Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Attractive and practical design
- Top-tier distinction and good shade accuracy
- Class-leading movement readability
- Supports each AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync
Cons
- Limited USB connectivity and no USB-C
- Modest shade gamut in comparison with QD-OLED
- 1440p decision isn’t as sharp as new 27-inch 4K OLEDs
Our Verdict
LG’s UltraGear 27GX790A-B isn’t as sharp as new 27-inch 4K OLEDs, however its movement readability will go away players gobsmacked.
Price When Reviewed
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Best Pricing Today
Price When Reviewed
$999.99
Best Prices Today: LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B
$999.99
$999.99
$999.99
$999.99
$999.99
The LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B is a 27-inch OLED monitor however, in contrast to the brand new batch of 4K OLED displays, it sticks to 1440p and as a substitute cranks the refresh fee as much as an unimaginable 480Hz. Though not the primary 480Hz OLED monitor, it delivers class-leading movement readability that may make even essentially the most wired aggressive players completely happy.
Read on to study extra, after which see our roundup of the best gaming monitors for comparability.
LG Ultragear 27GX790A-B specs and options
The standout function of the UltraGear 27GX790A-B is, certainly, its OLED panel. It options an LG WOLED panel with a local decision of 2560×1440 and a refresh fee of as much as 480Hz—the very best obtainable from the newest technology of OLED shows. The monitor additionally helps adaptive sync with official compatibility for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync.
- Display dimension: 26.5-inch 16:9 widescreen
- Native decision: 2560×1440
- Panel sort: WOLED
- Refresh fee: 480Hz
- Adaptive sync: Yes, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Nvidia G-Sync
- HDR: Yes, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 Certified
- Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 2.1, 1x USB-B 3.0 upstream, 2x USB-A 3.0 downstream, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack
- VESA mount: 100x100mm
- Audio: None
- OLED Panel guarantee: 2-year guarantee on “internal and functional parts only” together with panel
- Price: $999.99
The monitor’s different options are a bit much less spectacular. It lacks USB-C for video enter or energy supply, has no built-in audio, and doesn’t embody an RGB LED lighting system. Clearly, the main focus right here is on delivering the very best doable refresh fee above all else. In phrases of pricing, the LG Ultragear 27GX790A-B’s $999.99 MSRP mirrors the worth of options like the Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDP.
LG Ultragear 27GX790A-B design
The LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B follows the design language widespread to the current UltraGear monitor lineup. It includes a darkish grey charcoal end that’s distinctive but understated, contributing to a glossy, stealthy aesthetic. At the entrance, this interprets to skinny bezels on all sides, together with a minimal backside chin. At the again, the slim OLED panel is hooked up to a compact hexagonal backplate housing the monitor’s menu controls and connectivity.
Some players would possibly discover the UltraGear 27GX790A-B a bit too refined for his or her setup. While it does have RGB-LED lighting, the customization is proscribed, and the brightness of the lighting might be increased. Personally, although, I take pleasure in gaming displays with a stealthy look, and the 27GX790A-B suits the invoice.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
The monitor comes with an ergonomic stand that adjusts for peak, tilt, and swivel, and it additionally pivots 90 levels for portrait orientation. The stand base is giant and retains the monitor very steady in your desk, however because it’s extraordinarily skinny, a lot of the house it occupies stays usable for normal desk duties. A cutout behind the stand supplies some cable administration.
Overall, the stand’s vary of adjustment and design is just like what opponents provide, although some manufacturers, like Asus, still use tripod-style stands that take up extra desk house. The UltraGear 27GX790A-B additionally has a 100x100mm VESA mount to be used with third-party monitor stands and arms.
LG Ultragear 27GX790A-B connectivity
LG ships the UltraGear 27GX790A-B with two HDMI 2.1 ports and a single DisplayPort 2.1 port, offering a complete of three video inputs. That’s a strong quantity for a gaming monitor, although I’d have favored to see a USB-C enter for video, because it’s an amazing possibility—particularly for connecting a laptop computer alongside a desktop. All obtainable video inputs help the monitor’s full decision and refresh fee.
The monitor’s USB connectivity is a bit underwhelming. As talked about, it lacks a USB-C port and as a substitute consists of solely two USB-A downstream ports, each powered by a single USB-B upstream port. That’s tremendous in the event you simply need to join a wired keyboard and mouse for simpler cable administration, however it limits the monitor’s enchantment for prosumers who want a number of peripheral connections.
