Gaming PCs vary widely, and their performance depends on many hardware and software factors, so monitor requirements can differ just as much. That is, unless your monitor’s specifications push limits in several ways to the point that no matter what your PC can do, it cannot fully keep up with the display’s capabilities. The LG UltraGear 27-inch OLED GX7 27GX790A gaming monitor offers the latest technology, the fastest refresh rate and exceptional colour accuracy, which means it will continue to suit new generations of PCs added to your setup.
When I took the LG UltraGear 27-inch OLED GX7 27GX790A gaming monitor out of the box, I was struck by how thin the screen is. All components are centralized in a compact back panel, which is surprisingly small given the overall size of the display. The 27GX790A uses a single joystick for all monitor controls, a welcome feature that speaks to its simplicity.
The stand is also pleasant to use. It provides solid balance and a stable foundation that lets you reposition the monitor without shifting the base. The base does not take up much desk space, and its flat design allows you to use it as part of your workspace. I found it ideal for holding a stream deck or small mixer. I do wish the cable management were better, because the only channel through the stand is placed low, which means the cables remain visible in most setups.
“The LG UltraGear 27-inch OLED GX7 27GX790A gaming monitor offers the latest technology, the fastest refresh rate and exceptional colour accuracy.”
The I/O on the LG UltraGear 27” OLED GX7 27GX790A Gaming Monitor is more than sufficient for any user with a DisplayPort (DP 2.1), two HDMI ports, a headphone out, two USB Downstream ports and a USB Upstream port to allow for any number of connections in your setup. The monitor’s 0.03ms response time gives you incredibly low latency on whatever you are outputting to it.
When all set up, the LG UltraGear 27” OLED GX7 27GX790A Gaming Monitor has 30 degrees of swivel in either direction, -5 to 15 degrees of tilt and the height can be adjusted by approx 110mm. The monitor can be oriented as a landscape or portrait monitor with ease. All of the movement is incredibly smooth.
Many gaming monitors, with all the settings required by their user bases, can become overly complicated. They often rely on sub-menus layered inside more sub-menus. The GUI for the LG UltraGear 27-inch OLED GX7 27GX790A gaming monitor is the opposite. The interface is designed to create a simple user experience with as few steps as possible to reach any part of the menu. This allows you to adjust settings for gaming, editing or watching content without the frustration of digging through unnecessary menu layers.
Even before you get to the picture quality, the LG UltraGear 27-inch OLED GX7 27GX790A gaming monitor is doing a great deal to protect your eyes and enhance your viewing experience. The monitor is UL Platinum certified for low blue light while still providing a vivid picture. The 27GX790A also features excellent anti-glare performance, so bright rooms with direct sunlight or strong lighting will not affect your view of the screen.
According to LG’s website, the LG UltraGear 27-inch OLED GX7 27GX790A gaming monitor is the first gaming monitor to achieve a Clear Motion Ratio certification of 21000 from VESA. This produces clean lines even around fast-moving images and delivers the type of motion clarity that is ideal for high-level gaming.
The 1440p resolution may disappoint some users, given the price point of the LG UltraGear 27-inch OLED GX7 27GX790A gaming monitor. At 4K, however, taking full advantage of the monitor’s capabilities would require significantly more processing power from both the monitor and your PC. For that reason, it is a reasonable tradeoff, especially since most of the 4K content I watch is on my television from the comfort of my couch. For a screen positioned two feet from my face, 1440p is more than sufficient.
“The 27GX790A is a gamer’s dream, and for my needs, it is also a content creator’s ideal workspace.”
The colour accuracy and vibrancy out of the box are excellent, supported by DisplayHDR True Black 400 and 98.5 per cent DCI-P3 coverage. It is not only a superb monitor for gaming, but also an ideal choice for editors who rely on precise colour correction or for anyone who wants to experience their favourite movies and television as they were intended to appear.
The 480Hz refresh rate on the LG UltraGear 27” OLED GX7 27GX790A Gaming Monitor, for most people, is overkill. Those framerates are not being captured by most gamers, who may have limited hardware and are seeking a balance between quality and speed. I never even came close to maxing out the FPS display on the monitor, usually topping out at 140-160 fps with my GPU and settings on the games I played. But the fact is, as gaming hardware evolves, I don’t have to shell out for a monitor that can push as far as my PC.
I tested the LG UltraGear 27-inch OLED GX7 27GX790A gaming monitor by playing Fortnite for its vivid colour palette, A Plague Tale: Requiem for its distinctive animation and Apex Legends for its fast motion. Each title looked impressive in its own way. The light OLED panel enhances the vibrant look of Fortnite without diminishing the atmosphere of A Plague Tale: Requiem. In Apex Legends, the combination of the high refresh rate and minimal motion blur makes fast gameplay appear noticeably smoother.
The LG UltraGear 27-inch OLED GX7 27GX790A gaming monitor is priced at $999.99 USD, which is a significant investment. Compared with LG’s other monitors, it is not a dramatic price jump from models of the same size that offer half the refresh rate. The real question becomes whether you want to future-proof your setup. You may choose to spend the additional $200 now rather than face spending $700 later to catch up. A 240 Hz refresh rate is enough to future-proof my own setup for the expected life of the monitor, although I am not a competitive gamer and my needs differ from those who prioritize maximum specifications.
What I value most, and what the LG UltraGear 27-inch OLED GX7 27GX790A gaming monitor delivers, is exceptional colour, an ease of use that feels surprisingly accessible for a monitor of this calibre, input options that let me switch between multiple machines and a form factor that gives me back desk space for all the equipment I use. The 27GX790A is a gamer’s dream, and for my needs, it is also a content creator’s ideal workspace.
