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We've recently released Test Bench 2.0 for Monitors! Read our new VRR Flicker R&D Article and Pursuit Photo R&D Article to learn more.

LG 32GK850G-B Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v1.1
Review updated Apr 20, 2020 at 09:13 am
LG 32GK850G-B Picture
7.5
Mixed Usage
7.4
Office
8.3
Gaming
7.2
Multimedia
7.2
Media Creation
5.8
HDR Gaming
This monitor was replaced by the LG 32GP850-B/32GP83B-B

The LG 32GK850G is a decent 32 inch 1440p monitor with great gaming performance. This monitor has a very fast response time, resulting in clear motion, very low input lag, and support for G-SYNC variable refresh rate technology, reducing screen tearing. With a VA panel, the contrast ratio is good and blacks appear deep when viewed in dark rooms, but unfortunately, the viewing angles are poor and you'll lose image accuracy when viewed from the side. Also, it can get bright enough to overcome glare in most rooms and it has decent reflection handling.

Our Verdict

7.5 Mixed Usage

The LG 32GK850G is a decent monitor for mixed usage. It has a large screen size, good resolution, and a very low input lag that makes it very responsive to your actions. Unfortunately, it doesn't support HDR and the poor viewing angles don't allow you to easily share your work with others around you. Gamers will appreciate the G-SYNC support and extremely fast response time.

Pros
  • Great gaming features.
  • Good dark room performance.
Cons
  • Bad viewing angles.
  • No HDR support.
7.4 Office

The 32GK850G is okay for office use. With a 32 inch screen and 1440p resolution, you can easily open multiple windows. You can also place it however you like it, although the swivel and tilt adjustments are a bit limiting. The viewing angles are inadequate, so you'll lose image accuracy if you need to share your screen with coworkers. However, it can get bright enough to combat glare in most offices.

8.3 Gaming

The LG 32GK850G is a great monitor for gaming. It has an excellent low input lag, and the screen is large with enough resolution to display most details of your favorite game. Furthermore, it supports G-SYNC VRR technology which helps reduce tearing. Its response time is very fast, resulting in clear motion, and the decent ergonomics will allow you to place it comfortably without the need for a VESA mount.

7.2 Multimedia

Decent for multimedia. You'll be able to sit back and enjoy your favorite videos on the 32 inch, 1440p screen, but the 32GK850G-B isn't ideal for watching videos with others due to its poor viewing angles. Fortunately, it has a good contrast ratio, so blacks appear as they should when viewed in the dark, and it has an outstanding SDR color gamut, displaying a wide range of colors.

7.2 Media Creation

The 32GK850G is a decent monitor for media creation. The 32 inch screen and 1440p resolution will allow you to display many details of your content on the screen. It has a low input lag that makes it very responsive to your actions and it can get bright enough to combat glare in most rooms. Unfortunately, it may not be suitable for photo or publishing professionals since the coverage of the Adobe RGB color space may be a bit limiting.

5.8 HDR Gaming
  • 7.5 Mixed Usage
  • 7.4 Office
  • 8.3 Gaming
  • 7.2 Multimedia
  • 7.2 Media Creation
  • 5.8 HDR Gaming
  1. Updated Feb 17, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
  2. Updated Oct 11, 2018: Review published.
  3. Updated Oct 09, 2018: Our testers have started testing this product.
  4. Updated Oct 09, 2018: Early access published.
  5. Updated Oct 07, 2018: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  6. Updated Sep 12, 2018: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 32 inch model (32GK850G-B). However, some variants of the monitor exist, which are listed below.

If someone comes across a different type of panel, or if their 32GK850G-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 Refresh rate Variable Refresh Rate
32GK650F-B 32" 144Hz FreeSync
32GK850F-B 32" 144Hz FreeSync 2
32GK850G-B 32" 144Hz G-SYNC

The unit we tested was manufactured in July 2018 and you can see the label here.

Compared To Other Monitors

Comparison picture

Left: LG 32UD99-W. Middle: LG 32GK850G-B. Right: Samsung C34F791.

The LG 32GK850G is a decent monitor that performs very well for gaming and won't disappoint you for other uses. See our recommendations for the best 4k gaming monitors, the best 1440p gaming monitors, and the best monitors for PS4.

