LG pitches a curve with new monitor

Some computer monitors live in the value category. Some are best for video games, and some are best for graphic design or CAD/CAM work. The LG 34UC97 (MSRP $1,299) defies such attempts at easy categorization, and instead offers users a massive variety of uses and functions with the price tag to match.

This is essentially a curved version of LG's 34UM95 UltraWide computer monitor—which earned our Best of Year award in 2014—so, naturally, we had high expectations for it.

While the two are identical in their wide variety of connectivity options, software features, and resolutions, the UC97's curved screen introduces visual distractions and occasionally mars the purity of colors around the edges—something we didn't notice while testing the flat UM95. If you're a power user hunting for the best possible image quality, there's no reason to buy this one over the 34UM95, which is also more affordable.

Despite those issues, however, the 34UC97 is still an excellent monitor in all other regards. Its dual Thunderbolt ports, USB hub, and screen-splitting software mean it can easily take the place of two monitors at the center of your workstation.

In fact, that's one area it excels in: There's an entire sub-menu given over to PbP (Picture-by-Picture) and PiP (Picture-in-Picture) options. Whether it's two HDMI inputs or an HDMI/DisplayPort 1.2 combination, you'll have 1,720 horizontal and 720 vertical pixels for either source.

The 34UC97 also has a feature called "MaxxAudio," which claims to wring better bass/treble perfomance out of the monitor's dual 7-watt speakers. You'll find a full color tuner in the menu, as well as various picture modes (Photo, Game, Cinema) and color temperature settings. Navigating the menu is surprisingly easy and intuitive considering you're doing everything with a single control stick.

Aside from a few notable exceptions, the 34-inch UC97 otherwise performs very similarly to its flat sibling, the 34UM95. Like that monitor, the UC97 wields an IPS (In-Plane Switching) panel, and delivers bright, vibrant colors, great viewing angles, and stellar image fidelity.

The 3,440 x 1,440 (QHD) resolution is obviously a boon, as well. Text and images look very crisp and sharp, and there's enough pixel real estate here that you can easily view two, three, or even four windows simultaneously (once you've installed LG's ScreenSplit software). This functionality works for both Windows- and Mac-based operating systems, to boot.

However, the UC97's Achilles Heel is its poor backlight uniformity. The gentle curve of the screen certainly looks great, and adds a dash of novelty to the usual flat-panel monitor look, but it also introduces some ugly corner flashlighting and backlight bleed.

This excess light introduces more than just distracting background noise to images, unfortunately. Color quality gets worse as you track them from the center to the edges of the display, where excess light mixes with low-level gradated areas and dirties the integrity of some hues/shades.

This discrepancy also affects the UC97's contrast performance—black levels are deeper at the center of the screen than at the edges. If you're watching movies with lots of dark scenes, you may notice interruptions in shadow quality across the screen.

Overall, like the 34UM95 before it, the 34UC97 is a solid display. Its IPS panel is rich with color and its QHD resolution provides ample screen real estate. Additional features, such as LG's ScreenSplit software, add even further to the monitor's abilities and pedigree.

Unfortunately, the curved design—while unique and arguably more attractive than a flat panel—introduces image production issues, including flashlighting in the corners of the display and reduced color purity along edges.

While the monitor's value is not entirely diminished by these problems, it does make it hard to recommend the 34UC97 over the 34UM95, which is not only the best computer monitor currently available, but also more affordable.