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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.

Samsung JG50 Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v1.1
Reviewed Jun 03, 2019 at 09:02 am
Latest change: Retest Jul 02, 2021 at 10:52 am
Samsung JG50 Picture
6.8
Mixed Usage
6.8
Office
7.4
Gaming
6.7
Multimedia
6.6
Media Creation
5.3
HDR Gaming

The Samsung JG50 is a decent 1440p monitor. It has a great refresh rate and outstanding low input lag, great for gaming. The VA panel delivers deep blacks, can get bright enough for most rooms, and reflections are reduced significantly, so there shouldn't be any issues using it in a bright room. Unfortunately, this monitor doesn't support any of the variable refresh rate technologies, and the image degrades when viewed at an angle. It also has poor black uniformity and a fixed stand that can make the monitor difficult to place in an ideal viewing position.

Our Verdict

6.8 Mixed Usage

The Samsung JG50 is alright for most uses. It has a good amount of screen real estate, great for multitasking. There is very little input lag, and the response time is fast, great for gaming or multimedia, but it doesn't support any advanced gaming features, like any of the variable refresh rate technologies. This monitor does not support HDR.

Pros
  • Deep blacks.
  • Low input lag and a fast response time.
Cons
  • Fixed stand with very basic ergonomics.
  • Image degrades when viewed at an angle.
6.8 Office

The Samsung JG50 is an alright monitor for office use. It has great screen real-estate, perfect for multitasking, it can get bright enough for most rooms, and has great reflection handling. Unfortunately, it has poor viewing angles, and the stand has terrible ergonomics, so it can be difficult to place the monitor in an ideal viewing position.

7.4 Gaming

The Samsung JG50 is a decent monitor for gaming. It has a fast response time, delivering clear motion with only a short blur trail behind fast-moving objects. It also has exceptional low input lag for a responsive gaming experience. Unfortunately, it lacks any advanced gaming features, like virtual crosshairs, and it doesn't support any of the variable refresh rate technologies.

6.7 Multimedia

The Samsung JG50 is okay for multimedia. It has a great native contrast ratio, so blacks don't look gray in a dark room, and it has a great amount of screen real-estate. It also has good peak brightness, and great reflection handling, so you shouldn't have any issues using it during the day in a bright room. Unfortunately, it has bad black uniformity, and the poor viewing angles make it a poor choice for watching the latest YouTube trends with your friends.

6.6 Media Creation

The Samsung JG50 is only adequate for media creation. It has great screen real-estate, so you can see more of your project at once, and there is very little input lag. Unfortunately, it has poor viewing angles, and the stand has terrible ergonomics, so it may be difficult to adjust it to an ideal viewing position without VESA mounting it.

5.3 HDR Gaming

The Samsung JG50 does not support HDR. For a decent HDR gaming monitor, check out the Samsung CHG70 instead.

  • 6.8 Mixed Usage
  • 6.8 Office
  • 7.4 Gaming
  • 6.7 Multimedia
  • 6.6 Media Creation
  • 5.3 HDR Gaming
  1. Updated Jul 02, 2021: Changed height adjustment result from 'N/A' to '0' to match our methodology.
  2. Updated Jun 23, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
  3. Updated Jun 03, 2019: Review published.
  4. Updated Jun 01, 2019: Early access published.
  5. Updated May 30, 2019: Our testers have started testing this product.
  6. Updated May 30, 2019: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  7. Updated Jan 25, 2019: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 27" Samsung CJG50, version FB02, and we expect our results to be valid for the 32" model (C32JG50) as well.

If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Samsung C27JG50 doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review. Note that some tests such as the gray uniformity may vary between individual units.

Model Full Model Code Size Resolution Refresh Rate Notes
C27JG50 LC27JG50QQNZA 27" 1440p 144Hz  
C32JG50 LC32JG50QQNZA 32" 1440p 144Hz  

The C27JG50 we reviewed was manufactured in Sept. 2018.

Compared To Other Monitors

Comparison picture

The Samsung CJG50 is a decent monitor but lacks many of the most important features found in most gaming monitors. See our recommendations for the best monitors, the best gaming monitors, and the best monitors for MacBook Pro.

Samsung UE590

The Samsung JG50 is a bit better than the Samsung UE590, although they use different panel technologies, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The UE590 has a TN panel, with a 4k resolution, great for multitasking. The JG50 uses a VA panel, which delivers much deeper blacks. The JG50 has a lower native resolution, but has a much faster refresh rate and has less input lag.

