LG UltraWide 34BP65C-B 34" Black 2022

A 34-inch ultrawide that's secretly great for work and good enough for games. Just don't pay more than USD 400 for it.

The 160Hz refresh rate and FreeSync Premium support surprised us in a good way. This isn't a dedicated gaming monitor, but it handles fast motion better than most productivity-focused ultrawides. The 1ms MBR response time is a bit of marketing magic, the real GtG is 5ms, but in practice it's still smooth. The VA panel's 3000:1 contrast ratio gives it deep blacks that make movies and dark scenes look better than typical IPS panels in this range.

Against the ASUS ROG Strix XG27UCDMG and MSI MAG 271QPX QD-OLED E2, the LG loses on pure gaming performance and color accuracy, those OLED panels are just better. But those are 27-inch 16:9 monitors, not ultrawides. If you want the ultrawide form factor for productivity, the LG is the more practical choice. The Samsung Odyssey G60SD is closer in spirit but costs more and doesn't give you the same screen real estate. For office work specifically, the LG's 77.9 office score beats what most gaming monitors offer.

The value story here is interesting. US prices swing from USD 370 to USD 468 depending on where you look, and Newegg has the best deal at the low end. In Canada, the spread is even wilder, CAD 542 to CAD 1,086, so you really need to shop around. At the low end of those ranges, this monitor is a no-brainer for office work and casual gaming. At the high end, you're getting into territory where better options exist.

The LG 34BP65C-B is an ultrawide that nails the basics for work and casual gaming without making your wallet cry. It's a 34-inch curved VA panel with a 3440 x 1440 resolution and a 160Hz refresh rate, which is a combo that feels great for productivity and smooth enough for most games. The one thing to know? This is a monitor that punches above its price for office use, scoring 77.9 out of 100 in our database for that category.

If you're a competitive gamer who needs the fastest response times and best motion clarity, this isn't your monitor. Go get an OLED like the MSI MAG 271QPX QD-OLED E2 instead. And if you need something portable or compact, this 34-inch beast is the opposite of that, it weighs 7700g and takes up serious desk space.

Buy the LG 34BP65C-B if you want an ultrawide for work with gaming as a bonus. It's not the best gaming monitor, not the brightest HDR display, but it's a solid all-rounder that does office work exceptionally well. Just make sure you're paying the low end of that price range, not the high end.