AppleInsider is supported by its audience and can earn commissions as an Amazon Associate and Affiliate on qualifying purchases. These partner relationships do not affect our editorial content.
The LG UltraWide 40WP95C-W is an exceptionally curved Thunderbolt display that provides valuable screen space to mac users.
Specifications:
This LG monitor is an ultra-wide display with a resolution of 5120 by 2160, commonly referred to as a 5K2K display. With a diagonal size of 39.7 inches, that gives us a pixel density of 139.97.
For reference, Apple’s 5K Studio Display has a density of 245 pixels per inch and the 16-inch MacBook Pro clocks in at 226 PPI. That makes the LG 40WP95C-W significantly lower than Apple’s panels.
Compared to the MacBook Proit’s somewhat understandable since you’re a bit further from the screen and you don’t have such a high density to get a “retina” resolution.
That said, going from the Studio Display to the 40WP95C-W there is a visible difference in sharpness. Although it is a more than acceptable resolution, Studio view is very bright with a very high pixel density for a 32-inch screen.
The display has a response time of 5 ms and a contrast ratio of 1000:1. LG says it supports more than 1,007 billion colors and covers 98 percent of the wide P3 color gamut. Technically it supports HDR, but the brightness won’t yield nearly as impressive results as something like the Pro Display XDR for three times the price.
At its brightest, the 40WP95C-W measures 300 nits. This brightness level is common with third-party monitors. We kept the monitor at 70 percent for our use, but if you’re in too bright an environment it can feel a little dim.
Partly through testing, we enabled the built-in ambient light sensor. This sensor works just like Apple’s and adjusts the screen based on the brightness in the room.
Physical controls on the monitor
A physical joystick at the bottom of the screen is used to open the OSD. This allows you to adjust the brightness, volume and other settings.
Ports and Connectivity
LG’s 40WP95C-W monitor mainly connects via lightning strike. It supports Thunderbolt 4 and a nice white Thunderbolt cable is included in the box. It is a good idea to match the cable to the color of the screen.
The rear ports of the LG
On the back of the monitor you’ll find the upstream Thunderbolt port to connect to your Mac and a second downstream Thunderbolt port. You can connect a second display to the second port.
Thunderbolt cable
The Thunderbolt port supports Power Delivery and can charge your Mac up to 96W.
Aside from the Thunderbolt ports, there’s a DisplayPort and dual HDMI inputs. The HDMI works at a lower resolution and supports up to 3440 by 1440.
However, the great thing about using HDMI is that you can use two machines at the same time. Two computers can be connected at the same time and run side by side in Picture-by-Picture (PbP) mode.
Finally, there is also a 3.5mm audio port on the back. Granted, if you don’t want to use it, there are also 10W stereo speakers in the screen.
Two 5 Gbps USB-A ports
Hidden behind the right side of the screen are two USB 3.1 Type-A ports capable of 5 Gbps of data.
Design
We love the design of LG’s 40WP95C-W display. It might not be as premium as the Studio Display with an all-metal design, but it’s one of the nicest third-party monitors we’ve tested.
It comes with a highly adjustable metal stand. There’s quite a bit of weight in it as we moved it around the studio. The bottom of the stand is a large, simplistic arc.
The curved stand of LG’s monitor
This arch supports the display sufficiently, but also gives you enough space to work. Instead of taking up a piece of your desk, it’s a very thin line.
The stand simply clicks into place on the back of the monitor and can be done by one person. A large ball joint connects the stand to the mounting plate, making it adjustable.
The standard stand is highly adjustable
You can tilt the screen up and down and rotate it left and right. Apple charges a surcharge for its height-adjustable kickstand, while LG’s kickstand can adjust the height.
The screen has a slight curvature that is perfect for a large screen. When we used our last 5K2K display, it was flat. Looking at the edges of the screen required more head movement and refocused on the content.
This curve is not shallow, but not too drastic either. It allows us to use the whole screen comfortably while increasing the immersive experience of using the screen.
There are relatively small bezels on the screen and it also has minimal movement. As a result, the monitor barely moved when we would inevitably hit the top of our desk. This is vastly improved over the UltraFine screens that bubbled from typical typing.
We’re a little torn on those USB ports on the back. We hate that they are USB-A ports because we only have a few type-A devices these days. They should be type C these days.
If you have short use devices, the placement is excellent. For example, you can connect and remove a USB stick without flipping the whole thing. The disadvantage is that if you have anything connected, the visible cables are an eyesore.
Living with an ultra-wide screen
An ultra-wide screen won’t suit everyone. Instead, it is a niche product that greatly benefits certain users, especially those who write code or rely on linear editing applications.
LG makes an amazing curved screen
Our workflow includes a lot of video editing, which is ideal for such a wide screen. The extra real estate allows us to see more of the timeline at once.
We can open our color boards, effects browser, and angle editor at the same time, with plenty of space left.
Full screen video editing
If Final Cut Pro is not running in full screen, we can use other windows side by side. It’s great to have a browser window open and a Numbers spreadsheet and Notes. That makes it easy to edit a video while keeping the other information on the screen.
A typical workspace
Apart from video editing, audio editors and programmers will also love this screen.
Resolution options
So far, we have run the screen at its native resolution. There are multiple other scaled modes to choose from, including 2560 by 1080, which doubles the size of everything on the screen.
Should you buy the LG 40WP95C-W?
If the 40WP95C-W’s aspect ratio appeals to you, there are few reasons not to give it a try. It looks great, has a sturdy and adjustable stand, and connects via Thunderbolt.
Compared to the Studio Display, it’s not as tightly integrated into macOS, but it’s still an excellent display to boost your productivity.
The speakers aren’t fantastic and the clarity could be boosted, but these are far from deal breakers.
LG curved ultra-wide Thunderbolt display
- Elegant curved display with strong all-metal adjustable stand
- greater 5K2K resolution
- 96W of power over Thunderbolt with a second downstream Thunderbolt port
- Ambient light sensor to adjust brightness automatically
- HDR support
- Medium brightness and speakers only
- USB-A ports instead of USB-C on the side
Rating: 4 out of 5
Where to buy