Samsung CF398

The Samsung CF398 is slightly better than the Samsung JG50 for most uses. The CF398 has better dark scene performance, and it supports FreeSync for a nearly tear-free gaming experience, but is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. The JG50 has a faster refresh rate and faster response time, so it's slightly better for gaming. The JG50 also has a higher native resolution, so you can see more fine details in games, and it's easier to multitask.

Samsung CHG70

The Samsung CHG70 is much better than the Samsung JG50. The CHG70 has much better ergonomics, a faster response time, and it supports FreeSync for a nearly tear-free gaming experience. The CHG70 also supports HDR and is a bit brighter.

HP OMEN 27

The HP OMEN 27 is better than the Samsung JG50, although they use different panel types. The OMEN 27 has a TN panel, which delivers outstanding motion, with almost no noticeable blur trail behind fast-moving objects. The OMEN also supports G-SYNC and has better ergonomics. The JG50, on the other hand, uses a VA panel, which delivers much deeper blacks but has a slightly slower response time.

MSI Optix MPG27CQ

The MSI Optix MPG27CQ is much better than the Samsung JG50. The MSI has better ergonomics and is much better for gaming, as it has an optional black frame insertion feature, a much faster refresh rate, and a faster response time.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Size 27"
Curved Yes
Curve Radius 1800R
Weight (without stand)
7.9 lbs (3.6 kg)
Weight (with stand)
9.3 lbs (4.2 kg)
Design
Stand
Width
18.3" (46.5 cm)
Depth
9.6" (24.4 cm)

The stand has a very similar design to the Samsung CHG70's, but with a glossy finish that tends to attract fingerprints a bit more.

1.1
Design
Ergonomics
Height Adjustment
0.0" (0.0 cm)
Switch Portrait/Landscape No
Swivel Range No swivel
Tilt Range -15Ā° to 2.5Ā°

Update 07/02/2021: We previously had incorrectly listed the Height Adjustment as 'N/A' as opposed to '0'. The review has been updated to reflect this change, as the Ergonomics score has dropped slightly.

Unfortunately, the Samsung LC27JG50QQNZA has terrible ergonomics. There is no height adjustment, it can't swivel, and it has a very narrow tilt range.

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 75x75

The back of the monitor is very plain. The entire stand can be removed, which is great if you are planning on VESA mounting it, but there is no quick release.

Design
Borders
Borders
0.3" (0.8 cm)

The borders are very sleek and thin, and they aren't very distracting.

Design
Thickness
Thickness (with stand)
7.2" (18.3 cm)
Thickness (without stand)
3.7" (9.4 cm)

Due to the curvature of the screen, the Samsung CJG50 appears thicker from the side than most monitors. When VESA mounted it sticks out quite a bit.

7.0
Design
Build Quality

The Samsung LC27JG50QQNZA has decent build quality, slightly better than the Samsung CF398, but slightly worse than the Samsung UE590. The stand is difficult to adjust, as the tilt is very tight. It does feel sturdy though, and there are no obvious issues with it.

Picture Quality
8.3
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
3,766 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
N/A

The Samsung CJG50 has a great native contrast ratio, better than the Samsung CHG70. This allows the monitor to display much deeper blacks than IPS monitors.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge

The Samsung LC27JG50QQNZA does not have a local dimming feature. The above video is provided for reference only.

7.6
Picture Quality
SDR Peak Brightness
SDR Real Scene
303 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 2% Window
315 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 10% Window
316 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 25% Window
315 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 50% Window
317 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 100% Window
316 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 2% Window
306 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 10% Window
315 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 25% Window
305 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 50% Window
309 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 100% Window
312 cd/mĀ²
SDR ABL
0.000

Good peak brightness; it can get bright enough for most rooms. There is almost no variation in brightness with different content, which is great. It isn't as bright as the Samsung CHG70 but is a bit brighter than the Samsung UE590.

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

The Samsung C27JG50 does not support HDR.

5.8
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
33Ā°
Color Washout From Right
33Ā°
Color Shift From Left
47Ā°
Color Shift From Right
48Ā°
Brightness Loss From Left
36Ā°
Brightness Loss From Right
36Ā°
Black Level Raise From Left
12Ā°
Black Level Raise From Right
13Ā°
Gamma Shift From Left
16Ā°
Gamma Shift From Right
18Ā°

Like most VA monitors, the Samsung JG50 has poor horizontal viewing angles. The image quickly washes out as you move off-axis, and the brightness gradually decreases. For better viewing angles, check out an IPS monitor, like the Gigabyte Aorus AD27QD.

