There isn’t any scarcity of ultrawide gaming displays on the market. From OLED choices that dazzle the senses to super-bright Mini LED affairs that stay vibrant even in shiny rooms, there’s one thing on the market to go well with virtually all wants.
The Lenovo Legion Y34wz-30 (to provide it its full, fairly clunky identify) falls within the latter class. A 34-inch Mini LED ultrawide gaming monitor with a super-speedy 240Hz refresh fee and loads of connectivity choices, it is seeking 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 displays. Till Micro LED turns into extra mainstream, a minimum of. Having mentioned all that, you’ll be able to presently discover it 50% off at Lenovo US after the vacations.
Is the Y34wz-30 value it? Let’s discover out.
Lenovo Legion Y34wz-30
$600 $1200 Save $600
The Legion Y34wz-30 is quick, shiny, and performs properly. The ultrawide facet ratio offers an immersive aspect to gaming whereas enhancing multitasking. Whereas it’s too costly in comparison with the competitors, it is now half off at Lenovo. Should you’re after versatile connectivity choices, it’s onerous to beat.
- Engaging pared-back design
- Massive, immersive curved display
- Robust HDR efficiency
- Sometimes too costly contemplating the competitors
- Design will not go well with all tastes
Design
Curved display with RGB aptitude
Pocket-lint
- Dimensions: 807.2 x 451.3 x 320.1mm
- Weight: 10.5kg
Concerning gaming displays, the Legion Y34wz-30 actually is not probably the most in-your-face providing relating to brash gamer aesthetics, which isn’t any dangerous factor in my ebook. An all-black plastic affair (minus a gray bracing strip on the bottom), it ought to slot in fairly properly with extra smart desk aesthetics. The bottom, the truth is, might be probably the most hanging factor about it and can in all probability divide opinions.
As a fan of structure, I fairly just like the cross-braced, bridge-girder vibe it offers off, however it actually will not enchantment to everybody. Each toes 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, however it’s one thing to keep in mind if house is tight and also you have a tendency to depart loads of 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 operating inside a minute of opening the field. Having struggled with fiddly monitor setups up 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 straightforward to regulate each the peak and tilt, with loads of wiggle room for each, making for a really comfy, ergonomic setup.
Beneath the display, you will 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 refined in well-lit circumstances and provides a fairly nice impact in low gentle. Naturally, you’ll be able to flip it off, and given the hidden under-bezel location of the RGB strip itself, it is fully hidden from view. The built-in menu states that you may obtain Lenovo’s Artery software program for added 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 pleased with its scrolling RGB impact for these intervals once I fancied somewhat additional atmosphere around the again.
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Options, connectivity, and sound
Glorious connectivity and strong audio system
Flip the Legion Y34wz-30, and you will be met with a fairly smart black panel, with a central portion jutting out that houses all the ports. And what a beneficiant choice there may be. 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 neglect the Ethernet port and headphone/audio out jack. Phew.
That is a reasonably spectacular choice by any normal, and it will get even higher once 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 if you happen to repeatedly swap between two units, the usefulness of this characteristic can’t be overstated.
…”What a beneficiant choice there may be. 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 will be discovered beneath the right-hand facet of the display, and it is one of many extra accessible and extra intuitive setups I’ve used. The big energy button is all however not possible to overlook, and clicking within the joystick to carry 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’re going to get the job completed 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 somewhat tinny and harsh when cranked to the max, with little bass to stability it out. You are greater than probably planning to make use of a devoted exterior sound output with no matter gaming monitor you select to grace your desk, however it’s a minimum of 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 mild 1500R curvature, which I would say is the right quantity for a display 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 will need to put on sun shades as soon as it is on. As a self-confessed OLED monitor lover, I even must bow all the way down to the facility of Mini LED relating to brightness. The Y34wz-3 is eye-searing at max brightness, which is definitely a great factor, as you’ll be able to 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, and so they turn into a deliciously deep, wealthy black. And that is regardless of the fairly low stage of native dimming zones (simply 384), which is a determine {that a} truthful few rivals overtake. With out an OLED show in the identical room to check with, you will 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 satisfying gaming expertise, significantly in titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, which don’t have 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 must be mentioned that the extensive 21:9 facet ratio, mixed with the slight curve of the display, additionally makes for a extra immersive gaming expertise, letting me see extra of my on-screen surroundings than conventional 16:9 shows.
As for the refresh fee, 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 isn’t any 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 avenue cred in my eyes – particularly the overclock in Overdrive mode mechanically turns off after half-hour. Supporting AMD Freesync Premium Pro to cut back display tearing is a pleasant characteristic for AMD GPU customers, however I may also verify that the Nvidia RTX 4090 utilized in my testing produced no display tearing points, as you’d anticipate with such a beefy card.
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Verdict
Stable monitor that will get a lot proper
Lenovo
General, the Lenovo Legion Y34wz-30 is a strong monitor that will get a lot proper. From an unassuming, pared-back design to a fantastically shiny, quick display, intuitive controls, first rate sound, and a plethora of connectivity choices, there’s quite a bit to love right here.
“From an unassuming, pared-back design to a fantastically shiny, quick display, intuitive controls, first rate sound, and a plethora of connectivity choices, there’s quite a bit 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 presently on sale at Lenovo for $600 within the US. That is half off. For context, you’ll be able to decide up the Alienware AW3423DWF for $799/£929 (although it is just lately been as little as £740 on supply). It’s broadly considered the most effective gaming displays 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.
Briefly, the Lenovo Legion Y34wz-30 dutifully fills a distinct segment for many who want a 34-inch ultrawide monitor with strong efficiency and – crucially – the plethora of connectivity choices it affords, which units it aside from the competitors. Should you’re frightened of OLED burn-in and want a super-bright gaming monitor with built-in performance for a number of connectivity, then this must be in your consideration listing.
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