Intro
When I built my first PC I had an old flat screen tv for my first monitor. I had to use a remote to turn it on and the power port was a bit touchy. Due to this keeping the screen on became more of a challenge. The I found the LG UltraGear Gaming Monitor.
After my tv finally gave out I decided it was time to drop some money on a new monitor for the best gaming experience. That monitor was the LG UltraGear in 27” and I have had this screen for two years now. At the time it was one of the best monitors on the market and I purchased it for $399 USD. But does the monitor still hold up after two years of use? Let’s find out in this review on the LG UltraGear Gaming monitor.
Picture Quality
Let’s start off by looking at the specifications of the product. This monitor is 27 inches with 2560 X 1440 pixels, 144 Hz, a resolution of 1440p, and a response time of 1 millisecond.
Okay, now that all the technical jargon is out of the way let’s break this down:
Size
If you’ve ever looked at buying tvs then you’re probably already familiar with how big 27” is. For a tv this would be considered somewhat small, but for a PC monitor this a fairly large size. This bigger picture allows for more straightforward viewing and creates a better display for what you are trying to view on your screen.
For me personally the size has been amazing for what I’ve needed it for as I use my computer for work and gaming. I do also use dual monitors, so I have more screens. But the LG UltraGear is my main monitor and I have enjoyed the size for my needs.
Resolution/Pixels
Basically, the pixel number is just how much of an image the monitor can display at a time. The LG UltraGear displays 2560 X 1440 pixels (1440p) and, while this amount isn’t the best on the market, it is still an amazing quality for your money. I have run many high-resolution games on my computer and have never had any problems with display during my time of owning this screen.
Now bear in mind there are monitors by LG and other brands that do possess higher resolution quality. If resolution is something that matters in extreme terms to you then you might want to look for a monitor with a higher pixel rate. But I will say that for what the monitor costs you’re getting a good deal. Back when I bought this monitor it was $399. Now, at the time of publishing this article, it has dropped to $270 on Amazon. Not bad for a monitor of this quality.
Hz
As far as hertz is concerned this monitor has a pretty good refresh rate. Hz/hertz/refresh rate is especially important for video games as all games are essentially just made up of millions of images one after another to display the gameplay. The LG UltraGear provides 144 hertz which is a pretty high count that will accommodate pretty much every game on the market right now. I’ve played games such as Fortnite, Baldur’s Gate 3, Valorant, Dave the Diver, and Destiny 2 on this monitor.
During my gaming sessions I have had very little trouble with refresh rate and have had a solid display at every turn. While not the highest refresh rate on the market, this monitor packs a punch in terms of display and refresh rate for the price.
Response Time
I won’t spend too much time on response time because if your resolution and refresh rate are solid than you should be set on response time. This monitor offers a response time of 1 millisecond.
The response time has always been fast for me and the display has been good considering the amount of games that I have put my PC through. Altogether if you’re looking for an amazing response time that is nearly instantaneous give this monitor a try.
Aesthetic
Ok so this section may be my least part of the review. Don’t get me wrong, the overall aesthetic of the monitor is sleek and has red accents on the back and the stand of the monitor. So, if you want to make a red and black gaming build this monitor would a sold fit. However, if you’re looking for another color scheme maybe look somewhere else.
Most of the red is on the back of the monitor so unless you’re looking down at the monitor stand then you really won’t see it. I have not had a lot of issues with this screen in terms of aesthetics so overall you won’t have much of a problem. However, I am planning to move towards a more black and pink build, so this aspect of the review is purely personal preference. However, if you are looking for something different than red for your PC build, unless you’re REALLY good with a can of spray paint, I’d recommend looking elsewhere for a computer monitor.
Build
You know how I said that the last section was my least favorite part of this review? Well, this one is my MOST favorite. The monitor was built with gamers in mind as the thing is HEAVY with built in “feet” for stability. This monitor is very secure and while it is compatible with a monitor arm it is posable on its own. The screen periscopes can be moved up or down and turned from horizontal to vertical. All the better to display discord so that if you’re a streamer you can witness being cyberbullied in real time when playing video games.
One of the reasons I personally liked this monitor was because it comes with two HDMI ports. This is important because if you’re planning on using your monitors for other consoles (such as a Nintendo Switch) it’s important to have multiple HDMI ports. I love how this screen is built and enjoy having the freedom to customize my build with these features. For this this reason, I highly recommend this monitor as you really do get a lot of use out of your computer in these ways.
Pros
- High Resolution.
- Last a long time.
- Wide screen size.
- Stable/ will not fall easily.
- Very poseable.
- Fast response time.
- Lots of cable connectivity.
- Solid monitor for the price.
Cons
- Not the best resolution on the market.
- Only comes in black and red (and not pastel pink).
Conclusion
While this monitor was released five years ago the LG UltraGear gaming monitor is a solid choice for anyone looking to upgrade their PC. With it’s high resolution, strong refresh rate, and customizable usage the LG UltraGear Gaming Monitor is still a sold choice for anyone looking to upgrade their gaming experience. Though the aesthetic options are limited if you’re looking for a black and red gaming monitor that will deliver an amazing gaming experience with a lower price tag check out the LG UltraGear Gaming Monitor.
Ready to add this monitor to your PC build? Get it on Amazon.