Expert's Rating
Pros
- Excellent gaming performance
- Incredible image quality
- Ergonomic adjustment options
- Special gaming configurations
Cons
- High power consumption
Our Verdict
The LG Ultragear 27GN950 has a street price of around $799. It’s not a bargain per se, but it’s currently the cheapest 4K monitor with 144 hertz. If you can afford the expense, you get a great 4K gaming monitor that’s suitable for all types of games. Assuming you have a powerful graphics card, the 27-inch display will master all gaming challenges with ease.
Best Prices Today: LG Ultragear 27GN950
The LG Ultragear 27GN950 marries stunning 4K resolutions with lightning-fast 144Hz refresh rates to reach the pinnacle of gaming monitors. It has a high enough pixel density to hide any noticeable image dots and masters very fast games without any errors or input lag. Ergonomic adjustment options and convenient operation round off the convincing overall impression. The only issue we could really find was that the power consumption is high—which is to be expected with a high-performance monitor anyways.
Note: This review is part of our ongoing roundup of the best gaming monitors. Go there to learn more about competing products, what to look for in a gaming monitor, and buying recommendations.
LG Ultragear 27GN950: The specs
Since the monitor is primarily aimed at gamers who favor demanding graphics, the 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 color range and factory color calibration are important technical features. Also of note: The 27-inch display is HDR 600 certified, but does not reach the maximum brightness.
Display size | 27-inch |
Native resolution | 3840×2160 |
Panel type | Nano IPS / 16:9 |
Refresh rate | 144Hz |
Adaptive sync | FreeSync |
Ports | 1 DisplayPort, 2 HDMI, 2 USB, 1 analog audio jack |
Stand adjustment | Height, tilt, swivel, pivot |
VESA mount | Yes, 100x100mm |
Speakers | No |
HDR | Yes, HDR 600 |
Price | $799 |
LG Ultragear 27GN950: Image quality
The LG Ultragear 27GN950 features are immediately noticeable upon use with impressive picture quality. It shows high color fidelity, reflected in a neutral and natural color rendering, supported by high brightness and rich contrast.
This very good image quality also comes into its own when gaming. Graphics-oriented games on the LG Ultragear 27GN950 are incredibly detailed and fine; even the smallest structures are crystal clear and recognizable.
In addition, due to the high refresh rate, the display is also suitable for fast e-sports and action games, provided you have a powerful enough graphics card. The monitor is very responsive and shows no noticeable input lag. Errors such as tearing and motion blur are nonexistent, and the gaming monitor works flawlessly even at the faster frame rates. Overall, the LG Ultragear 27GN950 is a great gaming monitor suitable for all gaming genres.
PC Welt
LG Ultragear 27GN950: Ports
In addition to two HDMI 2.0 interfaces, the 27-inch monitor has a DisplayPort input that you can use for fast frame rates of up to 144Hz or 160Hz overclocked. Thankfully, the corresponding cables are also included in the box. There are also two USB 3.0 ports and a headphone output on the back of the monitor.
PC Welt
LG Ultragear 27GN950: Features and menu
We particularly like that the menu interfaces are easily accessible right next to the monitor mount and are not hidden in a recess on the underside of the case, as with many other monitors. The display’s ergonomics allow for a little over 4-inches in height adjustments, and you can also turn, tilt, and pivot the screen, as well.
The clear on-screen menu can be controlled quickly and easily using a five-way joystick. In addition to the usual settings such as brightness, contrast, and language, there are extensive configuration options for gaming such as crosshairs, FPS, blue-light reduction, flicker-free, and game presets.
PC Welt
LG Ultragear 27GN950: Power consumption
When operating at maximum brightness, the LG Ultragear 27GN950 draws just over 50 watts—not an insignificant amount. Accordingly, there is a “B” on the energy label. In standby mode, consumption drops to a low 0.6 watts.
Final thoughts
The LG Ultragear 27GN950 delivers incredible performance for gaming, and assuming your GPU is up to the task, you will be rewarded with extremely fine details even in the most graphically demanding games. The monitor also comes with a good number of ports for different connections and a plethora of on-screen options for personal customization. 144Hz 4K monitors are still uncommon in today’s market, but the LG Ultragear 27GN950 is easily one of the best and it comes in cheaper than most of its competitors. If you’re looking to add that last piece to your premium gaming setup, you won’t find many better than this monitor.
This review originally appeared on PC-Welt, PCWorld’s German sister site.