LG Develops ‘Nano IPS’ LCD, Unveils 32UK950 4K Display with DCI-P3, HDR600, TB3
by Anton Shilov on December 22, 2017 5:00 PM ESTLG has announced a new kind of IPS liquid crystal panel that features an improved color reproduction. The Nano IPS technology will be used for LG’s upcoming high-end displays due in 2018 and will enable professional-grade DCI-P3 color space coverage on consumer models. One of the first monitors to use Nano IPS will be the 32UK950. The 32UK950 will be LG’s new flagship consumer 4K LCD, and will feature the VESA HDR 600 badge along with an integrated Thunderbolt 3 dock.
Nano IPS and HDR 600
LG’s Nano IPS technology will be used on numerous high-end monitors by the company, so it makes sense to examine what manufacturer tells us about it before jumping to the actual product. LG says that it applies nanoparticles to the screen’s LED backlighting to absorb excess light wavelengths and improve intensity, purity as well as the accuracy of the on-screen colors. Controlling spectral output of backlighting is a method generally used to improve IPS LCD panels — quantum dots and Panasonic’s light modulating cells do just that.
Adjusting backlighting spectral output not only enables to improve color reproduction, but also contrast ratio, but this is where LG’s press release gets vague. It never discloses or even mentions static contrast ratio, yet to get the HDR 600 badge (which is what the 32UK950 has), you need to get a black level of 0.1 nits max, which VESA believes is impossible without local dimming. However, neither local dimming, nor pixel-by-pixel control of backlight intensity, are mentioned in the press release.
Wrapping things up, we know for sure that LG’s Nano IPS enables the company to offer an improved color gamut by controlling the LED backlighting. The contrast ratio is something that is expected to be improved on new monitors as well, but LG does not say whether its Nano IPS is responsible for that.
The LG 32UK950
Among the first monitors to feature the Nano IPS technology will be the LG 32UK950. Its 32” panel has a 3840×2160 resolution, can reproduce 1.07 billion colors and cover 98% of the DCI-P3 color space. The HDR 600 badge clearly points to HDR10 processing capabilities along with up to 600 nits brightness, but LG does not disclose any information regarding its LUTs (look-up-tables) for HDR. LG’s current-generation consumer flagship display (the 32UD99-W) can cover 95% of the DCI-P3 gamut, which was a bit lower than 97% DCI-P3 coverage by the 31MU97-B, a professional display with a 4096×2160 resolution. The upcoming 32UK950 will surpass both models when it comes to gamut coverage.
Preliminary Specifications of the LG 32UK950 | ||
Panel | 32" IPS with Nano IPS technology | |
Resolution | 3840 × 2160 | |
Refresh Rate | 60 Hz (?) | |
Viewing Angles | 178°/178° horizontal/vertical | |
Color Saturation | 98% DCI-P3 | |
Display Colors | 1.07 billion | |
3D-LUT | supported | |
Inputs | 1 × TB3 DisplayPort 1.2 (TBC) HDMI 2.0a (TBC) |
|
Audio | Integrated speakers |
Another major selling point of the LG 32UK950 will be an integrated Thunderbolt 3 connectivity with daisy chaining support (enabling to connect two 4Kp60 displays using a single TB3 port on the host). Apart from TB3 headers, we expect the LG 32UK950 to feature regular DisplayPort and HDMI inputs, a USB 3.0 hub and other essential features.
LG plans to show the 32UK950 at CES trade show early next month. The company does not reveal when it intends to start sales of the new product, or its MSRP.
Related Reading
- LG’s 34UC89G 21:9 Curved Display with G-Sync, 144 to 166 Hz, Available for $999
- Pre-Orders for LG’s 32UD99 Display Available: 4K, DCI-P3, HDR10, FreeSync for $999
- LG 43UD79-B Launched: 42.5-inch 4K IPS with FreeSync
- BenQ Launches the SW271 Display for Professionals: 27-inch 4K with HDR and DCI-P3
- Panasonic Develops IPS Panel with 1,000,000:1 Contrast Ratio, 1000 Nits Brightness
- Philips Begins Shipments of LCD Monitors with Quantum Dot Technology
- LG Announces 32UD99: 4K IPS Display with 95% DCI-P3, HDR and USB-C
Source: LG
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mamunoz - Friday, December 22, 2017 - link
How exactly do you daisy chain something that only has 1 TB3 port?DanNeely - Friday, December 22, 2017 - link
#2 connects to the LG via hdmi/dp I guess.FullmetalTitan - Friday, December 22, 2017 - link
They only confirmed 1 INPUT TB3 port, and no others (the HDMI 2.0a and DP 1.2 are unconfirmed). I would assume "integrated thunderbolt 3 dock" is referring to an additional OUTPUT TB3 port, but it seems like LG was sparse on details.mr_tawan - Tuesday, December 26, 2017 - link
Daisy chain only for DP link, perhaps?felix_w - Friday, January 19, 2018 - link
This video here ( https://youtu.be/8eWn8NpoEJU?t=69 ) shows 2 TB, 1 DP and 1 HDMI.This video here ( https://youtu.be/I3vt2EoAk-M?t=38) , shows the back with a different I/O range.
They may have more than one model, e.g. TB one for Mac users (in premium price) and DP/HDMI one for PC
jrs77 - Friday, December 22, 2017 - link
Nice to see them trying, but here's still waiting for those 22-24" 4k screens. There's basically only one endconsumer model available from Dell, or a handfull of very high priced professional ones.p1esk - Friday, December 22, 2017 - link
Google "LG UltraFine 4k"boeush - Friday, December 22, 2017 - link
I don't get that... Are you one of those people who sits with their nose pressed against the screen, further ruining your eyesight with every passing hour?What's the point of having all those extra pixels on a 24'' (never mind 22'') screen, when on a screen that size at arm's length you'd need better than 20/20 vision to notice pixellation even at 1440p - never mind 4k?
GoodBytes - Friday, December 22, 2017 - link
Why is your phone even 720p? The screen is so small. Same reasons.The DPI for 1080p on a 24inch display is very low. Having a high DPI, allows you to have more details icons, images and text, making the overall usage of the system more enjoyable, especially if you work with text all day, as that becomes easier to read.
quantcon - Saturday, December 23, 2017 - link
My phone is 1440p, because I often use it 20-30cm from my eyes, and for VR (where 1440p isn't actually enough).1080p on a 21.5inch display is a bit too low, however. I feel a 38inch 4K display would work great.