5.2
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
30Ā°
Color Washout From Above
27Ā°
Color Shift From Below
34Ā°
Color Shift From Above
31Ā°
Brightness Loss From Below
33Ā°
Brightness Loss From Above
30Ā°
Black Level Raise From Below
10Ā°
Black Level Raise From Above
8Ā°
Gamma Shift From Below
19Ā°
Gamma Shift From Above
13Ā°

Poor vertical viewing angles, typical of monitors with VA panels. Even slightly off-center, the image quickly washes out. Colors lose accuracy at a narrow angle, and the brightness gradually decreases as you move off-angle. For better viewing angles, check out an IPS monitor, like the Gigabyte Aorus AD27QD.

8.6
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
3.871%
50% DSE
0.101%
5% Std. Dev.
0.724%
5% DSE
0.067%

Excellent gray uniformity, very similar to the Samsung CHG70. There is very little dirty screen effect (DSE), which is very important when browsing the web or playing sports games. In near-black scenes, the uniformity is even better, with very little DSE.

3.7
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
3.511%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

This monitor has bad black uniformity. There is noticeable backlight bleed along the top and bottom of the screen. Although this test image is overexposed to highlight any problem areas, this is somewhat noticeable in dark scenes in a dark room.

8.0
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
Picture Mode
FPS
Luminance
284 cd/mĀ²
Luminance Settings
100
Contrast Setting
75
RGB Controls
45-45-50
Gamma Setting
Mode 1
Color Temperature
6,540 K
White Balance dE
2.36
Color dE
2.84
Gamma
2.15

Out of the box, the Samsung LC27JG50QQNZA has very good accuracy. There are some inaccuracies in shades of gray, but most people won't notice it. Colors are little less accurate, and there are noticeable inaccuracies in many shades. Gamma does not follow the sRGB target curve at all; very dark scenes appear quite a bit darker than they should, and bright scenes are over-brightened a bit.

9.3
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
Picture Mode
FPS
Luminance
102 cd/mĀ²
Luminance Settings
20
Contrast Setting
75
RGB Controls
41-44-54
Gamma Setting
Mode 1
Color Temperature
6,382 K
White Balance dE
0.78
Color dE
1.05
Gamma
2.19

After calibrating, the Samsung JG50 has excellent accuracy. Overall, colors are much more accurate, but some people might still notice some inaccuracies with pure blues. Gamma follows the sRGB target curve almost perfectly, but some bright scenes are still over-brightened a bit.

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

8.3
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB xy
91.8%
Adobe RGB xy
74.0%
sRGB Picture Mode
FPS
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
FPS

sRGB Picture Mode: FPS (calibrated)
Adobe RGB Picture Mode: FPS

Great SDR color gamut. It's able to display most of the standard sRGB color space, but like many monitors, can't display the wider range of greens and blues in the Adobe RGB color space. This is fine for desktop use and gaming, but not ideal for professional photo or video editing.

8.8
Picture Quality
SDR Color Volume
sRGB In ICtCp
95.3%
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
80.3%
sRGB Picture Mode
FPS
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
FPS

sRGB Picture Mode: FPS
Adobe RGB Picture Mode: FPS

Excellent color volume. Like the majority of LED displays, this monitor can't display very bright blues. Despite the great contrast ratio, it also can't display very dark saturated colors very well.

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

HDR is not supported on this monitor.

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

HDR is not supported on this monitor.

9.7
Picture Quality
Image Retention
IR After 0 Min Recovery
0.10%
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%

After displaying our high-contrast static test image for 10 minutes, there are some signs of image retention. Thankfully, it clears up very quickly, so there shouldn't be any issues for regular use.

8.5
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
8 Bit

The Samsung CJG50 has excellent gradient handling. As it only supports 8-bit color, there is 8-bit banding in our test image.

10
Picture Quality
Color Bleed
Pixel Row Error
0.000%
Pixel Column Error
0.001%

There is no visible color bleed, which is great.

7.7
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
5.0%
Indirect Reflections
3.0%
Calculated Direct Reflections
2.0%

Great reflection handling. In an average lit room there are almost no noticeable reflections, and you shouldn't have any issues.