LG 32UD99-W

The LG 32UD99-W is much better than the LG 32GK850G-B. The LG 32UD99 has better viewing angles due to its IPS panel and supports HDR and 4k resolution. On the other hand, the LG 32GK850G-B has a higher native contrast ratio that makes blacks look deep in a dark room. The 32G850G-B is also a better monitor for gaming since it has a faster pixel response time that only leaves a small blur trail, a faster refresh rate, and a lower input lag.

LG 32GK650F-B

The LG 32GK850G-B and the LG 32GK650F-B deliver very similar performance overall, but the 32GK650F supports FreeSync, whereas the 32GK850G-B supports G-SYNC. The 32GK850G-B has a much faster response time, but no black frame insertion feature. The 32GK850G-B has an RGB bias lighting feature on the back.

LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B

For most uses, the LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B is better than the LG 32GK850G-B. The 27GL850-B provides better visibility, as it has wider viewing angles, higher peak brightness, and better reflection handling. The 27GL850-B supports HDR and its response time is faster. However, the 32GK850G-B's VA panel has a higher contrast ratio and a slightly higher refresh rate. The 27GL850-B is a native FreeSync monitor, while the 32GK850G-B supports G-SYNC natively.

ASUS TUF VG32VQ

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG32VQ is slightly better than the LG 32GK850G-B for most uses. The ASUS supports HDR and has an optional black frame insertion feature that can improve the appearance of motion. Most people will prefer the LG for gaming though, as it has a much faster response time, resulting in clearer motion with less blur behind fast-moving objects. The LG also has much better black uniformity.

Acer Predator XB271HU Bmiprz

These are two different types of monitors, each with advantages and disadvantages. The Acer Predator XB271HU Bmiprz has wider viewing angles and is a better choice if you'll be looking at the monitor from the side, like when you're collaborating with people. The Acer also has a better ergonomic stand that allows you to place it in a comfortable position with ease. The LG 32GK850G-B is larger, so you can work more comfortably, and it has a better dark room performance with blacks that are more deep and uniform than on the Acer.

LG 32UD59-B

The LG 32UD59-B is marginally better than the LG 32GK850G-B. The 32UD59-B has a better vertical viewing angle that helps keep the image more uniform when viewed from the top like in office environments. The 32UD59-B also supports a 4k resolution which allows it to display more content on the same size screen. On the other hand, the 32GK850G-B has better ergonomics that help you place it in a comfortable position with ease. The 32GK850G-B is better for gaming as it has a lower input lag, a faster refresh rate, and a faster pixel response time that only leaves a small blur trail.

ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q

The ASUS ROG PG279Q is significantly better than the LG 32GK850G-B. The ASUS has better viewing angles due to its IPS panel, and this is great if you plan to share your work with your colleagues. The ergonomics on the ASUS ROG PG279Q are better so you can place it comfortably without much effort. Finally, the ASUS ROG PG279Q has an optional black frame insertion feature that allows it to make the image look crisper by introducing flicker.

Samsung C34F791/CF791

The LG 32GK850G-B is better than the Samsung C34F791/CF791. The LG 32GK850G has a faster pixel response time, and thus the blur trail in fast action content is smaller. The LG 32GK850G has a faster refresh rate and better input lag, and this is great if you play games. The LG 32GK850G also has better ergonomics that make it easy to place comfortably. The Samsung CF791, on the other hand, supports 4k resolution, is 2 inches larger, and has a curve.

Samsung CHG70

The Samsung CHG70 is significantly better than the LG 32GK850G-B. The Samsung CHG70 supports HDR content so you can enjoy HDR games, and supports FreeSync for a tear-free gaming experience. The CHG70 has a Black Frame Insertion feature that helps make the image crisper. The LG 32GK850G has a larger screen so you can see the details of your screen more comfortable, and supports G-SYNC, which is great if you have an NVIDIA compatible card.

BenQ EW3270U

The BenQ EW3270U is slightly better than the LG 32GK850G-B. The BenQ EW3270U supports HDR content and has a full 4k resolution. The LG 32GK850G-B, on the other hand, has much better ergonomics so you can position it to your liking with ease, and a fast pixel response time that leaves a small motion blur. The LG has a much faster refresh rate and a lower input lag to please even the most demanding gamers.

