The LG 27GR95UM-B is bringing mini-LED technology back into a market that’s starting to get saturated with OLED displays. It’s more affordable than its OLED cousins, but surprisingly, not that much, considering that the OLEDs have been discounted for some time now. Let’s take a closer look to see if saving $100 to $200 on the LG 27GR95UM-B is worth it versus investing in an OLED variant instead.
LG 27GR95UM-B Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution:3840 x 2160 UHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 160Hz
- Response Time: 0.5ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
- Brightness: 450 cd/m2
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 7 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot– Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.1 x 2, USB 3.2 x 3, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions With Stand (WxHxD): 23.99″ x 18.30″ x 9.99″
- Weight: 17.64lbs
Design and Features
The LG 27GR95UM-B is still an UltraGear monitor, so it retains the simple yet distinct aesthetic of its series classmates. The monitor has a matte black finish, so it doesn’t look too extravagant despite the branding’s reputation in the high-end segment. The display is bezel-free on three sides, but it still has inner borders like most monitors.
It is not the biggest monitor in LG’s lot, but it will still need a bit more space than some in the same size bracket. It needs 10 inches of depth due to its oversized stand, but it also helps make it more stable. The device is slightly heavier than its OLED counterparts at 17.64 pounds, but that’s due to the mini-LED unit and its cooling parts.
It’s cheaper than some UltraGear models, but it’s still very much a premium monitor compared to other offerings. The plastic panels used are thick and sturdy, and there were no cosmetic defects on any of its parts. The included stand is firm and stable, but the screen can still slightly wobble if you nudge it accidentally.
The LG 27GR95UM-B has an OSD joystick for easy access to its settings and peripherals. It’s located under the LG logo on the bottom bezel, so it’s very easy to access from your sitting position. Other premium models include remotes, but those are typically unnecessary since they increase the price further.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. Its easy to get a good angle for hours of gaming, and you can expect that it will retain that angle all throughout. You can use VESA mounts, but its not entirely necessary unless your desk space is limited or there are other big peripherals that need to be accommodated.
Its connectivity layout includes modern options like DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.1 slots for the latest PCs and consoles. It also has two USB 3.2 ports and a 3.5mm jack, but it doesn’t have USB-C like other newer upper-tier monitors. The latter makes the monitor more valuable since it allows you to connect work laptops like MacBooks with single cable functionality.
The LG 27GR95UM-B has a pair of MAXX Audio speakers built into its chassis. They have 7 watts of power each, so they can pump out fuller sound that’s decent enough for video consumption and some gaming. The headset will still be better, but it’s always nice to have a usable set on the side.
Display and Performance
The LG 27GR95UM-B sports a 27-inch ATW Polarized IPS panel with 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 160Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response time. Its backlight has a 450 cd/m2 output and a 1000 cd/m2 peak, while its contrast is listed at 1000:1 like most IPS models. It is DisplayHDR 1000 certified, thanks to its searing mini-LED backlight with 1560 zones.
4K is extra crisp when viewed on a 27-inch model, so it’s great for movies, games, and editing. It might be difficult to read or write because it’s extra sharp, but you can use scaling to alleviate that. Your biggest challenge here is your GPU’s limits since not many can produce enough frames to match the monitor’s limit.
The LG 27GR95UM-B covers more than 100% sRGB and 99% DCI-P3 for stunning color in games and movies. The extra saturation induces errors, so the deltaE average is slightly high at 3.17. Most users won’t notice the difference, but some colors might appear unnaturally saturated if you know what you’re looking for.
Calibrating the monitor reduced the dE average to 0.47, making it comparable with many prosumer variants in the market. The downside is that you will need a colorimeter to achieve comparable results since no two panels have the same output. We can recommend the purchase if you are into color-critical work, but it’s not worth it otherwise.
The LG 27GR95UM-B’s backlight reached 475 cd/m2 at 100%, but it peaked at 1065 cd/m2 when its HDR mode was active. It can pump out a lot of light, but its contrast increase isn’t exponential like it is with OLED panels. It’s better than most monitors in HDR performance, but it cannot match an OLED panel that has self-dimming pixels.
Panel uniformity for this model is probably its weakest link since it has some clouding issues in HDR mode. The local dimming feature works great in creating details and defining contrasting objects, but haloing also shows up when the mini-LEDs split up. There is also some backlight bleeding, but that varies between every panel.
The LG 27GR95UM-B is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync for tearing and stutter-free gaming. Dual compatibility is essential for demanding monitors, so you are not tied to one GPU brand. Its input lag sits at 4ms at 160Hz, so it’s responsive enough for fast-paced play.
Thoughts on the LG 27GR95UM-B
The LG 27GR95UM-B offers fantastic color richness and gaming performance out of the box. It’s built well, so it should be more pleasing to look at and hold than budget models. It’s also very bright, and it’s HDR 1000-certified with plenty of mini-LED zones for better eye candy.
However, mini-LEDs simply cannot catch up to OLED displays when it comes to true HDR performance. They have the advantage in brightness output, but that doesn’t do a whole lot against locally dimming pixels. It’s a great buy if it is more affordable, but OLED’s competitive pricing makes it less compelling.
Pros:
- HDR 1000 with Mini-LEDs
- Rich Colors
- Fast and Responsive
Cons:
- Poor Uniformity in HDR
- Dismal Default Contrast
- No USB-C
About the Author: Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. 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 now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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