This $159 Acer Nitro KG272 monitor is a game-changer for budget PC setups — and it's now my favorite affordable display
If I told you to check out a monitor with a 100Hz refresh rate with limited brightness at 1080p resolution, you'd probably laugh and point me toward other options on our best gaming monitors list.
Understandable, so why would I recommend the Acer Nitro KG272 E anyway? A look at its $159 / £129 price tag says it all. High-end monitors like the $1,099 MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED and $799 Alienware AW3425DW keep up with the latest in gaming hardware to deliver splendid visuals. But for those with budget setups, that's a lot of pennies going down the well.
Instead, the Nitro KG272 E answers the call of value with its entry-level specs that surprisingly deliver smooth, clear visuals in real-world views, even though it may not come across as well on paper. But it also goes a step beyond with its adjustable tilting for a better viewing angle 100 x 100 VESA mountable compatibility.
Despite many gamers who would make the most of far greater refresh rates and quality, those who are perfectly fine with entry-level stats or need a capable secondary display will find the Acer Nitro KG272 E to be a solid bet.
Could it fit the bill as one of the best monitors on a budget? Considering its cheap price, yes, but those who opt for it will also have to temper their expectations. Let's dive into it all.
Specs
Acer Nitro KG272 E
Price
$159 / £109
Display
27-inch
Resolution
FHD 1920 x 1080
Aspect ratio
16:9
Refresh rate
100Hz
Response time
1ms
Panel type
LCD
Color depth
10-bit
Backlight
LED
Inputs
1x HDMI 1.4, 1x VGA, 1x 3.5mm audio jack
Wall mountable
VESA Mount Compatible (100 x 100)
Dimensions
24.1 x 17.7 x 9.1 inches (with stand)
Weight
11.9 pounds (with stand)
No premium frills here, but the Acer Nitro KG272 E exceeds expectations once it's put into action. It makes for a decent display for gaming and a second monitor for productivity — something the best laptops for students can take advantage of.
With displays sporting top-of-the-line features like 240Hz refresh rates on OLED panels with 0.03 response rates, along with multiple display modes geared for specific games, it's easy to write off the Nitro KG272 E as a monitor that can't keep up.
But not everyone needs to take advantage of all these specs, and sometimes, a simple screen can go a long way. That's exactly what the Nitro KG272 E offers, and I was impressed by the color accuracy, clarity and smoothness it boasts.
In our tests, the KG272 E produced the lowest numbers we tested, but not by much. And considering the price of the other monitors it's matched up with, it does an admirable job. Although it still falls behind another budget banger: the Lenovo L27i-4B ($109 / £159).
Acer Nitro KG272 E
Lenovo L27I-4B
MSI MPG 272URX
Alienware AW2752Q
sRGB
110.1%
126%
131%
182.5%
DCI P3
78%
89.3%
97%
129.3%
Delta-E (lower is better)
0.17
0.05
0.15
0.06
Despite its numbers, the screen can still pull off detailed colors during work and play, as in real-world testing, nothing looked washed out.
I watched "28 Weeks Later" on Netflix in anticipation of "28 Years Later," and it comfortably presented the vicious infected running down the hill after our understandably freaked-out lead, Don (Robert Carlyle).
This is at 1080p on a 27-inch LCD display, so it's not the clearest of details out there, but I still was terrified by the bloody, rage-induced faces of the infected.
Even in more recent, visually stunning shows like "KPop Demon Hunters," it captured the bright gold and deep purple of the Honmoon barrier, keeping the human and demon worlds apart.
I also used it as my main monitor, plugging it into my 13-inch MacBook Air M3, and it reflected exactly what I'd expect to see on the MacBook's display. Using its "Normal" color mode (there's no specific "Mac" display mode), details, smoothness and color accuracy were on point.
Lenovo's L27i-4B also manages to offer some impressive visuals for its price, but the Nitro KG272 E one-ups it in one area...
