Darcy LaCouvee / Android Authority
LG’s new DualUp display is unusual to say the least. It doesn’t look like any display I’ve ever used, let alone seen. The display is 28 inches tall with a 16:18 aspect ratio. It’s a look you’d be forgiven for staring at, but deciding to stick with a unique design ultimately pays off for some unique use cases, especially reading and writing. Not sure if a vertically stacked display is right for you? Let’s take a look at where the LG DualUp stands and where it might fall short.
LG DualUp Monitor with Ergo Stand
About this article: I tested the LG DualUp monitor for a week. The unit was provided by LG, but LG had no comments or published content in its direction.
What is it like to use LG DualUp?
Darcy LaCouvee / Android Authority
Let’s start with the good. No more scrolling! Well, maybe not entirely, but I mainly found myself using my palm to move the cursor. Reading my emails is more fun because I can see everything right there in my inbox when I scroll up and down to find something. I can easily scan the page with my eyes. Similarly, when reading, I can see twice as much text as I can read, and there is zero white space on either side of the text. If you’ve ever tried to read something on an ultrawide monitor, you’ll notice that most of the screen is blank except for the center. Here, you only get the big “middle”, front and center.
With a tall 16:18 aspect ratio, this display is great for reading and writing.
As a writer, I appreciate this layout because it allows me to see my words displayed on the devices most people use to read them, such as phones or tablets. Portrait orientation prevents my articles from stretching sideways, making it easier to scan and catch errors. In fact, I wrote this article using the LG DualUp and enjoyed the experience so much that I had to send it back! Navigating in WordPress was very short with full side distribution, and I could have a secondary program like Slack if needed.
Read more: Extremely wide displays are overrated; That’s why I use a 4K TV instead
Speaking of which, the 16:18 aspect ratio lends itself well to many tasks, with the caveat that Windows is taking advantage of its built-in window scaling features. For example, you can split the screen in half to create a traditional dual vertical monitor setup with two 16:9 screens with no visible seam in the middle. This is the only setup you’ll want to watch full-screen video on this display so you don’t have big black bars at the top and bottom. But you can split the screen into three or four parts of different sizes, or manually arrange as many windows as you want.
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On a Mac, natively you can only snap to the left and right sides of the screen, but you can use a third-party tool like Rectangle to get more powerful window management features. In any case, I find the lateral orientation more effective for many tasks. You can rotate the monitor 90 degrees for a slightly wider view, but that kind of defeats the purpose of this monitor: use a vertical ceiling position instead of a horizontal position to free up your desk.
Despite its advantages, DualUp doesn’t suit every use case, especially video.
Of course, not every professional wants verticality. Take my colleague Harley, who works on our YouTube channel, for example. For him, less Width means a narrower timeline in the video editing program, so fewer tools and windows open for quick access. Additionally, it comes with DualUp 98% DCI-P3 color space and HDR10 support, which is great for content creators who rely on color accuracy, although it’s not a true 10-bit panel, so not for color-critical applications. These are just a few examples. Show how layout doesn’t fit all software like a glove.
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Beyond its standard uses, DualUp displays two sources simultaneously: a computer and a streaming device via USB-C and HDMI, respectively, or any other combination of gadgets with compatible ports. You can enable Picture in Picture mode, which stacks two inputs on top of each other, switch which one is on, and switch which source outputs sound from the DualUp (decent but unspectacular) speakers or headphone jack.
Darcy LaCouvee / Android Authority
There is no shortage of ports either. The LG DualUp has two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort v1.4 port, a USB-C port with video and 90W pass-through power, and two USB-A 3.0 downstream ports for accessories. The DualUp also has a built-in KVM switch, which allows one keyboard and mouse to control two computers connected to the monitor via USB-C and DisplayPort (connected to a laptop connected via DisplayPort with the included USB cable).
More than a wonderful display
Darcy LaCouvee / Android Authority
As you can see, this display is great in many ways, but perhaps its real asset is the ergonomic stand. Without a doubt, this is the most flexible and flexible stand I’ve ever used and one of the easiest to install. It attaches to the side or back of your desk, takes up little space and a Very low profile behind a tall display.
Compared to third-party mounts, it’s much less clutter, smarter cable management, and more versatile. You can move it any way you want: Push it forward or back 210mm, turn it 360 degrees left or right or lower it by 35mm to bring it closer to your desk and more eye level. As mentioned earlier, there is a 90 degree counterclockwise rotation, which can be up or down by 25 degrees.
The panel is very good but the real asset is the ergonomic stand.
You might think the arm flex is a bit overkill, but trust me, adjusting the angle throughout the day is really helpful. At first I was mistaken that the monitor was high above my desk, and after a day of work, I had a neck on it. I felt like I was sitting in front of a movie theater and looking up to watch a movie. Tilting the head up and down side to side using the monitor can take some getting used to, so be sure to play around with the mount’s different options to find a setting that feels right.
Read more: A guide to making working from home easier
I hope LG decides to sell this ergonomic stand by Universal VESA mount option one day because I’ll be using it for non-LG monitors.
Should you buy the LG DualUp?
Darcy LaCouvee / Android Authority
During my time with it, the LG DualUp was an eye-catching and somewhat odd duck among the desks and workstations in our office. And for better or worse, it works exactly as it appears, allowing two 21.5-inch QHD screens to be stacked vertically with an invisible seam separating them. If you have a multi-screen workspace, this can be a great addition to complete your setup for tasks like reading or programming laterally.
In many ways, this display reminds me of Samsung’s Spin TV, but much less space. While many of us don’t want to watch TikTok on a big TV, the monitor’s lateral screen space is useful for accommodating portrait-oriented apps that are used for productivity, not just social media. It all depends on what the long script space looks like for your needs. As someone who reads and writes a lot for a living, I find it to be perfect digital real estate. Combined with the incredibly versatile Ergo Stand, the $699 asking price is even more manageable.
LG DualUp Monitor with Ergo Stand
Super long display, perfect for reading and writing
Free up your desk space with this 16:18 aspect ratio stackable swing. Connect to external devices or power your laptop with USB-C convenience up to 90W or use the PBP feature to display content from two different computers and use the KVM feature to manage all content with a single keyboard and mouse.