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LG 27GN950-B Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v1.2
Reviewed Nov 19, 2020 at 08:12 am
Latest change: Writing modified Nov 10, 2022 at 02:22 pm
LG 27GN950-B Picture
7.9
Mixed Usage
8.2
Office
8.5
Gaming
7.3
Media Consumption
8.2
Media Creation
6.5
HDR
This monitor was replaced by the LG 27GP950-B

The LG 27GN950-B is a great 4k gaming monitor. It has a high 160Hz refresh rate, but you can only achieve that refresh rate over a DisplayPort connection and you need a high-end graphics card to take full advantage of this monitor. It lacks HDMI 2.1 support and can only achieve 4k @ 60Hz over an HDMI connection. It delivers impressive gaming performance thanks to its incredible response time that results in extremely clear motion, and it also has an incredibly low input lag. It has FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) support and G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing. It's fairly well-built, but it doesn't offer much in terms of ergonomics as you can't swivel it. Its IPS panel provides wide viewing angles, but sadly, that comes at the cost of a low contrast ratio. It also has disappointing reflection handling, but it gets bright enough to combat glare in most well-lit rooms.

Our Verdict

7.9 Mixed Usage

The LG 27GN950-B is a great monitor for most uses. It's impressive for gaming because it has an incredible response time, FreeSync support, G-SYNC compatibility, and low input lag. Its 4k resolution makes it a great choice for office use or content creators, but it has disappointing ergonomics. It has decent HDR performance, but its low contrast and terrible local dimming feature make it less ideal for dark-room viewing.

Pros
  • High 4k resolution.
  • FreeSync support and G-SYNC compatibility.
  • Incredible response time.
  • Wide viewing angles.
Cons
  • Disappointing reflection handling.
  • Low contrast ratio.
8.2 Office

The LG 27GN950-B is great for office use. The 4k resolution delivers clear and crisp text, and the large screen allows you to open multiple windows at once. It has wide viewing angles, making it easier to share your screen with others. Sadly, it has disappointing ergonomics and may be difficult to place in an ideal viewing position.

Pros
  • High 4k resolution.
  • Gets bright enough to combat glare.
  • Wide viewing angles.
Cons
  • Limited ergonomics.
  • Disappointing reflection handling.
8.5 Gaming

The LG 27GN950-B is impressive for gaming. It has a high 160Hz refresh rate and VRR support to reduce screen tearing. It has an incredible response time and low input lag whether you're gaming at its max refresh rate or 60Hz. Sadly, it's not a good choice for dark-room gaming due to its low contrast ratio and terrible black uniformity.

Pros
  • Extremely low input lag.
  • FreeSync support and G-SYNC compatibility.
  • Incredible response time.
Cons
  • Low contrast ratio.
7.3 Media Consumption

The LG 27GN950-B is good for multimedia use. The 4k resolution allows you to watch the latest videos online with crisp detail. You can share your screen with others thanks to its wide viewing angles, but it has disappointing ergonomics. It gets bright enough to combat glare in well-lit rooms, but it has disappointing reflection handling.

Pros
  • High 4k resolution.
  • Wide viewing angles.
Cons
  • Limited ergonomics.
  • Disappointing reflection handling.
8.2 Media Creation

The LG 27GN950-B is great for content creators. You can easily see crisp details of your photos or videos with its 4k resolution, and the large screen allows you to open multiple windows at once. It also has excellent coverage of the Adobe RGB color space used in photo editing. Sadly, it has disappointing ergonomics and you can't swivel the screen to share it with a client or coworker.

Pros
  • High 4k resolution.
  • Gets bright enough to combat glare.
  • Wide viewing angles.
Cons
  • Limited ergonomics.
  • Disappointing reflection handling.
6.5 HDR

The LG 27GN950-B is okay for HDR. It has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray, and its local dimming feature does a terrible job of improving the picture quality in dark scenes. While it displays a wide range of colors in HDR and has decent HDR brightness, it isn't enough to make those colors look vivid.