The Nitro KG272 E may only have a 100Hz refresh rate, but it still offers a super-fast 1ms response rate and AMD FreeSync for virtually zero-lag, tear-free gameplay. That works in favor of both fast-paced multiplayer titles and single-player games.
I tested out The Finals, Doom: The Dark Ages and Cyberpunk 2077, and despite the Asus TUF Gaming A18 with an RTX 5070 that can pump out over 200 FPS at high settings on its 1600p resolution display, the Nitro monitor could still deliver smooth frame rates with fine details (if only a tad dark in some areas and without those real crisp textures, but more on that later).
While demolishing walls in The Finals, with settings set to Epic at 1080p resolution and Nvidia's multi-frame gen at x4, I could easily nail headshots and manage my way through the madness of all the destruction around me. Even in a frantic, fast-paced game such as this, I never felt I was at a disadvantage.
I didn't get the same visual spectacle of the demon-torn landscape in Doom: The Dark Ages as I would in other displays. It was a tad grainy, but it could keep up with the bloody action of tearing down hulking beasts with Doom Guy's chainsaw shield. Even visual cues, such as the green orbs you can parry back at enemies, were clear.
Cyberpunk 2077 pulled off better lighting reflections and neon-infused visuals of Night City's skyline, and with brightness on the monitor at max, I was happily cruising through the streets.
It's not something I see often on budget gaming monitors, but the Nitro KG272 E comes with some adjustability. There's no way to swivel or change the height of the display, but it does have some tilt action.
It has a vertical and horizontal viewing angle of 178 degrees, but this can be adjusted by tilting it up or down. This makes it easier to get the right angle when setting it up on a desk, as there's nothing worse than having a fixed monitor that's slightly off viewing angle-wise and there's nothing you can do to change it.
It helps that the Nitro KG272 E is relatively light, too. It only weighs 11.9 pounds with the stand (compared to the 24 pounds of the MSI MPG 272URX), so it's light enough to shift around to get the right angle. Better yet, it looks sleek with its nearly bezel-less borders.
The Acer Nitro KG272 E may triumph due to its price, but it falls into the usual pitfalls of being budget. That includes low brightness and just passable speakers.
If your PC setup is in a room that's filled with sunlight, the Nitro KG272 E will struggle to show a lot on its display.
Generally, it's best to keep a monitor out of sunlight's way, but the Nitro's max 196.2 nits of SDR brightness (no HDR here) can also make darker elements in games or shows harder to see.
Acer Nitro KG272 E
Lenovo L27I-4B
MSI MPG 272URX
Alienware AW2752Q
SDR Nits (brightness)
192.6
231.8
254
250.4
It isn't surprising that it falls behind its pricier competition, but even the Lenovo L27I-4B offers a wealthy number of nits to offer acceptable viewing. This isn't a deal breaker, especially in darker rooms that I usually find myself in, and I was able to comfortably play games without it being a hassle.
That said, in certain games such as Doom: The Dark Ages, trying to find hidden passages to crash through to find secrets was tricky in darker tunnels or hallways (I had to fire off a few rounds to illuminate the areas).
Finding speakers on a monitor is always a win, but they don't usually offer the best sound. That's certainly true of the dual speakers of the Nitro KG272 E.
While they do just fine if you're watching shows in the background, it's far from an immersive experience or being able to let you hear the footsteps of foes in competitive multiplayer games.
They can sound hollow without that oomph from the bass, and it makes shots fired out of guns in The Finals, Doom and Cyberpunk sound weak. You won't be blown away by the audio it fires, so you may want to get one of the best gaming headsets instead.
There are some premium, ultra-fast gaming monitors out there sporting jaw-dropping visuals on OLED panels, but all that comes at a high price. The Acer Nitro KG272 E strips down those features for a pocket-friendly price.
