This video is sponsored by LG! Five months ago, I released my annual Productivity
Monitor Guide video, which was very well received by close to half a million people. In it, I briefly mentioned how the monitor
segment is going through a metamorphosis, hinting at the upcoming rise of never before
seen categories of external displays that provide distinctive solutions. An example I gave at the time was a monitor
with an aspect ratio of 16:18. Today, I am excited to talk about this unique
one-off DualUp monitor, discover its purpose and applications and, while at it, introduce
and examine two other external displays that are unicorns. This is the LG DualUp Monitor with Ergo Stand. It is a monitor like no other, coming in at
28 inches and an aspect ratio of 16:18. If you are wondering what that means, imagine
two 21.5-inch displays with standard 16:9 aspect ratio stacked on top of each other
- exactly what I talked about in my dual monitor setup guide, which I’ll link at the end
of this video. This unique approach by LG has benefits galore. I’ll start with the biggest and most obvious
one - with such a monitor, you get the most compact yet advantageous dual vertically stacked
monitor setup while having the smallest desk footprint by far. By rocking this monitor, you are also escaping
the inevitable bezel situation if you were to have two monitors on top of each other. Next, you lose absolutely no space on the
desk since the entire display is floating and staying in place thanks to the C-Clamp
Ergo Stand, which can pretty much articulate in all directions. The monitor is perfectly balanced, making
it extremely easy to position at the ideal angle or even re-position on the fly based
on the workflow. The display itself has an SDQHD resolution
of 2560 x 2880, which you can think of as two vertical 1440p monitors. BTW, if you end up enjoying this video, subscribe...because
WHY NOT?!? Okay, so...it provides a 60Hz refresh rate,
HDR 10 support, around 300 nits of brightness, and 98% DCI-P3 color representation. After unboxing it and plugging it into a Mac,
you might find the default scaling a bit smaller, but don’t worry - LG has included some Hi-DPI
scaling options that provide an ideal UI experience. On the top is an ambient light sensor that
can auto-adjust the display’s brightness based on the environment. My favorite part is the USB-C support, which,
aside from picture and data, provides a whopping 90 watts power delivery, which is what laptop
users will relish. Of course, there are plenty more ports on
the back, like two USB-As and USB-B, a Display Port, and 3.5mm audio. So the way I see it, this monitor has few
significant applications. Suppose you use it as a standalone display. In that case, you get to enjoy a vertical
stack setup. Depending on your desk, you’ll most likely
use the bottom portion of the display for some day-to-day activities while retaining
the ability to throw additional windows to the top. If you have two sources, like a laptop and
desktop, you can fully take advantage of the ports on the back and run picture by picture,
PBP. Another scenario is to have one machine with
two cables connected two it. In the case of my Mac, I can run USB-C and
HDMI Display Port at the same time and simulate a dual monitor setup with two physically separate
desktops all from one panel. Case number 3 for the monitor is to use it
as a secondary display in an SBS or side-by-side setup, where the DualUp monitor plays the
role of the vertical content display. This makes it ideal for creative people who
deal with vertical content like shorts or reels. Programmers and designers will appreciate
this resolution as well - no doubt about it. For $699, it is an excellent choice for both
standalone and multi-display setups, being the unicorn in the world of vertical opportunities. Now, let’s talk about the LG Smart Monitor. This 24.5 lbs monitor is a perfectly balanced
32-inch beast that comes in the box with LG’s Ergo Stand to bring a smile to your face with
its stunning 4K picture quality, built-in Smart features, a speaker system, remote control,
and much more. Before we talk about the unique things, let’s
appreciate the attention to detail, even on the back, where all ports are downwards facing
for that more aesthetic look. In terms of ports, there are 2 HDMIs, a LAN
port, USB-A, and of course, USB-C, which, aside from 4K at 60Hz picture, provides 65W
of power. As with the DualUp monitor, the Ergo Stand
comes with clever built-in cable organization, which, paired with the thin front bezels,
results in a very aesthetically pleasing package that floats and moves like a gentle giant
in any direction - including vertically, which in this size is very impressive in person. In fact, you can rotate this monitor 280 degrees
to swivel it out of the way, move the entertainment from the desk to the couch or present something
