The LG 45GX950-A surpasses the old 45-inch models with its 45-inch sharper 5 K UHD WOLED panel. This format was previously used for productivity models, but the demand for sharper ultrawides, together with the current trend of OLED displays, leads to this enticing variant. It’s pricey, but let’s take a closer look at its performance.
LG 45GX950-A Specifications
- Screen Size: 45 Inches
- Resolution: 3440 x 1440 UWQHD
- Aspect Ratio: 21:9
- Panel Technology: OLED
- Refresh Rate: 165Hz
- Response Time: 0.03ms
- Contrast Ratio: 150000:1
- Brightness: 275 cd/m2 (1300 cd/m2 Peak)
- Built-in Speakers: None
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot– No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 200)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 2.1 x 1, HDMI 2.1 x 2, USB-C PD90W x 1, USB 3.0 x 2, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions: 39.06” x 21.50” x 13.47”
- Weight: 30.86 lbs
Design and Features
The LG 45GX950-A features a milder aesthetic than previous generations in the brand’s UltraGear lineup. The monitor has a matte black finish with a discrete RGB LED lighting feature at the back, so it looks more mature or elegant. The screen has a bezel-free design, so you get a seamless look with the massive panel up front.
This monitor is massive and will hit you when you first unbox and lift it from the packaging. It will need almost 40 inches of width and 13.5 inches of depth, so make sure that you have a larger desk to accommodate it. The whole device weighs 30.86 pounds when assembled, so extra care will be necessary when positioning it into place.
The LG 45GX950-A’s build quality is great and as expected from a top-tier product. The plastics used are thick and sturdy, plus there were no cosmetic defects on any of its parts. It also has an equally sizeable stand with a metal base, although it still has a bit of wobble due to the cabinet’s size and weight.
The LG 45GX950-A has an OSD joystick at the back near the center of the bottom bezel for easy access to its settings and peripherals. It’s easy to reach even if you can’t see it, since you don’t have to lean in and reach the extreme sides of the cabinet. The other dedicated button is for switching the refresh rate and resolutions available to the monitor.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. Pivoting wasn’t included, but that’s okay since ultrawides were never meant to be used as portrait displays anyway. You can use VESA mounts, but it is only necessary if you want to save space.
The LG 45GX950-A’s connectivity layout includes DisplayPort 2.1, two HDMI 2.1 ports, and a 90-Watt USB-C slot with DP Alt Mode. We love that it has modern flexibility, but it only includes two USB 3.0 ports for accessories. You also get a DTS Headphone-capable 3.5mm jack for your cans with the package.
The LG 45GX950-A doesn’t have speakers, but that’s understandable since headphones will be better for immersion. You also won’t have a lot of space left on most desks if you have something like bookshelf speakers, so that’s something to consider. We honestly prefer a dedicated headset setup with a mini-soundbar as a secondary for summer, when it can get too hot.
Display and Performance
The LG 45GX950-A boasts a 45-inch WOLED panel with a 5120 x 2160 resolution, 165Hz refresh rate, and a 0.03ms response time. Its brightness has a 275 cd/m2 typical output and a 1300 cd/m2 peak, while the contrast is listed at 1500000:1. This model has HDR True Black 400 certification for true HDR performance.
The LG 45GX950-A has a 5120 x 2160 output, but it also supports smaller resolutions at 330Hz. This makes it valuable for multi-category gamers who enjoy all types of games, such as sims, competitive shooters, or even casual games. Native always looks best since the others, like 1920 x 1080, can look grainy, but it is nice to have options.
The LG 45GX950-A covers 100% sRGB and 95% of DCI-P3 for stunning colors in games and movies. Its default accuracy had a deltaE average of 1.88, so it’s already accurate out of the box. Most users won’t need to do anything to it before use.
Calibrating it reduced the dE average to 1.03, making it more ideal for professional use. The downside is that you will need a colorimeter to achieve comparable results since no two panels are alike. We can only recommend it if you will use the monitor for color-critical work, but it is completely unnecessary otherwise.
The LG 45GX950-A’s panel reached 251 cd/m2 in SDR, and it peaked at 1139 cd/m2 when HDR was active. Its contrast was incalculable,e like most OLEDs, enabling deep black scenes and realistic HDR performance. Most modern games look gorgeous on it, and you might have to upgrade your streaming subscriptions to make use of this monitor’s movie-watching potential.
Panel uniformity for the test sample was excellent since there was no backlight to deal with. There can be some haloing in select instances, but it is not enough to be a cause for concern, unlike with IPS and VA variants. WOLEDs are, however, still prone to blurring, so some care will be necessary to avoid having a permanent imprint on the screen.
Pixel response times are also not an issue with this monitor since it doesn’t have to wait for a backlight like LCD or LED panels. Fast-paced games look smooth and blur-free, especially in 330Hz mode. This makes OLEDs better for competitive gaming, but they are still quite expensive at the time of this writing.
The LG 45GX950-A is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync for tearing-free visuals. Dual compatibility is a must-have now since it allows users who want to keep VRR to switch to another GPU brand without buying another monitor. Its input lag sits at 3ms at 330Hz, making it one of the fastest in its category.
Thoughts on the LG 45GX950-A
The LG 45GX950-A is an excellent choice for any type of gaming, entertainment, and even professional use. The color-accurate WOLED panel with dual mode capabilities makes it extremely flexible for multi-use scenarios. It is designed very well and is future-proof, making it a worthy purchase despite the high price.
We couldn’t think of a major con for this monitor, aside from its naturally low SDR brightness and lack of extra USB ports. The former is expected, while the latter is minor, so we can’t treat them as deal-breakers. The LG 45GX950-A is one of the best monitors you can buy this year, provided that you can accommodate its massive physicality.
Pros:
- Fantastic Colors and HDR
- Flexible Dual Mode
- Modern Connectors Including USB-C
- Immersive Large Screen
Cons:
- Expensive
- Limited SDR Brightness
- Overall
About the Author: 
Paolo is 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 and he believes that it’s 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.</span
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