For those who don't need the full spectacle of stunning details at sky-high frame rates, especially for entry-level or casual gamers with budget systems, the Nitro KG272 E is a fantastic shout for its budget price. Just keep in mind that it won't keep up with the latest in PC or console hardware, along with its low brightness, and this gaming monitor will shine.
It's now my favorite budget gaming monitor to use, as I believe it even surpasses the cost it's set at from what I get out of it. But if you have the funds to get something flashier, our list of the best gaming monitors will point you in the right direction.
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Tom's Guide
20 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
This $159 Acer Nitro KG272 monitor is a game-changer for budget PC setups — and it's now my favorite affordable display
If I told you to check out a monitor with a 100Hz refresh rate with limited brightness at 1080p resolution, you'd probably laugh and point me toward other options on our best gaming monitors list. Understandable, so why would I recommend the Acer Nitro KG272 E anyway? A look at its $159 / £129 price tag says it all. High-end monitors like the $1,099 MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED and $799 Alienware AW3425DW keep up with the latest in gaming hardware to deliver splendid visuals. But for those with budget setups, that's a lot of pennies going down the well. Instead, the Nitro KG272 E answers the call of value with its entry-level specs that surprisingly deliver smooth, clear visuals in real-world views, even though it may not come across as well on paper. But it also goes a step beyond with its adjustable tilting for a better viewing angle 100 x 100 VESA mountable compatibility. Despite many gamers who would make the most of far greater refresh rates and quality, those who are perfectly fine with entry-level stats or need a capable secondary display will find the Acer Nitro KG272 E to be a solid bet. Could it fit the bill as one of the best monitors on a budget? Considering its cheap price, yes, but those who opt for it will also have to temper their expectations. Let's dive into it all. Specs Acer Nitro KG272 E Price $159 / £109 Display 27-inch Resolution FHD 1920 x 1080 Aspect ratio 16:9 Refresh rate 100Hz Response time 1ms Panel type LCD Color depth 10-bit Backlight LED Inputs 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x VGA, 1x 3.5mm audio jack Wall mountable VESA Mount Compatible (100 x 100) Dimensions 24.1 x 17.7 x 9.1 inches (with stand) Weight 11.9 pounds (with stand) No premium frills here, but the Acer Nitro KG272 E exceeds expectations once it's put into action. It makes for a decent display for gaming and a second monitor for productivity — something the best laptops for students can take advantage of. With displays sporting top-of-the-line features like 240Hz refresh rates on OLED panels with 0.03 response rates, along with multiple display modes geared for specific games, it's easy to write off the Nitro KG272 E as a monitor that can't keep up. But not everyone needs to take advantage of all these specs, and sometimes, a simple screen can go a long way. That's exactly what the Nitro KG272 E offers, and I was impressed by the color accuracy, clarity and smoothness it boasts. In our tests, the KG272 E produced the lowest numbers we tested, but not by much. And considering the price of the other monitors it's matched up with, it does an admirable job. Although it still falls behind another budget banger: the Lenovo L27i-4B ($109 / £159). Acer Nitro KG272 E Lenovo L27I-4B MSI MPG 272URX Alienware AW2752Q sRGB 110.1% 126% 131% 182.5% DCI P3 78% 89.3% 97% 129.3% Delta-E (lower is better) 0.17 0.05 0.15 0.06 Despite its numbers, the screen can still pull off detailed colors during work and play, as in real-world testing, nothing looked washed out. I watched "28 Weeks Later" on Netflix in anticipation of "28 Years Later," and it comfortably presented the vicious infected running down the hill after our understandably freaked-out lead, Don (Robert Carlyle). This is at 1080p on a 27-inch LCD display, so it's not the clearest of details out there, but I still was terrified by the bloody, rage-induced faces of the infected. Even in more recent, visually stunning shows like "KPop Demon Hunters," it captured the bright gold and deep purple of the Honmoon barrier, keeping the human and demon worlds apart. I also used it as my main monitor, plugging it into my 13-inch MacBook Air M3, and it reflected exactly what I'd expect to see on the MacBook's display. Using its "Normal" color mode (there's no specific "Mac" display mode), details, smoothness and color accuracy were on point. Lenovo's L27i-4B also manages to offer some impressive visuals for its price, but the Nitro KG272 