There is no scarcity of ultrawide gaming screens on the market. From OLED choices that dazzle the senses to super-bright Mini LED affairs that stay vibrant even in brilliant rooms, there’s one thing on the market to swimsuit virtually all wants.
The Lenovo Legion Y34wz-30 (to offer it its full, quite clunky identify) falls within the latter class. A 34-inch Mini LED ultrawide gaming monitor with a super-speedy 240Hz refresh charge and loads of connectivity choices, it is trying to woo you over with its comparatively smart aesthetics and efficiency. At usually $1,200/£900, although, it is not low cost and falls fairly near premium OLED monitor territory, which is, for a lot of, the holy grail for gaming screens. Till Micro LED turns into extra mainstream, at the least. Having stated all that, you may at the moment discover it 50% off at Lenovo US after the vacations.
Is the Y34wz-30 price it? Let’s discover out.
Lenovo Legion Y34wz-30
$600 $1200 Save $600
The Legion Y34wz-30 is quick, brilliant, and performs nicely. The ultrawide side ratio offers an immersive component to gaming whereas bettering multitasking. Whereas it’s too costly in comparison with the competitors, it is now half off at Lenovo. For those who’re after versatile connectivity choices, it’s laborious to beat.
- Enticing pared-back design
- Giant, immersive curved display screen
- Robust HDR efficiency
- Usually too costly contemplating the competitors
- Design will not swimsuit all tastes
Design
Curved display screen with RGB aptitude
Pocket-lint
- Dimensions: 807.2 x 451.3 x 320.1mm
- Weight: 10.5kg
Relating to gaming screens, the Legion Y34wz-30 definitely is not probably the most in-your-face providing in relation to brash gamer aesthetics, which is not any unhealthy factor in my ebook. An all-black plastic affair (minus a gray bracing strip on the bottom), it ought to slot in quite properly with extra smart desk aesthetics. The bottom, in truth, might be probably the most placing factor about it and can most likely divide opinions.
As a fan of structure, I quite just like the cross-braced, bridge-girder vibe it provides off, nevertheless it definitely will not enchantment to everybody. Each ft of the stand are additionally roughly at a 90-degree angle whereas protruding a good quantity. I discovered myself with loads of room on my average-sized desk, thoughts, nevertheless it’s one thing to remember if house is tight and also you have a tendency to go away numerous issues in your desktop.
Weighing a superbly manageable 10.5kg, it is an absolute breeze to arrange. I clipped on the arm and screwed within the stand (all toolless), carried it over to the desk with out fuss, and was up and working inside a minute of opening the field. Having struggled with fiddly monitor setups prior to now, each my sanity and again had been very grateful for the Y34wz-30’s slick, manageable setup course of. It is also very simple to regulate each the peak and tilt, with loads of wiggle room for each, making for a really comfy, ergonomic setup.
Beneath the display screen, you may discover one other clue to its gaming DNA within the type of a centralised RGB light strip, which diligently beams vibrant lights down onto your desk. It’s extremely delicate in well-lit situations and provides a quite nice impact in low mild. Naturally, you may flip it off, and given the hidden under-bezel location of the RGB strip itself, it is utterly hidden from view. The built-in menu states which you could obtain Lenovo’s Artery software program for extra controls of the RGB performance, however having put in it, I could not see something associated to it. Both approach, I left it turned off for probably the most half and was completely proud of its scrolling RGB impact for these intervals after I fancied a little bit further atmosphere around the again.
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Options, connectivity, and sound
Glorious connectivity and stable audio system
Flip the Legion Y34wz-30, and you will be met with a quite smart black panel, with a central portion jutting out that houses all the ports. And what a beneficiant choice there’s. You will discover two HDMI 2.1 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, a USB-C port DP Alt Mode for video and knowledge switch, a second USB-C port for knowledge, and 4 USB-A ports thrown in for good measure. Oh, and let’s not overlook the Ethernet port and headphone/audio out jack. Phew.
That is a reasonably spectacular choice by any customary, and it will get even higher whenever you throw within the built-in KVM swap, which helps you to management a number of linked PCs with the identical keyboard and mouse. I solely had one PC readily available throughout my testing, however in case you recurrently swap between two gadgets, the usefulness of this characteristic can’t be overstated.
…”What a beneficiant choice there’s. You will discover two HDMI 2.1 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, a USB-C port DP Alt Mode for video and knowledge switch, a second USB-C port for knowledge, and 4 USB-A ports”.
The bodily controls for turning the monitor on and off and navigating the menu could be discovered beneath the right-hand aspect of the display screen, and it is one of many extra accessible and extra intuitive setups I’ve used. The big energy button is all however inconceivable to overlook, and clicking within the joystick to convey up the menu, navigate by way of the choices, and choose your settings is one thing that feels pure, with no irritating guesswork required.
