The best LG monitors
LG is one of the best manufacturers of displays for mobile devices and monitors in the world market. As a manufacturer, it manages to offer very competitive sales prices that make its monitors have a quality-price ratio difficult to match by other companies.
In fact, the best LG monitors are often among the lists of the best monitors for graphic design, the best monitors for programming or even the best monitors for playing PS5. In addition, LG often collaborates with Apple, so several of its monitors are among our selection of the best monitors for Mac.
Below I’ll show you which are the best LG monitors based on how you’re going to use the monitor, introduce you to some alternatives that may better suit your interests and needs and, at the end of the article, I’ll give you tips on how to choose the best LG monitor for you.
The 6 best LG monitors of 2024
LG UltraFine 5K 27”
Last price update on 2023-08-02. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
The best LG monitor for Mac
Among our selection of the best monitors for Mac, undoubtedly the best LG monitor is this 27” UltraFine 5K, not only for its image quality and sharpness, but also for its features, as it has integrated webcam, two speakers, 3 USB-C ports and a Thunderbolt 3 port to charge your MacBook when you connect it to the screen, which saves you additional cables and adapters.
Both the 27” LG UltraFine 5K and the Macs with Apple Silicon chip cover a very wide color gamut, reaching almost 100% of the DCI-P3 space. In addition, both the MacBook display and this LG monitor have a pixel density of over 200 pixels per inch (PPI), and a contrast ratio of over 1000:1, so technically they are very similar. In conclusion, this is the LG monitor that best takes advantage of the graphics capabilities of Macs.
It is no coincidence that until the appearance of the Apple Studio Display, this monitor was sold on Apple’s own website as the most recommended for use with their products, as you can hear. In fact, the Apple Studio Display is technically very similar to this one, but usually has a higher price, between 20% and 50% more expensive.
Aesthetically, the LG’s design is sober and minimalist. Its black color matches well with the black details of MacBooks and Apple accessories with black finishes, such as the Magic Keyboard with black keys or the Magic Trackpad and Magic Mouse with black multi-touch surface.
The best LG monitor for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air
This is the LG monitor that best reproduces the colors, brightness and pixel density of the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air displays, making it the most recommended monitor for a consistent image between the two devices.
There is a difference between the maximum brightness of the Retina XDR displays on the 14″ and 16″ MacBook Pro and this LG monitor (1000 nits vs. 500 nits). However, if you use both devices in an indoor space, it’s rare that you’ll need to turn up the brightness on your Mac above 500 nits, so if you keep the brightness of both at the same level, the image on both looks exactly the same.
In fact, the higher brightness capability of the Retina XDR displays is intended to counteract direct light outdoors, since this is a laptop.
In case you’re looking for a less expensive Mac display option, check out the LG 27UL500-W, reviewed in this guide.
The best LG monitor for Mac Mini and Mac Studio
The 27” LG UltraFine 5K is ideal for the Mac Mini and Mac Studio, because it takes full advantage of their graphics card capacity without having to pay the price of the Apple Studio Display. In addition, it has webcam and speakers, which comes in handy when using these Macs, which lack them, and it also uses Thunderbolt 3, so you won’t take up any additional ports on your computer.
The best LG monitor for photo editing and graphics design
LG has no monitor that covers 100% of the Adobe RGB space, especially suitable for photo editing or designs to be printed. But if you are going to work in the digital realm, the LG UltraFine 5K is ideal, because it covers 99% of the DCI-P3 color space, which in turn is 26% wider than sRGB. Consequently, it is able to reproduce more vibrant and saturated colors than sRGB.
In addition, being a 27″ monitor, with 5K resolution, you will be able to work at 1:1 scale on numerous occasions, facilitating your design or photography workflow.
Is the 27″ LG UltraFine 5K monitor worth it?
The 27″ LG UltraFine 5K is the closest thing to an Apple Studio Display in terms of performance and quality, but at a more affordable price. As of today, there is no 5K monitor for Mac that offers a better price-performance ratio than this one.