E one-ups it in one area... The Nitro KG272 E may only have a 100Hz refresh rate, but it still offers a super-fast 1ms response rate and AMD FreeSync for virtually zero-lag, tear-free gameplay. That works in favor of both fast-paced multiplayer titles and single-player games. I tested out The Finals, Doom: The Dark Ages and Cyberpunk 2077, and despite the Asus TUF Gaming A18 with an RTX 5070 that can pump out over 200 FPS at high settings on its 1600p resolution display, the Nitro monitor could still deliver smooth frame rates with fine details (if only a tad dark in some areas and without those real crisp textures, but more on that later). While demolishing walls in The Finals, with settings set to Epic at 1080p resolution and Nvidia's multi-frame gen at x4, I could easily nail headshots and manage my way through the madness of all the destruction around me. Even in a frantic, fast-paced game such as this, I never felt I was at a disadvantage. I didn't get the same visual spectacle of the demon-torn landscape in Doom: The Dark Ages as I would in other displays. It was a tad grainy, but it could keep up with the bloody action of tearing down hulking beasts with Doom Guy's chainsaw shield. Even visual cues, such as the green orbs you can parry back at enemies, were clear. Cyberpunk 2077 pulled off better lighting reflections and neon-infused visuals of Night City's skyline, and with brightness on the monitor at max, I was happily cruising through the streets. It's not something I see often on budget gaming monitors, but the Nitro KG272 E comes with some adjustability. There's no way to swivel or change the height of the display, but it does have some tilt action. It has a vertical and horizontal viewing angle of 178 degrees, but this can be adjusted by tilting it up or down. This makes it easier to get the right angle when setting it up on a desk, as there's nothing worse than having a fixed monitor that's slightly off viewing angle-wise and there's nothing you can do to change it. It helps that the Nitro KG272 E is relatively light, too. It only weighs 11.9 pounds with the stand (compared to the 24 pounds of the MSI MPG 272URX), so it's light enough to shift around to get the right angle. Better yet, it looks sleek with its nearly bezel-less borders. The Acer Nitro KG272 E may triumph due to its price, but it falls into the usual pitfalls of being budget. That includes low brightness and just passable speakers. If your PC setup is in a room that's filled with sunlight, the Nitro KG272 E will struggle to show a lot on its display. Generally, it's best to keep a monitor out of sunlight's way, but the Nitro's max 196.2 nits of SDR brightness (no HDR here) can also make darker elements in games or shows harder to see. Acer Nitro KG272 E Lenovo L27I-4B MSI MPG 272URX Alienware AW2752Q SDR Nits (brightness) 192.6 231.8 254 250.4 It isn't surprising that it falls behind its pricier competition, but even the Lenovo L27I-4B offers a wealthy number of nits to offer acceptable viewing. This isn't a deal breaker, especially in darker rooms that I usually find myself in, and I was able to comfortably play games without it being a hassle. That said, in certain games such as Doom: The Dark Ages, trying to find hidden passages to crash through to find secrets was tricky in darker tunnels or hallways (I had to fire off a few rounds to illuminate the areas). Finding speakers on a monitor is always a win, but they don't usually offer the best sound. That's certainly true of the dual speakers of the Nitro KG272 E. While they do just fine if you're watching shows in the background, it's far from an immersive experience or being able to let you hear the footsteps of foes in competitive multiplayer games. They can sound hollow without that oomph from the bass, and it makes shots fired out of guns in The Finals, Doom and Cyberpunk sound weak. You won't be blown away by the audio it fires, so you may want to get one of the best gaming headsets instead. There are some premium, ultra-fast gaming monitors out there sporting jaw-dropping visuals on OLED panels, but all that comes at a high price. The Acer Nitro KG272 E strips down those features for a pocket-friendly price. For those who don't need the full spectacle of stunning details at sky-high frame rates, especially for entry-level or casual gamers with budget systems, the Nitro KG272 E is a fantastic shout for its budget price. Just keep in mind that it won't keep up with the latest in PC or console hardware, along with its low brightness, and this gaming monitor will shine. It's now my favorite budget gaming monitor to use, as I believe it even surpasses the cost it's set at from what I get out of it. But if you have the funds to get something flashier, our list of the best gaming monitors will point you in the right direction.
