The LG UltraGear OLED 27GX79A is one of the most desirable gaming monitors this year because of how fast it is. It goes up to 480Hz, plus it has all the benefits of OLED technology, which edges out the rest. It’s not going to be cheap, so let’s take a closer look to know if it’s a worthy investment.
LG UltraGear OLED 27GX79A Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: OLED
- Refresh Rate: 480Hz
- Response Time: 0.03ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1500000:1
- Brightness: 275 cd/m2 (1200 cd/m2 Peak)
- Built-in Speakers: None
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 2.1 x 1, HDMI 2.1 x 2, USB 3.0 x 3, 3.5mm Jack DTS:X x 1
- Dimensions with Stand (WxHxD): 23.79” x 18.5” x 9.8”
- Weight: 20.5 lbs
Design and Features
The LG UltraGear OLED 27GX79A sports a newer design that resembles the 4K 240Hz variants more than the original 27GR95QE. The monitor has a matte black textured finish that looks clean and elegant compared to the RGB-laced models. The screen is bezel-free, but it still has inner borders if you look close enough.
Its dimensions have changed because of the redesigned stand, but not by a whole lot. The device needs 9.8 inches of depth, which is over two inches more than what the original had, but the base is flat, so it won’t matter as much. The monitor also got heavier at 20.5 pounds, but that also means that it is more stable than its predecessor.
LG is an expert when it comes to premium products, so you can expect refined monitors from them. The plastics used are sturdy enough to fight off flex and cracking, and there were no cosmetic defects on any of its edges. The stand is firm and stable, so there is very little wobbling if you nudge the stand.
The LG UltraGear OLED 27GX79A has an OSD joystick for easy access to its settings and peripherals. It is easily within reach, so you can get to it even when you are in the middle of an intense round. Other monitors have to make do with buttons, but joysticks must be the standard in our opinion.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments for your convenience. It is easy to get a good and comfortable view of the monitor, so you can avoid strain while gaming for hours. The monitor is also compatible with VESA mounts, but those only become necessary in select instances.
The LG UltraGear OLED 27GX79A’s connectivity layout includes DisplayPort 2.1, two HDMI 2.1 slots, and a trio of USB 3.0 ports for accessories. There is also a 3.5mm headphone jack with DTS:X Headphone capabilities, but we think they should have prioritized adding a USB-C port instead to make it functional.
This model, like most OLEDs, does not have speakers, but that’s okay in our eyes. A beautiful panel like this deserves an immersive headset, which ideally could use its DTS:X jack for better quality. It is always nice to have a nice secondary set, but we think LG should prioritize adding USB-C to its future models instead.
Display and Performance
The LG UltraGear OLED 27GX79A boasts a 27-inch OLED panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 480Hz refresh rate, and a 0.03ms response time. The panel has a 275 cd/m2 output and a 1200 cd/m2 peak, while its contrast is listed at 1500000:1. This model is HDR 400 True Black certified, indicating that it’s capable of deep and realistic blacks and substantially better HDR performance.
1440p is a very viable option now since E-Sports has been trying to move to it as the universal standard. It is great for both productivity and games, especially since more and more GPUs are capable of pushing out very high framerates on it. Its pixel density isn’t as sharp as a 4K screen, so it’s also great for typical use like reading or typing.
The LG UltraGear OLED 27GX79A covered 135% sRGB and 97% of DCI-P3 for stunning color in games and movies. Its default accuracy had a deltaE average of 2.49, which is decent for a wide gamut panel. Most users won’t need to do anything to it since it already looks good out of the box.
Calibrating it reduced the dE average to 1.19, making it more balanced than the default setting. The downside is that you will need a colorimeter to get similar results since every panel has slight differences. It’s only worth it for editing work, but gamers won’t have to spend the extra.
The OLED panel’s brightness reached 249 cd/m2 in SDR, but it peaked at 1175 cd/m2 in HDR. Its contrast is incalculable, indicating that its capable of deep blacks. This makes it great for HDR games and movies, unlike backlit variants, which have to deal with a lot of variances.
Panel uniformity for the test sample was great since there was no backlight to cause bleeding or leaks. The screen looks even all throughout, although some minor haloing can happen in select instances. Note that this can vary with every monitor made, plus there is also the probability of burn-in, which can affect uniformity as well.
Its lack of a separate backlight panel also helps eliminate delays between transitions. Each OLED pixel dims or transitions according to the picture, unlike a backlit screen, which waits for the WLEDs before the pixels can change. Most motion sequences look crisp and clean, making the monitor great for E-Sports titles like Valorant or CSGO 2.
The LG UltraGear OLED 27GX79A is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync for buttery-smooth gaming. Dual compatibility is a must-have, especially for expensive monitors, so you don’t have to buy another one if you swap GPU brands and want VRR turned on. Its input lag sits under 2ms at 480Hz, making this one of the fastest gaming monitors available.
Thoughts on the LG UltraGear OLED 27GX79A
The LG UltraGear OLED 27GX79A is a fantastic example based on its image quality and speed. It is blur-free and buttery smooth, plus all the goodies OLED brings to the table are well-presented. It is built better than its predecessors, giving you a more solid-feeling investment that should last until the next upgrade cycle.
The only limitations we saw are its I/O port and the low SDR brightness, which is normal for many OLED panels. We wish LG included USB-C like other manufacturers do to make their product more flexible and practical. But beyond that, it is an excellent buy if you are after speed and eye-popping images in one package.
Pros:
- Fantastic Contrast and HDR
- Lightning Fast
- Wide Gamut Coverage
- Excellent Build Quality
Cons:
- Low SDR Brightness
- No USB-C
- Expensive
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Overall
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