LG’s 16:18 DualUp is a weird monitor for getting work done

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There is no shortage of ultrawide monitors, but there is only one that is taller. The monitor is taller than it is wide and has a 16:18 aspect ratio. Two 21.5-inch QHD monitors are stacked on top of each other. If you experience an intense swirl of emotions the first time you watch the dualup, you are not alone.

The dualup lets you see more at once with less scrolling. I can see more windows in a Brady Bunch-like grid arrangement with just one computer plugged in. It's cool that one monitor can replace two. I was able to test two dual ups side by side, but I ran out of windows before I could take advantage of all that space.

I usually use two monitors side by side. Secret pockets of productivity were not unlocked by the dualup. I felt more efficient because of it. Sometimes my desktop layout is less than ideal. I don't use every inch of my displays at home because I want to keep as much information in view as possible. The design of the dualup may help solve some of the mess and keep everything in view.

It depends on what you do for work and play. It's ideal for reading, coding, and content production, but you don't need to be a pro to enjoy the kind of real estate the dualup affords.

Most people have worked on a monitor with a 3:2 aspect ratio. There are different sizes of those, from small flat panels to huge curved displays. The trend of laptop makers using taller than average displays is being turned on its head by the dualup. It is similar to using a 16:9 screen of that size turned on its side but with more horizontal screen real estate with the 28.6-inch dualup. It is about five or six inches narrower than a typical 27 inch screen. It is a couple of inches taller than the 27 inch screen. You can mount the dualup on the included monitor arm. It gives a unique presentation that you don't get with other displays.

The dualup can display two sources at the same time, whether it is a computer and a game console connected to the internet or something else. The picture-by-picture mode that stacks two inputs on top of each other can be activated through its interface, which is a little easier to navigate than most monitors. It is possible to switch between which one is on top and which one emits audio through the speakers.

The dualup has two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort v1.4 port, a USB-C port with video and 90W of passthrough power, a headphone jack, and twoUSB-A 3.0 downstream ports for accessories The dualup has a built-in KVM switch that allows one keyboard and mouse to control two computers connected to the monitor via a single keyboard and mouse After installing the dual controller software and configuring my work MacBook Pro and Dell laptop, I was able to connect between the two inputs in picture-by- picture mode. The computer that I was controlling was switched over when I moved over to the other side. The source that you control can be swapped with the keyboard shortcut. In this mode, you can transfer up to 10 files from one source to another.

Windows has always been easier to manage than Macs thanks to its built-in window-snapping features. macOS lets you snap to the left or right side of the screen, but there are a number of third-party utilities that bring some of Windows 11's management features to the Mac. I tested a free option that offers many more options for macOS users as to where you can pin a window. It's good. If you are a Mac user interested in the dual up monitor, the rectangle app is a must have accessory.

On a single dual up display, my ideal workspace setup was to have a chat room in the top left corner and a place to listen to music in the top right corner. I shrunk the windows to make room for the two big windows on the other side. I use the screen's size when I'm on an assignment Compared to using two 27 inch displays at home, I am able to see more things with less head movement.

The tall aspect ratio of the dualup may work against you It is not the best monitor to watch videos on. You will not like how movies and TV shows look on the dual up if you thought the black bars were thick. Unless you are watching a movie in picture-by- picture mode, which splits the screen horizontally into two screens, that is not possible. The dualup's native resolution looks as goofy as it sounds, as some games attempt to render at it. It is the same situation if you are not using picture-by-picture mode. Unless you have low expectations for visual fidelity, this monitor is not a good choice for serious gaming. The 60Hz refresh rate of the QHD resolution doesn't take full advantage of fast PC hardware or consoles.

The monitor is cool, but the stand is my favorite part of the package. Instead of sitting on top of your desk, it can be placed on the side of your desk or in a hole in the wall. There are a lot of nooks to hide cables inside the stand. It is so flexible that I would like to see it sold by itself.

• It can be pulled forward or pushed back a total of 210mm.
• It can be swiveled nearly 360 degrees to the left or right
• It can be lowered by 35mm to bring it closer to your desk.
• It allows for 90 degrees of counterclockwise rotation
• It can be tilted up or down by 25 degrees.

The flexibility of the monitor arm makes it easier to make adjustments. It helps to justify the high sticker price.

The dualup has a matt panel with a claimed 98% coverage of the color gamut and 300 nits of brightness To my untrained eye, the colors look vibrant and fantastic, and it is bright enough to be easily visible in a well-lit room, though it is not nearly as powerful as Apple's 600-nit (and $1,600) studio display. Even though the dualup is supported by HDR 10, the brightness is too low.

The performance of the dualup is slightly different to what the manufacturer claims, but not worse. 95 percent of the DCI-P3 was recorded, as well as 90 percent of the AdobeRGB, and 100 percent of the sRGB gamut. It registered more than 300 nits at peak brightness. The results of the dualup make it accurate enough for most photo and video editing work. You will pay a lot more for that.

It has a 2,560 wide x 2,880 tall resolution, which works out to aPPI of just under 140, at the dualup's 28.6-inch diagonal size. If you want to make icons and text more legible, you may want to increase the interface scaling in MacOS and Windows. Unless you prefer a low-profile interface or have amazing eyesight.

If you increase the resolution on a high-res monitor, you will make it look softer and less sharp. It is noticeable with a Mac, as Windows scales better. If you want to have larger screen items, messing with the scaling isn't necessary.

Prepare for your desk to be the new water cooler if you plan on using the dual up in a public office. Everyone who walks by wants to talk about it. I received a lot of attention when I had two set up side by side. All of that dialogue helped me figure out my elevator pitch for the dualup.

The dualup is very much a what you see is what you get experience, it is two small-ish screens stacked vertically without a visible boundary dividing them. It is possible that you might like it. I like it, along with its plethora of video ports. That is not to say that it will be a good fit for everyone. The buying decision is entirely dependent on whether you think the dual display design will add to your PC experience or not.

Cameron Faulkner is a photographer.