Can the upscaling capabilities of AI change the game in terms of what’s expected from a high-resolution display? LG clearly believes the answer is yes. Only just prior to the Consumer Electronics Show, the company has introduced its UltraGear Evo series of gaming monitors, which combines a level of resolution suitable for the 5K class with in-screen AI processing.
However, the heart of the new range includes the 39GX950B, 27GM950B, and 52G930B, which are all constructed with varying display technology but share some common traits that include strong performance capabilities and AI processing that’s implemented at the hardware level. The 39-inch GX9 has an ultrawide 21:9 OLED display that features the native 5K2K resolution of 5120 x 2160, which has the potential to display 165Hz to the maximum image detail but can also switch to 2560 x 1080 at an impressive 330Hz that’s highly sensitive to twitch games. This display technology utilizes the new Tandem OLED technology developed by LG to provide brighter and more accurate colors with an extended lifespan over previous versions.
This display can reach 1500 nits of peak brightness with the specification of DisplayHDR True Black 500. The GM9 Mini-LED monitor goes the other way in the 27-inch category, opting for Mini-LED lighting, in this case, specifically LG’s “New” Mini-LED, which is optimized to address blooming, the soft glow sometimes seen surrounding bright image areas on dark backgrounds. Its lighting is comprised of an impressive 2,304 local dimming areas, all of which combine in the Zero Optical Distance system, minimizing the distance between LEDs and the LCD panel to provide precise control over the lighting. Not to miss, it is the world’s largest 5K Mini-LED gaming monitor, offering an incredible 5120 x 2880 resolution at an impressive 165Hz refresh rate, or 2560 x 1440 at an astonishing refresh rate of 330Hz, complemented by a quick 1ms (GtG) response time.
DisplayHDR 1000 and a brightness of 1,250 nits will make this a mighty addition to any HDR gaming rig, while the added capabilities of AI Scene Optimization and AI Sound will serve to enhance the experience without any additional GPU load, and in the wake of LG supplying panels to Apple Pro Display XDR, we can perhaps speculate on the future of Mini-LED in the Apple product line.
For pure size, the 52-inch G9 has no equal. This 1000R curved leviathan boasts a 12:9 panoramic screen ratio at 5K2K resolution and 240Hz refresh rate. The company claims the vertical image size equals a 42-inch 16:9 screen, but offers 33% more horizontally, which covers the player’s peripheral vision when playing simulation-style racers, flight simulations, or epic RPGs. Boasting VESA DisplayHDR 600 support, it prioritizes brightness over the contrast of an OLED panel when paired against most desktop displays.
The AI upscale function found in its 27-inch and 39-inch versions of the monitor is far from a gimmick. Conventional upscale technology performs a simplification of details as an inherent process of lower resolution display, whereas LG’s monitor uses in-panel AI capabilities to upscale images in real time by recreating fine details in a manner unaffected by CPU and GPU resources. This aspect of monitor function is most useful in relation to performing at a high refresh rate in 5K graphics, where native graphics processing might be difficult to handle through top-of-the-line graphics cards.
Technology-wise, the inclusion of OLED panels in the UltraGear Evo line not only highlights the strengths of these technologies but also points out the compromises that display engineers make to arrive at these designs. This is because the self-emitting pixels in an OLED panel provide Response Times of 0.03ms coupled with true blacks that excel in competitive gaming applications.
On the other hand, thousands of dimming zones in the MiniLED panels provide unparalleled brightness performance while resisting burn-in effects that occur when static UI elements coexist in hybrid usage patterns that involve gaming and entertainment. This is why the company feels that it is imperative to cater to all segments by incorporating multiple gaming monitors that deliver on their clients’ gaming needs differently. The curvature options are equally illuminating: The GX9’s 1500R curvature provides a good balance between immersion and desk space comfort, while the G9 features a sharper 1000R curvature that attempts to envelop the gamer’s field of view entirely.
These values are carefully computed to suit the viewing distance, with the intent of optimizing game play awareness and minimizing distortions, With CES just around the corner, pricing and availability information is still up in the air, but in terms of specs, it’s clear that UltraGear Evo monitors are aimed squarely at gaming monitors in the premium space, as well as professional gaming monitors in the pro space. With AI upscaling built into the display, LG is certainly tackling performance hurdles in gaming monitors that feature ultra-high resolutions but, in effect, announcing an end to dumb monitors.