Dell S3219D

The LG 32GK850G-B is better than the Dell S3219D. The LG 32GK850G-B has better ergonomics, and you can position it comfortably easier. It also has a faster pixel response time, lower input lag, and a much faster refresh rate, all of which contribute to a much better gaming experience. Also, the LG 32GK850G-B can get brighter, so it's more suitable for a bright room as it can easily fight glare.

Dell S3220DGF

For most uses, the Dell S3220DGF performs better than the LG 32GK850G-B. For gaming, the main difference is that the LG is a native G-SYNC monitor, while the Dell supports FreeSync. Also, the Dell has a curved screen and it supports HDR, but its response time is a bit slower than the LG's.

+ Show more

Test Results

Design
Design
Style
Size 32"
Curved No
Curve Radius Not Curved
Weight (without stand)
15.0 lbs (6.8 kg)
Weight (with stand)
19.0 lbs (8.6 kg)

The 32GK850G has a simple design similar to other LG monitors. It's all black with an illuminated circle on the back and some red on the stand.

Design
Stand
Width
18.9" (48.0 cm)
Depth
10.6" (26.9 cm)

The stand looks elegant and supports the monitor well, but there's still a bit of wobble to it.

6.6
Design
Ergonomics
Height Adjustment
4.3" (10.9 cm)
Switch Portrait/Landscape Yes, Clockwise
Swivel Range -15Ā° to 15Ā°
Tilt Range -15Ā° to 5Ā°

Update 08/09/2019: There was a mistake in our swivel range scoring. The ergonomics score has increased slightly.

Decent ergonomics. The monitor can be easily positioned to your liking. The only downside is that some adjustments have a limiting range. It's worth noting that swivel range is less than the manual claims.

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 100x100

There's a circle on the back that lights up even when the monitor is off. Like other LG monitors, there's a hook on the stand for cable management.

Design
Borders
Borders
0.4" (1.0 cm)

The borders of this monitor are thin and made out of plastic. There is a gap, however, between the edge of the screen and where the active pixels start. If you plan to use this monitor in a multi-monitor setup, you might find this a little annoying.

Design
Thickness
Thickness (with stand)
8.1" (20.6 cm)
Thickness (without stand)
2.2" (5.6 cm)

The monitor itself is somewhat thick and it gets thicker with the stand attached.

7.0
Design
Build Quality

The build quality of this monitor is decent. There are no gaps where different components meet, and the entire construction, although plastic, feels robust. You shouldn't have any issues with the build of this monitor.

Picture Quality
7.6
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
2,622 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
N/A

The 32GK850G's contrast ratio is good, which is expected from a VA panel. Blacks look deep in a dark room, much like the LG 32UD59-B.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge

This monitor doesn't have a local dimming feature. The above video is for reference only.

8.0
Picture Quality
SDR Peak Brightness
SDR Real Scene
345 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 2% Window
338 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 10% Window
357 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 25% Window
357 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 50% Window
358 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 100% Window
357 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 2% Window
337 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 10% Window
356 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 25% Window
357 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 50% Window
357 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 100% Window
357 cd/mĀ²
SDR ABL
0.004

Great SDR peak brightness. The 32GK850 can get bright enough to combat glare in most rooms. Its brightness remains consistent across different content, although small highlights are a bit less bright.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Peak Brightness
HDR Real Scene
N/A
HDR Peak 2% Window
N/A
HDR Peak 10% Window
N/A
HDR Peak 25% Window
N/A
HDR Peak 50% Window
N/A
HDR Peak 100% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 2% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 10% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 25% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 50% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 100% Window
N/A
HDR ABL
N/A

This monitor doesn't support HDR.

5.7
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
26Ā°
Color Washout From Right
26Ā°
Color Shift From Left
61Ā°
Color Shift From Right
52Ā°
Brightness Loss From Left
28Ā°
Brightness Loss From Right
28Ā°
Black Level Raise From Left
18Ā°
Black Level Raise From Right
18Ā°
Gamma Shift From Left
16Ā°
Gamma Shift From Right
15Ā°

As is the case with most VA panel monitors, the 32GK850G has inadequate horizontal viewing angles. The image will start to degrade when viewed from the side.