LG 27UP600-W
- Size: 27″
- Resolution: 3840×2160
- Color gamut: 95% DCI-P3
- Stand: Not adjustable
Last price update on 2023-01-27. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
The LG monitor with the best price-performance ratio
When I first saw this monitor at a friend’s house, I mistook it for the LG 27UL500-W (in this guide). But when he explained the features of this LG 27UP600-W and what he had paid for it, I almost dropped an eyebrow: it was a real bargain!
To give you an idea, this is a 27″ 4K monitor, with IPS panel capable of reproducing 95% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 400 nits of luminance. Comparatively, we could say that its screen is only one step below the 27″ LG UltraFine 5K (in this same guide) in terms of features, although the UltraFine 5K has a webcam and speakers, and this one does not. But it costs about 4 times less!
In addition, the LG 27UP600-W supports HDR 10 and has an HDMI 2.0 port, so you can stream 4K images and video at 60 Hz. It’s far from a gaming monitor, but it has a decent response time of 5 ms, which isn’t bad if you plan to play single-player games from time to time and aren’t serious about multiplayer gaming.
Materials and ergonomics are the weakest point of this monitor, which has a stand very similar to the LG 27UL500-W, the cheapest monitor in this guide. At first glance, it looks like a good stand and you don’t notice that it’s made of plastic (it looks like aluminum), but if you move the table a bit you’ll notice that it sways quite a bit, although it’s totally stable. It is worth noting that, unlike the LG 27UL500-W, this one does allow you to adjust the tilt of the monitor, but nothing else.
Is LG 27UP600-W worth it?
If you want to enjoy the performance of a premium monitor for a more affordable price, and you don’t care so much about the materials it’s made of, this LG 27UP600-W offers great features for the price it has.
LG 27UL500-W
Last price update on 2023-06-08. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
The best budget LG monitor
There are many LG monitors similar to this one, but I’m going to explain the details that make this one, among the cheapest, the most attractive and possibly the one I have recommended most often.
For starters, it is a 27″ 4K monitor with 163 pixels per inch, which gives it a very good image sharpness. In addition, it has an IPS panel, supports HDR10 and covers 99% of the sRGB color space, so it has just enough to meet the needs of those who work for web projects without further complications or need the monitor for office work, gaming, entertainment, etc.
Aesthetically, it is a monitor that blends very well with almost any computer, thanks to its silver and black elements, like the vast majority of laptops and desktops. On the back it has two HDMI 2.0 ports and a DisplayPort 1.4.
If you want it for gaming, it’s nowhere near as good as the LG 27GP95R-B (in this guide), but it has a 5 ms response time and its ports let you play games at 4K resolution at 60 Hz, which isn’t bad at all, especially for enjoying the graphical finishes of single-player open-world games.
It’s not perfect and, in fact, it doesn’t have ergonomic adjustments like the LG 27UL550-W, with practically the same features. However, for less than the latter, you can buy an adjustable monitor arm or monitor stand riser and save the price difference.
Is LG 27UL500-W worth it?
If you don’t need special features, such as a professional color gamut or 5K resolution, this monitor is what amounts to a bargain, as it is attractive, performs very well, and is usually priced ridiculously low.
LG UltraGear 27GP95R-B
Last price update on 2023-01-27. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
The best LG gaming monitor
LG has a fairly wide range of gaming monitors, but few have such balanced gaming features as this LG 27GP95R-B, with 4K resolution, 144 Hz (160 Hz with overclock) and a response time of just 1 ms (GtG). Of course, it also features NVIDIA G-SYNC, AMD FreeSync™ Premium Pro and VESA AdaptiveSync.
Aesthetically, it follows the minimalist and angular line of the LG UltraGear, with incredibly thin bezels. Its stand allows for all sorts of ergonomic adjustments, however, it takes up a lot of desk space, so you may want to use a monitor stand riser to gain some usable space.
For those looking for an immersive gaming experience, the LG UltraGear 27GN950-B, has very similar features to this LG 27GP95R-B, but adds 3D functionality and Sphere Lighting 2.0 lighting, which illuminates the room from the back of the monitor with the colors you see on screen. It’s an excellent monitor, but if you can do without these features, you’ll save some money with the monitor I bring you here.