Pros
  • Displays wide range of colors.
Cons
  • Low contrast ratio.
  • Not bright enough to make colors look vivid.
  • Terrible local dimming.
  • Blooming around bright objects.
  • 7.9 Mixed Usage
  • 8.2 Office
  • 8.5 Gaming
  • 7.3 Media Consumption
  • 8.2 Media Creation
  • 6.5 HDR
  1. Updated Nov 10, 2022: Added text to the macOS and Response Time boxes as part of Test Bench 1.2, and updated the text for accuracy throughout.
  2. Updated Nov 10, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.2, resulting in changes to the results and scores with the Response Time and Input Lag. Added tests for Console Compatibility and macOS compatibility and made minor changes to other tests, which you can see in our Changelog.
  3. Updated Feb 09, 2022: The local dimming video was mistakenly filmed in HDR. It has been reshot in SDR.
  4. Updated Feb 26, 2021: We've retested the refresh rate, response time at max refresh rate, and the input lag with the latest firmware.
  5. Updated Jan 15, 2021: We uploaded the post-calibration white balance and color space pictures in the wrong order. It has been fixed.
  6. Updated Nov 19, 2020: Review published.
  7. Updated Nov 16, 2020: Early access published.
  8. Updated Nov 02, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  9. Updated Nov 02, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  10. Updated Sep 11, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We reviewed the 27 inch LG 27GN950-B, which is the only size available for this model. There are other models in LG's UltraGear lineup, some of which are listed below.

If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their 27GN950-B doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we'll update the review. Note that some tests, such as the gray uniformity, may vary between individual units.

Model Size Panel Type Resolution Refresh Rate Native VRR Notes
LG 27GL650F-B 27" IPS 1080p 144Hz FreeSync, NVIDIA Certified  
LG 27GN750-B  27" IPS 1080p 240Hz FreeSync, NVIDIA Certified  
LG 27GL850-B 27" IPS  1440p 144Hz FreeSync, NVIDIA Certified  
LG 27GN850-B 27" IPS 1440p 144Hz FreeSync, NVIDIA Certified  
LG 27GN950-B 27" IPS 4k 160Hz FreeSync, NVIDIA Certified  
LG 32GK850F-B 32" VA 1440p 144Hz FreeSync  
LG 32GK850G-B 32" VA 1440p 165Hz G-SYNC  
LG 34GN850-B 34"  IPS 3440x1440  160Hz  FreeSync, NVIDIA Certified  
LG 34GK950F-B 34"  IPS  3440x1440 144Hz FreeSync  

The unit we reviewed was manufactured in August 2020, and you can see the label here.

Compared To Other Monitors

The LG 27GN950-B is a great 4k gaming monitor with a high native refresh rate. It's one of the few 4k monitors we've tested that has such a high refresh rate, and it costs less than some of its competitors, such as the Acer Predator XB273K. However, you need a high-end graphics card to take full advantage of it, and it may be worth it to get a cheaper, 1440p monitor instead.

Also see our recommendations for the best gaming monitors, the best 4k monitors, and the best monitors for PS5.

LG 27GP950-B

The LG 27GP950-B is slightly better than the LG 27GN950-B. The 27GP950-B has two HDMI 2.1 ports, so it's a better choice for PS5 or Xbox Series X gamers. The 27GP950-B is also a lot brighter in real scenes in HDR, and it has a much better HDR color gamut, with significantly better DCI P3 coverage.

LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B

The LG 27GN950-B and the LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B are both great gaming monitors from the same lineup, with similar designs and gaming performances. The main difference is that the 27GN950-B is a 4k model with a 160Hz refresh rate, while the 27GP850-B is a 1440p model with a 180Hz refresh rate. In HDR, the 27GP850-B has a much wider color gamut, but the 27GN950-B gets a lot brighter to make highlights pop.

Gigabyte M28U

The Gigabyte M28U is slightly better overall than the LG 27GN950-B for most users. The Gigabyte has much better reflection handling, so if you're in a bright room, it's a better choice. The Gigabyte is better for gaming, with two HDMI 2.1 ports for next-gen console gamers and a black frame insertion feature that works even with VRR enabled. The LG has a better response time, though.

Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70

The Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 is a better gaming monitor than the LG 27GN950-B. They each have a 4k resolution, but the Samsung is more future-proof because it has HDMI 2.1 inputs for console gaming, while the LG is limited to HDMI 2.0, so you can't play high-frame-rate games with a 4k resolution over an HDMI connection. However, motion at 60 fps looks much better on the LG because of the quicker response time. The Samsung is also a better choice for use in bright rooms because while it doesn't get brighter, it has much better reflection handling.

Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T

The Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T is better than the LG 27GN950-B. The Samsung has a VA panel with a much better contrast ratio, and it has a higher 240Hz refresh rate. The Samsung also has a black frame insertion feature and slightly lower input lag. However, the LG has an IPS panel with wide viewing angles, gets brighter, and has a higher 4k resolution.

LG 27UK650-W

The LG 27GN950-B is slightly better overall than the LG 27UK650-W, mainly due to the extra gaming features. The 27GN950-B has a max 144Hz refresh rate, it gets brighter, has a much quicker response time, and lower input lag. However, the 27UK650-W delivers clearer text and has better reflection handling.

Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75 is better overall for gaming than the LG 27GN950-B. The Samsung has better picture quality with deeper blacks and a better local dimming feature, and it also makes highlights pop more in HDR. If you want to play games from the Xbox Series X or PS5, the Samsung is also the better choice as it has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of the consoles, which the LG doesn't have.

Gigabyte M32U

The Gigabyte M32U is better overall than the LG 27GN950-B. The Gigabyte has a larger screen, which results in slightly worse text clarity, but it has better black uniformity, much better reflection handling, and better ergonomics. The Gigabyte is better for PS5 and Xbox Series S|X gamers, as it has two HDMI 2.1 ports and supports 4k @ 120Hz gaming over HDMI, while the LG can only do so over DisplayPort from a PC.

Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 1.0)

The LG 27GN950-B and the Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 1.0) are both great gaming monitors. The LG has a higher resolution than the Gigabyte, but the difference in sharpness might not be noticeable for most people at typical viewing distances. Gaming-wise, they're very similar; the Gigabyte has a slightly higher refresh rate, but the LG has a better response time. The Gigabyte has more features, like USB-C input, a Picture-in-Picture mode, and a built-in KVM switch.

ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQ

The LG 27GN950-B and the ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQ are both impressive gaming monitors with different resolutions. The ASUS is a 1440p monitor, while the LG is a 4k monitor that delivers a sharper image. The LG also has a slightly faster response time, delivering exceptionally smooth motion, although its refresh rate maxes out at 160Hz whereas the ASUS can reach 170Hz. Both have VRR support and low input lag. While the LG has a slight edge when it comes to performance, the ASUS feels better built and has better ergonomics and reflection handling, if these are important to you. 

Acer Nitro XV282K KVbmiipruzx

The Acer Nitro XV282K KVbmiipruzx and the LG 27GN950-B are both great 4k monitors with mainly similar features. However, the Acer has HDMI 2.1 inputs, so you can reach 144Hz with a 4k resolution over HDMI, and the LG has HDMI 2.0 inputs, so you can only hit 60Hz. The Acer has much better ergonomics because it offers a full 360-degree swivel range. The LG gets brighter, but the Acer has better reflection handling, so they perform about the same in well-lit rooms.

LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B

The LG 27GN950-B is better than the LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B. The 27GN950-B has a higher 4k resolution, it gets brighter, has a bit quicker response time, and has better color accuracy. However, the 27GL850-B has much better reflection handling.

LG 27GN750-B

The LG 27GN950-B is better overall than the LG 27GN750-B. The 27GN950-B is a 4k monitor with a slightly quicker response time, a wide color gamut for HDR content, and it gets brighter. On the other hand, the 27GN750-B is a 1080p monitor with a much higher 240Hz refresh rate, slightly lower input lag, and it has better reflection handling.

ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ

Overall, the ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ and the LG 27GN950-B are very similar, but the LG has a slightly higher refresh rate of 160Hz. The ASUS is better a choice if you need swivel adjustments, and it has better reflection handling for gaming in a bright room. It has a Black Frame Insertion feature that the LG doesn't have, but it causes slight image duplication and may not be to everyone's liking. The LG has wider viewing angles that are more ideal for sharing content or playing co-op games, and it gets a lot brighter in HDR, although the brightness isn't as consistent. It has a faster response time as well, which results in clearer images in fast-moving scenes.

Gigabyte AORUS FI32U

The Gigabyte AORUS FI32U is a bit better than the LG 27GN950-B. The Gigabyte has an optional black frame insertion feature, better black uniformity, better ergonomics, and better reflection handling. The AORUS FI32U has two HDMI 2.1 ports, making it a better choice for next-gen console gamers, but the LG has slightly lower input lag when gaming at 60Hz.