5.3
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
24Ā°
Color Washout From Above
28Ā°
Color Shift From Below
37Ā°
Color Shift From Above
45Ā°
Brightness Loss From Below
27Ā°
Brightness Loss From Above
30Ā°
Black Level Raise From Below
11Ā°
Black Level Raise From Above
14Ā°
Gamma Shift From Below
11Ā°
Gamma Shift From Above
16Ā°

Poor vertical viewing angles. The edges of the screen will appear darker if you sit close to the screen.

8.5
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
3.244%
50% DSE
0.111%
5% Std. Dev.
0.864%
5% DSE
0.047%

Excellent gray uniformity. There's no visible dirty screen effect and solid colors across the screen, such as on a web page, will look uniform. The edges are a bit darker, but there are no issues when displaying dark colors.

6.7
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
1.527%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

Decent black uniformity. There's visible clouding throughout and there's some backlight bleed close to the edges.

6.3
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
Picture Mode
FPS 1
Luminance
340 cd/mĀ²
Luminance Settings
100
Contrast Setting
70
RGB Controls
50-50-50
Gamma Setting
Mode 2
Color Temperature
6,706 K
White Balance dE
4.59
Color dE
3.36
Gamma
2.15

Mediocre out-of-box color accuracy. Most colors are inaccurate and the overall color temperature is colder than the 6500K target, so colors will have a blue tint to them. The gamma curve follows the target well, although some scenes may appear brighter than they should.

9.6
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
Picture Mode
Gamer 1
Luminance
101 cd/mĀ²
Luminance Settings
14
Contrast Setting
70
RGB Controls
46-43-50
Gamma Setting
Mode 2
Color Temperature
6,507 K
White Balance dE
0.51
Color dE
0.73
Gamma
2.18

Post-calibration, the 32GK850G has excellent color accuracy. Most colors are accurate and the color temperature is extremely close to the target of 6500K. The gamma is slightly below the target, so some scenes may appear brighter than they should.

You can download our ICC profile calibration here. This is provided for reference only and shouldn't be used, as the calibration values vary per individual unit even for the same model due to manufacturing tolerances.

8.7
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB xy
96.4%
Adobe RGB xy
76.6%
sRGB Picture Mode
Gamer 1
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Gamer 1

Excellent SDR color gamut. The 32GK850G displays nearly all of the sRGB color space used in most content. Unfortunately, photo editors might be disappointed with the limited coverage of the Adobe RGB color space used in photo editing.

9.1
Picture Quality
SDR Color Volume
sRGB In ICtCp
97.6%
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
83.3%
sRGB Picture Mode
Gamer 1
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Gamer 1

Outstanding SDR color volume. This monitor can display a wide range of shades and colors thanks to its excellent color gamut and good contrast ratio.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
N/A
DCI P3 xy
N/A
Rec. 2020 xy
N/A
DCI P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR

This monitor doesn't support HDR.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
DCI-P3 In ICtCp
N/A
Rec. 2020 In ICtCp
N/A
DCI P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR

This monitor doesn't support HDR.

10
Picture Quality
Image Retention
IR After 0 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 2 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 4 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 6 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 8 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 10 Min Recovery
0.00%

As with most VA panels, there are no issues with temporary image retention or permanent burn-in.

8.6
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
8 Bit

Fantastic gradient performance, but there's some banding with dark gray, dark blue, and dark green.

9.8
Picture Quality
Color Bleed
Pixel Row Error
0.000%
Pixel Column Error
0.039%

There's no visible sign of color bleed on the 32GK850G.

7.4
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
5.6%
Indirect Reflections
3.3%
Calculated Direct Reflections
2.3%

Good reflection handling. The matte finish handles reflections well in an average-lit room. Unfortunately, the glare might be distracting in very bright rooms.

6.5
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
VA
Sub-Pixel Layout
RGB

The text clarity is decent. It can be improved using ClearType (top photo), which makes the diagonal or curved lines on the letters R, N, G, and S clearer.

