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LG 27G850A-B Dual-Mode Gaming Monitor Review: 4K 240Hz IPS vs. 1080p 480HzThis review covers the LG 27G850A-B, a dual-mode gaming monitor featuring both 4K 240Hz and 1080p 480Hz refresh rates. It highlights the monitor's design, input options, VRR performance, picture quality, and compares it to alternative monitors like OLED and MiniLED options, ultimately assessing its value proposition.
1. 💡 Introduction to Dual-Mode Gaming Monitors and the LG 27G850A-B
- ✅ Dual-mode monitors offer flexibility by supporting both high resolution/lower refresh rate and lower resolution/higher refresh rate.
- ✅ The LG 27G850A-B is a premium display with a 4K 240Hz screen that can switch to 1080p at 480Hz.
- ✅ It's one of the few dual-mode monitors with an IPS panel.
00:00 - 01:25
1. 💡 Introduction to Dual-Mode Gaming Monitors and the LG 27G850A-B
- ✅ Dual-mode monitors offer flexibility by supporting both high resolution/lower refresh rate and lower resolution/higher refresh rate.
- ✅ The LG 27G850A-B is a premium display with a 4K 240Hz screen that can switch to 1080p at 480Hz.
- ✅ It's one of the few dual-mode monitors with an IPS panel.
01:26 - 02:30
2. 🖥️ Design and Key Features: Stand, Inputs, and Dual-Mode Button
- ✅ Simple design with branding and RGB lighting.
- ✅ Sturdy, adjustable stand, though it might sit a bit high for some users.
- ✅ Inputs are located at the back, facing downwards, which can be hard to reach.
- ✅ Includes two USB-A ports and an audio jack that also serves as a microphone input, supporting DTS headphone X.
- ✅ Features a dedicated button for easily switching between 4K 240Hz and 1080p 480Hz dual modes.
02:31 - 03:04
3. 🔄 Refresh Rate, VRR, and Display Stream Compression (DSC)
- ✅ Supports both 4K 240Hz and 1080p 480Hz over DisplayPort or HDMI.
- ✅ 1080p 480Hz doesn't require Display Stream Compression (DSC).
- ✅ 4K 240Hz requires DSC.
- ✅ Supports common VRR formats to reduce screen tearing.
03:05 - 04:32
4. Motion Performance and VRR Flicker Analysis
- ✅ Motion looks good overall in both dual modes.
- ✅ 480Hz mode provides a smoother feel.
- ✅ Low Frame Rate Compensation (LFC) kicks in earlier on the 480Hz mode.
- ✅ Use the 'Fast' overdrive setting to avoid inverse ghosting.
- ⚠️ The 480Hz mode exhibits some VRR flicker in dark scenes with significant frame rate changes, unlike the 240Hz mode.
04:33 - 05:08
5. 🎮 Input Lag and Console Compatibility
- ✅ Low input lag at any refresh rate in both modes.
- ✅ The 480 Hz mode has slightly higher input lag at 120 Hz, but the difference is negligible.
- ✅ Supports most signals from PS5 and Xbox consoles.
- ✅ Use 4K mode for the best image detail with consoles.
05:09 - 06:34
6. 🖼️ Picture Quality: Contrast, Local Dimming, and Issues
- ✅ Features an IPS Black panel for better contrast than standard IPS monitors.
- ⚠️ Contrast ratio is still relatively low at around 1,700:1.
- ❌ Local dimming is edge-lit with only eight zones and performs poorly.
- ⚠️ Local dimming causes haloing around bright objects on dark backgrounds.
- ⚠️ Aggressive Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL) with local dimming can be distracting.
06:35 - 07:02
7. 🔆 SDR and HDR Brightness, Glare Handling
- 🔆 Screen is dimmer in SDR and HDR with local dimming enabled.
- 🔆 Gets bright enough without local dimming to combat glare in most well-lit rooms.
- ⚠️ Visibility is a problem in sunny rooms due to the matte coating spreading light across the screen.
07:03 - 07:35
8. 🎨 Color Accuracy, Gamut, and HDR Performance
- ✅ Good color accuracy before calibration.
- ✅ Dedicated sRGB mode, but requires calibration to fix white balance and gamma issues.
- ✅ Displays a wide range of colors after calibration, including Adobe RGB.
- ✅ Displays a wide range of colors in HDR with minimal inaccuracies in DCI-P3.
- ⚠️ HDR doesn't make colors look very dark or vivid for a punchy experience.
07:36 - 08:01
9. ✍️ Text Clarity in 4K and 1080p Modes
- ✅ Text looks sharp in 4K mode.
- ❌ Text looks significantly worse and blurry in 1080p mode due to poor scaling.
- ✅ Use 1080p mode only for gaming and switch back to 4K for other tasks.
08:02 - 10:41
10. 🆚 Comparisons to Other Monitors and Overall Verdict
- ✅ The LG 27G850A-B is the first 4K 240Hz dual-mode monitor with an IPS panel.
- ✅ Solid gaming monitor that most people would enjoy.
- 👍 Compared to OLED monitors like the LG 32GS95UB: OLEDs offer better picture quality, deeper blacks, brighter highlights, and better motion, but the LG 27G850A-B gets brighter overall and doesn't risk burn-in.
- 👍 Compared to MiniLED monitors like the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8: MiniLEDs offer higher native contrast ratios and better local dimming, but the Samsung has bugs, lacks Display Port 2.0, and has VRR flicker.
- ❗ While the LG has advantages, better options are available for a bit more money.
10:42 - 11:12
11. 👋 Final Thoughts and Where to Learn More
- ✅ The LG 27G850A-B is a solid monitor, but better options exist for a slightly higher price.
- ✅ Check the written review for more details.