Acer Predator X27 bmiphzx

The Acer Predator X27 is slightly better than the LG 27GN950-B. The Acer has native G-SYNC support, better ergonomics, it gets significantly brighter in HDR, and has better reflection handling. However, the LG has a quicker response time, lower input lag, and it gets brighter in SDR.

Acer Predator XB273K Pbmiphzx

The LG 27GN950-B and the Acer Predator XB273K Pbmiphzx are similar-performing monitors. The LG has native FreeSync support, it gets much brighter, has a much quicker response time, and lower input lag at 60Hz. However, the Acer has native G-SYNC support, better ergonomics, much better reflection handling, and it has built-in speakers.

Dell S2721DGF

The Dell S2721DGF is slightly better than the LG 27GN950-B for gaming. The Dell has much better ergonomics, significantly better reflection handling, a lower input lag, and a slightly quicker response time at its max refresh rate. However, the LG has a higher 4k resolution, better out-of-the-box color accuracy, a quicker response time, and a lower input lag at 60Hz.

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Video

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved
No
Curve Radius
Not Curved

The LG 27GN950 looks like most other monitors in LG's UltraGear lineup, such as the LG 34GN850-B, except it doesn't have a curved screen. It's mainly black with red accents throughout, and the RGB ring on the back adds to its gamer-oriented design. It's fairly well-built, and its stand offers cable management, but it has disappointing ergonomics.

7.0
Design
Build Quality

The LG 27GN950 has a decent build quality, similar to most of LG's UltraGear models. It's entirely made out of plastic, but there aren't any obvious issues to its build. If you want a similar monitor with a sturdier build, check out the Dell Alienware AW2721D.

7.1
Design
Ergonomics
Height Adjustment
4.3" (11.0 cm)
Tilt Range
-15° to 5°
Rotate Portrait/Landscape
Yes, Clockwise
Swivel Range
No swivel
Wall Mount
VESA 100x100

The LG 27GN950 has decent ergonomics. It doesn't offer any swivel range, but you can rotate it into portrait mode. You can also rotate it an extra 5 degrees counterclockwise when in landscape mode, and 2 degrees clockwise when in portrait mode, allowing for more precise placement of the screen.

The back has a gamer-oriented look with red accents. There's an RGB ring near the vents, and there's cable management through the hook in the stand. There's also a quick-release button for when you need to remove the screen from the stand.

Design
Stand
Base Width
16.7" (42.5 cm)
Base Depth
11.5" (29.2 cm)
Thickness (With Display)
9.1" (23.0 cm)
Weight (With Display)
16.8 lbs (7.6 kg)

There's a wide V-shaped stand that holds the monitor well, and there's enough room to place stuff in front.

Design
Display
Size
27"
Housing Width
24.0" (61.0 cm)
Housing Height
13.9" (35.4 cm)
Thickness (Without Stand)
2.4" (6.0 cm)
Weight (Without Stand)
12.1 lbs (5.5 kg)
Borders Size (Bezels)
0.2" (0.6 cm)
Design
Controls

There are a joystick and a dial underneath the center of the monitor to control the on-screen menu.

Design
In The Box
Power Supply
External Brick

  • DisplayPort cable
  • HDMI cable
  • USB-B cable
  • Power cable and brick
  • Mouse cable management clip
  • User manual and driver

Picture Quality
6.1
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
1,048 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
1,051 : 1

The LG 27GN950 has a mediocre contrast ratio and blacks appear gray when viewed in the dark, which is typical of IPS monitors. It's slightly higher than the advertised 1000:1 contrast, but this may vary between units. Sadly, the local dimming feature doesn't really improve the contrast by much, if at all.

2.0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
Yes
Backlight
Edge

Update 02/9/2022: The local dimming video was mistakenly filmed with HDR enabled. It has been reshot in SDR for consistency with our other reviews.

Like most monitors, the LG 27GN950 has an edge-lit local dimming feature, and it performs terribly. There are a limited number of dimming zones, so even though transitions between zones are quick, it's quite noticeable. Most zones turn on when there's a bright object in a dark scene, resulting in blooming and bad uniformity. The local dimming feature raises the black level and doesn't improve picture quality in dark scenes. It's more aggressive in HDR than SDR with our test pattern, but it doesn't seem to do much in real scenes unless it's a dark scene, at which point its bad uniformity and blooming become distracting.

