The KTC G42P5 is the Chinese brand’s attempt at wooing gaming enthusiasts using an overclocked OLED panel. 42-inch OLEDs have been available for quite some time, but most of them are prohibitively expensive. Let’s check the KTC G42P5 out to see how it compares against the premium flagships when it comes to imaging and gaming performance.
KTC G42P5 Specifications
- Screen Size: 42 Inches
- Resolution:3840 x 2160 UHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: OLED
- Refresh Rate: 138Hz
- Response Time: 0.1ms
- Contrast Ratio: 135000:1
- Brightness: 450 cd/m2 (600 cd/m2 Peak)
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 8 Watts)
- Stand: Height – No
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot– No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (300 x 300)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 DSC x 1, HDMI 2.1 x 2, USB-C PD90W x 1, USB 3.0 x 2, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions With Stand (WxHxD): 36.69” x 24.07″ x 1.62″
- Weight: 33.07 lbs
Design and Features
The KTC G42P5 uses a gamer-centric aesthetic that looks ultra-modern and is reminiscent of what Alienware gaming displays look like. It has a matte white and black chassis, along with RGB lighting on the stand, for added aesthetics. The display has a bezel-free design, but it still has inner borders, even if they aren’t readily visible.
It’s a TV-sized monitor, so you must consider how much desk space you have before even thinking of pulling the trigger. The monitor needs three feet of width, and it uses a full stand with a base and upright, unlike other 42-inch models that must make do with a tiny base like regular TVs. It also weighs a lot, so an extra set of hands for setting it up isn’t a bad idea.
This monitor is the best one yet, unlike the first few KTC models which were flimsy and flawed in some ways. The plastics used are better and sturdier, plus there were no cosmetic defects on any of its parts. The included stand is firm and stable, although the large screen can still slightly wobble if you hit it accidentally.
The KTC G42P5 has an OSD joystick for easy access to its settings and features like its KVM function. It also has a dedicated remote like a regular TV to make things easier for owners. These two will give you options for manipulating the monitor’s capabilities, unlike other displays which only have one or the other.
The stand included with the package may look ergonomic, but it only offers tilt adjustments. However, that’s more than what a similar OLED TV can offer since they usually only come with a slim and basic base. You can use VESA mounts, but it’s going to be a challenge to find one that can handle the size and weight.
However, what’s impressive about the KTC G42P5’s features is its connectivity layout which includes everything you will need. It has DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.1 slots for the latest consoles, plus a 90-watt USB-C with DP alt mode. It also has two usable USB 3.0 ports and a 3.5mm jack for accessories so you can complete your setup with it.
The KTC G42P5 also has a pair of 8-watt speakers, which can get as loud as the ones used for TVs. They sound decent enough for video or media consumption, but the monitor is better served by gaming headsets since they are more immersive. However, we’re happy to get anything better than the usual 2-watt set.
Display and Performance
The KTC G42P5 boasts a 42-inch OLED panel with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 138Hz overclocked refresh rate, and a 0.1ms response time. The panel has a 450 cd/m2 output and a 600 cd/m2 peak, while its contrast is listed at 135000:1. This monitor doesn’t have VESA HDR certification, but we all know OLEDs are the best at it.
42-inch 4K monitors are not the best when it comes to pixel density when viewed at close range, but the higher pixel count is still there. Games and movies will still look better, but it won’t be too sharp to the point of requiring scaling for other tasks like browsing and document processing. You also need a very powerful card to maximize a monitor like this, so you might have to upgrade that aspect as well.
The KTC G42P5 covers 100% sRGB and 99% DCI-P3 for stunning colors in games and movies. However, it’s not accurate out of the box with a deltaE average of 3.51, but that’s mostly because of the saturation. Thankfully, the monitor has an sRGB filter which reduces that dE average to 1.41 without lowering the gamut volume.
Calibrating it with a colorimeter reduced the dE average to a more respectable 1.62, which looks more balanced. However, we’ve seen better results from other OLED models, which had more or less the same level of saturation. It’s not worth getting a colorimeter for this monitor, especially since it has very good filters for each popular color format.
The OLED panel on this monitor only reached 400 cd/m2 at 100%, but it peaked at 701 cd/m2 for HDR. Its contrast is practically infinite, so it’s capable of deep and true blacks, unlike other panel types. HDR effects like light blooms are also better with this monitor compared to mini-LED variants, although it has a disadvantage in longevity if you don’t take extra care of it.
The monitor’s panel uniformity is nearly perfect since OLED monitors do not have backlight units like their IPS competitors. There is no need to worry about backlight leaks since illumination is taken care of by each of the screen’s pixels. However, this can still vary between every unit since there are tolerances in the manufacturing process.
Responsiveness is another strength OLED panels have over competitors since they’re capable of near-instantaneous pixel response time. This is possible since the monitor doesn’t have a backlight, so there is little to no delay when the image transitions. It’s great to use for competitive titles like Warzone 2, although we know the size can be an issue for some.
The KTC G42P5 is compatible with both FreeSync and G-Sync so you don’t have to worry about tearing and stuttering. It’s not certified by both companies, but the most important part is that both VRR solutions are working when they are activated. Its input lag sits at 4ms at 138Hz, so there is no need to worry about delays while gaming.
Thoughts on the KTC G42P5
The KTC G42P5 is an excellent way for the company to burst into the high-end monitor scene thanks to its superb performance. Its design leaves some room for improvement, although we like the connectivity layout. Its build quality has also improved drastically compared to the first few KTC monitors.
However, it still has some room for improvement, especially since it isn’t exactly cheap at a little over a thousand bucks. We also prefer the fully-featured monitor stands, but the one used for this model doesn’t offer anything other than tilt adjustments. It’s a fantastic buy if you want OLED and its benefits for gaming, but there are some limitations that you have to consider.
Pros:
- Reasonable Price
- Great Color Coverage and Contrast
- Attractive Design
- FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible
- 90-Watt USB-C and HDMI 2.1
Cons:
- No Certifications
- Limited Stand
Paolo is a gaming veteran from the golden days of Doom and Warcraft. Since junior high, he has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He has also spent half a decade researching, reviewing, and writing about these products and now has over 1400 articles about the best gaming tech under his belt.
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