We've seen plenty of reasonably priced Ultra High Definition (UHD) monitors pass through PC Labs recently, but the Lenovo LI2821 Wide ($549.99 list) is the first one that targets workers that require built-in Web conferencing. This 28-inch Twisted Nematic (TN) monitor has a maximum resolution of 3,840 by 2,160. It is equipped with multiple video inputs and USB ports, plus a 2-megapixel webcam, noise-cancelling microphones, and a pair of JBL speakers, all of which combine to deliver a seamless Web conferencing solution. It delivers a very sharp UHD image and solid grayscale performance, although color accuracy is a bit off and the stand lacks all adjustability except for tilt.

Design and Features
The LI2821's panel has a non-reflective, antiglare coating and is housed in a nondescript matte-black cabinet that weighs 11 pounds and is 2 inches thick. The display rests atop a V-shaped stand that lets you tilt the panel 5 degrees forward and 22 degrees backward, but you don't get height, swivel, and pivot adjustments with this model.

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There are six function buttons and a Power switch below the bottom bezel. The function buttons are used to raise and lower speaker volume, answer a video conference call, mute the microphone and speakers, and navigate the settings menus. The 2-megapixel, 1080p webcam embedded in the upper bezel is flanked by two noise-canceling microphones. Audio is supplied by a pair of JBL speakers that are quite loud, but lack deep bass response. The camera has a privacy shutter that you can close when not in use.

At the rear of the cabinet, you'll find all of the LI2821's ports, which include two HDMI ports (one of which supports MHL technology, which lets you connect to and charge compatible mobile devices), a DisplayPort input, a VGA input, and three USB 2.0 ports (one upstream, two downstream). The placement of all the ports in back of the cabinet, facing away from the user, is awkward. This is particularly true of the USB ports, as it can make it difficult to plug and unplug thumb drives and other frequently used USB peripherals.

Picture settings include four presets (Web, Text, Video, and Split Screen), Brightness, Contrast, and multiple Picture-in-Picture (PIP) and Picture-by-Picture (PBP) settings with various windows sizes and positions. The Color menu offers five color temperature settings (Neutral, Reddish, Bluish, sRGB, and Custom), and there are several adjustments for use with an analog signal, including Clock, Phase, Position, and Auto (auto-adjust).

The LI2821 comes with a one-year parts, labor, and backlight warranty. The monitor ships with HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, audio, and USB cables.

Performance
In several Skype sessions, the LI2821's webcam and microphone array provided detailed video and crisp audio, according to my call recipients. It was nice having the option to mute the microphones with the touch of a button and shutter the camera without having to end the call.

Otherwise, performance was pretty much in line with every other TN-based UHD monitor we've reviewed, including the AOC U2868PQU, the Philips Brilliance 4K Ultra HD Display 288P6LJEB, and the Asus PB287Q. The LI2821's panel did a good job of displaying light and dark shades of gray from the DisplayMate 64-Step Grayscale test, and it delivered very sharp, well-defined UHD imagery. However, its viewing angles are less than ideal; there is noticeable color shifting at around 60 degrees from center when viewed from a side angle, and the image darkens at around 55 degrees when viewed from the bottom.

Color accuracy out of the box is also typical for this class of monitor. As shown on the chromaticity chart below, red and blue colors (represented by the colored dots), while not ideal, are closely aligned with their ideal CIE coordinates (represented by the boxes), while green is completely outside of its associated box. As is the case with the above-mentioned competing models, the LI2821's skewed greens do not result in tinting, and colors are sharp and evenly saturated.