8.2
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene
423 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
423 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
424 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
424 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
424 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
424 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
422 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
424 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
424 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
424 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
424 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000
Minimum Brightness
83 cd/m²

The LG 27GN950 has impressive SDR peak brightness. It easily gets bright enough to combat glare and it's very consistent across varied content. We measured peak brightness after calibration in the 'Gamer 1' Picture Mode with Color set to 'Custom.'

7.4
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
VESA DisplayHDR Certification
DisplayHDR 600
Real Scene
454 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
678 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
710 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
722 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
729 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
730 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
677 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
708 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
441 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
444 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
445 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.035

The HDR peak brightness is decent. It gets bright enough to make small highlights pop and it meets its DisplayHDR 600 certification. However, it quickly loses brightness the longer an image stays on the screen, as seen in the difference between the Peak and Sustained windows. Also, it's not as consistent between different content as it is with SDR content, but this shouldn't be noticeable for most people.

7.7
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
37°
Color Washout From Right
36°
Color Shift From Left
53°
Color Shift From Right
55°
Brightness Loss From Left
42°
Brightness Loss From Right
42°
Black Level Raise From Left
70°
Black Level Raise From Right
70°
Gamma Shift From Left
39°
Gamma Shift From Right
40°

The LG 27GN950 has a good wide horizontal viewing angle, which is expected from an IPS panel. The image remains accurate when viewing from the side, which is great for sharing your screen with others.

8.2
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
38°
Color Washout From Above
34°
Color Shift From Below
67°
Color Shift From Above
68°
Brightness Loss From Below
39°
Brightness Loss From Above
37°
Black Level Raise From Below
70°
Black Level Raise From Above
70°
Gamma Shift From Below
52°
Gamma Shift From Above
60°

The vertical viewing angle is great, which is once again expected from an IPS panel. The image remains accurate if you mount it above eye-level.

8.0
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
3.545%
50% DSE
0.133%

The LG 27GN950's gray uniformity is excellent. The edges of the screen are a bit darker, but there's no dirty screen effect in the center. Uniformity is much better in near-dark scenes. Note that gray uniformity may vary between units.

2.3
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
4.222%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
5.843%

The LG 27GN950 has terrible black uniformity, but this may vary between units. There's severe backlight bleed in the corners, clouding throughout, and the entire screen looks blueish/gray. The uniformity is actually worse with local dimming enabled as the edges are visibly darker.

7.9
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Pre-Calibration)
Picture Mode
sRGB
sRGB Gamut Area xy
104.7%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
4.45
Color Temperature (Avg.)
7,247 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.32
Color dE (Avg.)
2.78
Contrast Setting
70
RGB Settings
Default
Gamma Setting
Default
Brightness Setting
5
Measured Brightness
107 cd/m²
Brightness Locked
No

The out-of-the-box accuracy is very good. There are only slight inaccuracies with most colors that most people shouldn't notice, except some yellows and greens are more inaccurate. The sRGB mode locks the colors to the sRGB color space well, but some colors are slightly over-saturated. The sRGB mode also locks many picture settings, and if you use another mode, colors are oversaturated. The color temperature is only slightly warmer than our 6500K target. However, gamma doesn't follow the sRGB target curve all that well, and most scenes are darker than they should be.

9.8
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Post-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Gamer 1
sRGB Gamut Area xy
101.1%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.48
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,461 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.18
Color dE (Avg.)
0.31
Contrast Setting
70
RGB Settings
50-48-45
Gamma Setting
Mode 2
Brightness Setting
6
Measured Brightness
102 cd/m²
ICC Profile
Download

The LG 27GN950's accuracy after calibration is incredible. Any remaining inaccuracies can't be spotted by the naked eye and gamma follows the target curve a lot better. The color temperature is slightly cooler from before calibration, but it's closer to the target.

9.6
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB Coverage xy
100.0%
sRGB Picture Mode
Gamer 1
Adobe RGB Coverage xy
88.3%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Gamer 1

The SDR color gamut is incredible. It has perfect coverage of the sRGB color space used in most web content and excellent coverage of the Adobe RGB color space used in photo editing.

9.7
Picture Quality
SDR Color Volume
sRGB In ICtCp
97.5%
sRGB Picture Mode
Gamer 1
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
91.8%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Gamer 1

The LG 27GN950 has exceptional color volume. It displays bright colors well thanks to its high peak brightness, but it struggles with dark colors due to the low contrast ratio.