6.5
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
VA
Sub-Pixel Layout
RGB
Motion
7.9
Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Best Overdrive Setting
Fastest
Rise / Fall Time
5.4 ms
Total Response Time
17.1 ms
Overshoot Error
1.4%
Dark Rise / Fall Time
8.2 ms
Dark Total Response Time
17.6 ms
Dark Overshoot Error
0.6%

Response Time Standard
Response Time Faster
Response Time Fastest

The Samsung CJG50 has an excellent response time, delivering clear motion with a very short blur trail behind fast-moving objects. Like the Samsung CHG70, the 0-20% transition is a lot slower than the others, so some ghosting may appear in very dark scenes.

There are a few different response time settings. There is very little difference between them, which is a bit strange and unexpected, but we don't know why. Since there is no overshoot in any of them, and very little difference, we recommend the 'Response Time Fastest' setting.

7.8
Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Best Overdrive Setting
Fastest
Rise / Fall Time
5.8 ms
Total Response Time
17.3 ms
Overshoot Error
1.1%
Dark Rise / Fall Time
8.4 ms
Dark Total Response Time
17.8 ms
Dark Overshoot Error
0.5%
10
Motion
Image Flicker
Flicker-Free Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz

The backlight uses direct dimming, which is great, as there is no PWM flicker. There is a very slight wobble at extremely low backlight settings, but this isn't noticeable at all. This monitor does not have an optional black frame insertion feature.

0
Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
No BFI
BFI Maximum Frequency
N/A
BFI Minimum Frequency
N/A
7.4
Motion
Refresh Rate
Variable Refresh Rate
No VRR
Native
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
144 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
No
FreeSync
No
G-SYNC
No
VRR Maximum
N/A
VRR Minimum
No VRR
VRR Supported Connectors No VRR

The Samsung C27JG50 has a great 144Hz refresh rate. Unfortunately, it doesn't support any of the variable refresh rate technologies, like FreeSync or G-SYNC.

Like the CHG70, the refresh rate has to be set from the monitor's OSD (as shown here), as well as your source device. If the refresh rate setting does not match what the source is sending, input lag is significantly higher.

HDMI port 1 is limited to 1440p @ 60Hz, as it is an HDMI 1.4 port. 1440p @ 144Hz is only supported on HDMI 2, or DisplayPort.

Inputs
9.5
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution
4.3 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
9.1 ms
Variable Refresh Rate
N/A
Variable Refresh Rate @ 60Hz
N/A
10 Bit HDR
N/A
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
N/A

The Samsung LC27JG50QQNZA has outstanding low input lag, even at 60Hz, great for console gaming.

Like the CHG70, the refresh rate has to be set from the monitor's OSD (as shown here). If the refresh rate setting does not match what the source is sending, input lag is significantly higher.

HDMI port 1 is limited to 1440p @ 60Hz, as it is an HDMI 1.4 port. 1440p @ 144Hz is only supported on HDMI 2, or DisplayPort.

8.3
Inputs
Resolution And Size
Native Resolution 2560 x 1440
Aspect Ratio 16:9
Megapixels 3.7 MP
Pixel Density
109 PPI
Screen Diagonal 27.0"
Screen Area 310 inĀ²

The Samsung C27JG50 has a great resolution and size. The 27", 1440p display is great for multitasking and provides enough screen real-estate to work comfortably with multiple windows open.

Inputs
Inputs

HDMI 1 is an 1.4 port, whereas HDMI 2 is a 2.0 port; unfortunately, this is not labelled on the monitor.

Inputs
Total Inputs
DisplayPort 1 (DP 1.2)
Mini DisplayPort No
HDMI 1 (HDMI 2.0), 1 (HDMI 1.4)
DVI No
VGA No
DisplayPort Out No
USB No
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

HDMI port 1 is limited to 1440p @ 60Hz, as it is an HDMI 1.4 port. 1440p @ 144Hz is only supported on HDMI 2, or DisplayPort. There is an audio out port which can be used as a headphone port, as the volume can be adjusted from the monitor's controls.

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

This is very basic monitor, with very few additional features. It has a Black Equalizer feature, that can be adjusted to help you see details in dark shades, without affecting the rest of the image. There is also an adjustable upscaling option.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)
Features
Controls

The Samsung CJG50 has a simple joystick control, similar to most other Samsung monitors we've tested.

Features
In The Box

  • Quick setup guide
  • HDMI cable
  • Power adapter
  • Plastic panel for the inputs