If FPS gaming is your thing, and you don’t mind sacrificing 4K resolution for 2K QHD (2560×1440), which isn’t bad either, an alternative is the LG 27GP850-B, which has a higher refresh rate (165 Hz) while maintaining a 1 ms response time. It also has a NanoIPS panel that achieves 98% of the DCI-P3 color space (versus 90% DCI-P3 of the LG 27GP95R-B), and all for a cheaper price.
The best LG monitor for PS5
Another key feature of the 27GP95R-B is that it has an HDMI 2.1 port, which only those that are the best monitors for PS5 and XBOX have (although they tend to cost much more), and which allows you to enjoy 100% of the latest generation games, as it supports a higher data transfer rate and therefore allows you to play in 4K at 120 Hz without problems.
Is the LG27GP95R-B monitor worth it?
You’re going to find few monitors with 4K resolution at 144Hz and HDMI 2.1 port on the market for the price of this LG 27GP95R-B, let alone with an IPS panel capable of 90% DCI-P3 color gamut. For all these reasons, the LG 27GP95R-B deserves the title of LG’s best gaming monitor.
LG UltraWide Curved 34″
- Size: 34″
- Resolution: 3440×1440
- Color gamut: 95% DCI-P3
- Stand: Adjustable
Last price update on 2023-01-27. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
The best LG curved monitor
This LG UltraWide Curved 34″ monitor is one of those monitors that not many people know about, but it has excellent features.
For starters, it is a curved monitor with 4K resolution that reaches 121 pixels per inch (PPI), which achieves a very good definition. It does not reach the 163 PPI of the LG 34BK95U-W UltraFine 34″ but the latter is not curved, and also costs about twice as much as this one.
The curious thing is that it has a similar price to another very popular curved monitor, the LG 34WL85C-B (see on Amazon) but, however, the color gamut of the latter only reaches 99% of the sRGB color space, while the LG UltraWide 34WP85C exceeds it by more than 20%, reaching up to 95% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
But it doesn’t stop there, on the back it has a bunch of ports, including two HDMI 2.0, a DisplayPort 1.4 and a USB-C port that allows you to stream images and videos at 3440 x 1440 at 60 Hz and charge the laptop at the same time, so you’ll only need one cable.
While it has some features to enhance the gaming experience, I wouldn’t recommend it for gamers, when there are better LG curved monitors for that, such as the LG UltraWide LG 34WP65C-B , with 160 Hz and a 1 ms response time (MBR).
Ergonomically, its stand is adjustable in height and tilt, and aesthetically it maintains the usual LG sobriety, with a totally black finish that matches almost any computer on the market.
For all these reasons, it is one of the curved monitors with the best quality/price ratio on the market, and undoubtedly deserves to be among the best monitors for video editing, design and programming.
Is the LG UltraWide 34WP85C worth it?
This monitor is for those who are looking for a curved monitor with professional features, mainly for work, either in video and photo editing for digital media, or in programming or office projects.
LG 28MQ780-B DualUp Ergo
Last price update on 2023-01-27. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
The best LG monitor for programmers
When it comes to programming, the main advantage of this LG monitor is obvious. Its vertical aspect ratio (16:18) makes it ideal for viewing long strings of code at once, without having to scroll continuously.
It’s like putting two 2K resolution monitors together, one on top of the other, so you have a very good screen resolution and the lines of code are perfectly sharp. Also, if you work with web pages and color reproduction is important to you, this monitor has a NanoIPS panel that covers 98% of the DCI-P3 space.
If you think about it, it’s cheaper than buying two good monitors separately and saves you the hassle of working with separate displays: desk space, cables, monitor calibration, buying a special monitor stand, etc.
In addition, if you are very tall, very short, or simply spend many hours in front of the screen and want to program as comfortably as possible, you will be pleased to know that it offers a variety of ergonomic adjustments, since the arm that uses support is one of the best of LG.
As of today there is no other monitor with this same aspect ratio, so the only alternative from LG to enjoy so much workspace, are widescreen or “UltraWide” monitors with a 21:9 or similar aspect ratio. In this sense, the LG UltraWide 34WP85C curved monitor (in this guide) or the LG 34WN780-B UltraWide, which is flat, are a good choice.
Is the LG 28MQ780-B DualUp Ergo worth it?