Many opponents, together with the brand new technology of 27-inch 4K 240Hz QD-OLED displays (such because the MSI MPG 272URX), provide USB-C with energy supply, which provides them an edge in connectivity. However, in equity to LG, OLED opponents which have a 27-inch 1440p 480Hz panel, such as the Asus ROG Swift PG27QDP, additionally lack USB-C.
LG Ultragear 27GX790A-B options
Owners can entry the LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B’s options by way of a joystick-style management positioned on the decrease bezel. It features very like opponents, providing quick, intuitive navigation by way of well-labeled menus.
LG consists of the same old vary of picture high quality settings, corresponding to a number of picture presets, shade temperature changes, and gamma mode choices, together with gaming-specific options like on-screen crosshairs and dark-level equalizers that improve particulars in shadowy areas. It’s all customary for a monitor of this caliber, however LG executes it effectively with out errors.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Alternatively, you should utilize the LG Switch utility to entry most monitor options inside Windows. I’m not an enormous fan of the app’s design, which for some motive seems to be like a smartphone, however it does the job.
The UltraGear 27GX790A-B doesn’t have audio system, which is widespread even for high-end gaming displays. However, it’s value noting that LG’s UltraGear 32GS95UE-B, the 32-inch OLED 240Hz mannequin, includes a PixelSound system—and it’s top-of-the-line monitor sound techniques obtainable proper now. It would’ve been good to see it come to LG’s 27-inch OLED line-up, too.
In our checks, the LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B demonstrated movement readability that was practically as crisp as a nonetheless picture.
LG Ultragear 27GX790A-B SDR picture high quality
The LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B is a brand new monitor, however it’s not the primary 27-inch 1440p 480Hz OLED with an LG W-OLED panel to cross my desk. Because of that, its efficiency doesn’t convey any surprises. It delivers wonderful distinction and a large shade gamut, although it’s not going to match the picture high quality of the newer 4K 240Hz fashions which are simply now hitting the market.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
First up is SDR brightness. As the graph exhibits, OLED displays are remarkably constant right here, with most offering a most sustained SDR brightness round 250 nits. The Ultragear 27GX790A-B doesn’t buck that development. The degree of brightness is ok for many gaming dens, although it may appear a bit dim if the monitor is utilized in a room with shiny, sunlit home windows.
The UltraGear 27GX790A-B has a matte end which tends to diffuse glare. I desire a matte end over gloss, however your mileage might fluctuate. The monitor additionally has peak brightness modes that seem to reduce brightness fluctuations when transferring rapidly between shiny and darkish content material, an issue that was widespread on older OLED shows (however is much less so with the present crop).
Matthew Smith / Foundry
The UltraGear 27GX790A-B has distinctive distinction due to its skill to dim every particular person pixel to a minimal brightness of zero nits. That supplies a deeper, extra immersive picture that’s particularly well-suited for video games and films. Other OLED shows present the identical benefit, although, so the UltraGear 27GX790A-B doesn’t achieve an edge right here.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
When it comes to paint gamut, the UltraGear 27GX790A-B delivers nice outcomes but falls behind some opponents. LG’s WOLED panel has a narrower shade gamut than Samsung’s QD-OLED, which suggests a bigger portion of expanded shade gamut requirements, like DCI-P3 and AdobeRGB, stay out of attain.
This isn’t essentially an issue for players, because the UltraGear 27GX790A-B nonetheless seems to be vivid and punchy. However, it may be a priority for demanding inventive professionals who care about viewing as a lot of a shade gamut as doable.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Color accuracy, however, is a perk. The UltraGear 27GX790A-B is extra correct than most OLED displays I’ve examined, and its accuracy is sweet sufficient to appear successfully excellent in most conditions.
The monitor’s shade accuracy is strengthened by its shade temperature and gamma outcomes. I measured a default shade temperature of 6400Ok, which is just a tad hotter than the goal of 6500Ok. Gamma, in the meantime, was spot-on with a measured gamma curve of two.2, which suggests content material seems to be about as shiny because it’s meant to. Together, these outcomes translate into a pleasing, correct picture.
It’s not all excellent news, although. I seen a distracting “dirty screen effect” (DSE) whereas utilizing the UltraGear 27GX790A-B. This is attributable to variations within the brightness of pixels throughout the OLED panel. All OLEDs undergo the issue to a point, however the UltraGear 27GX790A-B had it worse than most, with a noticeable sample or horizontal stripes seen throughout the show. LG despatched me a alternative at my request, and it additionally displayed the problem.
DSE is just not actually an issue for players, which is the 27GX790A-B’s goal demographic, as a result of it was solely seen when the monitor shows a easy grey picture with little variation in shade. However, the problem was very noticeable when utilizing apps like Slack, Gmail, and Word in darkish mode.
