LG UltraGear Evo 39GX950B-B Review: 5K2K OLED Excellence at a High Price

TechRadar said the 39GX950B-B is almost perfect except for one major flaw: it costs $1,799.99 / £1,599.99 / around AU$2,799. By comparison, its main competitor, the Alienware AW3926QW, is much cheaper at $1,099 / £999 / AU$1,999. The review said the LG display is essentially out of reach for most PC gamers, especially because a system capable of handling its 5K2K resolution would likely cost more than $2,000 / £2,000 / AU$2,840 including the monitor. TechRadar also noted that the PC hardware market is in disarray during an ongoing RAM crisis, leading to overpriced components.

The monitor uses a 39-inch 21:9 panel with 5K2K (5120x2160) resolution, which TechRadar described as a game-changer. At 143 PPI, it offers a higher pixel density than its 45-inch counterpart, according to the review. It also uses a fourth-generation tandem OLED panel, which TechRadar said improves sustained brightness, reduces burn-in chances, and increases efficiency. The display supports 165Hz/330Hz* refresh rate, Nvidia G-Sync, and HDR brightness up to 1,500 nits in small highlights. TechRadar listed fantastic HDR brightness, the 5K2K resolution, 1080p Dual Mode, the refresh rate, optional AI upscaling, and Nvidia G-Sync support among its strengths.

For competitive gaming and less powerful GPUs, the 39GX950B-B offers a 1080p Dual Mode at 2580x1080 resolution with a refresh rate that can rise to 330Hz. TechRadar said this mode is useful for players who prioritize high frame rates and also reduces the strain on the GPU. The monitor includes an AI upscaling option that detects a non-native input signal and upscales it to 5K2K, which TechRadar called a great bonus for users who want to lower internal resolution, including for console gaming. The reviewer did not use it much because an RTX 4080 Super was better served by Nvidia's DLSS technology in games, but still welcomed it as an alternative.

At native 5K2K, the monitor drives 33% more pixels than 4K, and TechRadar said users will be better off with a powerful GPU, at least an RTX 4080 Super, RTX 5070 Ti, or higher, to hit higher frame rates without being overly reliant on upscaling. The review described 5K2K as a permanent commitment to purchasing high-end GPUs, at least for the foreseeable future, unless low- to mid-range GPU power increases sooner.

TechRadar said the 39GX950B-B has options to address brightness uniformity and Automatic Brightness Limiter frustrations common with OLED displays. In the on-screen display, under "brightness level," users can choose high and low levels as well as a "uniform" setting that produces lower brightness but sidesteps ABL issues. The reviewer had little to no issue with ABL during gaming sessions, especially while testing Horizon Forbidden West, where HDR works best and scenery and color change constantly. The effect was more noticeable while working on a Windows desktop, where several applications may be opened and closed.

The review's main criticisms were the high price, temperatures that can be fairly high, and what TechRadar called the inevitable GPU tax. Even so, TechRadar said the LG 39GX950B-B is almost unmatched in delivering immersive gaming experiences, with visual fidelity that impressed the reviewer in every game and movie tested. It is very pricey, according to the review, but that does not stop it from being one of the best gaming monitors money can buy.