Motion
9.1
Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Best Overdrive Setting
Fast
Rise / Fall Time
4.3 ms
Total Response Time
9.2 ms
Overshoot Error
4.0%
Dark Rise / Fall Time
6.6 ms
Dark Total Response Time
12.1 ms
Dark Overshoot Error
2.0%

Overdrive Setting Response Time Chart Response Time Tables Motion Blur Photo
Off Chart Table Photo
Normal Chart Table Photo
Fast Chart Table Photo
Faster Chart Table Photo

The 32GK850 has an outstanding response time. By putting the Overdrive setting to 'Fast', motion is clear with very quick response time, although there's a bit of overshoot in some transitions. If that bothers you, the 'Normal' setting has minimal overshoot, but there's slightly more motion blur.

8.7
Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Best Overdrive Setting
Fast
Rise / Fall Time
5.1 ms
Total Response Time
11 ms
Overshoot Error
4.1%
Dark Rise / Fall Time
8.0 ms
Dark Total Response Time
14.3 ms
Dark Overshoot Error
0.7%

Overdrive Setting Response Time Chart Response Time Tables Motion Blur Photo
Off Chart Table Photo
Normal Chart Table Photo
Fast Chart Table Photo
Faster Chart Table Photo

Excellent response time at 60Hz, which is great for people who want to play console games on this monitor. Like at its max refresh rate, the best Overdrive setting is 'Fast', although there's still a bit of overshoot in bright transitions.

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

The 32GK850G is flicker-free at all backlight settings, which helps reduce eye strain.

0
Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
No BFI
BFI Maximum Frequency
N/A
BFI Minimum Frequency
N/A

This monitor doesn't have a black frame insertion feature to help reduce motion blur.

9.2
Motion
Refresh Rate
Variable Refresh Rate
G-SYNC
Native
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
165 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
FreeSync
No
G-SYNC
Yes (Native)
VRR Maximum
165 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors DisplayPort

Excellent refresh rate. Not only its native refresh rate is 144Hz, but you can easily overclock it to 165Hz. It also supports NVIDIA's G-SYNC VRR technology, reducing tearing in games, which is great news for competitive gamers. These higher refresh rates only work when the monitor is connected on DisplayPort, as HDMI only supports 60Hz and no G-SYNC.

Inputs
9.3
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution
4.7 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
14.3 ms
Variable Refresh Rate
5.4 ms
Variable Refresh Rate @ 60Hz
17.6 ms
10 Bit HDR
N/A
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
N/A

The LG 32GK850G has an excellent low input lag and that remains low even when G-SYNC is enabled.

8.3
Inputs
Resolution And Size
Native Resolution 2560 x 1440
Aspect Ratio 16:9
Megapixels 3.7 MP
Pixel Density
94 PPI
Screen Diagonal 31.5"
Screen Area 424 inĀ²

The LG 32GK850G has a 1440p resolution which is good considering its 32 inch screen size. If you're looking for a 4k monitor, then check out the LG 32UD99.

Inputs
Inputs
Inputs
Total Inputs
DisplayPort 1 (DP 1.2)
Mini DisplayPort No
HDMI 1 (HDMI 1.4)
DVI No
VGA No
DisplayPort Out No
USB 2 (USB 3.0)
USB C No
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 1
Microphone In 3.5mm No
Digital Optical Audio Out No
Analog Audio Out RCA No
Power Supply External Brick

The 3.5mm analog audio out is a headphone port with adjustable volume that can be controlled using the monitor's joystick.

Features
Features
Additional Features
RGB Illumination
Controllable
Speakers
No
HDR10 No
Multiple Input Display
No

The monitor has the following additional features:

  • Illuminated Circle: The monitor has an illuminated circle at its back that creates an ambient light. This dimmable light is independent of the monitor's operation and will work even when the monitor is turned off. There's a dedicated wheel to control the dimming, and if you click it, it'll cycle through the available modes.
  • Quick Charge: The two USB 3.0 ports can be used to rapidly charge your phone. For this feature to work you must turn it on through the menu.
  • Crosshair: The monitor provides a mark on the center of the screen for First-Person Shooter (FPS) games.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)
Features
Controls

There are two controls on this monitor:

  • a wheel dedicated to the control of the RGB light,
  • a joystick to control the monitor's functions.

Features
In The Box

  • Manual and drivers
  • Power brick and cable
  • DisplayPort cable
  • HDMI cable
  • USB cable
  • Cable management clip