The LG 32GN600-B is a 32-inch, 1440p monitor with a VA panel. It's nearly identical to the LG 32GN650-B/32GN63T-B but with a much simpler stand and worse ergonomics. It has a 165Hz refresh rate with native FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) support and works with NVIDIA's G-SYNC Compatible feature. It's an entry-level model that's fairly limited in extra features. However, it still has add-ons that most gamers would expect, like crosshair and black stabilizer features to give you a competitive advantage while gaming.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, with units that we buy completely on our own, without any 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 and custom tools to measure various aspects with objective data-based results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance against the competition, and whether or not it's easy to find.
Our Verdict
The LG 32GN600 is a decent monitor for most uses. It has low input lag and a fast response time, making it a great choice for gamers. The large, relatively high-resolution screen is decent for office use or media creators but has terrible ergonomics and poor viewing angles. It has great contrast and decent black uniformity, so it's a decent choice for HDR gaming or watching videos in a dark room.
- Fast refresh rate.
- Great screen real estate.
- Image degrades at an angle.
- Terrible ergonomics.
- Just okay text clarity.
The LG UltraGear 32GN600-B is a satisfactory office monitor. The large, relatively high-resolution screen is great for multitasking, but the pixel density is low, and text clarity is just okay. It has decent reflection handling and decent peak brightness in SDR, so glare won't be an issue for most people unless you're in a bright room. Unfortunately, it has narrow viewing angles, and the stand has terrible ergonomics.
- Decent SDR peak brightness and reflection handling.
- Fantastic accuracy before calibration.
- Great screen real estate.
- Image degrades at an angle.
- Terrible ergonomics.
- Just okay text clarity.
The LG 32GN600 is a great gaming monitor. It has an okay response time at the max refresh rate, but like most VA monitors, there's noticeable black smearing. It also has fantastic low input lag, supports FreeSync VRR technology, and is G-SYNC compatible. The large, relatively high-resolution screen delivers an immersive gaming experience, but it has narrow viewing angles, so it isn't recommended for co-op gaming.
- Fast refresh rate.
- Low input lag.
- Great screen real estate.
- Black smearing in dark scenes.
- Terrible ergonomics.
The LG 32GN600 is a decent monitor for watching videos. The large, relatively high-resolution screen delivers a more immersive feel when watching videos, but the narrow viewing angles make it a poor choice for watching with other people. It has decent reflection handling and decent peak brightness in SDR, so glare won't be an issue in a moderately-lit room, and it looks good in a dark room thanks to its great contrast and decent black uniformity.
- Decent SDR peak brightness and reflection handling.
- Fantastic accuracy before calibration.
- Image degrades at an angle.
- Terrible ergonomics.
The LG UltraGear 32GN600 is a decent monitor for media creators. The large, relatively high-resolution screen makes it easier to see more of your workflow at once, but the lower pixel density results in just okay text clarity. It has an excellent SDR color gamut but has limited coverage of the Adobe RGB color space. Unfortunately, the stand has terrible ergonomics, and the image degrades at an angle, so it isn't a good choice if you have to share your screen with someone else.
- Excellent SDR color gamut.
- Decent SDR peak brightness and reflection handling.
- Fantastic accuracy before calibration.
- Great screen real estate.
- Image degrades at an angle.
- Terrible ergonomics.
- Just okay text clarity.
The LG 32GN600-B is alright for HDR. It displays deep blacks in dark rooms thanks to its high native contrast ratio, but it doesn't have a local dimming feature to further improve it. Unfortunately, it can't display the wide range of colors needed for HDR, and it has low peak brightness, so colors and highlights look dull and muted.
- High contrast ratio.
- Can't display wide color gamut.
- No local dimming.
- Low HDR peak brightness.
Changelog
- Updated Mar 28, 2023: Clarified text throughout as part of Test Bench 1.2, including adding text to the Console Compatibility boxes.
- Updated Jan 11, 2023: Added text for the macOS compatibility box added as part of test bench 1.2.
- Updated Jan 10, 2023: 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.
- Updated Dec 16, 2022: Updated the text for clarity and accuracy throughout.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 32-inch LG 32GN600-B, part of LG's UltraGear gaming monitor lineup. There are other similar monitors in LG's UltraGear lineup with various configurations, and you can see the differences between them below, but the results aren't valid for those models.
| Model | Size | Panel Type | Resolution | Max Refresh Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27GN650-B | 27" | IPS | 1080p | 144Hz |
| 27GN750-B | 27" | IPS | 1080p | 240Hz |
| 32GN600-B | 32" | VA | 1440p | 165Hz |
| 32GN650-B | 32" | VA | 1440p | 165Hz |
| 27GP850-B | 27" | IPS | 1440p | 180Hz |
| 32GP850-B | 32" | IPS | 1440p | 180Hz |
Our unit was manufactured in June 2021; you can see the label here.