8.9
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI-P3 Coverage xy
95.7%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
Gamer 1
Rec. 2020 Coverage xy
69.4%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
Gamer 1

The LG 27GN950 has amazing HDR color gamut. It's considered a wide color gamut and has fantastic coverage of the DCI P3 color space used in most HDR content. However, its coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 color space is more limiting.

7.7
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
DCI-P3 In ICtCp
78.9%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
Gamer 1
Rec. 2020 In ICtCp
63.2%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
Gamer 1

The HDR color volume is decent. Its wide color gamut helps it display a range of colors at different luminance levels, but it can't display dark, saturated colors well.

5.7
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Semi-Gloss
Total Reflections
8.9%
Indirect Reflections
4.9%
Calculated Direct Reflections
4.0%

The LG 27GN950 has disappointing reflection handling, and it's much worse than the lower-end LG 27GN750-B. The reflections may become too distracting even in moderately-lit rooms, but thankfully, it gets bright enough to combat glare. If you want a similar monitor with better reflection handling, check out the ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ.

9.0
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
IPS
Subpixel Layout
RGB

Thanks to the high 4k resolution, the LG 27GN950-B has outstanding text clarity. Enabling ClearType (top photo) makes text even easier to read.

9.8
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit

The LG 27GN950-B has fantastic gradient handling. There are almost no visible signs of banding within shades.

Note: We ran this test with a 1080p resolution instead of 4k. Our software kept crashing with a 10-bit, 4k resolution, so we had to lower the resolution to 1080p, but it didn't affect the gradient handling score.

Motion
8.5
Motion
Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
160 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP
160 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI
60 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP @ 10-bit
160 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI @ 10-Bit
30 Hz

The Adaptive Sync feature needs to be enabled for the overclock feature to work. Due to bandwidth limitations, the refresh rate over HDMI is limited with a 4k signals.

Motion
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
FreeSync
Yes
G-SYNC
Compatible (NVIDIA Certified)
VRR Maximum
144 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors
DisplayPort, HDMI
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes

Update 02/26/2021: We retested the refresh rate with the latest firmware. There's now an overclock option in the OSD settings that allows the refresh rate to go up to 160Hz. Enabling it locks Adaptive Sync to 'On'. 160Hz is only achievable at 4k; 1080p and 1440p are still locked at 144Hz, even with overclocking enabled.

Unfortunately, setting the refresh rate to 160Hz impacts VRR performance. Enabling G-SYNC in the NVIDIA Control Panel at 160Hz causes a black screen, and you need to force quit the application or game to get the image back. Additionally, there seems to be some form of V-SYNC active after getting the image back, so even if G-SYNC is disabled, there's no tearing in-game when there should be. The only way to fix it is to reboot the system. To get G-SYNC working again, you need to disable the overclock. We're leaving the maximum VRR range at 144Hz since it doesn't work properly at 160Hz.

8.9
Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Rise / Fall Time
3.8 ms
Total Response Time
6.9 ms
Overshoot Error
1.3%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
5.4 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
11.2 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
9.9%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
OffChartTablePhoto
NormalChartTablePhoto
FastChartTablePhoto
FasterChartTablePhoto

The LG 27UN950-B has an incredible response time at its max refresh rate of 160Hz. Motion looks exceptionally clear and there's hardly any blur with fast-moving objects. We recommend using the 'Fast' overdrive setting as it has a lot less overshoot than the 'Faster' setting. There's still some overshoot in lighter transitions, and if that bothers you, setting it to 'Normal' results in a slightly slower response time, but no overshoot.

8.6
Motion
Response Time @ 120Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Rise / Fall Time
3.7 ms
Total Response Time
8.5 ms
Overshoot Error
4.2%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
4.4 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
13.6 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
18.6%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
OffChartTablePhoto
NormalChartTablePhoto
FastChartTablePhoto
FasterChartTablePhoto

The response time at 120Hz remains equally quick with smooth motion. Like at its max refresh rate, the recommended overdrive setting is 'Fast' because there's a lot less overshoot than 'Faster'.

8.4
Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Normal
Rise / Fall Time
4.6 ms
Total Response Time
9.4 ms
Overshoot Error
0.4%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
6.2 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
17.8 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
3.4%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
OffChartTablePhoto
NormalChartTablePhoto
FastChartTablePhoto
FasterChartTablePhoto

The LG 27GN950-B has an impressive response time at 60Hz, and once again, motions looks extremely clear. Unlike at its max refresh rate, we recommend using the 'Normal' overdrive setting as there's too much overshoot in the 'Fast' and 'Faster' settings, so you may have to change the setting if the frame rate of your game drops.