to someone. Regarding ergonomics and ease of use, there
are 2 additional USB-A ports on the side, ideal for connecting hard drives or USB drives
without having to reach the back. With all the connection choices in mind, the
monitor can be paired with a laptop, desktop, or gaming console, or to nothing since it
can also be used as a standalone device, thanks to the built-in WebOS operating system. Even if it’s not linked to any machine it
can be used as a stand alone device for streaming content like Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV,
Disney+, and pretty much everything else. All the magic can be controlled with the included
remote control or even broadcasted thanks to the built-in Apple AirPlay 2 & Homekit
support. The 3840x2160 VA panel peaks at 250 nits,
has a 5ms response time and supports 90% of the DCI-P3 color spectrum. You can expect TV presets like Game Optimizer,
Cinema, Filmmaker mode, Expert, and more. You can connect Bluetooth devices like a mouse
and a keyboard to take full advantage of the intelligent features and navigate WebOS as
a computer. The built-in speaker system has cool AI tricks
to fill a room, like AI Acoustic Tuning that uses the microphone on the Magic Remote to
collect the ambient sound and analyze and tweak the EQ for optimal performance. If you want to learn more about this display,
you can check out my dedicated video, which I’ll link in the description and at the
end of this one. The way I see it, this monitor has a variety
of excellent applications. For example, it is the optimal work-from-home
display because it is big enough for everyone’s needs. It takes little to no space, no matter the
desk size, because it floats. In the meantime, it is very forgiving on the
eyes for those prolonged working sessions, thanks to the built-in eye comfort features. When not used for work, the Smart Monitor
morphs into the ultimate family time monitor. Another application is students. Having this monitor in a dorm where it’s
big enough for entertainment and gaming while being massive and sufficient for all the school
work and projects is a no-brainer. The price alone makes this an excellent student
recommendation. At $499, you are getting a lot, a monitor,
that can be used for both work and pleasure while looking stylish and being space-saving
and ergonomic. This is the perfect example of the rise of
the all-rounders, as I like to call them. Next up is LG’s Libero monitor. I bet you’ve never seen a display like this. At a glance, it’s a 27-inch 16:9 QHD monitor
that looks as good on the front as it is on the back and can stay on its own built-in
stand or be hung on a wall or a partitioner to take no space on a desk. Before we get all nerdy and talk about applications,
let me quickly go over the panel specs, which are not to be ignored. This IPS panel runs at 60hz when connected
with usb-c or HDMI. Has 350 nits brightness, covering 99% of the
sRGB spectrum. At 2560 x 1440p, you can expect native Mac
support, HDR10, and built-in features like Flicker safe, eye protection, and reader mode. What makes this monitor special is its unique
design approach and application. On the back, you notice a fabric pattern to
make it blend with any environment. On the bottom (or top, depending on how you
look at it) is a metal swivel stand that you can use to prop it on a desk. If we look at the top, you’ll notice there’s
a USB-C port which you might be wondering what it is for?!? This is the port for the detachable Full HD
webcam with an integrated microphone that even has a privacy webcam cover. And YES, it’s included in the package. If we flip the monitor upside down, you’ll
notice there is yet another USB-C port again for the webcam should you decide to hang the
monitor somewhere, like on a desk partitioner, for example. The Libero monitor is designed to be suspended
since it comes with partition hangers in the package. It is unique and pretty cool if you ask me. The 3-side borderless design and distinctive
chin make it look chick, regardless of whether it’s upside down or not. It also comes with all the essential ports
one might require - HDMI, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and USB-C that provides 65 watts of
power. Top that with the built-in stereo speakers
with Waves MaxxAudio, which sound decently loud, and throw into the mix a price of $499
- and voila! You get a very complete, stylish, and unique
package like no other - talking about unicorns here. So, out of all three monitors, which one piques
your interest most? Let me know in the comments below. If you enjoyed this video, check out my monitor
guide video and the dual monitor setup guide I mentioned earlier. Like and subscribe to the channel, as well
as my newsletter, and as always, it’s been an absolute pleasure, This is E Over & Out
