for more of an explanationNow, in terms of content creation ultrawides are 100% the way to goTake it from someone like myselfAnd, if you're willing to take the chance, ultrawides will even pay off when gamingIt will ultimately come down to preferenceBut when you consider the fact that a monitor like this sells for under 300 bucksyou really won't be losing much, you'll just be gaining quite a bit of horizontal real estateEven if you already own a 1080p panel, i would argue that upgrading to just 1080 ultrawideis beneficial, and worth your whileIf you liked this video, be sure to give it a thumbs upGive it a thumbs down, if you feel the complete oppositeAnd subscribe for more content like thisstay tuned for a review of the G.SKILL keyboard and mouse comboas well as an AKRacing chair somewhere back thereand don't forget about our RAM test coming up very soonCompiling a bunch of data for that videoThis is Science StudioThanks for learning with us\n"