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LG refreshes the UltraFine 5K monitor for 2019

The 'new' LG UltraFine 5K monitor. (Source: LG)
The 'new' LG UltraFine 5K monitor. (Source: LG)
The UltraFine 5K monitor by LG is typically marketed as an ideal companion screen for Macs or MacBooks. However, it mysteriously vanished from Apple's website not long ago. Now, it is back as a new model for this year.

The LG UltraFine 5K monitor is often sold through Apple.com, as it is a product often described as optimized for use with PCs or notebooks from this company. However, it has not been available for purchase through this store for nearly 3 months now. This absence has just been explained by the release of a new version for 2019.

This LG UltraFine 5K (or 5120 x 2880) monitor has the model number 27MD5KL, as opposed to 27MD5KA in the preceding generation. As before, it is recommended as a secondary Mac or MacBook screen due to its USB type-C inputs, 1 of which supports Thunderbolt 3. The UltraFine 5K 2019 also has a 27-inch IPS panel, as did the previous version. 

The new UltraFine monitor continues to more or less conform to its predecessor in terms of its DCI-P3 99% rating; its response time (14 m (in terms of gray-to-gray)); its refresh rate (60Hz)its brightness (500 nits), and its viewing angles (178 degrees). In fact, its only significant upgrade appears to be the 94-watt power delivery (PD) with which its Thunderbolt port is now equipped. Therefore, it can also charge a connected MacBook at this rate.

Nevertheless, this may seem like a rather lacklustre mid-year refresh for the LG UltraFine 5K. It is sold at the distinctly Apple-esque price of US$1299.95 on this OEM's website. All in all, it begs speculation that Apple would prefer you consider its new, 6K monitor for a planned Mac Pro purchase instead. Then again, this device will be about $3699 more in its cheapest variant. At least the LG comes with a stand thrown in for free.

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Deirdre O Donnell, 2019-07-31 (Update: 2019-07-31)