Popular Monitor Comparisons
The LG UltraGear 32GN600 is a basic gaming monitor that doesn't stand out against the competition. It's great for gaming, with low input lag and an okay response time, but there are far better options for just a bit more, like the LG 32GP850-B/32GP83B-B or even the Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 1.0) if you're on a tight budget. Those monitors have wider viewing angles, making them better for co-op gaming, and have better motion handling.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best budget gaming monitors, the best 32-inch monitors, and the best 1440p monitors.
The LG 32GN600-B and the Samsung Odyssey G55C S27CG55 are entry-level 1440p gaming monitors with many similarities. Choosing one over the other really comes down to size as the LG has a bigger screen, but because of the smaller screen of the Samsung, it has higher pixel density for sharper text clarity.
The LG 32GP850-B/32GP83B-B and the LG 32GN600-B are both 32-inch, 1440p gaming monitors, but because they have different panel types, they each have their own strengths and weaknesses. The 32GP850 has wider viewing angles, so it's better for sharing your screen with someone next to you, and a much faster response time for gaming. The 32GN600-B, on the other hand, has much better contrast and better black uniformity, so it's a better choice for a dark room.
The LG 32GN650-B/32GN63T-B and the LG 32GN600-B are nearly identical. The only significant difference between them is the stand. The 32GN650-B has a more advanced stand with much better ergonomics, so adjusting it to an ideal viewing position is easier.
The LG 27GN800-B and the LG 32GN600-B are both great gaming monitors, but the best one depends on your needs. The 32GN600-B has a VA panel, and it's best suited for a dark room, with deep blacks and decent black uniformity. The 27GN800-B has an IPS panel, which is best suited for a brighter environment, and it has better viewing angles and better reflection handling. The 27GN800-B is a better choice for gaming, as it has a much faster response time, so there's less blur behind fast-moving objects.
Test Results
The LG UltraGear 32GN600 has a flat, 32-inch panel. It has a clean and simple design, and the stand is very simple, with almost no ergonomic adjustments.
The build quality is decent. It's entirely plastic, and there's very little flex to the panels, but it feels pretty basic. Although there's nothing that stands out as problematic, there's nothing special about it, either.
Unfortunately, it has terrible ergonomics, as you can only tilt it a bit. If you care about ergonomics, then check out the LG 32GN650-B/32GN63T-B. It doesn't offer any cable management either, which is disappointing.
The stand is different from the one included with the LG 32GN650-B/32GN63T-B. It has a similar overall design, but the V-shaped base lays flat on the desk and takes up quite a bit of space. The stand is simple, but it supports the monitor well.
Like most LG monitors, the LG 32GN600 has a single joystick that you use to navigate the on-screen display. It works well and is very easy to use.
- Power supply
- DisplayPort cable
- Mouse bungee hook
- User guides and CD
The LG 32GN600 has great contrast, so blacks look black in a dark room, but it doesn't have a local dimming feature to further improve it.
This monitor doesn't have a local dimming feature. We still film these videos on the monitor so you can compare the backlight performance with a monitor that has local dimming.
The LG UltraGear 32GN600 has just decent peak brightness in SDR. It's bright enough for most viewing conditions but not very bright ones, and there's no variation in brightness with different scenes, which is great. These results are from after calibration in the 'Gamer 1' Picture Mode with Brightness set to its max.
Unfortunately, this monitor has mediocre peak brightness in HDR. It isn't bright enough to deliver an impactful cinematic experience in HDR, as small highlights don't stand out.
These results are in the 'Gamer 2' Picture Mode with HDR enabled and Brightness set to max.
This monitor has a disappointing horizontal viewing angle. As you move off-center, the image appears washed out. It can be an issue even if you're sitting too close directly in front of it, as the sides of the screen can appear non-uniform.
Once again, it has a poor vertical viewing angle. This monitor isn't a good choice if you often share your screen with someone standing beside you.
The gray uniformity is excellent. The sides of the screen are noticeably darker than the center, but there's minimal dirty screen effect in the center, which is good for watching sports.
