If you’re not sure whether you need a big screen to be flat or curved at home on your computer, an upcoming massive 45 inch monitor from LG will let you have both.
You don’t typically just use your computer for one thing, and may end up having multiple reasons to use it, so of course, you don’t just use its monitor for one thing, either.
Big screens can be used for work and play, but some feature of these screens are better for one thing over others. Take the idea of a curved display.
Back in TVs, the idea of curving a screen meant you could take in more of the screen from one angle, usually the centre, but the curvature in TVs went away because it ruined the look of the TV for anyone sitting anywhere else. At home in front of the computer, it’s a different feeling.
One computer user typically sits in the centre, making a curved display completely logical there, though it may not always be preferable. If you’re gaming, curving the screen makes sense because like the TV, you can take in more picture at once for a full immersive experience. But the moment you bring that display back to work, it might be less useful having the curve.
Over at CES this year, LG is showing an approach that could make it possible to have both approaches available, with a 45 inch display that can bend from flat to curved in seconds.
It’s not the first time we’ve seen an automatic curved display from LG, but it’s the first time we’ve seen the technology applied to an OLED screen with a resolution larger than that of 4K.
At 5K2K, the 45GX990A offers a 5120×2160 resolution, a 21:9 wide resolution that we’ve not seen on an OLED monitor prior, with LG going for a widescreen experience without being ultra-wide like a 32:9 monitor, which could be less compatible for more games.
The screen aims to cater for the common aspect ratios, covering 21:9 and the standard widescreen 16:9 with preset resolution and refresh rate combos, and will also switch from flat to a deep 900R curve in seconds.
If you just want the curve always, there’s a similar model in the 45GX950A that always remains curved while providing the 5K2K resolution on OLED, with the same resolution and refresh rate combos LG calls “Dual Mode”.
The technology is also joined by support for webOS like on LG TVs, effectively turning the monitors into smart TVs of sorts, something we’ve seen Samsung try with its own monitors and its smart TV interface powered by Tizen.
It’s actually the second monitor announcement we’ve heard from CES so far, joining Australia’s Espresso with its own take on how desktops look set to evolve.
“The UltraGear GX9 series sets a new standard for OLED gaming monitors, combining groundbreaking display technology with smart features that expand and enhance the user experience,” said YS Lee, Vice President and Head of the IT Business Unit for LG.
“From the world’s first 5K2K OLED gaming monitors with second-generation Dual-Mode to smart gaming monitors with built-in webOS, the GX9 lineup pushes the boundaries to deliver maximum value and enjoyment for our customers.”
There’s no word on the launch of the new monitors in Australia just yet, but we expect Australia might see these later on this year, likely coming in at a higher price than most other monitors.