As for the sound, the Legion Y34wz-30 homes two 5W audio system. Naturally, they will not maintain a candle to devoted headphones, soundbars, or desktop audio system, however they will get the job carried out so far as built-in monitor audio system go. Reaching surprisingly spectacular volumes, you will not be left wanting for extra, particularly as issues can get a little bit tinny and harsh when cranked to the max, with little bass to steadiness it out. You are greater than seemingly planning to make use of a devoted exterior sound output with no matter gaming monitor you select to grace your desk, nevertheless it’s at the least reassuring to know that this one can maintain its personal with out help, ought to the necessity come up.
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Display and efficiency
Tremendous-bright Mini LED panel and spectacular distinction in HDR mode
The Legion Y34wz-3’s 34-inch 3,440 x 1,440 VA panel has a really light 1500R curvature, which I would say is the right quantity for a display screen this measurement. It barely envelops your view, however to not such an extent that it is distracting or desk-dominating. The panel itself makes use of a Mini LED backlight, although this solely kicks in if HDR is turned on.
When HDR is off, the expertise is not all that spectacular, however you may need to put on sun shades as soon as it is on. As a self-confessed OLED monitor lover, I even should bow right down to the facility of Mini LED in relation to brightness. The Y34wz-3 is eye-searing at max brightness, which is definitely factor, as you may comfortably relaxation within the information that you’re going to by no means be left wishing there was only a tad extra within the tank.
Black ranges are additionally far, much better in HDR mode. When turned off, blacks look extra like a darkish gray. Turned on, although, they usually change into a deliciously deep, wealthy black. And that is regardless of the quite low degree of native dimming zones (simply 384), which is a determine {that a} honest few opponents overtake. With out an OLED show in the identical room to match with, you may be very content material with the distinction and black ranges on supply right here.
General, the black ranges and HDR efficiency make for a really pleasant gaming expertise, notably in titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, which haven’t any scarcity of dim, gloomy caves and dungeons to discover. With HDR mode on, the Legion Y34wz-30 is ready to let me spy on hidden doorways and enemies in darker environments, which my darkish elf character discovered helpful on greater than as soon as event. It needs to be stated that the vast 21:9 side ratio, mixed with the slight curve of the display screen, additionally makes for a extra immersive gaming expertise, letting me see extra of my on-screen atmosphere than conventional 16:9 shows.
As for the refresh charge, its 165Hz efficiency is greater than sufficient for my middle-aged gaming reflexes. Its buttery-smooth efficiency is especially notable in fast-paced video games like Rocket League, and there is even an Overdrive mode which cranks issues as much as 180Hz. Now, there is no approach my eyes can inform the distinction between 165 and 180Hz, so that is extra of a approach to seize a bit of additional spec road cred in my eyes – particularly the overclock in Overdrive mode routinely turns off after half-hour. Supporting AMD Freesync Premium Pro to cut back display screen tearing is a pleasant characteristic for AMD GPU customers, however I may affirm that the Nvidia RTX 4090 utilized in my testing produced no display screen tearing points, as you’d anticipate with such a beefy card.
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Verdict
Strong monitor that will get lots proper
Lenovo
General, the Lenovo Legion Y34wz-30 is a stable monitor that will get lots proper. From an unassuming, pared-back design to a fantastically brilliant, quick display screen, intuitive controls, respectable sound, and a plethora of connectivity choices, there’s so much to love right here.
“From an unassuming, pared-back design to a fantastically brilliant, quick display screen, intuitive controls, respectable sound, and a plethora of connectivity choices, there’s so much to love right here.”
It’s drastically let down by its steep $1,200/£900 price ticket – particularly because it solely has 384 dimming zones to play with. Nonetheless, it is at the moment on sale at Lenovo for $600 within the US. That is half off. For context, you may decide up the Alienware AW3423DWF for $799/£929 (although it is just lately been as little as £740 on supply). It’s broadly thought to be probably the greatest gaming screens ever made. It is an OLED affair, which, whereas dimmer, offers an extremely punchy viewing expertise because of its true, untouchable black ranges and distinction.
In brief, the Lenovo Legion Y34wz-30 dutifully fills a distinct segment for individuals who need a 34-inch ultrawide monitor with stable efficiency and – crucially – the plethora of connectivity choices it presents, which units it other than the competitors. For those who’re frightened of OLED burn-in and wish a super-bright gaming monitor with built-in performance for a number of connectivity, then this ought to be in your consideration checklist.
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