LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B 27" Black 2025

The LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B is the fastest gaming monitor we've ever tested, with a 480Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time that sit at the absolute top of our database. OLED picture quality is stunning, with perfect blacks and 98.5% DCI-P3 color. Pricing varies wildly from USD 270 to USD 1,000, so shop around. If you're a competitive gamer with a powerful GPU, this is the best display you can buy right now.

Let's talk about that 480Hz refresh rate, because it's the headline feature. In our database, this monitor ranks at the absolute top for performance. That 0.03ms response time is effectively instantaneous, which means no ghosting, no motion blur, no smearing when you whip your mouse around in a firefight. For competitive gaming, this is the kind of spec that can actually give you a tangible advantage. You see enemies a fraction of a second sooner, and your aim feels more connected to what's happening on screen. It's hard to overstate how smooth this feels in person.

The catch is that you need serious hardware to push 480 frames per second at 1440p. We're talking a high-end GPU like an RTX 4080 or 4090, and even then you'll need to dial down settings in demanding titles. In esports games like CS2 or Valorant, hitting 480fps is more achievable, but in AAA games you'll be well below that. The good news is that FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync Compatible support mean the monitor handles variable refresh rates beautifully, so even if you're running at 200fps, it still looks buttery smooth. The 10-bit color depth and DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification also mean HDR content looks respectable, though the 275 nits brightness is on the dimmer side compared to LCD panels.

The competitive landscape here is interesting. The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UCDMG is a 4K OLED that trades refresh rate for resolution, topping out at 240Hz. If you want sharper text and more detail in single-player games, that's a solid alternative. But for pure speed, the LG wins hands down. The MSI MAG 271QPX QD-OLED E2 is another 1440p OLED option, but it runs at 360Hz, which is fast but not 480Hz fast. It's typically cheaper though, so if budget is a concern, it's worth a look.

The Samsung Odyssey G60SD and Alienware AW2725D are both strong competitors in the 1440p OLED space. The Samsung uses a QD-OLED panel that can get brighter than the LG's WOLED, which matters if you game in a well-lit room. The Alienware is a 360Hz panel with excellent build quality and Dell's warranty support. The Gigabyte MO27U2 is a 4K option that splits the difference on resolution. None of them match the LG's 480Hz refresh rate, but they all have their own strengths. If brightness is your priority, look at Samsung. If you want 4K, look at ASUS or Gigabyte. If you want the absolute fastest, the LG is the only choice.

Pricing on this monitor is all over the place, which is worth paying attention to. In the US, we're seeing listings ranging from USD 270 all the way up to USD 1,000 across seven different listings. That's a massive spread. The USD 270 price is likely an open box or refurbished unit, but if you can find it at that price, it's an absolute steal. The CAD market shows a similar story, with prices from CAD 746 to CAD 1,380. If you're shopping in Canada, the lower end of that range is where you want to be.

At full retail around USD 1,000, this monitor is expensive, no question. But you're paying for the fastest OLED gaming experience on the market. Compared to other high-end gaming monitors, the 27GX790A-B justifies its premium with that 480Hz refresh rate and top-tier performance ranking. If you can find it closer to the USD 270 or CAD 746 end of the spectrum, it becomes one of the best value propositions in gaming displays, period. Shop around, check open box listings, and don't pay full price if you can avoid it.

The LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B is one of those monitors that makes you do a double take when you see the spec sheet. A 27-inch OLED panel pushing 2560 x 1440 at a ridiculous 480Hz refresh rate. That's not a typo. We're talking about a display that refreshes the image 480 times every second, with a response time of 0.03ms. For competitive gamers, this is basically the holy grail of motion clarity. And it's not just fast, it's an OLED, so you get those perfect blacks and vibrant colors that make games look genuinely stunning.

Who is this for? Honestly, it's for the serious competitive player who refuses to compromise. If you play Valorant, CS2, Overwatch, or any fast-paced shooter where every millisecond counts, this monitor is aimed squarely at you. But it's also a fantastic choice for anyone who wants a premium gaming experience with incredible picture quality. The 98.5% DCI-P3 color coverage means it's no slouch for content consumption either, though the 275 nits brightness tells you this is a gaming monitor first and a productivity tool second.

What makes this interesting is the combination of specs. Most high refresh rate monitors sacrifice image quality for speed, or vice versa. The 27GX790A-B tries to do both, and based on our data, it largely succeeds. It sits at the 100th percentile for performance in our database, which means it's literally the best we've tracked. The user sentiment score of 96th percentile backs that up. People who buy this thing tend to love it. But there are trade-offs, and we'll get into those.

If you're not a competitive gamer, you should probably look elsewhere. The 480Hz refresh rate is the main selling point here, and if you're not pushing frame rates high enough to take advantage of it, you're paying a premium for performance you'll never see. Casual gamers and those who prefer single-player experiences would be better served by a brighter 4K OLED like the ASUS ROG Strix XG27UCDMG or a QD-OLED panel from Samsung that offers better HDR brightness.

Also skip this if you work in a bright room. The 275 nits brightness is fine for a dim gaming den, but it'll struggle against sunlight or bright office lighting. And if you need built-in speakers for a clean desk setup, this monitor won't work for you without additional audio gear. The large base is also worth considering if desk space is tight, it takes up a fair amount of real estate.

For competitive gamers, this is the monitor to beat. The 480Hz refresh rate combined with OLED response times creates a level of motion clarity that we've never seen before. If you play fast-paced shooters and have the GPU horsepower to push high frame rates, the 27GX790A-B will genuinely improve your experience. The FreeSync and G-Sync support means it works great with both AMD and NVIDIA cards, which is a nice bonus.

For more casual gamers or those who prioritize single-player experiences, the value proposition gets murkier. The 275 nits brightness means HDR content won't pop the way it does on brighter QD-OLED panels, and you're paying a premium for a refresh rate you may never fully utilize. If you're mostly playing story-driven games at 60-120fps, you'd be better served by a brighter 4K OLED or a cheaper 240Hz panel. But if speed is your thing, nothing else comes close.