The LG MyView Smart Monitor 32SR85U ($599.99) serves double duty as a capable 32-inch 4K display and a home entertainment center running LG's webOS. It employs a handheld remote that lets you easily switch between roles and navigate its many smart monitor functions. You can find better 4K monitors out there; our current favorite is the Editors' Choice-winning Dell UltraSharp 27 4K USB-C Hub Monitor (U2723QE), but if you could use the extra size and smart features, the 32SR85U might be the way to go.
Design: It's Not Just a Monitor, It's a Home Entertainment Center
The all-white LG 32SR85U looks sleek and compact, with a 31.5-inch anti-glare screen framed by (mostly) minuscule bezels. The in-plane switching (IPS) panel has 4K UHD (3,840-by-2,160-pixel) resolution at a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. The screen has a pixel density of 140 pixels per inch (ppi), making it suitable for photo or video editing.
As is typical of IPS panels, the 32SR85U supports vertical and horizontal viewing angles of up to 178 degrees, meaning that you can look at the screen at an extreme side angle or from above without notable degradation in picture quality.
The panel's 60Hz refresh rate and lack of adaptive sync features make the 32SR85U sub-optimal for high-impact competitive gaming, and its 4K resolution is not conducive to high frame rates if you don't have a top-of-the-line GPU. However, the large screen and rich graphics can make casual gaming a fun and immersive experience.
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A vertical shaft connects the chassis to the rectangular base, which is fairly compact but feels sturdy. In back are holes spaced 100mm apart to fit a VESA bracket (not included) for arm or wall mounting.
Otherwise, the 32SR85U is equipped with modest ergonomic features. The stand supports height and tilt adjustment, though both are minimal (4.2 inches for height, 5 degrees forward to 15 degrees back for tilt).
The ports, arranged vertically in back near the center, include one upstream and two downstream USB-C ports; the upstream connector supports DisplayPort Over USB Alternate Mode and up to 90 watts of power delivery. The monitor lacks a dedicated DisplayPort connector, as well as any USB-A ports (though it does include a USB-C to USB-A adapter). You'll also find two HDMI 2.0 ports, and a jack for the included power adapter.
A small webcam, magnetically affixed to the top of the 32SR85U, can be detached when you're not using it. Its FHD (1080p) resolution is what we are increasingly seeing in midrange laptops.
Volume from the 32SR85U's dual 5-watt speakers is good, but the audio sounds tinny, with weak bass. You could always connect a powered Bluetooth speaker or speakers instead.
The 32SR85U comes with a remote control that lets you adjust the smart monitor's functions. Alternatively, the LG ThinQ app for iOS or Android can act as a virtual control panel, also enabling voice command and mirroring your mobile device's screen on the monitor.
As a smart monitor, the 32SR85U has its own CPU and operating system and can operate independently of a computer; you can connect it to a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. It employs webOS 23, a Linux-based operating system that LG has adapted for use in smart TVs. (The 32SR85U isn't an actual TV, as it lacks a tuner and can't connect to a cable box.) With it, you can run a wide range of included apps, including popular third-party streaming services such as Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu. (You do have to subscribe to these services in order to access them, of course.) You can also stream a lot of LG-provided content (more than 300 shows), such as selected news programming, TV shows, and movies, although LG's content is catch-as-catch-can.
With AirPlay 2, the 32SR85U supports screen mirroring and casting from iOS and macOS devices. In testing, navigating the smart monitor functions often proved sluggish, with poor responsiveness and long load times.
As for the warranty, LG covers the 32SR85U for just a single year. Most monitor manufacturers offer at least three years of coverage.
Testing the LG 32SR85U: Good Contrast, Color Accuracy, and Coverage
I tested the LG 32SR85U's brightness, contrast ratio, and color coverage using our standard test gear: a Klein K-10A colorimeter, a Murideo SixG signal generator, and Portrait Displays' Calman Ultimate for Business calibration software.
LG rates the 32SR85U's peak luminance at 400 nits (candelas per meter squared), and in our testing, its best score was just short of that, at 384 nits. It supports HDR10, and in HDR testing it showed a peak brightness of 412 nits. I measured its contrast ratio at 1,321:1, easily exceeding its 1,000:1 rating.
The 32SR85U's 10-bit color depth goes hand-in-hand with good color coverage, which was borne out in our testing. According to LG, the panel covers 95% of DCI-P3, and it effectively matched this in our testing (see the chromaticity chart above). It also covered the full sRGB space with room to spare, and 87.4% of Adobe RGB.
In our experiential testing, we viewed our usual test clips, as well as other videos and parts of movies we streamed in Smart TV mode. Video looked bright, with rich color, strong contrast, and good retention of detail in both bright and dark areas. The 32SR85U also handled photos from our test suite well; they looked bright, with realistic-looking colors.
Verdict: A Versatile Monitor/Smart Entertainment Mashup
As a hybrid device, the LG MyView Smart Monitor 32SR85U can serve both as a 4K monitor with a high-quality 32-inch screen and an entertainment display running within LG's webOS 23 ecosystem. In the former role, it works as a panel for photo editing or movie watching, as well as light-duty gaming. Although it has a USB-C hub, it lacks the profusion of ports found in some 4K panels such as the Dell U2723QE—which has a similarly configured upstream USB-C port but adds dual DisplayPort connectors plus four USB-A ports and an Ethernet jack—and its ergonomic features are limited. (One 4K monitor with superb ergonomics is the BenQ PD2706UA, thanks to its unique ergo-arm hinged stand.)
On the smart-monitor side of the equation, the 32SR85U can access popular apps and stream content via webOS 23. It is not a true TV, and it's a lot smaller than most smart TVs, anyway. Although not ideal in either of these roles, it leads its best life as a single panel for someone who is strapped for space and doesn't want multiple displays, but wants to work, stream movies and other content, and maybe get in some light-duty gaming as well.
The LG 32SR85U doubles as a 4K monitor and a smart streaming device. Although not perfect in either role, it's a good option for space-strapped buyers who want to minimize their number of screens.
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