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business Insider
LG's new G5 TV delivers nearly perfect picture quality. Here's what makes this premium OLED so special.
I review lots of TVs every year, and as performance improves across the board, it's becoming harder for flagship models to stand out. But LG's G5 doesn't have this problem. Simply put, the G5 OLED offers the best picture quality I've ever seen from a consumer TV. Panasonic's upcoming Z95B has a chance to surpass it, but for now, the G5 is the premium 4K TV to beat. Using LG's latest OLED panel technology, the G5 balances perfect contrast with high brightness, sharp detail, rich colors, and wide viewing angles. This is the kind of high-end image quality that makes home theater nerds like me geek out. The G5 also has solid smarts via LG's webOS interface and some cool new perks like AI voice recognition. However, the G5 isn't quite perfect. Though the set's image performance is nearly flawless, it does have some minor issues with color gradients and over-brightening. These imperfections are subtle, though, and the displays' many strengths outweigh them. I also wish LG's webOS placed less emphasis on shopping recommendations, but I'm more than willing to ignore an ad here and there if it means getting such a fantastic viewing experience. It's also important to note that this is an expensive display. Most people will be satisfied with a cheaper midrange OLED, like LG's C5 and C4, or Samsung's S90D. But premium sets like the G5 aren't geared toward most people. This is a pricey TV built for enthusiasts willing to spend top dollar on top picture quality and design. And in that sense, it's the best TV of its kind. The TV has an elegant design, but a stand costs extra LG's G5 is available in 55, 65, 77, 83, and 97 inches, with list prices ranging from $2,500 to a whopping $25,000. For this review, I tested a 65-inch unit, which retails for $3,400. With the exception of the 97-inch model, all sizes offer the same specifications. The 97-inch model uses a different kind of OLED panel, so it can't get as bright as its smaller counterparts. The G5 uses LG's One Wall design, which allows it to be mounted with virtually no gap. A bracket is included in the box to accomplish this, so you don't need to buy one separately. On the downside, LG doesn't include a traditional pedestal stand, so if you don't want to mount the G5, you need to purchase a stand on your own. LG sells a stand for $106 (which was used for this review), and the G5 is compatible with many of the best TV stands made by third-party manufacturers. Though the G5 looks best when mounted, it still has an elegant style when placed on its pedestal. The display is made of premium materials and has a thin profile that measures just under an inch thick. The build and aesthetics are what you'd expect from such a pricey display and are a clear step up from the cheaper construction of more budget-friendly models. LG also gets points for including four HDMI 2.1 ports to enable support for up to a 4K/165Hz signal. Many rival brands, including Sony, only include two HDMI 2.1 ports and use HDMI 2.0 for the remaining inputs. This is a great perk for gamers who want to connect multiple systems to the TV, as HDMI 2.1 is needed to unlock the smoothest performance on current-gen consoles and high-end PCs. LG redesigned its Magic Remote for 2025, and this new version is mostly an improvement. It has a thinner, more traditional shape instead of the bulky body used on past LG remotes, which makes it feel better in hand. Its main selection button, which doubles as a scroll wheel, also feels sturdier, making clicks more responsive. Sadly, the remote is not backlit, which has become standard on some competing TVs from TCL, Hisense, and Roku. Like past models, the Magic Remote lets you choose between navigating via standard button presses or by using motion controls (the "magic" part) to point the remote at the screen to move a virtual cursor. Unfortunately, there's no way to fully deactivate motion control if you don't like it. Clicking on the directional pad temporarily turns it off, but it gets turned back on if you slide the scroll wheel, and this is too easy to accidentally trigger. The remote's button layout has also been simplified, and I generally like this more minimalist approach. But there are two odd choices. First, there's no longer an input select button. To switch inputs on the TV, you have to hold down the Home button to pull up a smart hub menu or scroll through the homepage and find the input you like on