LG’s 27-inch 1440p UltraGear OLED monitor (mannequin 27GX790A) is as near gaming nirvana as fps-hungry gamers can get — for now, anyway. It has a 480Hz refresh fee, permitting it to really show as much as 480 fps for insanely fast-paced shooters, together with a low 0.03ms response time. And it helps DisplayPort 2.1, which affords larger bandwidth than typical DisplayPort 1.4 ports, so it would not want to make use of Show Stream Compression (DSC) like most different gaming shows. Along with NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Professional know-how, each of which can assist to cut back display tearing, the UltraGear 27 has just about all the pieces you’d need in a high-end gaming show.
However given its excessive $1,000 retail worth (although it is presently on sale for $800), the UltraGear 27 clearly is not meant for most individuals. You may completely want a robust GPU and CPU to get near seeing 480 fps in 1440p. And, let’s be sincere, only a few folks will even see the distinction between 480Hz and extra inexpensive 120Hz to 240Hz screens. The LG 27GX790A is for the true sickos.
LG
The 27 UltraGear is an exceptional OLED gaming monitor, and it proves that 480Hz screens aren’t all simply hype.
- Transcendent 480Hz efficiency
- Nonetheless an awesome OLED
- Wonderful coloration replica
- Vivid highlights
- Future-proofed with DisplayPort 2.1
I’ve examined loads of excessive refresh fee screens in my time, from gaming laptops to a large selection of displays. I distinctly keep in mind the joy round 120Hz LCDs at CES 2010, and I undoubtedly observed the distinction between these screens and normal 60Hz shows on the time. Shooters simply seemed smoother and felt extra responsive. Then there was the leap to 240Hz screens, which was noticeable however not practically as spectacular because the arrival of OLED gaming shows with higher black ranges and astounding distinction.
Then got here 360Hz screens, which, to be sincere, did not really feel like an enormous leap over 240Hz. Our eyes can solely see a lot in spite of everything, particularly should you’re transferring past your peak gaming years. So I did not actually count on to be wowed by the UltraGear 27 — I figured it might be one more strong OLED monitor, just like the 27-inch 4K Alienware we not too long ago reviewed.
However after spending loads of time with the UltraGear 27 on my gaming PC, powered by an NVIDIA RTX 5090 and AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D, I observed one thing unusual. Whereas I could not actually see a significant distinction between its 480Hz display and my each day driver, the 240Hz Alienware 32-inch QD-OLED, I might really feel it.
What’s good concerning the LG UltraGear 27?
The primary time the UltraGear 27 actually clicked for me — the purpose the place I lastly understood the hype round 480Hz shows — was throughout a Rocket League match. I observed that the longer I performed, the extra I reached a move state the place I might simply learn the place of the ball, re-orient the digicam and zip off to intercept. It virtually felt like there was a direct connection between what my mind wished to do, and what was really occurring on the display. I forgot concerning the Xbox Elite controller in my hand, and the desk muddle in my workplace. The actual world melted away — I used to be totally inside Rocket League’s absurd soccer area. When the match ended, it took me a couple of minutes to reacclimatize to actuality.
Rocket League’s quick movement and lack of downtime made it the perfect introduction to super-high body charges. I used to be additionally simply capable of attain 480 fps in 1440p with my system’s {hardware}, however you may nonetheless simply be capable to see upwards of 300 fps with older GPUs, particularly should you bump all the way down to 1080p. To be clear, this monitor is just about wasted on older and finances video playing cards.
I observed a equally transcendent move state as I received again into Overwatch 2, a recreation I gave up on years in the past. The UltraGear 27 shined greatest once I was taking part in fast-paced characters like Tracer, Genji and Lucio, since I had a greater sense of area throughout heated matches. But it surely additionally helped with extra correct photographs when sniping with the likes of Hanzo and Widowmaker.
Past the seemingly metaphysical advantages of its 480Hz display, the UltraGear 27 can be merely an awesome OLED monitor. Black ranges are splendidly darkish, and it may possibly additionally obtain barely brighter highlights (as much as 1,300 nits) than most OLEDs in small areas. Graphically wealthy video games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 virtually leap off the display, due to its wonderful 98.5 % DCI-P3 coloration accuracy. The UltraGear 27 would not use a QD-OLED display like Alienware’s newest fashions, however its coloration efficiency would not undergo a lot for it.
When you’ve received a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Sequence X round, the UltraGear 27’s two HDMI 2.1 ports may even allow them to carry out at their greatest. Whereas there aren’t any built-in audio system, the show does embrace a headphone jack with assist for DTS know-how for spatial audio like most gaming displays. It is also a 4-pole connection, so you may plug in headphones with microphones as nicely. For equipment, there are two USB 3.0 Sort A ports, together with an upstream USB connection to your PC.
The UltraGear 27 would not look notably distinctive when it is turned off, but it surely’s laborious to ask for a lot aptitude when it does a lot proper. Its practically borderless bezel makes the display virtually float within the air, and you too can simply modify its peak and angle to fit your wants.
What’s dangerous concerning the UltraGear 27?
The most important draw back with the UltraGear 27 is its $1,000 retail worth. Whereas it is good to see it already falling to $800, it is nonetheless absurdly excessive in comparison with most 27-inch 1440p displays. If you wish to avoid wasting money, LG’s 27-inch 240Hz UltraGear continues to be an excellent choice. However should you’re available in the market for a 480Hz show, you may mainly should dwell with paying a ton. For instance, ASUS’s ROG Swift 27-inch OLED is nonetheless promoting for $1,000.
Do you have to purchase the UltraGear 27?
When you’re an esports participant, or a gamer who calls for the best framerates regardless of the fee, the UltraGear 27 is a superb OLED monitor. However I feel most gamers can be completely advantageous with a less expensive 240Hz display. Even should you can simply afford the UltraGear 27, it is also value contemplating bigger screens just like the Alienware 32-inch 4K QD-OLED. You may nonetheless get decently excessive body charges, however you may additionally get a display that is extra immersive for ogling the graphics in Clair Obscur.
Wrap-up
With Samsung teasing a 500Hz OLED gaming display, there’s clearly nonetheless a requirement for insanely excessive refresh charges. When you completely should have that repair, the UltraGear 27 was made for you. It has the entire advantages of OLED, and with the best title, it would provide help to obtain a brand new stage of gaming transcendence.
