LG DualUp Monitor Review: Is the 16:18 Ratio Worth It?

The LG DualUp 28MQ780 is one of the most polarizing monitors released in recent years. Its 16:18 aspect ratio — essentially two 16:9 monitors stacked vertically — challenges everything we assume about display design. After using it as a primary work monitor for three months, I have strong opinions about who this monitor is for and who should skip it entirely.

The Basics

The DualUp features a 27.6-inch Nano IPS panel with 2560x2880 resolution. That's the same pixel count as two 2560x1440 monitors, but arranged vertically instead of side by side. It supports DCI-P3 98% color coverage, HDR10, and comes with an Ergo stand that clamps to your desk — no traditional base included.

Connectivity includes two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, one USB-C with 90W power delivery, and a USB hub with three downstream ports. The USB-C connection is the star: one cable handles video, data, and laptop charging simultaneously.

What It Does Well

The vertical real estate is transformative for certain workflows. Coding is the most obvious winner — you can see 80+ lines of code without scrolling, which dramatically reduces the cognitive load of jumping between functions. Documents, spreadsheets, and email chains also benefit from the extra vertical space.

The built-in KVM switch lets you connect two computers and swap between them with a button press. This is genuinely useful for people who switch between a work laptop and personal machine. The LG DualUp 28MQ780 retails around $500, which is roughly what you'd pay for two decent 1440p monitors plus a monitor arm.

Ergonomically, having your content stacked vertically instead of spread horizontally means less neck rotation. You look slightly up and slightly down instead of constantly turning left and right. After a week, the neck relief compared to dual side-by-side monitors was noticeable.

Where It Falls Short

Video content looks awkward. Watching a 16:9 video means massive black bars on the top and bottom, wasting nearly half the screen. If you consume media at your desk, this is a constant annoyance.

Gaming is essentially a non-starter. The 60Hz refresh rate and unusual aspect ratio mean most games either don't support the resolution natively or look stretched. This is a productivity-only display.

The Ergo stand requires a desk clamp, which doesn't work with every desk. If your desk has a thick lip or a center beam, you'll need to buy a separate VESA arm. The monitor uses a standard 100x100 VESA mount, so a VIVO single monitor arm works perfectly as a replacement.

Color accuracy out of the box is decent but not reference-grade. Photographers and video editors should calibrate it before trusting color-critical work. For general productivity, web development, and document editing, the factory calibration is perfectly fine.

Who Should Buy It

The DualUp is ideal for developers, writers, data analysts, and anyone who works primarily in text-heavy or vertically-scrolling applications. If you've ever wished your monitor was taller, this is the answer.

It's also excellent for people in small workspaces. One DualUp takes up less desk footprint than two monitors, and the Ergo stand frees up even more surface area.

Who Should Skip It

Gamers, video editors who need to preview widescreen content, and anyone who frequently watches video at their desk should look elsewhere. A traditional LG 27GP850-B ultrawide is a better all-rounder for mixed use.

The Verdict

The LG DualUp is a genuinely innovative product that solves a real problem for a specific audience. It's not trying to be the best monitor for everyone — it's trying to be the best monitor for vertical workflows, and it succeeds. The 16:18 ratio felt strange for about two days, then became indispensable. Going back to a widescreen monitor now feels like looking through a mail slot.

Rating: 8.5/10 — A bold design that delivers real productivity gains for the right user.

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