LG LG 34BP65C-B 34" UWQHD 3440 x 1440 Curved Screen Review

The LG 34BP65C-B is a value-packed 34-inch ultrawide. You get a curved 1440p screen, a smooth 160Hz refresh rate, and a killer Thunderbolt port for easy laptop docking, all for around $360. The VA panel has great contrast but mediocre brightness. It's a fantastic buy for general productivity and casual gaming, but hardcore gamers and creatives should look elsewhere.

Let's talk about the LG 34BP65C-B. It's a 34-inch curved ultrawide monitor that sits in a sweet spot between productivity and casual gaming. With a UWQHD resolution (that's 3440 x 1440) and a 160Hz refresh rate, it's trying to be a jack of all trades without breaking the bank. For around $360, you're getting a lot of screen real estate and a feature set that, on paper, covers the basics for a home office or a secondary gaming rig.

This monitor is really for someone who wants the immersive feel of an ultrawide without the premium price tag of a high-end gaming or professional creative display. The 21:9 aspect ratio is perfect for splitting windows side-by-side, and the gentle curve helps keep everything in view without excessive head turning. It's not the flashiest panel out there, but it's a solid workhorse.

What makes it interesting is the combination of specs you get for the money. A 160Hz refresh rate on a VA panel at this price is notable, and the inclusion of Thunderbolt connectivity pushes it into the 100th percentile for connectivity in our database. That means it's got more and better ports than almost any other monitor we track. It's a clear signal that LG is aiming this at users who might have a laptop and want a single-cable docking solution.

Performance-wise, the numbers tell a straightforward story. The 160Hz refresh rate lands in the 67th percentile, which means it's faster than most monitors but not quite in the elite gaming tier. For everyday use and even some competitive gaming, it's plenty smooth. The 5ms gray-to-gray response time is decent, though you might notice some smearing in fast-paced scenes compared to a top-tier IPS or TN panel. LG also quotes a 1ms Motion Blur Reduction (MRB) figure, which is a backlight strobing feature to reduce perceived motion blur. It's a nice bonus, but it usually comes with a brightness trade-off.

In real-world terms, the 3000:1 contrast ratio of the VA panel is the star here. Blacks look deep and rich, which is great for movies and games with dark scenes. The downside is the viewing angles; colors can shift if you're not sitting dead center, which is typical for VA tech. The 300-nit brightness is just okay. It's fine for a room with controlled lighting, but it might struggle against direct sunlight or in a very bright office.

At its current street price of around $360, the LG 34BP65C-B represents serious value. You're getting an ultrawide form factor, a high refresh rate, and premium connectivity that you'd typically find on monitors costing $100-$200 more. The price-to-performance ratio is its strongest argument.

When you look across vendors, a 34-inch 1440p ultrawide often starts at $400 and goes up from there, especially for models with height adjustment and Thunderbolt. LG is undercutting that market significantly here. You're sacrificing peak brightness and some color accuracy, but you're gaining where it counts for a multi-purpose setup.

The competitive landscape is crowded. The Samsung Odyssey G9 series offers much higher refresh rates and more aggressive curves, but they're also twice the price or more. The MSI and ASUS competitors listed are in different leagues—they're either 4K, OLED, or both, commanding premium prices for professional or hardcore gaming use. They're not direct competitors to this LG's value proposition.

A more direct comparison would be something like the Dell S3422DWG or a Gigabyte M34WQ. The Dell is a similar VA panel, often around the same price, but usually lacks Thunderbolt. The Gigabyte is an IPS panel with better viewing angles and response times, but it often costs more and might have less contrast. The trade-off is clear: with this LG, you're prioritizing contrast, connectivity, and price over the absolute best motion clarity or color consistency.

Skip this monitor if color accuracy is your top priority. Scoring 76th percentile for color and covering only 99% sRGB means it's fine for everyday tasks, but it's not calibrated for professional photo editing, video grading, or graphic design. You'd want a monitor with wider gamut coverage (like Adobe RGB or DCI-P3) and factory calibration.

Also, skip it if you're a serious competitive gaster. While 160Hz is great, the VA panel's slower pixel response can be a disadvantage in twitch-reflex games. Look for a fast IPS panel instead. Finally, if you need a monitor to battle a very bright room, the 300-nit brightness will feel lacking. In that case, look for something in the 400-500 nit range.

If you're a remote worker, a student, or a casual gamer who wants an immersive, large screen without spending a fortune, this LG is an easy recommendation. The Thunderbolt port alone makes it a fantastic one-cable dock for a laptop, and the curve and size make multitasking a breeze. It's a no-brainer for that use case.

However, if your primary focus is competitive esports where every millisecond counts, you'll want a faster IPS panel. Similarly, if you're a photo or video editor needing perfect color accuracy, the 99% sRGB coverage and VA viewing angles won't cut it. For everyone else in the middle, this monitor hits a very compelling sweet spot.