14 DAY TRIAL // One would think that a pair of new monitors would have more to set them apart than whether or not they can act as television sets, but that is not the case for the EA73 and LN450W “UltraWide” displays that LG has just launched.
Then again, the presence of a digital TV tuner on the LN450W (for broadcast reception and cable or set-top box connectivity) does add $50 / €50 to the price all on its own, so we suppose it's enough.
But we're getting ahead of ourselves. First, we should actually say what type of displays these are, and why they stand out.
Long story short, they are monitors featuring 29-inch diagonals, but the 21:9 aspect ratio. Thus, the resolution is of 2560 x 1080 pixels. Basically, they are like cinema ultra-wide screens, but in mini form.
IPS technology ensures wide viewing angles, LED provides good contrast and brightness for little power, and the integrated software lets them manage multiple windows and source devices at once.
In other words, they are smart monitors, of sorts. The LN450W could even pass for a smart TV. In fact, the two actually integrated LG's 4-Screen Split feature.
For those who haven't guessed, that divides the screen into four different sections, at eight different screen ratios, allowing for prioritization based on size and location. And with Dual-Link Up linking the monitor to two source devices (phone, camera, Blu-ray, whatever), both sources can display content at once. It's basically a more evolved version of PbP (picture-by-picture).
"Picture quality is always the number one priority when LG designs display products, but we also focus on versatility," said Tim Alessi, director of new product development at LG Electronics USA.
"Our new UltraWide monitors exemplify that focus with features that make them ideal for home-office professionals, students, gamers and casual users alike."
LG EA73 and LN450W are priced at $599.99 / €599.99 and $649.99 / €699.99, respectively, and possess Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL), HDMI and DisplayPort support.