Motion
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
No BFI
Maximum Frequency
N/A
Minimum Frequency
N/A
Longest Pulse Width Brightness
N/A
Shortest Pulse Width Brightness
N/A
Pulse Width Control
No BFI
Pulse Phase Control
No BFI
Pulse Amplitude Control
No BFI
VRR At The Same Time
No BFI

Unfortunately, there's no optional Black Frame Insertion feature.

10
Motion
Image Flicker
Flicker-Free
Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz

The LG 27GN950 has a flicker-free backlight, which helps reduce eye strain.

Inputs
8.9
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution @ Max Hz
4.2 ms
Native Resolution @ 120Hz
5.0 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
9.3 ms
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
N/A

The LG 27GN950-B has low input lag for a responsive feel. While the input lag with the overclocked 160Hz was initially high when the firmware first came out, make sure your monitor is updated to the latest firmware to get the lowest input lag possible.

9.0
Inputs
Resolution And Size
Native Resolution
3840 x 2160
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Megapixels
8.3 MP
Pixel Density
164 PPI
Measured Screen Diagonal
27.0"
Screen Area
310 in²

The LG 27GN950 has an outstanding resolution and size. The 4k screen delivers crisp images and there's enough space to open multiple windows at once. If you don't need a 4k resolution and prefer a 1440p option, check out the LG 27GN850-B/27GN880-B.

While we don't specifically test for it, many users have reported that the monitor sometimes doesn't wake up from sleep mode, requiring users to unplug and plug it back in to solve the issue. Also, when waking the monitor up in a dual setup, opened windows shift to the second screen.

7.0
Inputs
PS5 Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
HDR
Yes
VRR
No

As the LG 27GN950-B doesn't feature HDMI 2.1 bandwidth like the LG 27GP950-B, you can't use it to play 4k @ 120Hz games. You're limited to 60Hz, and if you want a higher refresh rate, you'll have to lower the resolution.

9.2
Inputs
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
HDR
Yes
VRR
Yes

Like with the PS5, you can't use this monitor for 4k @ 120Hz gaming from the Xbox Series X, but everything else works without issue.

Inputs
Inputs Photos
Inputs
Video And Audio Ports
DisplayPort
1 (DP 1.4)
Mini DisplayPort
No
HDMI
2 (HDMI 2.0)
HDMI 2.1 Rated Speed
No HDMI 2.1
DVI
No
VGA
No
Daisy Chaining
No
3.5mm Audio Out
1
HDR10
Yes
3.5mm Audio In
No
3.5mm Microphone In
No

Since the LG 27GN950 supports HDMI 2.0 and not HDMI 2.1, you can only achieve 4k @ 60Hz over an HDMI connection. You can achieve 4k @ 160Hz over a DisplayPort connection if your graphics card has support for VESA Display Stream Compression (DSC). If you want a monitor with HDMI 2.1 support, then check out the Acer Nitro XV282K KVbmiipruzx or the newer LG 27GP950-B.

Inputs
USB
USB-A Ports
2
USB-A Rated Speed
5Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
USB-B Upstream Port
Yes
USB-C Ports
0
USB-C Upstream
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Rated Speed
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Power Delivery
No USB-C Ports
USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode
No USB-C Ports
Thunderbolt
No
Inputs
macOS Compatibility

The LG 27GN950 works well with recent M1 MacBooks. The overclock feature doesn't work, so you're limited to a 144Hz refresh rate, and it doesn't support Low Framerate Compensation for signals below 48Hz. However, everything works fine, and windows return to their position when waking up from sleep, but not when you close the lid, which is a common problem when using USB-C to DisplayPort adapters.

Features
Features
Additional Features
Speakers
No
RGB Illumination
Presets
Multiple Input Display
PIP
KVM Switch
No

The LG 27GN950-B has a few extra features including DisplayPort 1.4 Display Stream Compression support. There's RGB illumination on the back, but the LG UltraGear Control Center doesn't appear to work on this monitor, so we weren't able to customize the RGB settings. If you have this monitor and it works, let us know. You can also add a virtual crosshair on the screen for FPS games.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)