The LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B is an entry-level 1440p gaming monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate. Part of the LG UltraGear lineup sitting above the LG 27GL650F-B, it's available in two variants, with the 27GL850 model having two USB-A ports, which the 27GL83A-B model doesn't have. They have the same features besides that, including FreeSync VRR and G-SYNC compatibility, but they lack some features some higher-end monitors have, like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.
Our Verdict
The LG 27GL850 is acceptable for PC gaming. Although its 144Hz refresh rate isn't ideal for competitive gaming, it's still fine for entry-level gaming and has VRR support to reduce screen tearing. It has a decent response time at any refresh rate, as any motion blur isn't overly distracting, and it has low input lag for a responsive feel. That said, it has limited picture quality as it has a low contrast ratio and doesn't get bright enough for highlights to pop in HDR.
- Decent response time at any refresh rate.
- Low input lag.
- Disappointing contrast ratio.
- Can't make highlights pop in HDR.
The LG 27GL850 is mediocre for console gaming. It can't take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S as it's limited to a 1440p resolution and HDMI 2.0 bandwidth, but it still supports most signals from the consoles. It has a decent response time that minimizes motion blur, and it has a low enough input lag for a responsive feel. However, it has limited picture quality due to its low contrast ratio and lack of local dimming, so games don't look the way the creator intended.
- Decent response time at any refresh rate.
- Low input lag.
- Disappointing contrast ratio.
- Not fully compatible with consoles.
- Can't make highlights pop in HDR.
The LG 27GL850 is a decent monitor for office use. It's good if you want to use it in a moderately lit room, as it gets bright enough to fight some glare, but visibility is still an issue in sunny rooms. It also has wide viewing angles that are useful if you need to share your screen with someone else, but it lacks a swivel adjustment to easily turn the screen. Lastly, while it has decent text clarity, it isn't as sharp as other 27-inch, 1440p monitors.
- Wide viewing angles.
Bright enough to fight some glare.
- No swivel adjustment.
Visibility is a problem in sunny rooms.
- Text clarity not as good as other 27-inch, 1440p monitors.
The LG 27GL850 is okay for content creation. It performs best in a moderately lit room, thanks to its high peak brightness, but it struggles in dark rooms as it has a low contrast ratio and lacks a local dimming feature. While it has a dedicated sRGB mode, you still need to calibrate it for the best accuracy. It also fails to display bright colors in HDR, which is disappointing if you need to edit videos.
- Wide viewing angles.
Bright enough to fight some glare.
- Disappointing contrast ratio.
- No swivel adjustment.
- Needs full calibration for best accuracy.
Visibility is a problem in sunny rooms.
The LG 27GL850 has decent brightness. It gets bright enough to fight glare in a well-lit room but doesn't make highlights pop in HDR.
Bright enough to fight some glare.
- Can't make highlights pop in HDR.
The LG 27GL850 has a decent response time. It performs consistently well across its VRR range, which is good for gaming, but there's still some blur with fast-moving objects.
- Decent response time at any refresh rate.
- Still a bit of motion blur.
The LG 27GL850 is terrible for HDR. Blacks look gray due to its low contrast, and it doesn't have a local dimming feature to further improve it. It also fails to make colors look vivid.
- Disappointing contrast ratio.
- Lack of local dimming feature.
The LG 27GL850 has mediocre picture quality in SDR. It has a low contrast ratio, so blacks look gray next to bright highlights.
- Displays wide range of colors.
- Disappointing contrast ratio.
The LG 27GL850 has very good color accuracy. Although it has a dedicated sRGB mode, you still need to calibrate it for the best accuracy. Luckily, it has good gray uniformity, so it keeps the image consistent throughout the entire screen.
- Good gray uniformity.
- Needs full calibration for best accuracy.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Mar 30, 2026: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.1.2. We added a new Panel Technology box, including the Spectral Power Distribution (SPD) graph.
- Updated Nov 10, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.1.1. We removed the Vertical Viewing Angle test.
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Updated Aug 06, 2025:
We updated the PS5 Compatibility table to reflect that 1440p @ 120Hz works once you disable VRR on the monitor.
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Updated Jul 31, 2025:
We updated text throughout to match the new and updated tests with Test Bench 2.1, including in the Verdict section.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 27-inch LG 27GL850, which is also available as the 27GL83A-B. The only difference is that the 27GL850 has USB ports, but the results are valid for each monitor.
| Model | Size | Resolution | Refresh Rate | USB Ports |
| 27GL850-B | 27" | 1440p | 144Hz |
2x USB-A 1x USB-B |
| 27GL83A-B | 27" | 1440p | 144Hz | None |
Our 27GL850 unit was manufactured in June 2019; you can see the label here. It was tested with firmware 3.18, 2.03.
Popular Monitor Comparisons
The LG 27GL850 is an okay entry-level gaming monitor that's a reliable option if you need a low-cost display. It has a decent response time and low input lag for a responsive feel that you should be happy with, especially if you're on a budget or don't have a high-end PC setup. However, if you're a competitive gamer, you may want to consider something with a higher refresh rate, like the LG 27GR83Q-B, even if it costs more.
See also our reviews for the best gaming monitors, the best 1440p 144Hz monitors, and the best 27-inch monitors.
The LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B and the Samsung Odyssey G50D S27DG50 are 27-inch 1440p gaming monitors. The Samsung is a better choice if you plan to game next to a window, as it gets much brighter. However, the LG is better if you want the sharpest image, as it has better motion handling.
The LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B is a much better monitor than the ASUS TUF VG27VQ. The 1440p resolution provides clearer images, plus the viewing angles, response time, and gradient handling are much better on the LG, and it supports HDR. Instead, the ASUS has a much better contrast ratio and higher refresh rate, which might please some gamers who don't mind losing some picture quality.
The Gigabyte G27Q and LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B are two very good monitors, and they both have a 1440p resolution and 144Hz refresh rate. The Gigabyte gets brighter, so it does a better job at combatting glare and makes highlights stand out a bit more in HDR. On the other hand, the LG has a much quicker response time at 60Hz, so motion looks less blurry in 60fps games.
The LG 27GN850-B/27GN880-B is a slight improvement over its predecessor, the LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B. The 27GN850-B displays wider SDR and HDR color gamuts, meaning it's a better choice for content creators. It also has a quicker response time at its max refresh rate, making it a slightly better choice for gaming. However, the 27GL850-B gets brighter and has better reflection handling, so it's a good choice for well-lit rooms. It also has two USB inputs, which the 27GN850-B doesn't have, so you can easily charge your devices while working.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, all of which we purchase ourselves, without cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized, custom tools to measure various aspects and deliver objective, data-driven results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance compared to the competition, and whether it's easy to find.
Test Results
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