There is no monitor on the market that offers you the amount of workspace that this one does in such an optimal way for programming tasks. Without a doubt, it is a monitor that incredibly improves your performance while programming.
Top 5 best-selling LG monitors of 2024
Last price update on 2023-01-27. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
7 Things to Consider When Choosing the Best LG Monitor for You
1. The use you are going to give to it
Choosing a monitor for office work is not the same as choosing the best monitor for graphic design, the best monitor for playing PS5 or the best monitor for programming. Depending on the use you are going to give the monitor, some features will be more relevant for that particular use than others.
There is also another particularity to take into account, which is the computer with which you are going to use your monitor and its technical capabilities. For example, the best monitors for Mac are those that best reproduce the colors, image quality and sharpness that Macs can produce. In this regard, LG has several monitors that match the resolution and color gamut of Macs, such as the 27″ LG UltraFine 5K or the LG 27UP600-W, but not all brands can say the same.
2. Resolution and color gamut
For graphic design, illustration or video editing work, where image quality and fidelity is critical, monitors with high image resolution (4K or higher) and pixel density (> 120 PPI), which are also capable of faithfully reproducing a very wide color gamut, such as DCI-P3, are the most suitable.
| Resolution | 24″ Monitor | 27″ Monitor | 32″ Monitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5K (5120×2880) | 245 ppi | 218 ppi | 184 ppi |
| 4K (3840×2160) | 184 ppi | 163 ppi | 138 ppi |
| 2K (2560×1440) | 122 ppi | 109 ppi | 92 ppi |
| 1080 (1920×1080) | 92 ppi | 82 ppi | 69 ppi |
Monitors like the LG UltraFine 5K or the LG 27UP600-W would be my top recommendation, depending on your budget. The LG UltraWide 34WP85C would also be a good choice, if you want a curved UltraWide monitor to be able to work with more windows in parallel.
3. Refresh rate and response times
In monitors specifically for serious gamers, response times and refresh rates are critical. However, very high resolution or color accuracy may not be as important, although they are always welcome features, because they enhance the gaming experience.
In that case, the LG UltraGear 27GP95R-B is the monitor that best combines these features and also has HDMI 2.1 ports, to ensure that you don’t lose image quality when connecting the latest generation consoles.
However, depending on your needs as a gamer, you may need a faster monitor, such as the LG 27GP850-B, with 2K resolution at 165 Hz and a response time of 1 ms. Or, if you prefer a 21:9 aspect ratio monitor, the LG UltraWide LG 34WP65C-B is a curved monitor with 4K resolution at 160 Hz and a 1 ms response time (MBR).
4. Aspect Ratio
The aspect ratio of a monitor can make programming work much easier by allowing you to view several lines of code at the same time, or to have several windows open at the same time. It is also important that the monitor has a screen resolution, as it makes it easier to read the code and less tiring for the eyes.
That’s why the LG 28MQ780-B DualUp , with its vertical aspect ratio (16:18) is a great choice. On the other hand, if you prefer a horizontal window alignment, you may find the LG UltraWide 34WP85C (Curved) or the LG 34WN780-B UltraWide (Flat) more appealing.
5. Ergonomics
The rule is very clear, monitors with more ergonomic adjustments are more expensive and those without are cheaper. In fact, LG has monitor models whose only justification for their price difference is that one has ergonomic adjustments and the other does not.
However, you can always opt for the option without ergonomic adjustments and then buy a separate monitor stand riser or monitor arm to provide this ergonomics. In many cases you will come out ahead, because these accessories are usually very affordable and provide a wider range of ergonomic adjustments than some monitor stands that come with the monitors.
6. Aesthetics
Although it is not a determining factor, let’s not fool ourselves, you are going to see the monitor in front of you every day, so you better like it aesthetically. Therefore, it is recommended that you choose a monitor that combines well with the aesthetics of your computer or the room where you are going to use it, as far as possible, and always prioritizing performance.
Price
From the LG UltraFine with 5K resolution to the cheapest LG monitors, such as the LG 27UL500-W, there is a big difference in price, but also a big difference in performance. However, you can save some money if you focus on choosing the monitor with the features you really need, even if it lacks others.
You can also take a look at our selection of the best deals on monitors to find the best discounts currently available.
