By Every year, the distinctions between televisions and monitors appear to get smaller. A television is currently used as a monitor by some people, while other people use monitors that resemble televisions. The latter is demonstrated by the LG MyView 32SR85U. This 32-inch 4K display controls smart home appliances and offers access to streaming apps via LG’s webOS. Even a built-in webcam is included.
Specs and features
The basic specs of the LG MyView 32SR85U are standard for a 32-inch 4K monitor that costs approximately $500. It features an IPS panel with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 and a refresh rate of 60 Hz.
- 32-inch widescreen 16:9 display
- Resolution at birth: 3840 x 2160
- Type of panel: IPS
- 60 Hz is the refresh rate.
- No adaptive sync
- HDR: HDR10
- ports: two HDMI 2.0, two USB-C downstream, one USB-C upstream with DisplayPort, and 90-watt USB-C power delivery
- Wireless: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and AirPlay
- Mounting VESA: 100×100 mm
- Certainly, two 5-watt speakers
- MSRP: $599.99, normal retail price: $449.99
LG 32SR85U-W MyView Smart Monitor 32-inch 4K UHD (3840×2160), IPS Display, webOS 23, USB Type-C 90W PD, Built-in FHD Webcam & Speaker, HDR 10,
Even though none of the specs are related to the display panel, a few jump out. With several USB-C ports that can deliver up to 90W of USB Power Delivery, the monitor can be used to charge a laptop or tablet that is attached. Additionally, LG’s webOS, a smart television operating system that allows access to streaming apps, is included with the monitor. Additionally, the display supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and AirPlay due to its webOS.
Design
For a monitor intended for home office and entertainment purposes, the LG MyView 32SR85U’s design is straightforward but efficient. LG aims for an ultra-white, pure appearance that is both visually appealing and should blend in with any other colored workplace accessories you may have.
The display is stabilized by an L-shaped monitor stand. You can still place notebooks or other small items on the stand itself because of its flat base and tiny size, which reduces the amount of room the monitor takes up. Although the stand has ergonomic tilt and height adjustments, I was a little let down to see that it cannot rotate into portrait mode or swivel.
Two Phillips head screws, which require a screwdriver to install, are used in place of a thumb screw to secure the base to the stand neck. This is not typical for a monitor in this price range and adds a little complexity to the setup process. There is a 100x100mm VESA mount available for use with external monitor arms and stands.
features
Since the LG MyView 32SR85U does not have a TV tuner and cannot be connected to cable or an antenna television via coaxial, it is not technically a television. However, it does come with LG’s webOS smart television operating system, which allows it to function as a television in a variety of scenarios. All of the standard streaming apps, including YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix, are available on WebOS. Additionally, it supports cloud gaming services such as Amazon Luna and Nvidia GeForce Now.
As a result, the LG MyView 32SR85U needs some setup before it can be used. The monitor will require you to establish a Wi-Fi connection and finish a few setup tasks when it first turns on. Similar to setting up the Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED, setup takes roughly five minutes. However, LG’s setup is less aesthetically pleasing and the setup menu feels a little slow when compared to Samsung (which uses Samsung’s Tizen OS).
This slowness also affects the overall webOS experience. The primary webOS interface, which shows the apps and video sources that are available, seemed responsive to me. But when you switch to it from an app or the Windows desktop, it takes a few seconds to load. The on-screen settings menu on the monitor was likewise sluggish. Although, once again, it was responsive once the menu was visible, it frequently took longer than a full second to appear.
To utilize the MyView 32SR85U’s capabilities, which mostly concentrate on webOS and connectivity rather than image quality adjustments, LG provides a remote control. Although there is a joystick on the back of the display that allows you to access the monitor’s settings, using it is not very useful when the remote is available.
LG does a marginally better job of organizing the on-screen menus than Samsung, but I still thought the MyView 32SR85U’s menus were slow. With nested menus and easily readable text labels, LG’s menus are set up more like those on a monitor. In contrast, some settings on Samsung’s Odyssey monitors are located in a bewildering “Game Bar” that pops up at the bottom of the screen.
Comparing that to Samsung’s options is difficult. Although the LG was less responsive when browsing the OS, I believe the LG MyView 32SR85U with LG webOS is simpler to use than a Samsung Odyssey with Tizen OS. Customers have to choose wisely.
SDR image quality
In terms of display size, quality, and Smart TV capabilities, the LG MyView 32SR85U and the Samsung Odyssey G8 are comparable, but that is where the similarities stop. The MyView 32SR85U from LG costs around half as much as the Samsung model. That is good for your pocketbook, but it is bad for the SDR image quality of the monitor.
With a maximum sustained SDR brightness of 311 nits, the LG MyView 32SR85U has a modest brightness start. Although it is not as bright as many competing monitors, it is still bright enough for most scenarios. If the monitor is used in a room with bright inside illumination or large, sunny windows, it may appear dark. However, with a maximum measured contrast ratio of 950:1, the LG MyView 32SR85U truly struggles with contrast.
Because IPS panels have higher black levels in dark settings, they are infamous for having limited contrast. However, even by today’s IPS display standards, the contrast of the LG MyView 32SR85U is not very good. In addition to creating a distracting problem known as “IPS shine,” the low contrast ratio lessens the image’s sense of depth and immersion. This occurs when excessive backlight light leaks through the screen during dimly lit scenarios. The LG MyView 32SR85U has a noticeable and annoying issue.
Performance
Motion clarity is a problem with the LG MyView Smart Monitor 32SR85U. It does not support Adaptive Sync for fluid frame pacing in 3D games and maintains a 60Hz refresh rate. For a 60Hz panel, motion clarity is good, but when the camera pans rapidly in a 3D game, motion blur is noticeable and details become hard to discern.
Conclusion
Among the many helpful extras offered by LG’s MyView Smart Monitor 32SR85U are wireless connectivity, a webcam, a remote control, and Smart TV capabilities. However, even for a mid-range 32-inch 4K panel, the poor contrast ratio of the monitor limits these additions.
The quality and features of the display also conflict. Although it can be used as a Smart TV and features LG webOS, it lacks the visual quality necessary to make games, movies, and shows appear fantastic. On the other side, webOS could seem like an unwanted distraction if you use it for productivity.
