Acer Predator XB3 XB273GZ 27" vs LG UltraGear OLED 32GS95UE-B 32"

Review Summary

• Product: Acer Predator XB273 27-inch Gaming Monitor
• Graphics: Superior HD, clear, stellar
• Refresh Rate: High
• Resolution: High definition
• Design: Sleek, edge-to-edge black display
• Assembly: Simple stand setup, easily removable and adjustable monitor
• User Experience: Exceeded expectations, ideal for avid online gamers

Acer Predator XB3 Gaming Monitor Review

• Price: $1,200
• Display: 31.5-inch IPS, 4K, 144Hz, 1ms, DisplayHDR 400
• Connectivity: HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C, USB-A, USB-B, 3.5mm audio
• Ergonomics: Adjustable stand, slim bezels
• Features: Built-in speakers, eight picture modes, G-Sync compatibility
• Performance: Excellent for PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC gaming
• Color Accuracy: Delta E<1, DCI-P3 90%, sRGB 135%
• Drawbacks: Expensive, cumbersome setup, downward-facing ports
• Ideal For: High-end gaming, professional color work
• Alternatives: Gigabyte M32U, Asus Swift PG32UQ, Samsung Odyssey G70A

LG 32GS95UE 32" Review: Dual Mode WOLED

Overview

The LG 32GS95UE is a groundbreaking 32-inch 4K 240Hz WOLED gaming monitor, the first of its kind. It offers significant competition to existing 32-inch 4K 240Hz QD-OLED monitors, featuring a unique "Dual Mode" functionality that allows operation at a lower 1920x1080 resolution with a higher 480Hz refresh rate, catering to high-performance competitive gaming.

Design and Build

• Design: New design with a six-sided base instead of a typical dual-legged stand.
• Aesthetics: Minimalist look with no front branding, though bezels are slightly thicker than advertised.
• Material: Predominantly plastic with a blue/purple tone, which may not appeal to those preferring neutral colors. RGB lighting on the rear is well-integrated.
• Stand: Sturdy with excellent adjustability, including height, swivel, and pivot options. Features an active cooling fan that is virtually silent.

Screen Coating, Subpixel Layout, and Burn-in

• Ports: One DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, two HDMI 2.1 48 Gbps ports with DSC, and a two-port USB hub. Lacks USB-C and KVM switch.
• OSD and Controls: Easy-to-navigate interface with a directional toggle, dedicated Dual Mode button.
• Text Quality: Improved with updated subpixel layout (RGWB) and higher pixel density (140 PPI), making it decent for productivity.
• Screen Coating: Matte finish preferred for reducing reflections and preserving OLED blacks in brighter environments, though it introduces some grain.
• Burn-in Risk: Still a concern for static content, not ideal for productivity. LG offers a two-year warranty that supposedly covers burn-in, though it’s not explicitly stated.

Performance

• Response Time: Excellent performance with an average response time of 0.3ms across all refresh rates. Dual Mode (1080p 480Hz) provides high clarity and reduced input lag, comparable to a 700Hz LCD.
• Power Consumption: Variable efficiency, with WOLED being more efficient in white-heavy scenarios but comparable to QD-OLED otherwise.

Color Performance, Contrast, Uniformity

• Color Space: 96% DCI-P3 coverage, similar to other WOLEDs but less than QD-OLEDs.
• Factory Calibration: Decent but not exceptional, with a tendency to oversaturate SDR content.
• sRGB Mode: Effective gamut clamping but with reduced grayscale accuracy. Custom calibration can improve performance.
• Brightness: Good SDR brightness at 262 nits with uniform brightness control. Excellent HDR performance due to OLED’s self-lit pixels, providing deep blacks and high contrast.

HDR Performance

• HDR Quality: Superior HDR capabilities with pixel-level control for minimal blooming and rich shadows. Fast transitions between bright and dark scenes with no backlight flickering.
• HDR Modes: Two primary modes—Low (accurate with lower peak brightness) and High (less accurate with higher brightness).

Conclusion

The LG 32GS95UE is a premium 4K gaming monitor offering exceptional performance, particularly in competitive gaming scenarios with its unique Dual Mode functionality. Despite its higher price tag and some minor design and color calibration issues, its innovative features and superior motion clarity make it a strong contender in the high-end gaming monitor market.