screen. Second, there's no mute button. You can still activate mute by holding the remote's volume down button, but this means there's no way to rapidly lower the volume instead of fully muting it. These are small complaints, but they just strike me as strange choices. The G5 delivers a new benchmark for premium image quality The G5 is the first consumer TV to use LG's new four-stack OLED panel design. This type of screen has key benefits over the standard WOLED panel used on LG's cheaper C and B series TVs. A four-stack design optimizes how an OLED produces color and light, allowing for higher brightness and a wider color gamut — all while maintaining the pixel-level contrast, deep black levels, and wide viewing angles that the best OLED TVs are known for. You can learn more in our QLED vs. OLED comparison. The results are spectacular, and the TV offers a big leap in brightness over last year's G4 model. In fact, the G5 is now the brightest OLED TV available, dethroning the Samsung S95F. Using the TV's Filmmaker mode with a 10% HDR test pattern (a white box that takes up 10% of the screen against a black background), I measured a peak brightness of 2,410 nits. That's nearly 1,000 nits more than last year's G4, which is a substantial bump. It's also about 240 nits more than the S95F, which is a more subtle but still noteworthy jump. While such high brightness is impressive, it's important to remember that it's only beneficial in certain circumstances. For example, high brightness gives you more headroom to pump up luminance to help overcome glare in rooms with a lot of ambient light. It also allows the G5 to produce more impactful and accurate high dynamic range (HDR) images with highlights (like explosions) that pop from the screen. But the G5's full brightness capabilities only get unleashed when watching movies and TV shows mastered for above 1,000 nits. You can learn more about HDR mastering and how it relates to content and TVs in our HDR guide. Raw brightness is only a part of what makes the G5's image quality so noteworthy. What makes this TV shine is how it's able to precisely harness its brightness and combine it with pixel-level contrast control, inky black levels, and rich colors. I watched a wide range of movies and TV shows across several weeks with the G5, and I've never seen a consumer TV that matches its picture capabilities. Some of its benefits over other high-end sets are subtle, and it has some flaws that a few rivals handle better, but overall, the G5 rises above the competition. Fiery explosions in high-brightness HDR movies like "Mad Max: Fury Road" radiate from the screen with rich saturation, while deep shadows in the opening sequence of "The Matrix" remain perfectly dark without any halos around lighter elements of the picture. Tricky sequences in movies like "1917" and shows like "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" that trip up the local dimming backlights on many QLED TVs I've tested are displayed with perfect, uniform contrast. And image quality barely shifts if you're off to the side of the screen, so everyone gets a good viewing experience no matter where they sit. LG's picture processing continues to improve year after year, and the G5 is able to hold its own against high-end Sony TVs. Lower-quality content like compressed HD YouTube streams and cable TV upscale nicely on the G5. To be clear, they still don't look as good as native 4K sources, but the TV does a good job of minimizing imperfections without introducing an unnatural look. But as phenomenal as the G5 is, the TV's image quality isn't flawless. When it first hit stores, the G5 had issues with color banding, also called posterization or false contouring. This caused some gradations of colors and dark shades to look blocky rather than smooth. This problem initially appeared in some Dolby Vision and HDR10 content, but during my testing, LG released a firmware update that corrected Dolby Vision playback. However, some banding still popped up in isolated scenes when watching a small selection of HDR10 videos. But throughout my weeks with the TV, this flaw was very subtle and only appeared in a couple of movies I sampled out of more than a dozen. After my evaluation period ended, LG released another firmware update in June. This latest version reportedly corrects those lingering problems with HDR10 so long as you use the TV's Filmmaker preset. With all that in mind, I don't consider this to be a major drawback. Another small imperfection I encountered involved some slight over-brightening in near-black content, which