Sharpness additionally detracts from the UltraGear 27GX790A-B’s use for day-to-day productiveness. The monitor’s 2560×1440 decision seems to be okay briefly, however some pixelation is seen round small fonts and interface buttons. That was nice in 2024 however now, with the arrival of the primary 27-inch 4K OLED displays, consumers have a sharper selection. However, that is the trade-off you will need to make if you’d like a 480Hz refresh fee, as 4K OLED displays high out at 240Hz.
Overall, the LG Ultragear 27GX790A-B’s SDR picture high quality is nice, but a step behind essentially the most alluring opponents.
LG Ultragear 27GX790A-B HDR picture high quality
The LG Ultragear 27GX790A-B has the identical VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 Certification boasted by most of its opponents, and that interprets over to its real-world efficiency.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
As the graph exhibits, the Ultragear 27GX790A-B’s HDR brightness is consistent with most opponents. The MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED, with its new 4K QD-OLED panel, did leap forward in peak brightness when displaying a small, shiny object. But, in fact, I’m undecided that benefit is apparent in real-world use. That’s very true with HDR video games, which are usually lackluster of their HDR implementation when in comparison with HDR movies and exhibits.
After testing the monitor, I loaded my typical array of HDR take a look at clips. This consists of the “Gargantuan” scene from Interstellar and the “Into the Storm” scene from Mad Max: Fury Road. Both seemed nice on the 27GX790A-B. Bright highlights, just like the arc of lightning by way of a mud storm, delivered affect and punch. I additionally noticed good element in brighter objects, just like the accretion disk surrounding Interstellar’s black gap.
LG Ultragear 27GX790A-B movement efficiency
Okay, now we come to it—the actual motive to purchase the LG Ultragear 27GX790A-B.
The Ultragear 27GX790A-B’s WOLED panel can attain a refresh fee of as much as 480Hz. That’s the very best refresh fee at the moment obtainable from any client OLED panel, and it’s near the very best LCD shows, although some opponents exceed 500Hz.
The next refresh fee often interprets to smoother movement with much less movement blur, and the Ultragear 27GX790A-B lives as much as expectations. When I reviewed the Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDP, the primary 27-inch 1440p 480Hz OLED monitor (which additionally has an LG WOLED panel), I referred to as its movement readability “almost perfect.” The identical is true for LG’s various.
Test clips from League of Legends confirmed an image that was practically as crisp as a nonetheless picture. Character silhouettes, spell results, textual content, and hitpoint bars weren’t simply legible, however straightforward to learn. A fast digicam pan in a first-person sport, like Valorant, revealed near-perfect element in distant objects. The benefit over a 240Hz OLED, which already delivers nice movement readability, is apparent. Keep in thoughts, nonetheless, {that a} sport should render at a body fee of as much as 480 frames per second to make full use of the 480Hz refresh fee. That means you’ll want beefy {hardware} to benefit from the 27GX790A-B’s movement readability.
While the Ultragear 27GX790A-B seems to be nice in movement, it has one small drawback when in comparison with Asus’ 480Hz various. Asus helps black body insertion, which it refers to as Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB), at 120Hz and 240Hz. Thanks to a trick of human notion, inserting a black body between every regular body can scale back movement blur in trade for decrease perceived brightness. Asus’ ELMB offers the ROG Swift PG27AQDP a movement readability benefit when enjoying video games beneath 240Hz.
The Ultragear 27GX790A-B supplies official help for each AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync. Because they’re related, most displays that help one will help each. Still, it’s good to see LG present official help for each, because it offers homeowners peace of thoughts that the monitor will perform correctly with AMD and Nvidia {hardware}.
Is the LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B value it?
The LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B is a superb selection for aggressive players who need excellent movement readability together with wonderful distinction and shade efficiency. While its sharpness and shade gamut don’t match the brand new 4K 240Hz QD-OLED displays which are starting to hit retailer cabinets, a 1440p 480Hz OLED panel holds a transparent benefit in movement readability.
Compared to its closest competitor, the Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDP, the 27GX790A-B could be very related in efficiency. The LG has the benefit of a extra compact stand, however in contrast to the Asus mannequin, it lacks a threaded mount on the high of the stand. LG doesn’t provide a black body insertion function, both, so its movement readability gained’t match the Asus at decrease refresh charges.
Ultimately, the selection between the 2 comes down to non-public desire—or which monitor occurs to be on sale while you’re prepared to purchase.