The LG 32GN600-B has decent black uniformity. There's some backlight bleed along the top edge and a bit of cloudiness, but very little blooming.
The LG UltraGear 32GN600 has great accuracy before calibration. While it doesn't have a dedicated sRGB mode, colors aren't too oversaturated or inaccurate. The white balance is also very good, and the color temperature is close to the 6500K target. However, gamma doesn't follow the target sRGB curve perfectly, as darker scenes are a bit too dark.
After calibration to the 6500K white point, the accuracy is fantastic, and there are no noticeable issues. Gamma is extremely close to the sRGB target curve, and the color temperature is very close to the 6500K target. Colors and the white balance are improved too.
It has an excellent SDR color gamut. It can display the entire sRGB color space used by most desktop and web content, as well as most games. Coverage of the wider Adobe RGB color space is decent but might be too low for professional users.
This monitor has a superb color volume in SDR. Despite the relatively high contrast ratio, it still can't display dark saturated colors very well but otherwise fills out most of its color volume.
This monitor has an okay color gamut in HDR and can't display a wide color gamut. It has good coverage of the most common DCI-P3 color space, which is good for most current HDR content, but coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 color space is sub-par.
This monitor has mediocre color volume in HDR. It's mainly limited by the incomplete color gamuts in both DCI-P3 and Rec. 2020.
This monitor has decent reflection handling. The matte finish absorbs direct reflections, reducing their intensity by spreading them out, but it struggles to keep up with strong light sources. It's fine if you want to use this monitor in a moderately-lit room, but it isn't ideal for very bright environments.
Unfortunately, due to the relatively low pixel density, the text clarity is just okay. There are some noticeable issues on curved edges and diagonal lines even after running the ClearType wizard on Windows (top photo).
This monitor has fantastic gradient handling. There's very little banding in any shade, which is great.
This monitor supports AMD's FreeSync VRR technology, and although it isn't officially certified, G-SYNC also works on it, but only over DisplayPort. FreeSync also works over HDMI, but up to 144Hz.
| 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 |
This monitor has an okay response time at its max refresh rate of 165Hz. Like many monitors with a VA panel, it has a slow response time in dark transitions, leading to black smearing. Luckily, there isn't any overshoot leading to inverse ghosting when using the 'Fast' overdrive setting. 'Faster' has a quicker response time, but there's more overshoot.
| 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 response time at 120Hz is okay, and it's a bit better than at its max refresh rate. This is because there's less black smearing, but the overall motion handling looks similar. Once again, the 'Fast' overdrive setting performs best, as 'Faster' has a slower total response time and more overshoot.
| 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 UltraGear LG 32GN600 has an alright response time at 60Hz. Motion looks similar to higher refresh rate signals, but the recommended overdrive setting is 'Normal' because 'Fast' and 'Faster' have more overshoot. This means you may have to change the setting if the frame rate of your game drops.
The LG UltraGear 32GN600 has an optional backlight strobing feature, commonly called black frame insertion (BFI), to improve the appearance of motion. Unfortunately, it only works at 165Hz or at 120Hz, and the timing is off, creating image duplication. The image above is at 165Hz, and you can see what it looks like at 120Hz here.
This monitor has a completely flicker-free backlight at all backlight levels, which is great and helps reduce eye strain.
This monitor has fantastic low input lag, resulting in a very responsive gaming experience.
The LG 32GN600-B can't take full advantage of the PS5 because it doesn't support HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, so you can't play 4k @ 120Hz games on it. Other than that, it works without issue with the console. It even downscales a 4k @ 60Hz signal, which results in a sharper image than a native 1440p signal.
Besides not supporting 4k @ 120Hz, this monitor works without any problems from the Xbox Series X|S.
For the most part, this monitor works well with recent M1 Macbooks. Windows return to their original position when waking from sleep, but like most monitors, they don't return to their original positions if you just close the lid. Unfortunately, HDR isn't displayed properly and appears extremely washed out, with a maximum brightness of around 100 cd/m². The variable refresh rate feature works well in games, but like most displays, it flickers a bit on the desktop or if the frame rate in your game drops close to the minimum refresh rate.
This monitor has a few extra features, but it isn't as well-equipped as the higher-end LG UltraGear monitors.
- Crosshair: Adds a virtual crosshair as an overlay to any game. Unlike software crosshairs, this virtual overlay can't be detected by the game.
- Black Stabilizer: Adjusts gamma to make it easier to spot objects/players in dark scenes without adjusting bright scenes.