caused dark shades to faintly glow. I noticed this a bit when watching some dim sequences in the Amazon Prime series "The Wheel of Time," but it was never too distracting. This issue is common on OLED displays like this, and the G5 performs about on par with what's expected. Finally, it's also worth noting that while the G5 rises above competing flagship OLEDs in nearly every way, there is one area where top models from Samsung and Sony still have a slight edge: color volume. High-end OLEDs from those brands use quantum dots, which is a feature the G5 is missing. This allows those TVs to maintain high saturation a bit better when displaying especially bright colors. The G5 improves upon the G4 in this area, but it still can't quite match OLEDs that have quantum dots. Gamers get cool features like a 165Hz refresh rate and support for Xbox streaming The G5 is one of the most advanced gaming TVs there is. It supports ALLM (auto low latency mode), VRR (variable refresh rate), and a dedicated Game Optimizer menu that lets you easily adjust settings. The G5 sets itself apart from most competing TVs with its support for up to a 165Hz refresh rate. Most high-end TVs max out at 144Hz. This is only useful for PC gamers with high-end hardware, but it's still a cool perk. LG is also one of two brands (Samsung is the other) that supports the Xbox app directly through the TV's interface. If you have a Game Pass membership, this app lets you stream Xbox games so you can play them without needing a console. The quality isn't as good as playing a game directly through a system, and playability is heavily reliant on the stability of your internet connection, but it works well enough for casual gaming. I also tested the G5 with a PS5 using a 4K/120Hz connection, and it delivered excellent image quality and smooth motion. I didn't see any flicker or ghosting with VRR active, which is something I've seen on some QLED TVs. Some flicker did show up when I pulled up the TV's settings menu while playing games, but this went away as soon as I closed the window. However, I've seen some user reports of banding in certain games when using the TV's HDR Game mode, even after the latest firmware update released in June. But outside some subtle bands in the sky when playing "Cyberpunk 2077" and some slight contouring in menus, I didn't encounter any egregious banding when playing various HDR titles, including "The Last of Us Part 1," "Spider-Man," "No Man's Sky," "Dragon's Dogma 2," and "Baldur's Gate 3." LG's webOS adds some new AI features, but they're mostly unnecessary Like all LG TVs, the G5 uses the webOS smart TV system. The platform is easy to set up, as LG guides you through some basic housekeeping items. The interface has access to all of the best streaming services, though it's missing a few niche apps that some other platforms support, like the Criterion Channel. General navigation is smooth, and I didn't encounter any major lag when moving through services. That said, the interface's design could annoy some users. By default, webOS displays a banner ad at the top of the homepage, and the screen prominently features a row for shopping recommendations. You can deactivate the banner ad if you navigate through some buried menu options, but this leaves that space unutilized. You can also turn off the shopping recommendations, but this deactivates all of the platform's content suggestions, leading to a barebones interface. It's great that LG offers the option to fully deactivate the ads, but I wish there was a better balance to begin with, so it could display content recommendations while demphasizing some of the sponsored material. For 2025, LG is touting a lot of new AI features, but most of these functions are just improved iterations of features that have already been available on past-generation TVs. For instance, there are AI picture modes that are meant to enhance the image, especially with lower-quality content, but the adjustments these modes make are unnecessary. The company has also brought back its AI Picture Wizard and added a new AI Audio Wizard. These features present you with various sample images and audio clips. Based on which ones you select, the wizard learns what kind of picture and sound settings you like the most, and then creates custom modes for you. Again, I highly recommend just using the TV's Filmmaker mode and Standard audio mode to get the most accurate playback, but if you're unhappy with how the G5 looks or sounds, this is worth playing around with. LG's remote also emphasizes AI more this year, as the