LG 37.5"

A massive, gorgeous ultrawide that's a genuine joy for both work and play. It's a serious investment, but it's the closest thing to a no-compromise single-monitor setup we've seen.

The LG 38WR85QC-W is the monitor you buy when you're done compromising. It's a massive 38-inch ultrawide that genuinely nails the balance between a high-end productivity workhorse and a very capable gaming display. The one thing to know is that the sheer amount of screen real estate here, paired with a killer port selection, makes it feel like a command center, not just a monitor. If you're a developer, a creative, or someone who lives in spreadsheets by day and games by night, this thing is a dream. Just know that 'not cheap' is an understatement, and you'll want to double-check your desk depth before unboxing it.

What surprised us most is how well the 144Hz refresh rate holds up for gaming on a panel this size. It's not going to dethrone a 240Hz OLED for pure esports speed, but the motion clarity is genuinely smooth and the G-Sync and FreeSync support keeps things tear-free. The real star, though, is the color. With 98% DCI-P3 coverage, it's vibrant without looking like a cartoon. It's a top-tier performer for creative work, though some users note you might need to spend a few minutes calibrating it to get perfect accuracy out of the box, where Dell's Ultrasharp line has a slight edge.

This monitor is expensive, full stop. But you're paying for a no-compromise fusion of a top-tier productivity panel and a legit gaming screen. The price spread across vendors is wild, from $1,197 to an absurd $388,725, so do your homework. The best deal we're seeing is on Amazon, and at that lower end, it's a solid value for the sheer versatility. If you can snag it near the $1,200 mark, it's a worthwhile investment that will outlast several PC upgrades.

The Dell UltraSharp U4025QW is the natural enemy here. It offers better out-of-box color accuracy and a slightly sharper 5K2K resolution, making it the better pure productivity pick for color-critical work. But the LG fights back hard with a 144Hz refresh rate that the 60Hz Dell can't touch, making it the obvious choice if you game at all. On the gaming side, the Alienware AW3423DW with its QD-OLED panel will give you perfect blacks and a faster 240Hz, but you sacrifice the extra vertical resolution and screen size that makes the LG such a multitasking beast. The LG is the one monitor to rule them all, while the others force you to choose a side.

If you're a competitive esports player who needs the absolute fastest refresh rate and response time, this isn't it. Go get a 240Hz or 360Hz 1440p panel instead. And if your work is 100% color-critical print or video work where perfect out-of-box accuracy is non-negotiable, you should look at a Dell UltraSharp or a dedicated reference monitor, as you'll likely need to calibrate the LG to get it perfect.

The LG 38WR85QC-W is the ultimate 'one monitor to do it all' for someone whose desk is both their office and their battlestation. It's not the absolute best at any single thing, but it's so good at everything that it's hard to beat. If you want a single, stunning display that lets you crush a workday and then immediately load into a game without switching inputs or compromising on experience, this is it. Buy it, calibrate it, and enjoy the view.