LG UltraFine 5K Monitor Plagued by Rookie Design Flaw

btarunr · Feb 1, 2017

There's "big" trouble for LG, which scored exclusivity on Apple Store for its UltraFine 5K monitor. A critical flaw in the monitor's design makes it intolerant to electromagnetic interference from devices as inconspicuous as home Wi-Fi routers. Apparently, the designers of the display forgot to give proper EM (electromagnetic) shielding for its electronics. When placed within 2 meters of a Wi-Fi router, the display begins to flicker, and when brought closer, the display even blanks out.

As an immediate workaround, LG advised customers to keep the display at least 2 meters away from a Wi-Fi router. Something like this could be tricky in a postmodern workspace such as a studio, where multiple MacPro workstations wired to such 5K displays are connected to the Internet over commercial Wi-Fi, with powerful >9 dBi antennae designed to spread signal to the far reaches of the office. LG maintains in a statement that this issue does not affect its other monitors.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

dj-electric · Feb 1, 2017

Simply put DOA for a huge chunk of users.
gg, LG

CAPSLOCKSTUCK · Feb 1, 2017

Ubersonic · Feb 1, 2017

Well at least you will know you're getting a text when your screen starts flashing XD

Folterknecht · Feb 1, 2017

It's a feature.

"Check your wifi signal strength with our new monitors!"

PHaS3 · Feb 1, 2017

The Apple customer reviews are worth a read too:

http://www.apple.com/shop/reviews/HKN62LL/A/lg-ultrafine-5k-display

Such a fail.

ShurikN · Feb 1, 2017

As an immediate workaround, LG advised customers to keep the display at least 2 meters away from a Wi-Fi router

Gee LG, how many engineers were needed to come with this ingenious workaround.

koaschten · Feb 1, 2017

Reminds me of the iPhone Antennagate...

"You are holding it wrong"

Ferrum Master · Feb 1, 2017

Tin foil hat would help here...

But... seriously... such an error? It's bonkers... especially considering the price...

Caring1 · Feb 1, 2017

Sounds like they will have to recall all the monitors already distributed and retro fit EMS to them

DeathtoGnomes · Feb 1, 2017

Ferrum Master said:
Tin foil hat would help here...

But... seriously... such an error? It's bonkers... especially considering the price...

I was thinking you get a free roll of aluminum foil with every monitor purchase. :banghead:

Chaitanya · Feb 1, 2017

Ferrum Master said:
Tin foil hat would help here...

But... seriously... such an error? It's bonkers... especially considering the price...

Its a LG monitor, they always sell crap for expensive monitors and cut corners in design. Would much rather get an Asus ProArt or Dell Ultrasharp monitor using that same LG panel over LG badged crap.

ZoneDymo · Feb 1, 2017

so when can I get my 5k monitor Faraday Cage cover?

EarthDog · Feb 1, 2017

Oops...

How about a recall...?

bug · Feb 1, 2017

PHaS3 said:
The Apple customer reviews are worth a read too:

http://www.apple.com/shop/reviews/HKN62LL/A/lg-ultrafine-5k-display

Such a fail.

Mwahaha, blaming the monitor for MacBook resets, cursor and other graphics glitches. Yup, those are genuine Mac users.

ironwolf · Feb 1, 2017

ShurikN said:
Gee LG, how many engineers were needed to come with this ingenious workaround.

Two. One to suggest the workaround and the second to mock the first for actually making such a derp derp workaround. :laugh:

Nergal · Feb 1, 2017

LG UltraFail 5K Monitor

newtekie1 · Feb 1, 2017

For a $1,000 monitor, it is kind of sad that they couldn't spend the extra $1 per monitor on proper EM shielding.

bug said:
Mwahaha, blaming the monitor for MacBook resets, cursor and other graphics glitches. Yup, those are genuine Mac users.

The way that Macs interface with displays, I can actually believe the display is causing the computer to lock up. They talk to each other a lot more than the old VGA days where you just put out s video signal and hoped the monitor would display it.

Steevo · Feb 1, 2017

bug said:
Mwahaha, blaming the monitor for MacBook resets, cursor and other graphics glitches. Yup, those are genuine Mac users.

I fully appreciate how they all stroke their egos with shit anyone can buy. "My 13 inch macbook PRO with touch bar" why not tell everyone what homeopathic BS you shoved up your arse after your coffee cleanse and slimming wrap session.

Macfags. Just tie their hands so they can't talk.

arterius2 · Feb 1, 2017

"You're using it wrong"

dwade · Feb 1, 2017

Most PC monitors are merely junks. They never put their best stuff in them. All the goodies are only found in TVs. Good thing HDMI 2.1 is coming so good riddance overpriced pc monitors.

Brusfantomet · Feb 1, 2017

newtekie1 said:
For a $1,000 monitor, it is kind of sad that they couldn't spend the extra $1 per monitor on proper EM shielding.

The way that Macs interface with displays, I can actually believe the display is causing the computer to lock up. They talk to each other a lot more than the old VGA days where you just put out s video signal and hoped the monitor would display it.

One could argue that having this communication fail resulting in a complete computer failure is a design fault of the Mac. It could also be that since the electronics are having trouble to output the picture its not unthinkable that it also might do the communication to the mac out of spec causing the problem.

bug · Feb 1, 2017

newtekie1 said:
For a $1,000 monitor, it is kind of sad that they couldn't spend the extra $1 per monitor on proper EM shielding.

The way that Macs interface with displays, I can actually believe the display is causing the computer to lock up. They talk to each other a lot more than the old VGA days where you just put out s video signal and hoped the monitor would display it.

I'd be really surprised if the MacBook talks anything but DisplayPort. Probably HDMI, too, but not at 5k res.

Easy Rhino · Feb 1, 2017

How in the world is something like that missed during manufacturing? Or did the engineers miss it? WTF...

Prima.Vera · Feb 1, 2017

Easy Rhino said:
How in the world is something like that missed during manufacturing? Or did the engineers miss it? WTF...

Mediocre testing and quality check. Seems to be a recent trend to cut corners for Korean manufacturers.

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LG UltraFine 5K Monitor Plagued by Rookie Design Flaw

btarunr

Editor & Senior Moderator

dj-electric

CAPSLOCKSTUCK

Spaced Out Lunar Tick

Ubersonic

Folterknecht

PHaS3

ShurikN

koaschten

Ferrum Master

Caring1

DeathtoGnomes

Chaitanya

ZoneDymo

EarthDog

bug

ironwolf

Nergal

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Steevo

arterius2

dwade

Brusfantomet

bug

Easy Rhino

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Prima.Vera

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