microphone button has been rebranded as the AI button. Pressing it pulls up LG's AI concierge. This is supposed to present smart content recommendations based on your viewing habits, but I didn't find them to be all that useful. Holding down the AI button allows you to search with your voice or speak commands to control the TV. The G5 also supports hands-free voice search. I'm not sure what the issue was, but during my first week or so with the TV, I ran into a lot of server errors and "voice not recognized" messages when using the G5's voice search. Over time, these glitches stopped popping up, and voice search worked consistently. That said, I found the TV's voice recognition to be less accurate and slower than some competing systems, like Roku and Google TV. On the plus side, the G5 does have a new voice feature that's actually pretty cool. It's called AI voice recognition, and it automatically switches user profiles based on who speaks to the TV. So, if your spouse was using the set and you both have different profiles, once you speak to the TV, it will switch to your personalized home screen with your preferences and recommendations. Should you buy the LG G5 TV? Few TVs have left me as utterly impressed as the LG G5. Some competing high-end sets from Sony and Samsung offer better performance in certain aspects, but when looking at picture quality as a whole, the G5 is the best premium display I've seen. Panasonic is set to release a similar TV later this year, called the Z95B, so I'm curious to see how it stacks up. But for now, the G5 is the reigning king of premium TVs. Though picture performance isn't flawless, the TV's combination of pixel-level contrast and high brightness is unmatched and outweighs any shortcomings. LG's webOS interface isn't my favorite, and I did run into some software issues that ironed out over time, but it gets the job done. The new AI voice recognition feature is also a cool addition. The G5 is expensive, so it's only suited for big picture quality enthusiasts and those willing to spend extra for high-end design flourishes that you can't get on cheaper TVs. But if you fit that bill, the LG G5 TV earns my highest recommendation.
Digital Trends
2 days ago
- Digital Trends
Save $500 on this LG 45-inch gaming monitor at Best Buy — with a catch
Gamers who are looking for a new screen for their PC gaming setup shouldn't miss Best Buy's offer for the 45-inch LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor. From its original price of $1,700, it's available for $1,200 for huge savings of $500. There's a catch though — you'll have to be a My Best Buy Plus or Total member, as this is part of Best Buy's Member Deals Days, its version of Amazon's Prime Day that ends on Sunday. The cost of membership is dwarfed by this discount, so sign up now if you haven't already done so to take advantage of one of the most attractive monitor deals we've recently seen. Why you should buy the 45-inch LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor Your powerful gaming desktop should be paired with a solid gaming monitor, and the 45-inch LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor is a fantastic choice. Its OLED technology delivers intense brightness, perfect black levels, and lifelike colors, while its 800R curved screen fills your peripheral vision for complete immersion in the best PC games. The gaming monitor also features an anti-glare surface to reduce distractions, and it also runs on LG's webOS platform so you can watch your favorite streaming shows on the monitor while your computer is turned off to take a break. Two of the most important numbers for gaming monitors are their refresh rate and response time, which our computer monitor buying guide describes as how often the images are updated on the screen, and how quick image transitions are shown, respectively. The 45-inch LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor beats our recommendations for both specifications, with a 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.03ms response time. My Best Buy Plus or Total members have the opportunity to get the 45-inch LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor at $500 off, which lowers its price to just $1,200 from $1,700. If you haven't signed up for the membership, you can do so right now to access the huge discount. You'll have to be quick though, as the Member Deals Days sale ends on Sunday. Complete your purchase for the 45-inch LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor as soon as possible to make sure that you enjoy the savings.
